For our summer catechesis, we are studying the Table of Duties from the Small Catechism. This week we consider our station and vocation as youth and widows & widowers. I recommend you listen here: 2013-09-01 Catechesis – To Youth and To Widows

The Catechism: Table of Duties—To Youth: 1 Peter 5:5-6

5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”	1st+
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.     1 Pet 5:5-6	2nd+

Prayer for Youth

O Lord, as You in humility and faith submitted Yourself to Mary and Joseph and to every authority instituted among men for our salvation, teach us to submit to our elders and to believe that You will accomplish Your good purposes in our lives and in the lives of others through such honor and respect; in Your holy name we pray. Amen.

The Catechism: Table of Duties—To Widows: 1 Timothy 5:5-6

5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.	3rd+
6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.                               1 Timothy 5:5-6	4th+

Prayer for Widows

Heavenly Father, comfort all widows who have lost their husbands and are left all alone. Give them strength and courage to put their hope in You and to cry out to You for help night and day. In their loneliness and sorrow, draw them closer to Your Divine Services and deliver them from the temptation to seek fulfillment from the pleasures of life that can never truly satisfy. Teach them to believe that they have a sacred calling as widows to live by faith in the greater Bridegroom, who has laid down His life for His bride and in whom alone are pleasures forevermore, through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for Widowers

Heavenly Father, comfort all widowers who have lost their wives and are left without a spouse to love. Deliver them from self-centeredness and despair. Give them the strength to flee from fornication and every form of sexual immorality. Fill the void in their lives with the Gospel of Your Son and the study of Your Word. Teach them to pray to You for help to live in their calling, to serve their neighbors in love, and to commend their future to Your gracious will. Grant them Your grace to remain single, or provide them with a faithful Christian wife; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

For our summer catechesis, we are studying the Table of Duties from the Small Catechism. This week we consider our station and vocation as workers and employers. I recommend you listen here: 2013-08-24 Catechesis – To Workers and To Employers

The Catechism: Table of Duties—To Workers of All Kinds: Ephesians 6:5-8

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.	1st+
6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.	2nd+
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,	3rd+
8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.	4th+

The Catechism: Table of Duties—To Employers & Supervisors: Ephesians 6:9

Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

3rd+

Prayer for Workers

Heavenly Father, Your Son became a slave for us to redeem us from all sin. He worked for our salvation, though we did not deserve it, and He submitted to Your will with all His heart. Forgive us all dishonor and disrespect toward our earthly masters, and grant us the grace of Your Son that we might serve in our life’s work with faithfulness toward You and in love and obedience for those we are called to serve, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Christian Employers

Gracious Lord, You have given us great responsibilities and authority as employers and supervisors of others . Teach us by Your grace and mercy to treat our workers and those who are under us with respect, understanding, and compassion. Give us a humble spirit toward them and help us to see our workers as gifts of God who depend upon us for their livelihood and who enable us to be of greater service to others for whom we perform our life’s work; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.