Month: June 2010

Text: Luke 9:51-62
Date: Pentecost V (Proper 8 ) + 6/27/10
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

Face it, you’re done. Face it, you’re toast. Face the facts. Face the music. Face up to reality. When we are asked or ordered to face up to something it usually means confronting or admitting something negative, something you’ve done wrong, a sin, a complex of things that have led to a moment of judgment or awakening.

The Bible talks about God’s face. He can either set his face against you in His wrath and judgment, or He can “bless you and keep you, and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, and lift up His countenance upon you, or look upon you with favor, and give you peace.” God’s people are taught to pray in the psalms, “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’ Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger” (Ps. 27:8-9). And it is the Christian hope that, on the last Day, “They will see [God’s] face” (Rev. 22:4). Continue reading “Face It!”

Text: Luke 8:26-39
Date: Pentecost 4 (Proper 7) + 6/20/10
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

St. Luke’s account of Jesus’ healing of a man possessed by demons is striking in its detail and not a little puzzling in its relevance to our modern ears. For to preach or proclaim this word requires as of first importance the acceptance of the existence of demons and of their ability to possess human beings, and only then to what meaning this event may have for our life of faith. It is clear that the Bible takes seriously and literally the realm and rule of the devil and his evil spirits. And it is just as clear that there is a demonic power at work in the world to keep people from the deliverance and salvation God so desires to provide to all. May these words, first, inform and prepare us to recognize all that militates against the Gospel and then also inspire and embolden us to proclaim to others how much God has done for us and for the whole world through His Son, Jesus Christ. Continue reading “Demonic or What?”

Sorry, I forgot my voice recorder today.

Text: 2 Samuel 11:26—12:10, 13-14; Luke 7:36—8:3
Date: Pentecost III, Proper 6 + 6/13/10
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

There are times when a person may be desperately aware of their sins. The sinful woman in today’s Gospel was one such. You could tell—for she loved Jesus much as she saw in Him the love and forgiveness of God. There is little real love for Jesus, on the other hand, in a person who is not so aware of their great need of Him. How little of the time are we aware of our sins and of the true greatness of the gift of forgiveness, holy absolution. And our little or weak love shows it. Such was the Pharisee named Simon in today’s Gospel. Continue reading “O Love, How Deep”

Text: Luke 7:11-17
Date: Pentecost II (Proper 5) + 6/6/10
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

This is the choir and band rehearsal room or music room of Lutheran High School Northwest. That is it’s main function. That’s what it was built for. That is what it is when students arrive with their instruments or sit according to their voices as Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass. Sometimes this room can be used as a study hall, or for a faculty meeting or devotions, or other functions. On Sunday morning, however, when we gather here “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” that changes everything. Oh, it may still be recognized as a high school music rehearsal room, even though we do our best to make it a sacred space with an altar and lectern, candles and crucifix. But it isn’t until we announce our gathering to be “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” that it truly is more that a redecorated music room and becomes nothing less than a sanctuary, literally a sacred or holy place, Heaven on Earth. Continue reading “Heaven on Earth”