Author: Al

Posted on

My Father's House

Text: Luke 2:40-52
Date: Christmas II + 1/4/09
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

Today (this year, and whenever there is a Second Sunday after Christmas [which is a little more than about half the time]) we get to hear that rare word concerning the Lord Jesus Christ when He was just twelve years old. It is rare because between the account of His conception and birth as an infant and the beginning of His active, earthly ministry when He was about thirty years old, we know nothing more about Jesus’ life as a child or a teenager or a young man than this little account. Surely St. Luke got this and probably other information directly from the Lord’s mother, Blessed Mary, an opinion inferred by many from the inclusion of the comment how Mary “treasured up all these things in her heart” (2:51). As with the practice of the Jews to this day of celebrating the Bat and Bar Mitzvah, the coming to the age of majority of a child around the age of 12 or 13, and of western Christians with the rite of confirmation at about the same age, there was probably a similar significance with Jesus’ attendance at the temple in that particular year. At least it wasn’t until that particular year that the memorable, treasured, unusual thing happened when Jesus “stayed behind in Jerusalem,” at the Temple, thus making for the three-day “Amber alert” for the missing youngster. The greatest significance of this incident for us has to do with Jesus’ identity as the Son of God the Father and as the very presence of God in His temple. Amid the amazement and astonishment and the ensuing questions and the lack of understanding, Jesus says he must be in His Father’s house and about His Father’s business. It is that divine necessity that emphasizes the Lord’s destiny, His purpose and the goal of His ministry that encourages us in the blessed destiny that is ours by faith in Him. Continue reading “My Father's House”

Posted on

The Glory that Sets Us Free

Text: Luke 2:21-40
Date: Christmas I + Holy Innocents, Martyrs + 12/28/08
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? According to a recent survey 60% of people receiving gifts at Christmas will tend to return or exchange at least one item they received. Most likely gifts to be returned are clothing. Least likely are gifts from children or family. But the long return lines at the stores in the days immediately following Christmas suggest people were somewhat disappointed and did not get what they wanted for Christmas.

The same thing seems to apply to the Church’s annual celebration of Christmas. People, many of whom possibly rarely attend worship services at all the rest of the year, still tend to come out for the annual Christmas pageant out of at least some vague hope they may discover or remember something that seems to have been missing in life lately. There are the old familiar carols and hymns and songs of Christmas that everyone has somehow been able to memorize with only once-a-year rehearsals. Nevertheless, the crowds of Christmas churchgoers seem to quickly disappear as people fail to get or discover anything new that they may have hoped for or wanted at Christmas. Did you get what you hoped for or wanted for Christmas? Continue reading “The Glory that Sets Us Free”

Posted on

This Will Be a Sign for You

Text: Luke 2:7
Date: Christmas Eve + 12/24/08

It all took place so quietly, so silently, so privately, so anonymously that it’s amazing anyone noticed anything unusual happening at all, much less that this event, this lowly, humble birth would literally change the history of the entire world, that this night as the Church and the world mark time should be so universally observed through the centuries to this day. In fact, however, it is precisely because salvation is and can be only by way of humble faith that the mighty acts of God are so hidden under the camouflage of the normal, the every-day, the dust and the sweat, the drama and the boredom of life-as-usual. Continue reading “This Will Be a Sign for You”

Posted on

Let It Be to Me

Text: Luke 1:26-38
Date: Advent IV + 12/21/08
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

It’s not Christmas yet. It’s still Advent. In today’s Gospel there are still nine months to go. First there is John the Baptist, then Jesus, six months apart. It is the sixth month with John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth, when the angel Gabriel “was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.” Galilee, Nazareth, virgin betrothed, Joseph, house of David. Did you get all that? Are you confused yet? The angel told Mary that she has been blessed and favored by God to serve as the mother of the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God whose name will be Jesus. Continue reading “Let It Be to Me”

Posted on

The Guide

Text: John 1:6-8, 19-28
Date: Advent III + 12/14/08
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

In your little catechism you learned to confess the truth, in part, in the words, “I believe that I cannot, by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.” You should know that not a few Christians of other denominations and certainly people in general find that a shocking statement with which they most vehemently disagree. You learned that this is because of the fallen, sinful nature of us all born into this world spiritually blind and dead. Spiritual blindness demonstrates itself in everything from the demand for some credit of cooperation of the human will to at least some extent, working your way to salvation by doing enough good works, to just complete ignorance of anything to do with God or things spiritual. Continue reading “The Guide”

Posted on

The Beginning of the Gospel

Text: Mark 1:1-8
Date: Advent II + 12/07/08
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

When the very first word of St. Mark’s Gospel is “Archai” (as in the word archaic), “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he means for his readers to recall the very first words of the Old Testament scriptures, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). For what he here begins to write about is as cosmic and awesome an event as the very creation itself. For it is nothing less than the salvation and beginning of the re-creation of all things. And what Mark is here writing is as true and inspired of God as those ancient words penned by Moses in the Pentateuch.

This is the beginning of the “gospel,” the good news of God initiating the rescue and salvation of His creation enslaved as it is by sin, death and the devil. It is really good news, as Jesus said, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17), for God is love (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8, 16). Continue reading “The Beginning of the Gospel”

Posted on

Savior of the Nations, Come

Text: Mark 11:1-10
Date: Advent I + St. Andrew, Apostle Day + 11/30/08
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

Having been given another day before the Lord’s final coming or Advent, we must therefore assume another day may turn into another week, another month, another year. And so Holy Church begins to tell the whole story of God’s love for His fallen world, in an orderly way, all over again. And just as Thanksgiving Day parades mark the beginning of some sort of official countdown to Christmas in our American society, so the Lectionary, the appointed scripture readings of the Church, mark the beginning of a new liturgical year with a parade, the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Like a movie trailer Advent lets us view the basic highlights of the Gospel before the movie begins:

(Imagine dramatic music in the background, quickly changing clips of various scenes before our eyes, and a deeper, bass, almost sinister voice, saying:) Jesus’ Shocking Final Coming on a day that cannot be predicted. Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem—the parade that ends in tragedy. Finally, the ancient and touching account of the little infant son of Mary of Bethlehem—Is He also the Son of God? Discover the truth for yourself. Don’t miss “Savior of the Nations, Come,” being told now, each Sunday, from a pulpit near you. Continue reading “Savior of the Nations, Come”

Posted on

Ready, Set, GO!

Text: Matthew 25:31-46
Date: Last Sunday in the Church Year + 11/23/08
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

In the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel we hear the words of our Lord Jesus talking about the coming Last Day of judgment. What may be surprising, however, is that our Lord actually speaks less about the events of that day than of the kind of life one ought to live before that day arrives. The chapter begins with the parable of the Ten Virgins, which speaks of the spiritual wisdom of being ready now by taking advantage of the grace of God available today. The parable of the Talents then speaks of using that grace of God in fruitful good works. Finally, today, we have the courtroom scene of God’s judgment. Though He uses parabolic language Jesus never says this is a parable. This is what “will” happen, he says, “when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.” Notice the word “glory” is repeated. This indicates that, on that Day, there will be nothing hidden anymore as it was in this life bur rather on full display for every eye to see (Rev. 1:7). Continue reading “Ready, Set, GO!”

Posted on

Ready, SET, Go!

Text: Matthew 25:14-30
Date: Pentecost XXVII (Proper 28) + 11/15/08
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

Last week the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel began making us Ready for the Lord’s final coming by telling us of the wisdom that relies on the grace of God; relies on it today before it is too late. Because we are still waiting for the Lord’s return this Sunday we can say once again, the door of God’s grace is still open and still reaches out to one and all, the grace that gives the forgiveness of sins, that makes one ready for the last day by making you a member of the kingdom of heaven now through your baptism into Christ and by faith in Him. Now, to this wisdom that relies on grace, over against the moronic foolishness that dangerously disregards grace altogether, Jesus today further gets us Set by telling another parable about faithfulness that makes full use of this grace in good works during our time of waiting. Continue reading “Ready, SET, Go!”

Posted on

READY, Set, Go.

Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Date: Pentecost XXVI (Proper 27) + 11/09/08
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

A parable of the kingdom of heaven, a story about the reign and rule of God. But in this parable Jesus does not say that the kingdom of heaven is like this but will be like this. In other words He is telling of a future event, and then one that will happen only once and then be done. “The kingdom of heaven will be like” ten of the bridegroom’s attendants who were going out to meet and greet the bridegroom upon his arrival. Then will follow the marriage feast and the reception, and when the wedding is over the new life as a family.

The final three weeks of the Church Year, this year, are narrated for us from Matthew chapter 25; this week the first 13 verses, next week the Parable of the Talents (vv. 14-30) and lastly the Final Judgment (vv. 31-46). This first parable, then, deals with your life now until that day of judgment arrives, this time of preparation and waiting. And this is what God’s reign and rule will be like on that day, at that moment when the bridegroom finally arrives, when the Lord Jesus makes His visible appearance, coming again to judge the living and the dead. This is what it will be like, Jesus says; some are going to be ready, some are not, and there is coming an end to the grace of God when it is will be too late. So this parable throws the question to you and me this morning, “Are you ready?” Continue reading “READY, Set, Go.”