In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

The way of the Pharisee was one of judgment and condemnation. Either you kept the letter of the Law or you were an Israelite full of guile. What’s missing in the way of the Pharisee is keeping the spirit of the Law. Why do the Israelites live this way? Who is the fulfillment of the Law? Is the promised Fulfiller this Man called Jesus Christ or must they wait for another? The way we answer that last question draws a line in the sand between the kinds of judgment Christ’s disciples were familiar and the kind of judgment Jesus brings. We might say our Lord’s judgment is A RADICAL JUDGMENT.

What is so radical about forgiveness and giving to others as first was given to you? Jesus’ judgment flows from a radical way of understanding what it means to judge. Governing authorities judge according to the standard to keeping the Law in both letter and spirit. We believe the letter of the Law, but the spirit of the Law can be, and usually is, a tangible thing. We are not supposed to murder, but when we hurt or harm our neighbor in thought, word, and deed, that’s murder. We know there is no other God than the Triune God. Yet we put our idols of pride and possessions before God’s face and ask Him to bow down and worship them with us.

Jesus knows what lurks within the heart of man. He says in today’s Gospel why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,” when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! A closer look into our neighbor’s eye reveals not a mere speck, but a reflection of the plank in our own eye. It is impossible to remove a reflection of a plank from a plank less eye. The plank robs us of clear vision, even a clear vision of the sin and death welling up inside us.

It takes a hypocrite to know a hypocrite. Sinful man’s knowledge of hypocrisy is so fine-tuned that we have no problem recognizing another hypocrite when we see one. Jesus wastes no time and words pointing this out to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Hypocrisy is not just a Pharisaical character flaw. Hypocrisy is our problem too. Hypocrisy is a convenient excuse for some who do not publicly practice the Christian faith. These people say they won’t step foot in a church because everyone there, including pastor, are hypocrites. They judge others who judge, but do not believe they are under the same judgment as their fellow hypocrites!

Pharisaical judgment is a radical departure from the way our heavenly Father judges. Outside of the Holy Spirit working through Holy Scripture, we would consider God’s judgment a radical judgment. When the plank of hypocrisy is removed from our eyes, we see clearly that God’s radical judgment is not as radical as we first believed. Nevertheless, to our eyes, our heavenly Father’s judgment is radical. His judgment does not take into account our sins. Our heavenly Father’s judgment takes into account His sinless Son becoming sin for us that we might become righteous, holy, innocent, and no longer hypocrites before His face.

It’s easy to think God’s judgment is radical. Saint Paul says in today’s Epistle the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The futility that is living our life with a giant plank of wood sticking out of our eye has an end in Jesus Christ. He delivered us out of the bondage of corruption that points out everyone else’s faults except ours and into the glorious liberty of God’s radical judgment unto righteousness. Our heavenly Father declares Jesus Christ to be the ultimate hypocrite, the Pharisee’s Pharisee, in order to cleanse us from sin and, on the Last Day, change our mortal bodies into immortal bodies, free of specks and planks.

Joseph’s judgment of his brothers foreshadows Jesus’ judgment on our behalf. Joseph had every right to judge and condemn his brothers for what they did to him. Their jealousy led them to consider killing him, but instead they threw him into a pit and sold him as a slave. Jacob and his family considered him dead. What a pleasant surprise they received when they traveled to Egypt for grain but found more than grain there. They found a son and a brother, waiting to take care of them rather than condemn them. Joseph tells his family; do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

God directed Joseph’s life in order to save many people alive. Consider the joy in that sentence. The Israelites decamped from the Promised Land to Egypt in order to be saved alive later by Moses and brought into the Promised Land once again by Joshua. God the Father sent Jesus Christ into this world as a man in order to save many people alive. Jesus died on two planks of wood to remove the planks and specks of sin. Jesus rose from the dead to give us the hope of our resurrection in the flesh.

While we wait for the reign of heaven to appear before our eyes, we live in the reign of heaven hidden in simple words, water, bread, and wine. Our Father provides for us through the Means of Grace to forgive our sins and feed us with the antidote to death and hell.

The way of the Pharisee is to call Jesus a liar when He says a disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. It takes foolish boldness to say that you and I know better than our Master does. Instead of foolish boldness, God gives us patience and hope to live in His radical judgment that declares hypocrites like you and me forgiven. Believe it for Jesus’ sake.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

Grand Central Station, the elegant train station in midtown Manhattan, has over 19,000 items in their lost and found. The most popular item lost is a coat. Up to 2,000 coats a year are lost there. 60 percent of lost items are found. When a laptop computer or iPod music device is lost, close to 98 percent of them are claimed.

The one, holy, Christian and Apostolic Church, Jesus Christ’s elegant bride scattered throughout the earth, has countless numbers of people who are lost. The most popular lost person is the Christian who once believed that Jesus Christ is their Savior from sin and death, but no longer practice what they once believed. Few of these lost souls are found. When one person lost is found, Jesus says there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Our Savior Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation, our Lord’s elegant outpost of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Momence, Illinois, has 295 baptized members, yet averages around 55 people for Divine Service. Where are the 240 others? Are there still 240 others out there who are lost? Some of them we cannot find. They have moved away or refuse to remain in contact with us. Some are not here because of a personality conflict with one of us, with the current pastor, or with a previous pastor. The conflict may be years old but still festers in their mind so much that they cannot, or will not, return to this congregation.

Perhaps the most popular reason why so many are on our rolls yet never attend Divine Service is that they don’t need this congregation anymore. They have paid their debt to the Lord by having their children baptized, attending Sunday School, maybe Divine Service once in a while, and going through confirmation instruction. Once that debt of responsibility is fulfilled, then going to God’s House becomes an option rarely taken. One train of thought might be, “I know I am baptized. I know Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead. I can practice my faith from the privacy of my own home. I no longer need to go to church. I can pray from home and watch the occasional TV preacher.”

Jesus’ parable in Luke chapter 15 describes three different situations of someone or something lost that is found. The first two are things without a rational soul: a sheep and a coin. The last situation is one that hits close to home for all of us: a lost son. The sheep strays from the flock. The coin is misplaced. The son tells his father to drop dead. That is what is behind the son asking for his share of the inheritance before his father dies. The shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep behind to search for the lost one. The woman performs a thorough search of her house to find one silver coin. The son loses all his inheritance and lives with swine before coming to himself and preparing an appropriate apology for his father.

All three items are precious things to which they belong. When they are found, there is much rejoicing. If the party on earth for a lost sheep, a lost silver coin, and a lost son is something, think of the party in heaven when one lost soul repents of their sin and again believes in Jesus Christ. Yet we seem to think nothing of it. We might think it’s high time that heathen dragged their sorry self back to church. They need the Lord.

When we despise preaching and God’s Word, it’s high time we heathens dragged our sorry selves back to church. Saint Peter says in today’s Epistle be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. When Peter mentions sobriety he doesn’t mean quit drinking. Peter means stay alert; watch out for the roaring lion of sin prowling on cat’s feet right behind you. Whether it’s been one week or one decade since the last visit to church, what a Christian suffers in this world is no different from any other person.

The big difference between a Christian and the person who hardens their heart against God and His amazing grace believes Jesus Christ is the end of sin and suffering. Listen again to the prophet Micah: Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old.

God loves the lost. He pardons their sin and forgets His anger because He delights in mercy. Mercy is God’s standard default position over creation. Before the foundation of the world, God knew man would fall into sin. Our heavenly Father’s love and mercy for mankind caused Him to send His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ in the flesh into our world. Jesus Christ came to our world to destroy sin and death. He found the lost, scattered sheep of Israel, died for their sins, and rose from the dead triumphant over our satanic enemy. Jesus ascends into heaven to prepare a place for you and me at the banquet table of forgiveness and life in heaven. The life of the world to come will be a feast the likes of which you and me can only imagine.

There is a foretaste of the feast to come here in this world. This foretaste is in this chancel, where the Word of God’s mercy and love for lost sinners is proclaimed week after week. It’s stunning that more people do not want to be a part of the foretaste of the feast to come. Reasons abound why so many call themselves Christians but want nothing to do with Christ. Rather than count reasons or cast aspersions, we rejoice with God over one sinner who repents, is found by the Master, and returns to the fold.

Rather than worry about all the people who are not coming here to the church, rather than pine away for a church where the people were more active, where visitors were more frequent, and where there is a thriving youth program, let’s focus on the one sinner that repents. Rather than worship our god of numbers and size, let’s rejoice when just one sinner comes back to the faith, when just one sinner sees his need for Christ and clings to Him. That’s the way of Jesus. That’s the way of the holy Christian Church. Therefore, what if our numbers are small. Who said it would be different? Just look at Jesus’ ministry. Over half those who followed Him left Him after Jesus said He was the Bread of Life. When Jesus questioned whether the Twelve would also leave, Peter responded Lord, to Whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life.

Big Church; little Church; it’s still the Church. It’s still the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ still dwells here. Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, says Christ, there I am in the midst of them. Let’s be done with “wishing we had something better.” It’s time to be done with the negative thoughts and attitudes. Let’s put behind us the attitude that says: “We’re going to be the last people who ever come here.” It’s time to be the Church. Do what Christians do. We worship God; we serve one another in our vocations, whether that is in the home, in the church, or in our work. We pray to our heavenly Father daily, confess him in the Creeds, study His Word and grow in our knowledge and understanding of it, and most of all, we take refuge and comfort, whenever we are afflicted with the guilt of sin or the attacks of the devil, in the holy and life-saving cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Size doesn’t matter in the kingdom of heaven. What matters is when lost souls like you and me are fed with Living Bread that comes from heaven. The angels rejoice with us today as God gathers His beloved around altar, pulpit, and font in this foretaste of the feast to come. To [God] be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

(I am indebted to Rev. Paul L. Beisel for his thoughts in the last two paragraphs.)

Does Christ make absolutely no difference among sinners? Yes, there is one difference, but not such as the world makes…. God looks above all at the heart. The most serious sins which a person can commit are the transgressions of the first three commandments. If no true fear, love, and trust in God lives in the heart of man, if he is proud and self-righteous, and if he lives for himself, he is the most distant of all from God, even if outwardly he walks ever so decorously. The veneer of worldly respectability is worth nothing in God’s eyes.

Christ makes a far different distinction among sinners. Of course, He seeks all sinners, but He seeks those the most carefully and loves those the most tenderly who begin to perceive their sins, become frightened because of their wanderings, despair of themselves, and heartily desire to be shown the true way. Such were the publicans and sinners who according to our Gospel drew near to Christ, for it says of them: they drew near to hear Him. Them Christ cannot push away, even if the whole world takes offense. To take pity on them is Christ’s joy and pleasure, even if they have fallen into the greatest, most manifest, and outrageous sins….

Thus you see, my friends, what a friend of sinners Christ is. He seeks all lost. He deems no one too wicked. He is ashamed of no one, and because those who have fallen into manifest sins always come first of all to the knowledge of their sinfulness and unworthiness, He shows Himself especially gracious and friendly to them.

Oh, my friends, what comfort this is! From this you see that there is not one of us whom the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, does not seek; Christ bears all of us on His heart; He has followed us from the first moment of our life with His mercy; He would like to bring all of  us back to His Father and finally gather us into His heaven, and with the eyes of the most tender love He looks especially at those of us who have perceived their wanderings. He does not count the multitude, greatness, and grievousness of our sins in order thus to apportion the grace which He would show us; He merely asks whether we are sinners, whether we are lost and strayed. That alone moves Him to receive us (Old Standard Gospels, p. 224-225).

That all the straying might hear this blessed voice of the Gospel, Christ did not send only the holy apostles in to all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature. He also established the holy ministry by which the Shepherd-voice of Christ should sound abraod until the end of days. Christ leads people in most wonderful ways so that they get to hear the voice of their Good Shepherd in the desert of the world. To many Christ gives parents, who through Baptism laid them, even as infants, in the arms of their Good Shepherd. From their youth up Christ gave them to drink of the sweet mild of the Gospel. Others Christ led into shcools in which the young lambs are led on the pasture of the Gospel. Christ leads others, who at first wander about in the world without a knowledge of Christ and perhaps were reared in a false religion, to find Christian books, or a Christian friend, who pointed them to Christ, or a Christ spouse, and the like. Or, if the pure Gospel is not preached in their hometown or their country, Christ in a wonderful way often so directs their lives that the lost must go to another city or even another land, where they finally come to hear Christ’s voice and are found by Him.

Yet Christ’s seeking embraces even more. Since most of those, who hear Christ’s voice, have become so fond of their wrong way, that they might not leave it, Christ is not merely concerned that His Gospel is known to all the lost. they are also awakened and moved to leave their wrong way. Christ takes the destiny of all men into His hands, by which He seeks them until He finds them. Many a person’s heart clings to money and especially earthly goods. Christ then lets him remain poor or become poor again, that he might yearn for heavenly riches. Another seeks his heaven in good days and a comfortable life. Christ then sends him all manner of crosses, sicknesses, pains, and the like, in order that he might seek his true joy in Christ. Another person’s heart clings to honor. Christ lets him fall into shame and contempt. Another’s heart clings to his wife, children, good friends, and the like. Christ then thakes them from him and lets him weep at the grave of his loved ones. In other words, Christ ever guides him that he is torn from those worldly things, which might hold him back. He makes the world bitter, and awakens him to let himself be found by Christ. All the vicissitudes of life are therefore ways on which Christ goes to meet him (p. 226).

Then consider this: Jesus receives sinners, He seeks the lost. You can become unfaithful, Jesus is and remains faithful to you. You could forget Him, but He could never forget you. He says: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16). You could break the covenant of your Holy Baptism, Jesus has not broken it and can never break it, no matter how rebellious and unfaithful you have been. See, even now He has sought you again. He has again called to you: Come, you poor lost soul! Oh, do not hesitate but say: You can have me, faithful Shepherd, just as I am. You will be my Shepherd, and I will be your sheep (p. 226).

Revised considerably from 2004.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

The last thing you want at a feast is uninvited guests showing up. There may not be enough food for the invited guests. There may not be enough room for everyone. Careful plans are thrown for a loop. Rather than the uninvited guests being embarrassed, it’s the host who is embarrassed because of lack of preparation.

Jesus Christ takes this scene and turns it on its head when the uninvited losers become the guests of honor! What’s more, still there is room, even after some of those invited made weak excuses for missing the feast.

Few of us would let the opportunity for food, drink, and conversation pass. But that’s exactly what some do in our Lord’s parable. The host sends a servant to make sure those invited attend the feast. One replies I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused. Another says I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused. A third says I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. The last one invited does not asked to be excused because he has an excuse. Deuteronomy chapter 24 says When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has chosen.

Not much has changed since Jesus first told this parable. There is a Great Feast each weekend here at the corner of Second and Pine. All are invited to come to the Feast. Like those in Luke chapter 14, there are excuses. Some are better than others are. Some must work. That’s one reason why we have a Saturday night Divine Service. Other excuses could be called the product of a wild imagination. The Divine Service cuts into people’s fishing, golfing, hunting, newspaper reading, television watching, eating, sleeping, or any other -ing suffix word that can be conjured. If only those invited would be honest. If only they would not make excuses, look the pastor, elder, or any one of us in the eye and say, “I’m not hungry for what is being served”.

Here in this chancel is the Bread of Life that satisfies the hungry heart. Here in this chancel is the Medicine of immortality from the Great Physician that cures the sickness of sin. Here in this chancel is the antidote to death. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to avoid eating and drinking the Means of Grace. Perhaps it’s the menu. The bill of fare is good for some but not for others. That’s like saying your stomach is rumbling, food is on the table ready to eat, but you won’t eat because you believe your pangs of hunger are false. It’s better to go hungry than eat. After all, who knows you better than you do?

Our Lord’s parable is a reaction to a certain Pharisee who said Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! The Pharisees are invited to the Feast but they make excuse after excuse not to eat. They want to kill the Master before anyone eats the food. The Jews are invited to the Feast but many of them make excuse after excuse not to eat. Some Jews think the Master is a liar.

The same thing happens today. Multitudes are invited to the Master’s feast but won’t come because they think they know better than the Master does. Worse yet, they think they don’t need the Master’s food. Simply knowing about the Feast and believing the Feast is for them is enough.

The problem of rejecting the open invitation to the Feast is not new. Saint John writes in today’s Epistle: do not marvel if the world hates you. Still we are surprised, disappointed, stunned, and quite upset that so many people despise the Master’s Feast and the Master’s servants who invite everyone to the Feast. The Master then invites the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind to the feast but still there is room. Last of all are those in the highways and hedges. They are compelled to come to the Feast. You can almost picture the scene. Servants shaking the bushes by the side of the road to flush out the dregs of society so they may attend the Feast.

It just so happens that the dregs of society, the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind are the guests of honor at the Master’s Feast. Jesus has not read Miss Manners. The uninvited are the guests of honor. The invited are no longer welcome. They have made their own feast. They will eat what they want, when they want. Those not invited receive a treat that can’t be compared to anything on earth.

You and I are the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. We are the wise ones. The wise people invited to the Feast are the fools. The world looks at us and thinks us simpletons. Wisdom’s maidens say to the simpletons: come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.

The way of understanding leads to the font, the pulpit, and the altar. Jesus Christ delivers His forgiveness and life at these holy places. The font, altar, and pulpit are more than furniture. They are where the life of the party, the Master of the Feast, delivers His joy. The so-called wise of the world gaze on the cross of Jesus and laugh that a man like Christ would die for the sins of the world. The so-called fools of the world gaze on the cross of Jesus and see their salvation from sin and death. As King Solomon writes in the Proverbs: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Fear is not just being afraid of God. The fear King Solomon writes about is a holy fear; awe at how the King of Grace redeems lost and condemned creatures like you and me. Knowledge of the Holy One is more than just head knowledge that is learned for a time and recalled when necessary. The knowledge King Solomon writes about is the sure and certain hope of eternity with God in the heavenly mansions. As Jesus abides with us now in Word, water, Body, and Blood, He abides with us forever hereafter face-to-face.

Happy are those who heed the call of the servants looking for the poor, maimed, lame, blind, as well as those along the highway and those in the hedges. When the servant cries come, for all things are now ready, they come at their Master’s call to dine with Him around the altar of life. As we sang in the Chief Hymn:

O God, let us hear when our Shepherd shall call

In accents persuasive and tender,

That while there is time we make haste, one and all,

And find Him, our mighty defender.

Have mercy upon us, O Jesus!

Lord, have mercy upon us and feed us with Your heavenly Feast now and forever!

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

Note: This is from 2008.

Did he get depressed, lying in the dirt? As people passed him by on the road, hurrying to meetings, walking or running for exercise, heading for the store to purchase a present, carrying a bag or basket to market to pick up food for the evening meal, did he get depressed? Perhaps a few people tossed a small coin to Lazarus, but doubtless more passed by with nothing. With guilt some would look away from him; but children drew a little closer to their mother’s skirts when they saw his hideous body, covered with sores, and the more callous adults would stare with revulsion and condescension. Did this make Lazarus sad? Continue reading »

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

If you have it, flaunt it. Let your neighbors know what they are missing. Show off those priceless items you treasure. Make everyone know that you have something they wished they had. Make them jealous. Make them wish they were you.

That’s how the rich man in Jesus’ parable lives. He doesn’t wear purple now and then. He wears purple every day. The rich man borders on obsessive-compulsive behavior. He seemingly wants everyone to know every day that he is rich and you are not. Not only does he dress well, he eats well too. Every meal is gourmet. He eats no TV dinners. He needs no microwave. He won’t have fast food. It’s got to be the best because only the best will do for this rich man.

Then there’s poor Lazarus. He was laid at [the rich man's] gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Lazarus depends on other people’s help to get him through the day. People lay him at the rich man’s gate. Lazarus hopes the rich man will come by and give him some crumbs. Maybe the rich man will send a servant to deliver the crumbs. The rich man neither clothes Lazarus nor gives him one crumb. The rich man has nothing to do with Lazarus. Lazarus must be content with dogs licking his sores. Dog spit is an antiseptic. Where man falls short in helping his neighbor, man’s best friend steps in to help.

We think the rich man a fool for not helping Lazarus. Those who have should help those who have not, especially if those who have are Christians. Nevertheless, we pass by those who need our help every day. We don’t realize those among us who suffer the slings and arrows of life because we’re too busy taking care of ourselves. The word “enough” is not in our vocabulary. There is never enough money. There is never enough love. There is never enough food. There are never enough cars. There are never enough televisions, games, computers, or any other creature comforts. We’re not afraid to have more of what we think we need. We’re not afraid to go to extreme lengths to get it. But when it’s time to return to the Lord what He first gives us, we don’t have enough to give Him. We give Him something and hope it’s enough.

The rich man’s problem is our problem. Not everything we have is ours. We are stewards of God’s stuff. God gives us everything we need, and most of what we want, but we will not give back to Him in the spirit that He gives to us. The rich man doesn’t take care of Lazarus because he’s too busy enjoying life every day to take care of a man lying at his gate every day. We are too busy enjoying life every day to take care of those we know who need help every day. We are too busy enjoying life every day to set aside our tithes and offerings to the Lord so the Gospel may be proclaimed among us.

Saint John writes if someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? As stewards of the Chief Steward’s stuff, we love the stuff He gives us more than we love Him. Loving stuff over God is the way of death, because the First Commandment, You shall have no other gods before My face, preaches repentance from fearing, loving, and trusting in other gods instead of the one true God. We hate our brother when we let him lie at the gate. We hate our brother when we take care of ourselves exclusively. When we hate our brother, we hate God, because he who loves God must love his brother also.

When the rich man dies, he goes to hell. When Lazarus dies, he goes to Abraham’s bosom. Even in eternal torment, the rich man tries to boss Lazarus around. Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. Send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. Lazarus won’t be bossed around. If the rich man’s family won’t hear and believe the word of Moses and the prophets, they certainly won’t believe Lazarus returning from the dead to testify about what waits for them if they do not repent. When we hate God and our neighbor, we won’t believe the preaching of the cross and resurrection because the holy things of God do not give us temporal satisfaction. We know eternity is yet to come, but what’s eternity compared to living well?

What’s living well compared to eternity. We cannot take God’s stuff with us to heaven. We take our own condemnation with us to hell when we do not continue in God’s Word and show God’s love to others. Unlike the rich man, there still is time for you and me to listen to Moses and the prophets and the Son of God Who rose from the dead.

Though Abraham later took matters into his own hands concerning the promise of a son, he nevertheless believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Abraham took it on faith that God would provide for him. God provided more than Abraham could imagine. God provided him the promised heir. God provided him with descendants that could not be numbered. God also provided him with land, animals, and treasure. Abraham received all these things because he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. It doesn’t make sense when we look at all we have. But when everything we have is taken away, what is there left to cling except the promise of redemption from sin and everlasting life? In spite of everything Abraham has, he has the promise of the coming Messiah.

In spite of all God gives us, we have the promise of Messiah Who was rich beyond measure, yet counted those riches and honor to be nothing. Jesus takes on human flesh and blood to suffer and die for our sins and rise from the dead victorious over death and hell. This is the proclamation of Moses and the prophets the rich man’s family must hear. No wonder Jesus tells this parable to the Pharisees! They, of all people, need to hear it! They have the riches of forgiveness and eternity in the Word they teach, yet they don’t believe it. They refuse to believe Jesus is the One they spend their whole lives reading and teaching about.

We do not read in Scripture that we are saved by possessions, income, or our reputation. We are saved by the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, who becomes Lazarus for us. The name “Lazarus” means, “God is my help”. If God does not help us out of death into life, we are helpless and pitiful. But God sees our wretched state and sends help in His only-begotten Son. He lies at the gate of mankind every day and many pass Him by without a glance. His own people hand Him over to die a criminal’s death. Jesus dies a horrible death because He loves His Father and does His Father’s will. As we prayed in the Introit from Psalm 13: O Lord, I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

The Lord deals bountifully with us when He wipes away our sins because of the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. God’s Word of repentance and faith shows us the way out of this miserable earthly existence toward the Way of joy and bliss before the Father’s heavenly throne forever. This Way goes through baptismal water and Eucharistic bread and wine that are the True Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus feeds us in preaching and the Sacraments, giving us his mercy that no earthly possession can give.

Saint John also writes, Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. Those who are of the world have boldness now. Their boldness will turn to fear in the day of judgment. They will no longer take comfort in their belongings. They will no longer live in the self-perpetuating lie that they are their own gods. Because God loves us in His Son Jesus, we have boldness to live without fear, especially in the day of judgment. We have boldness to love our neighbor through works of mercy. We have boldness to return to the Lord the generous gifts He first gave us. We have boldness to live together in love and union as redeemed, baptized, forgiven children of God who love each other as we love God.

If you have it, flaunt it. Tell everyone what God has done for you in Jesus Christ. Live in peace. Open your lips so your mouth may declare His praise. Forgive one another as you are forgiven. Put aside all malice and strife and put on the whole armor of God. He loves you and defends you from the evil foe. Believe it for Jesus’ sake.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

Sixth Sunday after Trinity
Exodus 20:1–17
Romans 6:(1–2) 3–11
Matthew 5:(17–19) 20–26

Hymn of Invocation
All who believe and are baptized (LSB 601)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
All mankind fell in Adam’s fall (LSB 562)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)
These are the holy Ten Commands (LSB 581)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
God’s own child, I gladly say it (LSB 594)

Hymn of Departure
May God bestow on us His grace (LSB 823)

Alternative Hymns
Baptized into Your name most holy (LSB 590)
Before the throne of God above (LSB 574)
Come down, O Love divine (LSB 501)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
“Forgive our sins as we forgive” (LSB 843)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer (LSB 918)
How can I thank You, Lord (LSB 703)
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness (LSB 563)
Lord, help us ever to retain (LSB 865)
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word (LSB 655)
Now that the daylight fills the sky (LSB 870)
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB 834)
Only-begotten, Word of God eternal (LSB 916)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
Sing with all the saints in glory (LSB 671)
The Law of God is good and wise (LSB 579)
Thy works, not mine, O Christ (LSB 565)
We know that Christ is raised (LSB 603)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)

Seventh Sunday after Trinity
Genesis 2:7–17
Romans 6:19–23
Mark 8:1–9

Hymn of Invocation
Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord (LSB 497)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)

Offertory Hymn
Feed Thy children, God most holy (LSB 774)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Lord Jesus Christ, life-giving bread (LSB 625)
The tree of life with ev’ry good (LSB 561)
Oh, how great is Your compassion (LSB 559)
O living Bread from heaven (LSB 642)

Hymn of Departure
Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him (LSB 797)

Alternative Hymns
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing (LSB 633)
Baptismal waters cover me (LSB 616)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
Chief of sinners though I be (LSB 611)
Creator of the stars of night (LSB 351)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Father, we thank Thee who hast planted (LSB 652)
Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer (LSB 918)
Hope of the world, Thou Christ of great compassion (LSB 690)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
In Thee is gladness (LSB 818)
Lord Jesus Christ, You have prepared (LSB 622)
Oh, that I had a thousand voices (LSB 811)
Praise the One who breaks the darkness (LSB 849)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (LSB 790)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
Shepherd of tender youth (LSB 864)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB 602)
The King of love my shepherd is (LSB 709)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)

Eighth Sunday after Trinity
Jeremiah 23:16–29
Acts 20:27–38 (or Romans 8:12–17)
Matthew 7:15–23

Hymn of Invocation
To God the Holy Spirit let us pray (LSB 768)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
In God, my faithful God (LSB 745)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
“As surely as I live,” God said (LSB 614)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)
Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s head (LSB 647)
At the name of Jesus (LSB 512)

Hymn of Departure
Abide, O dearest Jesus (LSB 919)

Alternative Hymns
All Christians who have been baptized (LSB 596)
All praise to Thee, for Thou, O King divine (LSB 815)
Almighty God, Your Word is cast (LSB 577)
God of the prophets, bless the prophets’ sons (LSB 682)
Hear us, Father, when we pray (LSB 773)
If God Himself be for me (LSB 724)
If Your beloved Son, O God (LSB 568)
Let me be Thine forever (LSB 689)
Lord, dismiss us with Your blessing (LSB 924)
Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray (LSB 623)
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide (LSB 585)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB 834)
O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing (LSB 836)
O Holy Spirit, grant us grace (LSB 693)
Preach you the Word, and plant it home (LSB 586)
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (LSB 663)
Send, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit (LSB 681)
The Bridegroom soon will call us (LSB 514)
We all believe in one true God (LSB 954)

Ninth Sunday after Trinity
2 Samuel 22:26–34
1 Corinthians 10:6–13
Luke 16:1–9 (10–13)

Hymn of Invocation / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)

Hymn of the Day
What is the world to me (LSB 730)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord (LSB 497)
Jesus, priceless treasure (LSB 743)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)

Hymn of Departure
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart (LSB 708)

Alternative Hymns
All depends on our possessing (LSB 732)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
Evening and morning (LSB 726)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer (LSB 918)
How can I thank You, Lord (LSB 703)
How clear is our vocation, Lord (LSB 853)
I bind unto myself today (LSB 604)
I trust, O Lord, Your holy name (LSB 734)
In God, my faithful God (LSB 745)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)
Let us ever walk with Jesus (LSB 685)
Lord of all hopefulness (LSB 738)
Now thank we all our God (LSB 895)
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB 834)
O love, how deep, how broad, how high (LSB 544)
Oh, how great is Your compassion (LSB 559)
One thing’s needful; Lord, this treasure (LSB 536)
The will of God is always best (LSB 758)
Who trusts in God a strong abode (LSB 714)

Tenth Sunday after Trinity
Jeremiah 8:4–12 (or Jeremiah 7:1–11)
Romans 9:30—10:4 (or 1 Corinthians 12:1–11)
Luke 19:41–48

Hymn of Invocation
A mighty fortress is our God (LSB 656)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
The Church’s one foundation (LSB 644)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
To God the Holy Spirit let us pray (LSB 768)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
No temple now, no gift of price (LSB 530)
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide (LSB 585)

Hymn of Departure
Lord of our life and God of our salvation (LSB 659)

Alternative Hymns
Baptismal waters cover me (LSB 616)
Christ is made the sure foundation (LSB 909)
Father, we praise Thee (LSB 875)
From depths of woe I cry to Thee (LSB 607)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
I trust, O Lord, Your holy name (LSB 734)
In the cross of Christ I glory (LSB 427)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)
Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s head (LSB 647)
Lord, to You I make confession (LSB 608)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
O Holy Spirit, grant us grace (LSB 693)
Open now thy gates of beauty (LSB 901)
Seek where you may to find a way (LSB 557)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB 602)
The Law of God is good and wise (LSB 579)
These are the holy Ten Commands (LSB 581)
Who trusts in God a strong abode (LSB 714)
Wide open stand the gates (LSB 639)

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Genesis 4:1–15
Ephesians 2:1–10 (or 1 Corinthians 15:1–10)
Luke 18:9–14

Hymn of Invocation
From depths of woe I cry to Thee (LSB 607)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Oh, how great is Your compassion (LSB 559)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Chief of sinners though I be (LSB 611)
These are the holy Ten Commands (LSB 581)
Savior, when in dust to Thee (LSB 419)
All praise to Thee, for Thou, O King divine (LSB 815)

Hymn of Departure
In God, my faithful God (LSB 745)

Alternative Hymns
“As surely as I live,” God said (LSB 614)
Baptismal waters cover me (LSB 616)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
Christ, the Life of all the living (LSB 420)
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing (LSB 686)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)
Hear us, Father, when we pray (LSB 773)
I know that my Redeemer lives (LSB 461)
Jesus sinners doth receive (LSB 609)
Lord, to You I make confession (LSB 608)
O love, how deep, how broad, how high (LSB 544)
Rock of ages, cleft for me (LSB 761)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
Seek where you may to find a way (LSB 557)
Thy works, not mine, O Christ (LSB 565)
To Thee, omniscient Lord of all (LSB 613)
Your table I approach (LSB 628)
When in the hour of deepest need (LSB 615)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB 756)

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
Isaiah 29:17–24
2 Corinthians 3:4–11 (or Romans 10:9–16)
Mark 7:31–37

Hymn of Invocation
Lord Jesus Christ, be present now (LSB 902)

Hymn of the Day
Word of God, come down on earth (LSB 545)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
O Son of God, in Galilee (LSB 841)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)
Oh, that I had a thousand voices (LSB 811)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)

Hymn of Departure / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him (LSB 797)

Alternative Hymns
At the name of Jesus (LSB 512)
Christ, the Word of God incarnate (LSB 540)
Come, Thou almighty King (LSB 905)
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing (LSB 686)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Father, we praise Thee (LSB 875)
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB 398)
Hear us, Father, when we pray (LSB 773)
Jerusalem, my happy home (LSB 673)
Jesus has come and brings pleasure eternal (LSB 533)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
Now thank we all our God (LSB 895)
O Holy Spirit, enter in (LSB 913)
O Jesus, King most wonderful (LSB 554)
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing (LSB 528)
Praise the One who breaks the darkness (LSB 849)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB 602)
Voices raised to You we offer (LSB 795)
When to our world the Savior came (LSB 551)
Your hand, O Lord, in days of old (LSB 846)

M.F. Toal’s The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers features Patristic homilies for the Sundays of the Historic Lectionary according to post-Tridentine reforms. The Patristic homilies for Trinity 1 fit more for Trinity 4 (Luke 6:36-42), but are apropos for the Rich Man and Lazarus too. Here are some quotes from Ambrose and Chrysostom. I’ll save the Augustine homily for Trinity 4.

Some weeks the homilies and the Catena Aurea are splendid, other weeks are not so good. The set is worth the investment because of the specific locatedness of so much Patristic resources. Sometimes you can find an older printing (softcover) if you dig around on the Internet.

St. Ambrose

Be ye therefore Merciful. How great the reward of mercy we receive under the law of Divine adoption! Walk in the way of mercy that you may merit this divine blessing. The kindness of God spreads far and wide. It rains upon the unthankful; and the fruitful earth does not deny its yield even to the wicked. The same light of the world shines on impious and God-fearing alike. Or that we may consider these things mystically, the Lord watered the people of Israel with prophetic rains, and shone upon them in the rays of His Eternal Sun; even upon those who were not deserving. But because they became drenched with the dew of earth the Church of God is now received into that celestial Light, that believing they may also attain to the rewards of mercy. Judge not, and you shall not be judged.

St. John Chrysostom

It seems to me that in these words He does not absolutely command us not to judge any sins, neither does He wholly forbid us to do this, but that He is here speaking to those who, laden with countless sins, trample on others because of their misfortunes. He seems to be referring to certain Jews who, though bitter denouncers of the small and trifling sins of their neighbour, were themselves carelessly committing the gravest sins. And in fact, towards the end, rebuking them, He says to them, They bind heavy and insupportable burdens, but with a finger of their own they will not move them; and again: You tithe mint, and cummin, and have left the weightier things of the law; judgement, and mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:4, 23).

It is to this therefore that Christ is referring, and not alone does He refer to it, but He makes it a matter of grave anxiety and inexorable punishment: For with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged. For it is not the other person that you condemn, He says, but your own self. You are preparing a dreadful judgement for yourself, and your punishment shall be severe. For as with the forgiveness of our sins we begin with ourselves, so likewise in this judgement, the measure of our own condemnation is fixed by ourselves. For we ought not to condemn, or insult, but to admonish; we ought not to slander, but to counsel; not to attack in arrogance, but to correct with gentleness and affection. For it is not this other person that you are giving over to severe punishment, not sparing him when there was need to pass sentence on his faults, but your own self.

For the Lord did not say: do not restrain the sinner from his sins, but, Do not judge, that is, Do not be a  harsh judge. And besides, it was not of great faults or of things forbidden He said this, but of things that do not appear to have been sins at all. And that was why He said: Why seest thou the mote in thy brother’s eye? And this is what many are doing even now. For if they see, for example, a monk wearing some extra covering, they invoke the law of the Lord against him, although they themselves are grabbing at everything, cheating day after day. And if they see him eat a bit more than he is accustomed to, they criticize him bitterly, though every single day they are themselves eating and drinking to excess; not caring that together with their own sins, because of this rash judging, they are building up for themselves a still bigger fire, leaving for themselves no grounds for God’s mercy. For when you sit in judgement on your neighbour in this way, you are yourself laying down the law according to which your own sins shall be examined. You must not think it severe if it is you yourself who will inflict the penalties.

And so if you do this out of care for him, have a care first for yourself; where the sin is nearer to you, and greater. But if you have no care for yourself, it is very plain indeed that you judge your brother, not out of care for him, but out of hate, and because you want to defame him. And if he must be judged, then let him be judged, but not by thee, but by One Who does no wrong.

Rev. Charles Lehmann + 1st Sunday after Trinity + Luke 16:19-31

In the Name of + Jesus.  Amen.

When I was growing up, Christian bookstores didn’t have finance sections.  Now you can, without much effort, find dozens of books devoted to discovering biblical principles of personal finance.  One is even called, God Wants You To Be Rich.  All of these books are based on one very basic mistake.  They assume that the purpose of the Scriptures is to give us advice on how to live your day to day life.  They look at the Bible as the Christian’s instruction book for daily living.

But that’s not what the Bible is for.  The Bible’s purpose is to show us Jesus.  The Apostle John makes this very clear when he writes, “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.”

If you were to go into any of the many books that try to give Christian principles for peronal finance, there are a lot of passages that deal with economics that would find no place in these books.  You wouldn’t find anything about the man who sells all that he has to buy one pearl.  You wouldn’t read a word about the farmer that sows most of his seed where it can’t possibly grow.  You would find no mention of the shepherd who risks almost everything he owns for the sake of one lost lamb.  There are good reasons for that, of course.  If we based our approach to our finances on these parables, we would lose all that we have and our families would starve to death.

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In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

It’s dangerous asking questions of the Son of God. Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Rabbi, is it I [who will betray you]? Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and You are going there again? Are you the King of the Jews? How can a man be born when He is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?

Perhaps Jesus loaded Nicodemus’ question when Jesus changed abruptly the subject of the conversation. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Later in the conversation, Jesus reiterates the problem: Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flattery gets Nicodemus nowhere, if indeed he uses flattery.

Nicodemus is an interesting character. Some say he is a cowardly man who wants to believe in Jesus but puts his reputation as a Pharisee first and visits him in the dark rather than making a bold confession by visiting Jesus in the light. Others say Nicodemus is seeking the Truth but comes at night so he doesn’t cause offense. Whatever the case, Jesus changes the rules midstream with two bold statements about entering the kingdom of God. These two bold statements stand opposite of the way of the Law. Instead of attaining the kingdom of God through keeping the Law and its ceremonies to the best of one’s ability, one attains the kingdom of God by being born from above through water and the Spirit.

No wonder Nicodemus doesn’t understand. He thinks of an impossible physical rebirth. There is no climbing back into the birth canal once you pass through it. A second birth according to the flesh has nothing to do with the kingdom of heaven. A rebirth from above is what’s necessary.

Nicodemus answers as we probably would answer: How can these things be? It’s the right question to ask. A birth from above by water and the Spirit makes no sense at all to those outside the kingdom of heaven. Non-Christians look at Christians from the outside and marvel at the rites of passage in Christ’s Church. Consider Holy Baptism and the ceremonies of a Baptism. The sign of the cross marks a person as one redeemed by Christ the crucified. A white garment sometimes is placed over the child as a witness to being born from above. A candle sometimes is lighted and given to the parents as a witness to the child following the light of Christ. Hands are laid on the child. Prayers are said. All kinds of beautiful ceremonies surround the proclamation of the Word and the application of the water. Funerals are similar to baptisms. Candles, the pall covering the casket, a remembrance of baptism, and the promise of the Word says the deceased child of God will rise from the dead to inherit the kingdom promised them.

Churchly rites of passages have ceremonies to fill our eyes because we cannot see doctrine. We pray doctrine, read doctrine, and study doctrine, but we can’t see doctrine. Ceremonies done by pastor and people do not bring an extra-special blessing. They proclaim that what goes on in God’s House transcends everything that our minds conjure concerning our lives in Christ. Just as we don’t go chasing after the wind to see where it comes or goes, so is the work of the God through the Word. We cannot see the Word in action without ceremony, be it simple things like standing, sitting, speaking, or singing, or more beautiful things like vestments, candles, crosses, and incense.

Nicodemus doesn’t understand the complexity of the work of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Neither do you and me. We do not confess in the Creed: I understand one God. We confess: I believe in one God. We believe holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the Good News of God’s work of salvation on our behalf. Jesus says if I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

We believe heavenly things because, as today’s Collect says, God has given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Saint Paul puts it this way in today’s Epistle: oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! No one here, not even me, will ever discern the inner workings of the Holy Trinity. No one knows the mind of the Lord except the Lord Himself. What He reveals to us we believe.

The most important revelation God gives us is His only-begotten Son Jesus. In Christ, we receive the grace to acknowledge the glory of the Trinity and worship the Unity of the Divine Majesty. This grace from above is revealed in God’s Holy Word. God’s Word reveals how mankind is saved through God’s loving promise of salvation in Jesus. Our Father’s undeserved love toward us is something that cannot always be understood. His undeserved love is believed. It’s impossible for our fragile human minds to decipher the code of salvation wrought by the Father’s love for His creation, the Son obeying His Father’s will and suffering bitter pain and death on the cross for our sins and resurrection from the dead for our justification, and the Holy Spirit’s revelation of both the Father and the Son in Holy Preaching, Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion.

Through these Holy Things, as through means, we receive God’s mercy. God wants no doubt that He loves us and forgives our sins. When we look outside the Holy Things, we receive the mixed signals of doubt. If Nicodemus keeps looking for God’s mercy through keeping God’s Law and all the attending ceremonies of the Law, he could never believe the heavenly things God longs to give him. We might consider Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus a needed refocusing of priorities. In other words, Jesus screws Nicodemus’ head on straight so he can focus on the Giver of every good and perfect gift that comes from above. That’s exactly what God does for us in the Divine Service every week. He gives us a needed refocusing of priorities. There is only one thing needful: the treasure trove of God’s Gifts of forgiveness and life. Silver and gold, fame and fortune do not deliver the goods and services of heaven. Simple speech, water, bread, and wine deliver the joy that cannot be found in earthen stuff. There is no question about it. Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity. Let us give glory to Him because He has shown His mercy to us. Believe it for Jesus’ sake.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit