St. Andrew's Lutheran Church and Campus Center
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Martin Luther on the Gospel for Septuagesima
Being Called and Being Chosen
"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." (Matthew 20:16) Because this Gospel speaks of those who think themselves first before God, it aims high and strikes the most excellent people, indeed, it frightens the greatest saints. And that is why Christ holds it up even before the Apostles. For it some- times happens that a man who appears weak and poor, and despised before the world, ...yet secretly within his heart well pleased with himself, so that he thinks himself the first before God; and even for this reason is he the last. On the other hand, there may be a man so fearful and fainthearted, that despite his gold, honour, ...he thinks himself the least before God; and even for this reason is he the first. It is also well known that the greatest saints have been moved with fear in this connection, and that many holding high spiritual office have fallen. Behold, how Saul fell! How God let David fall! How Peter had to fall, and likewise some disciples of Paul ! Hence this is the essence of this Gospel: no man is so high nor can he rise so high, that he need no longer fear that he may be made the lowest. And again: no man has fallen so low, nor can he fall so low, that there is no hope of him becoming the highest, for herein all merit is set at nought, and God's mercy alone is praised, and it is firmly decreed that 'the last shall be first and the first last'. In that He says, 'the first shall be last', He takes away all your pride. ...But in that He says, 'the last shall be first', He takes from you all despair....(Sermon from the year 1525. W.A. 17. II.139 f.)
