Wait

 

ADVENT 1

Do you like to wait? If you don’t, you’re in good company. Most people do not like to wait, but we all wait for the bus, the end of class, for the doctor, in line, in traffic and for events to begin. Most of the time, waiting is boring, but sometimes it’s exciting.

It’s exciting to wait for a party or big game to begin. It’s exciting to wait for a new puppy or kitten to arrive or for a baby brother or sister to come home from the hospital.

Advent is an exciting time to wait. We wait for Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. But we all know that Jesus was born, lived, died on the Cross and rose from the grave. We all know that Jesus will come again – and that’s what we’re waiting for – His return!

So, how will you wait for Jesus? Well, maybe your family has an Advent wreathe at home. Each day before dinner, you can light a candle and listen to mom or dad read the Bible and pray before you eat. Maybe your family has an Advent calendar with a different Bible passage and small gift each day.

Those are some ideas on how to wait for Christmas. How do we wait for Jesus to return in glory?

Martin Luther taught people that every day they should remember their as they begin to pray. We make the Sign of the Cross and say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” We then say the Apostles Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. He also included this prayer that we can say each 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.

Say that every morning as you wait for Jesus to come at Christmas and in His glory.

What was the Question?

 

God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled What was the Question? and my focus is our Gospel. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Now that our feet are within your gates, we rejoice to hear your Word. As we listen, may your Spirit enlighten our minds and move our hearts to love deeply as Jesus loved. This we pray to you, Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

Game shows for $1,000. “This show has been granted trademark status as ‘America's Favorite Quiz Show’ by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.” Answer, please. “What is Jeopardy!?” Correct.

Each week, 25 million viewers watch Jeopardy! Its unique answer-and-question format is a popular motivational tool for educators. It also lends itself well to our text.

Based on Jesus’ answer, we ask three questions. First, what was the question? Second, what are we waiting for? Third, what should we do?

First, what was the question? What question did the disciples ask that prompted Jesus to reply, “In those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light”?

Backtrack 20 verses. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, when Peter and the others queried, “When will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” These things meant the destruction of the Temple, and sign meant fulfillment.

In essence, the disciples asked two types of questions. The first was historical. The Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 A.D. The second was eschatological or an end-time question. In the 19 verses between their questions and his answer, Jesus instructed his disciples what they should do and not do in the meantime.

Jesus taught using cosmological and apocalyptic images – wars, earthquakes, famines, birth pains. Followers would experience family betrayal, beatings and death. He promised an abomination of desolation and false prophets and christs who would perform signs and lead astray the elect.

Next, the good part. Sun and moon go dark. Stars fall and powers in heaven are shaken. Then the Son of Man would come in clouds with great power and glory to send angels to gather his elect from the four winds and the ends of earth.

Now, what was the question again? The question was, “When will the destruction of the Temple occur, and what is the sign of fulfillment?” Jesus’ answer to his disciples’ question (in 30 A.D.), and Mark’s answer to Roman Christians (in 60 A.D.) prepared them for our next two questions. What are we waiting for? What should we do?

The answer prepared them not for an apocalyptic end of the world, complete with the smell napalm in the morning, back-dropped by Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, but for a new beginning. The destruction of the Temple meant a new beginning.

The Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 A.D.; however, it was not to be restored but replaced by the Son of Man. The very Person of Jesus, the Son of Man, became the place of God’s dwelling. The dramatic collapse of the world’s power structures meant not the end of world history, but the beginning of a new and better phase in which God would work out his purpose.

What does all of this mean for us today? I will get to that when I ask my third question. Next, what are we waiting for?

Mark indicated a new beginning, and today, the first Sunday of Advent, marks a new beginning for us as church, the beginning of the church year.

The word ‘advent’ is from the Latin word ad, meaning "to" and venire meaning “come.” Advent focuses on Christ's coming to us in the flesh; however, Christ's coming manifests itself among us in three ways – past, present and future.

In the past, Christ came to us in the flesh, an infant who grew to a man. In the present, he comes to us in Word and Sacrament. In the future, he will come again in glory.

On the first two Sundays of Advent, we focus on Christ’s Second Coming. The third and fourth Sundays have incarnational themes – John’s magnificent prologue and Luke’s annunciation to Mary. Advent ends when we gather for evening service on December 24^th. Only then does the Christmas season begin.

Christ’s coming evokes urgent excitement for the believer. We wait on tiptoe of expectation. We sense His presence is here. We sense His presence is near. Each day brings us closer to the reason for our waiting, the reason for our being.

Perhaps this will help. On January 6, 2014, our daughter-in-law gave birth to our first granddaughter. My wife, Cindy, and I were so excited that on the day we left to see her, we could not sleep, and left two hours ahead of schedule. Good news stimulates excitement.

As Christians, are we excited as we wait for the liturgical celebration of Christ’s coming and the final celebration of His return? Are we excited about His presence here and now as He comforts and challenges us in Word and Sacrament?

God comforts and challenges us in Word and Sacrament. He comforts and challenges us to do what? That moves me from ‘what are we waiting for?’ to ‘what shall we do?’

The Daily Double! Pray and act, otherwise known as the Christian Life. The Christian life is prayer and action, worship of God and love of neighbor, meditation and mercy.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly said, “Learn the meaning of this phrase, ‘It is mercy, I desire, not sacrifice.’” … I learn and live mercy through meditation, a life of prayer. A Christian without an active daily prayer life is like a candy cane without stripes.

Prayer gives meaning to my life as a pastor and husband. Cindy, my wife who gives meaning to my life, and I spend time daily meditating on Scripture passages. Currently, we are focusing on Advent passages. The other day Cindy told me that her prayer life used to be one where she only threw up petitions to God.

Petitionary prayers are important, but there are other forms of prayer – thanksgiving, repentance, adoration and praise. Bible phrases tell us that praying to God can include “call upon,” “intercede with,” “meditate on,” “consult,” “cry out to,” “draw near to,” “rejoice in” and “seek the face of.”

For me an active prayer life includes these forms as well as meditation and contemplation; however, the mere mention of meditation and contemplation unnerves some Christians. Some pastors rail against meditation and contemplation, while others promote them. I suggest one never engage in any prayer or practice that leads away from Christ.

For me meditating on Scripture is simply having a conversation with God. Since God is wise and merciful, I sit silently and wait for God to speak. Meditation is that simple. I wait for God to speak a word.

In his Simple Way to Pray, after prescribing an organized method of meditating, Martin Luther wrote, “If in the midst of such thoughts the Holy Spirit begins to preach in your heart with rich, enlightening thoughts, honor him by letting go of this written scheme; be still and listen to him. Remember what he says. Note it well and you will behold wondrous things in the law of God.”

In Meditation on Christ’s Passion, Luther wrote, “We say without hesitation that he who contemplates God’s sufferings for a day, an hour, yes, only a quarter of an hour, does better than to fast a whole year, pray a psalm daily, [or] hear a hundred masses. This meditation changes man’s being and, almost like baptism, gives him a new birth.”

Meditation, almost like baptism, gives us new birth. In short, Luther encouraged meditation as a way to deepen our understanding and appreciation of God’s Word.

Meditation relates well to my first point in that the destruction of the Temple meant a new beginning. Worship at the Temple was replaced by worship through the new place of God’s dwelling, the Christ. Likewise, through baptism, my old sinful life was destroyed so a new grace-filled life could emerge.

As a Christian, I live by faith. I am not promised exemption from suffering, trial or even death for the sake of the gospel.

One of the more compelling stories of martyrdom is that of Jim Elliott, who ministered in Ecuador to the Auca Indians, who eventually killed him. Shortly before his death, Elliott said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep [his very life] to gain what he cannot lose [eternal life].” Though they did not articulate it in these words, many early Christians lived by the wisdom of this motto.

Living by this motto means that one must stay awake. One must imitate the doorkeeper. As Christians living in between the time of Christ’s coming in the flesh and his glorious coming, we do not know when he will return.

The doorkeeper could surmise that his master would return during the day. It was dangerous to travel through the night. Yet, parables always challenge one to consider the improbable. So, he needed to stay awake. The Christian, like the doorkeeper, is never off duty. Christians must live mercifully and pray actively.

I close by asking you to check your calendar. In any given year, except 2020, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, how many parties do you attend? Parties with people from work, the neighborhood, your social club, church, school and so on. In addition, friends invite you to attend school functions and Christmas pageants. Then family matters demand Christmas cards and gifts. Of course, we all have professional and personal duties.

My point is that in the busyness of the season, we are easily distracted. No longer awake, Christ’s coming catches us unaware. We lose the sense of wonder and contemplation, unable to read the signs of the times because of our distractedness.

Staying awake is not about sleep, but about spiritual laziness, which often manifests itself as busyness in the form of distractedness. Distractedness is a way of not paying attention to oneself or the needs of others or the voice of God because we are so busy doing nothing – shopping for bargains and checking our smartphones, catching up on small talk and on social media, attending parties and festivities.

Being awake when Christ arrives depends upon my ability to wait quietly and attentively. My difficulty is not that I reject Christ, but staying awake and attentive to the signs reminding me that He is coming.

If you do not know how to stay awake – how to pray – use Portals of Prayer. Each day there is a Scripture passage and a meditation.

As we begin Advent, I ask you to do one thing – pray daily – so that when the Day of the Lord comes, He may find you awake. As you pray, may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

SHEEP AND GOATS

 

MATTHEW 25: 31ff

A few years ago, I bought this wool sweater. Wool comes from sheep. I am sure you can describe sheep: Female sheep are called ewes. Males are rams. Young sheep are lambs. Female sheep make a sound called a bleat to keep track of their lambs. Sheep eat grass or hay and live in pastures. They are covered with thick hair called wool. Because of their thick wool coats, sheep can survive in colder climates.

I am sure you can tell the difference between sheep and goats. One difference is that goats have shorter tails. Goat horns are longer and grow upward, backward and outward, and ram horns grow in a twisted spiral shape. Like sheep, goats enjoy being in a herd. They are livelier than sheep and their inquisitive nature makes them funny, enjoyable, curious pets.

In our Gospel, the Son of Man separates sheep and goats not because goats are not valuable or bad creatures, but Jesus uses them as a way to talk about God’s Judgment and Kingdom.

A shepherd can tell the difference between sheep and goats, just as you can. But can you tell the difference among people? Can you tell by looking which ones will inherit God’s Kingdom and which ones will be cast out? It’s difficult to tell the difference by looking at people. We can’t even tell by looking at their actions. Only the King (God) in our Gospel can tell by how each group of people treated the least important people in their lives.

Because God loves us, we love God, and show our love through acts of kindness and mercy to people that are not important to many others. Let’s be happy to do that today and every day, especially as we celebrate Thanksgiving.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless all children, and give their fathers and mothers the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Great Judgment

 

God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled Three C’s of the Great Judgment, and my focus is Matthew, chapter 25 where we read: “‘As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’ and ‘As you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Now that our feet are within your gates, we rejoice to hear your Word. As we listen, may your Spirit enlighten our minds and move our hearts to love deeply as Jesus loved. This we pray to you, Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

One of Martin Luther’s gifts to Christianity was his Small Catechism. Luther was not the first to pen a catechism. Matthew the Evangelist penned his 1,500 years earlier. Matthew’s first catechetical lesson – Beatitudes. His final exam – The Great Judgment. Our grade? 3 C’s: Characters from Matthew, Catechism from Luther, Commencement from experience.

First, characters. Matthew employed five characters in his parable: Son of Man, King, Sheep, Goats and Least Ones.

Son of Man existed before Jesus’ earthly ministry. It was used prominently in Daniel and in several other books. Matthew referred to Jesus as Son of Man in his ministry, passion and resurrection, and as one coming at the end of the ages. Because Matthew wrote to demonstrate that Jesus fulfilled Scripture, he portrayed him as Son of Man, a judicial figure that possessed righteousness, vindicated the righteous and judged people according to their deeds. What Jesus said in chapter 25 reflected what he taught throughout his life.

As a Jew, Matthew’s concern with keeping Jewish law held great significance, but of greater significance was following Jesus and his teachings: faith, justice and mercy – as taught in the Beatitudes. Mercy is the weightiest as demonstrated in Jesus’ repeated citation of the phrase, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.^[1] Hence, Son of Man judges people’s deeds of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers and visiting the imprisoned.

From Son of Man to King. Note that Son of Man appears only at the beginning of the parable, while the King conducts the dialogue.^[2] Matthew made the change because the Son of Man as King exercised his Father’s will. There is change, but also continuity. Let me explain.

In chapter 16, Matthew wrote the Son of Man would come in his father’s glory,^[3] whereas in chapter 25, he wrote the Son of Man would come in his own glory, but the reference to his father in v. 34 is a reminder that like a King, the Son of Man judges people based on their deeds of mercy. Jesus never referred to himself as a king. Why, then, did Matthew use the title in chapter 25?

Kings are mentioned throughout Matthew. The newborn king threatened King Herod.^[4] Jesus, the donkey-riding humble king of triumph acted unlike other kings who persecuted disciples and resisted God.^[5] As king, chapter 25 depicted Jesus exercising God’s rule over all and sharing in his Father’s authority.^[6] This also prepared readers for Jesus as the mocked king throughout his passion.^[7]

Who is the king? God. God, who identifies himself with every wretched, needy and suffering person. Like a king, God judges people according to their attitude towards the least. Jesus compared God to a king and a shepherd. At the last judgment, on the day his dominion is realized and his kingdom established, God will separate people like a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

Before I identify sheep and goats, note that Matthew mentioned separation several times: wheat from chaff, weeds from wheat and types of fish.^[8] In each case, separation is delayed until the proper time, that is, after all nations heard the gospel.^[9] Only after the nations have been confronted with the Christian message will the judgment come.

Why separate sheep and goats? To deepen our understanding, we look at Palestinian culture during the time of Jesus. First, Jews considered sheep more valuable because their white color, in distinction to the black of goats, made them a symbol of the righteous. Second, shepherds customarily mixed their flocks. Sheep and goats grazed in the same pasture during the day, but every evening, the shepherd separated them because goats need to be kept warm at night, for cold harms them, while sheep prefer the night’s open air. So, this separation symbolized the final judgment.

Because they are separated, our challenge is to discover something negative about goats that would make their condemnation seem proper.

In the eyes of a Palestinian Jew, sheep and goats are different. Does that make the goat worth less than the sheep? … Yes! … What answer were you expecting? … Now, because a ten-dollar bill is worth less than a twenty, it does not mean that we throw them away. Similarly, Matthew expected his audience to have a positive attitude toward goats that would make their condemnation shocking. Shocking to complacent Christians who regarded themselves righteous despite their acknowledged occasional failures. … We do this all the time – I sin, but I am not a murderer. … Seemingly minor and forgivable delinquencies like failure to be ready with oil, failure to increase the master’s property, or failure to recognize and serve the Son of Man in his least brethren will not be minor or forgivable in the eyes of the divine judge. In short, Matthew took great pains to urge readers to recognize the rigors of God’s demands.

Matthew listed 37 episodes that linked behavior and consequence, which tells me that following Jesus can be arduous. Yet, if I believe I am saved by faith alone, the demands of following a Savior who loves me should be easy to keep. … In short, sheep and goats represented the acting and non-acting members of Matthew’s church. The sheep are blessed because they tended to the needs of the King/the least. The goats did not. As to whom the least were is now what we discover.

If we look at the least elsewhere in Matthew, we hear Jesus saying, “Whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple will surely not lose his reward!”^[10] We read that the requirement for entering the kingdom of heaven is to become like a little child. Jesus also used the phrase “little ones” to mean disciples who believed in him.^[11] By the time Matthew wrote his gospel, “the least” were poor, wandering missionaries who depended upon the hospitality of Christians to provide for their needs as they made the gospel known to all nations. In short, “the least” represented Jesus. Whether people recognized Him in “the least” is our next matter.

The members of Matthew’s church were aware of Jesus’ demands. They also remembered that in their own congregation, love grew cold, lawlessness gained the upper hand, and hatred and power grabbing thrived, which is why Jesus sharpened his message regarding humility and service.^[12]

Christians realized that though they were the light of the world, their claims could turn into triumphalism. To combat that, the true disciple reminded himself that his relationship with God could not be disconnected from his relationship to real persons in the congregation who represented Jesus. To honor Jesus meant nothing more than to do what he commanded, and above all to take seriously his command regarding faith, love and mercy.

In light of His passion, this parable provided insight into what could happen to followers of Christ. Jesus, who was a homeless stranger and suffered hunger, would have worse things happen to him than being thrown into prison.^[13] The Great Judgment reminded Christians that God is truly with us in the least.

For Christians living as a minority population, the parable offered hope to the Christians themselves, and to the people they loved and served. Despite unsanitary and overcrowded living conditions and the general misery of poverty, Matthew’s Christians used limited resources to meet the basic human needs of the poor. They saw themselves not only in the righteous sheep who took care of the needy but also in the needy least ones. The comparison between sheep and goats urged Christians to be righteous by caring for the neediest, and encouraged them to become ‘the least’ as they brought God’s kingdom to the world.

Matthew’s catechism challenged Christians to bring God’s kingdom to the world, and that brings me to Luther’s catechism, which also challenges Christians.

First, we know works do not save us, but to quote the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the “justified necessarily produce good works or good fruits.”^[14]

I am a good person because I worship God, respect seniors, do not steal or murder. Yet, as Luther explained, the Fifth Commandment extends far beyond killing. “We should not use our tongue to advocate or advise harming anyone.”^[15]

Luther then turned to Matthew 25. … If you send away one who is naked when you could clothe him, you caused him to freeze to death. If you see one hunger and do not give him food, you caused him to starve. If you see one innocently sentenced to death, and do not save him … you killed him. You - killed - him.

Finally, commencement. Commencement is a ceremony when schools confer degrees or grant diplomas at the end of the academic year. Its Latin roots mean to initiate or consecrate.^[16] Today is a new beginning, the first day I realize how much the Lord Jesus loves me that he lived and died not only to set me free from Satan, sin and self, but also to call me to love the least in our world as he loved them.

Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”^[17] … I suggest you let the disadvantaged take advantage of you. Why? Because in our sinful state, you and I took advantage of Jesus for the sake of salvation. We took advantage of God’s mercy when He offered it. We take advantage of God’s mercy daily. When will I learn the meaning of the phrase, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice? When will I realize that I am a sinner redeemed by His Blood? When will I realize that I am like Christ when the disadvantaged of this world take advantage of my Christ-like mercy?

Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying allow every greedy or gossipy person to swindle or slander you. Do not be the doormat of society’s bullies.

I am saying our world is over-populated with people who suffered at the hands of others. The institutionalized and incarcerated, true victims of physical, mental or verbal violence, men, women and children deprived of wealth, health and love. We are overwhelmed with people looking for Christians who live the meaning of the phrase; I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.

I leave you with one example. For over a year, I ran a program at the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh that served incarcerated mothers. We named the program “I to I” or Incarceration to Independence. Our goal was to create a seamless transition from incarceration to independent living so that these young mothers could raise their children.

The women – arrested for nonviolent crimes – solicitation, theft, possession and so on – were abused by adults since they were young girls. … Over the course of a year, I met with 50 women at the jail. … I will save the details for another day, but I remember walking to the jail one afternoon and into my head pops, “I was in prison and you visited me.”

Branded into my brain – the Scripture passage. Seared onto my soul – visits to incarcerated mothers. Blessed are we when, in light of God’s mercy, we, poor miserable sinners, allow ourselves to serve God and neighbor by letting the least turn to us. Friends, show mercy to the least in your world, and when you do, may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.^[18]

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[1] 9:13; 12:7-8; 18:33.

[2] 25:34-36.

[3] 16:27.

[4] 2:2.

[5] 21:5; 10:18; 14:9; 17:25.

[6] 28:18.

[7] 27:11, 29, 37, 42.

[8] 3:12; 13:24-30; 13:47-50.

[9] 24:14; 28:19-20.

[10] 10:42.

[11] see 18:1-4; 12:49-50; 18:15-35; 23:8; 28:10.

[12] 24:10; 18:1-5; 20:20-28; 23:8-11.

[13] 8:20; 21:18.

[14] Book of Concord, Page 171.

[15] Ibid, p. 412.

[16] www.etymonline.com.

[17] 9:13.

[18] Some books to read include: Charles A. Kroloff, 54 Ways You Can Help the Homeless. West Orange, NJ: Behrman House (1993); Robert E. Goodin, Protecting the Vulnerable: A Reanalysis of Our Social Responsibilities. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1985); Gene Outka and John P. Reeder, Jr., editors, Prospects for a Common Morality. Princeton: Princeton University Press (1992); Kim Hopper, Reckoning with Homelessness. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press (2003).

That's All, Folks!

 

MATTHEW 25: 15-30

When we were kids, we watched cartoons every Saturday morning. One of our favorite shows was Looney Tunes. That show included Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote and, of course, Porky Pig. We knew the cartoon was over when Porky Pig spoke his famous line. (Let’s see if adults know the line w/o stuttering.) “That’s all folks!”

“That’s all folks!” meant the cartoon was over. You might know how other activities end. Lots of sporting events end when a whistle blows or a horn sounds. Class ends when the bell rings. Divine Service ends when the pastor dismisses you.

Sometimes we are prepared for the end and sometimes we are not. Students prepare for the end of high school or college by taking final exams. Adults prepare for the end of their jobs by retiring, and some are surprised by an unexpected firing.

Maybe you were prepared to turn in your homework. Maybe you were not prepared to hear from your parents that you are moving or that your best friend moved. Prepared or unprepared?

In our Gospel, Jesus talks about two men given money by their master. One was prepared to return his master’s money; the other was not. The prepared man was rewarded; the unprepared man was punished.

It’s a good lesson whether we are preparing for a test or a game. It’s a good lesson for Christians preparing for Jesus’ return. We prepare ourselves daily by remembering our baptism, reciting our prayers, reading the Bible and eating and drinking Christ’s Body and Blood. So, until Jesus returns, that’s all folks.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless all children, and give their fathers and mothers the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.