Advent 1 - Ad Te Lavavi - November 27, 2011

The Church Season of Advent
Advent 1 – Ad Te Levavi
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI  November 27, 2011

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

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

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

Matthew 21:1-9 (ESV)

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

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

The is how the very Son of Son of God came into Jerusalem for the final time way back then. Humble, riding on a donkey.  It is the same way Jesus comes to you now, humble to save you. And it is a good thing for you that He does. For when He comes the final time, in His glory and victory, the saving is over. But that is for a day yet to come, this is now.

To a sinful world, Jesus’ coming is anything but good looking, it was not understandable then, not on a war horse or chariot, but on a donkey, or in a stable.  That is how Jesus comes to you now, in ways that are not understandable, especially to the sinful world around us, for He comes to us now in water, He comes to us in Word, He comes to us in bread and wine. For, you see, Christ is the Son of God and He exists to make the Father known to us. Everything He does is about the love of His father for each and everyone of you, He comes for us sinners one and all. 

Jesus did not come to see what He could get from the world or from you. He did not come to show His superiority to everybody else. He did not come to prove Himself to you. Jesus did not come because you let Him into your heart.  Jesus did not come because you thought you found Him.  Jesus came to give His life to the world. Jesus came to serve you out of His superiority to provide for what people lack. Jesus came to sacrifice Himself for you.

That is Advent. Jesus, the Son of God, coming for you in His humbleness, to do His Father's will and be here for you. So if it is not you who discovers Him, or who allows Him into your hearts, then the next logical question is, where are I in that grand parade? Am I paving the streets with palm branches, am I singing hosanna, am I donating the donkey for the parade?  Just what part do I play?  Well, the fact of the matter is that if there were a part for us to play we would be tempted to say the donkey which Christ's disciples have loosed from sin for Jesus to ride as He reveals Himself to the rest of this sinful world. As the old saying goes when two people struggled to team up in the horse costume, to paraphrase, Jesus is the head, and all we have to do is be ourselves.  Lest you take offense at that, remember I said we.  We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we are the sinners in need of Christ.

Remember when the Pharisees saw Jesus, and they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus answered and he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mt 9:11-13)

And so Jesus demonstrates who He is and what He has come to do for all as He rides a lowly donkey. But who has believed this report? Certainly we live in a sinful world and not many believe what Jesus has said, what He has done, or why He has come for us.  Jesus comes yet He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we and our world continue to hide our faces from Him, like the crowd in His last days; “he was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53:1-5)

In these busy days are you ready for a humble Savior, or are you looking for one who will overcome everyone who utters a false word about such a Savior? We are sinners and we are not humble, in fact we are anything but humble. We are self centered and self occupied. Life is all about us. We live in a world where people step over a dead fellow man in a shopping center in order to get a 20% discount on some personal “thing.” We want what we can get, we beat whom we must beat. We strive to prove anything about ourselves that we can to impress others or even to God. Can you imagine if Christ’s triumphant entry was into one of our Malls on Black Friday?  He would be knocked down, stripped of His robe, pushed to the side, and arrested for not being handicapped and having a non-service animal in a public place. 

And so it is, that our Lord must come to each sinner in the world in which he lives to call them to repentance. Into this kind of world, amongst less than humble sinners rides our Lord Jesus Christ He comes to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" You must be humbled by the Word of God to recognize, receive, and believe this Jesus is here for you.

St. Paul asks, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Jesus sits upon a lowly donkey, the image of lowliness, that then is our role.  Jesus’ called and sent servants to cover the filthy rags of our self-righteousness with Christ's robe righteousness in Holy Baptism. Jesus sits upon our lowliness and rides with our sins into the true Jerusalem, His city of peace, the Church.  But Jesus did not need us as a beast of burden to carry Him to Jerusalem, our effort is nothing, rather by His body and blood He carries our sins to the cross and ultimately us to the new Jerusalem.

For if Christ were riding upon us, it would be impossible for us not to love our neighbor and do good works that serve and benefit him. And thus, as Jesus rides along with you during your daily lives speak so the multitudes may know of that, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee." What?  Can’t talk about Jesus?  Don’t know how?  Just start talking, remember God has made plenty of  other…”donkeys” talk, why not you and me?

This how God's kingdom comes to those who are not yet in it, just as it came to you and me, by the hearing of the Gospel.  Jesus comes for one, He comes for all.  Even right this very moment He is coming to the world as He rides with you in His city of peace on earth, His holy Christian Church, where good will towards all your fellow man is expected. Because only in His church does He come to you and loose you from the bonds of sin as He does this very day. Behold, your king is comes to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.  Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
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Latin names for Advent Services

A repeat every year but always good to review:

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

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

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

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

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

Thanksgiving Eve - November 23, 2011

The Church Season of Trinity
Thanksgiving Eve, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (November 23, 2011)

Readings:   
    Psalm 67
    Deuteronomy  8:1-10
    1 Timothy 2:1-4
    Luke 17:11-19

+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 Epistle Lesson from the 2nd chapter of 1st Timothy especially the following verses:

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV)

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

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

It's very easy to give thanks for the things going our way.  But, when the "going gets tough," the tough seem to turn against God, where is He now?  The concept of actually thanking God tends to get more and more distant from our minds as the "going" gets tougher and tougher.  It's very easy to forget about all that we have, and instead get hung up on what we've lost or don't have.  It's far easier to blame God in these difficult circumstances than it is to offer Him thanks and praise. 

Think about that for a moment.  We understand what it means to give thanks to God for all that we have.  It should be a real "no-brainer" for tomorrow.  We should understand what it means to give thanks to God for all that we don't have, like the “bad" things such as terrible sickness, homelessness, bankruptcy, violence, etc.  At least we remember to give thanks to God when He spares us from these terrible tragedies.  We give thanks for those absences in our lives, and we need to be careful in doing so.  Such "thanksgiving" can be a real slippery slope into sin.  Remember: A certain Pharisee gave thanks for the absences in his life too, giving thanks that he wasn't like the tax collector.  But what about those other absences?  What about those things we really do want and ask for and don't receive?  Have you ever given thanks to God for Him saying "no" to you?  I have never heard anyone give thanks for not winning the lottery. 

This leads to another question: Why?  Why should we give thanks to the Lord, especially when the chips are down in life?  Think about the lesson again, we’re not told to give thanks unto the Lord because He has really given all we want.  There's nothing in here at all about putting our thanksgiving on some sort of sliding scale that works makes us pray more if we have more. 

It would be easy to ask how many of us here this night are thankful for "everything" God has given you.  Be truthful, and if you are you know that you’d be more thankful if you didn't have those bills coming in, or those aches and pains, or the fear and uncertainty of not knowing whether or not you're going to get a paycheck next week? 

So why do we give thanks unto the Lord?  Because, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(v, 3-4)  It is what God desires, not what you desire that is the reason for the season, as the old saying goes. 

Jesus has seen fit to bless you with all that you have in this life.  Don’t forget to share that bountiful grace with someone else tomorrow.  Share the wonderful Gospel message of life and salvation with those who don't yet know it or believe it so that they, too, can share in our redemptive, Christ-centered joy.  God desires the death of no man.  He desires that all may believe and have life in Him, which is why He sent His one and only Son to die for the sins of the entire world.  Take a little time out of each day and simply say "thank you" to your Lord and Savior for all that you have and all that you are, from all you have received through free and unmerited gifts from Him. 

Sometime between the time you fight over the turkey leg or eat that second piece of pie, or turn on the Lions game and pull the handle back on the bark-o-lounger, remember not only to give thanks for the abundance of daily bread you have this one day per year called Thanksgiving.  Remember to also return thanks to God for Jesus Christ, because of His giving we are able to endure this life, to laugh to cry, to stuff our faces with the most awesome foods from years of family tradition.  And as the family grows the seeds and stories of tradition seem to grow too. And you know the best family traditions are the ones that are easily shared. Share your blessings from God, for you have been given much. 

Tomorrow most of us will stop at nothing to put on a feast that will satisfy us for a day.  Everyday God in Christ Jesus provides you with the feast of victory that will satisfy you for eternal life.  For you, it may appear like a simple recipe, a baptism wherein water is combined with God’s Word, a Holy Communion where bread and wine are combined with the very Words of God.  In fact, it would be simpleton’s to think these are recipes.  For these gifts did not come easily, they came from Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again.  Jesus Christ gave His life so that we may have the assurance of eternal life in His Name, more than just tradition, or any great recipe, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.” Thanks be to God. Amen.

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The Last Sunday of the Church Year - November 20, 2011

The Church Season of Trinity
The Last Sunday in the Church Year, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (November 20, 2011)

Readings:  
    Psalm 149
    Isaiah 65:17:25
    1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
    Matthew  25:1-13

+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. Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Thessalonica, especially the following verses:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4     But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5     For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6     So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7     For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8     But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9     For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10     who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11     Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

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

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.  If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”  While some of you may be more familiar with Luther’s morning and evening prayers as written out in the catechism, you’ve almost certainly heard this very simple prayer at some point in your life.  And of course your ending to this prayer probably varied, ours generally continued with, “God bless mommy and daddy, Elizabeth, Alicia, Alexander, and all who are around me.  Amen, Stay in bed.”  I guess we said it that way so many times it just became part of the ending.  In Luther’s evening prayer the closing is, “let you holy angel watch over me, that the evil foe will have no power over me.”(SC)  Both prayers bring the close of our day to a bright focus, that is that God will watch over us at the close of our day, which for any one of us could also be the close of our lives. 

Darkness is and always has been associated with darkness, death, and evil.  We do not like to be out in the dark walking down streets alone, it’s just not safe.  So we avoid walking alone at night in strange places if at all possible. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" It is the element of surprise that makes us fear, we can’t see as well in the dark as we can in the light. 

And so St. Paul takes this idea of darkness and light, safe and surprise and he tells the church in Thessalonica, “let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.”(v. 6)   Not as easy as it sounds.  Jesus told His disciples to do this very thing in the Garden of Gethsemane, “[Jesus] said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And shortly thereafter as He bowed to God’s will in prayer He returned and, “He came to the disciples and found them sleeping.”(Mt. 26:38&40)

“Let us not sleep.”(v. 6) Obviously an impossible task.  For the disciples in the presence of the Son of God Jesus Christ, could not stay awake for a few moments, neither could Paul’s hearer’s and we too can’t stay awake for an endless string of hours upon hours we must sleep.  So St. Paul is talking here about our lives in the world, his admonition doesn’t mean our every day need for sleep, nor is he talking about the endless sleep of death.  But, here St. Paul speaks about “a life in sin, which is a life in darkness. Those in Christ, the light of the world, are awake and sober.”  You beloved saints of God, because of the grace and faith sealed upon you in your baptism, walk in the light of the sun, so all of you who walk in the light of the Word of God, Jesus Christ, are "children of the day.”(v. 5)

Boy wouldn’t that be a great place to end, except one or two of you are thinking, “Wait a minute, didn’t I hear you say that only sinners come to church?  Something is not adding up here.”  And you would be right and St. Paul would be right too.  For all who walk in the light of the Word of God, are indeed children of the day.  But just like the seasons and the time of the year especially now, the darkness seems to come very early, in fact earlier each day.  We slip and we fall our faith wanes like daylight as we approach December days.  We sin daily, and that is taking the Light of Christ out of our lives.  In fact, we often think of sin, in kind of a mitigating way.  We want to think that we are Christian, and holy and we have all these holy lights on lives.  Wherever we go there is always light, look at me.  But we sin by not speaking kindly of our brothers and sisters.  Oh, that’s just one light that went out, I’ve got plenty more.  We sin when we curse and swear, “Oh everybody does that, if that’s all you’ve got to talk about, I’ve plenty more lights than that.”  We sin, by holding false Gods, by being so busy we can’t spend time to read God’s Word, to attend church, to share the Word of God with others.  We think our lights slowly go out as we feel the effects of sin in our bodies which are attacked and ravaged by very real aches, pains, disease.  But, how many lights do you have?  Do you have enough lights to avoid the darkness that will envelope you when the last candle goes out?  Truthfully the answer is no, we do not and we can not by our own reason or strength fight the battle of the diminishing light.  In fact, the truth is worse than you thought, for each sin, puts all your lights out, all at once, completely, dark dark, no shadows, no sounds, no touch, no taste, no smell, utter and complete separation from the world which we want to create.  Where we have all the money, no enemies, no debt, every toy, perfect health, no crying, no pain, no anguish, no fear, no darkness.”

Repent for  St. Paul said, “While people are saying, “'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”(v. 3) These are dark words which warn of sudden, utter, and hopeless ruin and despair for those who put their hope in this world, rather than in Christ. It has been said, “Do not, while present prosperity smiles upon you, forget its certain end, lest adversity without end succeed it” (St. Bernard of Clairvaux SLSB, p 56). By human reason and strength, no one can escape God’s righteous judgment and scrutiny (Ps 139:7–10). Only those sheltered in Christ will escape God’s wrath, which will come upon all those who have broken His righteous Law.  Our candles are like a heap of wax, your ability to make light is like a box of wet matches, by our actions and inactions, we are left in despair and utter darkness with no way to make light.

But you are not left in the darkness of your own despair.  Christ Jesus, is the light of the world and He has made you belong to the day.  You have put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation in the waters of your baptism.  In the light of Christ you are as a people who walk in the light of the sun, for you walk in the light of the Word of God, Jesus Christ, and you have been made the children of the day.

Let us walk in holiness and righteousness so that we may not be ashamed when our Lord appears to judge our work. The Lord who has chosen you for salvation and died for you on the cross will be on our side on the final Day of Judgment.  Recognize that there is a Day of Judgment for us a day casting to the darkness or the eternal illumination in the presence of the Son of God. The day of the Lord may come like a thief in the night but you are children of the day.  We pray the way we are taught, God’s will be done.  We share the Good News of Jesus Christ who is the light of the world.  Are prayers are answered by Jesus Christ who brings the close of our everyday even our final day into a bright focus. That is that God will watch over us at the close of our day, which for any one of us could also be the close of our lives.  And no matter when Jesus comes, He will come for you in comfort and joy, to lay you down to sleep and He your soul will ever keep, when you die you shall then awake, for Jesus died for your eternal sake.  Amen.

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The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity - November 13, 2011

The Church Season of Trinity
The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (November 12, 2011)

Readings:  
    Psalm 8
    Genesis 1:1 – 2:3
    Ephesians 6:10-17
    John 4:46-54

+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 4th chapter of St. John, especially the following verse:

John 4:46-54

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. [Jesus said]48 “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed. 54 This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

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

What does it mean to believe?  Do we need to see clouds in the sky in the form of Christ?  To see a curtain move in a still room?  Do we have to have a wonderful dream or a scary nightmare in order to believe? Today we hear that Jesus talks to a man of great standing.  Royalty in fact very well to do.  This man knew of Jesus went to him because he had heard of Him.  

This royal man’s son was sick.  We don't know what illness he may have had, but it sounds that is could have been potentially fatal.  The official appeared to be completely out of options and he went to see the local miracle worker.  And so when this man came into Jesus’ presence Jesus looked inside the man and saw that there was no real, saving faith yet, just primarily desperation.

But apparently the crowd was also indifferent because Jesus speaks to them first before He speaks to this royal man, saying, "Unless you see signs and wonders, You will not believe."  But the man was desperate, and begged, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 

And then Jesus’s blessing is simple, "Go your way, your son lives."  No earth shattering decrees, no thunder, no lightning.  No bone chilling voices in the dark, no palm reading, no good luck, just the Word of God proclaiming blessings and healing upon a man’s dying son, which ultimately comforts his father too.

And so, on his way home, a walking of 20 or 30 miles, his servants met him with the happy news that his son was better.  So of course he asked at what time the boy began to mend, and they said it was about the seventh hour and that it was just about at that time that Jesus had said to him that his son was going to live.  And the next sentence seems kind of odd, ". . . and he himself believed, and his whole household."

How many times have you asked God, “to just show me something, anything so I know you’re hearing me.  Please just let me know that you’re hearing my prayers.”  But our faith is weak.  We want concrete signs, actions, immediate action by God.  Why doesn’t God solve my problems right after I pray?  Truth be told, most of our conversations with God, probably go something like this.

[God] “I love damn sinners.”  [Us] “Hey God this is me, I’m a damn sinner.”  [God] “I love damn sinners.”  [Us] “Yes, God I am a damn sinner.”  [God] “My child, I forgive you all your sins.”  [Us] “You would forgive me?  Even with all I’ve done?”  [God] “My child, I forgive you all your sins.”  [Us] “That’s great! I’m forgiven, I’m forgiven.”  [God] “Your salvation is secure, share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone you meet. Forgive as I have forgiven you.  Go and sin no more.”  [Us] “I’m sorry I didn’t catch that last part, ah am I still forgiven?”

The man in the reading suddenly believed, only after having heard that his son was recovering.  Our experience of faith in Jesus Christ is often similar.  The Holy Spirit creates faith in us by the Word of God.  That is instantaneous and completely by God's power, but our experience of it, our consciousness of it often feels more like this man's path.  We start with a need and a wish and not much else - and then when all else fails, we try God.  We believe the Word of God, sort-of, when it tells us of the love of God, and we put God to the test.  We don't really expect God to keep His promises, but we try Him out in situations where we don't have too many other options anyhow.  It seems only when God proves Himself to us, so we believe. But in a biblical context belief and trust are almost synonymous words.  So we believe God when He does what we want, but do we trust Him to do what is best for us, even if it is not what we want?

So what does it mean to trust in God?  It means more than simply saying that the Word of God is accurate or factually true.  It means living in confidence about God and in God.  It means answering your fears with God's promises and with the knowledge that God loves you.  It means doing what you know to be right even if it doesn't seem safe or practical or popular. 

So then, do you believe, and do you trust?  Then you put first things - God's things - first.  Do you trust God enough to risk looking unusually religious? Do you trust God enough to find contentment in His will and His love for you, no matter how painful or troubling you may find your life to be?

We could ask if that royal man really expected that Jesus could heal his son, or if it was a test to see if Jesus could or would.  So maybe when he prayed to Jesus, he was doing a "just in case" prayer.  You know, just in case God is listening, and just in case He is interested, and just in case He wants to help, then I will pray. Do you pray like that, or do you pray with confidence that God will answer?

Looking for God to create signs and wonders just to convince us that He hears us is really just faithlessness.  Nowhere has God promised what such a faith expects and looks for, but there are a lot of teachers and preachers selling that sort of doctrine.

Rather faith built on trust responds to life knowing that God is in charge, and He will do everything He promised, not just the 'go to heaven' stuff that you cannot see or use in your day to day living.  Look at Communion it is prepared for you morning. What is it?  Does your hunger for it reflect a casual human sense that this is a fine thing we do in church on the second, fourth, and fifth Sunday, or does it reflect that God, in Christ Jesus is here for you is forgiveness, and that Christ is coming to you personally to transform you and give you eternal life?  Is this Sacrament the medicine of immortality for you, or just something religious that we do?  Do you count it as precious and hunger to receive it as often as you may, finding strength and refreshment for your soul here.  Are you hearing Christ’s words, “Do this often” or are you doing this Communion thing only as often as you please? 

Do you hear what I saying?  In some way, we are all hurt, sick, frustrated by people, the world and even our own actions or inactions.  The miracle is before you, take eat, take drink, you have been made well  Lean on God and trust, believe, have faith, in Him and not trust our own wisdom, or strength or understanding.  When we live in faith by doing everything in the light of that faith, ruling our actions and our words and our attitudes by our trust in God and our hope in forgiveness and the confident expectation that we will rise from the grave to live forever.

The man in the Gospel saw Jesus in action, and understood that Jesus is God — and that He cared for him and his family.  He trusted from that moment on that Jesus could and would take care of him, his family, and his needs. You, too, can let every pain, every crisis, every need rest in the hands of Jesus. You can trust Him to love you, keep you, and save you, and raise you from the dead to everlasting life.  This faith is more than just believing that that it is true, it is believing that it is for you, and that God counts you precious to Himself and He watches over you, and will bring you through all things safely. And when you trust God, you won't need signs and wonders, and the conversation between us and God becomes much shorter…more like this…[Us]“God, your will be done.”  [God] “I have given you my only begotten Son, your salvation is secure, and the timing of your healing is when you hear my Holy Word, when you receive the Sacraments when you know my love for you in giving my Son for your sins, you are forgiven.”  Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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All Saints Sunday - November 6, 2011

The Church Season of Trinity
All Saints Sunday
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (November 6, 2011)

Readings:   
    Psalm 149
    Revelation 7:2-17
    1 John 3:1-
    Matthew 5:1-12

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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 All Saint’s Day is as recorded in the 5th chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verses:

Matthew 5:1-12

 [Jesus] 1Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when e sat down, his disciples came to him. 2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  5"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  7"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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

Saint Matthew records the Gospel, that is Good News, of Jesus Christ and His salvation for us.  Saint Matthew by inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us the words of Jesus Christ which is the Word of Life for us.  From Jesus’ incarnation to His death and resurrection, it is all in this book.  Today we hear in the Gospel reading the beginning of Jesus’ first of five discourses or sermons.  And these words are probably some of the most heard, most remembered, and most beloved of all Christ’s sermons.  How could the man Saint Matthew but be humbled to write down Christ’s words, how could a man but be humbled to preach about Christ’s sermon to His beloved people? 

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are those who mourn, Blessed are the meek, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, Blessed are the merciful, Blessed are the pure in heart, Blessed are the peacemakers, Blessed are those who are persecuted”  More often than not, these words of Jesus Christ which we know as the Beatitudes are preached as Law, meaning these are only things which we must do. Some preachers have even gone so far as to call these the “Be” “Attitudes” meaning you must “Be” all these things.  Again your ears should hear the Law in that sentence, because the word “must” will always come back to bite you, to leave you uncertain.  Because “must” is always quickly followed by, “how much”?

A few years ago, a tour group was led on a path in the small town of Eisleben, Germany, headed to a tiny church, the one where Martin Luther was baptized.  That tour group was energized, and somewhere in the midst all their conversations on the way to that church, the question arose, “I wonder if we’ll see the baptismal font where Martin Luther was baptized?”  The group was led into that small church and in the front and center was indeed a baptismal font.  Quickly everyone went to take pictures but all too soon they were disappointed to find out that that particular font was almost brand new.  But, the tour guide added, there is a font in the chapel at the rear of the church.  Again the crowd moved, 43 people squeezed into a small chapel to look and see Luther’s font.  Hope rose when it was announced that this font was indeed the right age over 530 years old.  But it too was not the font the group sought, in fact the location of the font they desired to see was unknown.  Disappointment, they would not be able to see, or to touch, or to be in the presence of Luther’s baptismal font.

Oh how misguided and misdirected the thoughts of these people.  They looked for God’s grace in a carving of stone, or of eight sided hunk of wood, or some kind of image orchestrated and etched by their imagination, looking for fonts in all the wrong places.  Each of you has had that desire to seek out some kind of font which will fulfill your dreams.  Whether it be a font of money to pay your bills, or taxes.  Or maybe a font with the power to avoid paying taxes.  Or maybe a font which will provide all the medicine you need to put away your suffering from all aches or pains.  A font which will cripple your enemy or at least cause them to stumble.  A font which will cause the pastor to preach a sermon the sermon you wish, instead of the one you need.  A font to make that pastor see himself in his own words.  A font of imagination which would be a glorious spectacle before the world and make them all people come into and join this very church.  “Hope springs eternal” the poet Alexander Pope would say, but for us, it is a hope that God would give us a font, to put all that troubles us and all who trouble us away.  But that is not a font, it is a wishing well a place in which to throw the coins of our despair, but a place which would not reveal our reflection.  But that is a false hope looking for the magic of a font made wishing well.

The words taught in the Beatitudes to the disciples are the ones they and we need to hear.  The first word of the beatitudes are, “Jesus opened His mouth and He taught them saying”(v. 2)  And the Words from His mouth did not mislead, there is no false hope here.  Jesus Christ’s words are a wellspring of salvation which point to Himself, which give you faith and bring to you to the baptismal font of eternal life.  Beatitude literally means happy, fortunate, or blissful. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” but you would not be happy if you were poor.  Like the rich man who came to Jesus, and Jesus asked him to give away all his possessions and follow Jesus.   But the rich man bowed his head in shame and walked away.  If we must be poor, just admit it, you cannot be poor, you cannot give all you have away for Jesus. What would you do, how would you survive?  But Jesus had nowhere to lay His head (Mt 8:20) except ultimately on a cross and He did so for you for the forgiveness of all your sins.

And we could go down the list, reflecting how none of these Beatitude blessings are the way we would like to be blessed.  And in a rush to find one thing we can accomplish by our own reason or might, we might overlook the fact that the first eight of these Blessed’s are directed to they, whoever “they” might be.  But the ninth talks about you and me, and the you is us and the me is Jesus Christ.  “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”(v. 11)

Jesus no longer speaks about the impossible tasks that “they” must accomplish, no Jesus says you and me.  Jesus’ suffering effects your suffering, He suffers for you, He becomes poor, for you, He becomes all things, for you.  And because Jesus Christ has given His all, including His Body and Blood, for you, you in turn will suffer for Him and not only that you will, “ Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(v. 12)

On this All Saints day do not be misdirected as to how you will achieve Sainthood, what you must do, what you must complete.  You need not wish for a font to fulfill your dreams, rather in your baptismal font you have received life and salvation beyond your greatest whim or wish.  For the size or shape, or historical magnitude of the font does not matter.  Rather it is the Word of God, combined in and with the water which makes it a baptism.  And that baptism makes you holy, and holy is the definition of a saint. 

 God in Jesus Christ through the revelation of Holy Spirit the scriptures reveals that we are never closer to heaven on earth and our sainted loved ones than we are in the waters of holy baptism and in the Sacrament of Holy Communion and with Christ.  For in those sacraments you have a foretaste of the bliss which the saints enjoy in heaven.  Share that joy with all whom you meet, it is not only your duty, but your obligation.  For why would you who experience a foretaste of heaven not want to share that joy?  In Baptism in Holy Communion and we are in communion with all who truly believe Christ’s Words “this is” and we sup with all the blessed saints who have gone before us.  Searching for the font to solve your every dream is futile, rather Christ has found you, and brought you to faith, and gives you life eternal, and so we receive the first sermon of Jesus Christ, which speaks of the Law and ends with the His Gospel “your reward is great in heaven.”

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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Reformation Sunday - October 30, 2011

The Church Season of Trinity
Reformation Sunday (Observed)
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (October 30, 2011)

Readings:  
    Psalm 46
    Revelation 14:1-6
    Romans 3:19-28
    Matthew 11:12-19

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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 11th chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verses:

Matthew 11:12-19 (ESV)

[Jesus said]12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

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

Today we note the 494th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Our banner here in the chancel reflects Luther’s Rose.  Here is what it means as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther explained it, “Grace and peace from the Lord. As you desire to know whether my painted seal, which you sent to me, has hit the mark, I shall answer most amiably and tell you my original thoughts and reason about why my seal is a symbol of my theology. The first should be a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. "For one who believes from the heart will be justified" (Rom. 10:10). Although it is indeed a black cross, which mortifies and which should also cause pain, it leaves the heart in its natural color. It does not corrupt nature, that is, it does not kill but keeps alive. "The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:17) but by faith in the crucified. Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose, for this faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). That is why the rose should be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and the angels (cf. Matt. 28:3; John 20:12). Such a rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed. And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end. Such blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal.  May Christ, our beloved Lord, be with your spirit until the life hereafter.”

 

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 500 years since Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, an ordained priest of the Roman Catholic church, challenged the powers of the known world by tacking those 95 thesis to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.  There he questioned the authority of the Holy Roman Catholic church and King Charles Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.  And to this machine of churchly and governmental authority Luther’s challenge was met with words similar to that which Christ spoke in our Gospel lesson, “He is a demon.”(v. 18)

 

When Luther was confronted by excommunication which by nature included threat of death, Luther stated, "Unless I shall be convinced by the testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear reason ... I neither can nor will make any retraction, since it is neither safe nor honorable to act against conscience."  He also famously is said to have added, "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."  Against all odds, Luther stood on the Word of God and not the word of men.  On this day of remembering the Reformation it is all too easy to think of Luther, and to quote Him or to insult and belittle those who opposed him.  But if he were here today, that would not be Luther’s point.  Rather Luther would point to Christ just as he did in that seal. 

 

Jesus said to the crowd gathered around Him, “12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ”(v.12)  John the Baptist preached, prayed, and pointed to Christ.  And for this proclamation John his head became a birthday bidding gift of Herod’s niece.  Herod like the crowd either did not believe the prophecy of John or he chose to ignore it.

 

And Jesus paints the people around Him in the same light, like children who want to call the tunes and feel snubbed when their partners do not want to dance with them. But we humans are quite fickle, aren’t we?  We do not want to hear about Moses and the Ten commandments.  We don’t want to hear about the destruction of all of God’s people who failed to listen to the prophets.  We do not want to hear John the Baptist say to us, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”(Mt. 3:2)  That’s Law and it’s all to stern, isn’t it?  Can’t we just have the Word of God and the Gospel the way we want to hear it, without so much pain, suffering, and violence?

Well, truthfully, if that is what we proclaimed, all Gospel and no Law, then we would be changing God’s Word in scripture to meet our needs, and we see that happen throughout scripture.  From Adam and Eve, to the church in Luther’ time, man has been quite consistent in turning from the whole of God’s Word and wanting only to hear the portions we want to hear.  And quite frankly the first desires in Garden did bring about suffering and the violence of death.  In this world we know of violence we suffer from it for we live in a fallen world and we feel the results which are pain, suffering, and ultimately we too shall one day die. 

But lest we be depressed, by all that we face, hear again what Christ said, “The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”(v. 12)  Jesus Christ suffered the ultimate violence for us as He died on the cross.  His suffering and death overcomes our all our pain, all our suffering, all hate and angst that we face in this world. 

 Today we celebrate the Reformation not out of party spirit nor because we hate Catholicism or because we enjoy bashing the pope.  We celebrate the Reformation in a spirit of grateful humility that God still allows His good news of forgiveness to be preached to us, and we ask that He would preserve His Church on earth for the sake of Christ, so that many more might hear the pure doctrine that God forgives sinners all by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and all that is a free gift, no strings attached.

So today, in remembering the Reformation we are reminded that we do not find salvation in the promises or works of men, traditions, or feelings.  We do not find the promise of salvation in the scribbled words written on a piece of paper tacked to a church door by a man named Martin Luther. We honor Luther for standing up against incredible forces and we stand here today to confess that our salvation is revealed in Jesus Christ nailed to a cross.  Salvation is promised by Christ, and confirmed in your Baptism, there you died to sin and now live to Christ.  Today in the Holy Sacrament of our Lord, Jesus Christ pours Himself out for you in His body and blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus Christ is the eternal Word of God to whom all Holy Scripture points.  Today, we fondly recall the beauty and details of Luther’s seal placed on a banner and the memory of that door to the Castle Church in Wittenberg.  But even greater still, for all eternity we will recall the Gospel Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.  For Jesus Christ is for you the seal of your salvation and He alone is for you the one and only door to eternal life.  Amen.

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