The Seventh & Eighth Sunday's after Trinity July 18 and July 25, 2010

I was on vacation for these two Sunday's.  I thank God for the opportunity to be renewed and refreshed while away.  I thank God to be back again to serve the people of God at Our Savior Lutheran Church.

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity - July 11, 2010

The Church Season of Pentecost
The Sixth Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (July 11, 2010)

“The Father’s Love”

Readings:  
    Psalm 19
    Exodus 20:1-7
    Romans 6:1-11
    Matthew 5:17-26

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 Lesson from the 20th chapter of Exodus, especially the following verse:

Exodus 20:1-7
 1 And God spoke all these words:  2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  3 "You shall have no other gods before me.  4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.  7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

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

Our Old Testament text, this morning should be familiar to you for this is the record of the Ten Commandments just as they appear in Scripture.  And the first thing that you might say is that something is missing from this text, because these are not the whole Law of God.  If you read the verses following these, you will find that God goes on at length with the other commandments.  These are simply the first words God spoke to the people of Israel, and He spoke them directly to all of the people.  

When they first heard these words, the sound of God’s speaking so terrified the people that they pleaded with Moses to be their mediator.  They named Moses to hear God and for him to speak for them to God, so that they would not have to listen to the terrifying voice they had heard from Mt. Sinai.  Not so much anymore, as those verses were read a few moments ago neither the reader nor any of the listeners so much even squirmed in their seats.  

But it would appear from the verses following our text, that God’s intentions were clear.  He was, and is, very serious.  He wanted the Israelites to hear Him and He wants us to hear Him too.  God wanted them to understand that He was real in a way that none of the Gods of the other religions were or could be real.  Again, He wants the same for us too.  And maybe we’re not dancing around some Ashtoreth poles or bowing to gods named baal.  No those gods are long gone or forgotten, now the gods have newer names usually attached to a new car, or some kind of new gadget, or something we have that our neighbor can’t afford.  

And, according to the verses that follow after our text, God’s Word worked, “all the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.  Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, lest we die."  And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."

And God’s purpose was not to terrify and 'boss around' a primitive people, but rather it was to guide them, and protect them against the pressures and temptations that they would face.  Jesus Himself gives us the summary of the law, and the summary of the Law is love.  Kind of hard to believe isn’t it?  We know the Law kills and yet that is out of love?  

But to understand God’s love one must first understand that love is not a feeling, at least, love is not only a feeling.  While there is an emotional component to it, real love acts out, it does things, in fact it does something very real.  In that regard, love is different from infatuation, infatuation is pure feeling.  We can be infatuated with cars because they’re fast or slow, or money because someone else has it and we don’t, or we can even be infatuated with people.  You’ve heard it before, "I love this person because they make me feel so good.  How long does a marriage last if we must feel good 100% of the time, not long I’m afraid.  A crush, or infatuation, is often attributed to the young, but older people have them too.  But true love is focused on the One who is loved.

God's love for us is like that.  We don't make God feel good.  He is focused, rather, on us and on our welfare and well-being.  He saw our condition in sin - from eternity, before we were even created - and He planned our salvation.  He sent His Son into the flesh, to become human and to fulfill the law for us, and He sent Hs Son to suffer horribly and to die for our guilt and sin to redeem us.  That was love, that is love.  God got nothing for Himself out of this, but He saved us.  Just the same, God forgives us for Christ's sake and pours out on us resurrection and everlasting life spent in glory with Him.  God’s love is focused upon us, and upon Christ for us.

The Ten Commandments teach us how that love looks when it flows out for us.  It speaks about truly loving God - with all your heart and soul, with all your strength and mind - and loving your neighbor, other people, with a genuine and Godly love.  Human life lived in love will look like what these "commandments" describe.  For example, when one truly loves God as God, there is no other God in their life.  As Luther described it, we fear, love, and trust in God above all things.  That is a large order.  We can imagine that God is the center of our lives, but to trust God so much that nothing else is required, to love God so that we desire nothing more than to please Him, or to fear God in such a way that nothing can frighten us into forgetting God or His will - even for a moment – well that is beyond our human abilities.  But that describes what a true and complete love for God would be like.

But the challenge of God’s love is the challenge of God’s commands, “Do this.”  There is no wiggle room in God’s Words, no do this next week, or during the next commercial.  Do this perfectly, do this without fail, every minute, every second of our lives, “Love the Lord your God above all things.”  Always, and that is how Jesus summed up the first three commandments too.

And the other seven commandments focus on how we would live out our love for God by loving those He has given to us to serve and to care for.  Once again, we are reminded that love is not just a feeling.  Hopefully, the feelings come with the behaviors, but the love of God flows from us toward others in what we do, in how we deal with another, not just in your thoughts or emotional responses.  The love for God shows itself in love for one another, and compassion toward others - all others.  Of course, it starts close to home.  Parents, for example, have been placed in God's place in the life of their families.  They are called on to seek the welfare of their children and provide for them and others placed by God under their care.  We are, by this fact, obligated to honor and serve our parents much as we would serve God.  If you cannot love those whom God has placed over you in His stead, how could you possibly love God?

Well as you know from the catechism, the Law always accuses us, it makes us die, it makes us fear, it drives us to worry, it drives us to despair.  The Law shows us that we are called to repentance not just every Sunday, but every day and truthfully every waking hour.  There is no escape from the Law, it clings to us closer than our shadow on a sunny day, but it is much closer and much more real than a shadow, it is what we are by our own actions and accord.

But, thanks be to God, that He has loved us and redeemed us and rescued us, and given us a marvelous hope.  And that is what always must be with the Law and that is the Gospel.  The two cannot be separated, for the Gospel literally means “The Good News.”  And that is the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The Law tears us down and we see ourselves for what we are, the Gospel pulls us up out of this sin filled world and God sees us through Jesus Christ, and God sees us for what Christ has done for us.  Not in abstract ways, but ways b which we can understand with our frail minds, and see with our dimmed eyes.  For God has given us Holy Baptism, His Word and Water combined to touch us and make us die before our time so that we live to Christ.  Thank God that He has provided us with the Holy Supper of our Lord as we receive Christ’s Body and Blood as reminder that we may trust in Him even in the face of our daily failure to love Him or to love one another as we know we should.  God’s love never fails you.  His compassion for you never ceases.  Even in the face of the law of God, which stands accusing us in our sin, we can see the great love of God for us.  God gives us this constant reminder of our need for a redeemer.  God provides gives us each moment, each day, each week a wonderful message that He has provided the Redeemer whom we need, and that is His Son Jesus Christ.

The ten commandments accuse, and our God forgives.  Your sins, whatever they may be - and these commandments remind us how many and how serious they are - your sins are forgiven.  The Lord our God, is the one who gave us the Law and He said, "Thou shalt not . . .", He is also the Lord our God who gave us His only begotten Son who said, "It is finished.”   And that is the greatest love of all, a love of the Father for His Son, and the love of God’s Son Jesus Christ, for you.  Amen.

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The Fifth Sunday after Trinity - July 4, 2010

The Church Season of Pentecost
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (July 4, 2010)

“Lord, I am a Sinful Man”

Readings: 
    Psalm 16
    1 Kings 18:11-21
    1 Cor 1:18-25
    Luke 5:1-11

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 Lesson from the 5th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verse:

Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he [Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

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

It is worth repeating, Simon Peter said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”(v. 8)  Ironic isn’t it?  Simon Peter was with Christ from the beginning of His public ministry, yet it seems that Peter was still not ready to believe.  Well at least that is how some might view Peter’s actions.  Some might say Peter was not spiritual enough, that he had not yet reached the age of reason, that he had not yet seen enough, or had not yet learned enough to believe.  But that kind of thinking is backward and quite wrong.  And Jesus proves it is wrong too, and Jesus shows Peter in a way which Peter could understand.  Jesus showed Peter that no action of his own would bring him success on that day.  At the same time Jesus was teaching a lesson of salvation too.  So Jesus stands in a boat and directs another boat to go to deep water and fish.  In fact, Jesus told them to fish where the fishing was no good, to fish the spot that was fished out.  Jesus told Peter to come to the place where Jesus would lead him rather than the place where Peter’s reason would lead him.  And so, at first Peter balk, but then he relents and does as he is told.  Peter put out into deep water, because Jesus told him to do so.  And the results?  Well, Peter does not get to say I told you so, because his boat is overwhelmed with success, and Peter admits that he is just,

 “A Sinful Man”

Peter had heard the Word of God from Jesus, the Word of God.  So, when Peter had let down his nets and they soon were filled to capacity, even to overflowing.  The nets were so full that they were straining and breaking from the weight of all the fish.  At Christ’s direction, Peter and the other disciples had moved out into deeper water and they had a miracle catch of food that would nourish their bodies for just a day.  Unknowingly Peter, and the other disciples there that day, had become the subject of a teachable moment.  What does that mean?  Jesus was using an object lesson is a lesson in which a teacher uses actions familiar to all the students to help them understand the deeper meaning of a more important lesson.  So on the shores of the Lake of Gennesaret, which is to us known as the Sea of Galilee, became the perfect setting for a deeper lesson set in a miracle.

Christ ordered the disciples out into deep water for that lesson.  And when the great catch of fish occurred Peter was astonished.  Yet Peter did not revel in the magnitude of that catch.  Nor did he gather the fishing team together to do a victory dance, or try to multiply this one day success into a sales pitch for their fishing groups. There is no puffing out of the chest as a result of worldly accomplishments and victories.  Rather, Peter does what we do to this very day, he falls on his knees in reverence the miracle which has been performed before him. And upon his knees he makes that confession, saying “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”(v. 8)

Peter had seen the great catch and he made an instantaneous response.  A deep response with clear and reverential body language, and with clear language in the words he spoke.  He kneeled before Jesus and admitted that he was a poor miserable sinner.  It is acknowledgment of sin in words similar to those which we still confess to this very day.  Words like that of the Psalm written by King David, “Where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Ps. 121:1-2)  He acknowledged that he was a slave to sin.

On this day of American Independence, we proclaim our freedom, we celebrate our freedom, we are proud of our freedom.  And certainly we have the right to do that, many people have given their lives so that we can still live in a place called the United States of America.  We have a Bill of Rights, our freedom is the envy of the world.  As a nation we are very blessed and if someone would scoff at that remark, then you have never been to a third world country to see just how much we have.  Yet, to some, it would seem that all that we have done is toiled in vain throughout many a dark night and that our nets are still coming up empty.  And thoughts of emptiness, self-pity, doom and gloom make us think that we have toiled in vain.  Why can’t we work our way out of all this?  Our pain is real if only somehow we could gain our freedom from this crazy world.

From all these thoughts and actions we are called to repent.  For those shallow thoughts are really thoughts of self salvation.  But by hearing the Good News, that is the Word of Christ, these thoughts give way to the deeper lessons.  Lesson like the one that applied to Simon Peter and the disciples and still apply to us this very day.  For though we would like to think it so, “success does not come through our own effort, skill, or diligence “(Luther’s Church Postils 2:2:151) People are not freed by their own actions from the various things that attack us in this world.  It is by the Word of God alone.  We the People, are drawn to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit, in the proclamation of God’s Holy Word.  Scripture even tells us so for, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”(Rom. 10:17)

Yesterday, today, or tomorrow, you may hear the loud beautiful explosions of fireworks celebrating our Independence.  Enjoy the occasion, many Americans have earned you that right.  But also know that even greater still, Jesus Christ earned for you eternal salvation by His death upon the cross.   And there Christ brings you freedom from what ever weighs heavy on your minds.  You have heard the Word of God, you have received Christ’s blessing in baptism, and when you receive Holy Communion. 

God is here with you in this place, and He reminds you that your sins are forgiven.  Your eternal freedom is assured, it’s all been accomplished for you, by Jesus Christ who died for you on the cross.  Jesus not only gives you freedom for your days on this earth, He gives you everlasting freedom.  And that freedom is an eternal free gift for you, Amen.

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The Fourth Sunday after Trinity - June 27, 2010

The Church Season of Trinity
The Fourth Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (June 27, 2010)

“Judge Not”

Readings:   
    Psalm 138
    Genesis 50:15:21
    Romans 12:14-21
    Luke 6:36-42

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 Lesson from the 6th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verse:

Luke 6:36-42 (NIV)

36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 39 He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

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

In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus Christ gives us this commandment, "Do not Judge not, and you will not judged."(v. 37)  So many times we hear this saying being used by people to say that you should never pass judgment on anything or anyone at any time.  We’ve all heard someone said it to us as one time or another, "Judge not."  It may seem that if you say that an some action is a sin, you may get the response, "Judge not."  Even if you hold to the Commandments of God at all, they still may tell you, "Judge not."

But Jesus condemned the Pharisees for this kind of thought process very often.  But there is a difference between using the Word of God to judge and using our own opinions to judge.  There is a difference between judging a person's actions and judging the person as a whole.

We may wrongfully judge others within our heart’s before speaking with that person.  When we see another person Christ sin, and we condemn them as a bad person, then we are being a hypocrite, because this kind of condemnation belongs to God alone.  For it is not the outward appearance of the works that commends or condemns a person.  It is the faith within, which only God can see and judge. 

So, if we condemn people in our hearts based on works, then we are acting like a hypocrites.  But truthfully, how easy that is!  How quickly the sinful heart leaps at the opportunity to look down upon someone whom you catch in a sin!  Every person is a hypocrite sometimes, since the flesh is always judgmental.  If fact we sometimes even revel in the fact that someone gets caught, there’s even a German word for it too.  It’s call schadenfreude, meaning deriving pleasure at the misfortune of others.  Or maybe better said in English, comeuppance, we love to see someone get their comeuppance.

 But, it is very different to judge a person based on our thoughts than it is to judge a person based upon the Word of God.  If we compare actions to the Word of God, then it is not you but God who judges if His Word speaks against sin.  Be careful, however, that you accurately judge whether someone is breaking one of God's Commandments.  If they are not, but you judge them, then you bring shame on yourself.  So you must know the Word very well, which unfortunately, most people do not.  Most people use their hearts to judge right and wrong.  Very few study the Word diligently to know how to judge properly.

But Christ indeed says that there is a time to show your brother his sin.  As we are obligated by the Eighth Commandment to defend our neighbor by not spreading words that hurt his reputation, we are also obligated by the Word of Christ to show a brother his sin.  We are obligated by the Word of God to show others their sin in order to bring him to repentance, out of love for him.  Usually that means going privately to him, in fact that is just what the Bible tells us to do.  And, at the very least, it does not mean telling someone else.

But that’s not the way we usually do it.  We love to continually judge the sins of others based on its own standards.  But, oh do we love to gossip and pass sentence on others.  But, when the light of God's Word falls upon us the Law strikes and revels our own sin.  It is the proverbial message of pointing at someone’s sin with one finger without realizing that every time you point, there are three fingers pointing back at you.  That is the build up of darkness, plank after plank and beam after beam blocks your eyesight, disturbing the right judgment of sin and righteousness.  For all have been conceived and born in iniquity, and stained by the sinful flesh.

 

Instead the standard for the forgiveness and mercy we are supposed to show is the standard given to us by our heavenly Father.  He is merciful and gracious far beyond what do or say.  For God did not destroy us even though we deserved it.  We should have been condemned, but God’s vision is not impaired by sawdust or planks.  God not only the outward appearance of our human works, but also into the soul, where the source of all sinfulness lies.  

In spite of all that we have done in our lives God loves you as His precious child and holy saint.  He forgives your sins, which are many.  He has spoken of you as righteous, that is free from sin, without any blemish in you. How can the Father speak that way and think that way about a sinner?  Because He looks upon you only through His Son.  He sees Christ in you.  That is how He judges you.  Christ was merciful and forgiving and giving.  So the Father thinks that way about you.  Christ even forgave those who crucified Him.  So the Father counts the same loving forgiveness of Christ as belonging to your good works.

But, in a way God has a sort of plank in His eye and that plank is the wooden beam of the Cross.  He looks at you, but the Cross of Jesus Christ blocks His sight from seeing your sins.  And the best thing of all is that God does not desire to take that plank of the cross from .  In fact, He put it there, Himself!

So God has made Himself blind to your sins, and able only to see goodness in you.  He is the complete opposite of a hypocrite. While human beings try so hard even to forget one tiny word said in anger by a brother, God the Father forgets about multitudes after multitudes of sins.  While mankind struggles merely to show the tiniest mercy, God the Father shows infinite mercy through His Son.

How abundant is this wonderful forgiveness you receive!  He overflows with mercy upon mercy here.  Absolution, the Word, preaching, the Holy Supper, and the abiding forgiveness of Baptism are here.  The Father delights in overwhelming you with His mercy.  Here, He not only blesses you with overflowing grace, but He also is showing you how you are to be graceful to those around you.  He is teaching your heart to forgive, every time He forgives you.  He is filling you with His mercy so that His mercy will spill over and flow to others around you.

Now, when you forgive one another, it is the Father who forgives through you.  Human forgiveness is weak and fragile.  But the forgiveness of God is powerful and lasting.  When you as a Christian forgive your brother, you show that the Gospel of Christ is in you, since no one can truly forgive without the Gospel. As His mercy comes to you again and again, He is killing the judgmental hypocrite within you, which is the sinful flesh.  He is drowning the Pharisee that lives in your heart in the grace of your Baptism.

For if you look around you in this place, you might notice that you're not the only one here.  Listen to what God is saying about these others.  These, also, are His sons and daughters.  They are His beloved, as you are, too.  As they kneel to receive His Son's Body and Blood, He is declaring them to be holy saints, part of the same body of which you are a member.  These, also, have received the same mercy that you have received, and the same approval that comes through the Blood of Christ. Therefore, forget every judgment except the judgment of God.  We are blessed because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, God will see you into His heavenly kingdom, forever and ever.  Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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The Third Sunday after Trinity - June 20, 2010

The Church Season of Pentecost
The Third Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Father’s Day
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (June 20, 2010)

“The Father’s Love”

Readings:   
    Psalm 103 verses 1 - 13
    Micah 7:18-20
    1 Peter 5:6-11
    Luke 15:11-32

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 Lesson from the 15th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verse:

Luke 15:31-32 (NIV)

“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

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

Today is Father’s Day and I know that everyone here had a father, or we would be here of course.  I know on this day I miss my father very much.  He was an intense competitor, whether it be at any sport, or any game, he did not like to loose.  Thank God that trait was not passed down to me or to my children.  But, the thing that I think I appreciate the most about my father, and my mother for that matter, is that they just loved me.  They loved me when I did well, they loved me when I stumbled.  This is not to say that at times they didn’t like me or my actions, but at the end of the day, they always did love me.  And, I will always remember about my very special relationship with my father.

In the parable today we hear of a very special relationship between a Father’s and His Son.  There is quite an adventure for this young man, from the love of his father, to the love of his father’s money.  From the short lived happiness from found wealth and wild living, then to be faced with famine in all aspects of his most basic human needs.  None of what happened for that young man was the way he thought it would play out.  In fact, he might even think that he didn’t get what he deserved, but with every move he made things seemed to get worse.  And actually, if you really think about it, there are two sons and both sons in this parable have challenges.  This parable includes the story of these two sons, but more importantly it is about,

“THE FATHER’S LOVE”

When we hear this parable we often ask ourselves ‘which brother in this parable would we be?’  Would I be the brother who took the money and squandered it?  Or would you be the brother who stayed home?  Careful how you answer, for the older brother was the one who was quick to throw stones in his inherited glass house.  Whether we would act like one brother or the other, we do know that certainly not many of us would be able to act like the father of those two sons.  Truth be told none of could show that kind of compassion.  Giving away his estate knowing that it was going to be frittered away on wine, women, and song.  And then the sheer audacity of that father to welcome home the wayward son.  Most parents would be inclined to point to the door and say get back out there your on your own now. 

But this parable begins with the younger brother who knew of his fathers love, yet he longed for a life that his father couldn’t give him.  He didn’t want what he had.  He wanted everything that was outside of what his family had.  In fact this younger son longed for a life of sin and he has enough audacity to ask for his father for his share of the inheritance.  But even stranger still, the father gave it to him.  And to further compound the situation scripture tells us that the father divided the estate equally between the two sons.  So really, the older brother had his inheritance too.  Both sons received their inheritance long before their father’s death.  Meaning they not only received early, but they also received it long before there was any obligation for that transfer of wealth.

So maybe a better question might be, “Why didn’t older brother speak up sooner?”  Why didn’t he honor his father and wait for the inheritance to come with the passing of time?  Why didn’t he acknowledge that his father would love him so much that he would give everything away for his sons?  So, actually it is the older brother who puts on his second face before the younger.  For the older brother says nothing, he just takes his portion, and does so without comment.  So, in reality the older brother’s sin is by default, by silence and it is greater than it appears.  For as the older brother he would have received a double portion from the father.  And the fact that the elder son agreed indicates that he too alienated himself from his father.  He may not have said it as bluntly as his little brother, but his agreement shows that he was thinking along the same lines.

No matter how obtuse this parable may sound it is indeed an accurate picture of a father dealing with his children out of his love for them.  For this is how God the Father deals with His children.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, (Mt. 5:45) "He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."  Martin Luther built on that thought in the explanation to the fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer, "God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people …" In His grace, God provides the inheritance of creation, our needs of body and soul, to all people.  Even the most wicked person on this earth still has their food, clothing, shelter, and is offered the knowledge of the truth.  And the world sees this as insanity.  Our sinful nature wants our daily bread now.  We want that thing that would make us happier, make us equal to the person next door, that would give us everything that is out there, at the expense of everything God has promised us. 

And so in the parable the next humiliation is the father's action to take the younger son back into the family.  A man of wealth and prestige never runs anywhere, but this father did.  He ran to meet his wayward son as he came home.  This was an act of humiliation by the father.  This father runs to his son, falling on his neck with kisses, replacing his rags with royal robes, placing the ring of authority on his hand, and inviting the community to a welcome home party.

Furthermore, the father saw the son returning from a distance, so we know this father was always actively looking for his son.  And when the son returns we something spectacular for the father ran to his son and overwhelmed him with grace before the son could get one word of repentance out of his mouth.  Jesus' description of the father's actions is a portrait of complete and total grace, of unconditional love.  The father's actions would overwhelm the son in the parable, but would also totally surprise those who were listening to the parable.

The final humiliation of the father happens in His gracious reaction to the elder son's anger.  The father actually pleads with the older son to attend the party.  But, the elder son actually responds by loudly accusing the father of treating him unfairly.  He insults his father by arguing with him in public and by not addressing him as his father.  The elder son even refuses to acknowledge his brother instead calling him, "Your Son."  Furthermore, he refused to celebrate with his father and brother.

In the face of this furious attack the father graciously and affectionately replied with a repetition of the invitation.  But the older son is still indignant that his father would invite an admitted adulterer and philanderer back home.  Yet the father loved both sons.  And he welcomed both of sons to the feast.  The father is the absolute picture of unbelievable love and grace. 

Jesus never tells us what happened to the older son.  But the Pharisees and the scribes who were listening to Jesus would recognize themselves in the story.  Just as we too recognize ourselves in the story.  When Jesus told the parable the end of the story had not yet happened.  But the end of the story did come.  God was willing to humiliate Himself in His love for us.  God still invites us to the feast.  But, do we ever rejoice over the dead who are alive again - the lost who are found?  Do we see that the celebration was for everyone?  Do we see the Father’s love for even us?

Repent, for we have all strayed.  We have taken the things of this world and left our thoughts of the Father behind.  Yet in the face of all that we have done, we still have a loving God who willingly suffered humiliation for us.  When we would want to squander the Father’s love, He gives us more.  In fact, He gives us everything when He gives us His Son.  And His love draws us to Himself.  He runs to us, He opens His arms, and the Father welcomes us into His Kingdom.  God put upon you the robe of righteousness in your baptism.  God gives up His Son in unconditional love, and that is more than just a Father’s Day of love, it is a Father’s eternity of love, for us.  Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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The Second Sunday after Trinity - June 13, 2010

The Church Season of Pentecost
The Second Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (June 13, 2010)

“The Banquet Feast”

Readings:   
    Psalm 34 verses 12 - 22
    Proverbs 9:1-10
    1 John 3:13-18
    Luke 14:15-24

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 16th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verse:

Luke 14:15-24 (NIV)

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

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

It’s nice but also very nerve racking when you sit down to dinner with people of affluence, muckety mucks, highfalutin, movers and shakers or whatever else you want to call them.  And so it is in our Gospel lesson a person speaks to Jesus seems like he must be on that elusive inside track.  The reading begins by reflecting the conversation, “When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”(v. 15)  Now the person sitting next to Jesus is not named, but you can almost imagine the thrill that would engross such a person.  First of all, the person makes a statement about who will be blessed, and Jesus does not correct the person, nor does He make revisions to what he said.  Can you imagine the surprise on that persons face?  And then to top it off, Jesus uses that statement to lead into the telling of a parable, regarding...

“The Banquet Feast”

So what was going on at this dinner?  Well, evidently from the words of the parable, Jesus' host customarily must have only invited his relatives, neighbors, or his wealthy friends to dinner. Again, remember these are the muckety mucks, the movers and shakers, the people who could return an invitation with another invitation, a favor for a favor, kind of like a lobbyist, you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.  But, this dinner is also a mark of polite socialization, you invite me to your party and I’ll invite you to mine.  But then comes a sticky challenge.

For Jesus challenges this host to not only invite the rich, but also to invite the poor, the maimed, and the blind. These kind of people, would never be able to repay the host. The host would be scratching their back with no expectation of a back scratch in return.  And we know this because, Jesus then says, "You will be blessed because they cannot repay you. And what's more you will be repaid when the just rise from the dead."(v. 14) Now this is a tricky thought because we know that God does reward the deeds of His children. Of course, deeds do not save, they do not offer eternal salvation, but God does reward them. Evidently this hearer thought that Jesus was limiting the word "blessed" to the life to come. So Jesus now corrects him, don’t just invite those people who you like or who are like you, invite everyone, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”(Mt. 28:1)  And this all nations doesn’t just mean keeping all that you have to yourself, or only giving to the people you know.

Last week members of Our Savior attended what we might call, “a great banquet and many invited guests.”(v. 16)  It was a meeting here in town and the topic was our Blind and Low Vision outreach group.  Quite frankly I don’t know what the status is or social level was of any of those invited guests to that dinner.  I don’t know if they are rich or if they are poor, and I’m not sure if anyone else knows any of that either. What I do know is that there were many people there and they enjoyed a great speaker talking about a great cause sponsored by this church.   Jesus once said, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38) 

There was a great response to this dinner speech about outreach to a lost and isolated group of people who live in this community.  Joyfully this group reaches out beyond our doors was the correct response to Christ’s request.  Remember Christ’s words in today’s parable, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.”(v. 26) 

Pretty politically incorrect those words of Jesus, eh?  But, the point of Jesus’ words was that the master had invited only the influential people he knew, yet all his invitations met with excuses.  One said he bought a field and had to go look at it.  Another bought five yoke of oxen and had to try them out.  Another said he just gotten married and couldn’t come to the dinner. 

But the parable was not really about any dinner, it was about a heavenly banquet feast.  God sends out His messengers, that would be you and me, again and again into all places seeking all kinds of people, no matter how poor or how useless they may appear, whether they are sighted or blind, whether they are healthy or lame. 

And Jesus also warns us in this text to repent. We are told that God is very angry with people who give Him empty excuses like the sinful men of this world who very foolishly often reject God's invitations to the dinner feast of the Gospel. But even then God urgently keeps on inviting them.  If these people continue to reject God’s Word they will not taste the dinner either in this life nor in the life to come.

 In the hearing of God’s Word people are brought to faith.  In the gift of faith and by God grace He shows His desire to have His house full.  In sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins on the cross he pens our heavenly banquet invitation with Christ’s body and blood.  In the water combined with His Word in our baptism with are assured that we will have a seat at that feast.  In Holy communion we eat Christ’s body and drink His blood which is the Holy Supper of our Lord, a foretaste of the feast to come.  And if we, by human hands, can prepare a small banquet feast here and now for a few of God’s people.  Imagine the Heavenly banquet feast which Christ has prepared for us with His nail stained hands, for He says to you, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”  Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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The First Sunday after Trinity - June 6, 2010

The Church Season of Pentecost
The First Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (June 6, 2010)

“Higher Ground?”

Readings:  
    Psalm 33:12-33
    Genesis 15:1-6
    1 John 4:16-21
    Luke 16:19-31

Sermon Form:    Deductive

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

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 16th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verses.

Luke 16:19-31 (NIV)

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

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

Two men.  One rich, one poor.  One had all there was to have, one had no part of anything.  One was carried away with fun, food, and frivolity, the other is just literally carried away by whomever would pick him up and literally carry him to the next place.  Quite a contrast.  One it would seem has the high ground and the other has the low life, but in this parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the reversal happens.  He who thought he was high and mighty is cast low, and he who is low is held in high esteem.

Ironic isn’t it that this reading should this year land on the anniversary of the D-Day invasion.  For on June 6, 1944, over 160,000 men prepared to land at Normandy, with support from over 5000 ships and 195,000 naval and army/airforce troops.  And in that battle it appeared that the German army had the high ground, dug-in, reinforced, mine fields in place both at sea and on the beachheads, they were well prepared.  I’m not sure that anyone would say that the Germans were over confident, but they certainly had a better and a more enviable starting position.  The allied forces were in landing crafts hampered by weather, delayed by a day, hindered by low clouds and fog, yet the battle was begun on June 6th.  The high ground and the low ground, comfort in position, discomfort and terror.  It would seem that these troops had nothing in common on this day.  But sadly they did share one thing in common, and that is that both of these troops were staring death in the face, many died that day, whether or not they had the low ground or high ground.  Less than a year would go by to V-E day, and four months after that V-J day.  We honor those fallen soldiers who gave up their lives so that we can stand here today and remember the anniversary of that beginning of the final campaign that started at Normandy.  The underdog had won, the reversal had taken place.

And so also the reversal takes place in Jesus’ parable.  The rich man dies, the poor man Lazarus dies.  And these two men did have one thing in common.  They both died and they both were able to meet Abraham.  As in life so it was in death, the two men were again separated.  But in death Lazarus was carried to Abraham’s bosom by angels while the rich man was tormented in hell.  And ironically the first thing the rich man tries to do is to negotiate with Abraham.  For first thing which the rich man asks for a drop of water and then when that request failed he asked to have Lazarus warn his brothers so that they would not suffer the same terror and agony that he was experiencing.  Pretty crazy isn’t it?  The rich man is still trying to move Lazarus around as if he was still lying in front of the rich man’s gate.  But it was too late, the rich man had received his judgment just as Lazarus had received his too. Death inescapable for both men., yet for the rich man the terror and agony of death was more than he could bear, all his wealth, all his resources, could not buy even a single drop of water.  Nor could the rich man’s wealth could no longer be used to warn others.  His money and affluence were gone, he was lost, and to the world he was forgotten.  The rich man paid no attention to God while he was living, he only lived to gratify his lust, lived to himself and served only himself.  

We too think we have the high ground with our fellow man, we are better than they are just because we have something they don’t.  But in reality, the idea that "Wealth always means: God has blessed you" or, "Suffering always means: you must have sinned" are both totally wrong.  This parable is not critical of wealth, but with the irresponsibility with perceived wealth. The rich man used his earthly resources to feed his pride and his self-indulgent lifestyle. He cared nothing for his religion, the people around him or the needy in his community. Yet, in hell, the rich man continued to see Lazarus as an inferior who should serve him.

Repent.  For the thoughts and ideas which center only upon ourselves land us along side of the rich man in Jesus’ parable. The truth is that Jesus Christ was made man and walked upon this earth, He died on the cross and was raised from the dead.  Yet there are those, just like in the parable who, “will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”  Whether we have all that life can possibly give us or whether we think we have something less than our neighbor.  Whether we have been blessed with good health or a life full of challenges.  The reality is still the same, the great reversal has happened for you.  Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead for one and for all.  In Christ we have been given the victory over death, death has no longer has its sting.  

In the parable it is the first time that Jesus gave a name to a person Lazarus, which means “he whom God helps.”  In your baptism God places His sacred Name upon you, and from that point forward, you are “he whom God helps.”

Today we remember the anniversary of a day when many who served this country gave up their lives, for the pursuit of freedom.  Even greater still here today, we hear of Jesus Christ, came to offer you eternal freedom, and He does so by giving His life for you so that you may overcome all the challenges which this world has to offer.  Christ has done all this for you, for all who are baptized and believe.  And Jesus gives you reassurace of that promise as you receive His body and blood, and as you receive His blessing, as you receive His Holy Absolution.  And by His work and His actions, Jesus Christ, took the lowly path to death so that may have the high ground of life eternal.  And Jesus brings that to you, whether you are rich or poor, and whether you are sick or well.  Know that in Jesus Christ you will never be forgotten, you are given His Name in baptism, and truthfully your name now well could be Lazarus because you are the one whom God helps.  For those who believe and are baptized your standing of your own acord does matter.  And for that you will be eternally grateful, because Jesus’ victory will give you the higher ground of 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
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