Sinner and Saint

Born to die

Advent 1, 2014

Mark 11:1-10

"Born to die"

 

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

 

  

            "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9) Today marks the beginning of the new Church year. Advent is the time during which we prepare for the birth of our Savior. We look forward to Christmas when we shall rejoice and shout aloud with words like "To you this night is born a child of Mary, chosen virgin mild; This little child of lowly birth, Shall be the joy of all the earth." "Joy to the World the Lord is come." "Glory to the newborn King."  

          Not only do we start hearing and singing some different music...but did you notice anything different as you entered Church this morning? The Advent Wreath is out with one candle lit, the Christmas tree is up and sparkling with light, there is garland and Advent banners hanging, and our Bulletin cover is for Palm Sunday! Wait. Palm Sunday? No...Tammy didn't print the wrong bulletin nor did we receive the wrong bulletin. Everything is correct...even the bulletin and our Gospel lesson which is the reading of our Lord's triumphal entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. These are all reminders of the season.

          Our Gospel lesson ties all of these things together. "And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:7-10)

          Christmas is coming. The manger, the angels, the shepherds are coming. The joyful singing of Silent Night and Joy to the World are coming. The awe and wonder of birth of our Savior is coming. In secular celebrations, Santa Claus is coming to town, but here in the church we celebrate the coming of Jesus. The Savior of the world is coming. That is the theme of advent. The word advent means "coming."

          With our thoughts and preparation focused on the coming of our Savior...we might wonder why our Gospel lesson isn't about our Lord's coming birth...but our Lord's going; His going to Jerusalem.

          "And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:7-10)

          It was our Lord's triumphal entry. The people shouted Hosanna! They cried out "Lord, save us!" These people welcomed our Lord's arrival, His coming, by crying out to be saved. We are reminded by the Palm Sunday hymn "Ride On, Ride On, in Majesty" that our Lord came for a reason. "Ride on, ride on, in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die. Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain, then take, O Christ, Thy power and reign."

          Advent, much like Lent, is a time of preparation. It is a time when we gather and look forward to the birth of our Savior. But it is also a time to remember why our Savior had to be born. The Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem announces why Jesus came in the first place. He came to die. Jesus came to Jerusalem for a coronation, but His crown would be one of thorns, not gold. His throne would not be one of polished wood and precious metal, but one of heavy, rough wood and iron nails. No herald would publicly announce: “His Majesty, the King.” No, the soldiers and the masses would instead mock him. Only Pontius Pilate would be left to proclaim in writing above Jesus’ head: “The King of the Jews.” What a strange coming! What a strange first Advent! The baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, was born to die in your place.

          Yes, Jesus was born for a very specific reason…a reason that isn’t so nice and cuddly… a reason that doesn’t seem joyful. Jesus was born in order to die…to die a very painful and horrific death…for a crime; a debt that he didn’t commit or owe. The truth is that Christ had to be born a human in order for His payment of our sin to be made. That side of the Christmas story isn’t popular, isn’t nice, isn’t joyous…now is it?

          Jesus was born for you. Jesus entered Jerusalem to die for you. Jesus did all this for you because He loves you: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

          Now that is wonderful news…that is indeed the joyous news of Christmas! The manger that we all know and love finds its fulfillment in a less happy symbol of the cross. Jesus birth and crucifixion go hand and hand. Jesus had to be born to die for us…to die on the cross for us…that our sins would be forgiven. There could be no death and resurrection without Jesus birth. There would be no salvation without Jesus being born.

          Today, we like those gathered in Jerusalem, cry out for to God for salvation. Hosanna! Today we begin a journey. We look forward to the birth of our Savior. We look forward to the joy of His birth. And we look forward to the day that the newborn King rises from the dead on Easter. Christmas is a time of great joy...because the birth we celebrate is really the birth of our Savior that died and rose for us.  

          "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9) Rejoice. The birth of our Lord and King is coming soon! 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.

You are the leper

Thanksgiving, 2014

Luke 17:11–19

“You are the leper"

 

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

  

            "On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." (Luke 17:11-13) These men had seemingly no reason to be thankful. They were lepers. They were outcasts. Jewish law decreed that these men could not enter the village unless they were healed. They were forced to leave their friends, family, and jobs. Family and friends were not allowed to have contact with them. They were lepers. They were physically and spiritually infectious. Their skin disease could spread. Religiously...they were leprous because of their sin. That sinfulness could spread as well. And so they were cast out of the village...outsiders to their own people...unable to be with those they loved.

          These men were desperate. They missed those they loved. They longed to embrace their wives and children...their mothers and fathers. They saw Jesus coming. While they didn't believe Jesus was God...they still cried out to Him as their teacher; their master. They cried out "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." Help us! Heal us! Restore us! You are our last hope.

          "When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed." (Luke 17:14) These men trusted Jesus. They believed in His words that they would be healed. They went to the temple to be examined by the priests just as they were instructed to do. Just as Jesus promised they were healed. I can only imagine the excitement these men had when they could see their skin was healed. Maybe they ran a little faster, shouted with joy, exclaimed their happiness as they raced to see the priest...so that they could be declared clean and embrace their loved ones they have longed to hold. Maybe it wasn't that these men weren't grateful...but they were caught up in their desire to be with family.

          Each and every one of us is the leper in our text. We have been stricken by a different leprosy...we have been stricken by sin. Sin destroys. Sin causes all kinds of problems. Because of sin there is sickness and disease in this world. Because of sin many of our loved ones die and are taken away from us. Because of sin people hurt one another, murder one another, and fight with one another. Sin wrecks relationships of friendships, love, marriage and family. Sin causes us to be outcasts...even from our friends and family. Sin is running rampant. Just look at what sin has done around us. Just look at what sin has done to Ferguson, MO.

          Listen to the words of New Orleans Saints’ tight end Benjamin Watson: "SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn,” Watson concluded. “BUT I’M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through the his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind.”

          Just like the lepers we have only Jesus to turn to and hope in for healing. Just like the lepers we cry out, as we did this morning, Lord, have mercy upon us! And just like the lepers we are healed. But which leper are we?

          "Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:15-19)

          I do believe that all 10 of the lepers were thankful for being healed. I'm sure they all rejoiced to be able to return to their loved ones. But only one recognized where the healing truly came from. Only one recognized that this Jesus wasn't just a prophet or miracle worker. Only one came back...and not only thanked Jesus...but fell face first at Jesus' feet. This Samaritan...this man considered by the Jews to be a half-breed and outcast...recognized that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. This man fell face first in order to worship and praise his Lord.

          And then something extraordinary happens. Something incredible takes place. Jesus tells the man "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:19). It doesn't sound like much. But in the original language...these words carried more meaning. Jesus proclaims to this Samaritan man: "Ἀναστὰς." The word means to resurrect. Jesus tells this Samaritan who is face first on the ground...to resurrect; his faith had made him well. There in that text is the language of baptism, forgiveness, and life eternal. There in that text is the promise of salvation! Yes, this man came back to give thanks for the healing of leprosy...but more importantly he came back to give thanks and praise for the gift of faith and the healing from his sinfulness.

          Why be in Church on Thanksgiving Day. Today isn't a Church holiday...it's a national holiday. It was designated so that people could give thanks...to anyone or anything. People all over this nation indeed spend the day giving thanks for the many temporal gifts they have received...house, home, friends, family, jobs, etc. So should we. However, we should also give thanks for the most important gift: Faith, life, salvation.

          So today, I am reminded of how important this gift is. I'm reminded of my son's baptism. I full know that Aaron is a gift from God...but there is something more than that to give thanks for. You see Aaron was born in the image of his father. Aaron was born dead to sin, an outcast, separated from God...because of my sinfulness passed down. That doesn't give me hope...that burdens me with shame.

          Yet I know that in the same way God gave me life and salvation through water and His Word in Holy Baptism...He does the same for my son. I know that as I brought Aaron before the font dead to sin...that he would be raised clothed in Christ, a child of God, who had been given the gift of faith and the Holy Spirit that dwells in his heart. So this day I give thanks to God not only for having a house and home, friends and family, a son and wife whom I love, but most importantly for the gift of faith given to me...given to my son...and given to you in Baptism.

          At that font Jesus says to you and all who have been baptized: "Rise and go your way [Ἀναστὰς; Resurrect!]; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:19). Have a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving. Give thanks to God for all His gifts. Share the wonderful news of Christ with all your loved ones. That they too may give thanks to God for all His gifts...especially the gift of salvation and life. 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.

 

The Lord seeks out the lost

Christ the King Sunday, 2014

(Last Sunday of the Church Year)

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

"The Lord seeks out the lost"

 

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

 

            In just a few days we will be celebrating our nation's National Day of Thanksgiving. I pray to see this Church building filled to the brim with members, families, friends, and neighbors joining together to give thanks to God for His abundant care. This Thursday we shall sing the hymn "Now Thank We All Our God" and proclaim as one: "Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom His world rejoices; who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love and still is ours today."

          Such beautiful words. Such loving hope-filled words penned by a man that nobody would be surprised if he had lost hope. The hymn "Now Thank We All Our God" was written by Martin Rinckart, Pastor in Eilenburg during the terrible Thirty Years' War. Eilenburg was a walled town and therefore a place of refuge for thousands who had lost everything in the war. The overcrowded condition of the city brought on famine and pestilence. At times Rinckart was the only Pastor in the city. To serve thousands suffering from hunger and dying from disease was a Herculean task. Often he read the burial service for forty to fifty persons a day. At last the number of dead each day was so great that it became impossible to bury them singly, and they were interred in groups in trenches.

          Altogether, 8,000 person died in Eilenburg during this time, including Rinckart's wife. At the same time Rinckart suffered several financial losses and failed to receive the proper consideration at the hands of the authorities of the city in spite of his unselfish and tireless effort in behalf of the sick and the dying. And yet he wrote during this time that wonderful hymn of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

          The prophet Ezekiel went through a similarly horrendous time. He was a prophet of God that lived in exile with other Jews during the Babylonian captivity. He was separated from his wife who was left in Jerusalem. God informed His faithful prophet that Jerusalem would be destroyed and that his wife would be killed. His delight would be taken from his eyes even as the temple of the Lord; the delight of Israel, would be taken from the Jews. In the midst of losing his wife and his Church...Ezekiel wrote these words to his people and to us: "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice." (Ezekiel 34:11-16) "I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken." (Ezekiel 34:22-24)

          In the midst of sorrow and grief. At a time when the people were broken and enslaved. As people gathered around the prophet Ezekiel void of hope...Ezekiel, himself grieving, proclaims that the Lord will gather His people together. He tells the people of Israel that although they were scattered, although the Temple of God built by King David's son Solomon had been destroyed...that the Lord would bring His people back...to a better Israel...to better pastures...and they would be gathered by another King...a better King than they had ever had...even better than David...and they would be restored to better glory.

          That promise is for you as well! The Shepherd that God promised to send...a greater King and Shepherd than David...the shepherd who became a king...is Christ Jesus our Lord. Just like the Jews held in Babylonian captivity...we as Christians have been scattered as well. The first Christians were scattered as they fled and hid from both Jewish leaders and Roman leaders that were out to kill them. Even today Christians are scattered...many still fleeing from persecution... and others scattered as the world, family, friends, neighbors, and even so called Christian churches abandon God's Word and even openly attack those that are faithful to the Word of God.

          What gives us pause to have hope in the midst of tragedy and heartache; what gives us the joy to give thanks to God for His love and abundant care in the midst of a world that hates us...is the same wonderful promise God has given to His people for ages upon ages. Our Lord comes to gather His people. Our Lord seeks out the lost and will rescue His people. Our Lord seeks out all the sheep that have been scattered. Our Lord comes to save us. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) Jesus said: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12-13) "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (1 Timothy 1:15)

          Today...and this coming Thanksgiving Day...we rejoice in Christ our King and give thanks. We give thanks, not just for the temporal blessings we have received of food and drink, house and home, family and friends, but most especially for the gift of salvation won by Christ. We give thanks in the midst of this sinful, corrupt, fallen world that Christ came to save sinners. We gather and give thanks to our Lord every Sunday because Christ died for you; Christ died for your mom, dad, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, friend, and neighbor. Christ died for your enemy. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15)

          The wonderful news that our King comes to save us...is reason to rejoice and give thanks. It is the news that we share. It is the news that brings comfort. It is the news that we shall soon prepare for...and celebrate at Christmas: Christ Jesus was born to save us. So give thanks today, on Thanksgiving Day...and everyday for the gift of salvation...and rejoice that our Lord  shall welcome us and all the saints on the last day saying: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34) 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.

Prepared for Battle

Pentecost 23, 2014

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Ephesians 6:11-17

"Prepared for Battle"

 

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

 

 

 

               According to the Greek myth, Achilles, the great hero of the Trojan War, was dipped as a child in the waters of the river Styx by his mother, Thetis, to make him invulnerable. The result of that plunge was that ever spot on Achilles' body was protected against wounds except the heel by which his mother had held him. For many years Achilles escaped unhurt, but at last the poisoned arrow of the Trojan Paris found the weak spot and inflicted the death wound there. So Satan tempts Christians where they are the weakest. Having found their pet inclinations, passions, and desires, he attacks them at their weak spots and is unusually successful. Therefore, to resist his efforts through the power of God, Christians not only in general strive to be sober and vigilant, but they above all guard the weak spots of their nature.

            Until the day that we die or the day that our Lord returns, whichever comes first, we are in a constant battle; a war with Satan, his minions, and our old sinful nature. It truly is a constant struggle to resist our own sinful desires and to resist Satan's temptations. Unlike the Achilles in the Greek myth we are subject to Satan's poison arrows all over our bodies. There is no river Styx for our mothers to dip us in to protect us from being wounded. Even worse is that Satan knows how to tempt us because we show him our weaknesses.

            Each and every one of us sins! But we don't all fall for the same temptations. Not all of us are prone to drunkenness. Not all of us are prone to murdering. Not all of us are prone to adultery. Yet each one of us has sins that plague us! We each have sins that no matter how hard we try to resist...or hide from them...we keep falling for them. Satan sees our struggles and manipulates them. Satan takes things from God's perfect creation and uses them to tempt us.

            God gave us the gift of marriage...one man...one woman...to procreate and raise up children in the knowledge of Christ. Just look at how Satan has tempted us. Satan has twisted the definition of love so that the world has rejected what marriage truly is. Satan has taken the gift of sex between husband and wife and tempts us to have sex whenever, wherever, and with whomever we want. Satan has taken the gift of children and tempts us to abort the unborn because we don't want a child, aren't ready for a child, or don't want a child with varying physical deformities. Satan takes the good gifts God created for us and twists them and tempts us with them. And we fall into temptation. We willingly jump in head first. We sin. We fail. We deserve God's condemnation. We deserve hell.

            While Satan and the world and all that is in it is now corrupted by sin...and deserving of damnation...God had another plan in mind...a plan to save Adam and Eve...a plan to save humankind...a plan to save you! God's plan was to send a Savior. God's plan was to send His Son...to live the perfect life none of us are able to live and to die a death we deserved. God's plan was and is to save you and all people from sin, Satan, and hell.

            God has given His people great gifts to overcome the evil one. While there is no River Styx for our mothers to dip us in...there is a greater body of water given to us. At the Baptismal Font our mother and fathers have brought us to water and God's Word that cleanses us from all our sin, gives us faith, and makes us children of God. In that water we are given a gift that Satan can never take away. In Baptism God saved us. In Baptism we are given faith and the gifts to defend, battle, and overcome Satan.

            In baptism we are given the gifts of a breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8) These are just a couple of the gifts we are given. More than this Saint Paul describes the full armor of God that we have been given in his letter to the Ephesians. "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:11-17)

            This is a war! Salvation is on the line. You have been given all that you need for this fight. It's not going to be easy. There will be days we lose the battle. We will continue to fall short and sin...often without fighting at all. But I have wonderful news. The victory has already been won. Christ has already died on the cross. Christ has already risen as He said. Satan has been defeated. You have been baptized. Even if you don't remember your baptism...God does! God made you a promise at your baptism. God promised to forgive your sins, give you faith, watch over you, protect you, lead you and guide you. All that He does. He does that in this place where your sins are forgiven, where you are strengthened, where you are led and guided by His Word and our Lord is present in with and under bread and wine.

            God also sends us out from this place back into the battle of life. He sends us not only with many gifts to defend us from sin and Satan but with the Sword of the Spirit; the very Word of God. We bear a sword that gives life. We share God's Word to help one another...but we also share God's Word that others may have saving faith as well as victory over Satan. As our text says: "God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him." (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

            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 of faith shine in this darkened world, the more light of the Gospel there will be.

            My brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a small parish; a small Church. Yet the light of the Gospel shines brightly in this place. We often wonder how can we make the Church grow? How do we get more people in here? The truth is that it's not really about what we do...it's about what God does through us as we share His Word. Share the love of Christ. In doing so...God's Word is proclaimed and those that hear may be saved. 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.

Wake up and Keep watch

Pentecost 22, 2014

"Wake up and Keep watch"

Matthew 25:1-13

 

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

 

            Have you ever been part of planning a wedding? How long does it take to plan? How much time do you need to prepare? For many weddings you start months in advance...some even years in advance. Suffice to say you don’t wait to the last minute. Can you imagine an engaged couple on their wedding day if there was no preparation—securing the pastor, sending out invitations, planning the food, purchasing the clothing, or getting the marriage license? What would happen if the day came and no one was ready? Chaos! At worst...there would be no wedding.

          The parable in our Gospel text uses the setting of a wedding that signified the coming of 2nd coming of Christ at the end of the age. The results are much like the first coming of our Lord. For hundreds of years the prophets of old heralded the coming of the Savior. People waited...and waited...and waited. Many lost faith that there was a coming Messiah. Many lost hope that God would send them a savior. The people became complacent...forgetful of God's promises, forgetful of their faith, forgetful of sharing God's Word. Many rejected God, others went through the motions, and a few remained faithful.

          Our parable speaks about 10 virgins that await the coming of the groom; the coming of Christ. Some are prepared and some are not. Listen closely: "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:1-13)

          How horrible a result for half the virgins. It doesn't seem fair. Really it seems like a harsh punishment.  After all the five foolish virgins were at the right location...they were waiting for the groom to come...it wasn't their fault that he was running late. The truth is that their looks are deceiving.

          One of the Pastors at St. Paul Oak Lawn used to have a cartoon on the door to his office. It showed some people working in an office with papers stacked everywhere. One man was running into the office yelling "Jesus is coming, everyone look busy!"

          This is truly the attitude of the five foolish virgins. They thought it was enough that they showed up for the groom. But they were not properly prepared. They didn't bother bringing extra oil...oil that they would have needed even if the groom wasn't late. They were giving the bare minimum. They were going through the motions. But they felt entitled to the feast. These virgins weren't just virgins...they were the bridesmaids. They were chosen to be part of the festivities. They were given a high honor of escorting the groom to the brides home...and the couple to the banquet feast. They would have known what to expect. They should have known that it was likely the groom wouldn't come when they thought He should.

          Are we foolish? Or are we wise? Are we prepared for the coming of Christ? Or are we sleeping, going through the motions, and simply trying to look busy? The end of the Church year, which we are now in, focuses on our Lord's return and judgment day. Each and every year this theme returns. But do we care?

          The danger is that we become complacent and just go through the motions. The danger is that we reflect those that lost faith in the Old Testament and the virgins who are called foolish. The danger is that we get tired of hearing about Judgment Day...without it ever coming. It's old news. It's not happening. It's not going to happen anytime soon...so why do we fuss about it; why do we care?

          Scripture is clear. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:13) "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:44) "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3) "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." (2 Peter 3:10) "Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!" (Revelation 16:15)

          It is precisely because we do not know when our Lord will return that we should keep watch; that we should be prepared for His coming. This is more than a life or death situation...this is an eternal life in heaven or eternal damnation issue. The consequences of not being prepared, of being complacent, of not having faith are unimaginably horrendous: eternal damnation in hell.

          So how do we get prepared? What do we need to do? What steps should be taken? My brothers and sisters in Christ you have been given the gift of faith. You have been given the gifts needed to be prepared. You are prepared by being in God's Word and being about God's Word. You are prepared by hearing God's Word spoken and proclaimed. You are prepared by receiving the very Word made flesh...Jesus Christ our Lord...in with and under the bread and wine. You are prepared by being in this place. You are prepared by sharing God's Word; sharing the love of Christ.

          We do not know when our Lord will return. May it be our prayer that God would grant us the wisdom of being wise virgins waiting for the groom that we may rejoice at the herald that Christ is nigh and welcome our Savior who comes to gather HIs people for the marriage feast that has no end. 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.

Whose Child are You?

All Saints Day (observed)

1 John 3:1-3

Revelation 7:9-17

"Whose Child are You?"

 

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

 

 

          Names are very important things. Without names we would never understand what people were talking about or whom they were referring to. Names bring to mind all kinds of thoughts and memories. Names are descriptive. If I say the name McDonalds I'm sure most of you think of a burger joint down the street...some of you might start thinking about what to eat and others might think "how disgusting!" If I say the name Disney many of you will instantly think about Disney Land or Disney World...or Disney movies. If I say the name Judas many will recall the Disciple that betrayed our Lord.

          What does your name mean? My name: Joel (Hebrew for Yahweh is Lord) Andrew (Greek: manly/Apostle of our Lord), Christensen (Danish: Christen's son) and Dietrich (German: people's king). I like my names. For those that know me...my name will mean something to me. But there are other Joels and Andrews, and Christensens, and Dietrichs. There are even other Joel Dietrichs in the world. But there is only one of me...and yes...I realize your all thinking "thank God for that!"

          Names are important...they have meanings to us...they recall feelings, events, emotions, love, and laughter. Today there are some names that we will mention later during our prayers. They are names that are very important. They are: George Willett, Betty Braun, Joanne Kregel, and Jenola Johannes. Those names aren't just words...they are the names of our loved ones: our friends and family. It might make us a little sad to think about them...but those names bring back multitudes of wonderful memories.

          As proud as I am about my last name: Dietrich...there are other names that I bear that I don't talk about. They are names that each one of us shares. The first name that we all share is Adamsson or Adamsdaughter. It is a name that I'm not proud to have. For it is a reference to my old Adam (not my dad)...my old sinful nature. I am a poor miserable sinner created in the image of my first father...Adam. Through Adam...I am born a wretched sinner. Through Adam I am born to die. Through Adam I am a sinner that deserves condemnation in hell. Every person ever born...is a son or daughter of Adam. Each and every person is born sinful, is born to die, and deserves condemnation in hell.

          But thankfully there is another name that I share with you and all the saints of heaven. It is a name that we share with George, Betty, Joanne, and Jenola. That name is God's son and God's daughter. This name wasn't passed down from our parents. This name wasn't a name we could choose for ourselves. This name is a gift from God. It is a gift that was given to you at your baptism. It is a name that brings with it forgiveness, life, and salvation. It is a gift of pure love.

          "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." (1 John 3:1-3)

          What a wonderful gift we have been given as God's beloved children. But some don't think it's all that great. Because we are Christian...the world doesn't know us. In fact...the world hates us, ridicules us, and wants to harm us. On top of that...we get frustrated that even with this wonderful gift...bad things happen to us...loved ones suffer and die...we shall die. And that is exactly what Satan wants us to think about. That is what Satan uses to plant doubt in us. Satan wants us to think...this is no gift at all...we are hated by others...we still suffer...band things happen...and we still die...so what's so great about being a Christian...being baptized...being made a child of God?

          My brothers and sisters in Christ, let me be clear. God does not promise us life in this world that will be free from hardship...and suffering...and death. In fact God warns us that many will hate us because of Him. God warns that there will be suffering and persecution for His children. This won't be an easy life! But God does promise us life for eternity in paradise.

          That is our hope. Our hope isn't in this world...our hope is in Christ and His promise of forgiveness, salvation, and life in the world to come. Our hope isn't in a life here and know where we get everything we want our hope is in a new creation where there will be no suffering, or death, or pain, or disease; a new creation where we will be reunited with all the saints that have died before us.

          Listen to these beautiful words of hope, promise, and current reality. "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

          Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

          “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:9-17)

          That multitude dressed in white...they are the saints filing into heaven. Their numbers include George, Betty, Joanne, Jenola, and countless other friends and family members that have died in the faith. They are in paradise! They are sons and daughters of God and so are you. Salvation is theirs and ours because we are children of God.

          Today we give thanks for all of our loved ones that have died in the faith. We thank God that they are in paradise. Not only that...but we give thanks that this day we are reunited with them as we worship the same Lord Jesus Christ and gather around the same Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and partake of the same banquet feast as we gather around this altar. Today is a wonderful day. It is a wonderful day because we have been made children of the same heavenly King who loves us and makes us co-heirs with all the saints of paradise. Whose child am I? I'm God's child. What is my name? Godsson.  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.