Author: Al

Date: Last Sunday, Proper 29A + 11/26/17
Text: Matthew 25:31-46

“And I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life  of the world to come.” From the season of Advent we have looked forward to and celebrated the Christmas Gift when God sent His Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. The days of Lent drew us near to the Cross, and through the Cross to the resurrection of Easter. At Pentecost the doors flew open as with a mighty wind we have heard and examined the Word and the gospel of Christ from every angle. As outlined in the Creed Holy Church has proclaimed from God’s Word how He created all things and who He is that created us. We were told about sin and death and God’s deliverance from it through Jesus Christ. That deliverance comes to each person by the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the giver of life, speaking to us and operating in us through the prophets and apostles, through baptismal water. Now we reach the end of the story which is but the beginning of the eternal life for which we look continually. Continue reading “The King on His Glorious Throne”

Date: Pentecost XXIV (Proper 28A) + 11/19/17
Text: Matthew 25:14-30

As we close in on the end of another liturgical year next Sunday, today we hear of our eternal reward as the most joyous and hopeful goal of our faith. In fact the parable of the Talents is all about faith. The joy and the hope is that on our last day we will hear our Lord and Master welcome us with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” The joy and hope is that released from sin and death, we will finally see our Savior face to face. Continue reading “We Shall See Him Face to Face”

Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Date: Pentecost XXIII + 11/12/17

(After singing LSB 764 – When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love:)

It seems that we are singing this hymn too often these days, these dark days, at the aimless violence in Las Vegas, then in New York, and now in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Though for otherwise misguided political reasons, California Representative Ted Lieu said about a moment of silence in the House of Representatives, “I can’t do this again; I’ve been to too many moments of silences. In just my short period in Congress, three of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history have occurred.” To a degree his grief expresses everyone’s, a cry of helplessness. Continue reading “With Him in the Marriage Feast”

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”