​Galatians 4:21-31
 
A Tale of Two Sons
 
v.23   But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.
 
          Dear friends in Christ, in our text for today, Paul speaks using allegory—that is, he speaks figuratively in order to symbolically represent a truth that he has already explained at great length.  He does so to emphasize his argument and paint a picture before the mind’s eye.  He needed to make sure that the Galatians, and by extension, each of us, knows and understands that it is only through faith in Christ that a person is both justified (made righteous before God) and sanctified (made holy).
          You see, there was a group of false teachers that had infiltrated the church and were teaching “another Gospel” that was really “no Gospel at all.”  This was a group that Paul had encountered before, known as the Judaizers.  These Jewish Christians operated under the false theology that in order for one to be a true Christian, one had to obey the Jewish ceremonial Law—especially circumcision.  Therefore, they were condemnatory toward the gentile Christians, saying that they must first be circumcised before they could be real believers in Jesus.
          This, of course, the apostle Paul could not and would not abide.  He wrote this letter to encourage the Galatians, both Jews and Gentiles, not to abandon the freedom that they had received through faith in Christ.  In fact, this letter of Paul’s has long been referred to as the Magna Carta of the Christian faith—referring of course to the 1215 English document the Magna Carta Liberatum (the Great Charter of Freedoms), which guaranteed certain freedoms for people under English Law.
          Herein Paul expressly states that it is only by the Gospel that we are free—it is only by the blood of Jesus that we have been freed from bondage to sin and death and the power of the devil—and he warns against returning to the Law, as that leads back to slavery once again.  In the allegory that Paul uses here, he likens those who want to return to the Law to be like Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar (the Egyptian slave woman whom Sarah gave to Abraham as a wife in an attempt to fulfill God’s prophecy).  Ishmael, though the firstborn son of Abraham, was not the one to inherit for he was not the son of the promise of God—that was Isaac.  Isaac was also the true son of Abraham and Sarah, but was special in that he was the son promised by God to them in their old age.  So, it was God’s Word of promise that led to Isaac and his inheritance.(God's promise took so long)
          Beloved in Christ, Paul then reminds us that this is a picture of us in the body of Christ’s holy church.  We are children of promise—having been born by the promise of God through the ministry of Word and Sacrament.  For in the waters of Baptism we are born children of God as we are led to believe in the Promised One, Jesus Christ, whom God has sent to suffer and die for our sins.  As such, we have been freed from the curse of the Law—the wrath of God that would lead to eternal death and suffering in hell.  As Christians we are free to love and serve our neighbour as God has first loved and served us in Christ Jesus—who poured out His own life’s blood on the cross in order to set us free.(Infant Baptism)
          However, we are easily tempted to fall back again to our old ways of the flesh—to live under the Law as slaves—rather than as free children of God.  We see this in the Scriptures themselves—for where did the Israelites desire to go as they travelled across the desert?  Why back to Egypt!  Back to their former masters—back to their labours—back to the place of their death—they actually wanted to abandon the new life God had so graciously given them as He had promised.  As sinners, we rather like being slaves to the Law, because it is comfortable and makes us feel secure and good about ourselves.  This is because we subtly alter the Law and water it down to a point where we at least think we are capable of keeping it—much like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day—who forsook God’s Law in order to fulfill their own man-made demands.  In this way we can point to ourselves and say, “Look at what I did!  Look at me and how wonderful I am!”
          However, this is a dangerous path to take because it places us under the Law and removes us from grace.  And it is only those who are born according to the promise who are the true children of Abraham—for the true promises of God are given by grace alone.  The Jews received the Law at Sinai, but did not keep it—nor do we.  For faith, not works, is the fulfillment of the Law.  And only he who believes is justified and saved, not he who works. 
          This is because the Law does not have promises added to it about Christ and His blessings, nor about deliverance from the curse of the Law, sin and death—and the Law says nothing about the free gift of forgiveness of sins and righteousness and eternal life.  The Law says only, “Do this and you shall live.”  But we don’t and we can’t.
          The Judaizers were attempting to bring the body of Christ under the weight and dominion of the Law once more—telling people the things they needed to DO in order to be Christian, whereas the truth is that there is nothing that we can do.  It is only by God’s amazing grace for us in Jesus Christ that we sinful people are healed of our sin and granted the Lord’s righteousness and peace.  Indeed, the promises of this new covenant do not depend upon our worthiness or condition (both of which are pitiful and undeserving), rather we receive forgiveness of sins, grace, righteousness, and eternal life freely for Christ’s sake—both Jews and Gentiles alike.  He chose us—by His grace.  He washed us in the blood of Jesus shed on the cross—because of His mercy.  He called you by name—in Baptism.
          What was Ishmael lacking to receive the inheritance?  The promise and blessing of the Word of God.  It is as if Paul were saying to the Galatians, “If you forsake the promise and faith and turn back again to the Law and works you will remain slaves forever.  For Hagar does not give birth to a child of promise or an heir”—i.e. the Law does not justify—only the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
          For, when looking at our sin-filled lives, it is easy to see how we fail to keep God’s perfect and holy Law.  We are indeed slaves to sin and bound for eternal death and suffering in hell.  What is it that saves us?  What is it that pulls us up from the depths of darkness and despair?  It is our Lord Jesus Christ.  He has come to rescue us and give us peace.  The Promised One has come to fulfill what we never could in the Law and then to die the death that we deserve.  All the blessings and gifts of the Promised One are given to us through the ministry of Word and Sacrament in Christ’s church where He promises to be with us—to come and serve us with His goodness and mercy. 
          The Lord promised to Adam and Eve long ago to send One who would undo the damage that they had caused—who would set the universe right once more—and who would redeem sinful humanity from the clutches of the devil.  The Promised One came as God took on human flesh in a young virgin’s womb from Galilee.  He was born, lived, suffered, and died all for you.  Because He promised.  His love is unending.  His love is sure and certain.  He has promised to always be with His people—those who believe in Him.  And He never goes back on a promise. 
          All people of faith are children of the promise and free because we believe in the Promised One who is the Son of God who has come to free us from our sin and evil.  Let us never fall back into slavery by returning to thinking it is by our works that we are saved.  For those who proclaim works righteousness only give birth to slaves.  And slaves have no inheritance but are cast out forever (John 8:35 and John 3:18).  We are children of promise, born of God’s grace and faith in Jesus Christ—born in the promise alone.  We have been freed from the bonds of the evil one—freed from the sin and death that plague us—freed for a life of service and works (the fruit of the Spirit and faith that Paul talks about in Gal. 5)—not to work out our salvation—but rather because salvation has already been freely given to us. 
          As free children of God we are inheritors of the heavenly blessings:  set free from the Law, sin and death; justified and made alive in Christ; we have a gracious God and confident heart, a joyful conscience; we enjoy spiritual comfort through the knowledge of Christ and revelation of the Scriptures and we freely receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and rejoice in God our Saviour.  These are all His gifts—given not to slaves who try to work their own way to heaven and take pride in their works before God—but rather these gifts are given to those who in all humility receive Jesus Christ and His promised salvation in Baptism, Supper, and Word—where He has promised to be with us—to come to us—and give us His freedom—His righteousness—His forgiveness.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen

​v.28   But He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and keep it."
 
          Dear friends in Christ, the Augsburg Confession (that quintessential Lutheran Confession), Article XX, 27-29, on Good Works clearly states, "Furthermore, we teach that it is necessary to do good works.  This does not meant that we merit grace by doing good works, but because it is God's will (Ephesians 2:10).  It is only by faith, and nothing else, that forgiveness of sins in apprehended.  The Holy Spirit is received through faith, hearts are renewed and given new affections, and then they are able to bring forth good works."  So…to ask the quintessential Lutheran question, "What does this mean?"  What does it mean that good works are necessary…but not for salvation?  What does it mean that the Holy Spirit is the One who renews faith in our hearts and brings forth good works in our lives?
          This morning, we will endeavour to answer these questions and more, seeing how they are answered by Scripture--indeed our very Gospel reading for this morning in which Jesus blesses those who hear the Word of God (who receive it by faith and believe what it teaches concerning Jesus who is the Word of God made flesh) and then keep it (guard it closely in Word and in deed).
          To be absolutely clear.  We are commanded by God to do good works.  That is, He expects us, as people created in His image, to do works of loving service to Him and to our neighbour.  To love God with one's whole heart, soul, body, and mind and one's neighbour as oneself.  To be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect.  To love, as God has first loved us.  These good works can only naturally flow from faith in Christ.  For apart from faith, it is impossible to please God--it is impossible to perform a good work in God's sight--without believing in the One whom He has sent to redeem us from our sin.  Can't be done. 
          "What's that?" you say.  "I have plenty of friends who aren’t Christian and yet do good and wonderful deeds every day.  Indeed, they probably put many of us in this church to shame with their continual acts of love and service to others."  Now, I don't deny that.  But good works in the sight of man are entirely different from good works in the sight of God.  We can look on the outward works of a person--man, woman, or child--and declare a deed good because of the help it offers to one in need: be it the young man shoveling his neighbour's driveway, to the millionaire establishing a foundation to feed starving people in Asia.  Those are good deeds we declare!  And in the sight of the world, before man, they certainly are.  But not before God.
          God's Word clearly says, "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Romans 3:12).  In order to do good works in God's sight, one must abide in Jesus--God's good Son--for apart from Him we can do nothing.  Our good works, as Christians, properly flow from faith in Jesus--abiding in--guarding closely (keeping)--His Word to us.  Yet our sinful natures often get in the way.  Our flesh does not desire the things of God.  Nor does Satan want us to.  Indeed, Satan leads us astray at every opportunity to pursue our own lusts and desires, while forsaking the welfare of others and the Word of our God. 
          Satan is the Strong Man, fully armed with weapons of sin and death, and he stands guard in our hearts to keep our souls in his devilish keeping.  We are bound by his lies and his trickery.  Our sin chains us and drags us to overweening pride and arrogance at one point in our lives, while leaving us in the depths of despair over our sin at other times.  What are we to do?  We can't fight him!  He's got us firmly in his grip.  He has invaded the recesses of our hearts and holds us captive with his deceit.  He would have us look to ourselves, to others, to him for power and control and contentment in our lives--anywhere but Christ alone.
          However, Jesus is the Stronger Man.  He has taken the devil's armour in which he trusted and destroyed it from the inside out by the cross.  Jesus entered into our sin--and carried this dreadful burden for you and me and all people--even unto death--drinking the full cup of God's wrath and fury over our sin.  But by His own suffering and death, Jesus has removed from us the very things that entrapped us--our sin and death.  The terrible hold of Satan over you is now gone--removed by the blood of Jesus outpoured for you on the cross. 
          In the blessed Word of the Gospel--both spoken and received in the Holy Sacraments--you have been cleansed--you have been transformed.  The devil has been cast out of your heart--exorcized by the power of Christ crucified--and yet there is not an empty place in your heart.  No, indeed, the Holy Spirit has taken up residence--He has been received by faith and renewed your heart so that you are now able to bring forth good works as a healthy tree bears good fruit.  You have been set free from bondage to the devil not just to laze around and indulge in the desires of your own sinful heart.  Rather, you have been set free to do good works that are in keeping with the Holy Spirit who now lives within you and who directs you to God's Word to inform you what a good work actually is (think 10 commandments).
          The Holy Spirit acts to lead you to fulfill those good works that God has prepared in advance for you to do (helping the poor, making a casserole for a sick neighbour, paying your taxes, etc.).  But these works are not done to offer satisfaction to God for your sin--Christ has fully paid that price with His innocent suffering and death!  Rather, these works come about naturally due to the new nature that is yours through faith in Jesus Christ.  The Spirit galvanizes you for service of Him who died for you, and for your neighbour who needs you. 
          And no matter what.  No matter how often you fail--no matter how often you throw those chains of the devil back on--no matter how often you go running back to your sinful ways, yet the Spirit is always there to redirect you--to lead you to repentance over your sin and to turn you back to Christ--to direct you to His saving cross and bloody glory.  Knowing that in Jesus Christ all your sin is fully forgiven--in Jesus Christ--your death has been shattered and you have been granted eternal life--in Jesus Christ--the devil has been cast out by the Stronger Man and you are free.  Free at last!
          What joy, beloved, this works in our hearts.  Knowing that we do not need to keep an account of all our good works to appease God.  There will be no presenting a spreadsheet detailing our acts of love and service to others on the Last Day.  It won't be necessary.  The only reason you will be received by Christ on the Last Day is because of what He has done for  you with His suffering and death.  So you are free to serve.  Free to love.  Free to bask in the mercy of almighty God given to you in Jesus Christ.  For your faith is not a dead acceptance and belief in the mere history of the existence of Jesus so long ago.  Even the demons believe that—and tremble.  Rather, true faith--living faith—trusts in the forgiveness of sins in Jesus.  You have grace, righteousness, and forgiveness of sins through Christ.  This is your joy!  Your good works flow from the Good Work of Christ--for you.  Now and forevermore.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

​Lent 2 - Reminiscere                                                                                                                                March 17, 2019
Matthew 15:21-28
 
Clinging to a Crumby Hope
 
v.27   She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
 
          Dear friends in Christ, have you ever given, or been on the receiving end, of "the silent treatment?"  You know, when you were a child and someone made you angry, and so to punish them you decided that you wouldn't speak to them--at all!  (Of course, parents are not always displeased when their children employ this kind of tactic, are they?)  Well…maybe just some glares from across the room, and nasty words mumbled under your breath--not TO them, but AT them.  It's frustrating, isn't it?  After awhile, it can even drive you mad--especially when you want to talk to someone--or you need them to answer you--to give you help.  When you are ignored, it can be extremely hurtful. 
          So, beloved, what if it is GOD who is apparently ignoring you?  How do we cope with that situation?  What if, like the Canaanite woman in our text, we cry after God, begging Him to hear our prayer--to answer our plea--and are met with nothing but dead air?  Silence?  What do we do when it seems as though God has turned His back on us?  Forgotten us?  Is intent on ignoring us?  Giving us the silent treatment?
          This woman, this non-Jewish, Canaanite woman, heard a rumour that Jesus was passing through the region where she lived.  She rushes out to meet Him.  Why?  Her daughter was "badly demonized" or severely oppressed (perhaps, even possessed) by a demon.  Upon finding Jesus, this dear woman wastes no time.  She approaches Him…not timidly, not quietly whispering, "Oh, um, Mr. Jesus sir, could I please have a minute of your time?  If it's alright with you, could you please help me?"  No.  Rather, she comes and SHOUTS, such is her anguish, such is her love for her daughter, such is the desperate nature of her problem--she SHOUTS at Jesus--the great cry of faith--the cry of the church for millennia--"Kyrie eleison!  Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!"  But He did not answer her a word.
          After such an impassioned plea--after a beautiful prayer of faith--one that recognizes who Jesus is--God Most High in the flesh--begging for His mercy--He remains conspicuously silent.  You could almost hear the crickets in the background.  This went on for some time.  Not to be deterred, she kept after Him--even shouting at His disciples as they passed--begging for help--begging for healing for her daughter--begging for mercy from the only One who could truly offer it.  Nothing but silence.
          Beloved, perhaps your faith has been tested like this--maybe is being tested like this right now.  You cry out in prayer, day after day, night after night, seeking mercy from the hand of the Lord--and nothing.  He seems not to answer you even a word.  No help.  No comfort.  No miraculous healing.  No miracle solution to your problem.  Just silence.  And in the darkness of our hearts, we begin to wonder whether God is truly out there--and if He is--why He is being so mean--and not giving us what we desire--when we desire it!  Fear not, dear friends.  For the Lord IS merciful!  The Lord does hear your pleas.  He will not tempt you to sin and unbelief, but He may be testing your faith, in order to strengthen it, as He did with the Canaanite woman.
          Eventually, the disciples came to Jesus and began to beg Him to send her away.  She was annoying!  She wouldn't take the hint!  Worst of all, she wouldn't stop shouting--and they were all beginning to get headaches!  Finally, Jesus stops.  He turns to her and answers at long last, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Translation.  I didn't come for you or for your problems.  You're not Jewish.  You can't expect anything from me.
          Unperturbed, this faithful woman, kneels down in worship before Him, prostrating herself in abject humility before the Lord God on High, and moves beyond the intense petition of "Lord, have mercy on me," and demands--commands Him as it were, "Lord, help me!"  This bold demand is met with yet another rebuff, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 
          Aha!  At last!  Jesus has thrown her a bone and the faith in her heart is quick to grab hold of it--quick to latch onto any hope--even the tiniest crumb!  "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  Yes, Lord, I may not be a Jew--I may have no right to demand or expect any help from you--for I am not a child of the house of Israel--I am a lowly dog--but I am still a part of your creation--and you have now promised to feed me from your table--and I will accept whatever you offer--even if it be the lowliest, meanest, smallest crumb--for the crumbs that come from your gracious hand--are more than enough to satisfy the desire of every living thing!
          Finally, at long last, after this exchange, Jesus answers her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Be it done for you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed instantly.
          Beloved, what a wonderful text for us to consider this day.  For herein we learn from the foreigner, this non-Jew, how to respond in times of trial and testing from the Lord.  We see that God would have us pursue Him even more intently, even more fervently, and especially, that God would have us cling to His promises given us in His Word--no matter how small they may appear.
          For the smallest crumb of God's promise is more gift than we can ever desire or deserve.  In our sin, we are not God's true, deserving children.  We are defilers of His name and His commandments.  What we deserve from His hand, is not mercy, but wrath and condemnation.  Yet God, in His great love, sent Jesus not to condemn, but to save the world--not just Jews--but all people--sinners like you and me, lowly dogs though we may be.
          God delights in His people holding Him to His Word.  He delights that we pick up on His promises and rejoice in them--cling to them--point them out to Him--over and over again (indeed, this is the very way in which we worship—praying, singing, saying back to God what He has already told us in His Word—this is why our Divine Service is so full of Bible verses!).  When our sins threaten to overwhelm and crush us.  When the guilt and shame weigh us down into the depths of despair.  When it seems as though God has turned against us and abandoned us--has turned a deaf ear toward our pleas for mercy and grace--we shout all the more loudly--confident in His Word of promise to us.  Though we are wretched dogs, full of sin--we are the ones precisely for whom Jesus came to set free from sin and to give life and healing.
          Like children crying out to their father, we shout, "But Dad, you promised!"  And He turns back to us, not in anger or frustration, but in joy, with a smile on His face--glad that we would hold His promise before Him and be confident in His love no matter what.
          For Christ Jesus the Lord, the promised Son of David, came to provide healing and forgiveness and mercy for you and me and all people.  He willingly chose the path of the cross, for that was the price for your redemption.  That was the price to be paid for your sin.  And the teeniest, tiniest, drop of His precious blood--was more than enough to set you free from sin and death and oppression by the devil.  Yet, in His love and great mercy, He shed it ALL!  His body and blood were given into death that you might never fear, never doubt, never question, His unfailing and perfect love for you.
          To that end Jesus provides a holy meal this day for you, whereby you may eat and drink of His body and blood in simple bread and wine--partaking of a mere crumb--a foretaste--of the great feast to come in His Kingdom, which shall have no end.  This day, you are invited, dear friends, lowly dogs--sinners all--to the banquet feast of the Lord's Table--to receive into your mouths the true body and blood of Jesus that fully forgives you all your sin and grants you life everlasting--an eternal and perfect healing. 
          When in doubt, flee to the Lord's Table--cling to the Lord's promises.  That Jesus HAS come in mercy--for you.  You have His Word on it.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

​Quinquagesima                                                                                                                                          March 3, 2019
1 Corinthians 13
 
A Loving Faith
 
v.2     And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
 
          Dear friends in Christ, we have before us as our text that beloved epistle reading that graces so many weddings.  St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13, details what Christian love is to look like.  The greater context of this passage is St. Paul speaking to the church--the entire congregation at Corinth (not to a young couple seeking marriage).  He has been encouraging them to recognize how each one of them is an individual member with different gifts who has been placed into the body of Christ (the church) to use those gifts in service to others.  All are different.  All are unique.  All are blessed.  All are necessary parts that make up the whole body of Christ's holy church.
          Love, therefore, is how we are to interact with one another.  Love, as St. Paul prefaces this passage, is "the more excellent way."  If you have tremendous gifts of speaking in tongues, prophecy, knowledge and understanding, even faith itself, but have not love, you gain nothing--you give nothing--you are empty. Love is key to understanding how we are to use our God-given gifts in service to His church and to one another.
          Interestingly, the last couple of Sundays we have been hitting some of the major themes of the Reformation rather hard.  Two weeks ago, we focused on how God saves us by His grace alone.  Last week, our attention was drawn to the power of the Holy Scriptures alone to feed and nourish our faith.  Today, we touch upon that most iconic of all Reformation slogans, "faith alone."  Ok.  So…how exactly does a passage talking about our personal works of love fit in at all with the idea that we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone?  To be quite blunt, and to use an old phrase, while "Faith alone saves, saving faith is never alone."
          Our Lutheran forefathers knew this well.  Indeed, in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article V, on Love and Fulfilling of the Law, our text is quoted frequently.  For in it, we see how Christians "are to keep the Law when we have been justified by faith, and so grow in fulfilling the Law more and more (by the Spirit)" V, 3. 
          As Christians, we recognize that we are saved by God's gracious working through Christ on the cross to earn our salvation for us.  But this does not mean that we forget about loving and serving our neighbour, be they our spouse, children, parents, friends, or even strangers or enemies.  As the great Lutheran hymn, "Salvation Unto Us Has Come," puts it (v.9), "Faith clings to Jesus' cross alone And rests in Him unceasing; And by its fruits true faith is known, With love and hope increasing.  For faith alone can justify; Works serve our neighbour and supply The proof that faith is living."
          And so dear friends--by the power of the Spirit who lives within us, planted deeply in our hearts by water and the Word—we try to love.  We love freely and fully all who come our way.  We strive as Christians to be patient and kind, not envious or boastful, neither arrogant or rude.  We never try to insist on our own way; nor be irritable or resentful.  We especially do not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rather only at the truth.  We try, by God's grace, to bear all things (those little annoying quirks that people do--or the major hurts committed against us), to believe the best of people (not speaking ill of them behind their backs); to hope for the best (not for ourselves, but for the welfare of others, from the unborn child in the womb to the elderly sick and dying in the hospital); and lastly, love endures all things (be it mockery, ridicule, pain, or suffering, even death).  We endure, confident in the love of God for us in Christ Jesus. 
          And that is the most important point, isn't it?  For no matter how feverishly we work--no matter how hard we may try--no matter how sincere our love and affection may be--it always comes up short.  Our love is never perfect.  It is always incomplete.  So the good Law of God, which demands that we "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and love your neighbour as yourself," always ends up condemning us.  The Word shows our failures.  The Word points out to us, with glaring and brilliant light, the error of our ways.  The hatred that struggles against the love in our hearts.  The darkness that wells up within and corrupts every good thing we try to do--every act of love--no matter how big or small. 
          This then leads us right back to the theme for this Sunday, which is faith alone.  For if our works of love can do us no good before God, then we must cling to the One who is and has perfect love for us--Jesus Christ.  The love of God made flesh.  He alone has a love that is patient and kind, bearing and hoping and enduring all things--for you and for me.  Out of love for you, Jesus became man.  Out of love for you, Jesus loved perfectly with all His heart--both God and man.  Out of love for you, Jesus went to the cross, to silently endure the shame, the suffering, the ridicule, the hatred and violence, the very wrath of God for sin that we deserve.  Jesus shed His blood so that you and I could receive forgiveness for all our sins.  So that you and I could be set free from bondage to the devil and everlasting death and suffering.  Jesus' love for you NEVER fails.  Jesus' love is perfect and true. 
          And it is this great love for us in Jesus Christ that moves us to greater and greater acts of love and mercy toward others--be they friend or foe.  Faith clings to the promises of God's love and mercy for us in Christ Jesus and the Spirit moves us to spread this love far and wide in all that we think, say, and do.  To be sure, our love is imperfect at best.  It falls far short of God's standard.  However, the blood of Jesus purifies even our acts of love--making them sparkle and shine with His love for us in the sight of the Father. 
          This is why, then, as Christians, we confess with the blessed St. James who wrote, "Show me your faith apart from works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18b).  Having been loved so fully and completely by God the Father through Jesus Christ our Saviour, we cannot help as Christians to then love our neighbour around us.  We share a friendly smile, we take a casserole to a sick friend, buy a stranger a cup of coffee--we go to work to support our family, we come to church to worship with our brothers and sisters--we change dirty diapers, take out the garbage, we lobby for the cause of life, and so much more!
          Often, these works of love don't look like very much.  Often, we probably don't even recognize them in ourselves or others as works of love.  However, these simple acts of love that uphold the Ten Commandments, are good works of love in God's sight, make no mistake.  He sees them and is pleased with them.  Not because you are so good, or because your work is so loving.  Rather, when the Father looks at you and your works, He sees the bloody cross of His Son--He sees His works of love and mercy poured out for all people--and so the Father smiles.  Out of love for you.  The love of Jesus purifies your love, making it sparkle and shine. 
          In the end, it is all about love.  The love of God the Father for you that moved Him to send His beloved Son, Jesus, to live, suffer and die for you.  That is a love worth believing.  That is a love worth hoping.  For "now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."  And that love is also worthy of sharing--with you, me, and all people.  For it is the love of God alone that saves.  The Love of God which alone brings life, salvation, and forgiveness.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

​Sexagesima                                                                                                                                          February 24, 2019
Isaiah 55:10-13
 
Coming Home
 
v.12   For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hand.
 
          Dear friends in Christ, it is quite the picture that the prophet Isaiah is painting for us here in our text.  A joyous return--a triumphant procession of celebration and thanksgiving.  A long line of people coming home at last, giving thanks and praise in the name of the Lord.  What is truly astounding is that this return home--this return from bondage and slavery that is pictured here--is being prophesied by Isaiah more than a hundred years before the people of Judah would even be brought low and taken away from their homeland into exile in Babylon.  And herein Isaiah is telling them how it is all going to work out for their ultimate good.
          You see, in Isaiah's day the people had forgotten the Lord God.  They had turned away from the worship of the one true God and had turned their eyes on false gods like Marduk and Baal (nothing much changed here in our day).  As such, God speaks through Isaiah to the people that He will chastise them--for their own good--so that they may see who is the one and only God who loves and cherishes them.  Therefore, He will send in judgment upon them the cruel Babylonian empire.  Their mirth and festivities will cease as they are ripped from their homeland--the promised land--and taken into a foreign wilderness for 70 years.
          Yet God's Word to His people is not only Law--it is not only condemnation and wrath--it is also Gospel--containing hope and peace.  For in Isaiah 53 there is the song of the suffering servant.  He who will come to rescue His people with personal sacrifice.  It is in view of this suffering servant that God then proclaims to His people that He will bring them out of their trials--He will deliver them from their enemies and return them home.  Despite all odds.  Despite all probabilities to the contrary--God will restore His people to the promised land--according to His grace and mercy.
          How?  How will this wondrous event take place?  Will He deliver them with some sort of triumphant army--maybe send a couple legions of his angels to rout the Babylonian army and bring His people home?  No.  Will He send 10 plagues like He did in Egypt so long before when they were in bondage to Pharaoh?  No.  How then will this incredible work of salvation be accomplished? 
          Through the Word.  "My Word that goes out from my mouth…shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."  This word of hope and peace and joy would go with the people of Israel before, during, and after their captivity.  It is what they would cling to in dark hours when despair threatened to overwhelm them--when they would begin to wonder whether God had completely forsaken them--and they would hear--and remember--and take heart and take courage.  For the Lord had promised.  And He never breaks His Word.  They would one day go home.
          Well beloved, we too, feel like this at times, don’t we?  We live in exile in this life.  Separated from God by our sin--our rebellion against Him and His Word of truth.  Separated from one another by our pride and greed and conceit.  We are surrounded by many enemies.  The world attacks us for our Christian faith.  Our governments seek to force us to ungodly behaviour and speech.  It tantalizes and tempts us to forsake God and His Word and to pursue our own vain pleasures and goals, forgetting about God and our neighbour who needs us. 
          We are beset upon all sides by the devil and his demonic host who seek to snatch faith from our hearts and devour us whole.  Turning our hearts and minds to those things that are opposed to God's Word, but are embraced by our own sinful flesh.  Indeed, our very bodies lead us astray with sinful cravings and desires, but ones which feel so good and so right. 
          How can we deny ourselves, when the world directs us to embrace all things for the sake of feeling good and the devil cheers us on?  How are we to ever come through these fiery trials and tribulations?  How are we to return home?  How are we to ever attain to our heavenly home when we are stuck in this exilic misery from which we cannot free ourselves? 
          By looking not to ourselves--by trusting not in people and things--but by focusing on the one sure and certain thing in this world and this life--the mightiest power in all the universe--the Word of God.  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth…"
          You see in Isaiah's imagery here that the Word of God accomplishes all things--from the rain and snow that water the earth--to the sprouting forth of vegetation in the Spring--His Word accomplishes everything that He purposes--His Word succeeds in the very thing for which He sent it.  What is this Word that is so powerful and does so much--promising restoration and salvation and home to people overcome by despair and weakness and death?  Why this Word is the seed of the woman promised to Adam and Eve so long ago.  This Word is none other than the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. 
          Jesus has accomplished the purpose for which He was sent:  the pardon for sin, which He won at the cross.  He gives abundantly to those from every nation who turn to Him in faith, promising them a home in His eternal kingdom.  Indeed, recall in John 14 how Jesus promised, "In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."
          Jesus prepares a place for you in heaven--and at this very altar.  A place to feed and nurture and comfort you in the midst of your trials and sufferings.  He is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 made flesh.  Our place at the table in the home of the Lord is made possible because Jesus willingly suffered spitting, mocking, whipping, nailing, bleeding, sweating, dying, and rising.  In His Supper, Jesus freely gives His broken body and shed blood for the forgiveness of sins now with the pledge of resurrection on the Last Day!
          What joy!  What promise!  This is why, even though we are beset on all sides by enemies.  Even though our situations may appear bleak at times, yet we hope and we trust.  "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace."  The Lord Jesus Christ--the Word made flesh--has accomplished this for you.  He gives you His eternal peace in the waters of Baptism wherein He claims you as His own.  And knowing how often you need to be refreshed and sustained in His Word of promise to you--He pronounces His Holy Absolution to you so that you may always rest assured of His forgiveness for all your sins. 
          Beloved, you have been caught up in the Word made flesh--who was sent from above to bring you back home--to your true home--in the presence of the Almighty, having been cleansed from all sin and restored to life everlasting--all by the blood of Jesus.  This is your joy and your peace--found only in the Word of Christ crucified and risen for you.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen

Septuagesima                                                                                                                                       February 17, 2019
Matthew 20:1-16
 
v.4     …and to them he [the master] said, "You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you."
 
          Dear friends in Christ, our text for this morning is a parable that Jesus told following an incident with a rich young man.  This man had approached Jesus asking what he must do to be saved.  Jesus told him to "keep the commandments."  The young man replied that he had kept most of them, but Jesus told him he needed to give everything he had to the poor and then follow Jesus.  This man went away sad because he had great possessions.  Jesus told His disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Astonished, they asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus said that with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.  Jesus then said, "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
          Then, to explain this concept of how the first will be last, and the last first, Jesus tells them the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, which serves as our text.  This is one of those parables that we really don't like to hear.  For it shows our own unmerciful attitude toward others, and shines a light on the darkness of our hearts.  For this parable teaches us, very clearly, that God's grace is for ALL people—at all times—everywhere.  And while most of the time we rejoice in this concept, yet there are times when we actually do begrudge the generosity of the Lord toward others.  Where we disagree with God's grace being poured out upon other sinners.
          For deep down in our sinful hearts, we think that we should all receive our just desserts.  That we should get what we deserve for our good works and deeds—even when it comes to God's salvation.  Good people ought to be rewarded for their good deeds, we think, and likewise the bad people ought to suffer for their misdeeds. 
          Now the master of the vineyard hired laborers throughout the day, agreeing with those hired first to pay them a denarius, but stating to those hired later that "whatever is right/just/fair I will give you."  At the end of the day when the laborers were paid their wage, those hired last were brought forward and received a denarius.  Those hired earlier in the day were, at first, excited, thinking that if those who worked for only ONE hour got a denarius, then how much could they possibly receive?  Five, ten, twelve!?  But when their turn came at last, they each also received a denarius for their labor.  Their excitement turns immediately to indignation—this is not FAIR!  This is not what they deserve!  "They grumbled at the master of the house, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'"
          You see, that's what it all boils down to.  We disagree with the Lord's sense of justice and fairness.  We hear this parable and can readily empathize with the perspective of the laborers who were hired first.  It's certainly NOT fair that those hired last were paid the same as those who worked the whole day long.  It's NOT fair that people can live terribly horrible lives—hurt those around them at every turn—commit horrible acts and atrocities—and yet, turn in penitent faith an hour before death—and receive the same reward as the lifelong Christian who has suffered persecution and hardship for their faith all their lives.  This teaching sticks in our throats and gets us angry, because it's NOT fair.  They are not getting their just desserts.  God should punish them and teach them a lesson—they certainly shouldn't be held up as equal to fine upstanding Christians like you and me.  It's not FAIR…it's not RIGHT…it's not JUST!
          But that is just the point of this parable, isn't it dear friends?  It's NOT fair.  It's GRACE.  God's grace.  The undeserved favour of God that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  This favour of God treats all sinful people the same.  For our just desserts, what we actually deserve from God, is not the kingdom of heaven, but rather eternal suffering in hell.  Our debt of sin should see us in perpetual suffering before a holy and righteous God.  But that's not how we think about our works, is it?  We see our good deeds as somehow being deserving of God's favor.  As though by our good works we earn a place in heaven.  What must we do to be saved?  Keep all the commandments.  Check!  Done that.  But the Scriptures are clear.  Isaiah 64:6 says, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment."  Our works can in no way merit our salvation before God. 
          Dear friends, God's grace is given to you and to me, and to all sinners, not because we have done anything to deserve it, but precisely the opposite.  That's what makes it grace!  We don't deserve God's favor.  We don't deserve His mercy and forgiveness.  We don't deserve His love and peace.  But He pours it out upon us anyway because of Christ Jesus.  He does not want to deal with us according to our deeds, but rather according to His generosity in Christ.  He who bled and died on the cross to take away our sins.  He who suffered the torments of hell in our place.  He who was first in the kingdom of heaven, but became last—became the lowliest of the low—for your sake and mine.  He gave Himself up into death—dying a sinner's death—so that He could earn a place in heaven for you and me.
          By faith in Christ Jesus alone—and not by any of our own works or deeds—we are given a place in the kingdom of heaven—we receive a very rich and great reward.  What wonderful good news!  What incredible grace and favor!  That God does not give to us as we deserve.  He does not bestow upon us our just desserts—but rather gives us the merits and worthiness of Jesus.  Indeed, in Christ, the last have become the first.  You and me—sinners all—have graciously received an everlasting reward through faith in Jesus.  You have heaven—all by the generosity of God.  He who loved you so much to send His Son in your place—to die for you—and to sacrifice His life in payment for your sin—so that you may not receive YOUR just desserts—but rather HIS just desserts.  The righteousness and goodness that is rightly his—is now yours—all by God's grace and mercy.
          So, beloved, having received this free gift of God by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we are changed.  Not only do we freely and gladly do good works to benefit our neighbor simply out of love for them, but we are also changed in how we look at others.  Having been filled with God's grace and Holy Spirit, we now rejoice in God's generosity exhibited not only to us—but to others as well—even our enemies and those who have hurt us.  For you are the last who have now become first—by God's grace.  You know the rich joy and peace that comes from knowing Christ as your Lord and Saviour.  You know the freedom from guilt and shame that only faith and trust in Christ can bring.  And you now rejoice in sharing this good news with others—that they too who are last—may also become first—by God's grace through faith in Jesus.  
          You are blessed to see people now through the lens of the cross of Christ—no longer with an evil eye filled with jealousy—but rather with the same rich generosity that God has shown you in Christ.  That you are loved and cherished by God not because of your works, but because of the work of Christ.  He who bore the scorching heat of the wrath of God for the burden of your sin—He who suffered and died and rose again—all out of love for you.  For God shows His love for you in that while you were still sinners—Christ died for you.  Now that is some graciously generous just desserts!  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.