The themes of our divine services in February are “Focusing on God” and “The activity of the Lord”. Jesus Christ Himself is an example of total dedication and perfect obedience to God. Both Jesus’ human and divine natures are in perfect unity with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. The man Jesus is the perfect example of a way of thinking
and acting that every human being should adopt. The sermon on the first Sunday in February is linked to the biblical
account of the purification of Mary and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple. The temple is a symbol of God’s presence, which we experience through word and sacrament.
On the second Sunday, the sermon will make it clear that prayer is an essential part of our devotion to God. We worship and praise God because He is the giver and preserver of life. True worship is not only expressed in words but also in deeds. One way of praising God is to fulfil His will. We likewise demonstrate our devotion to God by remaining steadfast when confronted with the trials and difficulties of life, in the certainty that God is always with us and will never abandon us.
The divine services on the third and fourth Sunday will address the activity of Jesus Christ. The sermon on the third Sunday focuses on the fact that Jesus Christ is the lawgiver of the kingdom of God. The Sermon on the Mount, for example, makes clear how human beings should behave when they take direction from Jesus Christ. The central element of Christ’s law is love for God and our neighbour. Our relationship with God must be reflected in the relationship we have with our neighbour.
The sermon on the fourth Sunday prepares the way for the divine service for the departed and explores the impact of Christ’s activity upon both the living and the dead. Jesus offers salvation, which is not limited to a specific group, but applies to all people of all times. If we keep this in mind, the joy over our present and future salvation will be even greater because we are united with the living and the dead in love and solidarity.