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?