Today is the commemoration of Jerome, Translator of Holy Scripture.
Today's readings are Psalm 119:161-168, Deuteronomy 1:37-2:15, and Matthew 6:1-15.
I've been thinking a bit about the Lord's Prayer lately. I was spurred on to it by an elderly lady some years ago who asked me why the congregation where I was an elder never prayed the Lord's Prayer. She had grown up with this on her tongue and in her heart and mind. At her age, as she sensed some of her mental faculties leaving her, it seemed she was ready to return to some of the liturgy of her youth. Yet in many circles people shy away from this prayer, citing Matthew 6:7 and suggesting that saying a prepared prayer is a matter of heaping up words to no effect.
As I've studied Luther's Small Catechism I observe that he said quite the opposite. The Lord has given us all we need to pray for. There's nothing in life that doesn't fit into the Lord's Prayer somewhere if we pay attention. We give glory to God. We ask that he will have his way with us and our world. We rejoice that he is providing all we have and all we need, particularly forgiveness. We confess that we don't forgive our debtors like we should and we ask the Lord to change our hearts so as to deal with us in the way we would like to be dealt with.
In the catechism we see this prayer in our morning prayers, before and after each meal, and in our evening prayers. If we eat regularly and pray as Luther suggests we are bringing all this before our Lord and Savior some eight times a day. This is not vain repetition. It's prayer that we desperately need.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sermon for 9/29/11 - Feast of St. Michael and All Angels
Sermon “Just a Servant”
Lord, let me speak your thoughts after you, bringing the enormity of the Gospel to light. Amen.
Have you ever thought about what it is to be “just a servant”? The centurion in our gospel reading today has a servant who is ill and needs Jesus’ healing. But he also understands what it is to be a servant, as he is also under the authority of his general. This centurion boldly confesses that Jesus is able to do whatever works of healing he desires. All Jesus needs to do is proclaim the servant healed and the centurion knows he will be healed. Jesus then heals the centurion’s servant. No fuss, no muss, no hassles of any sort, he just heals him.
Today, the feast of St. Michael and All Angels, is a day we recognize the power of God’s servants. When our Lord commands his angels to care for something, can we assume it will be cared for? Consider the mighty power of the angels as revaled in Scripture. One angel is able to kill all the firstborn in Egypt. Yet how much more wonderful when our Lord puts his angels to work to watch over his people? How much more wonderful when God’s servants see to it that we are protected, that we are healed of our illnesses, that we are kept in safety?
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has commanded that his people be kept from all harm. He has proclaimed that his people will prevail over the forces of hell by faithfulness to his name. And as we read in Revelation we do cast down the armies of Satan by our trust in Jesus. This is the service he has commanded. It is the service to Christ that the angels look at and marvel. As mighty as they are, see that it is people who believe on Jesus bringing his kingdom, overcoming Satan himself. In fact, as servants of our living Lord, we accomplish that which no angel can accomplish. For we operate in the power of the crucified and risen Lord.
Do we look for God’s angels to help us? Then we look to a great and mighty power. Do we look to Jesus as the king of all the angels and the redeemer of his people? Then we become servants of the most high, exercising his power at his command. May the Lord so use us to good effect in this world.
Our Lord and Savior, you have appointed your angels to look over us. And you have promised never to leave us or forsake us. As the angels obey you in all things, let us also walk according to your command, bringing your kingdom and will to this world, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord, let me speak your thoughts after you, bringing the enormity of the Gospel to light. Amen.
Have you ever thought about what it is to be “just a servant”? The centurion in our gospel reading today has a servant who is ill and needs Jesus’ healing. But he also understands what it is to be a servant, as he is also under the authority of his general. This centurion boldly confesses that Jesus is able to do whatever works of healing he desires. All Jesus needs to do is proclaim the servant healed and the centurion knows he will be healed. Jesus then heals the centurion’s servant. No fuss, no muss, no hassles of any sort, he just heals him.
Today, the feast of St. Michael and All Angels, is a day we recognize the power of God’s servants. When our Lord commands his angels to care for something, can we assume it will be cared for? Consider the mighty power of the angels as revaled in Scripture. One angel is able to kill all the firstborn in Egypt. Yet how much more wonderful when our Lord puts his angels to work to watch over his people? How much more wonderful when God’s servants see to it that we are protected, that we are healed of our illnesses, that we are kept in safety?
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has commanded that his people be kept from all harm. He has proclaimed that his people will prevail over the forces of hell by faithfulness to his name. And as we read in Revelation we do cast down the armies of Satan by our trust in Jesus. This is the service he has commanded. It is the service to Christ that the angels look at and marvel. As mighty as they are, see that it is people who believe on Jesus bringing his kingdom, overcoming Satan himself. In fact, as servants of our living Lord, we accomplish that which no angel can accomplish. For we operate in the power of the crucified and risen Lord.
Do we look for God’s angels to help us? Then we look to a great and mighty power. Do we look to Jesus as the king of all the angels and the redeemer of his people? Then we become servants of the most high, exercising his power at his command. May the Lord so use us to good effect in this world.
Our Lord and Savior, you have appointed your angels to look over us. And you have promised never to leave us or forsake us. As the angels obey you in all things, let us also walk according to your command, bringing your kingdom and will to this world, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Psalm 19:7-14, Deuteronomy 1:19-36, Matthew 5:21-48 - Lectionary for 9/29/11 - Feast of St. Michael and All Angels
Today is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.
Today's readings are Psalm 19:7-14, Deuteronomy 1:19-36, and Matthew 5:21-48.
How do we treat our enemies? We see in Deuteronomy that God commands Israel to destroy the people they are displacing. Yet in Matthew 5:43-48 we are told to love our enemies. What caused the difference?
In the conquest of Canaan God's people were invading a hostile land. It was the land God had promised the children of Israel. They were to live there by faith in God, safe from their enemies. Here is our connection. In Jesus we live by faith. We are, in fact, safe from our enemies. Jesus has defeated our true enemies - sin, death and hell. They can no longer harm us. Therefore, our response to those who would persecute us is also changed. We seek their good. We pray God's blessing upon them. We pray that they would come to the same precious faith we have in Jesus. In this way we bless our enemies. Let them rage. Though they kill us, yet we live on, being partakers of Jesus, who himself is the resurrection and the life.
Today's readings are Psalm 19:7-14, Deuteronomy 1:19-36, and Matthew 5:21-48.
How do we treat our enemies? We see in Deuteronomy that God commands Israel to destroy the people they are displacing. Yet in Matthew 5:43-48 we are told to love our enemies. What caused the difference?
In the conquest of Canaan God's people were invading a hostile land. It was the land God had promised the children of Israel. They were to live there by faith in God, safe from their enemies. Here is our connection. In Jesus we live by faith. We are, in fact, safe from our enemies. Jesus has defeated our true enemies - sin, death and hell. They can no longer harm us. Therefore, our response to those who would persecute us is also changed. We seek their good. We pray God's blessing upon them. We pray that they would come to the same precious faith we have in Jesus. In this way we bless our enemies. Let them rage. Though they kill us, yet we live on, being partakers of Jesus, who himself is the resurrection and the life.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Psalm 145:17-21, Deuteronomy 1:1-18, Matthew 5:1-20 - Lectionary for 9/28/11
Today's readings are Psalm 145:17-21, Deuteronomy 1:1-18, and Matthew 5:1-20.
Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:17 is critical to understanding all of the New Testament. What did Jesus do? He came to fulfill the Law. He is not an example showing us how we can earn our salvation. Rather, he is the one who has completed all righteousness on our behalf. We see as we look to God's Law that we don't need a coach. We need a deliverer. As we daily fall short of God's perfect standard we need someone to do all God has commanded, then give that perfect obedience to us. Without a fulfiller of the Law we remain under the curse and all the weight of God's wrath falls on us. With Jesus to fulfill all of God's demands we find the weight of God's glory and blessing falling on us.
Thanks be to God! Jesus has fulfilled the Law.
Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:17 is critical to understanding all of the New Testament. What did Jesus do? He came to fulfill the Law. He is not an example showing us how we can earn our salvation. Rather, he is the one who has completed all righteousness on our behalf. We see as we look to God's Law that we don't need a coach. We need a deliverer. As we daily fall short of God's perfect standard we need someone to do all God has commanded, then give that perfect obedience to us. Without a fulfiller of the Law we remain under the curse and all the weight of God's wrath falls on us. With Jesus to fulfill all of God's demands we find the weight of God's glory and blessing falling on us.
Thanks be to God! Jesus has fulfilled the Law.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Psalm 91:9-16, Malachi 3:6-4:6, Matthew 4:12-25 - Lectionary for 9/27/11
Today's readings are Psalm 91:9-16, Malachi 3:6-4:6, and Matthew 4:12-25.
When we consider the end of our reading in Malachi we may be led to think that unity within families is the paramount goal of the Gospel. This is an easy conclusion to make, yet I think we are better off seeing family reconciliation as a by-product of reconciliation with God.
Do we desire our families to be in peace and unity? Sure. But that deep peace will not be well founded without each member being at peace with God, reconciled in Christ. This is the root of all human relationships, just as sin is what ultimately alienates people from one another. Let us look then to Christ's reconciling love, then trust that we may be his instruments, breathing grace and peace into our families. As we all look to him, we will likely find it much easier to be reconciled to one another.
When we consider the end of our reading in Malachi we may be led to think that unity within families is the paramount goal of the Gospel. This is an easy conclusion to make, yet I think we are better off seeing family reconciliation as a by-product of reconciliation with God.
Do we desire our families to be in peace and unity? Sure. But that deep peace will not be well founded without each member being at peace with God, reconciled in Christ. This is the root of all human relationships, just as sin is what ultimately alienates people from one another. Let us look then to Christ's reconciling love, then trust that we may be his instruments, breathing grace and peace into our families. As we all look to him, we will likely find it much easier to be reconciled to one another.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Psalm 16, Malachi 2:1-3:5, Matthew 4:1-11 - Lectionary for 9/26/11
Today's readings are Psalm 16, Malachi 2:1-3:5, and Matthew 4:1-11.
We see it all the time in others. I wonder if we see it in ourselves? The people in Malachi view themselves as righteous. They consider that they have done what is good in the sight of God. They deserve his rewards. After all, they have been blessed by God. Wasn't everything fine all along?
But God is not subject to our whims or our idea of righteousness. We don't get to determine his standard of what is acceptable. Our Lord demands perfect love and trust. He accepts no substitutes, none, that is, but faith in the perfect love, trust, and obedience of Jesus, God the Son.
Do we wish to stand before God in our righteousness? Or shall we depend on Jesus, who clothes us in his righteousness? Let us beware, for when God comes to judge the world, none can stand but by faith in Christ. All else will fail. Yet, clothed in Christ's righteousness we stand faultless before the throne of God.
We see it all the time in others. I wonder if we see it in ourselves? The people in Malachi view themselves as righteous. They consider that they have done what is good in the sight of God. They deserve his rewards. After all, they have been blessed by God. Wasn't everything fine all along?
But God is not subject to our whims or our idea of righteousness. We don't get to determine his standard of what is acceptable. Our Lord demands perfect love and trust. He accepts no substitutes, none, that is, but faith in the perfect love, trust, and obedience of Jesus, God the Son.
Do we wish to stand before God in our righteousness? Or shall we depend on Jesus, who clothes us in his righteousness? Let us beware, for when God comes to judge the world, none can stand but by faith in Christ. All else will fail. Yet, clothed in Christ's righteousness we stand faultless before the throne of God.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Psalm 51:5-13, Malachi 1:1-14, Matthew 3:1-17 - Lectionary for 9/25/11
Today's readings are Psalm 51:5-13, Malachi 1:1-14, and Matthew 3:1-17.
Adverbs are interesting little words, aren't they? I fear we use them in discussing the Christian faith more than is wise. But a discussion of today's readings invariably brings up "true" repentance or "real" and "deep" life change. Let's avoid the adverbs for a bit. What does repentance look like? It results in commitment to God rather than to ourselves. It leads us to desire God's priorities. It changes our behavior because it changes our motives.
Will repentance always result in the life change we desire? Not necessarily. Sometimes our sins come back to haunt us again and again, though we are sorrowful and repent of them. We mustn't discount the truth of someone's repentance. But we call ourselves and others to repentance over and over, as often as we are aware of sin. One day, by God's grace, we will be cleansed - thoroughly and permanently - two great adverbs to anticipate.
Adverbs are interesting little words, aren't they? I fear we use them in discussing the Christian faith more than is wise. But a discussion of today's readings invariably brings up "true" repentance or "real" and "deep" life change. Let's avoid the adverbs for a bit. What does repentance look like? It results in commitment to God rather than to ourselves. It leads us to desire God's priorities. It changes our behavior because it changes our motives.
Will repentance always result in the life change we desire? Not necessarily. Sometimes our sins come back to haunt us again and again, though we are sorrowful and repent of them. We mustn't discount the truth of someone's repentance. But we call ourselves and others to repentance over and over, as often as we are aware of sin. One day, by God's grace, we will be cleansed - thoroughly and permanently - two great adverbs to anticipate.
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