Peace Lutheran Church » wisdom

O Wisdom – December 17th

admin — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:21:24 +0000

Rev. William M. Cwirla is writing a daily series based on the O Antiphons. You can read his first reflection on how Christ is Holy Wisdom by clicking HERE.

Humility and Experience

admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:13:40 +0000

Then he [Martin Luther] spoke about the brashness of the wiseacres who put too much reliance on speculative knowledge while they have no real experience, although experience is the teacher of reality and ought to regulate everything.

“The philosophers did the right thing,” he said, “when they required their students to remain silent for five years, that is, not to express opinions lest they become rash in their judgments. …..

“In short, youth is impertinent. So we see lawyers who in their first year are masters of all laws, in their second year are Justinians, in their third year are licentiates, in their fourth year give formal opinions, and in their fifth year finally become trembling students. This is the way a boy acts in a bowling alley. First he expects to strike twelve pins, then nine, then six, then three, and at last he’s satisfied with one, and probably misses the alley at that. It would be a good thing if young people were wise and old people were strong, but God has arranged things better.”

Martin Luther, No. 4091: Youth Is Characterized by Temerity – November 9, 1538 Luther’s Works, Vol. 54 : Table Talk, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann, Luther’s Works (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999, c1967). 54:III-320.

The Whole Gospel Leads You to Notice Your Neighbor and Show Mercy to Him

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:00:00 +0000

For the Gospel does not tell you to allow your neighbor to suffer in poverty. The whole Gospel leads you to notice your neighbor and show mercy to him, to help him and advise him as God has helped you. An orthodox faith also does this. This faith goes out and does for others as God has done for the believer and as he would have someone do unto him if he is stuck in poverty, anxiety and need. God does not need our good works or our prayers or fasting… But concerning our works God tells us that they belong down here on earth for our neighbor, for the poor, miserable, desperate people whom we shall help, whom we shall comfort, teach and advise.

The One Who Showed Mercy by Christopher Koelle

Festival Sermons of Martin Luther – The Church Postils, translated by Joel Baseley, Dearborn Michigan: Mark V Publications, 2005, pp. 60-61.