The Feast of St. John - Apostle

When he (Judas) had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 13:31–35 (RSV)

December 27th is the Feast of St. John - Apostle of Jesus. St. John was in love with words. He has left us with some of the most beautiful passages of Scripture in all the New Testament. The first eighteen verses of his Gospel alone are enough to thrill the heart for a lifetime. This love continues throughout the Gospel, the three letters under his name and the Revelation. He is a witness of poetry and song. He combines words to express the love of the Father made flesh in the Son.

St. John speaks of God's love throughout his writings. This love is more than what we think love to be. We speak of love in shallow ways, tying it to our emotional state or our sexual desires. It is not wrong to talk about love in these circumstances, but it is not the depth of love that comes to us from the Father. Our love is at it's best, an incomplete sort of thing. The most self-giving love among us still harbors within itself a desire to benefit from loving.

The love living in the words St. John wrote cannot end nor seek any advantage over the beloved. They are the sole reason for the existence of all things. Apart from the love of the Father, nothing will last for a moment.

Julian of Norwich, in one of her visions, saw a tiny ball, so fragile in appearance that she could not imagine how it continued to exist. The Lady Julian heard the Lord's voice reply to her amazement, 'it exists, both now and forever, because God loves it.'

St. John wrote beautifully of the love of God by which all things, even you and I, exist for the sake of His love. This love becomes flesh, lived among us, and brought us the salvation none could gain for themselves.

St. Stephen's Day

And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

 And Saul was consenting to his death.

And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Acts 7:59–8:3 (RSV)

Strange, the Christmas celebrations have hardly stopped and we are observing the death of the first Christian Martyr, St. Stephen. Stephen is the first to die for his witness to our Lord. The contrast could not be greater. Angelic and shepherd praises surround the birth of Jesus, while shouts of rage and murderous violence accompany the stoning of St. Stephen.

It is jarring to move so quickly from the blessed events surrounding Bethlehem to the ugly happenings in Jerusalem some thirty-three years later. We may wish it wasn't so, but the two are tied tightly together. The quiet, humble birth of Jesus all too soon turns to confront the hatred to world has toward the Father. If the world cannot harm the Father, it will strike out at the Son. It will strike out at those who will follow Jesus.

St. Simeon, who blessed God for allowing him to seek the Lord's salvation when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple, warned Mary that a sword would pierce her soul as Jesus fulfilled His purpose. We too easily forget at Christmas time of the anger and hate the world will inflict on Jesus. Satan himself is biding his time until he can strike against Jesus. When the evil one fails in his attack on Jesus, he turns on those who will follow the Lord.

St. Stephen's Day reminds us that the birth of Jesus, as joyous as it is, is the first step of His journey to the Cross outside the walls of Jerusalem. St. Stephen's death is a reminder that that those who follow the Risen Lord may well die for Him.

It is also our reminder of the true joy that comes for those who give their lives to Him and for Him.

On The New Day

Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him; they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:1–5 (RSV)

'And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations': O how we long for these words to be accomplished! So much is twisted, distorted, and broken in this world that one death or a million hardly register in our minds. Yes, if it comes close to us, the loss and pain are dreadfully real, but they are numbers beyond our circle.

In the time it has taken you to read these words, a child has died of starvation. The number of children whose lives are damaged by hunger is unknown. At Christmas time, we are made more aware, but the awareness fades as the decorations are put away.

We could go on listing the sorrows people face in this world. We choose not, for we could not bear up under the weight. These crushing burdens must be put out of mind if we are to function at all.

Yet, within each person whose soul has not died is the longing for the words of St. John's Revelation to come to pass: 'and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.' We cannot celebrate our Lord Jesus's birth without the longing for all things to be healed.

Jesus is the healing of the nations. The salvation that comes through Him is the healing of all things. We may linger in the dying shadows of the last long day, but the dawn of salvation will soon break in the eastern sky. The last vestiges of the old world will finally be gone, and only the new, redeemed and healed creation will have come to be.

O Lord, let this hour come! Let the darkness fade and the light of heaven rise over us, now and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayers

My apologies for no devotions or video today. our daughter in law, Lindsay Hatcher's brother, Jeremy Chatfield - 42, died unexpectedly yesterday. I was over night at Matt's to be with their daughters while Lindsay and Matt were with her family. Please remember Lindsay's family in prayer.

On Faith

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1–4 (RSV)

Throughout the ages, some do not believe there is a God. Their creed is we come from nothing. We go to nothing. We are a tiny spark in the dark skies of eternity, flashing for a moment then gone. Nothing considered us before we were born, and nothing will recall us once we have died. We are, at best, cosmic dust; anything other than this is a delusion.

Most regard religion, any religion, to be at best an interesting collection of stories intended to comfort the weak-minded. Many see religion as a form of insanity that has caused more harm throughout history than any other human invention.

A good friend, who had been an agnostic in his college days, often remarks that he did not have enough faith to be an atheist. He is correct; atheism is a form of religion that refuses to believe in God and must have faith that God does not exist.

Who can consider the whole of creation from its beginning to the uncounted ages yet to come and say there is no God? It takes greater faith to believe that all this just happened than to believe God does not exist.

We may not be able to convince anyone that God exists if they choose not to believe. It is by faith we trust the Word the Father has given to the world through His Son. It is an act of faith that we confess Jesus, born of Mary, is the only Son of the Eternal Father. I can offer no proof to those who refuse to hear the Gospel that they will accept.

In his Revelation from God, St. John writes of the day in which there will be no doubt about God. In the day when all things are made new when His voice echos from His throne. He will dwell among us so fully that none shall ever doubt again. The day that the Father bends to wipe away our tears, we will know that we are more than cosmic dust. For all who have gone down into the grave, who have gone beyond decay, will be raised never to know death again.

We celebrate the salvation that begins in a manger, hidden from all but a few. We look for the redemption to come when every tongue confesses Him Lord.

On Coming Home

In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious.

In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant which is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. Isaiah 11:10–11 (RSV)

The history of God's people is one of rebellion, fall, repentance, and restoration. The uprising began when Adam and Eve chose themselves as God and lost the Garden. So it ran throughout the ages, God calling, a faithful people responding, and over time turning away.

God let the consequences of their sin play out. Time and again, they were enslaved, conquered by foreign empires, surrendered their faith for other gods, and were carried off into exile.

God never gave up on His people. He sent judges and prophets to warn them, calling for repentance and a return to the Lord. At times, it worked. The people set aside their sins and were restored. Yet, the pattern repeated itself. A new generation would rise, forgetting the Lord and established themselves as the pinnacle of creation. The cycle would repeat, and over the generations, the people would found themselves in foreign lands, barely remembering their God and their home.

Still, the prophet's announced the promise. The Messiah will come and scattered Israel will return to Israel to bless God promised Abraham. In the fulness of time, Jesus was born as the Light of Father incarnate, drawing all to Himself.

Like Israel, we turn from the Lord, seeking our way as we alone were good and wise. We have yet to be the Church the Holy Spirit created us to be. Jesus is the sign by which all the words of the prophets come to pass. Jesus is the Head of the Living Body that is the Church. As we celebrate His birth, come anew to Him to leave behind all that is not Christ.

On 2020

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the spirit of counsel and might,

the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide by what his ears hear;

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist,

and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

and the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

and the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall feed;

their young shall lie down together;

and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp,

and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain;

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:1–9 (RSV)

2020 has been a challenging year. The pandemic has hung over it as clouds might on a grey day in late Fall. All the leaves have fallen to the ground, their colors muted, leaving the naked branches silhouetted in the half-light permitted. The days are shorter, nights are longer, and the coming cold darkens hearts.

Conversations wind their way to COVID 19, if not in full, at least in passing, in them is the longing for it to be over. A longing that looks to the months ahead and struggles to imagine a time when conversations, social media, and the news will no longer talk about COVID 19.

We know a small taste of what previous generations knew as the fabric of daily life. Only in the last hundred years have we be relatively free of disease throughout our lives. For most of human history, disease leading to death stalked every home, from the most humble to the palaces of the mighty.

This background gives an understanding of the hope in the Prophet's words we have never known before this year. A shoot shall come out of the stump of Jesse, growing every way in the purpose of the Father. He will bring about the days when righteousness, the mercy, and the fullness of the Father's love upon all the earth.

'They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,' the Father promises through His servant Isaiah. All that has wounded us, has caused us harm, all that has brought death among us will be no more.

It has begun. He was born into the darkness, sickness, sin, brutality, and death this world knows. He is the Father's Son who has brought in to being all that Isaiah dreamed. Into the weariness of our souls this day, He comes with hope beyond pandemics.

2020 has been a challenging year. It is also the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty. It is His year, as will be the year to come.

On Scripture

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; they said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some, who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen. Jude 17–25 (RSV)

I do not turn to St. Jude's tiny letter when doing theology. I have never preached a sermon base on a text from it. I have not given it much thought throughout my pastorate. I do not mean to say that St. Jude is unimportant. God has placed every word of Scripture within the Bible for a purpose. Without a doubt, I am quite ignorant of much of the Father's purpose; thus, it is not much of a surprise if Jude doesn't touch my heartstrings.

The advice I give to every confirmation class I ought to give myself, 'don't worry if you don't understand everything in the Bible.' Learn what you can, study the words, and give thanks for what the Spirit chooses to reveal to you. The Holy Spirit grants to each according to their gifts. Those whose faith is simple as a child's find comfort in God's Word, though they may not grasp the more profound truth. It is enough that it is God's Word.

Others are called to wrestle with the Word like Jacob at Peniel. God has given them a heart and mind that cannot rest as long as a phrase of Scriptures eludes their understanding. He also gives them the longing, the ache of heart to proclaim His Word, in season and out of season. Like Jeremiah, it is a fire in their bones, and they cannot keep silent. They understand what Luther means when they read these words:

"Lord God, You have appointed me as a Bishop and Pastor in Your Church, but you see how unsuited I am to meet so great and difficult a task. If I had lacked Your help, I would have ruined everything long ago. Therefore, I call upon You: I wish to devote my mouth and my heart to you; I shall teach the people. I myself will learn and ponder diligently upon You Word. Use me as Your instrument — but do not forsake me, for if ever I should be on my own, I would easily wreck it all." Luther's Sacristy Prayer

"Let nobody suppose that he has tasted the Holy Scriptures sufficiently unless he has ruled over the churches with the prophets for a hundred years. ("Found in Luther's Pocket after his death)

The Word becomes Flesh to redeem us and fill us with a longing that must be lived, confessed, and proclaimed, not merely at Christmas or Easter, but always.

On The Truth

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."

Matthew 11:2–6 (RSV)

Every age has speech that is considered 'inappropriate'. In our current time, speech can be a minefield where one can unintentionally deeply offend another person. 'Politically correct speech' often borders on the edge of madness, to the point that one can lose one's job. People will announce which made up pronouns you are to use when referring to them and expect you to brutalize the language to fit their whim.

John the Baptist was in prison for using inappropriate speech. John had pointed out to King Herod that it was not lawful for him to marry his brother's wife while his brother was still alive. Herodias, his wife, who would use her daughter as a sex-toy to get John executed, was deeply offended because John would not use 'proper' language when speaking about her and her new husband, Herod.

John was intelligent enough to understand his situation. Those who hold political power care little for truth and will torture words until they say what they want them to mean. They also will deal with anyone who has the poor taste to refuse to pretend that they are speaking lies. John knew that at best, he wasn't getting of Herod's prison anytime soon.

John had time to think in prison. He had time to go over all he had believed, done, and said. He had time to consider what God's purpose for his life might be. John had proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Now he was beginning to wonder if he had discerned things well.

'Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?' John needed to know if he was putting his life on the line for the will of God. If he was going to face death for his words and witness, John needed to know his life had served the right purpose.

'Go and tell John what you hear and see,' Jesus replied. Speak the truth to John of what I am doing in the Father's Name and by His power. Go and tell John all these things with unvarnished words so he might hear the truth. Jesus does not twist words to his purpose. He speaks the only truth there is. He tells John, by His words and deeds, that the Father's will is at work.

'And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.' Those who long for the truth will not be offended by it. Those who wish to hide the truth so they may do evil things are always offended. Herod and Herodias were offended by John because he spoke the truth.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father save through Him. He is the truth of all things, and in this Truth, there is eternal life.

Why God Became Man

Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to revile the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a reviling judgment upon them before the Lord. But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed, reviling in matters of which they are ignorant, will be destroyed in the same destruction with them, suffering wrong for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation, carousing with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. 2 Peter 2:10–16 (RSV)

Saint Anselm (1033-1109) was a Benedictine monk, Christian philosopher, and scholar who is recognized for many intellectual accomplishments, including his application of reason in exploring the mysteries of faith and for his definition of theology as "faith seeking understanding."

St. Anselm's most familiar writing is entitled "Cur Deus Homo", "Why God Became Man." The answer lies in the words of St. Peter you have already read. St. Peter states why Jesus has come. God became man because we could not rise to the divine.

St. Peter was writing about those seeking to harm the young Church, but he could have been writing about any one of us apart from Christ. The heart of any human will seek after the things of which St. Peter wrote. Jesus, as He taught on the Sermon on the Mount, would have us look to our hearts with honest eyes. We will see all these things and more.

Why else would Luther teach us that we are to die to ourselves each day so Christ might raise us a new creation? Luther was faithfully speaking the words of our Lord, that we should take up our cross daily, die to ourselves, and follow after Him. Jesus became human to defeat sin, death, and the devil so they might not ensnare us.

We are to speak the truth in love to all those who rely on themselves as if they were God. Our Lord has given us new life in Him that we may witness to all those who are still lost in their folly. God became human to redeem us and cause us to stand firmly on the Gospel. We are made new, so we might proclaim the One who has saved us.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

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. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. John 1:1–5, 14 (RSV)

It is not a Christmas hymn. It resides under the 'Trust & Guidance' section in the ELW. It does sing to the wonder of God's purpose being fulfilled.

'My life flows on in endless song; above earth's lamentation,

I catch the sweet, though far off hymn that hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging, 

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?           

ELW - 763

The opening of John's Gospel is a poem, a hymn to the Incarnation. When we cannot find the words adequate to express God's mercy and purpose, we write poetry, we sing. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, God in human flesh, true God, Son of the Father from eternity and true man, born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is human in every way, completely and perfectly human, yet without sin. Jesus is the only human being to have lived. We are broken and distorted creatures, human flesh in need of redemption.

St. John writes, sings, of the eternal God who is the Word by which all things were made who is born of Mary, to be one of us. He is the light of the world, the maker and shaper of the cosmos, yet is of the same frail flesh as you or I. 

We can imagine, we think, a God who creates then stands at a distance to see how His creation will develop. We prefer a God who keeps His distance. The Father will have none of it. The Word becomes flesh, is born, and lives among us as one of us.

St. John did not see the glory of the new-born Jesus. He did see the glory of the Risen Lord Jesus, who has spread the light of God throughout all created things. St. John sang the beauty, the glory, the joy beyond our telling of the Incarnation. God has become flesh, lived among us, died for us, and risen to redeem us all. How can I keep from singing?

Into The Darkness

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shined.

Thou hast multiplied the nation,

thou hast increased its joy;

they rejoice before thee

as with joy at the harvest,

as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

thou hast broken as on the day of Midian.

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government will be upon his shoulder,

and his name will be called

"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom,

to establish it, and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and for evermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:2–7 (RSV)

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government will be upon his shoulder,

and his name will be called

"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

As sure as the sun rises in the east, a child is born each day. Indeed, this is said of thousands of new lives. It has been so for uncounted ages and will continue until it pleases the Lord to return. Nearly all who are born will live their lives known only to a relative few who love them.

If our world did not groan under sin and death, all who are born would know love. Many do not see their first day of life outside the womb. Far too many still do not celebrate their first birthday, while others live on, but are unloved, abused, and neglected. Each child is the Father's precious gift of new life. Sadly, our world is peopled with those who do not value any life beyond their own. We easily forget the harm sin does in our world, especially to those least able to stand for themselves. Jesus reminds us that if we fail to show love and mercy to the least among us, we fail to love Him.

Isaiah spoke rightly that we walk in a land, in a world of deep darkness. It is darkness fed by our sin and rebellion, left to continue unchallenged, would make of the universe a black hole so deep that not even hope could escape. This is the world in which we have chosen to dwell since our first parents chose themselves over God, who had created them.

If God were merely just, He would leave us to the darkness, groping around in a futile effort to find what we have thrown away through sin. St. John rightly teaches that we chose the darkness because our deeds are darkness. It is not pleasant to hear this. It is not how we would describe ourselves, yet in a world where one child is denied the life the Father has given them, how else can we speak of what we have chosen?

It is into this darkness, this sin ruined world, that the Father sends His Son. Jesus does not come as the all-conquering Lord, driving the minions of evil and sin before Him. He comes as a child born of Mary into a world where children do not see their first day in the light of God's day. He comes into a world where infants born do not celebrate their first birthday. He is born in a world that neglects, abuses, and will not love the precious gift of a child.

Jesus is born into the black hole of human sin to break its power over all creation. He comes as the Light of God to shine upon those who dwell in a land of deep darkness. He comes against the darkness which will seek to destroy Him and fail in the light of His resurrection.

O, Father, we bless Thee that Thou hast sent Thy Son into our chosen darkness to lead us into Thy Light which cannot be extinguished, shining unto the ages of ages. Amen.

On Preaching

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." Luke 12:11–12 (RSV)

Students at a Lutheran Seminary study a wide range of topics as they prepare for ordination. Homiletics is a crucial component of preparation for parish ministry. Homiletics is the study of preaching. Preaching is more than arriving at the church on any given Sunday, getting into the pulpit, and delivering a sermon. The rule of thumb we were told in class that there should be an hour of preparation for every minute of a sermon preached.

I do not know of any pastor who does not take preaching seriously. Some may be more gifted than others, but even the least competent still strives to deliver a faithful sermon. Indeed, as Lutherans, preaching is high on the list of pastoral skills we expect to see in someone called to the ordained ministry.

As we studied and practiced giving sermons to our classmates, we gained skills, polished our delivery, and learn what made a sermon useful. Like every other skill that we develop in life, we learn from our successes and failures. It was quite affirming to hear the professor and classmates say positive things. It wasn't easy to listen to the critiques, but they were often more useful than praise.

We also learned what a colleague called the 'agony and ecstasy' of preaching. There will be Sundays when no matter how hard you study and prepare, the words just will not come together. Those are the Sundays when you want to get through the 'sermon', praying that most of the congregation is sleeping.

When I feel like this, I am reminded of one classmate who, upon taking his turn to preach to us, got up, looked at his notes, looked at us, and said, 'I tried to make this work, but nothing came together. I have nothing to say today, save I know Jesus loves me.' He returned to his chair, staring down at the tabletop.

We waited for the instructor, a homiletics professor, to comment. After a moment, he said, 'The content was excellent, though it was shorter than I would prefer.' After a hearty laugh, he went on to talk about preaching in season and out. 'You will have Sundays when it just doesn't work, no matter how hard you have tried. Remember, you do not enter the pulpit alone; the Holy Spirit is with you.'

It was probably the most useful sermon I heard in homiletics. Useful for the lesson that the Holy Spirit is at work as we prepare and preach. The Spirit guides our study, going with us as we enter the pulpit to preach. The Spirit is also at work in those who are listening. The Word proclaimed can, and does, connecting in surprising ways in those who hear the Word.

Thank God for Christian preaching where the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed and the hearts of those who hear receive the Father's mercy by His Word.

On The Coming of the Kingdom

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. His voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken, as of what has been made, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25–29

How long does it take for your world to come crashing down? We know that our lives can be changed in the blink of an eye in ways we would never imagine only seconds before. We work very hard to ensure that our lives are as stable as we can make them. We expend significant amounts of energy to hold the forces of chaos at bay.

We may succeed for a time, but throw a new virus into the world and watch so many well-planned lives become little more than dust driven by the wind. As much as we would prefer not to admit it, our lives, our world, can be shaken with no more than a small blip on the cosmic scale.

We are not permanent. Each hour of every day draws us closer to the time when all our plans will be as nothing. Like the Rich Fool of the parable who amassed such wealth that new barns were needed to store it all. As he planned his future, that night, his life ended.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to state that we are no more permanent than the earth. Yes, it may last a few eons past the time we are no longer even dust, but it will one day be gone as well. As the Psalmist writes: He utters His voice, the earth melts. (Psalm 46.6b)

Some say that's all there is; our Father in heaven promises more to come. More and better to come, a new heaven and new earth to come. These will be unshakeable and eternal, and they shall be our home with the Father for beyond the ages.

For Jesus

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me." Luke 22:31–34 (RSV)

Some sermons make more of an impression than others; some are forgotten before you leave worship. Such is the nature of preaching; you can't hit a home run every Sunday. We do try to preach a meaningful sermon each week, but even I can't recall what I preached a week or two back sometimes.'

I do remember a sermon Pastor Jolivette preached on this text at Bethesda Lutheran in Jewell. He began by asking, 'What would you do if someone walked into the church today, automatic weapon in hand, and announced, "If you want to live, all you have to do is deny Jesus and leave. If you do not deny Him, you will die!"'

There was what seemed to be an extremely long pause, then Jolly asked, 'What would you do? I bet many of you said to yourselves, "I would stay and confess Jesus!"' He went on to remind us that is precisely what St. Peter did when Jesus told them what he was facing at Jerusalem. Peter's courage and resolve were unshakable at that moment. He truly believed he could face prison and death with Jesus.

Luther noted that Peter's courage collapsed when a teenage girl confronted him as he huddled at a fire the night Jesus was arrested. 'This man was with the Nazarene!' declared the servant girl. St. Peter's bravado was gone in an instant, and he denied that he knew Jesus. Peter would deny two more times before the rooster crowed, to his shame.

As Jolly preached his sermon that Sunday, I probably thought, 'I would stand with Jesus.' I had all kinds of courage then. I am not so confident about what I would do today. I would like to believe that I would confess my Lord at that moment as I have all my life. I want to think that I would unflinchingly stare down the muzzle of the gun and its holder. St. Peter knew Jesus in the living flesh. He had seen Jesus do all manner of miracles. He had heard Jesus teach and preach with authority beyond anyone he had ever encountered. St. Peter has all this, and he failed Jesus at the critical hour.

St. Peter betrayed Jesus as cruelly as did Judas. They were both broken-hearted by their betrayal. One wept bitter tears of repentance; the other did not. St Peter was forgiven. We say Judas was not. There is a part of me that hopes there was yet mercy for Judas as well. Still, that is the Father's business, and I have no right to speculate one way or the other.

No, rather than sit in judgment of some other poor sinner whose courage fails them, I need to look well to my soul. Jolly's question still waits for an honest answer, 'What would you do?'

On Loving the Church

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:13–3:5 (RSV)

St. Paul loved the congregations he helped found. He had the pride of a loving parent over them. He rejoiced with them as they served their Lord through word and deeds. He was stern with them when it was needed, especially if they were wandering from the Gospel. He did not cease his love for them, giving the Father thanks for believers who treasured the Gospel as did St. Paul.

They loved him in return. It is a miracle of God that anyone would love St. Paul, let alone trust him. St. Paul wanted to destroy the young Church. In those days, he was not above arrest, imprisonment, torture, even murder if it would stamp out the Church. St. Paul carried that burden the rest of his life as believers often fearfully marveled that this Paul had been the violent Saul.

It was that transformation that was so powerful. Once people got beyond who St. Paul had been and could see who he was now, they gave thanks to the Lord. For if God gives so wondrous a love that even the murderous Saul could be made a new creation. Together, they offered their praise to the Lord for grace and mercy that can redeem even the most lost and hopeless person.

We are reminded that the Church has been and is always made up of forgiven sinners. We all have stories of our rebellion against God. We all would be consigned to slavery to sin, and death were it not for our Lord. St. Paul learned that there is no one righteous before God, not one. We, like Paul, now redeemed and new in Christ, give Him our endless praise. We see His Word and promise at work, I ourselves, in others, in all the world.

On The Father's Mercy

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him (Jesus) until an opportune time. Luke 4:13 (RSV)

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him (Jesus) to them. And they were glad, and engaged to give him money. So he agreed, and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude. Luke 22:3–6 (RSV)

No one in possession of a sane mind will deny that there is evil. It is so manifest at times that the whole world will agree on the evil. At times evil is so subtle that it completes its goals nearly unnoticed. Our eyes behold it displayed in the words and actions of others. We, at times, must painfully confess the evil that lives within our hearts.

Scripture does not shy from the reality of evil. Neither does it pretend that evil is not a physical being: scripture names it Satan, the evil one, the devil, a fallen angel. Jesus was clear that the devil is a reality whether we 'modern' humans wish to acknowledge it or not.

Whence evil has come into the Father's creation is not mine to know. It is here, raging against the Father and all that He has created. The devil would undo all things to smite the Father and is mad with hate that he cannot. We pretend at our peril that this is not so. The devil's hatred of the Father is such that he will visit it on us whenever he can.

Failing to tempt Jesus, the devil departed, until an opportune time, as St. Luke records it. He will bide his time, and then he will act. Something in Judas faltered as he followed Jesus, and the evil one was there, giving birth to the betrayal of Jesus. Perhaps Judas no longer trusted Jesus, seeing Him as a threat to God's people, or he was tired of walking all over Judea or frustrated that the Messiah had not lived up to his expectations.

The devil could not care one whit what was in Judas' heart. Judas was a tool to wound the Father, nothing more or less. Judas, the priests and officers of the Temple all sold themselves for thirty pieces of silver. Once used, the evil one abandoned them all to despair and hopelessness.

The devil is incapable of learning, of realizing that nothing he does will defeat the Father. He has and will continue to do as much harm as possible, thinking that he will one day succeed against God. He is a defeated fool. Like Hitler in his bunker in the last days of WWII, commanding armies that no longer existed, willing to let all of Germany die for his failures, sputtering out hate to the very end, the devil's hatred drives him.

The sad truth is that the Father would forgive and welcome this fallen angel in the Kingdom. If the devil asked for the mercy of God that flows from the Father's heart, it would be given. Should the time come from his heart, the devil would confess: 'Jesus is Lord,' He would enter paradise like the repentant thief.

Here we would do well to remember that this same love and mercy is ours every day. There is no sin He will not forgive, no failure so massive nor rebellion so deep within us, that He will not forgive. The Father desires that we do what the evil one cannot do and confess our sin's truth. He would have us repent from all that leads to death to discover our true life in Jesus, our Lord.

Here am I! Send Me!

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory."

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven." And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." Isaiah 6:1–8 (RSV)

'Here am I! Send me.' I was so eager to go. I hadn't thought of anything else since high school. I was going to be a pastor. I had some very vague ideas about what that meant, mostly preaching on Sunday morning and wearing a black shirt with a white tab instead of a necktie.

I arrived at Luther Seminary in the Fall of 1973. It did not take too long for me to realize how little I knew and how much work was in front of me. Hebrew, Greek, Church History, Pastoral Care, preaching, liturgics, how to make a hospital call, and more all lay in my future. I wish I could say I was a stellar student, but I wasn't. There were more than a few times when quitting seemed reasonable. 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' was the question that would not let me give up. "Here am I! Send me."

There is no amount of study that can prepare you for the parish. I had an outstanding education at Luther. I give God thanks to this day for what I was taught. I am profoundly grateful for the professors whose faith blessed my faith. So many gifts for ministry, yet one is never prepared for parish ministry. Still, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' "Here am I! Send me."

I had not eaten my first meal in our new home in the parsonage of Maple Lake Lutheran Parish when I was on my way to meet with a family on the death of a loved one. Greeting parishioners as they came for worship on my first Sunday, one looked me up and down, shook his head, muttered, 'Awful young' as he entered the church. I sat in the kitchen across the table from a bleary-eyed member who had more booze that day than food. His wife in tears, their children huddle fearfully in the hallway as we tried to find a way for his life to turn around. Proclaiming the words of institution for the congregation to hear, I then placed in their hands the Body of Christ and with it gave them all the treasures of the Father's mercy. 'Whom shall I send and who will go for us?' "Here am I! Send me."

It has been forty-three years since that verse from the prophet Isaiah graced the cover of my ordination bulletin. I have been privileged to serve in so many ways. Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, weddings, hospital visits, funerals, joys, and tragedies all have fallen to my care. I have wept with the heart-broken. I have danced at weddings and driven in the small hours of the morning to a hospital two hours away, praying I will be there in time. I have seen the beauty of humans caring for one another and the ugliness of a soul so consumed with anger that it could be demonic.

I turned seventy less than a month ago. I am often asked, 'when do you think you will retire?' I have wondered that as well, then comes the question, 'Whom shall I send and who will go for us?' My heart stills answers, "Here am I! Send me."

On Being the Church

But we beseech you, beloved, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, beloved, admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:12–23 (RSV)

I have been thinking about the community of our churches, how they are faring in the pandemic, and what we will be when it is behind us. The Church has withstood all manner of storms throughout the ages. I do not doubt that it will withstand this one as well.

The Church will always be; not even the gates of hell will prevail against it. I give God thanks that His Church is eternal. Still, I wonder what will become of our little congregations within the disruptions of this pandemic. There is much in which we can rejoice as we consider our congregations. Both have faithful and dedicated believers whose hearts are undeterred by the pandemic. They love their Lord and His Church that lives in First and St. Paul.

At the end of his letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul describes the life within a congregation devoted to Christ. It is a place where all are honest with one another. We are truthful about our shortcomings, not as a means to have control over others, but in Christlike mercy and compassion, we encourage one another to mature in the faith.

We are attentive to God's Word and His Holy Sacraments so they may have full sway among us, for the uplifting and nourishing of our souls. We are in prayer for each other, for the stranger, and the outsider. We raise our thanksgiving to God for His grace that saves and sustains us.

My heartfelt prayer is that the Lord will preserve all the congregations of His Church through the pandemic. I pray that we come through this time of trial with more profound, more mature faith in our Lord Jesus. Still, in all these trials, we pray 'Thy will be done,' trusting that whatever our congregations will be on the other side of the pandemic, we will still be serving our Lord.

Mutual Conversation & Consolation

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 (RSV)

Luther wrote the following about living together as Christians:

"[The Gospel] gives guidance and help against sin in more than one way, because God is extravagantly rich in his grace: first, through the spoken word, in which the forgiveness of sins is preached to the whole world (which is the proper function of the Gospel); second, through baptism; third, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar; fourth, through the power of the keys and also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brothers and sisters [in Christ]. Matthew 18[:20], 'Where two or three are gathered…'" (SA III:4, Kolb-Wengert edition of The Book of Concord).

'The mutual conversation and consolation of the brothers and sisters in Christ' stands alongside the Gospel and the Sacraments. The Christian life was no small matter for Luther. He did not set aside the call for us to live out our salvation. We do not earn it by our pious living, for salvation is always a free gift of God's grace. However, now that we are saved, our lives should give some evidence that we are.

Luther reminds us of the basics of living a Christian life. We are to hear the Gospel and receive the Sacraments. The preaching AND the hearing of the Gospel is the first step in a life in Christ. When we hear the Gospel, the Holy Spirit continues the work He began at our baptism. If we absent ourselves from the Word, our spirits will grow dull and lifeless.

With the Gospel, the Sacraments are an everyday thing for us. Returning to our Baptism, we take hold of the mercy and forgiveness God has promised to us. At the Altar, we are fed by the Body and Blood of our Lord, which nourishes our spirits. These gifts keep our faith alive and healthy.

These are necessary for maintaining a healthy faith. However, there is a fourth thing Luther's deems as necessary, that is the 'mutual conversation and consolation of the brothers and sisters in Christ'. Let us look at it in this way, think of an activity in which you participated. It could be band, choir, school plays, or a sport. All required practice, lots of practice, so you could be good at the activity.

What would it be like to expend all that time and energy in practice and never get a chance to use those skills? No one participates in these activities, hoping they will never get an opportunity to play. I know of no one who would spend hours on the practice field only to say to the coach on game night, 'Coach, practice is more than enough for me, I'll just sit on the bench'.

The Gospel and the Sacraments are the assurance of salvation. But they are also our preparation to share the faith that is in our hearts. Mutual conversation and consolation is what we have been preparing for as we hear the Word and receive the Sacraments.

Especially in this pandemic, sharing our trust and confidence in our Lord is a blessing. Folk are getting discouraged and are weary of the disruption to life the pandemic has brought. As we take the time to share our faith and trust in the Lord, it can encourage someone who is struggling. Sharing our tears and frustrations yet remaining confident in Christ can lift the spirit of a neighbor.

Jesus did not redeem us so we might remain an individual, separate from others. We have received His mercy and grace so that we might share it with others and they us. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and words as you reach out in support of a brother or sister in Christ. We could all use a hopeful and faith-filled word these days.