Text: John 8:31-36
Date: The Quincentenary of the Lutheran Reformation Reformation Day (Observed) + October 29, 2017
Today we mark the Quincentenary or five-hundredth anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. For five centuries the church of the Augsburg Confession, evangelical catholics come to be known as Lutherans, have marked this day as the birthday of the Lutheran Church or shall we say the re-birthday of the Holy Church Throughout the World. But why this day? And what exactly are we celebrating or commemorating? Continue reading “In Service of the King”
Date: Pentecost XX Proper 24 + 10/22/17
Text: Matthew 22:15-22
We are nearing the end of Matthew’s Gospel and therefore the end of our Lord’s earthly ministry. In a matter of only a couple more days Jesus will stand condemned by “the church” before the governor of state, Pontius Pilate. When Jesus would not answer him Pilate threatened Him asking, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” It was then that Jesus answered him, saying, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above” (Jn 19:11). Far from any consideration of a so-called separation of church and state Jesus here deepened the truth we heard Him speak to the Pharisees and Herodians just days before of rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. What things after all are Caesar’s and what things are God’s? We won’t understand the distinction between the two until we understand that, ultimately, there is no such distinction, but God is above all, Creator of all, Possessor of all. All things belong to God. Christ is King of heaven and also King of the universe. Continue reading “Thou Art King, O Christ”
Text: Matthew 22:1-14
Date: Pentecost XIX Proper 23A + 10/15/17
Our approach to the end of another liturgical year continues as we hear divine words of promise and invitation, the promise of deliverance, salvation and eternal life in the day of the resurrection of all flesh. The promise is, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10). Revelation 7:9 predicts the redeemed will be “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” Today we sing of that hope in words inspired by Jesus in Matthew 8, saying,
A multitude comes from the east and the west
To sit at the feast of salvation
With Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the blest,
Obeying the Lord’s invitation.
Have mercy upon us, O Jesus! Continue reading “The King's Feast – A Surprise Party”
Text: Matthew 21:33-46
Date: Pentecost XVIII (Proper 22A) + 10/8/17
In the shadow of the largest mass killing in American history last Sunday night/early Monday morning the appointed Gospel for this day gives us an insight into God’s perspective, His view of our world, of our troubles, of evil, and of our sufferings. When everyone is desperately searching for a reason, for some explanation for the aimless violence we witnessed in Las Vegas, we look to God alone who is Lord over all, the good and the bad, the joyful and the tragic, who alone can help us understand how we are to deal with especially the evil days. Continue reading “Wild Grapes Kill, God Loves Still”
Text: Matthew 21:23-27
Date: Michaelmas + Pentecost XVII (Proper 21) 10/1/17
Last Friday celebrated St. Michael and All Angels Day introducing the final days of the season of Sundays after Pentecost. The appointed Gradual for these last weeks is from Psalm 91, “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Ps 91:11). Beginning today the appointed Gospel readings therefore gradually move to consider the doctrine of the Last Things, the coming final judgment and the glorious deliverance of the Holy Church into the very courts and presence of God in paradise on the Last Day. Continue reading “To Wrest the Kingdom from Your Son”
