The common denominator of the Sunday services in February is the subject of devotion and its various aspects: how God devotes Himself to us, how we devote ourselves to God, and how we treat our fellow human beings.
Fellowship that brings salvation
Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple after His birth. According to the Mosaic Law every firstborn son had to be consecrated to God. But behind this rather formal act was a deeper meaning that still has much to tell us today about our own relationship with God.
This is what the first Sunday service in February will focus on. It will focus on the temple, the purification, and the aspect of fellowship—and not only with God. Above all, the sermon will look at the significance of the divine service for us.
Faith that shows itself
God is to be praised and glorified with timbrels, harps, and lutes. This is what the psalmist calls us to do. But this song of praise is more than an expression of gratitude, it is the expression of our hopeful faith and our heartfelt trust in Him. The second Sunday of the month looks at how our worship sounds today.
There are plenty of reasons to praise God: we have been elected, Jesus Christ sacrificed His life, and He instituted the apostolate. There are many ways of responding to this: submitting to God’s will, loving our neighbour, and not losing trust even in suffering.
Commandments that bring us closer
You shall not do this, and you shall not do that … The commandments of God sound strict and relentless at first. But the power behind them is gentle. This is what the third Sunday in February will explore.
Jesus Himself summarised the entire Mosaic Law in the commandment to love God and our neighbour. This love is the foundation of our relationship with God and our neighbour. Only those who love God and treat their neighbour with love are true followers of Christ. The point is not external rituals, but a heart’s attitude that manifests itself in actions.
Grace that knows no bounds
Jesus heals. Time and again in His life on earth, He showed His compassion and His willingness to help anyone who came to Him. Whether in villages, towns, or marketplaces, wherever Jesus went He approached the people and offered them His healing presence. This was not limited to that time. In fact, it even extends beyond this world. This is what the sermon will explore on the fourth Sunday of the month. Even the dead are not far from Christ, but close to Him because He wants all human beings to be saved. Through the divine service, the proclamation of the gospel, and the celebration of the sacraments, all have access to salvation—both the living and the dead.
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