Reformation Sunday (Observed)                                                                                                          October 25, 2020
John 8:31-36
 
v.34-36       Jesus answered them, "Amen, Amen, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free  indeed.
 
          Dear friends in Christ, we put a great deal of emphasis on freedom in our country.  We have freedom to do many things.  One of the biggest, of course, being the freedom to vote for those who govern us (there is an election coming up in the US in just a couple of weeks).  We sometimes mistakenly believe that this opportunity to choose different things--from the kinds of shoes we buy--to the leader of our country--means that we are completely free in all areas of our life.  This is simply not true.
          Particularly, for the Christian.  For we know, as people called by God, that we are not free in everything--we are not free to do anything we want--we are especially not free to sin--to rejoice and revel in it.  But isn't that sometimes what we tell ourselves anyway?  "I can sin--I can do this, that or the other thing--I can lie, cheat, and steal--just a little bit--and God will forgive me.  After all, that's why Jesus came.  To forgive.  So I can do what I want then."  But, beloved, this is not so.  As Paul writes in Romans 6, "What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means!"
          You see, continuing in sin--rejoicing in it--wrapping ourselves up in it--whatever it may be--is not freedom.  Now, it may be comfortable--our sin may sometimes feel like that old sweatshirt we keep in the closet to wear on those days when we just wanna lounge around the house and relax.  It feels just right and fits oh so well.  And, depending on the person, that sin can take any form--whether it is gossiping about our neighbour behind their back--or continuing in that adulterous relationship.  Sure, it can make us feel good at times, and we may tell ourselves that we have the right to be happy and so to act in these ways, but these are deadly lies we tell ourselves.  For Jesus says this is not freedom, but slavery.  "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin."
          When we engage in sinful activity, we become enslaved to it.  Do we have a choice not to do it?  Sure.  Just as much choice as a crack or heroin addict or alcoholic has a choice not to drink or shoot up.  But we can't help ourselves most of the time can we?  Apart from Christ and His renewing Spirit, we are addicted to our sin--we love it--and so we grow trapped by it--bound to it--no matter how much it hurts us and those around us. 
          Take a look at the evidence that is continuing to mount in our society in the wake of the sexual revolution, which began in the 1960s.  There was a tremendous push in society to "loosen up" on the sexual morals that had been so firmly set in our culture, largely based upon the Word of God.  We turned away from that and began to push the boundaries, leading to common practices like: no-fault divorce, leading to broken families; sexual promiscuity leading to children of single-parent families (usually no father), or to abortion (no children, but devastated women). 
          These things have led to further attacks on marriage and family both inside and outside the church.  People no longer want to get married, but to live together outside of the public commitment to each other.  What has been the result?  Children raised in less than ideal circumstances, if at all, as well as broken and hurting men, women, and children.  All in the name of the freedom of sexual activity.  Well, that's really turned out well, hasn't it?  Yet we just can't seem to stop ourselves, can we?  We see the writing on the wall--study after study that shows how children and families--real people--are being hurt and destroyed by these sinful activities, but we just can't seem to stop.  In fact, we want more.  We want to push the limits ever further--all in the name of "freedom."  You want to marry someone of the same sex?  Why not?  What harm can come of that?  You want to claim you are man when you are biologically a woman—why not?  Who cares about objective reality or truth?  There's no such thing!  We will all just make it up as we go along and hope for the best.
          What is the answer?  What is the solution?  Each of us have sins that we are entrapped and enslaved by.  Though they may not seem very "big" in comparison to others--anything that leads us away from God and His Word of Truth is bad for us and those around us.  These sins--like all sins--lead ultimately not to personal fulfillment and peace--but to suffering and death.  "For the wages of sin is death."
We, as slaves to sin, cannot be in God's house.  We don't deserve to be there and we can't get there on our own.  Only "the son remains forever."  We must be set free by the Son, in order to be truly free from sin, death, and the devil.
          Jesus, who is God the Son, is alone free of all sin.  He alone, as the Son, has power and authority to set you free--by the power of His Gospel Word--and His shed blood and righteousness.  His forgiving blood--poured out upon you in your Baptism makes you a new person--a new creation in Christ Jesus.  One who is not merely a pawn to sin--but one who has been freed by the Son Himself. 
          Christ Jesus has, out of love for you, shouldered the burden of your sin--the guilt of your addiction to your own pet sins and that of others--and He has taken them and borne them in His body on the tree.  Jesus has suffered and died for you so that the binding power of sin over you might forever be broken and shattered.  The chains of sorrow and guilt might be forever cast off--all because of the blood that He shed for you. 
          It is this rich and undeserved mercy of God in Christ that truly sets us free.  He frees you with His forgiveness earned by His death and resurrection.  He frees you by the power of His Word of absolution that removes all the echoes of sin that taunt and tempt you still.  He frees you by the power of the Word made flesh who gives His very body and blood for you in the Sacrament of the Altar.  So that you can come, no matter what you are facing, what trials you are being forced to endure, and you can know with absolute certainty and trust--that Christ Jesus Himself is present here, for you, right now--to forgive--to heal--to restore.  To free you of the burden and guilt of your sin--and to usher you into His house wherein you will live and abide forever by His grace and mercy.
          This message of the great freedom of the Gospel is the heart and centre of the Reformation that we celebrate this day.  Luther knew well the guilt and despair that plagues the sinner in this life.  He tried, unsuccessfully, for many years to cast off the works of the flesh by his own power and will.  He failed in epic fashion.  But upon reading in Scripture that the Gospel, "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes," he was filled with joy and happiness, as the freedom of the Gospel took hold of his heart and sin's dread curse was broken by faith in the blood of Jesus. 
          We, too, beloved, have a blessed opportunity to share this Good News with people in our own families, in our workplaces, our friends and neighbours, with our brothers and sisters in Christ beside us in the pew--with people who are broken--who are suffering and dying.  We have the joy and privilege of sharing with them that in the end, it's all about Jesus.  Jesus who is our Lord and God.  Jesus who is our Redeemer and Saviour.  Jesus who alone has set us free from bondage to sin, death and the devil--delivering us to true life and freedom in His Word and will.  Freedom that rejoices in God's Word and wants to serve our neighbor in love.  Freedom that flows ever and only from the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Trinity 19                                                                                                                                               October 18, 2020
Matthew 9:1-8
  
v.2     And behold, some people brought to Him [Jesus] a paralytic, lying on a bed.  And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
 
          Dear friends in Christ, this past week was Canadian Thanksgiving—always a good time to ponder again what it is that we are thankful for—the many gifts and blessings that we have received this past year—and they are many!  Too many to count.  But have you ever gotten something that you weren’t too crazy about?  Have you ever received a gift from someone, expecting one thing, and then totally surprised to discover something completely different?  Like when you get your Christmas bonus and discover not a check, but rather a coupon for the jelly-of-the-month club.  What is your typical response?  “Gee...thanks!...I think?”
Well, we have before us this day a text which deals with similar circumstances.  We have a man—a paralytic—whether born this way—or perhaps due to some injury he sustained later in life, we do not know.  But this man is brought before Jesus by his friends.  He is brought forth with the hope of healing on all their minds.  This is Jesus, after all!  This is the One who has been performing great miracles and wonders throughout the land that they have heard so much about.
Jesus sees them approach with the man lying on the bed—and let’s be honest—it’s quite obvious what they want Jesus to do for him.  So they bustle forward with smiles on their faces, grinning expectantly.  But what does Jesus do?  He surprises them all with a gift that they didn’t even realize they wanted nor desired—when He “saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart (take courage, be of good cheer), my son; your sins are forgiven.’”  You can almost see them struggle to keep the smiles on their faces at such a pronouncement.  Really Jesus?  We did all this work bringing our friend to you and this is all we get?  Some trite words!  The man is a paralytic for crying out loud!  He needs help.  He can’t work, he can’t walk, can’t care for himself, let alone his family—he needs healing.  So...gee...thanks...for nothing.
Beloved, don’t you often feel the same way?  Don’t we often feel let down by God when we pray and we pray and we pray and yet nothing seems to happen—or something completely contrary to what we had hoped and prayed for occurs.  Sometimes, we get so distracted by the earthly blessings of God—and there are many—that we forget just how important the spiritual blessings are from God.  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, pastor—heard it all before—we’re all a bunch of sinners going to hell—yada, yada, yada, yada—yes Jesus died for me—same old, same old.  But what I really need is a way to fix my relationship with my spouse, my kids—I need to get a handle on my finances—I need to know the election is going to turn out all right.”
And so, we come to worship expecting one thing—and receiving another—and we end up being disappointed.  We wind up forsaking the good gifts of God in the Divine Service wherein He descends to us to give us what we need most—the forgiveness of sins.  Yes, I know you’ve heard it all before—and you’re going to hear it again—precisely because Jesus says this is what matters most.  You and I are dead in our trespasses and sins—destined to everlasting damnation in hell apart from His grace and mercy.  We are paralysed by our sin and cannot help ourselves.  But God in Christ has come before us to give us that which we need most desperately—Jesus Himself—who came in human flesh to reach us with His mercy and forgiveness through His own shed blood on the cross.
And you see, Jesus isn’t through with the paralytic in our text yet, not by a long shot.  For in the crowd watching this drama unfold was a group of scribes—close friends of the Pharisees—and they were shocked by what they had just heard Jesus proclaim to the paralytic man!  For no one can forgive sins, but God alone—this man is blaspheming—speaking ill/falsely of God—a grave sin indeed.
To be sure, what Jesus said would have been a terrible sin, if He did not have the authority to forgive sins.  Of course, only God can forgive sins—but this is exactly who Jesus is—God in the flesh—who comes to dwell among us—who richly dispenses His gifts of forgiveness of sins, which further leads to life and everlasting salvation—in Word and Sacrament.  Think about it.  The almighty God of the universe deigns to come to you—descend to you—on the ladder of the body and blood of Christ in bread and wine.  He comes to you—in your mouth—to proclaim to you, individually, with utmost certainty—that you are a forgiven child of God despite your great sin. 
That is why this text should give us great comfort and consolation all the days of our lives—especially when we are burdened with our sins.  For herein we see Jesus act decisively to help sinners in need.  As we have seen before, Jesus neither does what is requested nor expected—at least, at first.  He forgave the sins of the paralytic man—and then to prove to the scribes and everyone else that He indeed had the authority to do so—Jesus then healed the man and commanded him to take his bed and go home. 
For sure, it is easier for men to announce that one’s sins are forgiven than to heal a broken body with a word, but Jesus is God and Lord and His Word accomplishes both.  What He speaks happens.  And what is more, is that He has given this authority to men.  This is what the purpose of the office of the holy ministry is all about—to forgive people their sins.  This is why pastors never proclaim absolution based upon their own authority—but solely on Christ’s—it is in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ—at His authority—and in His name—that you are forgiven all of your sins.  Otherwise, we would be blaspheming the holy name of God.  But because He has instructed us to do so—we give glory to Him and His name by forgiving sinners according to His Word.
Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven you in His Word of Absolution—His washing of regeneration in Holy Baptism—and His Supper of His own shed body and blood that He gave up into death on the cross to pay for your sins and mine.  He reaches you with His gifts of love and mercy over and over again—that you may be comforted and assured of His love for you, His dear children, all the days of your life. 
Do you sometimes want something more?  Do you want some miraculous sign of God’s favour—His healing of your broken soul?  Of course you do, we all do.  And that is why He comes in the tangible and concrete means of grace.  So that when you hear the pastor absolve you—you know and believe that it is the very same as if Jesus Himself stood before you to forgive you your sins.  So that when you doubt your salvation—when you question God’s love for you—you can look to that which is outside of yourself in the waters of your Baptism.  So that when the devil seeks to undermine your faith by pointing out your many grievous faults and whispers seductively in your ear that because you are such a sinner God could not possibly love you or be your Father—then you can with all confidence say, “Get behind me Satan.  For I am a baptized child of God.  He has claimed me as His own—marked me as His child with the cross of Christ—and washed me clean of all sin—Jesus is mine and I am His—so begone!”
Furthermore, as Jesus came in the flesh to heal the paralytic, so He also comes in His body and blood to forgive you all your sins in, with, and under the bread and wine of holy communion.  Know that as you come before this altar to receive this holy meal, which Christ died to procure for you, He is coming to each of you, individually, physically, tangibly, to forgive and restore your soul.  And when your sins are crushing you with their weight—when the guilt threatens to overwhelm you—then you can receive the Lord’s body and blood with joy—knowing that in this meal you are pardoned for all your iniquity.  Knowing as well, that you can come to your pastor at any time and privately confess the guilt of your sin and hear Christ’s forgiving Word for that sin preached right into your ear! 
What joy!  What blessing!  What assurance!  For God graciously gives us all good things—and particularly that which we need most.  He has descended from on high in the flesh to open heaven’s gates for us.  Taking the evil from our hearts and giving us His holiness and righteousness instead.  What a gift!  What a treasure!  And He has given this authority to men.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Trinity 18 – Canadian Thanksgiving                                                                                                     October 11, 2020
Matthew 22:34-46
  
v.36-40       “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord our God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it:  You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
 
          Dear friends in Christ, we have a fascination with gold.  Indeed, it is one of the most sought after of all precious metals—we wear it as jewellery—we even put it on books—anything that we value highly.  It is for this reason that a medal fashioned from gold is awarded to those who do the very best in a competition—like at the Olympic games.  We refer to those things that are the very best as being “golden” or give them the “gold” stamp of approval to show our appreciation of their great worth.
          Such is the case in our text for today where Jesus quotes Old Testament Scripture to summarize the whole of the 10 Commandments—the Law—to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbour as yourself.  In fact, this perfect summary of God’s Law is so precise and without fault as to be called “golden” because it stands at the very heart of the golden rule of “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  Doing unto others in such a fashion is nothing more than loving them as you love yourself.   And this love for others must always first be rooted in love for God.  Without love for God there is no true love for others—only love for the self.
This command truly outshines all others.  It is one rule that all people are to follow and uphold as they live their lives.  Indeed, if everyone actually lived their lives by truly loving God and therefore by extension, each other, perfectly as our Lord commands, the world would not just be a better place—it would be perfect—and we would be too.
          Of course, therein lies the problem.  For you and I are not perfect.  Far from it.  Rather than shining brightly with the purity that God demands in His good Law—we tarnish and ruin it with our disobedience—our rebellion and sin.  We cannot keep the whole of the 10 commandments perfectly because of our sin corrupted natures—let alone even one.  We ardently fail to love God and neighbour even remotely close to how God so fully loves us.  Though it sounds so basic—so simple—love—yet we are incapable of doing it perfectly.  Sure, we may have glimpses of it now and then, but the all-pervasive, all-encompassing, never failing love that God would have us live before Him and our neighbour?  Not possible.
          Among our many sins, none is more grievous than our failure to love God above all else (the first commandment, you may recall, specifically outlines this).  If we could keep this one commandment—all others would follow suit, but we fail continually at this.  And this simple fact illustrates for us very well that “love” is NOT the Gospel.  You heard me correctly—love is not the Gospel.
          I know that we are often told and frequently come to believe that love is the answer to all of life’s problems—that love will always win the day.  But dear friends, consider our text for this morning—love is not Gospel—but Law.  Especially when it is referring to our love for others—God or neighbour.  And even God’s love for us—though indeed a part of the Gospel—the motivation behind the Gospel—is not the Gospel in and of itself.  What is the Gospel—the Evangel—the Good News we are to proclaim?  Nothing other than God dead on a cross in the person of Jesus Christ His Son—for your sins and mine—and risen victorious on the Third Day to grant us life everlasting.
          Now that is truly Good News.  For we do not love as we ought.  In our fallen state, we often hate God and neighbour—focussing only on our own selfish desires and lusts.  Indeed, we can and do turn all things into idols of convenience—trusting in them—fearing them—loving them—rather than God.  And the only solution to our vast problem of sin is one of rescue—one of salvation—not by our own hand—not by the hand of our neighbour—but only by the nail-pierced hands of Jesus of Nazareth.  He who went to the cross in your place—who suffered and died for your sin—not because He had to—but because out of love—He chose to—so that you might one day live eternally with Him in His Kingdom.
          So thanks be to God that He does not respond to our selfishness—our disobedience—our idolatry—by reciprocating.  Indeed, He does not treat us as our sins deserve, but rather pours out upon us the full measure of His grace and mercy.  He alone loves fully—completely—perfectly.  He alone has loved you as you NEED to be loved.  Indeed, He loves you better than you love yourself for He gives you not what you want—but what you need.  For He has given you His greatest gift—His only-begotten Son.  And Jesus saved you—not with precious metals such as silver and gold, but with His holy, bitter, innocent suffering and death—wherein He shed His precious and holy blood on the cross—so that you and I might be forgiven for all our sins.
          For the pure righteousness of the Son of God—He who obeyed and fulfilled not just the First Commandment—but all of God’s perfect and holy Law—even the Law of Love—has been given to you, by grace, through faith, in the same Lord Jesus Christ.  Though your sin tarnished and corrupted your soul beyond all recognition—leaving you dead and gone—yet Christ has sought you out like you are the most precious of all buried treasures—and with His redeeming power He has breathed into you new life—removing your heart of blackness and death—and giving you a heart of gold—a heart set on Him and His work for your salvation. 
          Jesus’ blood that was poured out on you in your Baptism has taken away the tarnish and taint of  your sin—and replaced it with the resplendent brilliant and pure holiness and righteousness of the sinless one of God Himself.  Jesus covers your multitude of sin with His own purity.  He has washed everything else away in the cleansing crimson tide of His blood.  And that is golden.  That is what we as Christians must always remember and keep foremost in our minds—the cross of Christ and His work that has saved us—nothing more—nothing less.  And all of it a free gift—Now that’s Good News—THAT’S the Gospel!
          Dear friends, you have won!  You have won the gold prize—that of eternal life and salvation—not by anything that you have done—but by believing in the One who has done it all for you—the One who loved you without end—fulfilling the whole Law of God perfectly in your place—and dying for the times you have failed in your keeping of the Law—Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

​LWML Sunday – Rev. Krueger                                                                                                              October 4, 2020
Matthew 21:33-46
 
Kingdom People Produce Kingdom Fruit
 
          Dear friends in Christ, Georgia is well-known for the delicious peaches that the state’s people produce. Thus, it is known as the Peach State.  In the State of Washington, one would most likely think of apples. Similarly, a mention of Florida would bring oranges to mind. In fact, all 50 of the United States have an official fruit associated with their State, ranging from pears to blueberries to strawberries, even huckleberries. The point is that each State is known for the fruit that its people produce.
          Just as States are known by the fruit each produces, the kingdom of God is recognized by the fruit its people produce. Of course, this fruit is different than that which is found on common branches or vines. Kingdom people produce kingdom fruit.  
          The production of kingdom fruit is a very special task given to kingdom people by the almighty God. The importance of this task cannot be over-stressed, especially when one considers the task has been taken away from others who failed at its production. This is what is taught in the Gospel reading appointed for today from Matthew 21. Let’s take a closer look at this Word of God.
          The context of this reading is provided in Matthew 21:23, which reads as follows: When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
          Jesus addresses this immediate question by replying (as recorded in verses 24–27):  Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
          In this context, Jesus teaches the lesson of our Gospel reading, which was directed at their refusal to acknowledge and believe in Him as the promised Messiah. He teaches the parable and the wicked tenants, concluding with,  Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
          Furthermore, the Gospel reading records, in Matthew 21:45, When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parable, they perceived that he was speaking about them.). Their perception was correct. The chief priests and the Pharisees had not been producing kingdom fruit. Now, they were rejecting the very Son of God and would be the ones who would be responsible for His death. They were following the pattern of their forefathers who had rejected the prophets and their message, which prophetic message was now being fulfilled in Jesus.
          The result of their actions was stated very clearly and emphatically by Jesus. He stated in no uncertain terms, Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits (Matthew 21:43). These words of rejection spoken to those who denied Jesus also carry special emphasis for those being given the kingdom of God. The emphasis of His message is just as strong to the new tenants. Simply stated, The kingdom of God will be … given to a people producing its fruits. What does this mean? Fruit production is expected of kingdom people. Or, as the theme of this message states, “Kingdom people produce kingdom fruit.”
          Through Word and Sacrament, by God’s grace in Christ Jesus, we are made the new people of the kingdom. We truly did not deserve this honored position. As the Scriptures declare, we were enemies of God. But in this state, God reconciled us to Himself. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome, While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son (Romans 5:10a). Through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus, we receive this reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins. In the waters of Baptism, sins are washed away and faith is given.
          By faith, then, we believe in Jesus as the Son of God. By faith, then, we are tenants of God’s kingdom. By faith, then, we bear fruit for the kingdom. This is in accord with the words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans, where he wrote, Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God (Romans 7:4).
          Let there be no doubt. To be kingdom people is a gift. The words of Jesus are clear. The kingdom of God is “given.” At the same time, let it be equally understood. The production of kingdom fruit is the expectation of kingdom people. As Jesus taught in the parable, the master will let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons (Matthew 21:41b).
          This is not a new expectation for kingdom people. It was declared of old by the prophets, as recorded in Isaiah 5: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes (Isaiah 5:1–2). God expects good fruit from His people. The message of John the Baptist was equally clear, Bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8).
          As people of the kingdom, we are in a new state … not a State of the Union, rather, a state of righteousness … a state of the kingdom of God. In this new state, the production of our sanctified lives is kingdom fruit recognized through fruits of righteousness, namely, repentance, faith, works of faith, and in the making of disciples. The good news is that we are not left to this task without God’s help.
          As people of the kingdom of God, God graciously nurtures us and generously gives us everything we need to produce fruit for the kingdom. The words from verse 33 of the Gospel reading remind us of what the master has done: The master … planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower. All this he did before turning over the vineyard to the tenants. The master supplied everything the tenants needed to produce fruit.
          The same is true today. The Lord supplies all we need. The Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel and enlightens us with His gifts. (ref. Luther’s Small Catechism, Meaning of the Third Article of The Creed.) We are connected to Jesus, who is our lifeline for bearing fruit. This is His message in John chapter 15. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit … I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” (John 15:5a, 16b).
          God empowers us through Word and Sacrament for this very purpose. Being fully nurtured by Him, we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10).
          The question is, as stated in The Lutheran Study Bible related to Isaiah 5, “Does the fruit of your service match the generosity of His nurture?” (ref. Lutheran Study Bible, page 1096) As Jesus declared, Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more (Luke 12:48).
          God has been abundantly generous to us, His people. We lack nothing for the work of His kingdom. Yet, we all too often find ourselves making excuses instead of producing fruit. We even fall into the trap of the original tenants in the parable. We believe that what we possess is ours! Meanwhile, the psalmist reminds us, The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1).
          We have the warning of what happens to those who do not respond to His generosity, those who reject His Word and His Son, and those who do not produce. The kingdom will be taken away. Therefore, with repentant hearts and forgiven lives, we do well to heed the words of Colossians 3:17: Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
          For those to whom the kingdom has been given, it is fruit production season. This is what kingdom people do. By God’s grace, this is what the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) does. It is well known for its emphasis on fruit production, as expressed in its pledge as it begins, "In fervent gratitude for the Savior's dying love and His blood-bought gift of redemption we dedicate ourselves to Him with all that we are and have; and in obedience to His call for workers in the harvest fields, we pledge Him our willing service wherever and whenever He has need of us. "(© 1955 LWML authored by Rev. Harry Fricke)
          From churches to communities to the world, these Lutheran Women in Mission are well known for gathering mites for mission grants in their home districts and global work abroad. Their hands-on labors expand from congregation to community and around the world. The LWML is a blessing to many. “Kingdom people produce kingdom fruit” fits well the description of their purpose and mission.
          In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Every healthy tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:17). As followers of Jesus, God makes us healthy in Christ. We are in the right state, namely His kingdom. We are in the right season, the fruit-producing season. So, Kingdom People, “Produce Kingdom Fruit!” Bear forth the fruits of repentance, faith, and works of faith. Go, make disciples. May the kingdom of God be recognized by our fruit! To God alone be the glory! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.
 
 

​Trinity 16                                                                                                                                          September 27, 2020
1 Kings 17:17-24 and Luke 7:11-17
 
Jesus:  Funeral Crasher
 
1 Kings 17:22-24 “And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah.  And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.  And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother.  And Elijah said, ‘See, your son lives.’  And the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is true.’”
Luke 11:13-16     “And when the LORD saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’  Then He came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still.  And He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’  And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.  Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has arisen among us!’ and ‘God has visited His people!’”
 
          Dear friends in Christ, some years ago a popular movie came out called The Wedding Crashers.  In this movie two men who were good friends impersonated distant relatives at weddings in order to gain access to the reception festivities and all the pretty women.  These men rudely interrupted the planned activities of the receptions with their silly antics—partaking of food, fun, and fellowship to which they had not been invited.  They “crashed” the wedding receptions, hence the title for the film. 
          Well beloved, in a certain way our texts deal with “crashers” of a different sort—ones that in the end, however—would be most welcome.  We have in our Old Testament and Gospel readings for this day two of the most amazing accounts in all of Holy Scripture—two children—two boys—the only sons of their mothers—both die—one from some kind of illness—the other from unknown circumstances—and yet, miraculously, have their lives restored.
          Tragedy can strike anyone, anywhere, anytime.  We have witnessed a host of tragedies in recent weeks and months:  wildfires, riots, storms, hurricanes, pandemics, etc.  Some of you have felt the terrible loss and heartache and sorrow that death brings with it.  Some of you have stared death in the face like these two mothers and so you know the absolute devastation and pain the death of a loved one can and does bring into our lives. 
          Beloved in Christ, death is one of our greatest enemies.  Death is something that affects us all—that afflicts us all.  We are all—at this very moment—from the very youngest to the very oldest of us—dying.  It is not something that we can escape—try though we may with vitamins, diet and exercise, and miracle drugs. 
          How many of us don’t long for a loved one who has died to be back with us once again?  How many of us have prayed for God to have pity on us—to give us a miracle—as He gave to these two widows in our texts?  How many of us wouldn’t love to see our beloved spouse, sibling, parent, child, or friend walk through the doors of this church right now and come in and sit down next to us and join us in worship?  How many times have we prayed for this same miracle—and seemingly been turned down?
          We hate death—it hurts us very deeply—and no wonder!  It isn’t natural.  It goes against all of God’s good creation—a creation that He made for the purpose of life.  Death is the destruction and corruption of everything good that God has made.  Death is the ultimate result for our sin.  How do you know you live in a sinful and fallen world?  Look at the flowers in your garden that are dying or already dead.  How do you know that people are sinful and unclean?  Look at the obituary column in the newspaper—go take a walk through the cemetery—go talk to the doctor and ask him or her how many years you might have left to live—all these things will tell us that we, too, will one day die—and so, we too, are sinners.
          What did the widow cry out to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God?  You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!”  She understood.  She got it.  She saw the deep connection between sin and death.  Can you imagine how these poor women felt?  How frustrated, angry, and hurt?  I’m sure many of you can. 
          And yet, notice how God graciously responds in both of our texts for this day.  In the first, His chosen prophet, Elijah, beseeches the Lord to restore the life of the son—and the Lord of life (the pre-incarnate Christ) listened and gave the life of the son back to him.  In the Gospel reading, Jesus (the Incarnate Christ) comes upon a funeral procession already in progress.  All the arrangements had been made—all the food had been prepared for afterward—all the family and friends had gathered as they went on their sorrowful march to bury the recently departed.  And then Jesus comes on the scene and crashes the funeral—with a few words He brings life in the face of death—brings joy in the face of sorrow.
          In each case, after suffering a terrible and heart-wrenching loss—against all hope—against all human reason and understanding—death is reversed and life is restored!  Can you imagine the joy?  Can you imagine the tears of sorrow being replaced with tears of great happiness?  The food that had once been prepared for a mournful occasion—now is celebratory food!  It’s party time!  For Jesus has entered into the picture and brought light and life for all!
          Dear friends in Christ, the Good news for you this day is that this hope—this victory over death is yours as well—it belongs to you already!  For by faith in the Son of God—who willingly embraced death—all death—yours and mine and all sinful humanity’s—into His flesh on the cross—has triumphed over the grave.  He paid the full penalty for all your sin—He suffered the just punishment of God—the full and eternal death that rightly belonged to you and me—He took upon Himself and He swallowed it whole. 
          For though death thought it had Jesus—though death thought it had won—it found it couldn’t contain Him when on the third day He rose again in victory and triumph over all our worst enemies of sin, death and hell.  “Where, O grave is thy victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  It is gone.  Removed by the shed blood of Christ and His resurrected flesh.  Body and blood that we eat and receive this day and each week we gather for the full forgiveness and pardon for all our sins—giving us life—true and eternal life—in the Son who was first raised to eternal life. 
We now share in all His blessings—His righteousness—His love and mercy.  Having been baptized into His name—we and all believers rejoice that death no longer has any hold over us.  Death is but a shadow through which we pass on the way to new and everlasting life with Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. 
What did the people shout out after Jesus raised the widow’s son at Nain?  “God has visited His people!”  Dear friends, God has truly visited you in His rich grace and mercy.  Just as Elijah spread himself over the widow's son three times in the Lord's name to bring him life, so also when you were baptized into God's triune Name of Father Son and Holy Spirit, He placed His seal upon your brow with water—marking you as His own—marking you as one for life—not death.  For He took your death to the cross and nailed it there with your sin—leaving you free from all suffering, sin, death, and hell.  This gift He gives not just to you, but to all baptized believers.
He visits you again this day with His Word of absolution and with His own divine body and blood in bread and wine to strengthen this new life—this forgiveness—until life everlasting.  Indeed, Jesus is a God who is ever with us and near us.  Through all our suffering, grief, and trials.  Through all our sorrow, heartache, and pain.  Throughout our life—even into our death—He has come so that we might be safe in His loving arms forever.
And, as we look forward to gathering around His altar—His table—and receiving this food for the celebration of life and forgiveness that He has to give us through His own holy body and blood—remember that this day—and, indeed, every day—we worship not alone—but with all the saints in heaven and on earth. 
Those who have gone before us in the faith.  Those who have departed from this earthly life to the new and everlasting life the Lord Jesus promised and gave in His Baptism—those who await with us all the second coming of our Lord and the resurrection of their bodies to full and eternal life—they are here—gathered together with us—to worship the Lamb of God who has come among us to bring us life and light eternal.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus, the ultimate funeral crasher.  Amen.

​Trinity 15                                                                                                                                          September 20, 2020
Matthew 6:24-34
 
Anxious Seekers
 
v.33-34       But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
 
          Dear friends in Christ,  according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada, "Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illness affecting Canadian adults.  The 12 month prevalence for any anxiety disorder is over 12% and one in four Canadians will have at least one anxiety disorder in their lifetime."[1]  And no wonder.  What with financial stresses ever increasing for families as well as retirees, we often may find ourselves wondering how we are going to make it to the end of the month after the money has all run out.  And then there's deadly and debilitating diseases that may strike anyone, anytime, anywhere—especially COVID 19 and the social isolation that has come with it; not to mention Christians facing suffering and death for their faith; plus, the everyday worries we have for our children, parents, friends, acquaintances--those who are sick--those who are dying --it's no wonder we are so stressed!
          Add to the fact that even here in North America where we have so much material wealth, but bad things--evil--still strikes--and it doesn't discriminate based upon how big your bank account may be--or how good a family life you may have.  We don't know what will happen in the future.  Cancer strikes.  Bullying happens both at school and the workplace.  Pressures mount as our relationships between family and friends are strained because we often say and do bad things to each other—or we disagree about politics or religion.  Oh sure, we may try to plan--we try to be prepared--but there's no telling when you may walk out your door and get hit by a bus!  And so we are scared.  We are scared of the unknown.  We are frightened that we will suffer and God will not be there for us.  The temptation to sin and despair grabs hold of us.
          Into this situation speaks our Lord Jesus.  During His great Sermon on the Mount He tells the assembled people, "do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?..."
          Jesus tells us to trust in the Father to mercifully provide for our every need. Unbelievers may run around like chickens with their heads cut off--searching to and fro for every good thing--but the Christian is called to patiently trust in the good promises of the Father to give us all good things.  Place your trust in God--seek first His kingdom and righteousness--and all these things will be added on to you--more will be given to what you have already received at His gracious hand.
          However, this is easier said than done.  For this goes to the heart of the First Commandment--to have no other gods before Him--but to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things—to do otherwise is to sin against God.  Those who perfectly fear, love, and trust in God have no worries--no anxiety--no stress--for they immerse themselves completely in the promises of God for them in Christ Jesus.  They trust God absolutely to provide for them in every way--even as He already has in Jesus. 
          But there's the rub, isn't it?  We are sinful and frail human beings.  We are constantly at war over ourselves--seeking to be our own God--seeking to be in control.  We have a very difficult time giving over all things to the Lord because we just can't find it within our sinful hearts to trust Him as we ought.  We would much rather trust in mammon--trust in our bank accounts--trust in our friends--trust in modern medicine—even our political leaders!—anything else than God alone.
          But Jesus' words to us are not empty and meaningless.  He does not speak to us simply to hear the sound of His own voice.  He speaks to us, those of little faith, to comfort us with the absolute love of God that has a depth beyond our human understanding.  He who so wondrously feeds the tiniest bird of the air--He who so beautifully clothes the grass of the field (which will only wither and die)--He is the same God who made you--formed you in your mother's womb--and has promised to care for you all the days of your life.
          There is sufficient evil each day that plagues us without us worrying at it--picking at it--obsessing over it--which leads us to lose sight of the mercies of God given to us Christ Jesus.  Which is precisely what the devil wants.  He wants us to focus so much on the misfortune that comes into our lives and affects our friends and families--that we lose hope in Christ--fail to trust in His promises given to us in His Word.  Satan tempts us to believe that the great evil in the world is proof that God does not love us--has abandoned us--that the misery and stress we feel so deeply is a result of God's punishment and disfavour.  "Look around you!" Satan snidely declares.  "Fires burning out of control, continuing riots in cities around the world, hurricanes, wind storms, not to mention COVID!  You're all doomed because God hates you and has deserted you!"
          But Christ tells us this is not the case.  The Father loves you.  The Father has promised to provide for you in your every need.  His love for you is deeper than the deepest ocean--higher than the tallest mountain.  If He cares so much about simple birds and grass--how much more does He personally care for you! 
          For you see the Father did not send His Son into the world to become a bird or a flower--but He came to take on your human flesh--to carry the burden of your sin upon His own flesh and blood shoulders--and to go to the cross and give up His body and life unto death--all for you.  The Father has already provided for all of your eternal needs in the person and work of Jesus Christ who alone has trusted completely in the Father and who now credits His perfect life of fear, love, and trust in the Father--to you--by faith in Him. 
          Christ Jesus comes to you in the midst of your misery and despair--your anxiety and worry (your sin and death)--and He comes to give you His peace and joy which the world cannot know apart from faith in Christ.  A peace rooted firmly and solidly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the salvation of your eternal souls. 
          Now you and I might find ourselves wrestling with this from time to time--maybe more often than not.  We may seek after God in stressful circumstances wondering, "Where are you God?  Where are all those promises and reassurances you have given me?  Cause right now I'm having a hard time finding them!"  In those times you must look to Christ and His cross.  There the love and mercy of the Father is--for you.  Poured out in the innocent and holy blood of Jesus that has bought you back from sin and death--from your unbelief and doubt and worry--from your focus on mammon. 
          The Holy Spirit, working through His established means of grace in Word and Sacrament--comes to you to build up your faith.  To lead you to trust in Him to care for you in all times and necessities.  He reminds you of the way in which He cared for the widow at Zarephath and her family--even as He also provided for Elijah His servant.  Her jar of flour did not run out--nor did her jug of oil become dry.  Miraculously, the Lord provided for them all--because of His mercy and love. 
          The same Lord continues to care for you and provide you with all that you need.  In Jesus Christ you have received the full forgiveness of all of your sins and the sure and certain promise of everlasting life and salvation.  So that now you have been freed from worry and are enabled to do good with your material resources to all those in need, particularly your brothers and sisters in Christ.  For Christ Jesus has overcome all evil--all misfortune--by His bloody cross and passion--and gives you salvation and life.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.


[1] http://anxietycanada.ca/english/pdf/kirby.pdf

Trinity 11                                                                                                                                                                                       August 23, 2020
Luke 18:9-14
 
v.14b For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
 
Dear friends in Christ, you have no doubt heard of the celebrated story written by Jane Austen, entitled, Pride and Prejudice.  A story of two young people who fall in love, yet refuse to admit their love because of their selfish pride and prejudice they hold against one another.  Today, we see in our text another story concerning pride, Pride and Prayer. 

At first glance we might find it difficult to believe that one could be prideful in their prayers—yet, here Jesus lays it before us plainly and simply as He tells a parable about two men who went to the temple to pray.  His audience for this story?  “Some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.”

The Pharisee, principle character number 1, thought that he was, indeed, number 1 in everything.  In his prayer, God gets short shrift, the briefest of introductions, and then he proceeds to go on and on...about whom?  Himself!  “Oh, I thank you God that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.”  In our language, he is saying, “Thank you Lord for making me, me.  I am such a great guy.  I don’t take other people’s belongings, I deal fairly with people, I don’t cheat on my wife, nor am I like this crooked government lackey over here.  I am such a good guy—you should be thankful that I am your follower.”

The second principle character in this story, the tax collector, does not pray in the same manner at all.  He cannot even bring himself to look up to heaven when he prays, he feels so absolutely unworthy and low.  He keeps his eyes downcast and beats upon his own chest, chanting, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”  He does not plead his case before God.  He does not set forth any good works—rather, he accuses himself of being precisely that which God cannot abide—a man consumed by sin—but then he pleads to God for the one thing that he needs most—mercy!

Which one of these two men was prideful?  Which was humble?  Which one went home justified before God—declared righteous by His grace and power?  The one who repented of his sin and relied on the mercy of God for his own sufficiency. 

Yet, let’s be honest, though we would often like to think of ourselves as acting like/praying like the tax collector in this story—in reality—whom do we more often reflect in our lives?  The Pharisee.  It is so easy to get caught up in one’s own pride.  We may not go to the extreme that the Pharisee did in our text, blatantly and openly condemning the sins of others and puffing ourselves up.  No, we tend to be more subtle—listing our good qualifications—“I was born and raised in the church...I taught Sunday School...I tithe every week...I sang in the choir...I served on council for many years in all different capacities!”  All of which may be well and good on their own, but when we begin to take pride in these things—when we begin to look at them as our accomplishments—our works—that God should look kindly towards us because of them—we cross the line.  We cross the line from prayer—to pride—which leads to hell and damnation.

For those who view themselves with pride and self-righteousness refuse to confess our sin to God—even fail at times to regard our sin as sin.  Sometimes, it seems as though we think God must grade on a curve.  “I may not be perfect God, but I am better than so-and-so sitting three pews back—he doesn’t even serve on church council!  And I am certainly better than my unbelieving, heathen neighbour who can’t keep his dog from pooping on my lawn!  I don't get involved in violent riots, and I try really hard not to be racist.  Really, God, I’m a pretty good person—you should be proud to have me as your follower.” 

Yet, what does Jesus tell us we are to say?  In Luke 17:10, He says, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”  Furthermore, the prophet Isaiah had some harsh words for those who thought their good works were so great when he says (64:6), “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.  We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”  Our so-called “righteous deeds”—our very best of our good works—are like a polluted garment—the Hebrew literally means, like a soiled feminine hygiene product.  You think your works are so great and wonderful?—try placing those before the throne of the Almighty and see where they get you!

There is only one thing that we can do, dear friends, as people who are filled with pride and sinfully selfish desires.  Repent.  Repent and throw ourselves down before the mercy seat of God, begging for His mercy, not because we deserve it—not because we have earned it with our good deeds—but solely for the sake of Jesus Christ and His work and sacrifice for our sins.
For we are not to hold ourselves up in comparison to other people—we are held to a much higher standard—that of God’s perfect and holy Law.  When we look into the mirror of the Law we see nothing but our own sin and degradation before us and we also know that we are fully deserving of nothing but the Lord’s wrath and fury over sin.  We dare not look down at others and their sin with self-righteous arrogant pride—for we truly are no better—no different—in the face of God’s Law. 

Since there is nothing good in us we are then led by God’s Spirit to repent of our sin and beg for God’s grace and mercy on account of Christ and His cross.  For God is, indeed, ready to bestow mercy generously on even the very worst of sinners—sinners like you and me—because of His grace poured out freely for you in Christ Jesus. 

Recall that it was Jesus who was humbled for you.  He took on your flesh—your sin—your death—and He suffered and died for it on Calvary’s cross.  Because He also knew of your unworthiness—your failures—your many gross sins—and He loved you just the same.  He loved you so much that He came to live, suffer, and die so that you wouldn’t have to—so that you could receive forgiveness and mercy for all your sins and be given life everlasting through faith in Him. 

By trying to rely on our own righteousness—our own works—we reject the mercy of God and insult Christ who came to win our salvation.  True prayer begins by humbling oneself before God and relying purely on His mercy because we have heard and believe the good news of Jesus our great High Priest—who bore all our sins in His own flesh to the cross to pay for them and cleanse us from all guilt and sin and death with His innocent shed blood.  For He delights in exalting the lowly—those who humbly confess their sins and receive forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. 
​
Let us pray that the Lord would lead us to deal with others in all humility and respect.  May we help them to see their sinful state before God and their salvation in Jesus Christ crucified and risen again.  For Christ did not come to purchase heaven and salvation for only a few.  No, in His own words (Luke 19:10), “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  You, me, and all people. Truly, He has had mercy on us, sinners all.  Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.