Nomos and Phusis

I picked up a lovely little book entitled "The Ancient Guide to Modern Life" by Natalie Haynes.  Haynes is a British author who writes the book as a defense of the study of the Classics to a modern reader.  It's rather engaging, although somewhat simplistic - a nice little reminder of many of the joys and wonders I came across in even lower division Classics classes in college.

And she reminded me of something that I hadn't really remembered, or put words to.  She writes as follows: "An intellectual debate that raged in fifth-century Athens was the nomos-phusis question.  Nomos means a man-made law, or custom.  Phusis is natural law, the basic order of things.  So, a stop sign on a deserted coast road is an example of nomos.  You'll stop, but only because society's conventions say you should.  But if, two feet behind that sign, the road disappears over the end of a cliff, that would be an example of phusis. You'll stop, because otherwise you'll plunge to an early death.  So which should take priority, nomos or phusis?  Nomos tells us that we shouldn't kill, phusis says to go right ahead.  Just as a lion can bring down a wildebeest, why shouldn't we enslave, torture, or kill those weaker than ourselves?"

I love the example of the cliff - and what we have here is the old, classical (attic) distinction between Nomos (which we get in the Scriptures as "Law" normally... ah, normally... nomos... normal...) and Phusis... the rules, the laws of nature, the law of the jungle.

When modern Christians speak of "Natural Law"... I don't think they mean to be speaking of phusis... of the rules of the Physical world, per se.  "Kill or be killed" makes perfect sense in a fallen world.  Rather - by "natural law" they are referring to the "law written upon our hearts" - a "nomos" given by God to man, that all men intrinsically know.  A nomos that is self-evident, even when not written down.  A nomos that can only be avoided when conscience is quashed.

So, what does all this mean.

First, I think it explains (to me, at least) some of my gut reaction against a lot of "natural law" talk.  Phusis is physics, is cold and callous and amoral.  It cares not for right or wrong, but simply what the effect is - the ultimate "ends justify the means" or "might makes right".  I don't wonder if this old debate hasn't been rummaging around in my head.

Second, it codifies why I don't really... care for modern theological Natural Law talk.  Why?

It's nomos.  Why should I spend time trying to wonder about implied nomos, or the nomos upon my heart when God Himself has SPOKEN His nomos to me?  And also, which then it greater... the Nomos, or the Word of God Himself, Christ Jesus, who has died and risen for me?

Because I can't shake the feeling, no matter how pious and dutiful it sounds, that behind a lot of natural Law talk isn't God's nomos written on our hearts (we hold these truths to be self-evident...), but rather a cover for a pious recasting of Phusis into something theological.  Physics (or we would say biology) shows that homosexuality isn't productive.... of course, the law of the jungle says the top lion can have his run of the pride if he so chooses.  It's not a defense of the moral, even when it lines up.

Our Greek friends have a bit of liturgy when it comes to the reading of God's Word.  "Wisdom.  Let us attend."

When God speaks, whether it be through the prophets of old or now in these final days through His Son, our greatest attention ought be paid there.

Sermon for Christmas 1

Christmas 1 – December 29^th, 2013 – Luke 2:22-40

In the Name of Christ Jesus, the Newborn King +
          Finally, the time for purification had come.  For 40 days, since Jesus was born, Mary had to stay at home.  That was the Law.  For the first 40 days after childbirth, women didn’t go out in public – probably a good and safe practice for health, but think of it this way.  Mary’s been cooped up.  And now you finally get to get out, you bring Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to make the appropriate offering for Him, which is appropriate as Jesus has come to fulfill the Law.  And then, old Simeon comes up, and he grabs little Jesus out of your arms and starts sinning – sinning a song that we ourselves sing after Communion to this very day.  Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.  Lord, I can die a happy man!  Of course, think about what the past year has been like for Mary – Gabriel showing up both to you and to you husband – you had an angel tell your husband, “Yes, marry her.”  How’s that for a confidence builder?  And then there’s the birth, and even the Shepherds showing up and praising God.  It’s been a non-stop whirlwind of praise and joy and laughter.

          But then this old codger Simeon hands you back your son, and then he blesses you, but then he says something quite strange.  “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed…”  Think about the shock of hearing that.  It’s been joy to the world, happy holidays, have a holly jolly Christma… what?  Talk about throwing cold water on the parade.  This Child is going to cause chaos because of who He is, Mary – and people are going to hate Him. The wicked of the world will rally and fight against Him.  And it’s true.  Think about Jesus’ crucifixion – you have Herod and Pilate and the Priests all conspiring together – that was something unheard of.  The priests hated anyone who was gentile, and Herod and Pilate hated each other until the events of Good Friday – they only became friends afterwards.  Christ Jesus ends up being one of if not the most hated people in all of history.  Do you doubt me?  His very name is a curse, a vulgarity.  Even 2000 years later people get killed for following Him – ask the Christians in Syria what it means to follow Christ.  He is a sign that is opposed.  Wow.

Again, we’re not used to thinking this way, especially not at Christmastime – and I’m guessing poor Mary wasn’t either.  Which is why Simeon especially notes that this will impact her – “And a sword will pierce through your own soul also….”  Yes, Mary – this hatred that your Son will bear, it will hit home for you as well.  It’s going to stab you.  How’s that for a change of pace – it’s been joy, joy, joy, oh how great it is that you are the Mother of Christ… then wham.  A sword is going to pierce your soul too, Mary.  The time is going to come when He won’t be the eager Messiah that you want Him to be.  The time is going to come when you will just be embarrassed by Him, when you and His siblings will beg Him to come in from preaching and teaching because He’s embarrassing you – and He will shrug you off.  My Mother and My brothers are calling for Me – Who are My Mother and my brothers?  These here who hear my teaching are My mother and My brothers.  Gut punch.  But even that will be topped, Mary.  One Friday it will come to a head as this little child, your Son, hangs on a cross.  Woman, behold your Son.  A sword will pierce through your own soul also.

Why all the pain, why all the angst?  “So that thoughts from many hearts will be revealed.”  Christ Jesus comes, and He comes Holy and righteous and perfect and good.  And we, we are not.  We are sinful, fallen men.  When people saw Christ, this was something else that they remembered too.  And the question was how do you respond to this – when you see God Himself in flesh showing love perfectly, how do you react?  And we know what our sinful flesh wants to do.  The sinful flesh wants to tear down and destroy anything good that anyone else has.  The sinful flesh feels greed and jealousy and hatred and anger.  You know that feeling in your gut that when you see someone else who has something better than you?  Guys, that feeling when the other guy gets the job or has the car and you want to beat him, or gals when you see the other gal who has the looks, the whatever, and you want to get all catty.  Nothing gets ratings on the news shows like a good celebrity scandal – we love the rich and famous being taken down a peg. Now imagine what your sinful flesh would do when it sees not merely something better than you, but One who is perfect.  Anyone who looked at Christ while thinking well and highly of himself, as the old sinful flesh is wont to do, would hate Him, and that hate would boil up to the surface – it’s why He even gets killed.  And we see this pattern throughout the Bible.  Joseph’s brothers throw him in pit and sell him into slavery.  King Saul repeatedly tries to kill David, who is his most loyal and faithful servant.  The Pharisees, who prized their own holiness, stone Stephen to death.  It’s that same old sinful song and dance with Christ, but even more so – because He isn’t merely better, Christ Jesus is perfect.

          So why any singing, then, Simeon?  So why is there any rejoicing?  Here is the nuance, and it comes out from Anna, a very old widow lady.  Had her husband 7 years, so probably until she was around 20 – and then widowed for over 6 decades.  There’s a woman who knows suffering, knows that this world isn’t all its cracked up to be.  And she lived in the temple, fasting and praying, and when Christ comes, she gives thanks to God.  And note what she does.  Anna speaks “of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Israel.”  And there’s the key.  There’s the difference.  For the folks who were waiting for redemption, for those who knew their own lack, who didn’t think that they were the best of the best, who knew that they were poor lowly sinners in a sinful world, then this Christ Jesus brings joy and gladness, because He brings redemption.  God had given Anna the gift of faith, and so she saw her need for a Savior, and then she saw Him, and it was good.

By faith, you have been made to see your own lack.  Do you see your sin, do you know it, do you understand that you are a poor, miserable sinner?  Then the coming of this Child will be a cause for you to sing, for He comes bringing your salvation.  He comes to be righteous for you, He comes to bear your own sin, your own weakness, your own frailty.  He comes to die, He comes to rise, all so that you might inherit Eternal Life, that you might spend eternity not in this fallen place, but in a New Heavens and a New Earth, that you might have Eden restored.  Life in this world is cold and harsh – but by faith we don’t deny this, we don’t pretend it isn’t this way.  Instead, we confess our sin, great as it is, and we look to Christ Jesus who is greater than our sin and triumphs over it.  We do not love this world, but we look to Christ who has overcome this world – we look forward to the life of the world to come.

Listen again to Simeon’s song, the song we too will sing in just a few moments after we have held in our own hands the Body of Christ, given for us.  “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word.”  Lord, I can die, I can die in peace.  Death – where is thy sting, O Death?  Where is thy victory, O grave?  This Christ Child has risen from the tomb, and so even if I die – I will live.  Sod off, death!  Bite me, grave – you couldn’t keep Christ swallowed down, nor shall you keep me.  “For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all people.”  God’s salvation is here – and it’s not something hidden, it’s not a secret.  I don’t have to spend 25 years teaching you how to operate the hidden divine decoder right.  No, right here, God become Man, who for us men and our salvation.  Here He is, here is salvation.  And you have made me to see it, God – you have given me the gift of faith, and thus these sinful, dead eyes have seen with joy their Savior, the Lord of Life.  There is salvation, there is forgiveness, there is rescue – and there it is – in Christ Jesus, open, proclaimed to all people.  Yes, all people, for He is “A Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Thy people Israel.”  Even the Gentiles, even stubborn headed Germans, even spoiled Americans millennia later will see this Child and know Him to be their God and Savior; the Holy Spirit will call folks from all nations.  And yes, this is the Glory of Israel – not that we Jews were more holy, not that some how not eating pork makes one morally superior (ugh, how’s that for the false pride of the sinful flesh), but that rather look, there is God come as Man, born from the people whom He told He would come.  And thus there is salvation for all, thus there is forgiveness and redemption and love.  And by faith, dear friends, you see it.

By faith, God has called you here.  By faith, you have been made to confess your sins, called to struggle against them and to strive to beat them down even though you daily faith.  By faith you have been brought here to this Temple, where Christ Jesus comes to you today, bringing You forgiveness and life.  Yes, He comes to you this day – He comes proclaimed in His Word – Christ Jesus lives, and you are forgiven.  He comes in His Supper – taste and know your forgiveness, drink and know your salvation.  Yes, this world is scary, yes, being a Christian means seeing your own sin and that is a terrifying and rough thing, but behold Your Savior, Christ Jesus, who has redeemed you, purchased and won you from all your sins, and lives so that you might live with Him forever. Amen. In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +

Ambrose Riley Showed Up

Well, at 11:56 Christmas night, my wife wakes me up with the phrase "my water just broke."

At 2:09 pm on the feast of Stephen Ambrose Riley was born. 

He was baptized at 2:10 when laid on his mom's chest.  The first time I spoke his name to him outside of the womb.  And there will never be a more important time I say his name to him.

Christmas Day Sermon

In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King +

          Christmas morning is here, and from the manger shines forth Christ Jesus, whose birth we have been anticipating for weeks now.  And it’s here – the day has dawned, the presents have been opened, and now, we are gathered at Church, and we pause, and we behold this Christ – and now, let us ask the Lutheran question – what does this mean?  Peel back all the hoopla, the lights, the torn and tossed away wrapping paper and behold Christ Jesus, lying in a manger.  What does this mean?

          In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.  Behold the Word of God, now in flesh appearing.  The joy and wonder of Christmas day isn’t just the joy of a new life being brought into this world – it isn’t just the joy parents have when they first hold their child in their arms.  No, this is God.  This is the Word, the Son, the 2^nd person of the Trinity, God Himself.  When you behold Christ Jesus lying in the manger – you see your Creator.  You see the Word of God which called all of this, that spoke this entire world into being.  That Child is the Creator of all things – as we just confessed in the Nicene Creed “by whom all things were made.”  And of all the things this God could choose to do, of all the ways that an Almighty God might appear – there He is.  Not as some 10 foot tall powerful giant.  Not as the strongest of the strong.  A child, an infant.  God, unable to speak.  God, unable to feed or clothe Himself.  God coming not just as a Man, but as a Man at His weakest, at His lowliest.

          What do we see when we behold the manger?  We see God taking up Human flesh and becoming one of us.  But this becoming, it’s not just a matter of our God becoming some sort of idealized figure, strong and buff where everyone sees Him and their eyes get big and they say, “Boy howdy, that’s the sort of god that a fella could worship – why, he’s even tougher than Zeus or Mithras!”  No – when He comes as one of us, He comes as one of us.  Born, just like all of us were born.  Weak, where even opening His eyes is tiresome and difficult.  This is an experience you and God have in common now, because that is how He chose to come.  God comes down to your level, to be with you.  And why?

          In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  John drives right to the heart of the matter with these words.  Christ has life.  We didn’t.  Not since Adam, not since Eve.  Death was what we sinful men had – and our days on earth were just a brief flickering, a spark that flared up and then was snuffed out – grass that withers and fades away.  The life that was mankind’s we lost by sin, and we were thus stuck in death, in darkness.  And that’s where all of us men would have stayed, except for one thing.

          The Light of Light Eternal comes into the world of darkness, the world full of sin, He comes into our world of death in order to bring with Himself life.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  When you see that Child in the manger, you are seeing that you will live again.  When you see Christ Jesus held in His mother’s arms, you see and know that God the Father has not forgotten you, and that He will do whatever is necessary to hold you again as His own, do whatever is necessary to pull you out of the darkness which you have stumbled into, do whatever is necessary to have you restored to Him.

          And so, the Son comes down from heaven, Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven.  He comes bringing life with Him.  When you see Christ Jesus, you see one who is truly Man, who is like us in every way except one – He is without sin.  He has no darkness, He has no death in Him.  When He comes, He comes bringing life, His life to contend against our death.  He comes to be mankind’s champion against the tyranny of death – this is the combat He wages throughout His ministry, this is the combat He fights most fiercely upon the cross – this is the combat He wins resoundingly on Easter day when He strides forth from the tomb alive, for in Him is life.

          This Child that you see shall grow in wisdom and stature, and He shall go to the Cross, because until He goes there – Satan has a string tied to you.  Until this newborn King goes to the Cross, He is not yet your King.  He has not yet won you for His own.  But see, He comes, and even when He cannot yet walk, He is striding towards Golgotha, ready to fight for your life, ready to win you salvation.  This One lain in the manger in the One who will lay down His life so that He might share His life with you for all eternity.  God will save you – that is what this Child means.

          And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  But this Child who comes to save you, to give you life, He is not distant.  He is not standoffish, He will not brow beat you with how wonderful He is and how poor you are.  No, He comes lowly as you are, not so that He can save you and then dump you off on the side of the road, as though He’s just a nice fellow picking up a hitchhiker – no, He comes to dwell with you and to have you dwell with Him.

            When you see the Christ Child, know that your life is different, different from what it would have been.  Your life is now a life shared with God.  That is the present reality of your life even now.  When we speak of our life with God, it is true, we are speaking of life everlasting, life where we will be raised to Bodies like His incorruptible body, and bask in His presence and Glory – but we aren’t simply speaking of a being with God at some point down the road.  No – there is more than just that – it is a present reality.

          Christ is with us now, and what we need to remember is that this is more than just some sentimental feel good statement – it is a reality.  The Word who became flesh is present with us in His Word.  Christ has said that He is present in our midst whenever 2 or 3 are gathered in His Name for worship.  Christ is present in us, for He has claimed us as His own in Baptism.  But Christ is present for us in a way even more mind boggling than these.  There is a reason the day is called Christmas – Christ Mass – because it is in the Supper that we behold the very same thing which Mary and Joseph and the Shepherds beheld that first Christmas – God present for us, God in flesh appearing.  What is this Supper – it is the true Body and Blood of Christ Jesus our Lord, given for you.  What is the special focus of Christmas – that Christ Jesus took on Body and Blood to win you life and salvation.  This is what we receive, what we participate in whenever we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  This is the reality that we participate in.  The truth and wonder of Christmas is not a once a year occurrence – but it shines forth from this altar every time our Lord gathers us together around His Body and Blood.

          Christ Jesus, True God, has come as a True Man to be with us men, to win us life and salvation, and to be present with us, be it now in time or forever in eternity.  This is the wonder and joy of Christmas, this is the reason our voices are joined together this day, this is what this celebration means.  Our God has come to us to be with us – and thus our lives are changed.  We have life and salvation – because Jesus brings with Him life and salvation.  His victory is our victory, and so we remember Christmas – when Christ begins His march towards winning our Victory.  Thus we come and adore Him, thus we welcome Him, thus we sing and rejoice.  God is our Savior, and He is here with us.  Merry Christmas to all!  Amen.

The Last Quiet Christmas Morning

I was up before my son this morning.  I woke up just before five, quietly went around getting some prep work done for Christmas Dinner today (my parents are coming out after service in Woodward).  Things are brining well - it will be tasty.

And it's quiet.

Now, next year - well, Victor will be three by then, and he'll have a concept of Christmas Morning = presents (even though we aren't going to open until this afternoon when Grandma and Grandpa get here)... so I don't imagine I'll be having the quiet little morning then.

This could be my last quiet Christmas morning.

And even it I spent getting ready for dinner =o)

There is so much hoopla around Christmas, so many things that are going on.  So much this or that.  So many expectations - Sometimes they lead to a Sad and Lonely Christmas for many.  Rarely do we get a chance to sit and pause and wonder and think.  Over and over in Luke 2 we hear that Mary pondered these things.

Pause for just a moment.

God becomes Man.  The Creator of the Universe, the Word which called all things into being, became Man.  And why?  So He could spend eternity hanging out with you.



Okay - so quiet Christmases in the days of Google and You-tube aren't what they used to be. 

At any rate - wherever you may be this day, be it a day of busy joy, of sad reminiscing, of memories good or bad - Christ Jesus became Man to win you your salvation.  Have a blessed Christmas.

Why I'm Not Leaving Thrivent

Panic!  Panic in the halls of Lutherandom!

Why? 

Well, because apparently Planned Parenthood of the Dakotas and Minnesota was made a possible recipient of Thrivent Choice dollars.  And this upset many, many people.  I've seen people pulling their funds with indignation.

Why?

Or maybe I should say "Why now?"

Have we not realized that Thrivent is pan-Lutheran (meaning they've got those Liberal ELCA folks in their fold)?  Actually, it's not even pan-Lutheran anymore -- we opened up to everyone.  Remember?

So why is anyone, ANYONE, surprised that some of the Liberal northern Lutherans would want to send some of their money to Planned Parenthood?

And remember - this isn't Thrivent sending corporate money - this is choice dollars -- your share of the profits set to go where you wish.  So, nothing from you goes there.

If you are freaked out by this, you haven't been paying attention for the past decade -- and to borrow the words of Colin Cowherd, "That's a you problem."

So... I really so no reason to leave.  They aren't doing anything different with me -- and do you think any other insurance place is going to be moral? 

How do you think abortions get paid for anyway?  This is life in a fallen world.

Advent 4 Sermon

Advent 4 – December 22^nd, 2013 – Luke 1:39-56
In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Advent King +

          Sometimes I feel sorry for Mary.  I mean, here you have a young girl, maybe 13, 14.  She’s engaged, she’s looking forward to her marriage to Joseph, and then she gets a visit from the Angel Gabriel, and suddenly, everything in her life is different.  Complete and total upheaval.  Oh yes, you are going to bear a child, Mary, and this child will be God.  How do you respond to that?  How do you get ready for that?  And oh, yes, your fiancée is thinking about calling off the wedding, we hear that from Matthew.  You’re an unwed teenager in a day and age when people didn’t simply shrug off things like this, you live in a day when prostitutes are dragged out and stoned, and if you aren’t married and are pregnant, guess what conclusion people are going to draw about you.

          And so, as our text begins, we hear: “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.”  Not a bad idea.  Get away from home a bit, visit some relatives.  Old Elizabeth, who is suddenly pregnant under strange circumstances herself, she’ll understand.  And what does Elizabeth say to Mary?  “And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”  Nothing is ever the same again for Mary, her life is so radically changed.  Even old Elizabeth, calm and solid, is treating her differently.  So how does Mary respond?  What does she do?  How does a little 13 year old girl react to this?  She speaks the words we next hear in our text.  These words are known as the Magnificat, words the Church has set to song since its earliest days, one of the oldest hymns of the New Testament.  They are amazing words, and they are most appropriate for us to ponder this last Sunday in Advent – as Mary marvels at what God becoming Man means, it is good for us to marvel along with her.  So let’s spend some time looking at Mary’s words, at Mary’s reaction, and see what we can learn. 

         

And Mary starts her song off with a bang.  “My soul magnifies the LORD, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.  He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.  Think of how that is profound.  In the midst of massive upheaval, what is Mary’s reaction?  “Wow, God is really looking out for me.”  It’s amazing.  What does Mary do?  She simply trusts in God.  This is what you see from Mary in the first chapter of Luke.  When Gabriel announces that she is pregnant, she says, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to your Word.” Complete and utter trust in God.  And I don’t know, maybe the fact that she is a pregnant virgin, pregnant when she hasn’t done anything to get herself pregnant, gives her perspective on things.  She sees clearly that God is in charge of her life, and she trusts God.

          This should be an example for us.  I don’t have to tell you all that there are things in our lives that cause us great fear.  Things happen, and we are afraid, we panic.  What ought we do in these moments of terror?  We ought to look to God.  Let me ask you a question.  Is God any less God when we are scared, when we have fear, when we have doubts?  Of course not.  In Psalm 55 David says, “Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.”  David’s not pulling any punches there with that description.  But he ends the Psalm saying But I will trust in You.  The proper and Christian reaction to fear is precisely to trust in God.  This is one of the reasons why we come here week in and week out.  Church is sort of like a practice fire drill.  We come here, we learn about God, we receive His blessings, so that when things do go bad, we remember where to turn.  Don’t be afraid to trust in the Lord, because you know He loves, you are His Baptized child, and will see you through whatever struggle presents itself to you.

          So Mary responds trusting in God, that’s good.  How else does Mary respond?  Does she become prideful?  Does Mary say, “Yeah Elizabeth, you oughtta be happy that I show up here, cause I’m Mary, I’m the mother of God.”  I mean, that is a reaction she could have.  I don’t know, I start getting Angels visiting me and telling me that I’m most favored of God, I don’t know, that’s something that could put a bit of a spring in your step, keep your back a bit straighter, puff out your chest.  Does Mary react like that in the least?  Does she get a case of star-craze, celebrity-itis, whatever you want to call it?  Not in the slightest.  “For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me.”  It’s not that Mary doesn’t realize that some amazing things are happening to her, it’s not that she’s clueless.  She knows what is going on.  But she doesn’t take any credit for it.  She doesn’t say, “I’m so wonderful God couldn’t help but pick me.”  No, look at what God has done for me.  Mary doesn’t react with pride. She reacts with great humility.

          Again, let this be an example for us.  So often we can get caught up in ourselves, our accomplishments, our talents, that we can forget where all of these come from.  The explanation to the creed in the catechism hits the nail on the head.  I believe that God has made me and all creatures, that he has given me my body and soul, eyes, ear, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.  Our own sinful flesh likes to forget this – and isn’t this true especially at Christmas time?  Are the gifts there under the tree waiting for us because of God’s great generosity to us, or are they there because Santa checked his list twice and saw that I was on the nice list – what a good boy am I?  We are so used to talking about reward, and what I’ve earned, and what I deserved that we can overlook the wonders of what God gives us, completely undeservedly, without any merit or worth in us. 

          So how can Mary take such a trusting and humble course, such a wonderful approach to her life?  What is the key?  She lives her life looking towards the promises of God.  The whole Magnificat is chalk full of her recalling the promises God has made to her.  Hear her words again.  “And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.  He has show strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate, He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away.  He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers , to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”  Over and over Mary recounts what God has already done, that He has been faithful and true in the past.  Over and over and over, God has delivered His people in mercy – that is what God does.  God keeps His word.  I can be confident and trust in Him.

          And what is the chief promise God made to Abraham?  Genesis 12.  In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.  How are all the families of the earth blessed through Abraham?  Because he is the great-great-great-many greats grandfather of a young girl named Mary, and more importantly, her Son Jesus.   Christ Jesus is the Offspring that the world has been waiting for, ever since Abraham, ever since Adam and Eve fell in the garden. Think of the wonders of this, the event which the whole world had been waiting for, that which God’s faithful had been seeking ever since the fall, is about to happen.  The Messiah is to be born.  Mary’s eyes are focused on the promise of Salvation, focused on the Tiny Child in her womb.  The promises of God are made real to her, shown to her to be true in that Child.

          Just as they are for us.  No, we aren’t walking around pregnant with Jesus, but we too see that the promise God made even back to Adam in the Garden right after the fall, the promise of a Savior who would crush Satan under His feet, has come true in Jesus of Nazareth.  This is what we are looking towards this day, this is why we celebrate the birth of Christ, for in His life and death, Christ Jesus fulfilled all the promises of the Old Testament.  What does Christ say in the last chapter of Luke after the resurrection?  These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.  God’s promised Salvation has been won already for us.  Christ has been raised triumphantly, the tomb is empty, death cannot contain Him!  His Victory over Satan has become our Victory, because He gives Himself completely to us.  He has joined Himself to us in the waters of Holy Baptism, taken us and made us to be His own, to participate in His own death and resurrection already, so that all things He does are indeed for us [for Hudson].  This is the truth that shapes our lives as God’s own baptized people.

We live our lives as people who constantly receive gifts from God, as people whom God constantly forgives, and people who are drawn to remember the promises which God has fulfilled in our lives.  This is nothing new, this is what all the Saints have always had happen in their lives.  So too, just like Mary we live our lives looking towards Christ Jesus and His Salvation, and seeing Him, we are filled with forgiveness and trust and humility and love.  This is why we look forward to His coming, this is why we are right to pray come quickly, Lord Jesus.  In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Advent King + Amen

A Simple Game

Baseball is a simple game.  You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball.

Likewise, preaching is a simple game.  You read the text, you preach the Law, you preach the Gospel.

Of course, baseball is a bit interesting.  Alright, throw a ball from 60 feet, 6 inches with topspin to make it break 8 inches down and 6 inches left and hit a target 2 inches square.  Ugh.

Or hit a round ball (traveling 90 mph no less) with a round bat into a 90 degree arc in front of you.  Oh, and hitting it over 400 feet would be best.

And catching - well, yeah, it's probably the simplest of these to do, but it's still easy to get a bit uncoordinated with it, and we do have to give you a special piece of equipment to help out with that.

If one wants to be a professional baseball player, one must constantly hone his craft.

Likewise, a preacher deals with three simple things - text, Law, and Gospel.  But if you want to be good at preaching, you need to pay attention to these things.

We have texts - so what actually is going on in the text?  What gets lost or obscured in the English translation?  What's the context of what happened before hand?  What comes next?  How does this text fit into the greater narrative of the book?  And then of course, how does it mesh with the other readings, the introit and collect?  There's a lot going on there.

We have the Law.  So, how is sin exposed in the text?  How is it addressed?  Its it warned against?  Is it shown for the trap that it is?  Is the futility of our own righteousness show?  Are we directed towards showing love?  What flavor does the Law take -- and then how is that Law translated to folks today?  (And yes, it is often a translation - I rarely have folks standing up in the middle of service and thanking God that they are not like the folks in the back row.)  How is it to be applied to these specific people?  How is it to be made broad enough to where people will not think "Chuck needs to hear this"?  How can it be said specifically enough to where everyone says, "I needed to hear this"?

And then we have the Gospel.  Where is Christ Jesus and is He doing things for you?  That's the Gospel.  Now, it needs to mesh with the Law, counter it, overcome and defeat and fulfill it.  One prof at the Sem said it needed to be like two fists, a Law fist and a Gospel fist coming together with the Gospel fist winning -- you have to line it up so they don't swing past each other (You are a sinned condemned to death but Jesus provides for your earthly needs - WHIFF!)

It's a simple task... but the art of learning to do it is rough - and nothing hurts it worse than complacency - than thinking, "eh, this is simple.  I don't need to pay attention."

Assume the batter's an easy out, and that's when you serve up a gopher ball.  Assume a simple fastball and that's when the backdoor curve freezes you.  Lollygag a fly ball and that's when it pops out of your mitt.

Like one of my old coaches used to say - keep your head in the game.  He also happened to be a Lutheran Pastor.

Job #1 is Preaching

(Yet again, another excellent oldie snippet from Gottesdienst - this time by Rev. Rick Stuckwisch, whom I have the utmost respect for! The original can be found here)

The first and foremost thing a pastor is called to do is preach Christ. Such preaching is faithful when it is a confession of the Word of Christ. This faithful preaching of Christ is catechetical, because it is the preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins in His Name. This faithful preaching of repentance is always sacramental, because it is a preaching to and from the dying and rising of Holy Baptism, to and from the Body and Blood of Christ at His Altar. This sacramental preaching is likewise liturgical, not so much because it is "about the Liturgy," but because it is a fundamental and constitutive part of the Liturgy. As the Holy Communion is the heart of the Liturgy, so is faithful preaching the lungs of the Liturgy. Everything else the pastor does, in the Liturgy or otherwise, is (or ought to be) a continuation or an echo of his faithful preaching of Christ. Hence, everything the pastor says and does, as well as the way he says and does it, ought to be a faithful confession of Christ and His Word. The pastor also lives liturgically, that is, by repentant faith in the forgiveness of his sins, to and from his Baptism, to and from the Lord's Altar.

The Things that Belong Unto Thy Peace

(Here is another good blog post, this time by Rev. Eckhardt.  The original can be found here )

While preparing and preaching the St. Luke 19 Gospel about Jesus' weeping over Jerusalem, I also happened, coincidentally, to have been reading through Jeremiah and Lamentations. When you get your fill of lachrymose prophecies in one week, it's kind of hard to escape the fact that divine sorrow (and anger) erupt not so much over those who have no religion as over those who do.

Jerusalem, the object of weeping in both Jeremiah's and Jesus' case, was for all intents and purposes the capital of religious life. "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord," was the refrain to which the prophet referred, and when our Lord dropped in on the holy place, he didn't find it empty. It was full of bustling commerce.

Religious life means nothing to God if it is not centered in the true religion, notwithstanding the fervor of those religious convictions. It was, after all, out of ostensibly religious convictions that the Jews insisted that Jesus be crucified.

And here we are a religious nation, and a people whom Gallup would tell us are among the more religious people on earth.

Well, so what? Jesus wept over the religion he saw, and soon his sadness turned to anger, when he lost his temper in the temple.

Isn't it all rather chilling?

It seems to me that sincerity and fervency mean little to him, if their object is not the things which belong unto our peace. Those are the things, we are reminded by the same evangelist, of which the angels sang in Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus.

Hence it behooves us not to be swayed by sincerity or fervency, but only by the truth of the Gospel.