Septuagesima Sunday

 

Septuagesima – Matthew 20 – January 31^st and February 1^st, 2026

In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World +

Resentment. There is a lot of resentment out there in the world today, isn't there? I've been driven to think about politics a lot more often recently than I'd rather, and I think resentment seems to be driving a lot of our political approach – who has gotten too much, who gets away with too much, who has too many unfair advantages – and what are we going to do about it? How are we going to right these terrible wrongs that they have taken advantage of, how are we going to punish them? Whoever they are – there are lots of different people we might resent for a lot of different... well, we can call them “reasons” no matter how silly or unreasonable they are. But this spirit of resentment isn't just at work in our politics, no. Take a brief look at any family drama, big or small, and I'll bet you can find plenty of resentment - “It's always Marsha, Marsha, Marsha,” was a generational cry of resentment. And you can look at schools or the workplace, any place where there's a group of people and especially if there are group projects – oh my the resentment can fly.

In fact, we just accept resentment as normal. Typical. Good, even. We will spend hours nursing our resentments, justifying them, I have every right to be bitter and angry and annoyed because do you see what they have? Do you see what they get away with? Do you see how lazy they are? Do you see how entitled they are? Do you see how privileged they are? And there are more buzzwords I could throw in all day long. And so really, what happens is our lives, our interactions and discussions with others revolve around dueling resentments. Who has the better gripe, who has it rougher, whose resentment is a better resentment? A more righteous resentment? Righteous resentment.

Resentment has absolutely no place in the life of a Christian. Resentment should have absolutely no place in your life whatsoever. With every little bit of resentment that he stirs up, Satan is trying to crush and destroy your faith and make you miserable in the process.

There were “laborers” who were standing around one day. Workers. Unskilled workers, that is. These aren't people who have learned a trade, who have skills or an education. These people are the bottom of the social heap. And what you would do back in the day, if you didn't have a job, if you were unemployed, is you would stand around in the marketplace, and if someone had some odd jobs for you to do, they'd grab you and hire you for the day, come to some sort of an arraignment. This still happens in plenty of places today, even in the US. And so often when it happens today the folks getting hired get cut rate wages, paid below the table in cash, no one has to know – and that's frankly what happened in Jesus' day too. The desperate take what they can get, thems the breaks. But while these unemployed laborers are standing around the marketplace, in walks this guys running a vineyard. And this guy running this vineyard isn't like your typical guy hiring these sorts of people. He's not looking for cut rate prices – instead he offers them a denarius a day – full, solid wages. No shortchanging here – it's union rates. And it seems to be that it's not just a job for a day, but it's a steady job. Security, steady employment, no more waking up in the morning wondering where your food is going to come from or how you'll pay the bills. This is an utter jackpot. And these laborers agree – joyously. The word that Jesus uses for agreement when He tells this story is “Symphonas” - you know, symphony. The laborers get this job offer and Ode to Joy starts playing in the background and it's great.

And really, it is great. Yes, they have a day of work – but that's to be expected in life. We aren't living in the Garden of Eden; we generally have to make our living by the sweat of our brow, or confronting problems to be solved and dealt with. Life is hard – but now, for these guys, life is also good. And the day comes to a close – and it's time to get paid – because generally you got paid day by day back them. You all here know the satisfaction that can come after a good day's work, and you're paid, and it's just good. That's where these laborers are at. It's Miller time! It's the Brontosaurus lets out the whistle and Fred yells Yabba Dabba Do and runs off home and everything would have gone perfectly, except for one little thing. There were these other guys, showed up late in the day, just an hour before quitting time. And the vineyard guy decides to pay them first, and they get the full day's wage too. Well, if they are getting a full day's wage for just an hour, and I've done 12, well, let me do the math, I should be in for a massive payday. And then they the payment comes. And it's just a denarius. Just one. A single, measly denarius. And resentment kicks in.

And big time resentment. These laborers grumble so loudly that the Vineyard guy hears it, and he walks on up to one of the laborers and asks some questions. Why are you upset? Why this resentment? I haven't wronged you in any way. I haven't been unjust to you in the slightest. 12 hours ago I said I'd give you a job in my vineyard and pay you well, and I have been good to my word – and you know what, you were so happy and pleased. Why are you ticked off now? Because I chose to be kind and generous to some poor schlub? Tell you what, pal – take your pay, quit your grousing, and just go home, because you're starting to act like you think you run this place instead of me, and that's not how this works.

It's a tale of resentment. And does the resentment do anyone a drop of good? Nope. In fact, it needlessly, senselessly ruins people's day, ruins relationships. It takes what should have been a fantastic day – look at this great job I have, and sours it. Resentment takes the blessings of God, the goodness of God, and tells us to treat them as cheap and hollow.

There's actually more resentment in the story, as Jesus tells it. That vineyard owner had gone out at around five o'clock, just before quitting time, and he saw some folks just standing around in the marketplace. Laborers who hadn't found anything, who were really down on their luck because if a man does not work he shall not eat and they've gotten nothing. And he asks them why they've just been standing around idle all day. And they say, “Because no one has hired us.” Do you hear the resentment there, the edge, the chip on the shoulder? It's not just a simple statement of fact, it's not a lament, it's not “I haven't been able to find work.” No – Because. Because of them. It's their fault. In fact, it's your fault Mister Vineyard man, because you could have hired us any time this day and you didn't. And that vineyard owner doesn't get mad, doesn't clutch his pearls, doesn't write them off and say, “Whatever.” Nope. He looks at them and says, “Head on into the vineyard. I'll do right by you.” And they go, might as well, and they putter around for a bit, and the end of the day comes, and it's time to get paid, probably just get a buck or two... and they get called up, and they get a full day's wage, a wage they don't deserve. I told you I'd do right by you. And all that resentment, all that hard scrabble pseudo-toughness and bluster – it's gone. Instead, they simply receive. And it was good.

Resentment has no place in the life of a Christian. This is because resentment runs on the premise that you get, or that you should get what you deserve. And the thing is as Christians, as people who know God's law, we know what we deserve. And what we deserve is worse that what the laborers in the story deserved. As the story started off, they deserved nothing because they hadn't donr anything to earn it... but as Christians we know that before God we are in a far, far worse situation. I, a poor miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserve Your temporal and eternal punishment. If I deserve temporal punishment – punishment now, as well as eternal punishment – what could be so bad to happen to me that I'd have any right to resent it in the slightest?

But that's not the wonder that really ought to be the primary focus, either in the story or in the Christian faith. In the story, good night what a generous vineyard owner, who just keeps taking care of people left and right. And of course, in the Christian Faith, the story is not that you get what you deserve, but rather that Jesus Christ Himself will go to the Cross, and there not only will He take up all your sin, but from the Cross He will pour out forgiveness and mercy and His Spirit. There's your real Denarius, there's everything you need for this day and for life eternal!

And just in case you think Pastor Brown is jumping to the Cross just by rote – you know what follows right after our Gospel lesson in Matthew? And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,  “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” And to be honest, if anyone would have a right to be resentful, it would be Jesus. He didn't deserve the Cross – you do – but He alone could take it up for you – and instead of viewing you with Resentment, Jesus views you with His perfect love and He remains perfectly faithful to the promises He has made to you in His Word and in Your Baptism. He does you no wrong, and what is right He gives you – He gives you forgiveness, life, and salvation.

So yeah, about all that resentment that swirls around – about that resentment that calls out to you, the resentment that you might just catch yourself in this week to come, the resentment games people will want you to play. Have nothing to do with it. Turn away from it. When you catch yourself in it – or more accurately when the Holy Spirit reveals to you that resentment has been smacking you around – repent. All that resentment is doing is trying to take your eyes off of Christ and His love for you. All your own silly self-justifications are doing is taking your eyes off of Christ Jesus, who is the One who justifies you by forgiving your sin and giving you every blessing. Nope – remember what is real and true – Christ Jesus has come and He has called you into His Kingdom, and He gives you vocations with meaning and purpose where you are free to love your neighbor, and He richly forgives your sin so that you are prepared to be with Him in His Kingdom for all eternity. In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World +

Transfiguration Sermon

 

Transfiguration Sunday – Matt 17 – Jan 24^th and 25^th, 2026

In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World +

Ah, the mountain top event and experience. Isn't that so often what we crave, the mountaintop experience of excitement and wonder and awe. And this Transfiguration Day our readings give us two mountaintop experiences – we hear Moses in the Old Testament, we see the transfiguration in the New – so when, when Pastor do we get our mountaintop adventure? Well, I want you to understand, you do, you get a better mountaintop experience, it's grand to be in the church – but let's take our time getting to that point. Because before we talk about what Jesus gives us today, we need to reconsider the mountaintop experiences we heard in our lessons and understand that they perhaps weren't so grand.

To start, our Old Testament reading – Moses and the Burning Bush. So, here we come across Moses, and it's a down and out Moses. He had been a Prince of Egypt, but he killed an Egyptian who was abusing a Jewish man, and thus Moses fled for his life. And he ended up in the wilderness, and, well, we hear: Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. Understand how far Moses had fallen. He had been royalty – how he's working outdoors, hanging with the sheep. And not even his own sheep – his father-in-law's sheep. Not wandering royal courtyards, now Moses is wandering the wilderness. And as he is wandering, He sees the burning bush – a bush that is aflame but not consumed. And we are told that this is an appearance of The Angel of the LORD – an appearance of Jesus before His incarnation – if you see the “the Angel of the LORD” with the “the” there in the Old Testament, that's Jesus before the Incarnation. And Moses heads on over and God calls out to Moses and says, “Take off your shoes.” You've really stepped in it this time Moses – literally, you've stepped in it, shepherd, get those filthy shoes off because you're standing on holy ground. And do you know who I am? I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

Oh, how neat, right? A mighty wonder, God Himself speaking to you, glory and power and majesty! How great, right? And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. He was afraid. Moses wasn't jumping up and down with joy, he was terrified. It was too much for poor Moses. And even as God sets him on his task – you will lead the people of Israel to the promised land - Moses fearfully dithers. Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? I'm a nobody, what are You doing, don't send me, don't send me. And besides I wouldn't be good at this, I wouldn't even know how to address You. Moses is terrified. And Moses actually spends the rest of chapter 3 and chapter 4 trying to talk God out of this. Oh, they won't listen to me, I'm not a good speaker... blah blah blah. Not exactly an uplifting experience, is it?

Well, okay, but surely our Gospel lesson is uplifting and inspiring, right? After six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and his clothes were white as light. Alright, we got the mountaintop, we got the glowing Jesus – at least He's only glowing, not burning. This will be grand, right? Oh, and there's more! And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. And even better – Moses and Elijah show up, and they are talking to Jesus – Luke notes that they are speaking about Jesus' Exodus, His path to Jerusalem and the Cross – the mysteries of the ages. This should be wonderful, right? Peter, James, and John should be there just enraptured – this is far, far better than any sermon or bible study that any of us have ever heard. And yet.. Peter pops up. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” We don't hear this rightly, we don't get what Peter is doing. This is a polite way of excusing yourself and getting out of dodge. Oh, this is a great sermon pastor, but you know what we need? Donuts? And you know what, don't stop preaching, just carry on, I'll get up and run to Casey's, you just carry on. I am sure that some of you in here have dodged your mother-in-law by running errands just as silly as this before. Because Peter is scared, it's too much for him, and he wants to get away.

But God does have a sense of humor – He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them – Peter doesn't even get to finish explaining his plan when a bright cloud comes. And understand what this bright cloud overshadowing them would be – this is the Glory Cloud of the Old Testament – the Glory of God filling the Tabernacle, the Temple, and when it was there you don't go in because if you do you are a dead man. And from that cloud the voice of God thunders forth – This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him. No Peter, no running away – listen to Jesus. And it's too much – When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. Another mountaintop, and once again man in abject terror and fear.

Do you see how these “mountaintop” experiences aren't quite what they are often cracked up to be? It's not the envigorating weekend retreat or what we would normally call a mountaintop experience today... it's something much deeper and more dread. It's God coming into the presence of sinful man, and sinful man just not able to handle it. Even when they know God. Jesus is Peter and James and John's friend, and yet, there are the disciples on the ground terrified. Expecting to die. Thus the reality of sin.

So there stands Jesus on the mountain of the transfiguration. And for just a bit, He had gotten to let His glory shine, and He got to talk with His old friends Moses and Elijah, and He brought His more recent friends along... and it was just too much for them. And there is Jesus, in His glory, looking at Peter and James and John, as they are cowering in fear before Him. This mountaintop wasn't going to cut it – but Jesus knew that already. He had been talking to Moses and Elijah about His exodus that would take place on another mountaintop – a mountaintop He had begun to tell and warn His disciples of, an experience they didn't want to hear about. Seeing Peter and James and John on the ground, Jesus looks ahead to another mountain – Mount Calvary. That's the mountain that He would have to go to if He was going to fix this, if He would be able to be with His people again safely, happily, eternally. This weight and burden of sin, this guilt and shame that drove man away from Jesus, something had to be done about it. And so, to the Cross Jesus would go. And His brief bit of relaxation with Moses and Elijah, Jesus' slight taste of the glory that He laid aside to come down from heaven for us men and for our salvation is put aside, that gets put away. Things go back to normal – just the normal, plain, frail Jesus – and He goes to the disciples, and He touches them. Touch. Contact. Physical contact. See, it's Me. “Rise, and have no fear.” And they don't understand it yet – and Jesus tells them not to talk about it until after He is raised from the dead, because they won't understand until that third mountain, until Calvary claims the life of Christ, until He rises from the dead. Jesus dies and rises, so that by winning forgiveness and life, Jesus may say to Moses and Peter and you and me, “Rise, and have no fear.”

The burning bush, the mountain of transfiguration, even Mt. Calvary and the Crucifixion. All dread, all heavy. All fearful. But in all of them, while it's too much for sinful man, you see Jesus determined and focused upon winning you salvation. And He does – He dies and rises, and you are forgiven – and He wants you to receive, to delight in this forgiveness – so Jesus sets up and establishes a mountaintop encounter for you – but one that isn't as terrifying as any of these three. No, in the Church, after His resurrection, Jesus comes to you in a Mountaintop experience that isn't terrifying, that gives forgiveness and life. And you guys see it all the time. In fact, this Sanctuary, this holy ground – that is what a Sanctuary is, after all – is built around that very mountain. Do you see it? I mean, it's not a very tall mountain, it's only – what 3 or 4 steps high. And this holy Sanctuary and this holy mountain with it's altar on it – what is it for? The Celebration of our Lord's Supper. And every communion service here is a better, safer, gentler, more wondrous mount of transfiguration. And I mean that quite seriously.

Consider – Jesus invites Peter, James and John to that mountain, just as He has invited you here today. And on that mountain, Jesus brought Moses and Elijah to be with Peter and James and John. Well, today, as we move into our communion liturgy, we make a mighty confession. We take attendance for church each week, but it's wrong – and that's not me saying that the ushers can't count, but rather we don't count enough, we count us but we don't really count all of us because Therefore with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, ever more praising you and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy. We. We sing. That we is angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, that host beyond the ability of any usher to count. That's who is here. And Christ Jesus comes to us, and we join in the heavenly feast, the victory of our God, the song of the Angels in Isaiah, the song of the angels on Christmas Eve, the wonders of eternity. And Jesus comes to you, and He touches you, He comes to you in bread and wine, Here, now, for you is His own Body, here now is His own Blood, shed for you – Jesus physically and really and truly touches you just as assuredly as He touched Peter – and then, rise, and have no fear. And then – you guys get to go back to your seats and the scariest part is trying to figure out what verse of the communion hymn we're on. Do you see what a gift this is? How Peter can say in his epistle, “Yes, the mount of transfiguration was neat – terrifying but neat – but we have something more sure, the prophetic word, which you will do well to pay attention to as to a lamp shining in a dark place. More sure. The Scriptures, the Preaching – you are forgiven on account of Christ's death and resurrection. The prophetic word which says, “the Body of Christ – The Blood of Christ for you.” And not just one time like that transfiguration mount – nah, week in and week out, Jesus calls you here so that He can be with you and give you every blessing, so that He can give you forgiveness, life, and salvation again and again even until you are called to the eternal feast (though you'll still get to be here with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven – because Jesus is just cool like that).

So I told you, at the start that you do get your own mountaintop experience – and you do, and it's even better than the burning bush or the mount of transfiguration because it doesn't scare you half to death, and you get to do it again and again, safely and happily – even until we get to enjoy the never-ending Supper of the Lamb together with our Lord for all eternity. Jesus is so good to us. In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World +

The Tragic Christian Jump

 

Often Christians will make a terrible, tragic jump. They will take their own religious motivations for supporting a specific political policy and thereby conclude that it is the "Christian" (I'd add a little trademark sign, but I don't know how to, and I don't need to learn how to) approach. And when they see Christians, particularly Christians that they agree with on the "other side" there is much consternation and anger. How can these Christians even think about supporting that?

I wish to give a slightly different approach. In High School, I did a lot of Lincoln-Douglas Debates - this is a debate style where each side picks a value and uses that value to either support or oppose a proposition. And... you'd have to either support or propose randomly. And the point was there are solid values, good reasons for being on either side of most policy issues.

Too often we want to make our side the "Christian" side... or for my non-Christian friends the "right side" - the right side of history side. And that's understandable, if we are supporting something we want to be correct.

But especially for my Christian friends who are finding themselves disagreeing - perhaps vehemently even - with people they know and love and respect, might I make a suggestion.

Maybe you, as a Christian, aren't on a specific side of an issue to be "right" - but to help show restraint. Both sides of most issues have legit points to make - that is the basic premise of the US and having a legislature that is supposed to debate laws. There are valid points to be made all around.

Of course, there is stupidity and folly all around, as well. There are selfish and unjust motivations all around. Duplicity abounds.

So, perhaps, O Christian - when you find yourself on one side of the aisle, you are put there not to trash and villify those across from you, but to nuture and foster charity, restraint, and kindness even on your own side.

And maybe, just maybe, this is the Divine Foxiness of God, in putting Christians on both sides of the aisle. We are to be the salt of the world, after all, and both sides ought to have good taste.

... of course, then I have to abandon the holy veneer that I like to slather upon my own self-righteousness, and I don't get to claim biblical mandates for (looks at my own list of libertarian positions) um, "taxation is theft... even though Jesus tells us to pay our taxes anyway as a sign for those in charge... grumble grumble grumble."

But we really like our crusades, and to pretend that they are holy, don't we?

Reformation Day Sermon

 

Reformation Day Observed – October 24^th and 25^th, 2025 – Matthew 11

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” Thus far our text this Reformation Day.

Reformation Day is such a wonderful day for a preacher. I mean, there are so many things that I could talk about today. It could be a day for a great, rip roaring historical sermon. It could be a day fantastic theology, diving on into the Epistle and the fact that we are saved by grace through faith. It could be a day for confronting struggle in the world – the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence – struggle abounds, but we are safe in Christ. John 8 is a optional Gospel – If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed! I've done each of those before, and I'm sure if the Lord grants me the days, I'll do those themes all again. But there was something that struck me in Matthew as I was pondering, and so that is the angle for today. Today, we are going to talk about play.

Play? Yes, play. Did you note that when Jesus frames the discussion of this generation, the state of the world and the church of His day, He frames it under the description of play. Of playmates. Of people gathered together, and they should be footloose and fancy free, like kids simply at leisure having fun together. It's not kids with chores, having to whitewash the fence, milk cows, check out the new oxen, or any other dreadful excuse for why they can't come. Nope, kids in the marketplace, hanging out together, and playing.

Really, what better description of the Church could there be? I mean, I suppose you might say a party, a feast – since Jesus uses that theme quite often. Or maybe a marriage, that's one that comes up often enough. But really, those are both places of play. Of delight, of game, of enjoyment. Where people are brought together for joy and delight. And that is the Church – we are those called out of darkness, the darkness of this sinful world, into His marvelous light. And what for? To receive God's blessings of body and soul, to learn and love and receive love – that's the point. That's all play.

And the thing is, as Jesus sees it, there is a problem. The people of His generation – something is drastically wrong. They aren't playing. We played the flute for you, and you did not dance. The nice little jaunty tune, all light and airy came up, and they didn't dance. Why? Well, Jesus doesn't say – there might be many a reason why they are sitting there like bumps on a log – probably because they thought they were too cool for school, or they wanted to seem serious or self important, above this little kiddie stuff. So, Jesus offers a different song. We sang a dirge, and you did not mourn. Sometimes you need to be serious, okay. We can do serious too. We can do somber and deep... and yet, nothing. Still the refusal to play. Still just off on your own, refusing to join in, refusing to share. Not even tapping your feet to the beat, and looking down on the little losers and their silly games.

You know what one of the most misunderstood passages of Scripture is? Ephesians 5, where we are instructed that we are to be submitting ourselves to one another out of reverence for Christ, wives to your own husbands as to the Lord. Oh, Pastor Brown, I see you are wanting to live dangerously this Reformation Day – perhaps you're hoping to be burned at the stake yourself. No, not at all. We misunderstand. So often we think of the word “submit” as a word of power, of force, of making someone do what I want them to do because I'm in charge. Nope. Not the point. We submit to each other out of reverence for Christ – and that's not saying that the Church is to be a place where we beat each other until we say uncle. Rather this. To submit isn't to be forced to do something – it's to go along. It is literally to subordinate yourself to someone else, to say, “I'll just follow their lead on this.” In our love and respect for Christ, we follow each other's lead all the time. Your infant starts crying in the middle of the night, well congrats, you are following their lead and getting out of bed.

But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” Why? Why, oh people, aren't you following Christ's lead? Why, when He sets the tune, are you not singing along? Why are you off doing your own thing, insisting on your own way? Why aren't you playing along? Why aren't you playing nicely? That's the question, the lament of Jesus, here. I've given you every good thing, and yet you're not listening, you're not paying attention, you aren't singing along. But it gets worse. It's not just that you're passively not doing anything. You're actively opposing, you're complaining. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon.” The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” John the Baptist came, and he was as straight laced and buttoned up as they came. You wanted someone to be serious about religion, about faith and behavior and morals – John was your man. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. But, they didn't. They complained. Okay, okay, maybe that preparation is too intense – too Lenty. Let's try Easter joy – Jesus comes, and there's forgiveness and restoration and joy and welcome... and still the complaints. Can't be serious, can't be silly – no matter what you still complain.

You know what the problem is – you just don't want to play, you don't want to play along with Jesus. And that's drastically sad. That's been the problem since the fall. Instead of delighting in the creation that Jesus had set up, instead of listening to His Word and following along, Adam and Eve started listening to the Devil. They started humming along to his twisted tune, and things went sideways. Now instead of just Jesus running everything for our good, we were distracted and dischordant and chaotic. Instead of simply being happy to play along, we wanted to make everyone do what we wanted, whenever we wanted, whether it was good for us or not, and our desires ran amuck. And Jesus warned us – Thou shall not – but we so often don't like playing by those rules, we know so much better, that's just silly, outmoded stuff. Love God and love your neighbor – bah, my neighbor is dumb and I don't like them. And from thence chaos and trouble ensue – and behold the history of the world, behold every issue great or small of the day – from Geo-politics to the smallest little familial spat. Oh, we will sing – we'll sing, “I did it my way” - and our cover versions of that overrated song are all lousy.

And now, Reformation Day. A day where once again we hear Jesus, where He says, “All that selfish stuff – that's silly. Come, it's all good, it's all good in Me, I have made it all good, I have done everything needed to make it good, you are welcomed, you are forgiven, you are redeemed, you are justified, and because I have lived, died, and lived again for you, you're bound for eternal life. Dances or dirges, I'm with you in them all, and they will all yield to Me. Come and play.” And so we are called to reflect – what have we been listening to? Who have we been listening to? Whom have we been shaping our lives according to? Jesus or someone else? Or something else? Or even just ourselves? Every proper Reformation movement in the Church is nothing other than the great call from the book of Hebrews – Come, let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. And that's hard on us, on our sinful flesh. We love our own distractions, our idols, our wants and whims and our plans and plots. And Jesus pulls our eyes off of them, and He casts them down – not merely to punish, not merely to destroy – not like how we will trash and bully and break the things of our neighbors when we're in a pique – no, Jesus pulls our eyes off of our idols so that we will again see Him. Jesus pulls the fake frivilous false joys out of our hands so that He can fill us with a good measure of His blessing. Jesus rips open and breaks our shriveled little hearts so that He can fill them with Himself and heal them and make them beat strongly and fully again, following the joyous beat of His song of love and salvation and joy.

When the tune is a dirge, where we see the weight of sin hitting the world, hitting us – we mourn. There is a time to mourn, after all, in this fallen world. There is a time to repent, to be turned away from sin, even and especially the sins we like. And when the tune is that light and airy flute, calling out the song of salvation – you know it, the light pastoral tune, oh what a beautiful morning, this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it, He's risen, He's risen, He's alive and I'm forgiven, heaven's gates are open wide and there's not a thing in the world that anyone, not even Satan and all the hosts of hell can do to stop that song because the kingdom ours remaineth – sing along. Don't worry if you're off key. It's not typically a solo you're called to sing, and the King of universe knows how to balance your flats with someone else's sharps and it all works out in the end, because that's what Jesus is doing, making it all work out again so that instead of being a miserable sourpuss you get heaven and resurrection.

John, in his first epistle, repeatedly uses the phrase, “Little children”. Sometimes I think he says it because he's getting old and everyone is so much younger than him. But you know, faith like that of a little child is commended, and often what we all need to remember is that we have been freed to simply be Children of the Heavenly Father, Jesus' little lambs. Our Heavenly Father has everything in control for us, our brother Jesus is looking out for us, and we are free simply rejoice and delight in all the good things He gives. John writes: “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His sake. Again, John writes, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” Beloved in Christ, enjoy your play this week, and have a blessed Reformation Day. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

In Praise of the Formulaic

 I have been told many a time that just holding to Law Gospel preaching is deficient because it is "formulaic."  And we get that a lot as preachers - we hear "formulaic" or "repetative" and we certainly don't want our preaching to be that... right?

 Actually, let's pause and think about this.  Why would we think that being "formulaic" would be a bad thing?  If there is a formula, all that means is that there is a recognized and repeated pattern so that we know what is going on.  That's what the Lutheran Church thrives on.  That's what we claim, more than any other denomination, that the Church of Christ Jesus is to be.  Especially Confessional, Liturgical Lutherans.

If someone said to you, "The Divine Service is too formulaic" - would you worry about needing to spice it up, or would you say, "Good"?

Do we complain about the Confessions being formulaic - they certainly follow and seek to establish/maintain the formulas and patterns that our Churches teach.

Doesn't scripture tell us as pastors to follow the sounds pattern of doctrine?  A pattern, a formula.

But say you don't think these are good enough - I mean, that's not what we're talking about when we say formula.  We mean that if you just present a sermon the same way it gets dull and no one will like it.

The thing is, that's never, ever been true for any type of spoken presentation.  

Homer - totally formulaic.  Epithets abound.  And folks followed his patterns and riffed off him for a long time.

Genre - formulaic, dealing with expectations.

Poetry - formulaic patterns that are to be followed. 

Plays - formulaic

Jesus' preaching and teaching - formulaic.  (I don't know Jesus, that sermon on the plain sounds too much like that sermon on the mount!) 

Paul's letters - totally formulaic.

The idea of Rhetoric itself is that of a formula of speech. 

And shall we talk about music?  Songs?  Concertos?  Overtures?  Symphonies?  Pop songs?  The Blues?  Formulaic. 

Or consider tv shows or movies.  We had that lament that TV shows back in the day were formulaic... and yet, there's a reason they were.  The audience needs to know the expectations they should have.

This is something that I think has been shown more with a lot of the streaming shows.  They are disorganized... you don't know how long an episode is going to last, you don't know what resolution the show will end with.  They become unsatisfying. 

Really, if we are being honest - when someone complains about things being formulaic, they mean they are just bored with the topic.  I think the whole series of Jurassic Park shows are... meh.  They aren't my thing.  My youngest son loves them.  And there's a formula - and he loves the formula.  When is the guy going to get eaten!  I'm a bit bored of it... but that's not the formula's fault.  The problem isn't that those movies and shows are formulaic.

There's always a formula.  There's always a pattern.  And the people who complain about things being formulaic... they really are calling for a different formula, a different schema.

But Paul called the tune.  We preach Christ and Him Crucified.  I was determined to know nothing among you but Christ and Him Crucified.  As oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show forth the Lord's death til He comes. 

You say preaching Law and Gospel is formulaic.  You say always going to the Cross in all things is rote or trite.  I will ask, "So, what do you think is more important than the Cross?"  That's the real question at hand. 

Trinity 9 Sermon

 

Trinity 9 – Luke 16 – August 16^th and 17^th, 2025

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

One of my pastor friends has taken recently to lamenting that we Christians of today have lost all sense of imagination when it comes to the Scriptures. We've lost our childlike sense of wonder and delight at the stories, and so often we just reduce the Scriptures to pithy bits of advice or bland truth statements instead of recognizing it as the Greatest Story Ever Told. And as such, some parts of that story, indeed, some of the stories therein become incredibly hard for us to understand. And there is no finer example of this than our Gospel today – the dreaded tale of the Unrighteous Steward – the Dishonest Manager.

So what is this tale? If you will allow me to retell it – So the big rich boss gets told that his manager is wasting stuff. And the big rich boss says, “I've heard all the rumors about you and your shady deals. That's it, you aren't working here anymore, go collect your books and records, bring them back to me, and then get gone.” The manager is being fired. And this manager, pondering his fate, has a moment of clarity. And the manager said to himself, “What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.” In other words, this manager takes a completely honest look at his situation. He is up the Creek apparently without a paddle. His prospects don't look good.

But this, then, is the moment of an Epiphany. If he is going to be fired for being a cheat and a fraud, well, might as well be one. “I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.” And then, just before he turns in the books, he starts cutting deals. He starts giving everyone and their brother a discount. Discounts make people happy. And if they're happy with me – they'll help me out later. I've washed your back to the tunes of millions of dollars, got a spare room I can crash in for a bit? And sure, it's a bit sleazy, it's a bit cutthroat, but it's effective.

And then the verse that causes all sorts of consternation and conniption fits today – The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.” What? Jesus, are You feeling alright? How can You speak of commending this wickedness! But then it gets worse. Jesus says, “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” Wait, what? Are You daring to insinuate that I'm lacking in comparison to this thief, this villain? Jesus, how dare you? And then Jesus comes in with the kicker - “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” No, Jesus, you were supposed to destroy the wicked, not join them. Pearls are clutched, people faint, the pulling out of hair commences.

No, no, no, everyone. Relax. Relax and enjoy the story. Jesus here tells a style of story that was popular in the ancient world that everyone would get, and it's a style that we have even today in our movies. It's a con job story. A heist. A battle of wits. Think of a good con movie – my mom loved the Sting – of course, that might have had something to do with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, but it's a great film where the powerful mob boss is defeated not by brawn or muscle, but by smarts. By being “shrewd”. Or maybe you like a good bank heist film – like Oceans 11 or the Italian Job. The main characters aren't paragons of virtue, but there's wonder and delight and admiration for how they pull it off. They loved those kinds of stories in the ancient world – you had the Trojan Horse, you all sorts of stories in mythology. You get them in the Old Testament. Moses' mom was required by law to throw her baby boy into the Nile... and she did – she just happened to put her cute baby boy in a basket first and put him in the Nile right where Pharaoh's daughter would see him. Eh, eh? Pretty sharp, right? We have always loved stories where someone pulls of a brilliant strategy. As a wise TV character would often say, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

Because that's what this story is – it's a tale in praise of “shrewdness” - of using your mind. Of paying attention. Of making your priority your priority. And in the story, what do we see with this manager? Well, he had his mind on his money and his money on his mind – and he did whatever he could to see that he had a safe landing – that his temporary home for the morrow was secured. And we all understand that. If you're a farmer, you've got to have your mind on the farm. If someone is managing your investments or retirement, they've got to be focused on the market. Teachers heading back to school need to be focused on lesson plans and their students, and those students need to be getting ready to hit the books. Focus. Be wise, be shrewd, be prudent.

But then there's the comment that Jesus makes. We hear the tale of shrewdness, we see this focus on what is important in the world... but then Jesus bemoans the fact that the folks in the world are more shrewd in their dealings than we sons of light are. Alright, O child of God, how's your focus, your attention, your wisdom when it comes to dealing with heavenly, spiritual things?

You see, Jesus doesn't just tell today's story out of nowhere. It's actually the fourth story in a row He's told. Luke 15 begins – Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the Scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” And so Jesus starts on a story telling spree – the story of the Lost Sheep, and then the Lost Coin, and then the Prodigal Son, where the loving Father welcomes back his younger son and tries to pull back in the pouty older son. So, tell me, Child of God, what's your business? What's your interest? What should your focus be upon as a Christian? How you are better than the sinners? Nope. How you should stand away from the church angry and upset because you don't like that someone else gets forgiven? Nope. We want sinners eating with Jesus, because Christian, your business, your treasure, your wealth is Christ and Him Crucified for the forgiveness of sins.

Dare I even say, Christ and His forgiveness is “unrighteous” wealth. At least as far as you are concerned – you didn't earn God's forgiveness. You didn't earn God's love. No, Jesus simply came to you and said, “Wow, that's a lot of sin there in your account there, Bub. Lots of debt to God – but here, I'm going to take My own precious blood, and I'll just write zero – I'll write paid in full. Oh, and by the by, just to let you know, the eternal mansions of heaven and the life of the world to come – they are coming along great, your room is ready. Well, good doing business with you, have a great day.” And this gift, this forgiveness, it isn't just for us, it is the blood Jesus has shed for every man, woman, and child on the planet. And the kicker – we're authorized by Jesus to simply go and forgive people in Jesus' name. We get to take that same wild forgiveness of Jesus, and we get to forgive people and get to see them for all eternity in the eternal dwellings – friends forever. How wild is that?

But so often we ignore it. So often we forget it. We sons of light tend to be not very shrewd with the gifts of God, with the means of grace. The worldly have their mind on their money... but man, seems like we so often have a hard time keeping our mind on our Gracious God. Oh, why does this text come up in the middle of summer when so often we're busy and have better things to do than to go to Church? Or why does it always seem to come up when I'm dealing with my own doubts and fears about how I've been handling this or that – or why does it always come up when I'm annoyed at someone and I don't even want to talk about forgiveness? Well, because, as usual, Jesus is right. We sons of light tend not to be shrewd regarding the gifts of God. We tend to get pulled away by other masters – we often want to serve “mammon” - stuff, things of this world. Or our pride, our dignity. Ah, how quickly we turn our daily bread that God gives us into an idol, into an excuse to ignore God. How quickly we will disdain the neighbor we are to love instead of serving him, How often the Cross and the forgiveness won there is far from our thoughts, for either ourselves or for our neighbor. This is why our debt lists to God get so big – or at least they would except for one, wonderful, glorious thing.

No one is more shrewd than Jesus. Jesus always keeps His eye on the ball. Jesus wants to win your salvation, and He never wavers from that, never gets distracted from that. When Satan tempts Him in the wilderness – no dice, Satan. I've got My mind on My people and My people on My mind. And Jesus lays a wondrous trap for the Devil. See, by right of our sin, we were consigned to death, to Satan's kingdom. The wages of sin is death. C.S. Lewis explains this nicely in the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – all traitors belong to the White Witch. So, how to free the sinners from death? Well, Jesus dangles Himself in front of Satan. Jesus has no sin – Satan and death have no claim on Jesus, death has no dominion over Him. And then, in the great confidence move ever (that's what “con” means – it's sort for confidence) Jesus goes to the Cross and cries out, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” Jesus dangles His own life in front of Satan, and Satan bites – strikes Jesus' heel... and Jesus dies; but in so doing death has overstepped its bounds and is shattered. You don't belong to death anymore. That penalty has been taken up by Another, Christ Jesus your Brother. Forgiveness has been enacted – and Jesus rises, because Life itself has won the day, and every last man and woman ever to have existed will rise again come the last day because Jesus has destroyed death. Sorry Satan, you've been hoisted on your own petard. Your kingdom's through.

And Jesus is still shrewd, still mindful. He knows that Satan still rants and raves, and that Satan wants you distracted from Jesus, to run away from Christ, to have your faith shaken and shattered. Jesus still has His mind upon you – and He comes to you again and again in His Gospel, He pours His Spirit upon you by that Gospel, to forgive you and refresh you and refocus you. Jesus gives Himself to you again and again, take and eat, take and drink. Why? Because Jesus knows you need it – Jesus knows that in various ways all of us in here are hot messes – He knows it better than we ourselves do. And so He forgives you and strengthens you again and again, because no one can hold a candle to Jesus when it comes to shrewdness, to being mindful and focused. And Jesus is focused upon your salvation, and no one gets in His way of seeing you forgiven, redeemed, and bound for eternal life. Jesus is faithful, and He is devoted to your salvation. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

Septuagesima

 

In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World +

Alright, so we've come to those strangely named Sundays before lent – the “gesima” Sundays – today is Septuagesima – which is Latin for 70. We've got 10 weeks, 70 days, until Easter. We have three weekends before Ash Wednesday. And while the start of Epiphany focuses us upon the truth that Jesus is both God and Man come to save us, these three weeks before Lent will now address some things about God's salvation that we might not like all that much. There are going to be things addressed here that are really great and wonderful new when we think about it, but they are things that our sinful flesh does not like. And for today, we get the parable of the workers in the Vineyard.

The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Now, let's understand the set up of this parable. With this simple set up, Jesus shows us that the Kingdom of Heaven is a straightforward place. God is not duplicitous or full of double talk; He isn't playing the angles. The master of this house has a big old vineyard, and he goes to hire day laborers for the day. And so he goes out early, let's be about the task, let's get it done. And he finds workers, and he hires them for a Denarius a day. That is a straightforward, proper wage. It's good, it's solid. He doesn't show up early and try to lowball people and sucker in the desperate. The terms are clear and fair and right.

Likewise the Kingdom of Heaven. God sets out things clearly in Scripture. The Law of God is pretty simple and clear. Love God and love your neighbor. Do unto others as you'd have done to you. The 10 commandments. It's straightforward – there's not going to be some footnote or lawyery fine print designed to trip you up. And likewise, the Gospel is straightforward as well. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, we are saved by grace through faith apart from works so that no one may boast. Jesus loves me this I know straightforward. Now, it's good, and it's all profound, and we can all ponder the depths of the law and the wonders of the Gospel all our lives – but God is open and honest. What He has declared is what you get.

And going out about the third hour he saw others standing in the marketplace, and to them he said, “You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.” So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And here we see something odd about the master of this house. He keeps swinging by the marketplace hiring more workers. And this would have struck the people in Jesus' day as odd. Why? Well, you know the old phrase – the early bird catches the worm – and the worm's already been caught. This master already hired the good, diligent eager workers. Why does he need to hire more, especially Johnny come latelies? Why does he want to hire the people who were too slow, too uninterested to get on out there at time? And why is he hiring people for just a half day? Or at the ninth hour – just three hours of work?

This again teaches us something about God. When God calls people into His Church, it is not a pragmatic business decision on God's part. It is not a contest. It is not based upon how much work He can suck out of people. Rather, people at all ages of life get called into the Church, into God's kingdom. Some early, baptized as infants and raised in the church. Some later on, some in middle age – and some, some even pretty much close to their death bed. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And He said to them, “Why do you stand here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You go into the vineyard, too.” Alright, now this is getting ridiculous. It is. Imagine you were a boss, you're running a Wendy's – are you going to hire a new guy to cover the last 30 minutes of an 8 hour shift? Any farmers here going to hire a guy during harvest to drive a grain truck for 1 hour and then be done for the day? This is daft.

And the fact is, looking at Christ's kingdom from the outside, God seems pretty daft considering who He calls into His kingdom. He'll bring into His church people who aren't the greatest, who might be old and past their prime, who just don't seem to be the best fit for engaging, productive enterprise. And this reminds us and teaches us that God does not call us into the Church because of what He can get from us. Rather, out of love, out of mercy, out of a desire to just do right by people – whatever is right I will give you – God calls people into His church.

Think of this parable in terms of the day laborers. None of these people have jobs, none of them have security. And in those days, if a man does not work, let him not eat. No job, no money for food on the table, and there's not really a well established social safety net. And so this master keeps walking through the marketplace and has pity on these people, over and over, at all times. Likewise, this is what drives God to call you into the Church – not what He can get out of you, but rather His love, His mercy, what He can give you. In this messed up sinful world, we are so often cut adrift with no hope, no security. We desperately throw our trust at the flimsiest of things. You all have seem the idols people cling to, more and more as the days go by. There's a reason so much of conversation in society has gotten harsh and terse – we aren't just disagreeing on ideas, we are threatening people's idols – political idols, social idols, financial idols. God sees all this, and He hates it – because that's not what He created us to be. He didn't create us to be all wandering around the marketplace hopelessly – He made us to be in His garden, to enjoy it and tend it. So out of His love, He keeps calling people into His Church – He has even called you, today, into His Church to rest and be refreshed.

However, a word of warning. In God's house, in this place, God's straightforward Word is what rules the day. And there will be times your sinful flesh will fight against even the simple things you've known and learned. And when the evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, “Call the Laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.” And when those hired about the 11^th hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now, when those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. It's the end of the day, and the master's ludicrous generosity shines forth. Everyone gets a denarius, the full day's wage. Everyone is treated well. Everyone, even the ones who came only at the end, will be able to go home and eat well and rest securely. And frankly, that's how the Church operates. As the Pastor, it's my job and privilege to dispense the gifts of God – and guess what? You all get the same thing. You all get Jesus' forgiveness. You all get life and salvation. I suppose the specifics of what gets forgiven are different, but it's the same forgiveness. I never have to pause service and say, “Alright, this bit of Gospel is only for those who were born here.” No, we all get Jesus, the whole Jesus, the all your sins have been forgiven by Christ the crucified, go now depart in peace Jesus.

And there's the rub. And on receiving it, they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day.” These workers are accurate in their observation, they did work longer, and the other people did get the same amount. And? So what? You got precisely what the master said you would, why are you complaining? And again, if you will allow me to translate the master's reply - But in reply he said to one of them, “Hey pal, I've not done anything to you. Didn't you agree on a denarius with me? Take your stuff and get out of here. I want to give to these last as I gave to you. Don't I get to do what I want with my own stuff? Or are you seeing things as evil because I am good?” While the workers hired early have valid observations, they forget some rather important things. First – the master did exactly as he said he would as regards them. If they aren't happy with that, it's their own fault. Secondly, it's the master's money; he can do with it what he wants. He's the one in charge – if he wants to give someone else a bonus or a great big old tip, he can.

There's the rub for us sinful men. We are sinful, we see things through evil eyes, and that means we can recoil at the goodness, the generosity of God. That's the warning for us. God is full of mercy – and we neither get to work extra hard to get more of his mercy or extra blessings from Him, nor do we have a leg to stand on if we want to complain about the mercy and blessings He gives to someone else. Sorry, God's in charge, not you. And actually, that's good for you, good for all of us. God is good, and He doesn't see things through the cruel, harsh, wicked eyes that we use. Jesus never side eyes you and grouse about you – instead He goes to the Cross and dies for you, crying out, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!” Father, they are stuck with wicked eyes, cleanse them and forgive them for My sake! We all get alike the good gifts that Jesus gives, the blessings of Body and Soul that He gives out as He knows is good.

And if and when that annoys you on occasion, it is my task and duty as Pastor to say – tough. Get over it. It's nice that you've been a member here all your life, but I don't have an extra secret book of the bible just for you. Yeah, someone else might have gotten some earthly blessing you haven't, but that's on God, He's in charge – if you really want to go tell God how He should do His job, well, good luck with that. If you're really grumbly the best I can do for you is I can give you an extra, off the cuff sermon – the same one I give myself when I catch myself grumbling about the stupid things my sinful flesh likes to grumble about.

And when all that is done, when our spleens have been vented and we come back to our senses, pause. Consider. God Almighty has called you into His Kingdom, and on account of Christ Jesus, He gives you the eternal denarius, the whole holy kit and kabboddle. Forgiveness of all of your sin. Life now, even in the midst of so many dangers, and life everlasting. Indeed, you will not enter eternal life as a mere day laborer, but as a child of God, a brother or sister of Christ, one who doesn't leave the vineyard and go home, but one who stays in the house forever, for in My father's house there are many mansions. You're baptized. Really, it's all good. God's got it in the bag for you – and remember this whenever your sinful flesh wants to complain. Whatever is right, Jesus indeed gives to you. Amen. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

Epiphany 4 Sermon

 

In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World +

Yes indeed, Christ Jesus is True God and True Man, come into this world to fulfill all righteousness, to fill righteousness up to the brim, to have it overflowing even, on to all of us, washing us clean from our sins and winning us everlasting life, and we see Jesus do this boldly today by... taking a nap? I mean, that is how our lesson starts – Jesus gets into the boat, and then He takes a nap. Now, it doesn't end there, there's more to go on, and we will address that, but this is where we will start today. Jesus takes a nap.

Once again we are in Matthew 8, just like we were last week. Jesus had been preaching on the mountain, and when He comes down, Jesus heals people left and right. Not just the leper and the Centurion's servant, but bunches of people. And there's more and more to do, but Jesus says that We should go to the other side of the lake just to get away from the crowds, and when the disciples get into the boat, Jesus takes a nap. Remember, that while Jesus is indeed true God, He is also indeed True Man. He is a human being, and in this time of His humiliation and suffering prior to His resurrection, He gets tired. You all understand this. You all have had plenty of times where you've worked and worked and then just got plum tuckered out. This is the hardship and burden we face as people in this fallen world. We are to love God and to love our neighbor. Now, loving our neighbor, serving each other, had always been part of the plan. God had placed Adam in the garden to work, to care for it. Eve was to be a helpmeet for Adam, to work with him. But sin made our work... different. Difficult. Adam is to tend to creation – well, that was an easier job before the fall. After the fall the world shakes itself apart, the impact of sin and death echoing all over the place. And it made Adam's job harder, it made Eve's job harder – and it makes all of our jobs harder too. And it made Jesus have to work harder as well. Think on all of Jesus' miracles – those are all correcting or fixing things that would never have been broken if it weren't for sin.

But that's what Jesus did, He was fulfilling righteousness, making things right again. And that's what you as a Christian know that you are called to do, to make things right in your own vocations. If a spouse, be a good spouse. If a parent, be a good parent. If a child, be a good kid. Be a good worker or student or be a good neighbor. And when sin and trouble get unleashed, clean up the mess. Forgive people and help mitigate the consequences. And you know what all that is? It's tiring. It's hard work, and it wears and it grinds upon us. And we need rest. Want the proof – see, right there, in that boat, a sleeping Jesus, worn out from work. You know, your work won't save you, just getting one more thing done won't fix everything – there are times it's good to get your rest, to tend to yourself. (Now, there's also a point where you need to get off your lazy backside, but that's not the point of this text or sermon. However, I don't want to hear about any of you kids ignoring your parents when they tell you to do your chores - “but I'm napping like Jesus” - not the point. Got it? Alright.)

However, there often is a reason why we feel like we can't take our rest, because we will be thrown behind schedule, and there's more work to do. That's part of this lesson today too. In fact, that's the setting for the main point today. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. So while Jesus and the disciples are on the boat heading to the other side, a storm whips up. A great storm. A few things on sailing in the ancient world. Generally boats sailed in sight of land, because if a storm whipped up, you wanted to get to land and shelter quickly. The disciples, however, are crossing the lake and trying to avoid a crowd – if you sail too close to land, they'll just follow you. So the implication is that the disciples are farther from shore than normally would be comfortable. And then there's the Sea of Galilee. It's an inland lake, and just because of that storms can whip up on it quickly – winds hitting the cold air over water, and boom, sudden storms. This geological reality is the reason why Lake Michigan and Lake Superior can be really dangerous to sail on, especially in winter. You all have heard Gordon Lightfoot's Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The weather changes suddenly and things get dangerous. Well, that's where the disciples find themselves.

And they went and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord, we are perishing.” Now, remember that many of the disciples are seasoned sailors. Me, I don't overly like boats, I'd get nervous in a 2 foot wave. Not so the disciples, they know what's easy enough to handle, and they know when it's bad. And, it's bad. And this is a place where sometimes we make our translations too proper, to stuffy. In the Greek they just say three words – Lord, save! Dying! This is not a well crafted plea of rhetorical elegance – this is panicked. This is the disciples seeing doom and destruction coming at them quickly. And it's all understandable – I'm sure we've all had those moments of panic that are reasonable and understandable. Again, these things happen in a sinful world, where not only is our work much harder but the dangers we face also are magnified and ramped up.

So, what will happen? Well, we see a tired Jesus. And I want you to hear this rightly. Sometimes we think of this story like in some majestic painting, Jesus standing in a pose of power and authority, His arm boldly against the wind, pushing a calm onto it. No. No, that's not what is described here. If you will allow, let me translate verse 26. And Jesus said to them, “Why are you cowards, little-faithers?” Then rousing He shouted down the wind and the seas, and there was a great calm. The word there that gets translated as “arose” - that I put as rouse, it's the word that describes pushing through the grog of waking up. It's not waking up bright eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to go, it's lifting your head to see what time it is. The best comparison for this is mom or dad taking a nap, and the kids misbehave and one comes up complaining, and dad mutters, “little brats,” and then he shouts, “Stop messing with your sister's dolls” or whatever... and then goes back to sleep. Jesus hasn't even lifted up His head when He, addresses the disciples in a loving yet dismissive way, and then Jesus barks at the weather to be quiet... and it was quiet. The calm day. Because that language describing how that great calm appeared, it's the same phrasing that gets used in Genesis at creation – and there was light. And there was a great calm.

Hence the utter amazement of the disciples – And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?” Again, if you were a sailor, you didn't necessarily like great calms either. They meant you were stuck, or you had to row if you could. And they are looking at Jesus, who is probably right back asleep – and what sort of man is this? Well, He's God almighty. He is the Creative Word of God. He called the seas and the winds into being, so of course they will listen when He speaks, and they will do what He says, because He has authority over all creation. And for a while, the disciples' job was much easier. There was no wind to fight, nothing hard to do with the sailing, why don't you take a break and rest a bit too, disciples?

When we speak about what Jesus does, about fixing things – we often talk about forgiveness and resurrection, but sometimes we underestimate the importance of Jesus bringing about a new heaven and a new earth. We are so used to living in a fallen, messed up world, with all its dangers and disorderliness that we don't understand just how wrong it is for creation to be this way. St. Paul says, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” Because of sin the world is messed up. Wind and sea get all out of whack. Weather goes nuts. Nature itself tries to kill us because everything goes out of place. But there will come a day when it's not going to be that way – and not because we adopt some political policy or anything like that. We don't get to control the planet nearly as much as we think we do – but it will come about when Jesus brings it about and renews all of creation come the last day. This is why we have phrases like, “the life of the world to come” - because in a very visceral way, we can't even wrap our heads around what life will be like when we are raised from the dead and living in Christ's Kingdom and don't have to fight and strive to stay alive all the time. When creation will be our willing servant and we will gladly and easily tend it and care for it as it yields its abundance.

Jesus comes to fix it. To make all things right again – to make you and me right again, to make creation right again. And He does so. And on the one hand, as regards His humanity, this is incredibly hard. Jesus does suffer. Jesus gets worn out. Jesus is literally worn out to death upon the Cross. Jesus knows and understands the toils and hardships you face. And yet, on the other hand, as regards His divinity, well, the Word of God gets things done and nothing can get in His Way. And this is the beauty, the wonder of the Incarnation, of God becoming Man, God entering into His fallen creation fully to save and redeem us, to restore and recreate us. And we get to see bits of this blossom out now – even now Christ Jesus works in you and through you to do good, real, true, good in this world, good in the face of all the sin and wickedness there is. But my friends, there is more to come, because Jesus does it all, fulfills it all, works on making everything righteous. And we marvel as we see this play out in the Gospel, and we shall delight in it always when we see it face to face. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Epiphany 3 sermon

 

In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World +

    Let's get the context of where we are as our Gospel lesson starts. Our text begins with, “When Jesus came down the mountain...” What mountain? Well, this is referring to the mountain upon which Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew Chapters 5 through 7. It's the great section of teaching, of explaining both commandments and mercy. And we get several weeks during the Church Year where our Gospel lesson is from the Sermon on the Mount: Ash Wednesday about fasting is from there, and then there's “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven – do not be angry with your brother.” And then there's “Beware of False prophets” and then “Consider the lilies of the field,” and then the Beatitudes on All Saints' Day. That's 5 lessons every year on the Sermon on the Mount. And there's other passages that are familiar with – you are the salt of the earth, let your light shine before men, love your enemies, the Lord's Prayer, Judge not, lest ye be judged. Do unto others. Build your house on the Rock. Do you get what a section of powerhouse teaching Jesus has just finished?

    And Jesus comes down the mountain, and what happens? “And behold, a leper came up and knelt before Him, saying, 'Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.'” So there's really two things to note here. The first is that this whole situation would be very... uncomfortable according to the Old Testament Law. If you were a leper, you were not supposed to be in crowds. You certainly weren't supposed to come up to people and get in their way – this is not according to the health laws laid down by Moses. Lepers are to be off and away from everyone. And let's face it – if you listen to the sermon on the mount, you know that Jesus isn't one to water down the Law. No, Jesus pumps up the law. Don't kill – I say don't hate. Don't commit adultery – I say don't even lust. So on the one hand it might be expected that Jesus would simply come down hard on this rule-breaker, this endangerer of the people who dares to break his isolation and quarantine.

    But on the other hand, listen again to what this leprous man says. “Lord, if YOU will, You can make me clean.” This is a statement full of faith. It's not even couched in terms of what the leper wants, it's a simple statement of fact – You, Jesus, You are Lord God Almighty, and if Your will is that I be clean, You have the power to make that happen. If Your will isn't that, well, Your will will be done. If I remain unclean because You will it, so be it. If You chose to lambaste me and turn me into a warning for everyone else, so be it. If You chose to walk on by, so be it. Your will will be done.

    Now remember, Jesus comes to fulfill all righteousness. He comes to make things right. Yes, the Law does deal with moral standards, and our moral standards for ourselves are to be high and strict. However, not everything in the law of Moses was about morality. Some of it was practicality. Lepers were not banished because they were evil, but to prevent the spread of a disease. So, how can Jesus do things in the most right way – what makes things be the best? Well, He shows us. And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched Him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof for them.” Jesus deals with levels of righteousness here. First things first – Jesus cleanses the leper. The right thing, the best thing would be for you to be healthy. There you go. But there's also some other things to fix up, loose ends to tie up. Now, you're going to be quiet, because let's not cause a panic or a riot or mass confusion in this crowd – that wouldn't be right. And you're going to go and get yourself incorporated back into society properly – go see the priests, they officially declared people fit for society if their leprosy cleared up. Dot the “I”s, cross the “T”s – let's get everything in order.

    Of course, the neat, wondrous thing is how Matthew describes the healing – because this isn't just a healing, this is foreshadowing, this is a pattern that Jesus is going to follow. Jesus “stretched out His hand and touched him.” Now, one of the rules of the old testament was that you don't touch lepers, it makes you unclean. Well, Jesus came to take up our uncleanliness, to take up our sin, so Jesus touches the guy. And what is Jesus going to do with all our sin, all our uncleanliness – He's going to go to the Cross – He's going to stretch out His hands on the Cross - that was a euphemism for being crucified in that day. He goes there to pay for our sin so that we would be cleansed from them. Because that is how Jesus fulfills all righteousness – by cleansing us and taking up the punishment for our sin in Himself.

    And when I say “our” I mean “our” in the broadest possible terms. Jesus comes not just to take up the sins of the so called good people, or just the people from the right family, or what have you. Why yes, Pastor, Jesus takes up the sins of the whole world, we know that. Well, there's practical implications to that. And we see that as the lesson continues. When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, appealing to Him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering in great agony.” Now, pause a second. What are you seeing? The Romans were the vile occupiers of Israel, and there is a Centurion, a big boss man, probably the top Roman in the area. This Jesus is even for him? For this man who owns Jewish “servants” - no, it's who owns a Jewish child slave. Are you even for this person, Jesus?

    Yep. Jesus says, “I will come and heal him.” Now, this would be scandalous. You don't enter the house of a gentile, and you certainly don't kowtow to the roman boss – there are just things you don't do. But Jesus wishes to heal, to make things right, and then the Centurion pipes up again. Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to one, “Go,” and he goes, and to another, “Come,” and he comes, and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it. Jesus, what You offer would cause offense, so allow me with great respect to point out two things. First, I'm not worthy to have You enter my house – it wouldn't be right. Let's not rile up people. Second, You don't need to actually come to heal my slave-boy, because You have authority. Authority works by the word – with my centurion authority, I speak and those under my authority listen and do. I know Your authority. Speak, and it will be done.

    And Jesus is tickled pink, He is absolutely chuffed – this Centurion hits the nail on the head concerning faith better than anyone else so far in Israel. And yes, Jesus has come for even the Gentiles – many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven – this Centurion will be worthy of being in My Father's House for all eternity. And then the healing comes – you want your marching orders Centurion, then Jesus will give them - “Go, let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. Go, march on – but go knowing that when I call, when I call you forth from your grave, you will rise, Centurion, and when I call you to the eternal feast, you will come with joy, Centurion, for you have faith, and you know that you are under My gracious authority – and everything is right again.

    So then, here we see what Jesus comes to do, here we get another picture of what Jesus fulfilling righteousness looks like, what it means. Jesus will cleanse, and Jesus will exercise His authority for your good. The whole point, the whole purpose of everything Jesus does is to go to the Cross to cleanse you and rise from the dead to re-establish His authority over you. Sin meant that Adam and Eve had to be driven from the garden, that we all would die – that's just the reality. By going to the Cross Jesus takes up that sin, pulls it off of us, and He Himself takes up the punishment even of death. By His death the barriers keeping us from relationship with God and eternal life with God are cast down. But, if we were still left on our own – we'd just mess up again and again. You all get the point, you all know ways in which you mess up over and over – and the people around you probably know a few more about you that you don't recognize in yourself. We don't need to go over that right now, but suffice it to say that if left to our own devices, we'd be lost. So Jesus rises from the dead to re-establish His authority over all of mankind – this is what Paul speaks of when he says that Jesus is the New Adam – the new head of humanity. We will not simply follow old Adam along the paths of sin – no, you will follow Christ. He will speak His word and you will hear, listen, and do it. And this happens by faith now, you receive this by faith now. He says, “I forgive you,” and you are forgiven. But we get the struggle, the constant push and pull of sin – but that will go away when you die, and when Christ Jesus says to you, “Rise” and you rise at the last day, and the you will be like Christ, fully under His authority, only listening to Him, no longer seeing to the temptations of Satan, no longer bothered by sin dwelling in your flesh. The good order, the right order, where we simply listen to Jesus and receive Good from Him with nothing getting in the way – that's what Jesus establishes for you with His death and resurrection, and what He will bring about in you through your death and resurrection.

    So until then, by the working of the Spirit we listen to Jesus' Word, and He cleanses us and instructs us – even until we are raised from the dead and never need cleansing again, and never need to be taught or trained again to delight in His Word. He has come to win you salvation, and He shall come again to see that you have His salvation, that you enjoy it for all eternity at table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and this Leper and this Centurion and all the company of heaven at the feast without end. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World!