Sinner and Saint

Don't Worry

Epiphany 8, 2011

Matthew 6:24-34

“Don’t Worry”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

             As those crowds sat down on the mountainside and listened to Jesus, they undoubtedly had many worries. Imagine living the life of a peasant in ancient Palestine. Making do from one day to the next could not have been easy. Would that arid climate produce enough food? Would the sheep produce sufficient wool to clothe yet another child on the way? Would they have enough money to pay their taxes to Caesar? Obviously, they had plenty to worry about. And compared to twenty-first-century Americans, Jesus was very clearly addressing a matter of daily concern to his hearers when he spoke in our text:

             “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? . . . Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things.” (Matthew 6:25, 27, 31–32a)

             But what about us? Do our Lord’s words give us any direction beyond the obvious advice not to worry? Or have we advanced so far, at least economically, that perhaps these are no longer issues that we have to concern ourselves with? You know the answer to that last question, because in truth, our lives are often filled with worry. We worry about everything—about the rising costs of gasoline and food, the bills that pile up each month, the increasing costs of health care, how to raise children in an increasingly secular world.

             What Jesus calls on you to do is to stop worrying. But when he says that, what is he actually saying? Is he suggesting that maybe we don’t have to budget or that we shouldn’t try to save or, even better yet, that we shouldn’t be worried about going into debt? Could it be that what he really wants of you is to reexamine your life? To ask that hard question: Who really is my God? Is it the God whose providential care is beyond question? Or is it the god of my own choosing?

             As we ponder these questions, what we need to understand is that anyone who hears these words of Jesus cannot avoid the sting of the Law. At no other time in the history of mankind have we ever enjoyed the sumptuous lifestyle that we in the Western world enjoy right now. Sure, some have more than others, but we all have plenty. We have so much stuff, in fact, that it’s very tempting to confuse our needs with our wants. And so we come to the mistaken conclusion that we need things that we really don’t need. We convince ourselves that our lives would really stop without our cell phones. Or that without cable television and broadband Internet connection we’re just behind the times. What would you do without your iPod, your BlackBerry, or your GPS?

             “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Jesus wasn’t joking. You cannot serve two masters. Yet Satan would tempt us to believe that we can. And the temptation is then ever before us to try to walk that tightrope of serving God, yet not wanting to serve him alone. So we pray, “Lord, you’re always my master. I’ll love you with all my heart and soul and mind. But please don’t ask too much of me. Don’t make my life too uncomfortable.” What is that but a bargain with the devil?

             Note the solution to this dilemma that Jesus offers. He doesn’t give us easy answers. He doesn’t enumerate the needs we ought to have and then ask us to be satisfied. He doesn’t catalog the things that are within the parameters of what we should have in this life and tell us to not worry about the rest. Instead, Jesus calls on us to reorder our lives completely: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). In other words, we are to have just one master and to seek all good things from him.

             And where are you able to do that? Where do you go except to those places where our Lord has promised to be? His Means of Grace, by which he gives the righteousness that becomes our righteousness. In other words, to have one master and to seek all good things from him means that we will seek first the very life of God that was poured out for us on the cross for the salvation of the world. We will seek first the one thing needful, the living and abiding Word of God, that Word by which he reveals his love to us. We will seek first the Word made flesh, that very word of his body and blood given us in this Sacrament, miraculously uniting the master and his servant.

             What Jesus intends for us is that our lives are so reordered that they are completely oriented toward him, precisely so that we can be free from all the other worries of this life. What does Jesus say? Seek him first and all these others things will be added to you—given to you. Certainly, that doesn’t solve in a magical way all of life’s challenges and troubles. There may be times when there isn’t enough at the end of the month to cover all of the bills. Decisions will have to be made whether something we want is what we really need.

             Those who live for mammon (earthly possessions) are like the diabetic who always feels hungry. I know what this is like because I am a diabetic. I want to eat things that I want…not things that I need. I want to eat because I “feel” hungry…not because I haven’t had enough already. When it comes to money, there is always more, but it is never enough, and finally it is never all. “Once I get the car paid off, I should have just enough to make the payment on a new…T.V., boat, trailer…” How interesting it is that our text says “you cannot serve God and money.”

             There’s a saying that goes like this: “If my hands are laden with pebbles, I cannot clasp the diamonds that are offered to me. Unless you fling out the sandbags, the balloon will cleave to the earth, and unless we turn the world out of our hearts, it is no use to say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” There is no room for Him anyway.”

             But “look at the birds of the air . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). My brothers and sisters in Christ are you more valuable than the birds of the air? Yes. You are so valuable to God that He gave up His Son to death for you. The truth is that God does give us all that we need…He “give[s] us this day our daily bread.” Whether it is much or, at times, little God gives us what we need.

             “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) So don’t worry about what you will eat or what you will wear. For you, my brothers and sisters, have been clothed in Christ at your Baptism and this day you shall taste and see that the Lord is good as you receive forgiveness and strength in the body and blood of Christ….a foretaste of the banquet feast to come. So do not worry…for while there are troubles in this world…whether they are about having food to eat, clothes to wear, a house to live in, a job to work, cancer, or any other problem…the promise of heaven is yours and it was won on the cross and guaranteed by Christ in His Resurrection. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Love

Epiphany 7, 2011

Matthew 5:38-48

“Love”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

            The setting was the 1^st grade classroom at Saint Paul Lutheran School in Oak Lawn, IL in the year 1984. There were crayons everywhere! Children were yelling and screaming, crayons were thrown back and forth, desks were out of place, and as the Ms. Dobberfuhl entered the room a crayon had been thrown that hit her square on the head. This my dear brothers and sisters in Christ was known as the Great 1^st Grade Crayon Fight. I don’t know exactly why it started…but I can remember my classmate Dave throwing my crayons on the floor. What took place next was an act of revenge…revenge that ended with me hitting my teacher in the head with a crayon…an in-school suspension, meeting with my parents, teacher, and principal, loss of recess, and other punishments dealt at home.

            Getting even. We’ve all done it before, and we know how good it can feel. Sadly, it comes to us all too naturally, doesn’t it? Just think back to your childhood. You can only put up with the class bully calling you names so many times until you’ve had enough. It’s gets aggravating as you get cutoff on the highway. It doesn’t take much before you start plotting your revenge…or dreaming of someway to make things even.

            I’m sure we could go on naming different situations that cause us to want revenge…but what would be the point? All of our plotting—sometimes calculated, oftentimes instantaneous—meets its end in our Lord’s arresting statement, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). But how? you ask. Where’s the fairness in that? Does Jesus mean to say that there should be no justice?

             It only seems to get worse: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. . . . You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:38–41, 43–44).

             There’s no question that these words of Jesus force us to take an honest look at ourselves. And what we find isn’t a pretty picture. What was Jesus thinking, telling us to love our enemies? There are times when we find it difficult to love even our friends or closest relatives. When we dig deeper we find a heart that is not just a little misdirected but actually corrupt to the core. Almost reflexively, we watch out for number one—ourselves. We’re not going to let anyone take advantage of us. We interpret the slightest injustice toward us as a major insult. We demand that everyone else treat us with charity and forbearance, yet we get all bent out of shape when anyone else expects such an attitude of us.

             Of course, this is not the picture of ourselves that we would prefer to have on display. And so we hide the ugly truth behind a façade that tries to fool those around us. We learn how to say the right things; we even do the right things in our interactions with our neighbors. But these aren’t works that flow from faith. They are not shaped by true love for the neighbor. Hidden deep within ourselves is a cold and shriveled heart.

             But thankfully this is not true about Jesus. We might think that it’s one thing for our Lord to tell us to love our enemies…if only he knew how our enemies were! Maybe we just need to look a little harder at Scripture. Our Lord tells us to turn the other cheek. “While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” (Luke 22:47-51) Even as Jesus was being arrested by armed men for a crime He didn’t commit…He didn’t want there to be fighting. Later on before the Sanhedrin we see Jesus again.

             “Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.” (John 18:19-24) Here we see Jesus struck upon the face and then calmly speaking to those who struck Him.

            Our Lord also calls upon us to pray for our enemies. Once again our Lord shows us by His own action. As Jesus was being crucified He cried out in prayer to His Father and our Father “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Not only did our Lord pray for God’s forgiveness upon those killing Him…but He died for you, for me, for all people. Jesus died for those who hated Him!

            Even as we continue to struggle with our faith; even as we struggle with sin in our lives…God does not abandon us. Even when we sin till our hearts are content in wickedness God does not turn His back on us! Even as our Lord tells us “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) we know that we fail. But do we cast our heads down in utter dispair? Or do we turn to the cross? Do we turn and see Jesus…dying on the cross for our sins…taking our sin upon Himself? Yes, in the cross is our comfort for we are forgiven. But there is more than that. In Christ we have the strength to keep His commands. In Christ we may love as Christ loved us. In Jesus way may love not only our family and friends but our enemies as Christ loved us upon the cross.

            By faith share the wonderful news of Jesus and His love. By faith look forward to heaven…for great is your reward! Salvation is yours. Heaven itself is your for all eternity in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all humand understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

"Yeah...but..."

Epiphany 6, 2011

Matthew  5:20-37

“Yeah…but…”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

            When my Father was young and growing up in what was then Yugoslavia his mother made homemade preserves.  My grandma Dietrich would put them in jars and cover them with a special paper to keep them from spoiling (I’m not sure what it was called but it wasn’t wax paper and it predated Saran wrap). My dad knew that he wasn’t to get into those jars before Grandma wanted to use them but his Uncle Michael goaded him to use a pin and prick the covering so that they would start to spoil and force Grandma to have them eaten. I could imagine my Grandmother asking my dad… “didn’t I tell you not to get into them?” With my father saying…“yeah…but…Uncle Michael made me do it.” How often it happens that we answer “yeah…but…”

            “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:21-37)

            There is certainly a lot going on in our text. What is happening is that Jesus quotes many of the laws found in the Old Testament: “Do not murder or you will be subject to  judgment.” “Do not call others a fool or other names.” “Do not commit adultery.” “If you divorce give your wife a certificate of divorce.” These are all things that the people would know. But then Jesus would explain things further.

            Do not murder…but not just murdering with a violent weapon but murdering with words. Do not commit adultery not just by improper sexual relations but by looking lustfully at another person. Give the person you divorce a certificate of marriage…but our Lord says that you are not to divorce unless of marital unfaithfulness. Do now swear unless it is required.

            The problem that the Jews of Jesus time would have with this is the same as us. We want to answer “yes…but…” Yes Lord I am not to murder someone else but saying things about someone doesn’t murder them…they were only said jokingly…they aren’t that bad. Yes Lord we aren’t to commit adultery…but its normal to look at men or women like that. It’s not like were acting on our desires. We aren’t doing any harm to a marriage…we aren’t really committing adultery. Yes Lord, we shouldn’t get a divorce but things just happen… we fell out of love, we are incompatible. Yes Lord, we shouldn’t swear…but its just a figure of speech anyway.

            We go even further with “Yes…but…” Yes, the Bible says homosexuality is a sin…but it was written so long ago… and it was written by sinful, homophobic men. Yes, the Bible says…(fill in the blank)…but it doesn’t apply to me; it doesn’t hurt anyone; I can’t help it.  Instead of listening to God’s Word we find excuses to ignore it…but at what cost?

             “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30)

             While Scripture is not condoning self mutilation…it is making a very important point. The answer is yes…it is better to lose an eye, a limb, or anything else in this world when salvation; heaven itself is on the line. God is warning us that our salvation is at risk when we ignore Him. While we do not cut off our hand or gouge out our eye…there are things we can do. We can remove ourselves from the situation. If you go jogging in the park and see a man or woman that is very attractive that happens to be married and you feel tempted…start jogging a new route! There are many times that we can; that we are able by the grace of God to remove ourselves from sinful situations…but like before we are tempted to say “yeah…but…” Maybe you think your so strong that you can overcome all temptation on your own.

             A pastor was traveling on a bus down a bumpy road. Seated next to him was a college student who noticed that the minister was reading his Bible. The minister asked, “Are you spiritually ready for the temptations that you will face in college?” "I don’t have a problem with temptation," the young man told the minister. "I have strong willpower." The minister took a pencil from his pocket and said, "I can make this pencil stand up on the cover of this Bible even though the bus ride is bumpy." The young man said, "I’ll believe it when I see it. I don't think you can do it." "Look, I’m doing it," he replied as the young man watched. Yeah, but you didn't tell me you would hold the pencil up with your hand." "I didn't have to tell you," the pastor remarked. "Have you ever seen a pencil stand up on its own without someone holding it?" The minister then let go of the pencil, which instantly fell over. "The only reason you stand," he continued, "is because God is holding you up with His hand."

             My brothers and sisters in Christ. You and I are tempted each day. Satan is relentless! But there is wonderful news Christ died for all your sins. Not only did He die for them…but He gives you the strength to overcome them with His Word and His very body and blood. Come to the Lord’s table this day: receive Christ’s forgiveness; receive His strength to overcome all this sinful life throws at you. Here is our Lord’s guarantee of life everlasting in heaven…given and shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Salt & Light

Epiphany 5, 2011

Matthew 5:13-20

“Salt and Light”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

            Salt and Light; they are two things that humans can’t live without. Take for example the case of the Bisbee Donkeys. Bisbee is a town in Arizona that was known for its huge copper mine. They discovered that the donkeys they used down in the mine went blind after a number of years without ever coming out of the mine into the light of the sun. The lack of light in the mine caused blindness in the animals. Then of course there is salt. Salt is something that most people love to use on their foods…although the majority of us use way too much. That being said…did you know that the human body requires between five and ten grams of salt a day. Humans need a daily intake of salt. Unlike other chemicals that the body requires, salt, cannot be reproduced by the body. Salt is needed by the human body in order to help muscles and nerves to work and to regulate blood pressure.

            “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

            Here in our text our Lord calls us as Christians to be salt and light to the world. Just like the salt we eat and the light we see by…we are necessary for Spiritual life in a tasteless world of immorality; a dark world corrupt with sin. What a charge our Lord has given us! Yet within this high calling of the Christian…is a word of warning. “But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything.” (Matthew 5:13)

            As Christians we are called by faith to be holy and blameless. We are called to go out and share the wonderful news of Christ. We are called to keep our Lord’s commands. The truth is that we fail…we fail often. By way of life we are called to be as useful as salt but if we aren’t useful the world will not benefit. In the same sense…Jesus is the light of the world and we are called to be reflections of that light to the world. If the light is covered or dimmed or extinguished…it has no use for it has no light.

            Alan Paton, a Christian whose life and reputation have been dedicated to the cause of justice for all, wrote in Instrument of Thy Peace: “I have no higher vision of the Church than as the Servant of the World, not withdrawn but participating, not embattled but battling, not condemning but healing the wounds of the hurt and the lost and the lonely, not preoccupied with its survival…but with the needs of mankind.”

            Are we, as God’s beloved children, self-centered and preoccupied or are we sharing? Very often we, even as Christians, don’t look any different than the world around us…and that is a shame! For Christians sin just like everyone else, we lust after sinful things, we desire things that harm our faith, we lie, cheat and steal, we fall into temptations…we eat too much, drink too much, fornicate, commit adultery, and so on. On our own we are salt that has lost its saltiness and are a light that has been extinguished.

            As a clean window lets the sunlight pour through it so that the room is bathed in light, so should Christians by the clarity of their confession and the purity of their lives let Christ shine through them so that the world might be flooded with light, with the knowledge that in Christ there is salvation.

            My brothers and sisters in Christ not only is this your calling…but it is exactly what you are already able to do. You have been baptized into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; buried in death with Christ and raised again. You are special for you are God’s beloved Child. God has given you the gift of faith…faith that He created…faith that He sustains in His Word and in Jesus very body and blood.

            God calls us to be Salt and Light…to produce good and wonderful works…and gives us the faith to do it. As God’s people here in Clinton/Chestnut we are called to go out and proclaim the wonderful news of Jesus. We are called to share Christ through words…and through deeds. As a Church we often focus on numbers…how much money have we brought in, how many people have become members, what number are attending… Maybe we are looking at it the wrong way. Instead of trying to come up with ways to get people in the door…we should instead focus on sharing. Sharing Christ with our friends and family. Sharing Christ with our neighbors. Sharing Christ with our daily lives.

            In a small English town it was the custom that at evening Vespers the deacon would light a candle as each family of the parish entered to worship. Naturally, the more families worshipping, the more candlelight there was in the church. The more the children of God let their light shine in this darkened world, the more light of the Gospel there will be.

            It is a high honor as God’s beloved children to be called Salt and Light to this world. While it may seem hard at times to share Christ…or even to help someone in need…how joyous it is to see God bring another person to faith in Christ. One of the greatest joys I have as a Pastor is not only to hold a baby and baptize them…but to give thanks to God and rejoice when He calls one of His children home. Why be Salt and Light? Why share Christ with words and deeds? Because of love. Because Christ loves you. Because you love others. There is no greater love than sharing the love of God that is Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.