Septuagesima - February 5, 2012

The Church Season of Epiphany,
Septuagesmia,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (February 4, 2012)

Readings:
  Psalm 95:1-9
  Exodus 17:1-7
  1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5
  Matthew 20:1-16

+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 St. Matthew, especially the following verses.

Matthew 20:1-16 (ESV)
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

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

Over and over we have been told that the Christian faith is all about grace.  But, what is grace? If someone approached you and asked you to define grace, could you do it? Christians talk about grace in practically everything they say and do, but not all Christians agree on what grace is according to Holy Scripture. Grace to you could be what you say before your meals, and you should say grace before every meal, and that would be one definition.  Grace could be the extra few days you receive before your bills are really due.  And if you know that definition, then you have learned, or may have have been taught how to play a worldly game of financial roulette, but it not the grace of which Christians proclaim.

Grace is God’s attitude in Jesus Christ revealed through the preached Word and the Sacraments to create and sustain faith in order that sinners may be forgiven and justified by faith. That’s an easy definition for you to learn by heart and make a part of your life. Contrary to popular belief by certain Christians, grace is not something poured into a Christian in order to help him or to help prop God up in the work of salvation. That robs Jesus Christ of His glory in His Passion.  Let me give you two simple equations…Jesus plus anything is equal to nothing.  Jesus plus nothing is equal to everything.  As you know this means grace is free, faith is free and when we try to add human acts to grace and faith, then we put ourselves in the place of saying Christ’s work just wasn’t enough.

Also contrary to popular belief by certain Christians is the notion that grace just happens out of the clear blue sky. God does not “zap” people willy nilly with grace as they go about their daily lives. Grace is not a feeling that God gives you through “happy vibes” floating down from heaven. No, God’s grace is tied to stuff.  God has promised to reach out to you through the preached Word, Baptismal Water & Word, Communion bread and wine, Body and Blood, and the Word of Absolution pronounced individually or corporately. These are the means of grace and are how God delivers His grace to you.

Another way to define grace for someone who doesn’t know grace is to read with them Jesus’ parable in Matthew chapter 20. The master of the vineyard doesn’t have two equations, but he does ask two questions to one of the grumblers at the end of Christ’s parable. To the grumbler the master says; Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? The lesson is that grace is the exclusive property of God. Grace is God’s attitude toward sinners through Jesus Christ. So what the landowner is really saying to the grumbling worker is; "What gives you the right to grumble about God’s blessings?" The Heavenly Father has given you everything you need to support your body and your life. What could be more?  God gives you His forgiveness for your of sins and eternal life in His Son Jesus Christ. Yet you whine about not getting enough grace or getting less grace.

Grace delivers forgiveness of sins won by Jesus Christ when He became sin for you in order that you might receive eternal life. We gripe and groan about God’s relationship toward others and toward ourselves. It’s not fair that so-and-so was a Christian for less time than I was, but they receive the same reward as I receive. If this is how you receive God’s grace, then you must not be a big fan of deathbed conversion accounts. Whether one is a Christian for the last five minutes of their lives with agonizing gasps of breath or for many decades of happily living in this world, all those called by God to work in His Vineyard receive the same wage. That wage is grace.

The second question the landowner asks the grumbler is; "Do you begrudge my generosity?" In a time when equality among people seems to be the most treasured virtue of all, you are caught begrudging a generous, loving God who does not consign us to eternal hell.

So where does that leave you and I, no work to be done, Christ has done it all, now what?  Yes Jesus Christ has accomplished all that there is to accomplish with regard to your salvation, this is most certainly true.  It’s free. It’s for you. That is grace. God's wrath is turned toward His Son not you. God looks at His you His children with joy. Adam’s fall into sin is cancelled in Christ’s atoning blood.

What a wonderful Savior we have! And that’s the message of mission. The message of mission is the message of grace. This message of grace is spread when and where God wills. This doesn’t mean God rolls the dice and decides to whom He will or will not be gracious. It is not given to you or I to worry about such matters. What matters most is that God is gracious in Jesus Christ. What matters most is that He desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of Truth. That our Father in heaven desires this to be so, is grace.

Grace is the air that you breathe in Christ. Grace is the water that you drink in Christ. Consider the pictures Saint Paul paints in the Epistle. "I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ." That is abundance of grace freely given to you which answers that question I asked moment ago. What do I do? 

You have been given much, in fact everything with regard to you salvation. And because you have been given much and you rejoice in what you are given and every other Christian is given, you gladly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In every word you speak, in every action you take, in every minute of your life, by the grace of God you have received, have the desire to proclaim Jesus Christ to all who are around you.  The Holy Spirit works when and where He pleases to make disciples, therefore we joyfully speak of what we have been given in Jesus Christ.

Today is the beginning of pre-lent.  Our services begin to shed away the joyous proclamations and to turn to a more somber mode.  And as we arrive in Lent and proceed through that church season our minds are turned inward toward our sin and the great price that Jesus Christ paid for us.  

By His grace you are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. This is not of your own doing, as Saint Paul tells the Church in Ephesus and to us too. It is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. As God's workmanship, your eye no longer begrudges God’s generosity. He gives His grace to you and all His children when and where He wills. He gives His grace to you in order that you might be His own and live under Him in His Vineyard and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. The Christian faith is all about grace. Where would you be without it?  By grace you have been saved and that, is an eternal gift. 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit
+SDG+

Lent & the "Gesima" Season - Rev. Todd Pepperkorn

Lent & the “Gesima” Season  (As referenced by Rev. Todd Pepperkorn)

The Liturgical preparation for Easter takes place through 3 periods or steps: The first is the “-gesimas”. These three Sundays before Lent constitute catechesis in the Grace of God in which that grace is examined from three perspectives:

Septuagesima (meaning “about 70 days”)—Grace is undeserved.

The Collect for this Sunday implores God to graciously hear us, who are justly punished for our sin, so that we may be delivered by God’s goodness. The goodness of God is emphasized in the parable (Matt 20:1-16), where all the laborers receive the reward because of the goodness of the landowner. So we too, receive the reward of eternal life, because God is good, and Another has borne the heat and burden of the day for us that we might have it.

Sexagesima (meaning “about 60 days”)—Grace is passively received.

In the Collect, we pray to the God who sees that we put not our trust in anything we do, but mercifully defends us by His power. In the parable of the sower, the seed of God’s Word is passively received in good and noble hearts.

Quinquagesima (meaning “about 50 days”)—Grace is not easily understood.

In the Gospel, Jesus predicts His passion and the disciples “understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” (Luke 18:34).

The three “Gesima” Sundays begin the Lenten Preparation for Easter. They take on the character of Lent, but mildly. The color becomes violet, the color of Lent. The “Alleluias” are dropped. Pictures and Crosses remain unveiled. Flowers may adorn the chancel. In the Gesimas, this provides a gradual progression of liturgical removals as we approach Passiontide.

Ash Wednesday

The second step or stage of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. This second stage ends when the week of Laetare (the 4th Sunday in Lent) is completed. In addition to the omissions and changes that began in the “Gesimas,” flowers no longer normally adorn the chancel, and the crucifix and crosses are veiled. During these four Sundays, the focus is on temptation and faith, and the Christian’s struggle:

On Invocavit Sunday the Lord is tested in the Wilderness.

On Reminiscere Sunday, the faith of the Canaanite woman is tested.

On Oculi Sunday, the people tempt our Lord to show them a sign from heaven.

Laetare Sunday is “refreshment” Sunday.

Judica - Passion Sunday

The final stage is Passiontide, which begins with Judica Sunday (Passion Sunday, the 5th Sunday in Lent), and extends through Holy Week and the Triduum (“three holy days”—which includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday). Now the focus is expressly on our Lord’s passion. The liturgy is spoken on Judica Sunday to emphasize the intense passion which our Lord endured. This intensity builds until we finally arrive at the empty tomb.

More on the Gesima Sundays by the Rev. William Weedon

Preparing for the Journey: The Gesima Sundays

by The Rev. William Weedon

            If Lent is the journey to Easter and if Easter is the return to the new life given to us in our Baptism; then Gesimatide is the preparation for that journey of return to our Baptism. 

            For three weeks prior to Lent, the Church seeks to ready her children to begin the slow and sometimes painful pilgrimage back to the very fountain of their life in Christ:  back to Baptism and to the life in and from Christ Himself.

            Do we need a journey back?  What do you think?  The sad fact is that we constantly fall away from and betray the new life that God gave us when we were baptized.  How often we live our lives as though Christ had not been raised from the dead!  How often we live as though death had not been squashed beneath His feet and as though sin still had the right to put us in its shackles!  Lent shows what a lie we try to live from when we would still live that old way – we who have been baptized into Christ. Lent calls:  Time to come home, child!

            But the journey home calls for serious effort on our part (yes, Lutherans can speak of serious spiritual effort – for them all the credit goes to God) to return to living in the dignity of our status as beloved children of the heavenly Father.  Lent forces us to face the pain of our exile – it places us in the parable of the waiting Father and calls us for us to stop hungering for the pig slop and hit the dusty trail back to the Father (see Luke 15:11ff.)  

            In German there was no mistaking what Lent was about.  In German it is called “Fasten-zeit” – the time for the fast.  And the point of the fast is to discipline our bodies so that they learn, and we learn with them, that man does not live by bread alone; that we live from every word that proceeds from the mouth of our God.  "Return to me," we hear the Lord say on Ash Wednesday "with prayer and fasting." (Joel 2:12-19)

            Gesima-tide, then, or Pre-Lent, seeks to get us ready for Lent and for the return to the new life.  The first week's readings stress that it will be a struggle not only with our flesh (our bellies that want to be filled, our bodies that need to be disciplined, lest we be “disqualified”), but a struggle with the inner attitude of distrust in God that breaks forth into complaining.  There's a Lenten fast for you:  lose the griping and groaning, the moping and moaning about your life and unfair things are for you.  The second week’s readings remind us the power to change is not something found in us, but in the Word of God alone - and so the extra time for the Word built into Lent, time to gather midweek and hear God's Word.  The following week issues the invitation for us to join the formerly blind man in following Jesus up to the road to Jerusalem, to see Him offer Himself to the Father and so return humanity to God.  That's gesima-tide for you:  Septuagesima (70-some days to Easter!), Sexagesima (60-some days to Easter!), Quinquagesima (50-some days to Easter!).  It's the way the Church calls out "ready, set, and go!"  We're on the way home!

The Rev. William Weedon is pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel, Illinois

The Gesima Sunday's

The "Gesmia" Sundays

The Sundays with the name ending in "Gesima" come after Transfiguration Sunday.  These Sundays signal the beginning of "Pre-Lent."  Below is a summary of Pre-Lent and Lent by the Rev. William Weedon:

A Summary 

by Rev. William Weedon

The "Gesima" days start on Septuagesima ~70 Days before Easter, Sunday, February 5 when no more joyful Alleluias are read, instead, the plaintive Tracts appear. 

Septuagesima (2/5/12) ~70 Days

Sexagesima (2/12/12) ~60 Days

Quinaqugesima, (2/19/12) ~50 Days

It deepens on Ash Wednesday (February 22); no more Gloria in Excelsis.

It deepens further on Judica (The Fifth Sunday of Lent): no more Gloria Patris.

The silence of the praise grows deeper and more profound in stages throughout the days of Pre-Lent, Lent, and Passiontide, until we are reduced to silence before the marvel of the Cross on Palmarum (Palm Sunday) and throughout Holy Week.  And having stood before the Supreme Sacrifice in silence on Good Friday, our praises burst forth with greater joy than can be imagined in uncounted alleluias and Glorias come in the great Paschal Feast. 

The Transfiguration of our Lord - January 29, 2012

The Church Season of Epiphany,
The Transfiguration of Our Lord,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (January 29, 2012)

Readings:

Psalm 2
Exodus 34:29-35
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9

+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 17th chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verses.

Matthew 17:1-9 (NIV)

1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There [Jesus] was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While [Peter] was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

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

    In the Gospel of Matthew God text tells us that Jesus, Peter, James, and John went up onto a high mountain.  And in verse two, we are told of Jesus’ Transfiguration, His face was shining like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light.  Even more interesting here in the beginning words of verse two in Greek, καὶ μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν, He, that is Jesus, underwent metamorphosis, and that word is the combination of two words literally meaning changing form.  Or in our English translation it says transfigured.  When most of us think of metamorphosis, we think back to the school days of our youth and all the examples that we were taught.  The transfiguration of Christ is much more than some school day experiment, it doesn’t happen over weeks or months, it is not hidden inside a little cocoon where one can see what’s going on.  No, this Transfiguration, happened right before the eyes of three witnesses while they gazed upon the glory of God shining from Christ’s face and clothing.  This is most certainly a miracle and it is indeed a glimpse of heaven.

    On that day God used the light that reflected from Jesus’ garment to proclaim the Deity of Christ to the disciples.  The disciples had followed Jesus around the countryside listening to Jesus preach, teach, bring and encourage faith to the most common of people, the most unlikely people of the world. 

    So there stood Peter, James and John, before Christ whose clothes became impossibly white. And if that wasn’t enough, Elijah and Moses arrived to speak with Jesus.  And then, “a bright cloud enveloped them.”(v. 5)  And almost immediately the whole event was over, the dazzlingly white clothes were gone, Elijah and Moses gone too.  In a flash it was all over, it was but a glimpse, but their eyes were still burning with the blue spots from the bright light and the voice ringing in their ears, it was there and then it was over.  I’m sure James and John didn’t want that time to end, they didn’t say that, but Peter certainly did.  He wanted to capture that glimpse of glory and hold on to it.

    We all have moments like that where we are so caught up in the moment, so full of joy and  happiness that we wish the moment would never end.  It may have been a dance, a first kiss, a sports accomplishment.  Or maybe even it was a special service at church which you enjoyed, a wedding, a baptism, or even the Word of God proclaimed on some special day.  And if you were to close your eyes right now you could probably remember that moment, maybe not all the words, or the names of all the people who were there, maybe not even what year it was, but you can remember it.  Wouldn’t it be great if every day, every church service, every person could be as happy as you perceived you were on that one day.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could feel that way every single day.  But you either open your eyes, or you receive an elbow to your rib, you awakened and are ushered back to reality.

    It would seem Peter, James, and John’s eyes were opened too.  What a sight, and to think of it, it was probably a scary sight too.  Like when you wake up and see the pastor staring right at you.  The apostles had been startled by an extraordinary light.  It was the light of Christ and a glimpse of the glory of God.  We can only wonder if they knew what it all meant.  The Light of Christ had shined in to their darkened world, who would ever want that moment to end.  What a vision of radiance.

    In the Old Testament Daniel had a vision of radiance, and he said, “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool;”(Dan. 7:9)  It was glimpse into the future for Daniel, though he would not see the Messiah in his earthly life, Daniel certainly did see the Messiah upon His seat of righteousness in heaven. 

    But where is that glimpse for you and me?  "The most common glimpse we refer to is that one in the past.  Man how good was it then, perfect job, perfect life, no troubles, no health problems, and then somehow we think life must have caught up with us somehow.  And in those thoughts we become like the apostles on that day of Transfiguration, we miss the big picture because we’re so wrapped up in ourselves, that our minds wander from the knowledge of Christ to that which attacks us in our lives." (Pepperkorn) We’re so wound up in our own daily wrestling with things, we forget to ask how the other person is doing.  We think that they certainly can’t have it as bad as me, why don’t they realize how bad I have it?  Why aren’t they listening to me?  And sometimes you hear somehow that they have it worse than you and you feel embarrassed that you never asked the question, “How are YOU doing.” You see, we all do have it bad.  We are all sinners and we are all attacked by the devil in different ways.  Some people get angry, some people lie or cheat, others steal, or lust, or some are driven to despair because of sickness, disease, or maybe the loss of a loved one.  In our sin in which we commit by what we have done, and the sin we commit by we have left undone, we bury ourselves in darkness, all hope is lost, abandon ship or rather how can I abandon this life. 

    Peter, James, and John saw the light of the world before them and was it beyond their imagination.  A glimpse of Christ in the radiance that would be fully seen in their future.  That glimpse of Jesus was not just for them, it is for you too.  Do not cast your eyes down in despair with what you have done or by what life has done to you. 

The love of Christ in His glory draws your eyes to Him, to the heavenly heights.  Jesus speaks to you and He touches you.  And whether or not you choose to look, Jesus is here for you.  He not only went up upon a mountain and revealed His glory to three apostles, He reveals His glory to you too.  Jesus takes your sin to the high mountain of Golgotha and there He dies for you.  In all that challenges you in your life, know that Christ has died for you.  Jesus points you to His body and His blood, and to your Baptism where you are transfigured from one who is dead in sin. Jesus gives you His shining white robe not just for a glimpse, but forever.  That is the promise that you are given in Christ.

    Jesus gave you that promise, it is all that you need.  And though good works do not gain your salvation, much is required of you.  Have mercy on your fellow man.  Ask them how they are doing, bring comfort to them, share with them.  When one is weak, the other may help.  If you never ask, you will never find out how they are doing.  If you never offer help, maybe help will be will not come so fast for you.  But do not do any act of mercy expecting a reward,  if you do acts of charity do them with the knowledge of what Jesus Christ has already done for you.

    When you have fallen down, when you can no longer bear to look at Christ, when you are afraid beyond measure, know that Jesus Christ cares for you His glory shines before your face. Today you will have a glimpse of that glory as Jesus Christ comes to you in the Holy Communion, in the wine and the bread, His true body and blood.  Today Jesus touches you when the bread touches your tongue.  Today Jesus cares for you as the wine touches your lips.  And when you approach your last days, whether in sickness or health, whether surrounded by family or friends, or even if you’re all alone and life seems like a glimpse in the past do not be scared or frightened.  Rather remember in faith, you are baptized, you are a child of God, you are transformed by Jesus Christ.  And at your last breath, Jesus comes and touches You and “He speaks, “Get up,” “Don’t be afraid.” And when You look up, you will see no one except Jesus.”  Jesus glorious radiance will be shining beyond human understanding, but it will not be just for a glimpse, but you will be comforted in seeing the glory of Christ in full for ever and ever.  Amen.

+SDG+

The Third Sunday after Epiphany - Life Sunday - January 23, 2012

The Third Sunday after Epiphany
Life Sunday
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (January 22, 2012)

Readings:

Psalm 110:1-4
2 Kings 5:1-15
Romans 1:8-17
Matthew 8:1-13

+INI+

Grace, Mercy, and Peace be to you from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

(Overwhelmingly the text of Rev. Paul Sajban from the “Lutherans for Life”
website: http://www.lutheransforlife.org/store-life-sunday-2012/  )

The text for today is as recorded in the Holy Scriptures in; Deuteronomy 30:19b, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 15:12-20, Matthew, 18:10 Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1 & 32, Luke 1, Genesis 25, Galatians 1, Hebrews 2, Proverbs 6, Exodus 20, Revelation 20 & 21, and 2 Kings 17

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

We live in a land where we have the freedom to make many choices.  We may not always be able to make all the choices our country gives us, but they’re available to us as part of  the American Dream.  Some choices are fairly easy to make.  Other choices, however, cause us to rack our hearts and our souls and our minds to make them.  We can think of a family gathered in a hospital room faced with choosing whether to disconnect machines which keep their mother or father or loved one alive.  That is not an easy choice.  Through prayer and consultation of God’s Word in the Holy Scriptures and with the help of a pastor such a difficult choice will be made.  Not all though would use these good resources to make a choice between life and death.  Sometimes it comes down to human reason, without consulting God’s wisdom to make these most difficult decisions regarding life.  We do know that man’s reason and intellect fail, but God’s wisdom and His Holy Word never fail us.  So the Christian looks not unto their own standard of wisdom, but submits to the wisdom which flows from God.

That said, not all Christians will consult the Lord either, because no Christian is perfect.  We live and breath and walk in a fallen world.  Truth be told, Christians and non-christians alike fail to even consider consulting God and His Holy Word, when it comes to such things like choosing a career, a spouse, a church home, or making very serious life-changing decisions.  Sometimes we resort to consulting our fickle feelings or even consult the world’s wisdom to make our choices. 

This is not new, it has been an ongoing problem for all God’s people.  God spoke through Moses and said, “…choose life, that you and your offspring may live” (Dt. 13:19b). Those words are just as valid for the people of God today as it was in Moses’ time.  God’s timeless Word speaks to us today. And our choices will affect not only us, but will also affect our children and grandchildren as well.  Our children learn from their parents, and sometimes they learn more than we wish they would.  How many times have you heard, “Do what I say, not what I do”?  For children not only see and learn from the good we intend to do, but also learn from the bad, the evil, and the sin that we do.  We pass on to our children things like impatience, quick tempers, bad language, disrespect for our nation’s leaders, unforgiving vengeful hearts, and everyday we disrespect God’s commands and His laws. And if we don’t show much concern for learning and knowing God’s Word, then how in the world are our children going to understand the importance of God’s Holy Word?  And then have the audacity to condemn and cajole our children for not coming to church, or not reading their Bible.   And though we say it in our hearts, “This should not be,” we find ourselves choosing sin rather than God’s way much too often.

Today, we ponder what God in His Holy Word says about human life.  We want to pass on to our children a Godly respect not only for their own life, but also for the life of the unborn baby, the elderly, the sick and the dying, and a respect for the life of a person who doesn’t think their life is worth all that much.  Unless parents inculcate a reverence for Godly wisdom into their children, then the only wisdom they’ll have to learn from is that from a broken and sinful world.  A world which seeks self-centered halve-zees who want to proclaim their own wisdom over God’s and make everyone who disagrees with them feel like they are halve-not idiots.  To choose from man’s wisdom and opinion is to choose from the broken and death affirming foolishness of this world.  To choose from man’s wisdom is to argue “it’s my choice” without ever quoting one single verse of Holy Scripture.  The proud statements of, “I demand my rights”, “It’s my choice” and “I don’t know what the Bible says but I believe” all stand hand in hand as the poster children of the foolishness of sinful man.  For they all place the ideals of foolish men, above God and His righteous and Holy ways. 

We have to teach our children to see and hold their lives and the lives of others as precious, because God does.  That our children would know that they are loved and kept in loving care by a most gracious God.  How obnoxious are we that we would teach them that it is important to choose clothes, and shoes, and food, how to brush their teeth, and how to study hard, yet we fail to teach them of God’s good gift of life?  And that is exactly where we teach our children that God’s Word doesn’t matter. 

And we have the audacity to ask, “Who is this God who wants to force His choices on us anyway?”  What’s behind God’s choice for you?  His Holy Word; “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.  The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.  It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery…” (Dt 7:6-8).

You will hear many arguments for the right to choose death.  And if that person who would support the pro death agenda is a Christian, then one may only ask, where does it say that in Holy Scriptures?

God’s choice proceeds from His perfect love for every single sinner, whether they be affluent or poor, educated or illiterate, or whether they be of the least or greatest of all people.  How can we not put unborn babies in this category, God loves them?  How can we not put grandma with Alzheimer’s who no longer recognizes her children or grandchildren into this category, God loves her?  How Can we put the woman who sinned by having an abortion or the father of an unborn child who insisted on it to his pregnant girlfriend in this category?  Sin is always unacceptable in God’s eyes, yet God in His compassion, offers forgiveness for all our sins. 

The worth of God’s people is not determined by the measure of their failures in their own eyes.  But rather the Lord reaches out to those who may bring themselves to the precipice of death, or be tempted by the devil, this world and our sinful flesh and God says to them, “You are worth the greatest and best gift in the cosmos, the death of My Son in exchange for your life.  You are not a failure, My greatest gift is for you is the sacrifice of my only begotten Son. The Apostle Paul said, “Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Tim 1:15).   No one in this room is without sin.  These words fit each and every sinner including you and me.  We are the least, but in our heavenly Father’s eyes we are the greatest. 

We have been saved from eternal death and then we turn around and have the audacity to say, yep I’ve been given the gift of eternal life, but this or that life just doesn’t count. 

We too often fail to acknowledge and respect the life God which has given each of us and we fail to show Godly mercy toward the lives of our neighbor.  It happens when we sit by idly while hearing or endorsing abortions, euthanasia, and suicide while they are all going on all around us and we make no witness against it.  God’s Holy Word tells us, “You shall not murder.” Yet we tear down our neighbors, through bitter words, gossip, unfriendly actions, and lack of an active caring responses and acts of mercy when see our neighbors in need. It means that we should care for those children who have not been aborted, for mother’s and fathers who fly in the face of worldly wisdom and do not choose an abortion.  We should be there for them, to help and support them in every physical need.

This is Life Sunday, but everyday is Life Day.  The small “g” god of the world says, “Choose death,” when that god speaks to a scared and pregnant woman and offers her the option of abortion.  The true God of Life says, “Choose life.  I will be with you,  I have redeemed you and your little unborn child for life.”  The god of this world says, “Choose death.” to a teen who has faces broken relationships, an unloving home, who is scammed by the devil and this world believes they bear the burdens of life.  The true God and Savior of Life says, “Choose life.  I will be with you.  I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.  I gave My life for you.”  The small “g” god of this world says to the aging parent who feels that they are a burden to her children, “Choose death.  It’ll be better for everyone if you did.”  The God the Father and Author of Life says, “Choose Life.  Your worth is not determined by what you can no longer do, or what others think you can no longer do, but rather by how much you are worth in My sight for to you I have sent My Son for your salvation.”  The worth of human life to the god of this world is non-existent. There is a term coined in the 1930’s called “Leben Sunwertes leben”, meaning “Life unworthy of life”, which begs the question, who gets to choose which life is worthy of life.  Are the young  unborn unworthy of life, or just inconvenient?  Are the elderly unworthy of life, or just inconvenient?  There is no satisfactory answer possible through human eyes, reason, or wisdom. The worth of life is through the revealed wisdom of the One true God of Life, who sees our life won for us  on the cross and in an empty tomb. 

Hear the voice of Jesus Christ the Savior calling to you, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…”  (John 15:16).  Our fruit of life abides as we abide in Christ Jesus our Savior.  Jesus speaks against the wisdom of this world who choose death because it is the easy way out, life brings complications, an unwanted pregnancy, the inconvenience of the lives of those who are allowed to be born or of the lives of those who we think are allowed to live too long.  The wisdom of God mocks inconvenience, every life is sacred no matter the status.  The wisdom of God goes beyond inconvenience for He gives you His Son unto death.  And for that great gift you should not feel inconvenienced to help those who have the strength to go against conventional wisdom and bravely uphold the wisdom of God and choose life.  Much has been give to you and much is required of you, offer help, offer time, offer money, and if you can do no other offer prays.

Comfort comes to you in the body and blood of the crucified and risen Christ brings you life through the forgiveness of your sins.  Jesus laid down His life for you, that you may lay down your life for your neighbor including your brothers and sisters in the faith, for those who have not yet heard Jesus’ Word of Life, for your family, your friends and the stranger who may cross your path.  Therefore, do not hesitate to choose life, that you and your offspring may live in Christ day by day here in time.  Jesus Christ did not hesitate to give you abundant life, and for your life He gave His life as the perfect sacrifice that you may live for an eternal life in His Name.  Amen.

+SDG+

The 2nd Sunday after Epiphany - January 15, 2012

The Church Season of Epiphany,
2nd Sunday after Epiphany,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (January 15, 2012)

Readings:   
    Exodus 33:12-23
    Ephesians 5:22-33   
    John 2:1-11

+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 2nd chapter of St. John, especially the following verses...

John 2:1-11 (ESV)

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

So Far the Text

Jesus Christ attends a wedding in Cana, and there He blesses the wedding party with His first recorded miracle, changing water into wine.  You’ve heard this miracle repeated at quite a few weddings.  Jesus, His apostles and His mother all in attendance and all who are present are blessed.  But how and why did we come to find ourselves in a reading about a wedding in Cana? The book of John begins with the words, “In the beginning.”  And in the beginning of the book of John, or as it is written in Greek, According to John, meaning The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John.  But, how do we get to the wedding feast on time?  Jesus brings us there by manifesting Himself into this world and into our lives.  John the author of this book speaks of Jesus Christ who is the Light coming into the world.  And after the Light comes into the world and then John records that Jesus is baptized in water by John the Baptist.  The next few verses of the book of John cover the few days in which the disciples were chosen and then three days later, that is the sixth day, we are in Cana. 

It is the account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in six days culminating with Jesus “[manifesting] His glory”(v. 11) at this wedding. And on the sixth day, “God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”(Gen 1:28) In the beginning God created the world in six days, and on the sixth day He blessed man and woman.  In the account of the six days of Jesus’ life John brings us to the wedding in Cana, where Jesus Christ both God and man blesses a man and a woman who are to be wed. 

But we still seem to be left with a question.  For John does not expound upon the conversation between Jesus and His mother, wherein Mary states to Jesus, “They have no wine.”(v. 3)  Had Mary forgotten to whom she was speaking?  Did she not remember all the angels, the incarnate birth, the boy Jesus in the Temple teaching and speaking with the elders of the church?  And why does Jesus address His mother as “woman.”  Today that term is derogatory, but in that time it would be an answer of respect, sort of like Ma’am.  But this response along with the next creates a new question, Why does Jesus say, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”(v. 4)

Like Mary Jesus’ mother, we may wish to command, rather demand that Jesus to help us.  And sometimes His response to us creates new questions for us.  When He say to us, "My hour is not yet come."  Or right now might not be the right time for Him to step in and transform our lives into something new.  We don’t understand, we ask more questions.  Why, why Jesus did you not answer my prayers today?  In this life we live, everyday is not always a time of joy.  Sometimes, it would seem that the Lord hides His face from us, and we are in sorrow.  Sometimes, we think Jesus acts as though He forgets us, and for us there is tribulation.  Sometimes, the wine of joy is hidden from our lives.  At the wedding feast in Cana running out of wine would be a great disgrace.  We do not have the power to do what Christ has done for us and in our sin are left with shameful disgrace and loss.

We do not want to believe that this is what we deserve.  But, truthfully we neither deserve the blessing of the abundant wine, and for that matter not even a cup of stale water to slake our thirst.  All our deeds, our planning, and our effort always fall short of the glory of God.  And although we attempt to make a good appearance before others, put on a happy face, the Old Adam still dwells within us, our sinful nature ruins every good work. 

In the times when you are overtaken by sorrow, challenged by failing health, driven to tiresome despair, when the world has challenged you beyond what you may bear, it is not Christ who has abandoned you.  Instead, you are always pointed to true joy and is Christ’s miracle gift for you.  You will not always to be happy in this life, but Jesus is always standing nearby, ready to help. We do not pray to Mary, but we do pray like Mary, we pray that Christ would remember us.

So we deserve no wine and we deserve no miracle. But even in spite of ourselves, Christ desires to give us the abundant wine of His joy, undeserved as it is.  We are the pleasure and delight of His loving heart.  Jesus does not want to give us what we deserve, rather He gives us what we do not deserve and that is eternal life.

At the wedding in Cana Jesus Christ did perform His first miracle changing water into wine.  And the master of the feast told the bridegroom, “you have kept the good wine until now”(v. 10)  The bridegroom and the bride shared the blessing of the wine together. 

And so it was and so it shall be.  In this life you have the presence of Christ, you hear the His Word comfort in His Word proclaimed.  You are baptized with the Water combined with His Word.  You are chosen, the Holy Spirit give you the miracle of faith and grace without cost or effort by you.  But all this was won for you at great cost this miracle for you.  For Christ’s time did come.  Jesus stood before the rulers of this world, and did not perform a miracle to save His own life.  Rather He went to the cross and performed a miracle to save the lives of all the lost, including you and me. 

Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom, the church is His bride.  He brought you to the waters of your Baptism.  He changed the water into wine, and “on the night when He was betrayed, in the same way He took the cup after supper and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them saying: Drink of it all of you; this cup IS my blood of the New Testament which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Focus not on what you think or what you want, or want you want for, in this life, rather focus on all that you have been given in the miracle of eternal life.

Jesus Christ is the bridegroom and you and all believers throughout the world are the church His bride.  Jesus Christ’s time had not come at the time of the wedding of Cana, but His time did, has, and will forever come for you.  The bridegroom and the bride share the abundant blessing of the wine together here in time there in eternity, forever and ever.  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+