In this series we are reprinting Spokesman articles by early leaders in the CLC. Pastor Emeritus James Albrecht is the curator of the series. Rev. Bertram J. Naumann (1931-2009) was involved in the formation of the CLC. He served as pastor at Marquette, Michigan; Hales Corners, Wisconsin; and Lynnwood, Washington. He also served on various boards and committees of the CLC, notably the Board of Trustees and Board of Doctrine. This article is from the Lutheran Spokesman of April 1967. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
Comments on the Historic Lectionary
Readings for the Coming Sundays
May 31
The Triune God
The Feast of the Holy Trinity
Some win; some lose. Try to truly understand the great Three-In-One by comparing Him with the three forms of water or with the three intertwined circles and you still come up an intellectual flop. Only the understanding of faith can make sense out of this teaching of the Scripture. God has not lied to us about anything, and we believe this, too. Here we stand. In the face of worldly ridicule and unbelief, there comes the time to keep humming along anyway, as the song says: “If you don’t happen to like it, pass me by.” You believe, you win; you rationalize, you lose.
June 7
Apostles And Prophets
The First Sunday After Trinity
Three little words supposedly make the world go ’round, but the world does not have the right three. The purpose of the Trinity season, which includes (this year) the next twenty-seven Sundays of the Church Year, is to equip you with the truths behind the three words which the world desperately needs. The Collect for today quickly locates our source of strength: “O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in Thee.” The Gospel (Luke 16:19-31) holds before us the result of the three correct words as lived by Lazarus. And the Epistle (I John 4:16-21) gives us those words to contemplate “. . . that we may have boldness in the day of judgment.” Of course: “God is love.”
June 14
The Great Invitation
The Second Sunday After Trinity
People generally seek to serve themselves in the frantic scramble to fill up more and more empty, leisure time. But this Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 14:16-24) invites you to come where the only action that really counts is to be found. It has to do with the lasting welfare of someone else. Sound dull? Don’t you believe it. The action is based on Him who “. . . never fails to help” (Collect), so you know that this action has depth and backing. Furthermore, this action demands complete commitment and warns of strong opposition (Epistle), since living as a person committed to Christ will lead you into all the action you can handle. Where’s the action? For openers, equip yourself this Sunday for getting out into the highways and byways of lost humanity to extend the Great Invitation.
June 21
The Word of Reconciliation
The Third Sunday After Trinity
Natural man has enough of the Law left in his heart to convict him for what he is—a lost and condemned creature. So man seeks a way out for himself, and always fails because the way out from sin does not come from within but from without. Today’s Introit from the Psalms shows that God does the turning, not man: “Turn Thou me.” The Epistle (I Peter 5:6-11) says it again: “The God of all grace . . . called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus.” The Gospel (Luke 5:1-10) pictures Christ seeking out sinners because they lost themselves in sin. The means to the only lasting, satisfying “new experience” cannot be self-induced, but is God-induced spiritually — by the Gospel in Word and Sacraments. Hear it in all parts of the service this Sunday.
– 1931-2009