Sermon for 3/4/2020: Sermon for Midweek of Lent I (UnChristian World Series)

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Christianity in an UnChristian World: Holiness

I Peter 1

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

           

            Who are you? Some people answer that question with their name. For example, I’m Alan Kornacki, Jr. That tells you I’m named after my father. It tells you that I’m of Polish or Slavic descent. Other people will answer with their occupation or their educational status. Again using myself as an example, I’m a pastor. I have a Master’s Degree, which I earned from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario. That tells some people a great deal about me, and they can guess other things. Still others might answer that they’re a work in progress; they don’t really know who they are. And for some, the answer changes. One such example lately is the trend of claiming a gender other than the one your DNA determines, and even having surgery in an attempt to change that reality. 

            In his first letter, St. Peter starts out by giving quite a different answer. He starts out by saying that your identity is of one who is born again, “begotten again to a living hope.” That identity is above all others: you are a baptized child of God. We hold Baptism in high regard, so Peter’s words may not sound surprising. But to those Peter was writing to—first century Christians under persecution, scattered throughout the known world, with an uncertain future—this was critical. A Christian does not define himself, and the world does not define what it means to be a Christian. This is our Lord’s job. And His definition and identity is a reality far greater than your name, your nationality, your work, or any other way you think of yourself. Who are you? You are baptized. You are a child of your Father who art in heaven.

            And that means a number of things. First, Peter says, it means that, even if you are homeless here on earth, you have a home: “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” Jesus told His disciples just before His crucifixion, “I will not leave you orphans.” Those who are born again as children of God are cared for by their Father, through Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. You are not on your own. God does not leave nor forsake His children.

            Part of that care, however, is trial or testing. Precious metals are put into the fire to burn off their impurities, to make them even more pure and valuable. You are more precious than anything in this world, the crown of God’s creation. You will be proved in the same way—not as punishment, but in love, to loose your hold on the things of this world, that you would cling to God alone. He does this so that, when He comes again, you will not be holding on to your false gods and idols. Instead you will rejoice in Him and, as Peter says, receive “the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” This is why God gives you this identity: so that you will not be defined as the world identifies you, nor will you be defined by the Old Adam that still clings to you. Instead, you will live a life of holiness. 

            When we think of holiness, we usually think of a sinless life or perfection. And certainly we should be like that. But as you know, you cannot—not on your own, at least. Peter knew that well. It was Peter who told Jesus not to go to the cross. It was Peter who denied his Lord after he claimed he would be the faithful disciple. Peter knew that, if you are sinless, it is only because your sins have been washed away in the flood of Christ’s blood and forgiveness. If you are perfect, it is only because His perfection has been given to you. To be holy means to be set apart. In Baptism you have been united to Him in His death and resurrection. You have been set apart from sin and death. You have been set apart from the world by being called into the church. You have been set apart from your former ignorance by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit.

            Even in times of persecution or trouble, this reality does not change. This is the reality that will carry you through all trials and temptations—even through death itself—to life forever with God. The things of this world are passing away. “All flesh is as grass,” Peter says, “but the word of the Lord endures forever.” His Word of grace, His Word of forgiveness, His Word which is living and working in you—this Word will never fail. If you know who you are in Christ, then nothing the world claims about you matters; nothing the world does to you matters. You, your future, and your eternal home are safe in Christ. As Luther writes, “And take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife, though these all be gone, our victory has been won; the kingdom our remaineth.”

            That doesn’t make it easy. Satan is going to hound you every step of the way. That’s why Peter is writing to his dear Christian flock that has been driven out and scattered. He wants them to know that there is a greater reality than what is seen and felt. Yes, you are Christians living in an unchristian world, but you live in Christ through Baptism, and Christ lives in you. No matter what this world brings upon you, you have confidence and hope. You are children of God, holy and precious to Him. Do not be afraid to live in that truth, that reality. “Be holy,” just as Christ is holy for you. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

           

            The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.

Sermon for 3/1/2020: First Sunday in Lent

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“…In All Your Ways…”

Matthew 4:1-11

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

When the serpent said to the woman, “Did God really say?” he invited her to doubt that God had her good at heart. This doubt is the heart of sin, and it is a very powerful thing, even though it seems so small. When God led Israel out of Egypt, they doubted the good will of God. They grumbled and complained for water and food. When Moses was up on the mountain with God, the people doubted God’s goodness; they built a golden calf and worshiped it. So He led them into the wilderness to test them. He led them for 40 years, until the generation who doubted had died.

In the same way, Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tested. He is all of Israel in one person. Where Israel failed in the wilderness, Jesus succeeded. There was no doubt in Jesus when He went into the Jordan River to be baptized. And there was no doubt in Him when He was led up into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. He did not go on His own accord. Even so, He was willing to be led according to the will of His Father. It was time to reveal what kind of Son Jesus would be.

The things Jesus was tempted with are no strangers to you, are they? The devil wants you to try to save yourself. He wants you to serve your own desires. He wants you to worship someone other than the one true God. All these things tempt you to doubt God’s good will for you. By the grace of God, most of you have never known real hunger. We can go only a few hours without food before we’re so anxious that we must have something to eat. This is why we join with Jesus in praying, “Give us this day our daily bread.” The truth is, “God gives daily bread without our prayer, even to all evil people, but we ask in this prayer that God cause us to recognize what our daily bread is and to receive it with thanksgiving.”

And yet, don’t you think God should bless you in the ways you think are best? The devil left out an important part in reciting Psalm 91. The Psalmist wrote, “He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” The devil conveniently left out the phrase, “to keep you in all your ways.” That phrase does not refer to the things you desire; they refer to the ways of God, the things He desires. Have you needlessly put yourself in danger only for the thrill of it? Have you gambled shamelessly? Have you done something that, if you got caught, would have caused you shame? These things distract you from the will and the ways of God.

And so we pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” You know what Luther says: “God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.”

What god do you worship? Do you allow yourself to be led astray? Are you seduced by fortune and glory? Satan twisted Scripture to serve his own purpose to deceive and to invite doubt in God. When you abuse the Word of God by neglect or malicious intent, you are guilty of despising God. You don’t “read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” Holy Scripture as you should; instead you worship your own thoughts and words.

I urge you to remember the words of Ash Wednesday: “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Yes, you are a sinner, but you have the hope of new life through the cross. When you were baptized, you had the righteousness of Christ placed upon you. That deceiver, Satan, wants to steal it from you, just as he tried to do to Jesus. He attacks you both at your weakest points of doubt and in the pride of your strengths. But Christ’s righteousness is stronger; He covers you with it in the blood-washed baptismal robe He places upon you. He strengthens you for the fight with His own body and blood. Are you ready to quit? Does the fight seem hopeless to you? Come to the throne of grace. Return to your baptism. Receive mercy in the body and blood of Christ freely, given for you in your time of need. In these blessings, God will “keep you in all your ways.” In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.

Sermon for 2/26/2020: Ash Wednesday (UnChristian World Series)

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Christianity in an UnChristian World: Called

II Peter 1:2-11

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

           

            Throughout the season of Lent, we will be looking at the life of the Christian in an Un-Christian world. In our Wednesday midweek services we will examine this life through the lens of the First Letter of St. Peter. Tonight we will look at the life of the Christian through the lens of our Epistle reading, which we find in the first chapter of the Second Letter of St. Peter. If you look at that reading, you see a whole list of ideals that are desirable for the life of a Christian. And any time you see a list of ideals—whether it’s this list, the list in I Timothy describing the life of a pastor, or any other such list—the list is intimidating.

            And what a list it is that Peter gives us to consider: “diligence,” “faith,” “virtue,” “knowledge,” “self-control,” “perseverance,” “godliness,” “brotherly kindness,” “love.” This is what we are called to as Christians. And if you consider the other readings appointed for Ash Wednesday and the ideals they include, that list is overwhelming. It is enough to make a person cry out in despair.

            Peter chooses a significant word to describe all this. He says that God in Christ has “called” you. He has called you to be faithful to His Word, faithful to His commands, faithful to Him. This Christian life stands opposed to the world. The world does not desire diligence, except to watch that a Christian does not impose his virtues on others. The world certainly does not crave self-control. In fact, the world is especially fond of self-indulgence: sexual promiscuity and its most ample fruit, abortion; gluttony; and instant gratification of the need for things. And the world has perverted love to include living together outside of marriage, homosexual marriage, open marriages, multiple spouses, and other abominations in the Lord’s sight.

            Pay attention to your life. Keep striving for love and knowledge of the truth. Work to increase your self-control and patience. Everyone has room for improvement in these things. Work on them diligently. Watch your life, and notice when you fail. If you do not notice any failures, then surely you are not diligently paying attention to these virtues as you should. When you notice your failures, come quickly to Christ for forgiveness. His door is always open to give you His grace. Your diligent striving for virtue will inevitably lead you to realize that you are guilty of much sin. So come, return to your Baptism through confession and absolution. Come to eat and drink His body and blood, given into death for your sin.

            This is what the life of a baptized Christian is about. We know that Baptizing with water “signifies that the Old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts.” This Baptism also shows that “a new man should daily come forth and rise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” As St. Paul wrote in Romans chapter 6, “We were buried with Him by Baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” This is the great miracle of salvation: you have been rescued from the corruption of the world. The sinful desires in every sinful heart lead only to death and condemnation. Spiritual corruption leads to eternal damnation.

            Yet Christ has rescued you by covering you with Himself. In Baptism, you put on Christ. The image of the Son of God covers you forever. You share with Christ in everything that is in God: His righteousness, wisdom, eternal life, endless peace, blessedness, and everything good that can be named. You share His almighty power against your enemies: sin, death, Satan, and even your own flesh. It’s not that you can go around doing whatever miracle pops into your head. It is not that you are God. But you share in His nature, for Christ has made Himself one with you. God so closely dwells with you that you cannot be separated from Him.

            Luther said, “Whatever someone does to you, he must do to God, for whoever wants to crush a Christian must crush God.” And no one can crush God, as Good Friday and Easter clearly demonstrate. They killed the Son of God and put Him in a tomb, but He came forth more victorious than ever. And His life, His resurrection, and His victory, are also all yours. Sinners are called and equipped to be one with their glorious Savior! 

            As you strive to be a Christian in this unChristian world, the Holy Spirit will preserve you in repentance and faith. He will keep you steadfast so that you may rejoice in the incredible blessing you have received through His innocent sacrifice and precious Blood, so that you may cling ever tighter to His holy Word of grace, now and forevermore. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

           

            The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.

Sermon for 2/23/2020: Quinquagesima

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“We Are Going to Jerusalem…”

Luke 18:31-43

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

The journey to Jerusalem is not about Jesus. It’s about you. Jesus does not go to Jerusalem for His own sake, but for yours. He’s not out to prove anything. He’s not trying to win anyone’s affection or demonstrate what kind of God He is. He’s not going for His benefit. Our Lord Jesus is going up to Jerusalem for only one reason—to bear your sin and be your Savior. To be sure, He does all the doing in Jerusalem. There’s nothing there for you to do. But He’s not going there alone. You are going with Him. And so He says, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem.”

Jesus is not challenging you. He’s not out to prove anything, so He doesn’t demand or even suggest that you must prove something to Him. He’s not saying, “Come with Me, if you can.” He is not inviting you merely to witness what He’s going to do. Jesus does not need an audience to suffer your death and to overcome death and hell. He is not asking you to lend Him a hand. Our Lord Jesus Christ is quite capable of enduring hell and taking on your demons without you cheering Him on.

So when He says, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,” what does Jesus mean? He means this: “You’re coming with me.” That’s not a threat. It’s a statement of fact. It’s not you trying to get there, you trying to somehow get to Jerusalem or to the cross. Rather, the Lord brings you with Him, within His very body. You are there, but not because you somehow imagined yourself there or transported yourself back there. You are with Him because the Holy Spirit has put you in Christ’s very body.

Willingly and freely our Lord unites everything that you are into everything that He is. Jesus is sacrificed by His Father for you—for everything that you are: body, soul, and spirit. So you are in His flesh when He goes to Jerusalem. You are in His flesh when He is delivered to the Gentiles and mocked and insulted and spit upon and scourged and killed. You are united to Him. And if you are united in His death, you are also united in His resurrection. So you are also in His flesh when He rises from the dead on the third day.

Do not lose heart in the face of all you suffer and endure in this life. The devil, the world, and your own sinful flesh persecuted Him; they will also persecute you. You suffer many things for the Lord’s sake, just as He suffered the wrath of God and hell’s fury for you. But do not lose heart. He does not say, “You are going to Jerusalem.” He says, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem.” You are not alone. Your Jesus is with you, taking the brunt of the blows of the devil, the world, and your own flesh. The suffering of Christ is your blessing. His death is your life. If you died with Him, you shall also live with Him. If you endure, you shall also reign with Him.

All of that is in the little word “we.” Jesus packs all that into the sentence, “We are going up to Jerusalem.” It’s hard to see, impossible to imagine, and difficult to believe. Is it any wonder, then, that when Jesus speaks these words, they didn’t understand? Yet our Lord opens their eyes, just as He opened the eyes of the blind man. And by the Spirit, the Lord also opens your eyes to show you that He delivers His mercy in His flesh and blood, which He feeds into you for your strength and comfort.

In this Supper, you are with Him and in Him as He goes to Jerusalem. It is not by your own power. Instead, He prepares you for the journey in the waters of Holy Baptism. He nourishes you for the journey at His holy Table. Your bags are packed. You begin your walk to the cross with Christ on Ash Wednesday. He will carry you with Him on this journey of salvation. Go to the cross. Go to the tomb. You will never be the same again. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

           

            The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.

Sermon for 2/16/2020: Sexagesima

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The Sower Keeps Sowing

Luke 8:4-15

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

           

There is a dark side to the Gospel: not everyone believes. The Lord will not force Himself on anyone. Some reject His Word and gifts; they are damned. Some hear for a moment but give up when tempted. Some are choked out by worry and greed. There will be a sifting process, a judgment on the last day. God gave us ears so that we sinners would hear His Word and be changed.

Every Christian endures the attack of demons, the temptations of the flesh, and daily trials of the world. No one gets out unscathed. This parable is a warning. The attacks you suffer are dangerous; if you does not abide in the Word of God, you will lose your faith and suffer the fate prepared for Satan and his angels on the last day. Repent. None of us fears God’s punishments as we should. All of us have sinned thoughtlessly.

But there is also good news. The Sower keeps on sowing. He does not look for good and noble hearts. He simply looks for hearts: corrupted, weary, fearful hearts. He sows His Word without regard to how likely it is to take root and grow, for He knows the power is in the seed and not in the soil. He seems reckless, wasteful, to the eyes of men. He simply throws His seed without tilling the soil. He sends out His Word to those who need it, who cannot save themselves, the ones demons would claim for themselves.

The disciples are models of faith here. While they did not immediately understand the parable, they were hearing. They were seeking God. The parable hid God from unbelievers and even damned them; it drew the disciples to listen more closely, to ask Jesus what it meant. They were seeing and hearing what the prophets longed to see and hear. The mysteries of the Kingdom of God were given to them, and through them the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are given to you.

Faith on this side of glory always wants more. The disciples want answers from Jesus. The Christian widow might piously assert that she is at peace because her husband no longer suffers and is at rest; at the same time she longs to join him, eager for the culmination of her faith and the end of her sorrow. We confess that Jesus lives. We are confident that our sins are forgiven. We trust that Jesus is present for us in bread and wine. Even so, we are still being snatched at, tempted, and choked with worry.

The will of God is sometimes hidden from us. The same is true of His Word. We do not understand all that we are given, all that we are promised. Still, we trust by grace that His Word is true. We trust that His is will good and that it is best for us. We will be snatched at, tempted, and threatened by choking worries until we are brought home. The only antidote to that snatching and worry is more: more Word, more Jesus. So God provides a constant and ongoing application of the Word. We cannot stand against God’s enemies. We are weak; they are strong. But He gives us a promise: His Word does not return void; it will accomplish what He sent it to do.

The Word was sent by the Father to become flesh and dwell among us. His Word bore all the accusations against you, all the false names, all the slander. His Word was sent to go to the slaughter, to accept your guilty verdict, to be killed for crimes that you committed. God cannot die. Yet on the cross, God died, and that sacrifice set you free and gave you life. He rose, opening heaven to you. He speaks you righteous. He declares you innocent. Instead of thorns, up comes the cypress. The Lord bears a hundredfold harvest of faith in you. It is a miracle. For to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, including the mystery of Holy Supper, where He comes in that human body and blood to join you to Himself. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.     

           

            The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always.  Amen.

Sermon for 2/9/20: Septuagesima

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A Vineyard of Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

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

The workers who worked all day wanted more. It made sense to them. After all, they had worked longer than the rest—and much longer than those who started to work at the final hour. It was only right, only fair that they'd get more. It would be foolish of the landowner to give a worker who slaved all day the same as someone who had worked for just an hour. If you do more work, you should get more pay. But they didn’t have a legitimate argument. They had agreed to work for a day’s wage, and that’s exactly what the landowner paid them. These longest-serving workers would have called their union rep if they could. As it is, all they could do was object to the landowner, and the landowner gave them exactly what He promised.

But the Landowner doesn't run His vineyard by what anyone else deems fair. He pays the ones who work all day the same as the loiterers He grabs off the street and puts to work an hour before quitting time. It's His vineyard; isn't it lawful for Him to do what He wants with His Vineyard? From the eyes of the long-serving workers, the landowner was cruel. From the eyes of those hired at the last hour, perhaps the landowner seems generous. Yes, the landowner is that good. His vineyard, His Kingdom isn't about what work you do or how long you have done it. He is not about giving you what you deserve. No, it's much better than that! The kingdom of God is what God gives to you in Christ.

The Lord gives the wages. He gives the gifts. He gives the last worker the same as He gives the first worker. He gives you the same as He gives Jesus. That's how He runs His Kingdom, His vineyard. What a perfect way to start the preparatory season of Pre-Lent! When we put our eyes on what we think we deserve from God for all that we have done for Him, this parable calls us to repent. The Kingdom of God is not about what you do for Him. Turn away from that kind of thinking. If God gives you what is fair, if God gives you what you deserve, you won’t like what you get.

Because the truth is, you are not the long-serving worker in this story. You are the one who has been standing around, pretending you have been willing to work, when in reality you have been comfortable where you are. You have been comfortable in your sin. You have been comfortable in believing that you are worthy of God’s love, His attention, His forgiveness. What you do, what I do, is no more than what we owe to God. You have been standing around, waiting for Him to ask you to do something.

And at the eleventh hour, the Landowner, your heavenly Father, gives you daily wages and more! He gives you Jesus, the One who worked all day in the hot sun for you. He worked Himself to death in the vineyard, bearing the heavy load of your sin in the heat of the day, bearing it on the cross. It was not fair; it was not what He deserved. But He took the wages of sin which He did not earn; He suffered and died the death He did not deserve. He did this to give you the whole day’s worth of God’s mercy. He didn’t even complain about it; He went to His work willingly, so that you could live with Him in righteousness and purity forever. And for the sake of the suffering and death of His Son, our Father willingly calls you His “friend.”

That is the Kingdom of God. It is not about your work. It is not about what you earn or what you have deserved. The Kingdom of God is about a Landowner, your heavenly Father, who gives everyone the same wage: the eternal life earned by the hard work of His Son. Purely by grace He washes you clean of your sin. Purely by grace He speaks His word of forgiveness to you. Purely by grace He feeds you the innocent body and blood of Jesus. What a wonderful Vineyard; what a wonderful Savior! In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.

HYMN: O Lord, I Lift My Soul to You

In the process of writing texts for every Sunday of the Church Year in the 1-Year Lectionary, I've written some which I considered to be of lesser quality, and others I've found difficult to sing. My text for the First Sunday in Advent, Hosanna, Mighty Savior, Come, was more of the latter than the former. Before I (self-)publish my texts, I'm trying to fill in some of the holes, strengthen some texts, write new texts to replace others. This text combines bits from all the readings and Propers for Advent I and addresses both our Lord's entry into Jerusalem and His return in glory on the last Day. Feedback is love.

O Lord, I Lift My Soul to You

O Lord, I lift my soul to You.

I wait for Your salvation.

As Zion’s joyful children do,

I cry in acclamation:

Hosanna, David’s greater Son,

My righteous Lord, the blesséd One.

The peril of my sin is great.

The devil would enslave me.

I trust in You. I hope. I wait.

I beg You, come and save me.

My Jesus, come! Your people free

From guilt and Satan’s tyranny.

The night of death will soon be past,

Putting to death my lusting.

My joy shall wake with dawn at last,

Your Word most surely trusting.

This present dark shall pass away,

As You, my Light, bring endless day.

The day shall surely come, my Lord:

The day of Your returning.

I shall be made anew, restored,

Your Word no longer spurning.

Oh, come, my humble Savior King

With mercy You alone can bring.

© 2020, Alan Kornacki, Jr.

87 87 88

MACHS MIT MIR, GOTT (LSB 688)

Advent I; The Last Day

Sermon for 2/2/2020: Transfiguration of Our Lord (observed)

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Down the Mountain

Matthew 17:1-9

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

We have been watching Jesus. The One who humbled Himself to become a true Man in flesh has also revealed Himself as God. We’ve seen Jesus declared as God’s own Son at His Baptism, the Spirit descending upon Him. We’ve seen Jesus turn water into wine. We’ve seen Jesus healing the sick and suffering. And now we once again hear the Father’s voice from heaven, declaring Jesus to be His beloved Son. Jesus is transfigured, radiant in His holiness, right in front of Peter, James, and John. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as light.

In the previous chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus was talking about His cross. The Son of Man must go to Jerusalem, where God dwelt among His people in the Holy of Holies. He must suffer many things at the hands of the religious powers and the secular authorities. He must be killed, and then, after three days, He will be raised from the dead. Among all these wonders and miracles, this message was more than a bit of a downer. Peter didn’t want anything to do with that sort of Christ. Peter wanted to follow a glorious Messiah, a Savior who would restore Israel, a King who would overthrow both foreign and domestic overlords. That would be the right kind of Christ! This is the kind of religion Peter wanted. That is why He was so overwhelmed by the Transfiguration. If it were up to Peter, they would never come down from the mountain. “Lord, it is good for us to be here!” says St. Peter. Let us stay here and see your glory forever.

That is the sort of Jesus we want, too. The idea of a suffering Savior; the idea of a Church made up of suffering sinners; the idea of repentance; the idea of a cross to pay the price of redemption—all these things are downers. Let us not hear about suffering. Let us do away with all this repentance talk. Let us not speak of the cross or dying, Jesus. We want a happy Jesus, a powerful Jesus, a victorious Jesus. A powerful Jesus will bring about a powerful Church, we think: a Church where Jesus gives Christian congregations growing membership numbers and overflowing bank accounts. But that Jesus on the cross seems to fit all too well in this postmodern age, with a shrinking and closing congregations, with buildings that are falling apart, with membership rosters that are shrinking with the death of the saints and the departure of those who had once been faithful members.

But the suffering Christ is reality. The voice of the Father from above, the bright cloud appearing—it seems like Jesus is supposed to be glorious. But while Jesus is revealed once again as God in the flesh, the Father reminds the trio of disciples that Jesus was there for more than just the glory. “Hear Him,” the Father says. Listen to Him. When Jesus tells you that He has come to die, believe Him. You can’t stop Him, nor should you want to stop Him. He has come to die for you. He has come for your salvation.

Jesus would lead them down the mountain. He would lead them to Jerusalem, to the cross. The disciples were saved. You have been saved. We are saved, but not merely by the bright shining Jesus of the Transfiguration. Our salvation is won by the Jesus who comes down from the Mount and heads for Lent, for Holy Week, and for Good Friday. Moses was gone; the Law could not save them. Elijah was gone; the prophets could only look forward to Jesus. Only Jesus—humble, lowly, suffering, dying—could save them. This is exactly what He said must happen. Listen to Him.

God continues to be glorious, even though He hides that glory. Jesus invites you to come with Him, to receive Him in water, hidden in His Word at the font. He invites you to hear His Word, read to you, proclaimed to you in the pulpit, placed upon you in Holy Absolution. He invites you to receive His body and blood, hidden in His Word in bread and wine. As the Father directed, fix your eyes and ears on Jesus. Now that He has revealed Himself to you, He brings you down the mountain. He suffers with you. He suffers for you and for your salvation, just as He said He must. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always.  Amen.  

Sermon for 1/26/20: Third Sunday After the Epiphany

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Willing

Matthew 8:1-13

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

Did you notice the leper’s respect and humility? He does not demand that the Lord heal him. He does not presume to tell Jesus what to do. He expects nothing from Him. In fact, the leper sounds like he thinks Jesus shouldn’t heal him, as if he is unworthy of any help that Jesus might give or any word that Jesus might speak. He said, “Lord, if you are willing…”

The truth is, the leper does believe Jesus will help. If he didn’t believe, the man would never have come to Jesus or spoken to Him. The leper fully believes that Jesus shouldn’t heal him, that he has no right to ask for the Lord’s help, that he’s unworthy of even the smallest kindness. Jesus has every right to refuse him.

And the leper believes this because the leper knows himself. He knows what’s inside him, and what comes out of him: how little he truly prays, how easily he doubts, how often he’s lived by fear rather than by faith. The leper knows that his faith is weak, pathetic, barely alive. He knows he’s not worthy.

That’s exactly what the centurion says. This soldier who fears no man, who stares death in the face—this man trembles before Jesus, just like the leper. And for the exact same reasons, he says, “Lord, I am not worthy…” And how does our Lord respond? He doesn’t say, “I only help those who truly trust Me, and you don’t yet believe in Me as you should.” Instead, our Lord both hears their prayers and grants their requests. To the leper Jesus says, “I am willing.” And to the centurion He says, “Let it be done for you.”

These men certainly don’t teach us anything about boldness and confidence before the Lord. They certainly don’t teach us that we need a strong faith when we pray. Still, they teach us an important lesson. When we cry out for mercy and help; when we pray for comfort and strength; when we plead with the Lord to show us the right way or to sooth our grief; when we look for any good from God—we need to know ourselves. We need to swallow our pride. We need to crush the barriers that we’ve built so that people think we’re strong. In place of pride and self-delusion, we need to come before the Lord in true humility, realizing we deserve nothing from Him and, by all rights, He owes us nothing. We need to pray, knowing that He really shouldn’t hear us, much less do for us. We need to admit our weakness. And we need to be willing not only to say, but also to believe the words, “Lord, I am not worthy.”

By the Holy Spirit, we come to know ourselves. By the Holy Spirit, we come to know and believe that we are “sinful and unclean,” and that we sin against God “by thought, word, and deed.” And so, by the Holy Spirit, we have the courage and the faith to say, “Lord, I am not worthy,” and to pray, “Lord, have mercy.”

The Lord is always willing. The Lord goes to great lengths to help us in our need. Look at what He does for the leper. He touches him, unafraid of getting sick, unafraid of being declared unclean. Look at what He does for the centurion. The Lord immediately eases the man’s mind and calms his heart by saying that his servant is healed. The Lord is always ready, always available, always willing to have mercy.

At this altar, in this Holy Supper, the Lord lays out for you the medicine of His own holy Body and His own precious Blood. His mercy is available in the most intimate manner possible. He is willing to restore and renew and refresh your life in Him. Come. Confess your sin. Confess your unworthiness. And confess your Savior, knowing that your Lord says to you, “I am willing.” In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.

Sermon for 1/19/20: Second Sunday After the Epiphany

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Wine in Plenty

John 2:1-12

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

He had been baptized. He had already called some of His disciples. And yet, at the wedding in Cana, our Lord’s hour had not come. His patient mother Mary, having waited all those years, had asked for nothing. She only made a simple observation to her Son: “They have no wine.” And for this prayer, she is rebuked: “O woman! What have you to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

Mary’s life is a life of faith. She must trust that God is good, even when it seems that He is not. She has no right to complain, and so she doesn’t. She recognized that He was the only One who could help. She had faith. And this is the life of faith on this side of glory. The old Adam needs to hear the Law, to be knocked down so that the Gospel might elevate the new man. This rebuke from her divine Son is not damnation. He rebukes her so that she might repent. And it works. Her faith is stronger for this preaching of the Law.

He did not promise a thing. Even so, she believes. She remembers that all things will be possible for Him. She knows that, whatever happens, He is God. He has come to save her. That is what matters. So she says to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tells you.” This is a clear confession of faith. And so it is that He relents. He makes glad the hearts of men. He brings order from chaos, joy from sadness, hope from dejection, wine from water, believers from unbelievers. He is the Creator, present in His creation to recreate it, to restore it, to redeem it! And His disciples believed in Him.

And what of us? How often have we prayed sad, melancholy prayers? Have often have we complained against God? How often have we bemoaned the fact that we are not richer, thinner, healthier, or better employed? How often have we led ourselves into the gloom of covetous depression, the jealousy that leaves us dissatisfied with what we have? How often have we moaned out the lament against the God of joy, “They have no wine”?

Repent. Repent, for we know that God is good. We know that His hour has come: nails were driven into His hands and feet, and finally a spear pierced His side; the sun went dark, the earth shook, and the dead rose. His hour is the hour He submitted to the death of the old Adam within all of us, so that the restored Adam, the baptized children of God, would live. He overcame that dark hour. He rose from the dead, giving us life and joy.

He will answer your prayers. He will even answer those you fail to pray. He prays for you! He makes glad the hearts of men. He gives wine. He knows what you need. He knows your heart’s desire. He knows what is best. He will teach you in the cross to have joy in sadness, triumph in defeat, and life in death. In your own crosses, your own suffering, your own obstacles and trials, you will learn to come to His cross. There you will find perfect joy and peace beyond measure. You will know that He is your only Joy, your only Hope. There—in Him, in His cross—you will find contentment.

He is still present in creation. He is with us always. His hour is delivered to us in the bloody water of Holy Baptism, in His crucified flesh and blood in the Holy Supper, in His Word of Holy Absolution. In these gifts, the fruits of His hour on the cross are poured forth to cleanse the dirty hearts of men, removing the sadness and the pain, making them glad again! You are united to Him in a bond that no one can sever. All good things are given to you, even His blessed Name. All shame, all guilt is removed. He does not fail. We have wine. Thanks be to God! In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always.  Amen. 

Sermon for 1/12/20: The Baptism of Our Lord (observed)

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Baptized into Christ

Matthew 3:13-17

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

Baptism is one of the most despised and forgotten gifts that God gives to His children. Many Christians believe and confess that Baptism means nothing. It’s just an outward show. It doesn’t do anything. The only way you’re saved is if you put some effort into it. If you prove your piety, if you work at your salvation, then God will bless you. Even in some Lutheran churches, Baptism doesn’t really mean anything in your life. Often the font is hidden in a closet. The idea of remembering your baptism or trusting in God’s promises given there are smiled at and tolerated by a few, but they go on their merry way, believing that salvation is all about what they do. They live in fear of never being good enough for God.

How can we so forget God’s promises in Baptism and act as if they don’t matter to us anymore? The biggest part of the answer is that we simply don’t believe that we’re missing much. At our Lord’s Baptism, the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven and says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Because of His baptism, the Father says the same to you in your baptism. But those words will mean nothing to you if you do not believe that heaven is closed to you without them. If you believe that you are basically a good person; if you believe you are good enough for God; if you believe that God is satisfied with your attempts to follow His Law perfectly; if you truly believe that you are good enough to gain heaven on your own, then you don’t need baptism. It is just water, nothing more.

The devil and the world want you to believe that message. Your enemies want you to believe that the most important thing is that you forgive yourself, find peace with yourself, be your best you. And when you can be happy with yourself and forgive yourself, then things are good in the world. Do not believe the lie. You can’t forgive yourself. By definition, forgiveness must come from outside of you. You may lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to God. He sees all and knows all. There is no hiding from Him. And He demands perfection, which you cannot possibly accomplish. Repent of your so-called self-forgiveness. Repent of believing you can live without God.

Suddenly, in light of God’s Law, Baptism is much more important. When you realize that you have rebelled against God; when you recognize that you are in the clutches of sin, death and the power of the devil; then God’s Word to you is sweeter than anything else you have ever heard. God says to you, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” That is God’s work in you.

The only way that you are saved, the only way you have a right relationship with God, is because of His great love for you. And He gives that to you in your baptism. This is the bath which washes away your sins and presents you in the blood-washed robe of Christ’s righteousness: spotless, clean, holy before His heavenly throne. This great work which He does for you literally opens heaven for you. It is your key and door to eternal life. St. Peter says in no uncertain terms, “Baptism now saves you.” Your sins are washed away. Satan is crushed under your feet. Death has no power over you! You can look at the grave without fear, for Christ has opened the gate to paradise.

This is the beauty of Holy Baptism. Look upon those waters as proof that God loves you and wants only what is best for you. When your heart and soul doubt God’s love, look to your baptism. When Satan tempts you to abandon Christ, look to your baptism. And when death and the world assail you, look to your baptism! The world may despise the gifts God gives you in His holy waters, but you know better. In the face of these enemies you can cry out:

There is nothing worth comparing
To this lifelong comfort sure!
Open-eyed my grave is staring:
Even there I'll sleep secure.
Though my flesh awaits its raising,
Still my soul continues praising:
I am baptized into Christ;
I'm a child of paradise! 

In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always.  Amen.

Sermon for 1/5/20: Epiphany of Our Lord

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Joy for Gentiles

Matthew 2:1-12

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

The Church has spent these past twelve days celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord. For some, the fervor of that celebration has remained high. For some, it has waned. And for many, even among us, Christmas ended the moment the gifts were opened and the meal was done, and all that remains is a weary resignation, relief that it’s over. But the celebration of Epiphany is an opportunity to rekindle our joy, to renew our worship of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The little Babe born in Bethlehem is not simply the Messiah for the Jews; as the angels shared, the Savior would be for “all people.”

That evidence is given in the Magi who saw the star in the East, who followed the guiding of that Star, who arrived in Bethlehem so that they could worship Christ as King. The arrival of these Magi shows us that this promised Messiah is born to rescue and deliver and restore all men to communion in God. The star leads them for our sake, so that we might see that the promise to the Jews now extends to all peoples. We are now able to be numbered as children of the Father.

So let us celebrate today with great and holy joy. Today we see that we too are children of the promise, descendants of Abraham by the power of the Spirit. Now we also, standing alongside the Magi, get to adore the Christ Child, not simply as the Creator of the universe, but also as the Savior of all those who pin their hopes to Him. What Isaiah says has come true: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; they rejoice before You.

This is the day that Abraham saw, and rejoiced to see, for in the Spirit, Abraham saw that his children would be children both of blood and of faith. Like his physical descendants, these foreign children would be blessed by his ultimate Son, Jesus. King David also saw rejoiced to see this day; he prophesied, “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.” And in the Magi, David’s prophecy is fulfilled; the Lord’s Word is proven to be true and dependable.

So let us join King David in singing to the Lord, “For He has done marvelous things; the LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

So let us be full of joy and rejoicing today. Let us imitate these steadfast and righteous Magi. Truly they are Wise Men, since they seek the Christ, the power and wisdom of God. And let us imitate their humility and faith. For in humility they prostrated themselves before the Holy Child; and in faith, they offered back to Him what He had first given them, trusting that He would receive their sacrifices and bless them. And finally, let us imitate their obedience and perseverance. For no matter what happened along the way, no matter how many hurts they suffered or how many barriers they encountered, no matter how much the devil tried to deceive them in wicked King Herod, these Magi let nothing stand in the way of worshiping their Lord and King.

Come and kneel before Him in joy. Though we are gentiles by flesh, in Christ we have become children of Abraham and, more importantly, children of the heavenly Father in Holy Baptism. He has made Himself known to us in His Word. He reveals Himself to us in flesh, just as He did to those wise men so long ago, though hidden now in bread and wine. Come and be refreshed by your Lord. Come and have your joy renewed. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always.  Amen.