Date: The Day of Pentecost + 5/24/15
Text: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Hail thee, festival day!
Blest day to be hallowed forever;
Day when the Holy Ghost
Shone in the world with His grace. (LSB 489)
On this festival day the Holy Church Throughout the World receives power, the power to be witnesses of Jesus, the Lord and God and King of the universe. It happened in a dramatic way on that fiftieth day after the Lord’s resurrection. The first disciples needed miraculous outward signs and days of peace in order for them to understand the meaning of Jesus’ final words to them, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20), and, “You will receive power…and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). Continue reading “The Promised Spirit Guide”
Text: Matthew 25:31-46
Date: Pentecost XXIV (Proper 29) + 11/23/14
On the last Sunday of the Church Year, the last word is about judgment day. We have spent three Sundays in Matthew chapter 25. All of this resulted from the disciples’ question back in chapter 24, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” Jesus began to answer by saying, “See that no one leads you astray” because many false prophets, preachers, predictors of the future will come. Many people today have questions about a so-called judgment day and of the second coming, the return of Christ. It is a common mistake that people race to the Book of Revelation thinking that’s what this mysterious book is all about. Today we urge people rather to “race to” this chapter of Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus gives the clear answer. Continue reading “Eternal Life”
“Be silent.” “Be silent before the Lord God! For near (very near) is the day of the Lord.” St. Paul wrote, “we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped” (Rom 3:19). Jesus concludes the Parable of the Talents with the words, “cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 25:30). And thank you for not giggling as we then said, “This is the Gospel of the Lord.” For the Gospel of salvation through the forgiveness of sins to be applied to anyone the Law of God must first say, “Be silent” “so that every mouth may be stopped.” For you have nothing to say, no worthiness or righteousness in yourself with which to bargain with God.
If you don’t believe that, hear the word of the Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. What is that day? “On that day I will punish all who have sinned and fallen short of my glory; I will punish those who are complacent” who do not really take my word to heart, both for good and for ill. “The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast,” a day of wrath (dies irae), a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry.” “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
On that day, says our Lord, “it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.” God the creator has entrusted His creation to mankind, to have dominion over it, “to work it and keep it” (Gen 2:15). So what do we do with it? What have we done?
The parable is about God’s people, His Christians who work and keep what He has given bringing forth good fruits of their labor. These receive the praise and honor and benediction, “Well done, good and faithful servant…. Enter into the joy of your master.” Because you have allowed God to change you, to cause you to repent, to see your real need and to despair of your own powers or abilities (blessed are the poor in spirit), that Day of the Lord, the last day will not be one of punishment, of darkness and gloom, distress and anguish, weeping or the gnashing of teeth, but will be bright with the light of the grace and glory and salvation of God. Remain faithful over the little He has given you and you will receive the crown of life.
Those who hear only the Law of God, however, who consider God to be only a wrathful judge will hear just what they expect, “You wicked and slothful servant!” and will be cast into the outer darkness, eternal separation from God with no hope of return. So the Law and the Gospel together speak today saying there still is hope. Turn from your proud, spiritually blind ways and turn to the Lord God who is merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Notice that neither of the first two servants in the parable were invited to enter “heaven” or “the kingdom,” but to “enter into the joy of your master.” In other words they were already citizens and members of the kingdom of heaven here by faith in their Savior, enjoying His provision and gifts just like you are albeit through tears and struggle. What they longed for, what we are to long for, is the final joy of being rid of sin which hangs on until sin itself is ended and we attain the fullness of salvation.
Dear fellow baptized and redeemed by Christ, we are ready every day to enter the joy of our master. Until then let us joyfully use the gifts God has given us to His glory and the benefit of our neighbors, however impressive or however simple they may be, according to our particular vocation or station in life. It is our witness and works of mercy in our life together, the fellowship of the faithful that our Master and Lord and gracious God desires from you and for you. May you live in the joyful hope of hearing that final benediction on that day of the Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your master.”
Text: Matthew 25:6
Date: Pentecost XXII (Proper 27) + 11/9/14
I always remind people, “God is in the business of blessing.” Most often I say this to a pastor who is considering whether to accept or return a new call. When you remember that God is in the business of blessing, this means you are freed to choose either one for whatever reasons. So it is for young people trying to decide which direction, which school or which vocation in life to pursue, or for one of the many other decisions we are called upon to make as we wend our way through and to an unknown future. Now certainly it is easier to believe that God is in the business of blessing when times are good, when things are going well, when you are happy with your circumstances. It is a little more difficult, however, to see God’s blessings when things go wrong, when troubles increase or when death approaches and seems to be the final, unavoidable winner. Continue reading “Midnight Voices”
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”
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”
