First Sunday after Christmas - 12-27-09

The Church Season of Christmas,

1st Sunday after Christmas,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 27, 2009)
One Year Series

“See your Salvation”

Readings:
Is 11:1-5
Gal. 4:1-7
Luke 2:22-40


Sermon Form: Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 2nd chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verse.

Luke 2:22-40 (NIV)

26 It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

The Christ Child is born. He who is without bounds had for a time been held safely in the womb of Mary. Then after His birth and according to the Law, Jesus was washed, rubbed with salt (Ezek. 16:4), then swathed with bandages (Job 38:9; Luke 2:7, 12). On the eighth day after His birth, Christ shed His blood for us when He was circumcised according to the Law. Now forty days after His incarnation, Jesus ascends to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Holy family is obligated, “according to the law of Moses”, (Luke 2:24) to travel to the temple for the purification of Mary and the presentation of the firstborn Son. Jesus is carried to the temple by His parents and they meet a man named Simeon who was carried to the Temple Courts by the Holy Spirit.

And when Simeon’s eyes first gazed upon the infant, Simeon gathered the Christ-child in his arms, he lifted Him up and praised God. And the words Simeon spoke are the words which we still sing in our liturgy to this very day, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”(Luke 2:28-32) In keeping with God's promise, Simeon saw God's salvation with his own eyes, he saw the light all the nations and the person who was Israel's greatest glory.

We do not know how long Simeon had waited. Maybe he had waited for an entire lifetime. But for this very instant, Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit, in the Temple of God, with the Son of God in his hands, and his salvation was now perceived by his own eyes. And for Simeon this was a sight good enough to die for.

And at the very moment Simeon was marveling that he held his salvation in his hands, a prophetess named Anna walked up, and she too saw the infant and, “she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward for the redemption of Jerusalem.”(v. 38) Anna was a widow who had waited many years to see her Lord, “worshipping night and day, fasting and praying.”(v.37) Now she too, guided by the Holy Spirit recognized Jesus as the one who would redeem Jerusalem. Anna returned praise and glory to God in the highest for the peace He had sent to all the people on earth.

Oh, how we long to have been there with Simeon and Anna, to sing the praises of our Lord. To see that baby, to kneel down before Him, to take Him in our arms and sing our praises to Him. To see Him take His first footsteps, to see Him grow in wisdom and stature, and then maybe we could walk in His footsteps too. All of that would be moments for us to die for. But, if we say we could be so pious to see and recognize Him in such lowly estate, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

For if we were on the temple mount that day, we would see Jesus as just another crying baby in the temple of God. A child whose parents, we would gladly usher to the cry room, so that we could pretend to be pious, while paying no attention to the words of the Holy Spirit. Oh, “To be sure some of us [would] praise and bless him, as long as he did what we desired and as long as he allowed us to be what we wanted [to be].”(Martin Luther AELW 52:109) Yet as soon as that same Christ reminds us of the demands of the Law, that we should live by the commandments and forsake our thoughts and ways. The idea that we should let Christ and Christ alone guide us by His Word, well then that would be too much to bear. We do not want to see that Christ.

In fact, we loose sight that God sent His Son in the very simple form of a child to see to the salvation of the entire world. We are blinded by sin and fail to see that Christ came to save us, the simple and the sophisticated, the well dressed and the poorly dressed, those of high stature and those of no stature. Simeon’s words proclaiming salvation to us would indeed be welcome news to our ears. But when that news also proclaims the inclusion of the bedraggled world worn weary it would be too much of a sight to bear. How dare God offer those kind of people the promise of salvation. Those people who have not lifted up Christ in their praise, those who have neither worked nor waited for the Lord, and we would say they are just the opposite of Simeon, or Anna, or us. That would be too much of a sight too for us to bear.

Repent. For our eyes are glazed over our by our own sin, and we cannot see to our own salvation. We do not gain heaven by waiting and working for the Lord. The Holy Spirit brings us to see Him. When only forty days old, Simeon was given Jesus to hold in his hands, and He saw His salvation. But those hands, nor yours, could ever grasp, the salvation which you see by faith. Though you did not stand on the Temple Mount with Simeon and Anna, the Holy Spirit brings you to faith and to your salvation in the waters of your baptism. Today in the Holy Supper of our Lord, your salvation is given to you in Christ’s true body and blood shed for you. It is not given to you to be held in your hands and lifted up, rather it is to be received by you in faith, for the remission of your sins.

The Christ child always had his eyes on our salvation, and prepared Himself to see it through for all His people. For Christ is the One who came into this world as a child and fulfilled the Father’s Law for you. It is the same Christ who was brought to the temple by Mary and Joseph who would one day go back to the temple mount to be tried, convicted, and crucified, for you. It is Christ who brought Himself to the cross to pay for our sins. There on the cross He saw to your salvation.

Rejoice. For even before the eyes of the infant Christ could focus, God had his eyes firmly focused on your salvation. For He had prepared all the things for this world. In the hearing of the Word, the Holy Spirit has carried you to faith, and prepared salvation for you. The Holy Spirit has given you faith to see your salvation, and for Jesus Christ that is more than mere moment, it is your eternity for Him to die for, so that you may depart in peace. Amen.

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Christmas Day 12-25-09

The Church Season of Christmas,
Christmas Day,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 25, 2009)
One Year Series

“To You a Savior is Born”

Readings:
Micah 5:2-5
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:1-20

Sermon Form: Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 2nd chapter of Luke, especially verses 10 and 11.

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Our Gospel lesson tells us of the journey of Joseph and Mary to city of David, to Bethlehem, where angels announce the birth of Jesus, the Christ. We hearken back to the day of Jesus’ birth as we sing our favorite hymns, “Silent Night”(LSB #363), “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”(LSB #380), “Joy to the World”(LSB #387), and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”(LSB #384) The angels came to announce the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God, who chose to dwell among us. He came to us one day in Bethlehem to complete God’s eternal plan, Christ’s earthly journey of life and death, which would conquer sin for all time.

The Gospel message is clear, Christ the Messiah who was with God in the creation, descended from heaven and came to earth to dwell among us. angels appeared in the darkness of the night sky to shepherds in the field, where they were minding their flocks. Then the silence of that night was broken by the appearance of angels. The shepherds were filled with great fear, but the angels calmed the shepherds and told them of the birth of their Messiah. The news proclaimed to the shepherds from angels above was one they knew well. For the coming of the Messiah was well known, Israel had been waiting a long time for the One who would fulfill all the prophecies.

These shepherds, the guardians of their flocks, had probably heard before the words of the Prophet Micah who said: “And You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: For out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”

And the voices of angels this night pointed the shepherds to Word who became incarnate this day, to this child and the kingdom that He rules. But why was this ruler needed and why was He sent? Why did God send His only begotten Son to be born of a virgin, and to dwell among us? Was it to perform miracles, to open the disciples minds to all that was written in the book of law and the prophets? Was this ruler sent to gather troops to begin conquests like those of Old Testament magnitude? The angels gave the answer to all those questions, “to YOU is born this day…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” God gave this ruler to us, because of the sin of the world, because of our sin.

It was foretold that a star would come forth from Jacob. That star is Jesus Christ, who would be surrounded by the world’s most prized possessions, gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But the greatest gift on that first Christmas Day was not what the child received, rather it would be a gift for all who would see and believe in Him, both then and now. This child was sent from God, it was God who gave us the greatest gift of that baby lying in a manger.

This child Jesus was sent for a conquest, to conquer our opponent which we cannot overcome and that is our sin. For is was as a result of sin in the Garden of Eden, that an angel and a sword were placed to guard the gates of that garden, and the tree of life therein.

But, on that Holy night so long ago, the angel came to announce the child who would come to reopen paradise for us. And to give us that eternal paradise, Christ would journey from a wooden manger to a wooden cross. He would journey from the joy of His mother arms, to the pain of the crucifixion. That child came to us on that night knowing of all the events to come, and came to bring us the forgiveness of sins, the most precious gift which cannot be purchased by human effort.

God’s gift, the new King, would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” And while this new king now appeared on earth among His people, His Kingdom did not begin or end on this day. The Kingdom that this child rules is eternal. In the words of the Psalms “He has established the world; it shall never be moved; your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.” This ruler is the Alpha and the Omega, the one who “was in the beginning with God and through Him all things were made.” It is the kingdom that Daniel had foretold “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.” The kingdom that this child brings to us replaces the fallen kingdom of David, and allows us to pass into the promised land, where there is an eternal life in His Name.

At the announcement of His birth of Jesus, shepherds went with great haste to see the Christ child. And when they saw Him they glorified and praised God for all they had heard and seen. The shepherds looked at a baby and saw a King, but where do we look today? We look all around us, the kingdom surrounds us. Just as so many years ago when He was held in loving arms, He now surrounds us and holds us in His loving grace. We see the gift God as He is revealed to us in many and various ways. We see Him as we gather together with our family and friends and we pray, and as we gather in this place each week in the word and in the sacraments, in Christ’s body and in His blood.

Where is the kingdom of God? It is in the Savior whose birth was announced by the angels to the shepherds in Bethlehem. A Savior whose kingdom is far better than any of the gifts of this earth. A Savior who was sent as a precious gift from God, “for the grace of God has appeared, bringing grace to all men.” He brings grace to all of us, for He is Jesus Christ, the long awaited Savior of the world. Today this little baby in Bethlehem gives you the promise that one we will be with Him in paradise, “For unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

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Christmas Eve - 12-24-09

The Church Season of Christmas,
Christmas Eve,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 24, 2009)
One Year Series

“GOD WITH US”

Readings: Matthew 1:18-21

Sermon Form: Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 1st chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verse.

Matthew 1:18-21 (NIV)

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to [Josephe] in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

The blessed event of our Savior’s birth comes to Joseph in a dream where an angel speaks to him saying his wife will conceive a child and that child was to be “given the Name Jesus.”(v. 21) The birth of that baby boy would be in the small but significant town of Bethlehem. And that child would be called, “Immanuel, which means, ‘God with us.’”(v. 23) Saint Matthews account of Christ’s birth is not quite the long endearing account told by St. Luke which we will hear tomorrow morning. St. Matthew is straight and to the point, Jesus, the baby in the manger is “God with us.” It is hard for the people of this world to imagine, to contemplate, or even to hesitate for a moment to think that the creator of the universe would come to us in such a lowly form. But He did. In fact, from the very moment the “angel went to (Mary) her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28) from that very instant God was in Mary’s womb and so Jesus was with her and He was from that very moment Immanuel, He was God with us. A few moments ago, the choir sang these words from the hymn, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”:

“Oh that birth forever blessed,
When the virgin full of grace
By the Holy Ghost conceiving
Bore the Savior of our race,
And the babe the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face.”(LSB #384:2)

And this sacred face of God, the tiny baby is the One whom, “seers of old time chanted of with one accord.”(LSB384:3) Christ is the One who was to come, the one who was promised to Eve, the one who would crush the ancient serpents head. This child born of Mary was God of whom the wisest of men, King Solomon spoke, “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us”(1 Kings 8:56)

In fact, Christ was with us from before the time He was born. Christ indeed has never left us nor will He ever forsake us. For Jesus Christ, “He is the alpha and omega, He the source the ending He.” This child who would rest in the wooden manger and who appeared to men to be of such a lowly state, was in fact born of royal lineage. For His earthly father Joseph was 27 generations from King David, yet Joseph is still called the son of David. An even though Jesus is not called Joseph’s son, Christ is indeed the “seed of David”, in fact Christ is the greater David. For King David lived a life of royalty, rich beyond measure, yet King David was not a perfect man. In fact, though David was royalty he was a real person, a sinful man who knew that he needed God. King David knew that he needed God’s forgiveness, e needed God to be with him.

Just like King David, we too lead lives which are in desperate need for God to be with us. So, Christ the greater David, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and was born of the virgin Mary, and was made man, in the city of David, and He did so to live a life free of sin, a life which we cannot live.

We have gathered here this blessed evening to celebrate and to recall the birth of that child. We join here together, just like King David, blessed beyond measure. Yet at the same we join here in need of a Savior who frees us from our sins. And the good news is that Immanuel, “God with us,” is here this very evening, just as He was with us as a tiny baby so many, many years ago. Jesus was God with us before then. Jesus was God with us then. Jesus Christ, is God with us tonight. St. John tells us, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”(1 John 4:9-10) And He was given the Name, “Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”(v. 21) So truthfully, the reason for the season, is our sin, and for that reason Jesus came into the world, to free us from that which we could never overcome on our own accord.

In that little Town of Bethlehem, Jesus, “grew in wisdom and stature.”(Luke 2:52) There in the house of Joseph the carpenter Jesus would have learned to toil with the soil, to work with His hands. And one day that tiny baby would be the Christ-man who would allow those same hands to be nailed to a wooden cross, to, “save His people from their sins.”(v.21) to be God with us.

Immanuel, means, “God with us.” Tonight, for a few moments, we step outside the distractions of the season and, the news of holiday sales and we ponder the birth of the very Son of God. We ponder the Son of God who came to us in weakness as that babe in Bethlehem. We ponder the Christ, Immanuel who is God with us still. We know that He is with us because He promised to be with us, “even to the end of the age.”(Mt 28:20) Christ is God with us as we hear His Word proclaimed each time the scriptures are read. Christ is God with us as the Word of God is combined with the water of our baptism. Christ is God with us this very evening as we partake of His true body and blood in Holy communion.

That babe in Bethlehem is God with us in those times when we fall into deep despair. God is with us, when we have that feeling of loneliness or when we long for those loved ones who are no longer with us. Jesus is always with us to gently comfort our souls in the promise of an eternal reunion with all our loved ones, who have died before us in the faith. And if your senses perceive physical illness, or distress in any way, remember Jesus is come to comfort you. For Jesus Christ is still God, and He is always with us.

No matter what you have ever done, no matter what you will ever do, know that everyone who “believes and is baptized will be saved,”(Mk 16:16) and for all who confess their sins, Christ, “is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) Freedom from sin and the promise of everlasting life, that is indeed the most precious gift to recall on Christmas. For the child of Bethlehem who would be called, Immanuel, gives us the promise of eternal life. Jesus Christ is the incarnate Immanuel “God with us,” who “gives us eternal victory, evermore and evermore.”(LSB 384:5)Amen.

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Funeral Sermon for Mildred Clerc - December 21, 2009

The Church Season of Christmas
Advent 4
Funeral Service for Mildred Clerc
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI December 21, 2009

Readings:
Psalm 23
Isaiah 40:2-31
Matthew 11:25-30

“Rest for your Soul”

Matthew 11:25-30 (ESV)

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. [Jesus said]28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

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Friends and family of Mildred, especially Marvin, Terry and Janene, Dona, and all the grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant Mildred Clerc who was given life by her creator and was born on October 25, 1918, the child of Arthur and Elsie Capper Mardlin. She received the gift of Holy Baptism and became a child of God, and publicly confessed her faith and was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church of Midland. She often received the Holy Sacrament of our Lord, the precious gift of the Lord’s life giving body and blood. On February 7, 1942, she received the gift of a companion Marvin, her beloved husband, and they were married for over 67 years. Mildred and Marvin were blessed with the gift children, a son Terry who married Janene, and daughter Dona, and there are 4 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. On December 18th, 2009, God blessed Mildred with a holy death and took her home to rest in the arms of Jesus to await the resurrection of the Lord. Blessed are they who die in the Lord, from this time forth and for evermore.

The text for today’s message is from the Gospel lesson of St. Matthew the Eleventh chapter where it is recorded that Jesus was speaking to a crowd about who He is. There in Christ’s message Jesus invited all who would know Him that He would bear the weight of everyone’s troubles. Jesus gave the promise that He would give rest to all who were worn down by the things that happen to us as we live in this world. Jesus offered Himself as the source of rest for everyone weary with life.

One can only imagine how hard it was to live in Jesus’ time. In a world absent from the luxuries that we take for granted, life was much more difficult than we could ever imagine. Water did not come from a spigot in the kitchen, daily bread did not come from a grocery store, nor was the noontime and supper dinner handed through a drive-through window. No washers or dryers, no five day, 40 hour work weeks either. No medical plans and the only profit sharing they knew of, was from a prophet who shared the Word of God. People worked for a living, in fact they worked very hard for all that they had earned. It would be very hard for us some or maybe even most in this modern age to imagine what it was to be worn out and worn down by the challenges of life. It would be hard to imagine what that crowd looked like, all those people who hungered for rest, who were listening to Jesus speak to them. But, they knew they needed rest from their weary lives, and so they stopped for a moment and listened to the Incarnate Word Jesus Christ who promised them something that they knew they couldn’t get by their own efforts.

As foreign as that ancient world may sound, it was not all that different a world into which Mildred, Millie was born. But Millie had determination so she grew up and by her own efforts managed many, many things. In a time when women were neither considered to be or allowed to be independent, Millie was all that. She found work at Dow, and during that time she met Marvin who would be the love of her life for over 67 years. But Dow had a rule at that time that a husband and wife could not both work at Dow at the same time. So Marv and Millie took a little trip down to Ohio to be married in secret. But the secret marriage to Mr. Short, was a secret that was short lived, Dow soon found out. And through determination Millie did work again at Dow, but there was a war, and soon there were their two children Terry, and Dona. And of course Millie did work as a book-keeper for over 31 years, while also keeping track of the family and Marvin too. Millie did all that without any of the modern amenities of computers and cell phones. Just pen and ink, and one very large and detailed record book known to the family as the big book. In that book Millie kept, in minute detail all financial transactions, for 67 years. Millie knew what she and Marvin earned by the sweat of their brows, right down to the very last cent. She had an impeccable memory and an incredible sense of detail to say the very least. Millie and Marv were indeed made for each other, for they knew what it was to labor and be heavy laden. She also knew what she did not have, and that is the ability to set aside the effects that sin, death, and the devil has on her and everyone in this world.

So Millie, and we too, can directly relate to the Gospel lesson wherein Jesus talks to a crowd wearied and worn out by life’s seemingly endless struggles. But Jesus knew what this crowd needed to hear, Jesus knew what you need to hear today too. That crowd, and you too, need to hear that Jesus gives rest to you the world worn weary. It is a rest which can not be earned by hard work and determination. Jesus gives that rest for free to all who believe and are baptized. For Jesus came to us in this world to prepare the way for our eternal salvation, which gives us that oh so needed rest. And the easy yoke Jesus spoke about was not about a yoke like the ones which make two pull something easier together. No, Jesus was speaking of the yoke of trying to live out the Law meaning trying to live a perfect life. That yoke of the Law is not easy. In fact it is an impossible burden to bear no matter how long one works or how hard you try. The yoke Jesus spoke of was the end of the Law. Jesus did live that perfect life, so there would be no burden at all for you. In fact, Jesus bore all the burden for our salvation upon His back which was laid against that wooden cross. And there on the cross all our toils, our weariness, and our endless labors are conquered and set aside, in His death He gave us life.

Millie knew that she could do anything, she could be in charge of anything, and could accomplish any task set that was before her. She knew that she loved Marvin very dearly. She knew that she loved her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. But these last few months Millie also knew that she was weary and worn down by 91 years of living in this world. She knew the next step for her would not be earned or overcome by her effort, but rather given to her by Jesus Christ Himself.

I miss Millie very much, and I know that you do too. But, I also know that in her baptism Millie was “dressed in white,”(Rev. 3:5) and her name was written in God’s big book of life. In this world Millie may have struggled for a lifetime and even for her last breath. But she knew that Jesus Christ was her Lord, who “was gentle and lowly in heart.” She knew that Jesus would free her and all believers in Him, from all the burdens of this world. Jesus has done all that and much more for Millie. For, indeed Jesus Christ has given Millie an eternal rest for her soul. Blessed are they who die in the Lord Jesus Christ from this time forth and forevermore. Amen.

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Advent 4 - Rorate Coeli - 12-20-09

Advent 4, Midweek
One Year Lectionary - Rorate Coeli
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 20, 2009)

“Confess Freely”

Readings:
Psalm 111
Dt. 18:15-19
Philippians 4:4-7
John 1:19-28

Sermon Form: Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel reading of St. John the 1st chapter, especially the following verses.

John 1:19-28

19Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " 24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

By most accounts, if we were to run into John the Baptist we would consider him to be quite different. Living out in the wilderness, eating grasshoppers and honey? We can only wonder what the neighbors of his parents were thinking. For, John the Baptist was born the son of Zechariah a Priest, from the linage of King David and his mother Elizabeth who was of the linage of Aaron, both of these royal lines. And scripture tells us that John’s parents, “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.”(Luke 1:6) John the Baptist surely did not resemble the priestly family from which he was born. But though John’s wardrobe and eating habits might be a bit confusing, John’s message was clear, for He freely confessed, “I am not the Christ.”(v.20)

Many times people confuse the looks Church with what they see when they come to church. Sometimes it is a harmless thing. And truthfully some of what they see and hear is the Church, and sometimes some of it is not. The Church is not marked by the accuracy of how we sing. Some Sundays our singing is full and sweet, and other times it is thin and a just a little wobbly. And, some people might confuse the pastor with the message, meaning while a pastor is called to be a faithful bearer of the message, the pastor is not the message. The Word of God is the message which the Pastor proclaims, but those words do not belong to him. If you look around the church you may see people who you know very well and others whom you do not know well at all. But truthfully every single person needs the Word of God and to hear the Word of God and His forgiveness, so that we can live out each and every day.

It is important that we do not confuse what we see, with that which is greater. It is also important that we do not confuse ourselves for something or someone whom we are not. And our text is a good illustration of both confusing one thing with another, and as an example of how not to permit that confusion to gain a foothold.

For example in our Gospel lesson, they came to John. Who is this they? It is the Priests and the Levites, sent by his enemies. They were looking for some way to shut John up. They didn't like what he preached. He preached sin and repentance. No one likes to hear about sin. And no one wants hear or to be told that they need to repent. Just who does this John the Baptist think he is?!! The priests and the Levites were confident that their religion was what they said it was, and that church was what they said it should be, and church should be they way that it has always been, the Good News John preached was no news they wanted to hear. So they really needed to shut John down.

And the way they chose to undermine John the Baptist was to challenge his authority. Are you the Christ? John confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”(v.20) Well, then who are you, they asked, Are you the Prophet? Because they expected a prophet before the Messiah. Moses had promised that God would raise up a prophet just like him, one who spoke to God as a man speaks to a friend, face to face. And Moses was Aaron’s brother, and ironically he would be a great ancestor of John. Again, the right family background for the greatest prophet of all times! So, if John were the prophet, would he then have the authority to be in this ministry out in the wilderness? So they asked John, are you the prophet? John answered, "No." John knew he was not here to preach about himself. John, knew that it was his duty to preach about the one who was greater than himself, to preach about Jesus Christ.

And part of preaching Christ is preaching the whole counsel of God. Meaning preaching both the Law & the Gospel. The Law is preached because it is the Word of God, because it is true and it because it is still applicable to you and me. Preaching repentance is preaching the Law to those who refuses to acknowledge their sin. If we do not face our sins and repent, then forgiveness is meaningless. If we are not confronted by our total corruption in sin, there is no way we can fathom or treasure our forgiveness. If we do not confess our sins, then we sin by confessing we are above sin. If we are not crushed by our guilt, we will not be able to delight in our forgiveness won by Jesus Christ on the Cross. If you cannot bear to hear the Law, to hear that we are all sinners, and that we sin daily by thought word and deed, then you do not believe in the Law. And quite frankly, that is what some want to hear at church, a warm fuzzy Jesus, who does not judge anyone by their sins. And if that is the Jesus we believe in, then not only do we not believe the Law, we don’t believe the Gospel either.

But the Law and Gospel do go together, in fact they are inseparable. For if we say we have no sin, then we have no need for a preacher crying out to the wilderness of our minds. And if we have no need to repent and confess our sins, then the warm fuzzy Jesus will do us no good either.

Do not disparage John the Baptist for his cry for our repentance, he only preaches what the scriptures have told him. And those scriptures tell us that humanity will always fail in any attempt to make themselves righteous, that is innocent before God. Only the one who comes after John can make us innocent. Only the one who wears the sandals John could not tie, frees you from your own thoughts, deeds, and actions. It is Jesus Christ who will confess your name before His father when you reach the final judgment. It is only Jesus Christ who could live the Law which we cannot live. And the final Law is when death overcomes us, we all will be judged for every single deed and misdeed. The Gospel is that in the final judgment God looks not at us but to Jesus Christ who declares us innocent. In Christ we receive the greater baptism in which we die to sin and have His Name placed upon our foreheads. It is Christ who gives us His body and He sheds His blood for us. It is Christ who was, is, and shall ever be the one has come to give us eternal salvation.

John the Baptist knew He was not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor was He a prophet. But John proclaimed the Messiah would come, and He has indeed. Jesus Christ has come, and He not fail to confess but will confess freely your name before His Father in heaven. And upon Christ’s confession you will see the Gospel, which is eternal life. Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

AMEN
+SDG+

Advent 3 - Midweek Service - 12-16-09

Advent 3, Midweek
One Year Lectionary,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 16, 2009)

“The Tastes of Christ”

Readings:
Deuteronomy 8:11-16
Psalm 34
Romans 14:17-23
Matthew 26:26-29

Sermon Form: Deductive

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel reading of St. Matthew the 26th chapter, especially the following verses.

Matthew 26:26-29 (ESV)

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

The sense of taste connects so directly with our minds and with our memories. I can think of no other time of year when so much cooking, baking, and memories are packed into so few weeks and days. Between the time of Thanksgiving to the feast on Christmas day, tastes and memories are filled to the brim and overflowing. The taste of favorite foods for consumption and comparison fill and overload our lives. It is wonderful to think how connected our bodies are with the tastes of seasonal dishes. These special holiday meals bring us to another place or time. We can easily admit that our taste is connected to our personal past history recorded in our minds. And we also anticipate those special meals to come.

Throughout all the history of God’s relationship with man, from the time of man’s creation to the end of all time, God gives man salvation from a broken world and the anticipation of the feast to come. In the beginning, God created the man Adam in His own image, and He gave Eve to Adam. And God set them in paradise, forbidding them to taste of only one thing. For there in the Garden of Eden, God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die."(Gen. 3:3) Yet they did taste that fruit, so man was directed that from that time forth he would, "eat the plants of the field, eat bread, and ultimately he would die, returning to the dust from which he was created."(Gen 3:18-19) And from that time forth all of mankind was subject to the sin of Adam, and so all who followed his tasted death too. Man had disobeyed, and the fruit would not taste so sweet. Yet, if this were the end of man’s history, and if God’s grace to ended at the Garden gate, it would be a tragic meal indeed. It would be a sad day indeed if this would have been the beginning of an unknown taste of eternal perfection.

Yet as Adam and Eve had sons and daughters that began to fill the earth, sin and evil remained in the world. Finally a time came when, “The LORD was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain.”(Gen. 6:5) And so it came to a time when the LORD found favor with Noah and said to Him, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them.”(Gen. 6:13) So Noah and His Family, eight people in all gathered animals as God had instructed, and they brought forth “every kind of food that [was] to be eaten and [they] stored it away as food for Noah’s family and the animals.”(Gen 6:21) And the first thing Noah did upon stepping from the Ark was to build and altar to sacrifice some of those animals to the Lord. God set His promise to never flood the earth again, “even though [He knew that] every inclination of man’s heart is evil from his childhood.” (Gen 8:21)

And the Bible is full of the evil deeds of man. The groaning for the taste of a better meal by the captive Israelites. No sooner was their bitter cry for freedom from the Egyptians heard than the soon complained of the taste of the over-abundant manna and quail which literally fell on the ground before them. They still wanted the taste of a better meal. Time after time, the people of God cried, time after time heard there cry. And time after time the people soon turned back toward their sinful lives.

The prophet Job would say, “One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure, his pails full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.” (Job 21:23-26) The common thread is a return to sin. Whether the sin is committed wholly at ease and secure, whether in bitterness, or in lack of prosperity, the result is the same for all who do not repent. They will lie down and just return to the dust from which they were made.

But for those who repent and ask forgiveness the Psalmist writes, “taste and see that the lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”(Psalm 34) Again, our Epistle lesson tells us, “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit....Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God.”(Rom. 14:17, 20) Paul was speaking to a people who took refuge in the rules and preparation of the food of men, rather than looking to God where the true feast is enjoyed.

And that true feast was given to us by God’s own Son Jesus Christ. For on that Maundy Thursday night Jesus instituted a feast beyond all compare. For in this meal Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed took bread and when He had given thank He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, Eat, This is my body and He said to them take drink this is my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This was no memorial meal, this was a meal in which God Himself is present with you at His table. When you receive the Body and Blood of Christ, you have a foretaste of the feast to come. Your receive forgiveness, and your faith sealed by your baptism is strengthened and renewed. This meal that you will receive tonight is a taste of heaven here on earth. “Jesus, [was] crowned with glory and honor because of [His} the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”(Heb 2:9) On the cross Jesus tasted death for you, so that you will never have that taste eternal death. And someday when you do close your eyes to this world, death will not overcome you. No rather you will open your eyes in heaven, you lungs will fill with heavenly air, and you will taste the victory of our God. Because Jesus on that day, will drink it new with you in His Father’s Kingdom, and there you taste eternal life in God’s kingdom.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

AMEN
+SDG+

Advent 3 - Gaudete - 12-13-09

Advent 3 - Gaudete Sunday
One Year Lectionary,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 12, 2009)

“Are You the One?”

Readings:
Is. 40:1–11
Psalm 85
1 Cor. 4:1-5
Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon Form: Deductive

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel reading of St. Matthew the 11th chapter, especially the following verses.

Matthew 11:2-11 (English Standard Version)

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 4And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." 7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.' 11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

John the Baptist asked, “shall we look for another?”(v. 3) That’s kind of an odd question to ask isn’t it? This scripture made more sense if I thought it was John’s disciples asking the question. Because if John’s disciples were asking the question, I could understand why they would ask, “Are you the one?”(v. 3) John the Baptists’ disciples were mere men, it would be easy to accept the fact that they might falter and doubt who Jesus was. But, the question posed was from John’s lips and sent by him to ask Jesus the question. Makes you wonder doesn’t it? Doesn’t it send your mind wandering with lots of extra questions? Think of the history between these two men. For example, how in the world could John be asking this question of Jesus given that “John leapt in His mothers womb.”(Luke 1:44) Yes it was the same John the Baptist who knew Jesus was near. And remember that first meeting took place when both John and Jesus were in their mother’s wombs. So how could John now wonder if Jesus was the one, the Messiah, when he had already sensed Christ’s presence without the aid of his sight?

In fact the pre-born John saw Him only by faith through the work of the Holy Spirit. How could John wonder or doubt who Jesus was when John had already baptized Jesus? You remember John the Baptist who said, “he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”(Jn 1:27) The John that had said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”(Jn 1:29) But now the question comes from John to Jesus at a much greater distance and with no means of contact except by Word of mouth. John the Baptist was in prison. This mighty preacher of repentance, this prophet who prepared the way of the Lord, was in custody in King Herod's dungeons. And so John sends word to the Incarnate Word;

“Are You the One?”

Just a short time before John was in the wilderness, wearing a camel skin pelt and with the smell of locusts and wild honey on his breath. Just a short time before, John had proclaimed by the banks of the Jordan, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"(Matthew. 3:2) John had preached repentance and that's how he prepared the way of the Lord Jesus. John preached by telling the people the truth about their sin and calling them to turn from it. The same thing is true for us today. We constantly hear the message of John, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"(Matthew 3:2) Turn away from your sin, stop justifying it and stop making excuses for it. Whether it was John who was in doubt about Jesus or whether it was John’s disciples who were in doubt, the question was still asked, “Are you the one?”(v.3) It is a question steeped in doubt. Did Jesus really do all those things? Did Jesus really heal all those people? Was Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? And was Jesus that Lamb of God, for me? Is it you Jesus, are you the one, for me?

In this season of Advent we join John the Baptist, looking forward to the one and only Lamb of God who would take away all our sin and doubt. And these are all attacks by the evil one, meant to shatter our faith, and bring us to doubt who Jesus was. Our doubt is a result of sin committed from within, sin to those around us, we deny we sin, we deny the truth, we do sin daily.

But, Jesus says, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."(v.5) And Jesus says to you, blessed are you who are not scandalized by My suffering on the cross. Blessed are you who are not offended by your need to repent and to trust in Jesus alone to save you. Blessed are you who, just like John the Baptist, who are not caused to fall from faith by the difficulties and the crosses you must yet suffer but who continue to cling to and place your hope in Jesus Christ.

Dear friends, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It is at hand because we are in the Church season called Advent anticipating the second coming of Christ. The kingdom of heaven is at hand because the Christmas season of Christ’s birth is near. But even more importantly, the kingdom draws near, because the King Himself is at hand. Jesus Christ has given His body and blood for you for the forgiveness of sins. Christ has done and will do all these things, He is our only comfort in our times of sorrow or need. Soon He will come and "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Is 40:5)

We may wonder why John would do such a thing, meaning to either doubt or dare to ask Christ. Why would he or others bend to the pressure of the winds of hot air from the people around him? Yet we, at this very moment ask this same question as we sit here impatiently on earth. Are you really the Christ who is going to save me or should I look for another. Our post-modern world offers us many suggestions which follow the earthly winds of false comfort, blowing us in many directions yet offer no lasting comfort. It may be in ten easy steps to more riches, or how to win friends and influence people. Or it may be the fool hearty theory that there are many religions and many ways to a god. When we succumb to those thoughts we are not only shaken like a reed in the wind we gladly travel the twisted winding breezes which flow through this world. A world which seeks not the truth, but rather only defines truth by whatever you say it might be and that is not truth. But if you say to someone that their god is untruth, you will offend them. If you say to someone they can not defend their position from scripture, you offend them. If you are offended by being called to repent, then you deny scripture. Sin is manifested in our doubt, doubt is manifested in raising our opinion above God’s Holy Word.

But, Jesus says, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."(v.5) And Jesus says to you, blessed are you who are not scandalized by My suffering on the cross. If we are offended when asked to repent then our indignity has convicted us, we are guilty as charged. The worldly winds have not only blown a sinful breeze to bend the reeds, those same winds bend and break our faith. We have the audacity to deny our sin, and then compound it by daring someone to say what we have done wrong, and whether we say it or think it, it is then that we have deceived ourselves and the truth is not in us.

But blessed are you who are not offended by your need to repent and to trust in Jesus alone to save you. Blessed are you, who are just like John the Baptist or his disciples who have been swayed by sin, yet still ultimately cling to and place your hope in Jesus Christ.

We wait here in this place wondering if Christ is the one who will save us. The things of this world will blow us about and we will be the ones shaken by the winds of our sin, But, Christ is not shaken, He is the one. Christ is the one who has defeated death on the cross for you. Christ is the one who comes to you today giving you His true Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins. In the Holy Supper of our Lord, Jesus will comfort you in your times of sorrow, loneliness, or need. Is Jesus the one? Hear now, "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”(v.5) Not only is Jesus the one who gives you faith to see, faith to walk, and faith upon hearing His Word. Jesus is the one who has raised you from the dead in your baptism. And now you the poor in spirit have just had the good news preached to you in hearing God’s word, by hearing John the Baptist, and by hearing Jesus Himself. Lest there be any doubt, yes indeed, Jesus is the one. He is the one who came, for you. He is the one who gives you eternal life. Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+SDG+

Advent 2 - Midweek Service - 12-9-09

Advent 2, Midweek
One Year Lectionary,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 9, 2009)

“The Sounds of Christ”

Readings:
Isaiah 40:1-5
Psalm 47
Romans 10:17-20
Luke 1:26-38

Sermon Form: Deductive

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel reading of St. Luke the 1st chapter, especially the following verses.

Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Tonight in our mid-week journey of services centering upon the Senses of Christ, we consider the Sounds of the season. The sounds which help us to know that the Christmas season is upon us. And even more importantly the sounds that remind us that Christ has come for us, and Christ will come again. It’s pretty easy to consider sounds isn’t it? We are surrounded by sounds which warn us it is the time to begin thinking about the year-end celebration. In my youth we used to say we were offended if we heard of any store breaking the unofficial Thanksgiving Day barrier. That would be the unmarked and somewhat hidden rule of time that held back cash registers from ringing up wreaths and lights, until the turkey and stuffing had cooled down to room temperature. Now that line of demarcation, that sound barrier has been broken. Because those sounds of the holidays have flown over the turkey, passed over ghouls and goblins of Halloween, and now the sounds of the season begin sometime in August. Yes, you heard it right, in August. Have you already forgotten? Don’t you remember the sounds in the stores of the sprinklers, wheelbarrows, and garden rakes being removed from the shelves to make room for the Christmas trees and sparkly decorations?

Ah yes of course, now I remember. But we’ve become numb to the change and over the years our cries of disgust have turned to soft sighs. Now just a whisper of the question, “what has this world come to?” We hear the sounds of the season begin slowly sort of like the whine of a jet engine slowly gaining speed. The whirl of the holiday engines starting slowly and progressively move faster and faster as December approaches. First there is plenty of time, then as the gears of time continue to mesh, the rushing sound of shopping begins to intensify until there is a sudden jolt. It is the realization that the season is here and now it is time to emit the sounds of anguish for the lack of shopping time left.

Of course in the midst of all this there are the wonderful sounds of the parades, the concerts, the parties, the dinners, the sounds of glasses being filled, the carols of the season being sung all around us. Then again, for some, there is the sound of silence, the sound of being lonely, the sound of missing those who have been with us, the sound of that special voice that we must now wait patiently to hear again when we meet in heaven. Ah yes, the sounds of Christmas, the joy and the sorrow, the sounds of those who revel in excess, and the sound of those who must grovel because they do not have enough to make it through the next day. Whether we are of high or low position, whether we have many possessions or few, at times we all have rejoiced in the clamor of laughter, and we have also contemplated the deafening sound of silence from voices we wish we could hear again. Indeed, the sounds of the season evoke our minds to recall many reflections.

And over all those overwhelming sounds which blare in the wilderness of our minds, come the words of the prophet Isaiah proclaiming, “3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”(Isaiah 40:3-5)

It is the sound of the mouth of the Lord who comes to you crying so that you will hear. Through all the background din the sound of the glory of the Lord is revealed. And how does this glory come to you. St. Paul tells you to listen, “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”(Rom 10:17) That comfort comes to you through the sound of the Holy Spirit whispering faith into your ear. And that which you are given, your faith, that gift clings to Jesus Christ who has conquered all things, even death itself.

And how does Christ come into this world? By the sound of the voice of an angel who came to Mary the mother of Jesus, and the angel said to her, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!...Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”(Luke 1:26-31) At the bidding of God, an angel spoke, and from the sound of God’s words, Mary concieved in her womb the very Son of God.

Mary heard from that angel the sound of God’s voice. The mouth of God spoke and salvation came into the world. And just for the record, Jesus did not come in an effort to create a marketing bonanza, to sell trees, toys, or Christmas cards. No, Jesus Christ came into this world so that you may hear of and receive the salvation which He has won for you. Jesus came for you, and you hear of His victory over our sins, and even death. And upon hearing the sound of the Triune Name in your baptism you were given a promise. This promise sealed your life, so that you would hear the sounds of a heavenly celebration greater than all the Christmas’ past, present, or of your future here on this earth.

Enjoy a blessed Christmas season. Listen to and hear all the sounds that make this season so dear to us, so very special. Yes, even those sounds which start quietly in August and build to a roar in December. This time of the Advent of our Lord is indeed a very special and wonderful time of the year. Yet make room also to hear the sounds of Christ. For Jesus Christ came for you as that baby in the manger, who would have cried out not just for the want of earthly food. It is the sound of the mouth of the Lord who comes to you crying to you so that you will hear of His love for you.

Hear now the sound of Christ’s voice who spoke, “this is my body, this is my blood given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of your sins.” In the sound of His words He gives you heavenly food. Hear the sounds of Christ on the cross who said to you, “It is finished.”(John 19:30) Know that though your ears be deafened by the rattle of earthly things, all the sounds of Christ’s words bring His victory over death to you. The sounds of the Christ-child, the Christ-man, the Christ who is the very Son of God bring you more than a very special and wonderful time of any given year. Indeed the sound of Christ’s words, bring you into His presence and in His voice you will hear the sounds of your future eternal bliss. Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

AMEN
+SDG+

Advent 2 - Populus Sion -12-6-09

The Church Season of Advent
Advent 2 – Populus Sion
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI December 6, 2009

Readings:
Malachi 4:1-6
Psalm 50:1-15
Romans 15:4-13
Luke 21:25-36

+INI+

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The text for today’s message is as recorded in the Gospel lesson from the 21st chapter of Matthew, especially the following verses,

Luke 21:25-36 (NIV)

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars."(v. 25) Well that is scripture we can really dig our teeth into. We like to watch for signs, we love predictions, we love when people get them right, and we love when people get them wrong too. We are engulfed by the signs around us, is the economy getting better or worse, we look for even a glimpse for when a recovery will begin for the employment of our friends and family members. We find signs on earth in many forms: universal distress and worry, people don't know where they are going, life is like the roaring sea, people are out of breath for fear of the future. There are signs which we recognize and follow in nature, society, theology, economics, and politics. And it seems the more we watch the more it appears we either struggle to get control or struggle with our fellow man over whose opinion should be in control. Yes there are signs everywhere, some we watch and some we ignore. But the signs which scripture speaks of? Well it would appear that no man can control and no one can escape. Everywhere in all countries and among all peoples, scripture tells us,

“There will be Signs”

Especially now as the year comes to an end we see many signs in the world around us. As the trees stand bare and empty, lifting their naked arms to the sky, we recall the end. The grass is now brown and yellow, a dead and lifeless thing, signs helping us to recall the end. The fields are largely empty and the sky is slowly turning its shades to the gray of winter, the wind blows, the snow falls we recall the end.

Yet in our Gospel lesson we hear of a quite different signals for the end. When Jesus speaks of the end, He does not look at the Fall of the year or the winter, but at its springtime. “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.”(v.29) Spring and buds and blooms mean that summer is near. And so these cataclysmic signs foretold by Jesus mean that God’s forever summer is ready to break upon the world. Thus the Advent posture of the people of God is not the dismal dread of doomsday, but the sharp-eyed and head-raising expectation of the Kingdom of eternal joy.

Who can describe what goes on in the heart of man when the first smells and hints of spring arrive? We laugh for the sheer joy of it. We are like the “calves let out from the stall,"(Malachi 4:2) kicking up our heels in delight, when the Sun of Righteousness rises with healing in His wings. But the end does not mean that the show is over, it means that the waiting for the show to begin is now behind us. The cataclysmic show has begun, the end comes, and it means completion, fullness, joy.

Yet we may not ignore the warning of the text. The end means completion, fullness, and joy to those who are watching and waiting, praying and longing for the Advent of the Eternal Spring. Yet we largely ignore it, forget about it, and only listen to the warnings of scripture when we are reminded of it on Sundays.

As a child my older sister lived in New Jersey. And when we visited she took us into New York City for a visit. Oh we visited all the regular places, but one of the most vivid memories I have is a worn and torn, scraggily man standing on a wooden box, reading scripture. And set below his self made pulpit a sign that said, “The end is near.” Most people walked on by, nothing new to see for a New Yorker, just another street beggar with a sign. When Martin Luther died, they found a small note in his pocket. And upon that note was scribbled, “We are all beggars, this is true.” Luther was pointing out that we as humans no matter how much we have, still have nothing, but for the grace of God.

And so what do you see today? You see you see another beggar in a more shapely pulpit, proclaiming the signs of the end of all time. Jesus said, “Watch therefore and pray always.” This is the posture of the Advent Church: “Come, Lord Jesus! Quickly come!” The heart that can pray that has nothing to fear on the Last Day. For on that day, we will be delivered from the power of sin forever. Says Martin Luther: “If you long to be freed from sin, then you have nothing to fear about that Day.” But if you love your sin, and coddle it, and treasure it in your heart and don’t want to be separated from it – beware of that Day like the plague! For it will wed you to your sin and its punishment for all eternity.

We Christians are weak as we wait for that day. Our hearts are halved. With part of us we ache for the signs that the end is near. Yet part of us we still fear the sign of death because of the uncertainty that we will loose all that we have gained. Until the end, we have always to balance our praying, “Thy kingdom come” with “forgive us our trespasses.” What on earth shall keep us and get us through? What can help these wretchedly divided hearts – so longing for the Kingdom to come and so fearful of having to say good bye to this world? Be a beggar, know that there are no words you can utter to reduce your fear. Rather hear the words of Jesus Christ, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Christ’s words are our only hope. They are rock solid. Stronger than this earth. Stronger even than heaven. His Words do not cease forever. A life that is built upon them is a life that is built secure. A heart that hopes upon them is a heart that hopes secure. His Words tell of the coming Kingdom. His Words bring the coming Kingdom to reality here and now. Already and not yet. His Words gain the victory in our sinful, divided hearts.

Taking his Words seriously, we do not wait for His Day without being fore-warned. Do not pass by His warning like some beggar on a street corner. God has given us the Scriptures, so that we might have hope. (Rom. 15:13) On the Ascension see Christ, lift up your heads and see your redemption, in glory He will one day return just as on that day. The Crucified One, now Risen and Reigning in endless glory. At the Holy Supper of our Lord, lift up your eyes and see. Your redemption draws nigh. “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” Jesus is the sign that the air with the scent of eternal spring upon you. Lift up your heads! Lift up your hearts! Jesus Christ comes for you. In His Body and Blood, He comes for you. Jesus comes to you through what now is hidden, yet one day all will be revealed. His Body and Blood in visible glory for all to see. For those who love the sign of His appearing: unending joy and the beginning of eternal spring. For those who hate the sign like some misfit taking up space on a sidewalk, His appearing will come too and it will be the sign of unending sorrow and the beginning of eternal winter, of endless death.

Christ’s Words reveal all the signs of that and His Words are what endure. Jesus’ Words are true though everything else is false. His Words give what they say: My body and my blood for you for the forgiveness of your sins, there is no more sure sign than that. A life built on those rock solid words is a life ready for the End, which is the beginning and forever. Jesus Christ is indeed the sign of eternal life, for you. Amen!

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Advent 1 Midweek Service - 12-2-09

Advent 1, Midweek
One Year Lectionary,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 2, 2009)

“The Fragrances of Christ”

Readings:
Genesis 8:20-22
2 Corinthians 2:15-16
John 12:1-8

Sermon Form: Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel reading of St. John the 12th chapter, especially the following verses.

John 12:1-8 (ESV)

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

It is the Church season of Advent, we approach Christmas yet we are urged by our surroundings and our society to forget all the waiting and move on to Christmas. Advent looses focus and its place in the rush or rather I should say in our rush we loose our focus. And to complicate matters Advent seems strange to us, anticipating Christmas by celebrating the Christ-man and all that He would do when He came into this world and all that He would do upon His return. It is a time of almost, but not yet, contrasted by “faith completed by His works.”(James 2:22)

Tonight our journey during this Advent season begins, and our meditations along the way will reflect on the Senses of Christ. And I hope you’re wondering right now whether I meant a census in terms of a people counting like the one that Joseph and Mary responded to, to arrive in Bethlehem. Or senses, meaning the senses of smell, sound, taste, sight, and touch. The answer to either and both of those questions is yes, we will ponder the census/senses in both meanings. So we will begin with the senses of how we perceive Christ’s coming, and we will conclude on Christmas day with the census which brought Jesus’ parents to the tiny village of Bethlehem.

And so the journey begins with the fragrances of the season, the smells of Advent leading us to Christmas. That would be an easy one to relate to in our impatient Advent days. Many of you have been involved with seasonal preparation, whether it be baking at home or for the cookie and candy sale here at church. We have a plethora of wonderful baking smells inundating the church and our homes. For us there are many fragrances to recall, right from the time of preparation to the very end product. This season in December, actually beginning with Thanksgiving, we are inundated with all kinds of good cooking fragrances. Other smells too, for as the weather turns colder somehow we are more frequently inclined to light a candle or two in the house to add a comforting aroma to our homes. And lest we not forget that at some point the Christmas tree arrives, and if it is a fresh tree, that pine smell overwhelms the spaces of our homes. Oh there are some smells which other people enjoy that we don’t, and visa versa, but on the whole we enjoy those special smells which are sweet to our own noses. I’m sure you’ll also think of many other fragrances too, maybe the smell of that toasty fire in the fireplace, or of wassail brewing, or maybe peppermint sticks, or even a cinnamon potpourri. Yes, all those and many more fragrances are just a few of the signs of the season. Very powerful influences too, so much so that just one hint or whiff and our memories jump to past times, occasions of our youth, times of celebration, or maybe for a special family gathering.

But then we come to another place where aroma’s speak of God’s presence. Many Old Testament readings speak about the, “lord smelling the pleasing aroma.“(Gen 8:20-22) That thought of an “aroma pleasing to the lord”, is found in over forty places in the Old Testament alone. But, quite frankly, the aroma’s in those passages are not ones that we would like to re-create as a scent for the potpourri of our Advent season. For the aroma in those scriptures speak of a smell of burnt offerings which rise from sacrifices on the altar before God. One can only imagine being engulfed in the magnitude of the smell of the temple sacrifices. For there, with the shear number of animals sacrificed, the putrid smell could only have inundated and overpowered the nostrils and senses of anyone who dared to draw near.

So then we ask, how in the world, could that kind of aroma ever be pleasing, especially to God Himself? Maybe it would better to think of what this all means in relation to the Advent, the coming of Christ. For that burnt offering upon the altars was a time when God met with His people. A time when He conveyed His favor and blessing upon them. A time after He had cleansed them from impurity. A time to remember His covenant with His people.

Jump then forward in time to the home of Mary and Martha where Jesus was gathered in their presence. There in her home Mary, “took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”(John 12:3) And though Judas would transparently squeal at the waste of money, Jesus would remind all who were with Him, that that the same fragrance would be used to prepare Him for His death and burial which was to come.

Repent, for without Christ’s fragrant preparation for us, we would not be pleasing in any way before God. In our sin and by the merit of our own lives, our efforts and deeds would be as putrid and intense as were the overwhelming odors of the animal sacrifices of the temple. By our own preparations we are not worthy to meet Christ, nor are we worthy to reviece His favor and blessing upon us.

Yet, Jesus Christ came into the world as God Incarnate and here He has met with His people. Upon the cross Jesus was sacrificed and He conveyed His favor and blessing upon us. In your baptism Jesus has cleansed you of all you impurities. But because of the sacrifice Christ made for us St. Paul tells us, “we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life”(2 Cor 2:15-16) In this time of Advent, as we await impatiently for the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ. Know that you who believe and are baptized are the saved ones who are not perishing. Through Jesus Christ you are given the “fragrance from life to life.” And that is a fragrance stronger than any conveyed or received from baking or by any aroma which induces whimsical remembrances of holidays past. For in Jesus Christ you are perceived and prepared as a fragrance which is beyond this world. By Christ’s saving work you are given eternal life, and forever in His kingdom is indeed a sweet, sweet smell, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

AMEN
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Advent & Christmas Services

Advent Sunday Services
Advent 2 - 12/6/09 @ 9:30 a.m.
Advent 3 - 12/13/09 @ 9:30 a.m. with Holy Communion
Advent 4 - 12/20/09 @ 9:30 a.m.

Advent Midweek Services all with Holy Communion
Advent 1 Midweek, 12/2/09, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 Soup and Sandwich)
Advent 2 Midweek, 12/9/09, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 Soup and Sandwich)
Advent 3 Midweek, 12/16/09, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 Soup and Sandwich)

Christmas Services with Holy Communion
Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.
Christmas Day, 9;30 a.m.
First Sunday in Christmas, 9:30 a.m.
New Year's Eve, 6:30 p.m.

Latin Names for Advent Services

In case you were wondering about those Latin words for the Sundays in Advent....

Advent I
Ad Te Levavi
from Psalm 24
in Latin = Ad te levavi animam meam
in English =Unto thee have I lifted up my soul

Advent II
Populus Sion
from Psalm 30
in Latin = Populus Sion, ecce Dominus veneit et ad salvandas gentes
in English =People of Zion behold, the Lord is coming to save all nations

Advent III
Gaudete
from Philemon 4
in Latin = Gaudete in Domino semper
in English = Rejoice in the Lord always

Advent IV
Rorate
from Isaiah 45
in Latin = Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustrum
in English = Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness

Advent 1 - Ad Te Levavi - 11-29-09

The Church Season of Advent
Advent 1 – Ad Te Levavi
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI November 29, 2009

“Your King comes to you this day”

Readings:
Jeremiah 23:5-8
Psalm 24
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 21:1-9

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The text for today’s message is as recorded in the Gospel lesson from the 21st chapter of Matthew, especially the following verses,

Matthew 21:1-9 (ESV)

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The paraments of our altar have changed to the royal color of purple. The Advent of our Lord is upon us, and how is it that the Lord of lords, the King of kings approaches the Holy city of Jerusalem? Scripture tells us, “See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.”(v. 5) Oh that we could re-create that day. Many try, in fact thousands upon thousands have visited the Holy Land, seeking to walk where Jesus walked. They wish to see the road where He walked into the city. People wish to see where He was tried, convicted and crucified. They seek to find Jesus by lighting a candle, going to a grotto, by praying the right words. They think to themselves, If only I could see where those crowds were gathered, if only I could bring home a little dust from the Holy Land. But Jesus can not be sifted from the sands of Jerusalem, nor captured by our hands or our imaginations. No, your King Jesus Christ comes to you.

He comes as an unexpected ruler, a man who does not fit our minds eye for the design of someone who is the creator and ruler of the universe. Neither you nor the crowds of ancient Jerusalem came to Jesus. No that is not how the prophecy goes, for it was written it this way, “Your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”(v.5)

“Your King comes to you this Day”

And that crowd so many years ago, as Jesus approached Jerusalem, they threw their cloaks on the ground, and they laid down a carpet of palm leaves for the Messiah. He came to them. Very possibly the same people who would less than a week later cry "Crucify Him." Fickle crowd eh? Yet in that swing from cheers to jeers there is a warning here for us all. For one day we may praise God to the highest heaven for what He has done and the next day we may be despondent and blame God for all our ills. But quite frankly in spite of you and what you have done, your King still comes to you. Not in some abstract time or place, He comes for you, right here, right now, this very day.

And how would that be, you may ask? Well, today we have the honor of celebrating many good gifts from God. Among these gifts, today we will welcome two new members to our church, Ryan and Bridgett. And today we will celebrate and witness both the Sacraments of God. For today, in just a few minutes, Bridgett will be baptized. So the King Jesus Christ comes here in our midst for her.

Yet this is not the first encounter Christ has had with Bridgett. She has attended services and heard the Word of God, in many and various places. She has attended weeks of classes here delving into the scriptures, asking questions, hearing the Word of God. Now we gathered here would say, “then today is the conclusion, that is, God will finally come to her in the baptismal font.” But that would not be correct, she does not come here by her own reason and strength. She does not come here based upon some crafty marketing plans or by endless planning meetings, nor by her works or by the work of any others. Truthfully, she comes here the same way you did. The same way all God’s children arrive at the foot of the baptismal font. She heard the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit worked faith in her.

But wait you say, she’s an adult, when I was baptized I was a child. Yes, and you heard the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit worked faith in you too. Your faith and God’s grace are a gift. Faith and grace are not what you have done, nor what someone has done for you. You did not receive faith because you were carried to the font as an infant, or because you walked to the font as an adult. No matter what age, you heard the Word of God, and when it pleased the Holy Spirit, He brought you to faith.

Indeed, Bridgett will be made a child of God. Just like you in your baptism, today Bridgett will die to sin, and out of that water combined with God’s Word she will be re-born. She will live to Christ and be given grace upon grace. Today all of heaven sings, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”(v.9) The King comes to her this very day. Today all of heaven will rejoice on the account of just one, just like when all of heaven rejoiced on your baptismal day.

And today you will witness miracle upon miracle. For not only will Bridgett be made a child of God today, she will also be welcomed to Holy Communion. To partake of both Holy Sacraments in one day is a special blessing. And how many sacraments are there? Only two, Baptism and Holy Communion. And what is a Sacrament? It is a sacred act instituted by God, in which God Himself has joined His Word of promise to a visible element, and by which He offers, gives, and seals the forgiveness of sins earned by Christ. Notice carefully, that in both sacraments, Christ the King comes to you, and He comes to you this day.

Martin Luther said of Christ, “He is a peculiar King: you do not seek him, He seeks you; you do not find him, He finds you; for the preachers come from Him not from you; their preaching come from Him not from you; your faith comes from Him not from you; and all that your faith works in you comes from Him not from you.”

It is Christ who comes for you, you do not proceed to Him. What proceeds from us is not worthy of this King, what comes from us is a bedraggled mixture of praise when things are good and blame when things are bad. Rather, Jesus teaches us to see our earthly trials and struggles are more than physical: they are spiritual. And for that we should warn Bridgett, for upon becoming a child of God, the devil, the world, and temptation for sin, will be doubled against her.

But now your King, God Incarnate has come to you, and He gives you respite from all these attacks. When worn down by the things of the world, look to your baptism, it was then Your King came for you. Whether your physical health be challenged or your world seems to crumble about you, rejoice for Your King came for you. Faith by nature does not judge nor reason by what it sees and feels, but by what it hears. Faith depends upon the Word alone and not on vision or sight. You who believe in Christ must find riches in poverty, honor in dishonor, joy in sorrow, life in death, and hold fast to them, for your King has come to you. Jesus is that King who gives you faith which clings to the Word and expects such things.

Into Jerusalem Jesus came as the King riding on a donkey. Today Jesus comes to you in the hearing of His Word, in the bread and wine, in His the true body and blood. He comes for you Bridgett, He comes for all of you too. For Christ who once came to us in a lowly form now rules all of creation. Our King Jesus Christ comes to you this day and every day to give to you eternal life.

AMEN

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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