Text: Matthew 22:15-22
Date: Pentecost XIX Proper 24 + 10/19/14
“Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death? I do, by the grace of God. Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it? I do, by the grace of God” (Confirmation, LSB 273). So you said, so you pledged at the confirmation of your Holy Baptism. Continue reading “Dual Citizenship”
Text: Matthew 22:1-14
Date: Pentecost XVIII Proper 23a + 10/12/14
Still attempting to reach out to save the religious officials who would shortly manage His execution, Jesus speaks to them another parable. It is an obvious warning not to refuse or despise God’s offer of grace in and through Jesus. That same warning is repeated today for our sakes. For there is a lot of refusal and despising of God’s Word in the world today, even in the various dark corners of our own hearts. Some will die eternally for refusing to repent of their sin and believe in God’s saving grace. Others, including you and me, will continue to agree with God’s law, repent anew of our sin and carry on in faith relying on God’s promised salvation. Continue reading “This is the Feast”
Text: Matthew 21:33-46
Date: Pentecost XVII Proper 22 + 10/5/14
It’s October. We are nearing a very interesting time of the liturgical year, namely, the end. In this first year of the three-year lectionary St. Matthew has been guiding us telling us what we need to know about our Savior, Jesus Christ. He began as we would expect, listing Jesus’ genealogy in a way that suggests He is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises of salvation from Abraham to Mary and Joseph of Bethlehem. In Advent we hear of the purpose of His coming and then celebrate the miraculous mystery of the incarnation of the Second Person of God the Holy Trinity in the Christ Mass. Our chapter by chapter walk with Matthew begins in the green Sundays of Epiphany where we review the beginning of His earthly ministry of preaching, teaching and healing, Matthew chapters 3, 4, and 5. Continue reading “For Us”
Text: Matthew 21:23-32
Date: Pentecost XVI Proper 21 + 9/28/14
I love this Gospel reading today for a number of reasons. One is the hidden humor of it all. The chief priests and elders of the people challenge Jesus’ credentials asking what’s His authority. Jesus decides to play a little game saying, “I’ll answer your question if you will answer mine.” “The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” You can see these important men huddling together not so much to discuss the real answer (they know the real answer!) but only the effect or political correctness of the two choices. They’re hard pressed between their agenda and their need for people’s respect and obedience. The answer? “We don’t know!” That’s funny enough but then Jesus follows through on the deal and refuses to answer them. Well, He actually doesn’t refuse since He then tells a parable which does answer their question. Continue reading “The Unanswered Question”
Date: Pentecost XV Proper 20a + St. Matthew + 9/21/14
Text: Matthew 19:27—20:16
Today we encounter once again that mystifying aphorism or saying of Jesus, “the last will be first, and the first last.” Most often, of course, heard in church basements where people are lining up to go through the buffet line, the actual meaning is quite the opposite. Back in the last chapter Jesus said, “many who are first will be last, and the last first” (19:30). Here He says the reverse, “the last will be first, and the first last.” Either way the meaning is the same, namely, in the kingdom or rule of God no one is going to be first and no one is going to be last. Rather, by God’s amazing grace, the playing field has been leveled. All are equal. Continue reading “Let Me Not Doubt”
Text: Genesis 50:15-21; Matthew 18:21-35
Date: Pentecost XIV Proper 19 + 9/14/14
The Hymn of the Day, written by a 13th century Italian mystic, Bianco da Siena, contemplates what is behind today’s scripture readings. It taps into the emotions surrounding Joseph’s forgiveness of his guilty and fearful brothers, St. Paul’s warning of the necessity to live in mutual forgiveness, and Jesus’ emphasis on forgiveness as a never-ending expression of His love redeeming and restoring our relationships in the family of God. Continue reading “Till Worldly Passions Turn”
Text: Matthew 18:1-20
Date: Pentecost XIII Proper 18 + 9/7/14
Lately St. Matthew has had us ask “Who is Jesus?” St. Peter spoke for us all under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saying to the Lord, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then we heard Jesus explain what that meant for Him to be the Christ, namely, that He came to suffer and die, to be the sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world, and be raised again from the dead for our justification, salvation and life. Then He said that in order to follow Him, in order to be a Christian (a “little Christ”) the life of faith requires of us that we also take up our cross. In other words being a disciple, a Christian, entails a certain kind of suffering on our part for and in His name and even death to this world. It is to be “buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3-4). St. Paul wrote to the Colossians, that by this baptismal faith “with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world,” “for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 2:20; 3:3). Continue reading “Words of Warning”
Text: Matthew 16:21-28
Date: Pentecost XII Proper17a + 8/31/14
Today’s Gospel is a mirror image of last week’s reading. Last week Peter was praised for his mighty, God-given confession of faith. This week he is reproved for his devil-inspired rejection of the heart of the gospel. Last week the question was “who is Jesus?” And Peter got that right. This week is revealed what Jesus came to do as the Christ. And Peter rejected it. Today Jesus says, “whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” The gospel is, ultimately, a matter of life and death. Because of sin someone has to die—“The wages of sin,” you know. Today Jesus begins to say plainly how he “must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” This is the heart of the gospel, the only way anyone can be saved from the punishment and condemnation of eternal death and delivered to eternal life in the family of God. It took nothing less than the bloody, violent sacrifice of the body of Jesus, Son of Mary and God’s beloved Son, executed by our murderous hands by hanging Him on a cross. For there, amid the mocking, the nails and spears and manifold disgrace, by God’s own will and design, He turned our captivity to sin into release and freedom, our violence into peace, our hatred into love, our ungodly ways to the only way, truth and life through the forgiveness of our sins and a change of heart. This becomes the salvation of all who by faith believe and receive it. Nevertheless it can also be lost by those who do not believe and deny it. Continue reading “Life Saver”
Text: Matthew 16:13-20
Date: Pentecost XI Proper 16a + 8/24/14
This is Rock Sunday. No, no trap drum sets or screaming electric guitars. Not rock music but literal rocks, stones as in petrology, the branch of geology that studies the origin, composition, distribution and structure of rocks.God’s Word today assures us that the promises of God’s salvation are “solid as a rock.” Through Isaiah we are bidden to “look to the rock from which you were hewn,” that is, God’s promise of salvation to the family and descendants of Abraham. “And,” wrote St. Paul to the Galatians, “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3:28-29). Continue reading “Church Furniture”
In light of recent news, if I haven’t said it lately I wish to say it plainly and again, “suicide is wrong.” When studying the Fifth Commandment I always try to beat that into my 8th graders’ heads, “suicide is wrong.” Everyone, I’m told, thinks about suicide at some time or other, usually passingly and not seriously. “But if and when you do,” I emphasize, “if you remember nothing else, remember this, Pastor said suicide is wrong.” I do not wish to downplay the danger and seriousness of this sin. Continue reading “God's Mercy on All”
