Author: Al

Text: Acts 1:12-26; 1 Peter 4:12—5:11; John 17:1-11
Date: Easter VII + 6/5/11

The first time there was a Seventh Sunday after Easter the disciples were quietly waiting to see what would happen next. It was, after all, only six short weeks ago that the most tragic and horrific thing they had ever seen in their lives had been completely reversed as with an earthquake. For their Lord who had been cruelly treated and murdered, whom they themselves had shamefully denied and abandoned, suddenly appeared alive, first to the women at the cemetery, then behind closed doors, then on a road to Emmaus and a number of other times, appearing, then disappearing, then appearing again and disappearing as quickly. Then, just this past Thursday, the fortieth day since Easter, He appeared one more time. But this time He did not just vanish from their sight, but was lifted up into the air, going up until a cloud hid Him from their eyes. Our Lord ascended into heaven, to the right hand of the Majesty on high, there to rule and reign as King of the Universe forever. Continue reading “Una Sancta”

Text: John 14:15-21
Date: Easter VI + 5/29/11

I noticed, recently, an ad on the radio talking about a ductless heating and cooling system. But instead of talking about “heating” or “cooling” the rooms in your house the announcer spoke about “comforting” your rooms. “Comforting,” I guess, means heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. But “comforting” is a word that gives character or personalizes an otherwise purely mechanical function. Today, Jesus speaks about the third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit. “Father” gives a certain emotional identity to the First Person. “Son” and especially the name “Jesus” gives identity to the Second Person. But “Holy Spirit” seems a vague title, a mysterious concept. Therefore Jesus uses a unique word to describe the Spirit, a word that means “Helper” or “Comforter.” Continue reading “Not Alone”

Text: John 14:1-14
Date: Easter V + 5/22/11

At first in this Easter season our attention was captivated for three Sundays in a row by the event of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. First Matthew told us of the discovery of the empty tomb by the women, then St. John reported on our Lord’s appearances to the disciples behind locked doors, and finally St. Luke joined the chorus of evangelists narrating the event of that evening on the road to Emmaus. Last Sunday, then, we began to proceed from the facts of the resurrection to its meaning or implication for our faith and life, namely, in the ever-present guidance of our risen Lord as the Good Shepherd. There He said, “I came that [you] may have life and have it abundantly.” We wondered how we could have more life than we already have. But as soon as we discover that the end-cap and stopper of life has been removed, namely death, and that we are now slated to live forever, what Jesus called abundant life becomes even “abundanter”! Yes, my spell checker doesn’t like it either, but neither do any of our earthbound definitions of life as we know it. This abundant life, this resurrection life is not only in terms of longevity but also of a new identity (knowing who you are) as well as in terms of a new location (knowing where you are and where you are going). As God’s first question of Adam in the Garden after sin, separation and death entered the world was, “Adam, where are you?” so now God’s first promise of deliverance after Christ’s resurrection is Jesus’ promise that, “where I am you may be also.” Continue reading “Abundanter Life”

Text: John 10:1-10
Date: Easter IV + 5/15/11
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

The Fourth Sunday of Easter every year in the three-year lectionary is known as Good Shepherd Sunday as our Easter rejoicing begins to grow from the facts and the accounts of the resurrection of our Lord to the implications of that fact for our new life as resurrection people. And the first thing that needs to be said is that Jesus, the risen Christ, is the eternally living Shepherd of His sheep. As we heard St. Peter today in his First Epistle he calls Jesus “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” You could translate that as “the Pastor and Bishop of your souls.” What an appropriate day, therefore, for this afternoon’s Rite of Installation of the first called pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word! For the ministry is but the pastoral shepherding of Jesus through His Word and Sacraments faithfully preached, taught, administered and delivered through the mouth and ears and hands of certain men set apart, ordained, sent and called to serve Christ’s sheep as His under-shepherds. In fact the Gospel for this afternoon’s Installation Service is the continuation of this morning’s reading, namely, verses 11-16 of John chapter ten. So it is appropriate for us to consider the first words of this chapter with special attention to the Office of the Ministry. Continue reading “Abundant Life”

Text: Luke 24:13-35
Date: Easter III + 5/8/11
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

Even though this is now the third Sunday of Easter, the third week of the seven, the fifteenth day of the fifty, today we are still hearing what happened on that first Easter Day. Interesting, isn’t it, that we have not one but four accounts of Easter. We began with Matthew. Matthew told us of an earthquake and an angel and the women and Jesus appearing to them on their way back to the disciples with the news of resurrection. I suppose that should have or could have been enough for us. But then last Sunday we heard St. John’s account of “the evening of that day” when Jesus appeared to His disciples behind locked doors—“peace be with you;” the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, first without Thomas, then, eight days later, with Thomas, “Peace be with you,” “My Lord and my God!” Today we return and who greets us at the door but the good Dr. Luke with his well researched, “orderly account” (Lk 1:3). And he tells us of yet another happening we didn’t hear of from Matthew, Mark or John. We thank God for providing the world with not just one but four accounts, four witnesses (and actually five if you count St. Paul) of the most important thing that has ever happened in the history of the world, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Continue reading “In the Breaking of the Bread”

Text: Matthew 28:1-10
Date: Easter Day + 4/24/11
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

As preparation for the season of Lent, on the festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord, the sermon title catapulted us, ready or not, into Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season with the title, “The Beginning of the End.” For it was then that we were told of our Lord’s setting His face toward Jerusalem, that he began to teach His disciples what was coming, namely, his suffering, death and resurrection. It seems the closer we got to Holy Week the more the disciples remembered the suffering and death part. But did they remember, yes, did they hear or understand much less believe Jesus’ talk about resurrection, rising on the third day? Well, so for us. We can identify with suffering and even death since we have experienced the same to some degree or another. But resurrection? What are we talking about? What does it mean for the apostle Paul to say to us today that we are “raised with Christ” (Col 3:1)? Well, on behalf of the Holy Church throughout the world and in the name of God, welcome to The End of the Beginning, welcome to the “confirmation” of your faith, welcome to Easter! Our Lord’s successful earthly ministry is the beginning of saving faith in each and every heart that hears the Gospel. But it’s only the beginning. Continue reading “The End of the Beginning”