Homily for the Feast of Saint Matthew
Feast of
St. Matthew
Matthew 9:9-13
In Nomine Jesu. Amen.
This Saturday the Church observes the Feast of the Saint Matthew. St. Matthew recorded Jesus’ words that said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Perhaps those words were a tad more significant to Matthew than most. Money was certainly in his wheelhouse. Counting coin and keeping accounts were his daily vocation. Tax-collectors know a thing or two about money and in Matthew’s day tax-collectors knew a thing or two about making money. The tax-men back then were notorious for taking more than was owed and lining their pockets with the balance. However, there was little chance for the average-joe to prove Matthew or any other had taken advantage of him. The only recourse one really had was to despise them.
Now whether or not Matthew was an honest tax-man before he encountered our Lord is unknown to us. However, there’s no doubt he was despised and there’s certainly no doubt he kept company with some crooks. One thing is certain about Matthew, it wasn’t likely that he was filthy rich, but neither was he poor. He certainly was above average and living a fairly comfortable life.
“Follow me.” That’s all it took for Matthew to leave it all behind. At least that’s how Matthew recounts it. He was in his booth one moment and the next he’s walking away from his secure living and steady (but possibly dishonest) income. At least in that moment that’s all it took. The Lord Jesus spoke His Word and His Word affected what it commanded. “Follow me!” Matthew left one master, to follow another. How Christ’s words must have struck his ears when he heard them later, “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Then he was beginning to understand what happened on that fateful day when he left his booth to follow the Christ.
Matthew is remembered as Saint, Apostle, Evangelist, and Martyr. There are countless things we can remember about him and we are indebted to him for preserving the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, instead of reading off a “greatest hits” list of Matthew’s good works I’d like us to remain with Matthew at the moment of his tax-booth conversion. For it’s this single moment that changed Matthew’s life forever. Did he know then that it was the difference between life and death?
There are plenty of well-off people who go to bed with hardly an anxiety or care. Secure and comfortable with all that they need, it’s not as though they need to worry about anything, at least when it comes to their bodily needs. They’re like the man of Jesus’ parable who had earned enough to retire and told himself, “Soul, you have plenty laid up for many years. Eat, drink, and be merry.” Content and certain nothing bad will happen to him he thinks now his soul can rest.
That is the great deception of riches. We often have this dumb tendency to believe that if anything were to take us away from faith in Christ then it’s going to be the bad things that happen to us that will do it. We stupidly forget that good things can be a threat too. Certainly, suffering can draw us away from God, but often that is not the case. In a decade of ministry, I have seen more people draw closer to God because of adversity than I have seen people reach out to Him because they had a windfall of money or received a job promotion. Jesus frequently warns that when things are going well, we must be all the more watchful for complacency and hidden sin. Secure in things our souls become uncertain we need God and before we even know it we’re not praying anymore, not worshiping, and not concerned with the things of God’s kingdom. We know this is true. We know that mammon cannot ultimately satisfy our deepest need. Even the unbelieving world says money can’t buy happiness. However, our sin still makes us weak to behave differently. We worry about many things that Jesus means by the word “mammon.” Things like money, our careers, our job prospects, our retirement, our inheritance, or our legacy we leave our children, etc.
It is wise to remember what God said to the rich fool in Jesus’ parable. “Fool, tonight your soul is required of you. Who will have the things you have prepared?” Serving money over God can only lead to one place, the grave. So we prayed in our hymn today:
The world seeks after wealth
And all that mammon offers
Yet is never content
Though gold should fill its coffers.
I have a higher good,
Content with it I’ll be:
My Jesus is my wealth.
What is the world to me!
Matthew sat in his booth with stacks of ill-gained coin and moneybags hidden under the table. However, he was soon to become the richest a person can ever become. The Savior spoke and said, “Follow me.” The path would first lead to his home where he would dine with his motley gang of tax-collectors with the man who would die for their sins. The Pharisees did what everyone did to tax-collectors, they despised them. Yet, when he heard it Jesus absolves the company he’s keeping. He says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go learn what this means, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew would follow Jesus to learn what that mercy looked like. The Lord would die for his sins and yours. He would become poor to enrich us. He would enter the grave so we can live. He would earn wealth that we can never find on earth, an inheritance in God that leads to eternal life.
Money comes and goes. Matthew’s example teaches us this truth. Money is a poor master. It demands much to earn and keep it and returns little in the end. “Master Mammon” doesn’t care for your well-being in the end, he cannot save you when you have nothing, and he certainly cannot overcome sin and death. However, when the Lord is your wealth then you can use money for good purposes when you have it, but you can also leave it behind should the Lord will you to follow him elsewhere. Jesus is a master who always leads us for our good. He has delivered us from sin and death and the return is nothing short of eternal life.
Let us pray: O Son of God, our blessed Savior Jesus Christ, You called Matthew the tax collector to be an apostle and evangelist. Through his faithful and inspired witness, grant that we also may follow You, leaving behind all covetous desires and love of riches; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Sermon: Taste and See that the Lord is Good!
Epiphany 2, 2019
Sermon Audio
John 2:1–11 (ESV)
1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Advent and Christmas Services
We hope you join us for our Advent meditations as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of the King of Kings! Advent begins Sunday December 2nd and our midweek Series, “We Three Kings of Israel Are…” begins Wednesday December 5th at 6:30 PM.
Our Christmas observance begins with a Christmas Eve Family Nativity Service at 4:00 PM. This is an interactive worship service with children in mind (though the adults enjoy it too). At 7:00 PM on Christmas Eve we celebrate our Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. Holy Communion is celebrated at the 7:00 PM service. Finally at 9:00 AM, Christmas Morning, we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord with Divine Service.
Sermon: Easter Day 2018
Mark 16:1-8
16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Saturday of Holy Week “Refresh and Renew” Devotion
Introduction to Refresh & Renew
This year Redeemer is focusing on Martin Luther’s Catechisms for Lent. Each day a new devotion will be published with the assigned reading from the Small Catechism. Additional readings form the Large Catechism highlighting one part of the day’s topic will be included. You may desire to read one part of this devotion in the morning and the other part in the evening. Readings are hyperlinked to source sites for convenience.
Order for Devotion
In the name of the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pray: Psalm 16:1-11
Reading for Holy Saturday
Matthew 27:57–66
57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
62Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Morning Small Catechism Reading – Confession
Evening Preparation for Confession
After reflecting on the Commandments confess your sins to God in prayer and pray the Lord’s Prayer asking Him to forgiven your trespasses. Attend the Divine Service on Sunday, confess your sins, and receive Christ’s Holy Absolution knowing that He is rich in mercy to poor sinners for whom He died upon a cross and rose again that they may be forgiven and have eternal life.
- You Shall Have No Other Gods. – What or whom do I fear the most? – What or whom do I trust most for financial security, physical safety, or emotional support? – Do I fear God’s wrath and therefore avoid sin? – Is my love for God evident in my daily life? – Do expect only good things from God or do I doubt, worry, complain, and feel unfairly treated when things go wrong?
- You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. – Does the good news of Jesus’ forgiveness adorn my speech, or do I curse, speak carelessly, or misuse God’s name? – Have I kept any promises I have made in God’s name? – Am I diligent in prayer? – Do I call upon God in all times of trouble? – Do I forget to pray when things are well?
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. – Do I despise the Word by not paying attention when it is read to me or when I hear it preached? – Do I attend the Divine Service as often as I can or do I excuse myself from regular worship? – Do I prefer to be elsewhere then at worship with the church?
- Honor your father and mother. – Do I submit to the authorities God has put over me? – Have I been disrespectful to my parents, teachers, employer, or other authorities? – Have I failed to thank God for those authorities who protect me? – Do I obey the laws of my nation and pay my rightful share of all taxes?
- You shall not murder. – Have I unjustly taken the life of someone, born or unborn? – Do I hate anyone, or am I angry with anyone? – Am I hold a grudge, unwilling to forgiven, or otherwise harboring resentment towards anyone? – Am I abusive in word or deed toward others, my spouse, or my children? – Have I been callous to those in genuine need?
- You shall not commit adultery. – Have I held in highest regard God’s gift of sexuality or have I debased it with any thought, word, or deed? – Am I guilty of lust, indecency, or the use of pornography? – Have I reserved my sexual activity for the pleasure and consolation of my spouse, and when God wills, the procreation of children?
- You shall not steal. – Have I gotten anything dishonestly? – Have I made illegal copies of copyrighted materials such as music, computer software, or videos? – Do I faithfully attend to my vocations or have I been lazy and not done my best work for my employer? – Do I take care of what I have and do I return what I borrow? – Do I give generously or am I selfish and stingy?
- You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. – Do I speak truthfully? – Do I gossip or take pleasure in talking about the faults of others? – Do I defend the reputation of others, even my enemies when they are being slandered? – Have I judged those I am not authorized to judge? – Have I explained in the best way the actions of others?
- You shall not covet your neighbors house. – Do my desires for things consume my thoughts? – Do I resent or envy others who have things that I do not have? – Do I neglect giving to the mission of my church in the pursuit of entertainment, pleasure, and property? – Do I neglect my family and other relationships as a result of promotion in my career or in the pursuit of wealth? – Do my wants prevent me from being happy and thankful for what God has given me?
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. – Am I discontented with the spouse that God has given me? – Am I discontented with the job that provides my income or with the employees I supervise? – Have I neglected to urge someone to be faithful to their spouse? – Have I wanted my neighbors husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, workers or property to be mine?
Lord’s Prayer
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
Closing Prayer – Morning
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest.
Closing Prayer – Evening
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.
Good Friday “Refresh and Renew” Devotion
Introduction to Refresh & Renew
This year Redeemer is focusing on Martin Luther’s Catechisms for Lent. Each day a new devotion will be published with the assigned reading from the Small Catechism. Additional readings form the Large Catechism highlighting one part of the day’s topic will be included. You may desire to read one part of this devotion in the morning and the other part in the evening. Readings are hyperlinked to source sites for convenience.
Order for Devotion
In the name of the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pray: Psalm 22
Reading for Good Friday
John 18:16b-30
So they took Jesus, 17and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
23When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things, 25but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
28After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Morning Small Catechism Reading – The Sacrament of the Altar
Evening Large Catechism Reading (Part 5, 76-87) – The Sacrament of the Altar
Lord’s Prayer
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
Closing Prayer – Morning
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest.
Closing Prayer – Evening
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.
Maundy Thursday “Refresh and Renew” Devotion
Introduction to Refresh & Renew
This year Redeemer is focusing on Martin Luther’s Catechisms for Lent. Each day a new devotion will be published with the assigned reading from the Small Catechism. Additional readings form the Large Catechism highlighting one part of the day’s topic will be included. You may desire to read one part of this devotion in the morning and the other part in the evening. Readings are hyperlinked to source sites for convenience.
Order for Devotion
In the name of the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pray: Psalm 116:12-19
Reading for Holy Thursday
1 Corinthians 10:16–17
16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
Morning Small Catechism Reading – Holy Baptism
Evening Large Catechism Reading (Part 4, 64-86) – Holy Baptism
Lord’s Prayer
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
Closing Prayer – Morning
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest.
Closing Prayer – Evening
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.
Wednesday of Holy Week “Refresh and Renew” Devotion
Introduction to Refresh & Renew
This year Redeemer is focusing on Martin Luther’s Catechisms for Lent. Each day a new devotion will be published with the assigned reading from the Small Catechism. Additional readings form the Large Catechism highlighting one part of the day’s topic will be included. You may desire to read one part of this devotion in the morning and the other part in the evening. Readings are hyperlinked to source sites for convenience.
Order for Devotion
In the name of the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pray: Psalm 70:1-5
Passage for Holy Wednesday
Romans 5:6–11
6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Morning Small Catechism Reading – The Lord’s Prayer
Evening Large Catechism Reading (Part 3, 112-124) – The Lord’s Prayer Seventh Petition
Lord’s Prayer
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
Closing Prayer – Morning
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest.
Closing Prayer – Evening
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.
Tuesday of Holy Week “Refresh and Renew” Devotion
Introduction to Refresh & Renew
This year Redeemer is focusing on Martin Luther’s Catechisms for Lent. Each day a new devotion will be published with the assigned reading from the Small Catechism. Additional readings form the Large Catechism highlighting one part of the day’s topic will be included. You may desire to read one part of this devotion in the morning and the other part in the evening. Readings are hyperlinked to source sites for convenience.
Order for Devotion
In the name of the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pray: Psalm 71:1-14
Read the Lesson for Holy Tuesday
1 Corinthians 1:18–25
18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Small Catechism Reading – The Apostles Creed
Lord’s Prayer
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
Closing Prayer – Morning
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest.
Closing Prayer – Evening
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer 