Month: January 2015

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The Heavenly Call

Text: Mark 1:14-20
Date: Epiphany III + Conversion of St. Paul + 1/25/15

Interesting studies at this year’s Theological Symposia at our Fort Wayne, Indiana seminary! We heard presentations thinking about “culture,” and specifically the culture we find ourselves in today. Things change! So we gather here today to hear how the Gospel of Jesus Christ (“the same yesterday, today and forever,” Heb 13:8) and our call to follow Him and to testify or witness to Him to the world that is now around us is, on the one hand, the same as it always was, and yet how that call and following and testimony and witness and the world has changed and is changing. Continue reading “The Heavenly Call”

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The Heavens Opened

Text: John 1:43-51
Date: Epiphany II + Confession of St. Peter + 1/18/15

In the beginning of the Gospel we announce with John the Baptist, with the holy evangelists and with the holy Church throughout the world the coming of the Savior of the world, as we say in the creed, coming down from heaven. In this way the scripture says that heaven itself, formerly closed to and against us, was now ripped open by the grace of God breaking through to us. Now today’s sermon title could be taken as a repeat of all that talk about how the heavens were opened. But today when St. John reports Jesus saying, “Truly, truly I say to you, you will see heaven opened,” He means to say that by faith in Christ the heavens have already been opened and stand and remain always open to you. That is, ever since the coming of the Christ—as the Son of Mary in Bethlehem, as the Baptist’s “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” and as He came to you in the water of your holy baptism—ever since Christ came the doors of heaven have stood open to you. They will not be shut until everyone who will has entered. Today we say that for every believer in Christ heaven stands and remains open. Continue reading “The Heavens Opened”

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O Savior, Rend the Heavens

Text: Mark 1:9-11
Date: Baptism of Our Lord + Epiphany 1 + 1/11/15

Today is the starting line, the countdown of Advent and Christmas is over, “three, two, one,” and today we hear the gun shot word, “Go!” “Lift off,” “And they’re off!” Do you remember that Advent word? We sang that beautiful hymn “O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide,” expecting and inviting our Savior to “Come down with mighty stride.” It was before Christmas so we were getting in the mood to gather on a silent night, holy night around the tender Christ child in a manger. We sang in images of light and morning dew, clouds and rain, of hill and dale in garb of green and meadow fair. We looked for and expected comfort and joy. So now here we are, ready to go. The Christmas trees and decorations are gone, and we take comfort and hope in the fact that the days are getting longer and the season of Spring is on its way to rescue and liberate us from the harsh, cruel winter. Continue reading “O Savior, Rend the Heavens”

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All Wisdom and Insight

Text: Ephesians 1:8 (3-14)
Date: Christmas II + 1/4/14

Solomon of old asked God not for a long life or riches or the life of his enemies but for “an understanding mind” and God gave him “a wise and discerning mind.” In the Holy Gospel today St. Luke tells us that Jesus “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom,” and that in his discussions with the doctors or teachers in the temple that “all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Spiritual wisdom and understanding come from God alone. As the psalm says, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding” (Ps 111:10). From that time “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Continue reading “All Wisdom and Insight”