Text: Mark 1:21-28
Date: Epiphany IV + 1/28/18
At the beginning of the Epiphany season it is a time of “epiphany,” that is, revealing the Savior who has come, born at Christmas and grown up in Nazareth. After His baptism by John in the Jordan St. Mark gets right down to business telling us of Jesus’ calling His first disciples to follow Him and become fishers of men, and then the beginning of His ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. He told us, “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mk1:14-15). Continue reading “Called to Cleanse”
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The King's Kingdom
Text: Mark 1:14-20
Date: Epiphany III + 1/21/18
A main theme of this liturgical year is a new creation, that in Christ you are a new creation. Because Jesus was baptized He began to fulfill God’s Law and defeat sin, death and the devil for you. Because Jesus is truly God and truly man He is the door to salvation for you. Because Jesus called disciples the Church’s mission is His mission. This new creation is called the kingdom of God. Continue reading “The King's Kingdom”
The Lord Calls
Text: John 1:43-51
Date: Epiphany II + 1/14/18
In this year of St. Mark’s Gospel, we rejoice that his is the shortest of the four. We rejoice primarily because it gives us a chance to hear also from St. John’s Gospel. The two go together for many reasons. We notice for instance that neither Mark nor John have an historical account of Christmas, the birth of Christ. John begins with an extended prologue quickly moving to John the Baptist and, as we hear today, the calling of the first disciples. So does Mark. Our Gospel from the first chapter of John this morning takes us, as does his entire work, deeper into not only the history but the spiritual meaning of what it means to have faith in the Son of God. Continue reading “The Lord Calls”
Baptized In His Name
Text: Propers for the Day Series B
Date: The Baptism of Our Lord + January 7, 2018
I have two questions for you today. First, have you been baptized? Of course, I could look at the church records and find the baptismal date of all of our members. Do you remember the date of your baptism? The second question may sound a little strange at first, and that is this, are you baptized? To ask these questions in these two ways helps us discover why we celebrate The Baptism of Our Lord today. For the first question asks only for an historical reference of a past act, that is, the date on which the Sacrament of Holy Baptism was administered to you. We only baptize once because it is God’s own permanent work. He doesn’t go back on His word. The second question, however, asks if your baptism (so long ago) still makes any difference in your life today, now! Yes, Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. His baptism has a number of important meanings for Him. And we will briefly review those. But it is of greater meaning and importance if today we emphasize the fact that Jesus was baptized for you. “For you” meaning not instead of you or in your place, but for your benefit. That is, we are saying that when you were baptized into Christ you were changed, born anew from above, a new you, for you have been and are Baptized in His Name. Continue reading “Baptized In His Name”
My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation
Text: Luke 2:22-40 (34-35)
Date: Christmas I + 12/31/17
Simeon beheld the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to him as he took up the child Jesus in his arms and blessed God saying, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation.” Yes, the salvation from God was and is this Child. But how can our eyes see God’s salvation? For that first Christmas was a long, long time ago. We even sing in one of the Christmas songs the wish, “Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there!” We weren’t there. And so how can we say with Simeon, “my eyes have seen Your salvation”? A hint is that we sing with Simeon these words after every communion! Continue reading “My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation”
This Most Holy Night
Text: Matthew 1:18-25
Date: The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Eve + 12/24/17
The angel said to Joseph, “do not fear.” But what’s there to be afraid of? Well, plenty. First is the appearance of an angel, a messenger from God. These created beings of God have personality, that is, they are persons with intelligence and will. We know from scripture that they also have great numbers and great might. What they do not have are physical bodies like ours. But then, because of that, though like us they can only be in one place at a time, nevertheless they can change places instantly. Distance does not limit. So, when you stop to consider this report in detail, that encounter alone would cause a certain level of fear. “Joseph, do not be afraid.” Continue reading “This Most Holy Night”
Son of Mary, Son of God
Text: Luke 1:26-28
Date: Advent IV + 12/24/17
In a way, smashing the Fourth Sunday in Advent, the last-ditch effort to prepare us for the celebration of Christmas, immediately up against that celebration in only six hours should give us the sense of awe and wonder His mother Mary encountered at the angel Gabriel’s visitation. It was the sixth month since her relative Elizabeth had conceived God’s gift of Jesus’ forerunner, John the Baptist. Mary would have nine months to let this all sink in, not just six hours as for us. This is the greatest, most important, pivotal fulfillment of all of God’s promises of a Savior. Continue reading “Son of Mary, Son of God”
Come to Enlighten Us
Text: John 1:6-8, 19-28
Date: Advent III B + 12/17/17
St. Mark kicked off a new season of Advent proclaiming how God has come to save us and to lead us in the Person of His Son, Jesus. To give us a deeper insight into the Savior, today St. John the evangelist shares the stage. In the first chapter of his Gospel he continues to tell us the testimony or witness of John the Baptist. Actually, he does this by telling us who the Baptist is not. For the purpose of both the evangelist and the Baptist is to bear witness to Jesus, the Son of God. The evangelist says this most clearly in the twentieth chapter of his book, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (Jn 20:31). The Baptist says his purpose is to tell all, especially those who will not believe, that nevertheless, though the Savior has come, He remains to them “one you do not know” (Jn 1:26). Actually, we are all by nature in the same boat with the priests and Levites who confronted the Baptist, in that all people, all sinners are by nature spiritually blind to God. It is only as we are enlightened to the light that we can believe and be saved. In Jesus God has come to enlighten us. Continue reading “Come to Enlighten Us”
Come to Lead Us
Text: Mark 1:1-8
Date: Advent II B + 12/10/17
In today’s Collect we pray that the Lord make ready the way to come to us and enable us to serve God with pure minds. In other words, we pray that the Lord would Come to Lead Us, lead us to faith and holiness. How does God come to lead us but through His chosen means of grace, namely, His Word and Sacraments. Continue reading “Come to Lead Us”