Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

         “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 18:10

[Editor’s Note: The festival of St. Michael and All Angels is observed on September 29th. The homily included in this devotion was preached by Pastor Estes on September 30th.]

INVOCATION

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

COLLECT

Everlasting God, You have ordained and constituted the service of angels and men in a wonderful order. Mercifully grant that, as Your holy angels always serve and worship You in heaven, so by Your appointment they may also help and defend us here on earth; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

LESSON

Matthew 18:1–11 (ESV)

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. ⁷ “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! ⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. ¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

MEDITATION

            The most common topper on a Christmas tree is not a star, but an angel. They’re placed atop the tree as a homage to the angel Gabriel who visited Mary and Joseph to bring news of the child conceived by the Holy Spirit. Sitting high above us the Christmas angel also reminds us of the messenger that announced the gospel to lowly shepherds and the host of angels that sang of the peace with God and goodwill toward men the Christ brings.

            We don’t know what the various kinds of angels mentioned in the Scriptures actually look like. That makes me wonder if we’d adorn our Christmas trees with them if we really knew. The Bible says that the sight of the good angels in fact terrify us. There most common opening greeting to us is “Do not fear” for that reason. If they did not reassure us we wouldn’t understand that they’re here for our good, not our harm.

            What’s so frightening about the angels? There’s certainly something about their appearance that is different that startles us. It’s in fact the good angels that cause the most fear initially. Adam and Eve were not afraid of the evil angel Satan when they first encountered him? In fact, Paul warned that “Satan masquerades as an angel of light” in 2 Corinthians 11:14. Notice Paul does not say the evil one is an angel of light, but rather he’s a phony. He makes out like he’s one of the good angels, but he’s duplicitous. He makes the darkness look like light for those he desires to deceive. Jesus said Satan was not good at all, instead “he was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

            He’s convinced our flesh of the lies sadly. We all have a sinful nature and that is why so often we confuse darkness for light, evil for good. Satan is very good at making us think his way is best, just as he did at the beginning with Adam and Eve. Martin Luther rightly labeled him the “Prince of darkness” and had many choice insults for the evil one. Luther taught it we good to overcome that evil messenger the devil with contempt, not by presumption, but by faith in Christ who has bound the devil and assured his destruction.

            So Luther wasn’t afraid to toy with the devil. He said, “If Satan does not stop vexing me with my sins, I reply: “Dear devil, I have heard the record, but I have committed still more sins…put them down too…” If Luther still felt the weight of his sins he would go on, “With contempt I say to him, “Holy Satan, pray for me! You never have done anything evil and alone are holy. Go to God and acquire grace for yourself. If you want to make me righteous, I tell you: physician, heal yourself.”

            We saints can harangue the Devil and demons because we know the truth about them. The archangel Michael showed Satan and his minions the door in our lesson from Revelation. Michael tossed them all out upon the victorious entry of Jesus Christ. Satan does not stand in God’s court like he did in the time of Job being able to attempt his accusations at the judgment seat. Rather, the devil was cast to earth. Here he snarls and bites and tries to have his prey, but we know one little word can fell him. The word of Christ. The promise of Jesus that gives forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation.

            Having this life in Christ today we thank him for his good angels like Michael, Gabriel, and all the rest. We remember that the Bible suggests that we humans, or at least some of us at certain times, have our own guardian angels watching out for us.

            That obviously applies to children as we learn in our gospel lesson today. The word children as Christ means it includes others like the poor, the neglected, and the despised. Their angels always see God’s face, says our Lord. God watches over those who are least. The last come first. That’s how important they are to God.

            So, we can understand why Jesus has such strong warnings about seducing and enticing these others to sin. If you harm their faith the judgment for you is much harsher. It’s better that we have never lived than for this happen.

            When Jesus points to a child when he was asked who was greatest in the kingdom, it’s because a child in ancient times had no standing, no rights, no kind of leading position. That’s what we all must become to enter the kingdom of heaven. We come to him with no claim of having deserved his grace. Only those who come small, like that, come into the heavenly kingdom of God.

St. Michael and All Angels is a day to remember with joy and to pray in thanksgiving that the angels do their work well and on our behalf protecting us from countless spiritual enemies. They guard us from the Accuser and his seductions, so that you rest assured that your name is written in God’s book in heaven. They are Christ’s servants, another gift He gives to protect you from Satan and to assure you your salvation is sealed. Your life is blood bought and angel guarded. And for this may we give all glory to God in heaven.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

        Our Father who art in heaven,

     hallowed be Thy name,

     Thy kingdom come,

     Thy will be done on earth

          as it is in heaven;

     give us this day our daily bread;

     and forgive us our trespasses

          as we forgive those

          who trespass against us;

     and lead us not into temptation,

     but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

     and the power and the glory

     forever and ever. Amen.

BLESSING

The grace of our Lord Jesus + Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

Trinity 15

Midweek Devotion

INVOCATION

In the name of the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

COLLECT

O Lord, we implore You, let Your continual pity cleanse and defend Your Church; and because she cannot continue in safety without Your aid, preserve her evermore by Your help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

LESSON

Matthew 6:24–34                                                                                                                  

²⁴[Jesus said:] “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, 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? ²⁶Look 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? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

MEDITATION

Capitalism believes that the free market will determine the values of things. You can charge whatever people are willing to pay. Economic factors like supply and demand determine values as well as the quality of the goods and services being rendered. How many conversations in our American context revolve around discussing the value of things? We always want the most bang for our buck.

          However, the value of the most precious things in life cannot measure by human wants or our willingness to pay. The value of a human life is not determined by how much they want, how useful they are, or how much they want to live. The value of every human life comes from outside oneself, from the very mouth and Word of the Divinity, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Not only that, “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” The Godhead has redeemed us with His own body and blood. That is why we are more valuable than birds. Our fall into sin dragged the entire creation with us, the birds are innocent of sin. However, we are not. We are guilty, so the Lord took up our flesh to redeem us from sin and the curse of death. In other words, God values us twofold. He gave us life and breath and all that we have from the beginning. And then, after we rebelled, He gave us His Son. That is your value: the life of the Son, the price He was willing to pay to restore us to His image and righteousness forever.

          Capitalism is on to something. It teaches that you can know the value of something by seeing what people are willing to pay. You know what God paid for you, you were redeemed not by silver or gold, but by the precious blood of the Christ. Capitalism is also onto the theologically significant trail of what or who your god is.

          When you make money or wealth your god and serve it, or constantly worry and daydream about it, you cheapen your own life. You are giving up to the thought that your value as a person is determined by money and material things. This is the American religion. We say “In God We Trust” on our money, however that dollar holds more of the American imagination than God does.

          Just think of how we even evaluate people by their economic value. We call ourselves and others “consumers”. People have children when they think they can afford them and they abort them when they will inconvenience themselves or the society. There’s a growing number of couples who forego children because they want more money and free time. They find more fulfillment in things and vacations than they do the love and sacrifices that other human being require. Money has become the measure of the good life, the successful life, the life worth having. This is one of the most soul destroying and dehumanizing doctrines in existence. Money is neutral, but as James said, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

          We must repent. Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve God and money. We agree. We say that we worship one God, the only true God, in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. None of us would dare say, “I worship money or vacations or retirement, or my boat.” However, we don’t need to look too closely to know wealth and things can capture too much of our attention. What do we worry about? What do we fantasize about? Why do we think that money can solve all our problems and make us worry free? It does not. Repent. We are wrong. Anytime we worry or spend inordinate amounts of time with wealth and money we are under attack. It is sin and the Evil One trying to make us serve two masters, to divide and separate us from our true love.

          Jesus is not say don’t think of money at all. Just before our lesson He taught us to pray “give us this day our daily bread.” What he’s saying is to keep material things in their rightful place, on earth. Don’t confuse them for heaven and certainly do not confuse them for God. They cannot save you. No one has ever been truly forgiven by someone else because they paid them off. Likewise, there is nothing you can pay for salvation. No person has saved themselves from death because they wrote a check large enough to cover their life. Only one person could foot that bill. He said, “Tetelestai”, “It is finished” or “paid in full” as the Romans used the word on a bill of sale. Your worth more than all the money in the world because your ransom price is the blood of God.

          And His payment is in rich supply. The supply of God’s riches will never fall short of demand, rather there is always surplus. Not because no one wants it, but because God is that good and that generous. Like with widow of Zarephath whose oil and flour were never empty through the famine, so the salvation poured on you at Baptism and the bread of life fed to you never run out.

          Those who worship wealth and all of its pitfalls shall perish with their god. Not you. Not us. You are baptized into Christ. You have a glory awaiting you not worth comparing to all the riches of this world. You are safe and secure in the hands of Jesus who died for you and rose again. That is enough. You are worth more than the food that you eat and the clothes that you wear. You are more valuable than the birds of the air for whom God supplies. He will supply you also. Christ is enough always.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name;

Thy kingdom come;

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses;

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory

forever and ever.

Amen.

BLESSING

The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with us all.

Amen.        

INVOCATION

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

COLLECT OF THE DAY

O Lord, keep Your Church with Your perpetual mercy; and because of our frailty we cannot but fall, keep us ever by Your help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

READING

Galatians 5:16-24

(Additional Reading Luke 17:11-19)

MEDITATION

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16

            When I was about ten I went out for a bike ride around my neighborhood.  I was enjoying the nice fall weather when suddenly a large and aggressive dog gave chase.  I rode faster than I ever had before around my block until my dad heard my cries for help.  The dog immediately submitted and we got him back to his owner.

            The dog was nice enough when a strong male presence was there, but he had a penchant for intimidating children.  He escaped again a few weeks later and broke up a group of kids playing basketball, barking and snapping at them.  The dog’s owner apologized and was certain he could get his dog to mind.  Even after months of training the dog had another even more dangerous incident.  To the gratitude of the neighborhood the owner gave the dog up.

            What would have happened if he had not given up on that old dog?  What if he had dug in his heels against the better judgment of the concerned parents?  It would not have ended well.  Someone would eventually have been hurt.  The owner realized it was foolish to think a dog like that could be reformed.

            Most people would have enough common sense like my neighbor to know when it’s time to give up on a stubborn and dangerous animal, but this is not true when it comes to their Old Adam, their sinful nature.  They think they can train and reform their sinful flesh if they just have the right training and positive motivation.  The teachers of Israel in Jesus’ day had tried to do just that when they codified the 10 Commandments into a regiment of 613 rules to obey.

            God’s Word teaches there is only one thing to do with the Old Adam and retraining him is not it.  The one thing to do to with Old Adam is to put him to death.  St. Paul says no less in our lesson, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

            Since we are forgiven by Jesus we are now at war with our flesh.  We are at peace with God. Since we are at peace with God, His enemies are now our enemies: the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh.

            Paul writes, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”  Consider what Paul means here.  According to the flesh we cannot avoid sin, but according to the spirit we are unable to sin.  Our life according to the flesh can do nothing good, nothing holy, nothing right.  Our life according to the Spirit can do nothing wrong and is always good and holy. These two opposing wills are always battling within you because you are a baptized, forgiven, and beloved heir of eternal life in Jesus Christ.  In Christ you have been set free from the enemies of God, but they now fight against you.

            Paul says, “Walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”  We already established that we can’t teach old man Adam new tricks, so what does this walking by the Spirit look like?  We can learn from the lepers in our gospel lesson.

            The lepers prayed to Jesus for mercy, they shouted to him like their lives depended on it.  And Jesus shows them mercy.  He doesn’t take their leprosy away on the spot though. He sends them to the priests and as they go they are cleansed.  They believed His Word.  And as they believed, it happened.

            That is what it is to walk according to the Spirit.  You see the flesh working in you.  You feel the temptations to sin each and every day.  Even if you don’t “feel” particularly sinful today you believe it’s true, because you know God’s Word says it’s true.

            Jesus says, “All those who believe and are baptized will be saved.”  Paul says, “All those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have put on Christ.”  To all of you who struggle and battle with your flesh and are crying for relief Jesus assures you that all who have been baptized into His death and resurrection are new creations.  You are His.  Believe His Word and know that is so.  Listen to it.  Meditate upon it.  Share it with your family.

            To walk by the Spirit is to walk by Christ’s Word.  It’s to receive the things of the Holy Spirit and to believe that you are clean, even while you feel your sinful nature and the temptations to anger, lust, jealousy, and so many other things your flesh desires.

            As you walk by the Spirit the old Adam will be crucified again and again.  He can’t win.  He may whine, bark, and try his hardest, but the Spirit is stronger than the flesh.  The Spirit works in us by leading us to repent of our sins and strengthening us with forgiveness.  Strangely enough, then the fruits of the Spirit come along with that forgiveness.  As Jesus is the vine and we are the branches the Spirit is like the sap that flows from the vine to the branches.  The Spirit gives us health and life so we may bear the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

            The Spirit strengthens us with Christ’s Word and bears His fruit.  We are God’s children forever.  We are freed to give thanks to Him, to walk by His Spirit, seeking to love our neighbor as God has loved us.  This is the glorious freedom God has liberated us for.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

CLOSING BLESSING

The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

This devotion is taken from the sermon preached at our Divine Service on September 9th, 2020 for Trinity 13. You can join us for midweek in-person worship every Wednesday at 6:30 PM.

Invocation

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain what You have promised, make us love what You have commanded; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lessons

Galatians 3:15–22

15To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Luke 10:23–37

3 Turning to the disciples [Jesus] said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 

24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

25And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Meditation

The parallels between the Epistle and Gospel lessons for Trinity 13 are extremely helpful to understanding the proper distinction between the Law and the Gospel.

The Lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Paul instructs the Galatians that the inheritance of Abraham was made by promise not by Law. In other words you do not inherit eternal life by doing something, but by the promises of God.

“Believe you me!”, Paul is saying, “If there was a law that could save you then God would have given it to you.” Paul knew firsthand, as do you and I, that God loves all people so much that He would never hold anything back from saving them. Therefore, when God says you are saved by His promise to forgive your transgressions and not by works of the Law, you can and should take His word for it! He is not trying to dupe you!

The Galatians had fallen back on the fatal error of works righteousness. Faith in the act of circumcision rather in the Christ to whom circumcision pointed to in first place. Through Abraham’s seed, not seeds as Paul points out, all nations shall be blessed. That Seed is Christ, and Christ has won the inheritance for all by His death for transgressions.

We’re stubborn though. We can’t quit looking for some kind of credit for what God has done. Jesus faces the Lawyer with the reality of why God had given the Law. The Lawyer asks for the Law’s answer to eternal life, what must I do he asks and our Lord asks him what the Law says. If you ask a Lawyer’s question, why not look for an answer in the law? That answer the Lawyer soon discovers is that if you desire to be justified by the Law then do the Law perfectly.

Don’t miss the point of what Jesus was showing the Lawyer. He was not telling Him that the inheritance He seeks can be attained by the Law. In principle and theory it can. If a man can remain sinless he doesn’t need what God in Christ has to offer for he is not under judgment for he has never transgressed the Law. Yet, Christ knows what this answer will actually do the Lawyer. The Law imprisons the man, as it does to all sinners, just as Paul explains to the Galatians. The Law was never given to save you, rather it corners you and cages you in. You’re without excuse. And to that the Lawyer tries to find a wait out, to jailbreak however he can. Seeking to justify himself, or in other words make himself righteous, he challenges Christ asking who is his neighbor.

And Jesus shows the man how futile are our attempts to be justified by the Law. He gives him the most beautiful story of law keeping the world has ever heard. It’s light is so bright it will never be eclipsed. That’s why even unbelievers have a semblance of knowledge of what makes for a Good Samaritan. It is someone who does what is right regardless of reward, recognition, or the cost. It is someone who wholly loves his neighbor even while others ignore him, despise him, or don’t even realize he is there. He is one who acts in mercy without question of whether the recipient is deserving.

We see it in small ways in ourselves. The doctor and nurses save a wounded man even though he is a drug dealer and killer. The American medic attends to the enemy as well as the ally. The church gives drink, food, and clothing to the needy no matter who they are or what creed they confess.

Yet, we know even these are paltry offerings when compared to the selflessness and sacrificial self-giving of the Samaritan. He has endless resources of time, money, and ability to save a dying man and he doesn’t give two-thoughts about it. You can tell from the narrative He will always give mercy.

And when Jesus closes we learn he wants the Lawyer to stop his vain search for eternal life by means of the Law. Notice he did not ask what the Lawyer was asking which would have been “Who should the Samaritan love and help?”  Everyone is the answer to that question. “Who is your neighbor that you should serve them?” Everyone. Jesus wasn’t asking that. Instead He asks, “Who proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among thieves?” Not everyone. Certainly not the robbers, nor the priest or Levite. Not the inn-keeper or the donkey. The One who showed mercy.

The Lawyer was dead in his transgressions and sins. Imprisoned under judgment. How does one gain eternal life? By the mercy that endures forever that comes from the only One who has enough love to care and the endless resources necessary to save – the only Son from the Father Jesus Christ. His compassion put on the healing oil of Baptism and wine of Holy Communion at His own expense. He has carried the burden of us to the cross and placed us in the inn of the Church for our convalescence and recovery. He promises to return and bring us to our rightful home, whole and well.

The most beautiful words this Lawyer ever spoke were in his answer to Jesus’ question. The one who had mercy. Mercy saved Abraham. Mercy saved Paul. And mercy saved him. The inheritance is bestowed upon him by promise, there is One who would have mercy on him, the Christ, the Son of God who spoke to him. He doesn’t say “Go try harder Lawyer. Come back when you’ve been better.” Instead, He loves the man and shows him the path He was taking for him and all people, the way of the cross and resurrection, the way of mercy. You don’t so much need to understand who to be a neighbor to, you already know the answer to that question. Everyone. However, not everyone is a neighbor to you. Who will be there for you with endless resources to help and heal you? You need the Neighbor who is always there and always merciful. God in Christ Jesus.

And finally, it’s only the One who has such mercy who can possibly say, “Go and do likewise.” This is a statement of the Law, but it’s not telling you this is how you’ll inherit eternal life. He’s telling you this because He knows you will love Him. He found you half-dead and imprisoned by your sin. He has freed you with forgiveness and assured you that you will live. He loves you so much He fills you with His love and sends you to love your neighbor, to imitate Him, imperfect as our attempts will be in this life. 

So as you serve in all of your callings in this life remember the One who proved to be your neighbor. The One who had mercy, Jesus Christ. Go and do likewise. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

forever and ever. 

Amen.

Blessing

The grace of our Lord Jesus + Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

PREPARATION

Invocation

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

Collect

Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what You want done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

LESSON

Romans 10:14–17

14But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

MEDITATION

            Jesus Christ, God the Father’s only begotten Son, came into this world in order to save condemned sinners. That he could save us, he fulfilled all the prophecies of the Law and the Prophets, lived a perfect life in obedience to the 10 Commandments, and was unjustly punished upon the cross where he gave his life, receiving the wrath and judgment our sins deserve. His third day resurrection from the dead is God’s proof that Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted, and assures us that we are forgiven and will rise to eternal life. The Holy Spirit has been sent to the church to preach the gospel to the world that all may come to a knowledge of Christ and be saved. By means of his inspired Word and the Sacraments God places faith into people’s hearts, forgives them, transforms them by sanctifying them, and strengthens them in the face of trials and troubles and finally at the hour of death gives them his peace.

            Now if all of that seemed pretty basic to you, good. It is basic stuff. It is the heart and core of what we confess as Christians. It’s the news which the angel shared with the shepherds of Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. You remember the words, don’t you? “Fear not, for I bring you somewhat average news that will be of medium interest to a few people. For unto some of you is born this day in the city of David a very good teacher and all-around nice guy whose name is Jesus.”

            Is that the way children tell the story at their Christmas pageants? I hope not!

            The angel said that Jesus is good news of great joy, not just an indifferent story! He also said this joy is for all people, not just a few. Likewise, Jesus is not just a teacher or nice guy, he’s the Savior.

            Unfortunately, believers who get familiar with this good news can begin to regard it like pretty average news. Worse, we can make it sound average too. That may be too harsh or sound judgmental, but being honest, even I as a pastor can see times when my familiarity with the story lead me to share it with someone in a way that didn’t give it the enthusiasm it deserves. Being saved from sin and death, having the certainty of an eternal life without sickness, sorrow, or evil, should be exciting to talk about every time!

            I recently read a story about a gas station that through a computer malfunction posted gasoline for 1 cent a gallon. I bet you can guess what happened. People started telling others and before long the police had come and disperse the cars while the error was corrected. Good news, like cheap gas, is enough to get people talking. Shouldn’t the gift of a good conscience before God and the hope of eternal life get us talking too?

            Paul said roughly the same thing in our lesson today when he wrote, “How will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach if they are not sent?”

            Paul’s thought is like watching dominoes fall, one thought falls on another leading to an important conclusion. God wants all to be saved. But they won’t be saved if they don’t hear the good news. No one is going to share the message of Jesus if it’s not really good news, but indeed Paul asserts that it is. Therefore, the world needs people preaching and people to be sent to reach the world with this news.

Paul has pastors and missionaries in mind of course. That’s why we support missionaries and seminarians. That’s one way we do our part in sharing the good news with others, but there’s more.

            You know there was a time when a household got a new washer and dryer all the other homemakers in the neighborhood would come to watch and see how it worked. There’d be an excited little congregation to watch the spin cycle. I don’t think that happens anymore. Washers and dryers are old news.

It’s easy to get fired up for new news, but old news sometimes becomes too familiar. The gospel, however, is unique, because it is old news that is always new when it is shared. You may have heard it a dozen times in a week, but you need to hear it each time as much as the last. For you need the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. You need to be assured that the bad news you just got at work or at the doctor’s office is not the last word you’ll ever hear. Jesus assures you again and again that you are forgiven and sealed for eternal life with him.

You know people who need that news too. If the familiarity of the old news of the gospel is what is stopping you from introducing others to Jesus think about a few things. First, think where you would be and what your outlook would be if you didn’t have the forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation that Jesus gives you. That helps us appreciate its importance. Secondly, think of others who don’t know Jesus and how they don’t have the peace you enjoy and that in the end they are still under judgment for their sins. They need to hear about Jesus. And finally, a simple thing you can do is invite someone to church. It could be a friend, a family member, a co-worker, a neighbor, whoever. What’s the worst they can say? No or no thank you. Or maybe you want to start simply by sharing online services or handing them a Portals of Prayer. Either way, let us share the good news of great joy which is for all people.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven

Hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgiven those who trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

BLESSING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

PREPARATION

Introit for Pentecost 9

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

He spread a cloud for a covering,

and fire to give light by night.

They asked, and he brought quail,

and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.

He opened the rock, and water gushed out;

it flowed through the desert like a river.

For he remembered his holy promise,

and Abraham, his servant.

So he brought his people out with joy,

his chosen ones with singing.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

Collect

Heavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness, still You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

LESSON  Isaiah 55:1–5

1“Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

3Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

4Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

5Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,

and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,

because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

MEDITATION

If anyone ever thinks that the Old Testament is about a judgmental God who will only reward those who have worked for it, show them Isaiah 55. If anyone ever says, “God helps those who help themselves”, show them Isaiah 55. If anyone thinks they are unworthy of God’s gifts and God will never give them anything, (and it’s true we’re all unworthy), let them read Isaiah 55. Isaiah with his imagery of food without price, freely and generously given, is a wonderful picture of God’s grace.

It reminds me of a story I first read by the author Philip Yancey. A missionary he knew described the first home cooked meal he shared with his adopted son.  He, his wife, and their now family of five sat down around a sumptuous dinner in celebration of their new family member.  The young boy ate ravenously and happily enjoying new delicacies and likely had his first taste of apple pie and vanilla ice cream.  When they were done and began cleaning up the little boy began to cry.  His father thought at first, they were tears of joy, but soon he realized it was something else.  He asked his son what was wrong and the boy answered that he was sad because they had eaten all the food.  What were they going to eat next?  He thought this might be their last meal for where he came from no one ate so much and very often you did not know when you would eat again.

Gently the father took his son by the hand and walked him to the pantry.  He showed the boy all the food within.  He opened the refrigerator and showed the meat, cheese, the milk, eggs, and all they needed.  He reassured his son the table would be spread again and a meal prepared so he could eat again.

This missionary and father reflected on this experience and explained that this is like God’s grace.  We often come to him and receive his merciful forgiveness, but there are times when our guilt, our fears, and our sorrows make us wonder if he will receive us again?  Yet, the Lord is not stingy.  He takes us by the hand, opens the pantries and cellars, he breaks bread, he fills our cups with new wine, and feeds us with the spiritual sustenance of Christ again and again.  He reassures us that the table is spread, the meal is prepared, and we can eat again.  We do not have to wonder if we will eat again, all has been prepared beforehand, we are invited to Christ’s feast of salvation. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!”

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,

give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

BLESSING

The grace of our Lord Jesus + Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit with you all. Amen.

Invocation

In the name of the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Psalm 61; antiphon: vv. 6–7

6Prolong the life of the king;

may his years endure to all generations!

7May he be enthroned forever before God;

appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

1Hear my cry, O God,

listen to my prayer;

2from the end of the earth I call to you

when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock

that is higher than I,

3for you have been my refuge,

a strong tower against the enemy.

4Let me dwell in your tent forever!

Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!

5For you, O God, have heard my vows;

you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6Prolong the life of the king;

may his years endure to all generations!

7May he be enthroned forever before God;

appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

8So will I ever sing praises to your name,

as I perform my vows day after day.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

And to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,

Is now and ever shall be.

6Prolong the life of the king;

may his years endure to all generations!

7May he be enthroned forever before God;

appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

 

Collect of the Day

P: Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Grant that we who have been raised with Him may abide in His presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Colossians 3:1–7

1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Meditation

Our theme today is seeking. In this moment of devotion in the Word of God what are you seeking?

There were people found in the act of seeking on the first Easter. In Luke’s Gospel when the women came to the tomb Easter morning to anoint the body of their Lord the angels asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24 :5). Then after the other women had departed John’s gospel recounts that Mary Magdalene remained by the tomb weeping when her Lord asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15). In our lesson today Paul encourages the church in Colossae to “to seek the things that are above, where Christ is…” (Colossians 1:1).

The seeking women on Easter first had their minds sent on things below, on earthly things. They were looking for a way to mourn the dreadful loss of their rabbi and friend. So, they brought the appropriate oil and spices to prepare Jesus’ body for proper burial as was customary for the Jews. They were too late. Jesus had told them as much before He died. You might remember He had already been anointed for burial in Bethany before He was crucified. A woman came into the house and broke an alabaster jar and poured out an ointment on the Lord worth 300 day’s wages. Jesus said she had done a beautiful thing. He was now prepared for burial because there wouldn’t be enough time for any others to anoint Him, He would have already been raised from the dead.

The women had death on their mind when they came to the tomb. They didn’t expect to find the living among the dead. And isn’t it the same when we set our minds so frequently on things below? We worry about what we are going to eat, what we are going to wear, and how we’re going to make it day-to-day. We are living in anxious times with the outbreak of Covid-19 and there is much fear about death and dying. And of course, there is always our constant need for repentance. Paul lists some sins which we know from the Scriptures only lead to death: “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 1:6). Ironically, it’s often when we’re afraid that we turn to our idols in an attempt to escape fear or try to convince ourselves that we have some semblance of control over the things on earth that scare us.

Easter breaks into the things here below and sets our eyes to seeking a much higher and comforting thing above – the risen Lord Jesus Christ. The women were told by the angels, “He is not here. He is risen.” (Matther 28:6), and to go to Galilee to see Him. The Lord Jesus greeted Mary Magdalene by name and she saw He had not been taken from her, but rather He lives just as He promised. And likewise Jesus appeared to all His disciples to cast away all their fears that they may not be concerned about the things below and rather they would seek Him and announce the powerful news that Jesus has triumphed over sin, death, and the devil.

Dead and raised by our Baptism into Christ our lives are now hidden with Him in the heavenly places. We have an inheritance like no other St. Paul explains. “When Christ your life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 1:4). Just as the women at the tomb sought Jesus only to be joyously and happily surprised to find the risen and living Christ, so now we can seek the Lord and find Him. We seek Him and He gives us forgiveness of sins and a peace and assurance that we need not fear the things here on earth that can seem so overwhelming. He has overwhelmed them all by swallowing up death and overcoming our woes by the power of His resurrection. With our eyes fixed on the things above, that is with eyes fixed on Jesus, we are strengthened to live each day to the glory of His name. We are prepared to meet Him when He returns and in the meantime seek to glorify Him by proclaiming the Easter Gospel as we love one another and our neighbors as Christ so loves us. 

Prayers

Lord’s Prayer

Additional Petitions

Collect for Midday

Heavenly Father, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to direct and rule us according to Your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

 

One of Jesus’ promises to His church before His ascension was, “Behold, I am always with you, even unto the end of the age.” (Mat. 28:20). He is with us where He has promised to be–in His Word. Our Lord assures us, “Behold, heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall never pass away.” (Mat. 24:35). Indeed, Peter confessed to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!” (John 6:68).

We keep hearing people say that we are living in an unprecedented time and that is true, no one in this generation has ever had to socially distance themselves in the fashion we are today. However, we also live in unprecedented time for our faith. The Word that draws us towards Christ is more available than anytime before. It’s a good bet that the Gospel was preached via video and livestream at record levels for the Internet this past Sunday. We can give thanks to God for the technologies we have and how we can draw close to Jesus and hear His words which never fail to comfort us and strengthen our hope in difficult times.

I encourage you to take a moment to look at some of the resources available to you. You may find that this time has afforded you an opportunity to start a new discipline of hearing the words of eternal life more frequently from some of these sources.

In Christ,

Pastor Estes

KFUO

KFUO is the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s radio station. Broadcasting in Saint Louis it is available over the Internet at www.kfuo.org. KFUO offers music, talk programs, Bible Studies, devotions, and worship. You can stream the live audio or listen to previously recorded programming on their website.

Lutheran Public Radio

LPR offers sacred music for the world. You don’t have to miss your favorite Lenten or Easter hymns as LPR follows the Church Year.

Issues Etc.

Lutheran Public Radio also produce Lutheran Talk Radio more commonly known as Issues Etc. Host Todd Wilken and his guests discuss a myriad of topics from Bible Studies, sermons, and current events. They also broadcast chapel services from Concordia Seminary Fort Wayne each morning. You can listen live, on-demand, or to there continuous stream of show content.

The Small Catechism

Reading and praying the Small Catechism is an important and helpful devotional practice. Concordia Publishing House has made the text of the Small Catechism available online and in iOS and Android apps.

Around the Word Devotions

We print these devotions and have them available in our bulletins every Sunday, however you can also download them. These devotions are perfect for individual and family use. Reading an Around the Word devotion in about 15-20 minutes is a great way to start or end your day.

Online Services and Messages at Redeemer

Each Sunday at 10:15 AM and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM we will post our worship services at our website and on our Facebook page.

Worship Anew

Formerly known as “Worship for Shut-ins”, Worship Anew offers Lutheran worship services each Sunday.

The Second

Sunday After

Christmas

 Luke 2:40-52

We’ve closed a decade and come to another. News magazines and pundits have recapped the year and decade past and made predictions for 2020. Whether there will be any wisdom in their words may be determined or not. Our modern attention spans rarely look back further than a few years anyways.

This morning we look back 2 millennia. It was around 8 AD when the boy Jesus entered the temple. What was on the mind of the world then? What marked the headlines? What were the worldly wise concerned about? The good news in Rome was that General Tiberius had won a battle defeating the Illyrians in Dalmatia. Otherwise there was a lot of scandalous tabloid-like reports regarding Caesar’s household and court. Vispasian Julia, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Augustus, was exiled by her grandfather for having an affair with a senator. The Emperor ordered the baby to be left on a mountainside to die. In that year he also had Julia’s husband Lucius Aemillus Paulus put to death for conspiracy against him. The poet Ovid possibly had knowledge of the plot against the throne and the adultery of his granddaughter so Augustus exiled Ovid to Tomis for his transgression.

It’s during that same time that Luke records that, “The child [Jesus] grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40) There were no headlines accompanying this happening. Augustus, Ovid, Julia, Lucius, and the rest of the world had no clue there was a Hebrew boy who was more favored than any other. And most anyone before this day who saw the boy Jesus would have looked right past him. He looked like any other child; inconsequential, unimpressive, normal.

We shouldn’t let that disturb us. We should in fact find comfort in it. Christmas has revealed to us that indeed this child, born of Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit is Immanuel, “God with us.” He is God in the flesh, however he spent much of his life living like we do. He grew up with other children, his sisters and brothers, and the others in the village. He had parental expectations, learning the trade of his father, and helping his mother with the daily chores. He even observed holidays like the rest of us as we hear this morning. He went with his parents for the annual trip to Jerusalem. Almost 13 it was the custom that any man over the age of 12 would go to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. Imagine that, 12 years old, and he was considered on the cusp of adulthood. Adolescence as we define it did not exist in Jesus’ day.

Why should all of this comfort you though? It means you have a God who understands you better than you could ever hope or dream. He’s not distant from everyday life. He’s familiar with the fatigue after a long day of work. He knows what it is like to learn and to play and perhaps what it was like to put up with the neighborhood bully. He knows what it’s like to be lost in the obscurity of humanity, just one child among many others. He understands what it’s like to be you, day to day, in your vocations with daily demands, living a normal life.

He lived that way for 12 years before the world ever got a glimpse of what made him exceptional. Before that and about 18 years following it, his life was pretty mundane. Average is the best way to explain it and that’s likely why we don’t have any more information about those years of Christ’s life.

What we learn today is exceptional though! Before this in all of the gospel accounts the Word made flesh has not spoken a single word. Of course, he spoke before age 12, but none of them are recorded. We put a lot of emphasis on first words. We love to hear what a little child may have said: “mama”, “dada”, “baba”, it doesn’t matter, we just love to hear that a child is finding their voice. We certainly don’t place a lot of weight on those first words though, but in Jesus’ case his first recorded words hold a gravity that carry the weight of the entire world.

“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” In those short phrases Jesus revealed to his parents and those listening who he is and his purpose. Mary and Joseph should have understood, but their weariness and frustration about searching out the boy got the better of them. Had they forgotten his miraculous conception announced by the angels and that indeed Jesus would be called the Son of God? Of course, they remembered, but they still did not understand exactly what that would mean. Already, Mary was learning what Simeon meant that her soul would be pierced as a result of this child. She’s learning that her child doesn’t belong to her alone, that though a faithful child, his fidelity to God will always take precedence and he in fact belongs not just to her and Joseph, but the entire world. Indeed, he was beginning to show them he is the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

And this child, the Son of God the Father says, He must be in his Father’s house. This is a difficult spot for translators. That’s one way of reading it, but you can also read it as “I must be about my Father’s things” or “I must be about my Father’s business.” Either way, he’s saying He’s about God’s will and God’s action in the world. So, Mary finds her child Jesus three days after the Passover teaching the learned and wise in his Father’s house.

Little did they know that this young man sitting before them was preparing them for one great Passover, one that would be sealed with a New Covenant in his blood. Jesus came to be the final Passover, the fulfilment of all the promises of God of which everything before was a foretaste and foreshadow. Jesus’ mission is to be the Paschal Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. After that final Passover he would be lost in death to his mother by dying on a cross only to be found again after 3 days later risen from the dead. You see, you can’t really understand Jesus’ first words until He has died for your sins and risen to bring life and immortality to lighten the entire world.

Then and only then, do those words, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ring with the gravity they deserve. For those words carry the weight of the wisdom of the prophets of old and they bear the responsibility for the entire human race. People like Emperor Augustus and soothsayers like Ovid will come and go just as the news that causes us so much anxiety and the people who we think are so important today are forgotten tomorrow. However, the words of the One we hear this morning is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is true wisdom. He is the true favored one of God.

And you dear Saints have found his favor. Not because your life is anymore exceptional than any other and certainly not because you are perfect or without sin. Rather, you are favored by grace and therefore you have wisdom that transcends the millennia, you have the wisdom from above, Jesus Christ. He was born for you, speaks for you, died for you, and lives for you. And now he comes into your ordinary lives and does extraordinary things. He covers you with the love and favor of His Father. He’s about his Father’s business, giving you the heavenly things of forgiveness, life, and salvation in the Word, the water of Baptism, in the bread and wine of the Holy Communion of his body and blood. 2020 and the decade ahead may hold many things for you, but not a thing can compare to what you already have this day. So with Paul we may bless the Father for what he has done. “Blessed be the God and Father of Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even has he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Eph. 1:3). In Jesus’ name. Amen.