Allen Lunneberg

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Text: Matthew 15:21-28
Date: Pentecost IX + Proper 15 + 8/14/11

It is interesting how St. Matthew contrasts the “little-faith” of water-walking Peter in our reading last week with the “great faith” of a Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel. It is interesting, for one thing, because while Peter and those to whom the promise of the Messiah belong are slow to believe, mysteriously a woman who is not only a Gentile but even of the ancient hated religious and idolatrous enemies of Israel, the Canaanites, is pronounced by Jesus as demonstrating an exemplary faith that is “great.” This, of course, serves as another hint at God’s complete plan of salvation through the Jews to all nations reflected in today’s Old Testament reading (Isaiah 56). The woman is already, ahead of time, one of those foretold by the original promise to Abraham, “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen 12:2). She is among those of whom the hymn sings, “A multitude comes from the east and the west To sit at the feast of salvation” (LSB 510). That God’s mercy came through the disobedience of the Jews to embrace both them and all nations is the concern of Paul’s words in today’s Epistle. This dynamic is behind Jesus’ statement, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” It is in the woman’s further response that the greatness of her faith is shown. (more…)

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Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Date: Pentecost VIII + Proper 14 + 8/7/11

What is frightening you of late? What is it that causes your deepest fears? Is it the state of the economy and your sincere doubt that those currently in control of it have the first clue as to how to turn it around? What makes you afraid these days? What is so unsettling? Maybe it’s your physical wellness and worry over what the doctor might find after a battery of tests. What do you fear most? What sends you into a panic? Unemployment numbers keep rising. And you wonder if there is anything to the dire predictions of whether or not Social Security checks will continue or if the program itself will even survive. I like it a lot when the doctor smiles and says, “You’re in good shape” because he ought to know what he’s talking about. I’m quite a bit less confident when a politician tries to reassure me that things will improve if we only first insure his or her reelection. Everything depends on who’s talking. Is it just a spin of encouragement to a blind faith in some nebulous hope of a better tomorrow? Or is there something more certain than that? (more…)

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Text: Matthew 13:44-52
Date: Pentecost VI + Proper 12 + 7/24/11

Dearly Beloved,

God loves you.

Now, that may not strike you as being any big, new news. And that would be unfortunate. God loves you. But you’ve heard it before. Don’t we already know that? John 3:16 and all; ‘God so loved the world,’ etc.? “Jesus loves me, this I know….” (more…)

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Text: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Date: Pentecost V + Proper 11 + 7/17/11

This is the way the kingdom of heaven is, the way God rules His Church and His world for now. “For now” is all the days between our Lord’s earthly ministry and the Last Day of His return in judgment. We’re not there yet. When that Day happens, when this era is over, then will be unveiled the direct, complete, full reign of God in all the splendor, glory and perfection of the life of the world to come. But “for now” God’s rule is hidden. It is happening already and yet it is not seen fully with the eye. In the parable of the Weeds our Lord is reassuring and encouraging us to keep following Him, to “hang in there,” to endure patiently the struggle of living in this world, by faith, “on this side of the kingdom of heaven.” (more…)

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Text: Matthew 13:1-23
Date: Pentecost IV + Proper 10 + 7/10/11

Up to now Jesus had been teaching the people and His disciples in a pretty straightforward manner. Today, suddenly something changed. And His disciples noticed. He got into a boat when the crowds gathered, and He sat down in the boat, the crowd standing on the beach. He began to speak. But He began telling little stories. They weren’t jokes for entertainment because there were no punch lines and they weren’t funny stories. Well, some of the details were a little strange, but nothing to make you slap your knee and double over in laughter. Just little stories. So what changed? (more…)

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Text: Matthew 11:25-30
Date: Pentecost III + Proper 9 + 7/3/11

In the first half of Matthew’s Gospel the Evangelist tells of Jesus, Israel’s Messiah promised of old, and His rapidly developing reputation. “His fame spread throughout all Syria” and he healed many sick people. “Great crowds followed him from Galilee…and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan” (Mt 4:24-25). Crowds were “astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Mt 7:28). Finally Matthew relates our Lord’s Calling of the twelve disciples or apostles. Beginning with chapter eleven, however, things begin to turn and the opposition increases especially among the religious leaders. (more…)