tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138781358399848302024-03-26T03:45:49.486-07:00CWYNARPaul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.comBlogger585125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-41759754086358016982024-03-26T03:45:00.000-07:002024-03-26T03:45:16.628-07:00Three Words<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmvuB44HizjLrZB3Ty9qSidPoPzcSNqU8tDuf3H0jInGKrxgq1AbhJLmiQinW2PT15Vm6-vt-KmwFrNRB96kPtXpjgo_3a6y1LVLh6-dWjy2jQROtVi_xNIdWJNVxcfsPIcjadbK0moCaGg-Ajgqum3yalXUuyv61KgqcygrmClscmY4seJKupa84xnVI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1686" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmvuB44HizjLrZB3Ty9qSidPoPzcSNqU8tDuf3H0jInGKrxgq1AbhJLmiQinW2PT15Vm6-vt-KmwFrNRB96kPtXpjgo_3a6y1LVLh6-dWjy2jQROtVi_xNIdWJNVxcfsPIcjadbK0moCaGg-Ajgqum3yalXUuyv61KgqcygrmClscmY4seJKupa84xnVI" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God’s grace, peace and
mercy be with you. … My sermon is entitled <i>Three Words</i> <i>(Disturbing
Words, Institutional Words, Personal Words)</i> and my focus is our Gospel
(Mark 14:12-26). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Disturbing Words. My
hope is that you are having a peaceful, easy feeling; that you’re feeling easy
like Sunday morning; and that all is well with your soul. If you are, I hate to
disturb you. None of us likes to hear disturbing news whether it’s personal –
“You have cancer.” “You’re fired.” “I’m leaving you.” – or communal –
“President Kennedy has been shot.” “The Challenger has exploded.” “A second
plane has crashed into the South Tower.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Disturbing news causes
feelings of worry, concern or anxiety. The word disturb means to frighten,
alarm, break up the tranquility. The Latin word <i>disturbare</i> means to
throw into disorder, from <i>dis</i>, meaning completely, and <i>turbare or</i>
<i>turba, </i>meaning turmoil. Disturbing synonyms include aggravating,
annoying, pesky, rankling and vexing to name a few.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I begin our Triduum –
our three-day observance of the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection – with
Disturbing Words because that is what we hear from Jesus. But before I get to
that, allow me a few moments to set the scene. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus’ instructions to
two disciples regarding where to eat the Passover seem a bit out of place. A
man carrying a water jar will be looking for them. First, men in Jesus’ culture
did not carry water jars; women did. Second, what are the odds of this man
knowing who these two disciples are. Know this about the Evangelists: they
don’t explain everything. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What we can surmise
from the preparation is that people seldom finished eating the Passover meal
before midnight. Note that Jesus and the Twelve did not arrive until evening.
So, that night he was within the jurisdiction of the priestly authorities who planned
to arrest him secretly and then kill him, and if he was close to Mount Zion, he
was near Caiaphas’ house. That in itself is frightening, but here are the
disturbing words from our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imagine, now, you’re
gathered with Jesus and as the meal begins the first words out of his mouth
are, <b><i>“Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating
with me.”</i></b> Imagine sitting down for Easter Dinner with your closest
family members and dearest friends, and the host says that you will betray him.
Is it no wonder that Mark records their upset feelings – distress, grief,
sorrow and sadness – and their responses: <b><i>“Surely, you don’t mean me?”
“Am I the one?” “Is it I?”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus’ disturbing
words isolated him from the Jewish authorities and his own disciples. Though
surrounded by enemies and followers, he is alone. A more chilling effect comes
when he says, <b><i>“It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the
dish with me.”</i></b> This is the deepest sort of betrayal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His words are
prophesied in Psalm 41, where we read, <b><i>“Even my close friend in whom I
trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. But you, O LORD, be
gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!”</i></b> In more
familiar words, we recall, <b><i>“You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”</i></b> (Ps 23) In
other words, all is going according to divine script for Jesus’ life. The irony
is that during a meal where bonding and celebrating occur, the participants
will betray, deny and desert Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus goes to the
cross without his closest allies and support group. The Twelve were upset at
Jesus’ words, and Mark portrayed them accurately as a self-concerned bunch,
undiscerning to the end. And though Mark makes no mention of Judas’ departure,
the punishment for his deliberate breach of faith is described in verse 21, <b><i>“For
the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the
Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not
been born.”</i></b> There is no exoneration for him. Disturbing words, indeed!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, because Holy
Thursday marks a transition within Holy Week and Lent as the first of three
sacred days known as the Holy Triduum, Latin for three days, it serves as the
beginning of the Paschal Feast. As we are fed and nourished at His table, we
are strengthened to take up our cross, follow Him, loving one another in real
and significant ways as He has loved us. With that, we move from Disturbing
Words to Institutional Words. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Institutional Words. Before
commenting on the Institutional Words, a few remarks about the passage. This is
the earliest Gospel description of the Last Supper. Yet, the earliest written
account is 1<sup>st</sup> Corinthians 11:23-26.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Though this is a
Passover meal, there is no mention of what is customarily consumed – lamb and
bitter herbs – for the focus is on bread and wine. Jesus is not participating
in the temple-centered feast of Passover. Instead, he discarded its symbolic
ritual meal in order to narrate his new story – that of the Human One who gives
his life for the people. Blood was the ultimate pollutant in the Jewish purity
system. Yet, the blood of Jesus is the means of ultimate cleansing of people from
their sins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Words of
Institution are symbolic to the disciples. Otherwise, how difficult it would be
for them to drink human blood. Even as a symbol, it would offend the
sensibilities of any Jew. Still, they eat and drink the bread and wine offered
by Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We cannot overlook the
significance of the verse that follows. When Jesus says, <b><i>“I will not
drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the
kingdom of God,”</i></b> he anticipated that he would share no more Passover
meals nor drink any more wine. He would drink new wine in the messianic banquet
for his death was instrumental in bringing forth God’s Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In heaven we won't
receive the Lord's Supper because we will have Jesus — the Bread of heaven — in
all his fullness. As Lutherans, we believe this messianic banquet – Eucharist –
as one of our sacraments. The Words of Institution are an historical report:
this is what Jesus did and what he said. According to Christ’s command, we
celebrate the Lord's Supper not as a meal of remembrance but as a Sacrament by
which Jesus himself comes to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Luther’s Small
Catechism, we read that the Sacrament of the Altar is the true body and blood
of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself
for us Christians to eat and to drink. These words, <i>“Given and shed for you
for the forgiveness of sins,”</i> show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of
sins, life and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is
forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. Whoever believes these
words, and eats and drinks Christ’s Body and Blood, has exactly what they say:
“forgiveness of sins.” But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts
them is unworthy and unprepared, because the words “for you” require our hearts
to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Martin Luther placed
the highest priority on Jesus’ instituting words. He wrote: <i>“You must above
all else take heed to your heart, that you believe the words of Christ, and
admit their truth, when he says to you and to all, ‘This is my blood, a new
testament, by which I bequeath you forgiveness of all sins and eternal life.’ …
Everything depends … upon the words of this sacrament. These are the words of
Christ. Truly we should set them in pure gold and precious stones, keeping
nothing more diligently before the eyes of our heart, so that faith may thereby
be exercised. . .. If you would receive this sacrament and testament worthily,
see to it that you give emphasis to these living words of Christ, rely on them
with a strong faith, and desire what Christ has promised you in them.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To further appreciate
why Luther valued the Words of Institution to this degree, it is necessary to
remember the controversies that emerged surrounding the Lord’s Supper. Amidst
the errors of the Roman Catholic sacrificial interpretation and the Reformed
rejection of the bodily presence, Lutherans continued to confess that the Lord’s
Supper is the very body and blood of Jesus, given in bread and wine, not as a <i><u>sacrifice</u></i>
for sins, but <i><u>for the forgiveness</u></i> of sins. The foundation and
defense of their confession were Jesus’ own mandating words. Like Luther
before, the next generation of Lutherans ardently held fast to the words of
institution: with these words Jesus instituted this sacrament and shows what is
given in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The authors of the
Formula of Concord followed Luther in their fervent confession of Jesus’ words
of institution: <i>“This very opinion on the Lord’s Supper … is founded on the
only firm, immovable and undoubtable rock of truth. It comes from the words of
institution, in the holy, divine Word. … We are certainly duty-bound not to
interpret and explain these words in a different way. For these are the words
of the eternal, true and almighty Son of God, our Lord, Creator, and Redeemer,
Jesus Christ. … With simple faith and obedience, we receive the words as they
read, in their proper and plain sense.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Personal Words. From
Institutional Words to Personal Words. Most people consider Easter as one of
their top ten holidays. Throughout the US and the world, people place
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Independence Day, Hanukkah, New Year’s and
Ramadan ahead of Easter. Personally speaking, Easter has been my favorite
holiday ever since I came to know and love Jesus Christ. The three days
preceding the Resurrection of the Lord are the most solemn and mystical days on
our calendar. And as decades pass, my opinion, like concrete, has solidified
about the solemnity and celebration of Christ’s Passion, Death and
Resurrection, otherwise known as the Paschal Mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My thoughts exclude
any of the Easter trappings: chocolate bunnies and baskets, children’s clothing
and egg hunts. They do include what enhances our worship – singing joyful
alleluias and smelling fresh flowers – to the point that years ago I said that
whenever I am buried, I want it to be on Easter Monday: the pain of death
experienced on a Day of New Life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2003, I experienced
the pain of death against the backdrop of new life. In that year, on April 16<sup>th</sup>,
Wednesday of Holy Week, my father died suddenly and unexpectedly of a massive
heart attack. Ironically, we buried him on Easter Monday. I speak of this not
to garner sympathy, but to offer an insight. By now, we have all experienced
pain, grief, sadness, unbelief and all those emotions that occur when one we
love dies. Though we may be able to mask those emotions temporarily while
receiving guests at the funeral home or leading worship during the Triduum, we
do not escape them. At some point, they overcome us and leave us feeling
broken, empty and maybe even hopeless. Yet, life goes on, and we realize that
though we are feeling loss, most of the world outside our circles of family,
friends and church, have no clue that we lost our loved one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We turn to whatever
helps us cope. Some turn to unhealthy habits and develop addictions. Others
find healthy activities to fill their days – volunteering in the church or
community. Still others develop new relationships. Humanly speaking, all good.
Yet, what I found, years removed from the sudden death of my father, is that
the emotional experience of loss can lead to deeper reflection and appreciation
not only for what my father did for family, community and church, but more
importantly for what Jesus Christ did for us as Savior and Redeemer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reflecting on the
Paschal Mystery from the perspective of loss deepens our appreciation and love
for Christ knowing the depth of his love not only for his family, friends and
disciples, but also for us, brothers and sisters of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My friends, what I am
asking you to do between now and Easter Sunday, amidst all the activity which
engages your time and attention, is to spend some time reading and reflecting
upon the passion narratives found in the Gospels. Take time for prayer and meditation
not only publicly in church, but also privately at home. May the Passion of
Jesus mark your Triduum. And may the peace of God that surpasses all
understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-62466053596398051102024-03-21T08:00:00.000-07:002024-03-21T08:00:34.300-07:00In His Memory<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA8nR7XYLZdbuaeAW-EOC5KhJGq-1qEbeGZXDkZ36xCh_nei01Ce75UedDIHfdg_sBm2sAgMANrk15aN1dTxaGWCR1vdGMMuhJ6CbD7zw79wKnCs9TsIYttAfRWtxxwdM_EZTuM7k6WJMlh3IsXjXIvrfx5_jZVU8cEDvZ56QU3iutLTnRD0OJl_24yg0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="500" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA8nR7XYLZdbuaeAW-EOC5KhJGq-1qEbeGZXDkZ36xCh_nei01Ce75UedDIHfdg_sBm2sAgMANrk15aN1dTxaGWCR1vdGMMuhJ6CbD7zw79wKnCs9TsIYttAfRWtxxwdM_EZTuM7k6WJMlh3IsXjXIvrfx5_jZVU8cEDvZ56QU3iutLTnRD0OJl_24yg0" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God’s grace, peace and
mercy be with you. My sermon is based on our Gospel (Mark 14:1-15:47). Let us
pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go
to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The disciples were
happy as they walked along under the stars. It was a bittersweet happiness.
Jesus said too many sorrow-shadowed things. His final words, especially, kept
ringing in their ears: <b><i>“Do this in memory of me.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Years after the Last
Supper, Paul wrote, <b><i>“As often as you eat this bread and drink this
cup, you proclaim the death until he comes.” </i></b>Paul’s point is
important. Jesus is present in a mysterious way in every celebration of the
Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper, but the fullness of his presence will be
realized only when he returns in glory. Until then, the Lord’s Supper will
always be a paradox of presence and absence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It will be a call to
mourning as well as feasting, to sadness as well as to joy, to longing as well
as to satisfaction. When you attend church and come to the Lord’s Table to
receive Christ’s Body and Blood under the form of bread and wine, why is it so
meaningful for you? Do you mourn or rejoice? Are you sad or satisfied? Perhaps
your feelings are influenced by life’s events and affect how Christ comes to
you in the Lord’s Supper. Is it the birth of a grandchild or the death of a
grandmother? Before you retire this evening, take time to speak to Jesus about
the opportunity to share in His Supper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Next, the
discouragement Jesus must have felt. We have all experienced discouragement. It
may have been as a child or as a parent, in our personal or professional lives.
Like Jesus, we have all experienced discouragement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the vein of Paul
Harvey, I tell you the story of a mother who experienced great discouragement
when one day her partially deaf son came home from school with a note from his
teacher. Little Tommy handed the note to his mother.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mother opened the note
slowly and read it. As she did, she choked back tears. The note suggested her
son was too dull to learn. He was holding back the entire class. It would be
better if she would withdraw him from school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The mother finished
reading the note. At first, she felt discouraged, then awkward and finally
challenged. She said to herself, <i>“My son is not too dull to learn. I’ll
teach him myself.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When little Tommy died
many years later, the entire nation honored him in a remarkable way. At exactly
9:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in late October 1931, every home turned off its
lights for one minute as a tribute to the man who invented those lights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thomas Alva Edison,
inventor of the electric lightbulb, the movie projector and the record player,
the boy “too dull to learn,” died with a thousand patents to his credit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the outset of his
ministry, Jesus faced opposition. He was opposed not only by the devil, but
also by those he called. “<b><i>I mean, really,”</i></b> said one of his
disciples, <b><i>“could anything good come from Nazareth?”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a follower of
Jesus, I am certain you experienced discouragement. This week, recall those
moments, and speak to Jesus about how he handled discouragement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I close with a quote
from Harper Lee’s main character in <i>“To Kill a Mockingbird,”</i> Atticus
Finch. One of the memorable lines in her book is often memorized and quoted
like a confirmation verse. <i>“You never really understand a person until
you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and
walk around in it.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until you climb into
his skin and walk around in it. … This week, ask the Lord for the grace to
accept life’s trials with the same courageous acceptance that he demonstrated
in Gethsemane. Contemplate Jesus’ suffering the way the evangelists
contemplated it. … May the Passion of Jesus mark your Holy Week. And may the
peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your heart and mind in
Christ Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-41537257823233231202024-03-14T04:20:00.000-07:002024-03-14T04:20:42.714-07:00Feeling Ambitious?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6KiMrVNQwPq33mUt82zq9VErBeMZ7-onCqJqGe1juxOc0NyE3BNWT2xxtCIOPAMOdLBHfz7yGuUJX_xWxcq9Rinh72F3hIn9Cuza5NgPs9A5fA7A7ognQkrt4doJzQe1oOIKLFZjUj-pAeZXGUugj3_E0Uy5vzGlrQTMiIbT6vcFBLbHkndpBMaswKDY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="710" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6KiMrVNQwPq33mUt82zq9VErBeMZ7-onCqJqGe1juxOc0NyE3BNWT2xxtCIOPAMOdLBHfz7yGuUJX_xWxcq9Rinh72F3hIn9Cuza5NgPs9A5fA7A7ognQkrt4doJzQe1oOIKLFZjUj-pAeZXGUugj3_E0Uy5vzGlrQTMiIbT6vcFBLbHkndpBMaswKDY" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled <i>You Do Not Know What You Are
Asking</i>, and my focus is our Gospel (Mark 10:32-45). Let us pray. Heavenly
Father, the psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go
to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Blind
Ambition</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">, John Dean’s account as President Nixon’s counsel
during Watergate, reveals Dean’s desire for power and importance, which led him
to fall deeply into crisis. Dean had more than ambition. Dean had blind
ambition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ambition, from the
Latin word <span class="foreign"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ambitio</i>
originally meant </span>going around soliciting votes. One with ambition desired
honor and thirsted for popularity. Today, we use the word pejoratively. She has
an inordinate desire. He exudes <span class="foreign">pride</span> and <span class="foreign">vainglory</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some say ambition is good. Some say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I did it so my family could have a better life. … I was only thinking
of us!”</i> … In truth, we stop looking at others along the road and become
racehorses wearing blinders so we can fully fixate on the finish line and
accomplish our goals at the expense of everyone and everything. Often when we
win the race on the road of blind ambition, we feel lousy. Outwardly successful
to others, inwardly we know joy slipped from our lives. We realize the price of
earned success.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s the difference between ambition and blind ambition?
Ambition is about improving and changing things in the world. Blind ambition is
about improving things for you. Today, I examine the disciples’ blind ambition,
Jesus’ teaching, and what the Gospel might mean for us today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our passage occurred on the way to Jerusalem. Jesus walked
ahead. His disciples followed. … Going before or going in front of indicated
one’s relative position to others on the journey. In this case, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘the way’</i> referred to Jesus’
relationship with his disciples. He went before them as their leader, showing
the way and modeling the life to which he called them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the way, Jesus predicted his passion for the third time.
Again, the disciples heard Jesus’ message on the resurrection, but ignored what
he said about the passion. After his first prediction, Peter rebuked Jesus.
After the second, the disciples did not understand and were too afraid to ask.
Instead, they argued about who was the greatest. Now, James and John asked what
the glory could mean for them. Not one disciple was able to face and accept the
passion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">James and John were among the first disciples. Like Peter,
they were fishermen. Named to the Twelve right after Peter, together they
experienced the Transfiguration. The three raised the most basic issues
regarding what it meant to follow Christ and were the vehicle for Jesus’ most
challenging teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with a bold request. In
most cases, people modestly approached Jesus as one did a respected teacher. No
one ever demanded anything of Jesus, let alone without indicating <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> he or she demanded. Testing the
limits of what Jesus was willing to do for them, the ambitious brothers
demanded Jesus give them <u>whatever</u> they ask of him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus answered with a question: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What do you want me to do for
you?”</i></b> He posed the same question to Bartimaeus, the blind beggar of
Jericho. Unlike James and John, who tried to get what they wanted, Bartimaeus humbly
approached Jesus and begged for mercy: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.”</i></b><sup><o:p></o:p></sup></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After the brothers made known their request, Jesus asked a
follow up question: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Can you drink the cup that I drink?” </i></b>The symbol of the cup has
a rich background in the Old Testament. The overflowing cup expressed joy and
communion with God. The cup was a symbol for someone’s lot. Psalm 11 referred
to God’s wrath and judgment on the wicked: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“He rains down fire and burning sulfur upon
wicked people. He makes them drink from a cup filled with scorching wind.” </i></b>On
the other hand, Psalm 116 referred to the cup of salvation: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark immediately related the image of the cup to baptism,
which also referred to the passion. Baptized with the baptism with which Jesus
was baptized meant suffering the passion He suffered. Think of baptism not so
much as cleansing or purification, but as dying and being buried with Christ.
Think Romans 6: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his <u>death</u>? We were buried with him by baptism
into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory
of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That is why Jesus said, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You do not know what you are asking.”</i></b>
What it meant to drink from the cup and to be baptized with Jesus was revealed
in the passion. Jesus asked James and John if they could go with him to the
passion. Now, remember, they were on the way, but they tried to avoid what
Jesus previously outlined in detail. They would drink from the cup and be
baptized in the way Jesus predicted his own passion. In Acts 12, we read, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Herod
… killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it
pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.” </i></b>In the end, what
the brothers lacked in understanding, they compensated for in courage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other ten heard this conversation and became indignant at
the two who wanted to be above them in glory. Their indignation masked their
own blind ambition, for the brothers’ request was what each of the disciples
desired to ask. James and John simply stole their thunder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This prompted Jesus to respond with a mini-discourse. The
disciples needed to learn what it meant to be servants to all. Jesus’ response
summed up his entire teaching on following him on the way to his passion and
resurrection. Verse 45 was Jesus’ purpose statement. Moreover, since Jesus was
going before them as their leader, showing the way and modeling the life to
which he called them, his disciples had to be not only servants, but also
slaves. If they were ambitious to be great, they had to be servants … to all. If
they were ambitious to be first, they had to be slaves … to all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Jesus’ day, there was a huge difference between a servant
and a slave. A servant was hired for a set of tasks and compensated according
to agreed terms. A slave was owned by a master who may or may not compensate
for the work performed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christians, especially those in authority, were to think of
themselves as God-chosen slaves to other Christians and, for the sake of the
Gospel, the whole human race. This meant denying yourself, giving up any
personal claim on yourself and allowing Jesus to claim you for the mission of
His Father’s Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In his passion, Jesus fulfilled his mission as a slave. To
express this, Mark evoked a passage from Isaiah 53, the Suffering Servant song.
He made known that as a member of His Church – a Christian following Christ on
the way – you were a slave offering your life “as a ransom for many.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Still, the disciples were as obtuse as the disheartened rich
young man who went away sorrowful. To illustrate what it meant to follow Jesus
on the way, Mark completed this section with the healing of Blind Bartimaeus.
When called, he threw off his cloak, symbolizing his old way of life, and when
he recovered his sight, he joyfully followed his Master on the way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before I get to what the passage might mean for us, I ask if
you ever considered seriously the divine call to be God’s slave. Have you ever
met a slave? Possibly, but you were probably not aware that the person cooking
in the kitchen, manicuring your nails or mowing your lawn was a slave. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, let me tell you the inspiring story of my friend, Minh
Dang, and her struggle and challenge. I have told her story before, but it
bears repeating. Minh founded an organization to end human trafficking and
slavery. In spite of the fact that slavery is illegal in every country, there
are 50 million slaves in the world. Over a million people were trafficked
across US borders last year. There are an estimated 1.1 million slaves in
America today, the majority of them are American citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2013, after President Obama recognized Minh as a Champion
of Change, she said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It’s really bitter.
I’d love to get an award for having invented the iPad. I’m getting an award for
telling my horrendous story. … I’m really glad to be recognized, but that
recognition doesn’t fill the hole where my mommy doesn’t love me or the hole of
my wounds.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You see, Minh’s mother stopped loving her at age 10. Her
mother and father forced her into slavery for 12 long years. In short, they
were partners in crime. They were criminals. Seven years after she broke free
from her parents, Minh became a doctoral student at the University of
California at Berkeley.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Professional, punctual, perky, pretty and polite, Minh was
her Los Altos High School teachers’ delight and coach’s dream – an
overachieving academic athlete. In college, she shocked everyone when she
revealed that since the age of 10, her parents enslaved her for 12 years for
financial gain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I mention Minh because slavery is alive and well in America
today. The FBI reports that people are beaten, starved and forced into
dehumanizing situations, working grueling jobs in restaurants, factories or as
domestic servants for little or no pay. When they outlive their usefulness,
they are dumped or murdered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Human trafficking is organized crime at its worst, and it is
very much alive in America’s heartland. The FBI regularly arrests people in Midwest
cities and across the United States for trafficking human beings. Think about
that the next time you are in a restaurant, nail salon, classroom, factory or
order lawn care or a new roof. Are these people trafficked?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When we hear such stories on the news, it makes us
uncomfortable. Sometimes the Good News makes us uncomfortable. Minh’s story and
the plight of 50 million people are uncomfortable, not uplifting. Few slaves will
experience freedom. None will turn out to be doctoral students or White House
awardees, but all are God’s children and we have a mission to them and their
captors – to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of their
souls and the freedom to live with dignity. Called by Christ to be useful
servants and slaves of His Father’s Kingdom, that is our radical mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Minh said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“If
everyone KNEW about human trafficking but didn’t DO anything to put an end to
it, then awareness would be useless. What is one thing you can commit to
doing?” </i>Unquote.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did you know that the Synod is committed to <i>Christ’s Care
for Children</i> – a ministry that shields orphaned children in Kenya from
slavery? Did you know that our Synod and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Service teamed up to create awareness in our churches and to respond
proactively with tangible forms of mercy? They did so because human trafficking
is an attack on human life. God created human life for a holy purpose, and we
must be concerned about and become engaged in ending a practice that takes the
most vulnerable and sells them as a commodity for unholy purposes – because Christians
choose and protect life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Lord’s Supper Lenten preface reminds us that at all
times and in all places, we give thanks to our almighty Father through Jesus
Christ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“who overcame the assaults of the
devil and gave His life as a ransom for many so that with cleansed hearts we
might be prepared joyfully to celebrate the paschal feast in sincerity and
truth.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus gave his life as a ransom for us and called us through
baptism and His Supper to imitate Him so that with cleansed hearts we can
joyfully celebrate his paschal feast. As Lutherans, we are baptized, cup
drinkers of His blood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I may think I am inadequate to overcome the assaults of the
devil manifested in human trafficking, abortion, racism, consumerism, marital
infidelity or a multitude of other sins. However, I am aware of sin, and if I
do nothing to overcome the assaults of the devil, what good is that? I am
called through baptism and the Lord’s Supper to celebrate and share in His
paschal feast – in Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I may not fully understand what Jesus requires, but like
James and John, I am courageous enough to drink from the cup and be baptized as
our Master was, am I not? I am called to discard my cloak, my old way of life,
and joyfully follow my Master on the way, am I not?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because Christ called me to be like Him – selfless and eager
to assist others – my Christian service must be consistent rather than a sporadic.
Because Christ called me to be a slave, blind ambition has no function in Christian
fellowship or friendship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, you may say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“There
is no human trafficking or slavery in Beaver County.”</i> You may be correct,
but sin exists.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yet, if Almighty God eradicated Satan, sin and death, one
master remains – self. I put my “self” above God, above God’s ways, and above God’s
thinking. Human reason and emotion govern my faith. Blind ambition and self-promotion
glorify me, not God. Do I volunteer because it enhances my standing among
church members? Do I fish for compliments or submit to Master Christ as a
slave, working without expectation of pay or praise?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If self-promotion is not the problem, then perhaps it is self-doubt
– that Christ cannot save me; that I am beyond redemption or need no redemption.
Until Christ conquers my “self”, I am – as St. Paul succinctly said – a slave
to sin, an addict of ego – and will remain so until I produce evidence – fruit
of the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Friends, as a slave of Christ, freed from the world, pray to
the Trinity for wisdom and courage to choose wisely in every situation,
especially difficult ones, always insignificant ones in order to avoid blind
ambition. Pray in the Holy Name of Jesus, and when you do, may the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-7886994064694285572024-03-08T03:26:00.000-08:002024-03-08T03:26:55.292-08:00LIFTED UP<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid8VoO5jAXg_ZN3yej6cfPP1xGcGK7VO2yaQPTOIqssk27RjKIJaSYt4o0oTOoFxde7IiOqn49CTc50hFmE7fpjbgxWgzyhAuwI151GIAMYUQQfupYxDz_Hph6gZEzuTLlxD1zW252SC4wPq_asbktzExRHEp0dy0tIAqGMo2v66CUC_YgwMWM3D9gUSg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="768" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid8VoO5jAXg_ZN3yej6cfPP1xGcGK7VO2yaQPTOIqssk27RjKIJaSYt4o0oTOoFxde7IiOqn49CTc50hFmE7fpjbgxWgzyhAuwI151GIAMYUQQfupYxDz_Hph6gZEzuTLlxD1zW252SC4wPq_asbktzExRHEp0dy0tIAqGMo2v66CUC_YgwMWM3D9gUSg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When I was a young boy and did
something sinful, like call my brother a bad name or lost my temper, my mother
made me kneel down on the hardwood living room floor and stare at something for
5 minutes. That was my punishment for my sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I knelt on the floor and
stared at a crucifix. If you did not know, a crucifix is a cross with the body
of Jesus hanging on it. I was to think of how much pain he suffered for my sin.
It’s actually a good form of punishment for children no matter what their age.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I mention that because in our first
lesson today (Num 21:4-9), we read about the sin of the people in the desert.
They spoke against the Lord. They broke the First and Second Commandments (Hymnal
p. 300), and God punished them by sending serpents. Well, right away after
people started dying the people admitted their sin. Moses made a bronze serpent
and put it on a pole. If you got bit by a snake, you would look at the serpent,
and you were healed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jesus spoke of this in our
Gospel (Jn 3:14-21). He used it to talk about himself being lifted up. Jesus
was lifted up on a cross. If you believe in Jesus who was lifted up on the
cross for you and me, you are promised eternal life. That does not mean that
you get to do whatever you want. If you sin, your parents should still punish
you, and maybe making you take five minutes and look at Jesus on the cross will
make you appreciate what He did for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">That is a good exercise for
all of us. We sinned and deserve punishment. Today we should recall what Jesus
did for us that we can escape eternal punishment and have eternal life through
Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">With that, let us pray.
Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless
these and all children, and give their parents 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.</span><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-86644936815992312782024-03-07T03:54:00.000-08:002024-03-07T03:54:36.621-08:00The Ephesian Application<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjrT-RxA2cJvP55jW1I7ldbrPr0NKgKA8eHWqaf2fTy2SRibbFsFLA9LKGK3AOHb-GRMi_YiTeW8LG5AZnHI9zhcGy92eebK5Ft6g84vX29X4TB95ECvYKIpzr8jdVRZC2rVYCQl_E5dsDDvCX_nlLJ-HFWB24i_5FU2RxGPJW4sQgG5xMG5nuVQBmA2U" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1200" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjrT-RxA2cJvP55jW1I7ldbrPr0NKgKA8eHWqaf2fTy2SRibbFsFLA9LKGK3AOHb-GRMi_YiTeW8LG5AZnHI9zhcGy92eebK5Ft6g84vX29X4TB95ECvYKIpzr8jdVRZC2rVYCQl_E5dsDDvCX_nlLJ-HFWB24i_5FU2RxGPJW4sQgG5xMG5nuVQBmA2U" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s
grace, peace and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled <i>Audience, Address
and Application</i>, and my focus is our Epistle (Ephesians 2:1-10). Let us
pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b><i>“I rejoiced when they
said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Audience.
To better appreciate literature, be it <i>The Great Gatsby</i> or <i>The
Invisible Man</i>, <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> or <i>Grapes of Wrath</i>, <i>To
Kill a Mockingbird</i> or <i>Jane Eyre</i>, it helps to have some knowledge of
the setting and the audience. Those of you who attend my Bible studies know
that Mark, Isaiah, Paul and other writers were written for a particular
audience. For example, Mark addressed the persecuted Church of Rome. Failure to
pay attention to the intended audience would be like comparing the works of
Carl Sagan to Ray Bradbury’s. That said, our audience – Ephesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Located
in western Turkey, Ephesus flourished as a port city. A business district
opened around 43 B.C. to service the massive amounts of goods arriving or
departing from the man-made harbor and from caravans traveling the ancient
Royal Road. It was second only to Rome as a cosmopolitan center of culture and
commerce. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today,
Ephesus lies in ruins, but that does not diminish its importance today. The
city visited by tourists today existed between 4<sup>th</sup> century BC and 15<sup>th</sup>
century AD, despite the earthquakes, wars, diseases and fires it endured. It
served as the capital city of Asia Minor twice. And if you’re interested in
ancient ruins, it has more to offer and is cheaper to see than most other sites
in the Mediterranean. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christians
should know that Ephesus played a vital role in the spread of Christianity.
Starting in the 1<sup>st</sup> century, Saint Paul and Saint John visited the
city. Paul lived in Ephesus from 52–54. He worked with the congregation and
organized missionary trips from there. Paul attended the Jewish synagogue in
Ephesus, but after three months he became frustrated with the stubbornness or
hardness of heart of some of the Jews, and moved his base to the school of
Tyrannus (Acts 19:9).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Paul
rebuked the cults of Artemis, winning many Christian converts in the process.
Now, not every Ephesian was open to Paul’s message. Acts 19 tells of a riot
started by a man named Demetrius. He made silver coins featuring the likeness
of Artemis. Tired of Paul’s attacks on the goddess he worshipped, and worried
that the spread of Christianity would ruin his trade, Demetrius plotted a riot
and enticed a large crowd to turn against Paul and his disciples. Ephesian
officials, however, protected Paul and his followers and eventually
Christianity became the city’s official religion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Paul
introduced about twelve men who had previously only experienced the baptism of
John the Baptist to the 'baptism with the Holy Spirit'. Between 53 and 57, Paul
wrote 1<sup>st</sup> Corinthians from Ephesus. He wrote the Epistle to the
Ephesians while he was in prison in Rome around 62. And that, brings me to my
second point, Address.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Address.
My address of Ephesians is a thumbnail sketch of the Letter. Ephesians addresses
not so much a congregation in Asia Minor, but the worldwide church, the head of
which is Christ, the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making God’s
plan of salvation known throughout the universe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ephesians
differs from other Pauline letters in that there are no personal greetings.
Early manuscripts omit the words “in Ephesus” leading many to regard Ephesians
as an encyclical or “circular letter” sent to a number of churches in Asia
Minor and read by its bearer, Tychicus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Paul
is described in almost unparalleled terms with regard to the significant role
he had in God’s plan for bringing the Gentiles to faith in Christ. Yet at the
time this letter was written, he was in prison, suffering afflictions. This
“Captivity Epistle” has, along with Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon, been
dated to an imprisonment in Rome, likely in 61–63.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ephesians
emphasizes unity in the Church for both Jews and Gentiles within God’s
household. It also emphasizes the “seven unities” of church: one body, one
Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all. Yet the concern is not with the
church for its own sake but rather as the means for mission in the world. The
gifts Christ gives its members are to lead to growth and renewal. All aspects
of human life and relationships are illumined by the light of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
gospel of salvation that God worked in Christ is reiterated in terms of what
God’s great love, expressed in Christ, means for us. The passage sometimes
addresses Gentiles, but at other times speaks of all who believe. In urging
people to remember their grim past when they were dead in sins and what they
are now in Christ, Paul sees both Jew and Gentile reconciled with God, now one
new person, a new humanity, one body, the household of God, a temple and
dwelling place of God’s Spirit. There is more to say about Paul’s address, but
perhaps I can save that for another day. So, we move from Address to
Application.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Application.
The noun application is derived from the verb apply. To apply means to join or
combine with; attach to something, or adhere. It comes to us from the Latin
word <i>applicare</i>, a combination of two smaller words: <i>ad</i> meaning <i>to</i>
and <i>plicare</i> meaning <i>fold</i>. To apply is to bring things in contact
with one another, such as lotions, plasters, or other things that bond two or
more items. For example, when our house was being built, the subcontractors applied
tape and mud to the drywall in our new house before primer and finish paint was
applied. Ladies apply lipstick and makeup to their faces to enhance their
attractive looks. We men apply deodorant to mask our manly scent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Liturgically
and spiritually, we apply the practices of Lent – prayer, fasting and
almsgiving – to Easter. We apply the penitential character of Lent to the
joyful celebration of Easter. We meditate on Jesus’ Passion as well as his
Resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit to remind us of what He did for us,
for me. And we can never underestimate the importance of that suffering and
death, for without it, how do we apply meaning to the Christian life?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Clearly,
the application of Christ’s Paschal Mystery – suffering, death and resurrection
– to my life enhances our reason for being Church, and my reason for being
Christian. Without the application of this Paschal Mystery, what meaning does
my life hold? What meaning do we offer the world as Church? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
understand well the importance of all the things we do as a church to keep the
doors open and the lights lit, the bills paid and the children educated, but to
focus a lot of time and energy on those things alone would be like reading
Ephesus as an Epistle written only to a congregation and miss its importance to
the Universal Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So,
how does this passage address my life? Well, c</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">learly, there is more to the Christian life
than enjoying our salvation. You are a saved Christian, but you have work to
do! How are you doing? You are a recipient of God’s grace, but are you making
progress in accomplishing those “good works”? Look at the different roles you
play – parent, grandparent, godparent, husband, wife, sibling, friend – and
you will see that you serve a purpose for God and His Church than you might
have not yet imagined. Look at your role in the world – business owner,
employee, teacher, first-responder, healthcare worker, analyst, driver – and
you will see that you do much more than a job or a career. Your work is to
bring the Gospel to God’s world and God’s children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you have not yet
imagined how God’s Word applies to your life, take some time this week to discern
God’s presence in what you do. Look for ways that the Holy Spirit is working in
your relationships, trying to form divine presence in you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I close with a
spiritual exercise. Imagine God as a heavenly potter, and you as the clay that
he is molding. Is there a part of your life where he is pressing you, trying
to get you into shape? If there is, yield to him. Let him bring about the
beauty that he sees in you. If it means forgiving someone so that your heart
softens, take the next step. If it means increasing your generosity to a
friend, try to give a little bit more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe God has you in
the kiln right now, making you stronger through a test of fire. Perhaps you are
struggling with a wayward son or daughter. Maybe challenges at work are nearing
a breaking point. Whatever it is, don’t run away! Let God continue to burn away
your impurities so that you can become a stronger vessel of his grace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God rescued you from
sin because he loves you. But he also did it because he has a marvelous plan
for your life. So, make it a point to cooperate with him so that he can bring
that plan to fulfillment!<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/4th%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> And when you do, may the
peace of God that surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus. Amen.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/4th%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://wau.org/meditations/2012/10/22/20645/<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-54492518146514418832024-03-02T03:50:00.000-08:002024-03-02T03:50:49.062-08:00GOD'S HOUSE<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjotM8Z7_aUCLEtA4RQhEor4wS7nNjVC70NKi0TGDviQzhAPrLpnABb0JQT3qJpuCkcVTU7uDOSYGoFC5M0Lpxs8HBw1ykrWwQEJlXV6AsyWHxa9S2w7GMjqED1KyqQdqtV7RzdNORUJF4xPzihWMOR4omActyvUSiiDXjsON9HHVE9LAfSJ9pIxFIhZ2k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjotM8Z7_aUCLEtA4RQhEor4wS7nNjVC70NKi0TGDviQzhAPrLpnABb0JQT3qJpuCkcVTU7uDOSYGoFC5M0Lpxs8HBw1ykrWwQEJlXV6AsyWHxa9S2w7GMjqED1KyqQdqtV7RzdNORUJF4xPzihWMOR4omActyvUSiiDXjsON9HHVE9LAfSJ9pIxFIhZ2k" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">By now, many of you have been
in our house. It took a long time to build. We started by meeting with the
builder to draw some plans. Six months later, he was finally able to start.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">First, he dug a huge hole for
the basement and the foundation. He filled it with concrete, and then built
walls and placed the roof. He dug long trenches for gas, water and electricity.
He installed windows, doors, a furnace, electric wires, pipes and inside walls.
Later, we painted the walls and moved our furniture. It took over a year to
build our house!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I tell you this because in our
Gospel today (John 2:13-22), after Jesus drove out the money-changers and the
animals, some unbelievers got angry and confronted Him. Jesus said to them, <b><i>“Destroy
this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Three days?! It took us over a
year to build a house and Jesus says he can raise a temple in three days?! …
Wait. Was Jesus talking about a building or something else?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jesus was not talking about a
building, but His body. Jesus was talking about His Resurrection. Jesus was
telling them that if they destroyed Him, He would be raised up to a new life in
three days. He was talking about what day? That’s right! Easter!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Easter is about Jesus rising
from the dead. That’s Good News! Do you know what else is Good News? Your
baptism. Because you were baptized you share in Jesus’ new life. You share in
Jesus’ Resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">With that, let us pray.
Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless
these and all children, and give their parents 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.</span><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-85712233435203428392024-02-28T06:17:00.000-08:002024-03-02T03:43:58.426-08:00What's Going On?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSKayoV-OWHozFMZRy0aCaL8hfMmAN-wpajxX0iKSe57Sw0NHpCkpQsAR_kj0JkPlw7iQOY6JdzwNug32-pdvIFeRS-LrWMQpFwqlj1b_GT_M-YDmxqpaMIdd5L3GdI5g-hkDCxcKnA75fHab33rAdVfCtjqg4-gQh0RcwDiS8js60Kx9i558t7cDO4Q4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="627" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSKayoV-OWHozFMZRy0aCaL8hfMmAN-wpajxX0iKSe57Sw0NHpCkpQsAR_kj0JkPlw7iQOY6JdzwNug32-pdvIFeRS-LrWMQpFwqlj1b_GT_M-YDmxqpaMIdd5L3GdI5g-hkDCxcKnA75fHab33rAdVfCtjqg4-gQh0RcwDiS8js60Kx9i558t7cDO4Q4" width="178" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. … My sermon is entitled <i>What’s Going On Here?</i> and
my focus is our Gospel (John 2:13-23). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the
psalmist wrote, <b><i>“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Have you ever come
upon a situation and asked, “What’s going on here?” Perhaps you entered a space
where your children or grandchildren were playing raucously and rambunctiously.
Maybe you were coaching or teaching a group of high school students and
wondered if they were paying attention to anything you just said. I’ve walked
into hospital rooms and asked parishioners, “What’s going on?” We can also
apply it to our Gospel passage today. Without citing any books, movies or
songs, with the exception of a Marvin Gaye classic, let’s ask what is going on
with John’s Jesus? What’s going on in our lives as Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First, what is
going on with John’s Jesus? Our passage today treats Jesus’ attitude towards
the Temple. It has parallels in Mark (11:15-19, 27-28) and Matthew (21:12-17,
23-27) which occur not long before Jesus’ death. The accounts do not contradict
one another, but a closer look helps us understand what’s going on with John’s
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The differences
between John and the Synoptics include not only timing, but also motive. At the
end of Matthew’s and Mark’s narratives on Jesus’ public ministry, the chief
motive for Jesus’ arrest is what he said and did in the Temple. In those, the
witnesses during the trial falsely testify that Jesus said that He would
destroy the Temple sanctuary. In John, the scenes are combined and placed early
in Jesus’ ministry. The chief motive for Jesus’ arrest in John was not what He
did in the Temple, but culminated after what He did at the tomb of Lazarus
(11:45ff.). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Why does the
cleansing appear at the beginning of John? Why did Jesus act this way on His
first trip to Jerusalem during Passover? Does it have anything to do with His
last Passover? Does it have anything to do with the structure of John?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A key figure early
in John’s Gospel is John the Baptist. Those of you who were here on January 14,
may recall my sermon on John the Baptist’s role in this Gospel. The Baptist
fulfilled the first clause of Malachi 3:1, <b><i>“I send my messenger, and he
will prepare the way before me.”</i></b> The second part of that verse is
fulfilled in our Gospel today. The words are, <b><i>“The Lord whom you seek
will suddenly come to his temple.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The language John
uses – <b><i>the Passover of the Jews</i></b> – indicates a hostility to this
feast which is replaced by Jesus Himself. The Temple precincts were the outer
court of the Temple or the Court of the Gentiles. This is where Jesus came upon
people engaged in selling animals for Temple sacrifice. Note that only John
states that oxen and sheep were being offered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The people engaged
in these activities made a living exchanging coins and selling animals for
sacrifice. Roman money had to be changed to Jewish money to pay the Temple Tax.
In itself, exchanging money is not a sinful act. Today, if you don’t want to
take your coins to the bank, you can have a machine sort and count your coins
for a fee. If you have travelled outside the US, you know that there is always
a service charge for exchanging money. If you don’t have the local currency,
the shopkeeper may tack on a convenience fee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Seeing all of this, Jesus made a whip out of
cords, a sign that no weapons, including sticks, were allowed in the Temple
area. Weapons could violate the sacred space. With his whip, Jesus expelled the
animals, spilled the money-changers’ tables, and scolded them for replacing the
house of God with a marketplace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In response, the
Jews, here meaning the chief priests, scribes, and elders, demanded a sign. A
sign was a miraculous apologetic proof requested by unbelievers. Elsewhere,
Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod demanded a sign (Mt. 12:38-39; 14:14; Lk 23:8).
Jesus never obliged unbelievers who demanded signs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus’ response
was simply, <b><i>“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”</i></b>
Of course, we know that Jesus was speaking metaphorically about his body and
not the building, but the phrase “to raise up” can refer to a building or to
the resurrection of a body. <i>Destroy</i> did not mean, “I will destroy.”
Rather, it is an imperative for a condition, “If you destroy …” It is an ironic
statement found in the prophets. In Isaiah, we read, <b><i>“Be broken, you
peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor
and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered.”</i></b> (8:9)<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> In other words, Jesus
challenged them to “Go ahead, be evil. You will be shattered.” As one scholar
noted, it means, “Go ahead and do this and see what happens.” However you
phrase it, Jesus’ words put the burden on the Jewish authorities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus’ action was
not an outburst of anger, but the energy of righteousness against religious
leaders to whom religion had become a business, a way to make a good living. If
you read Psalm 69, which Jesus uttered in the Temple, you will see that it is a
lament, a complaint in which the psalmist is unjustly accused of theft and
appeals to God for justice. He seeks salvation from the injustice and perjury
of his enemies. He has been alienated from family and community. Why? Because,
unlike his accusers, the psalmist had zeal for God’s house. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A song of praise
and thanksgiving in God’s house is greater than the sacrifice of an ox or bull,
as vv. 30-31 in Psalm 69 tell us. <b><i>“I will praise the name of God with a
song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than
an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.”</i></b><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Heaven and earth praise
God (v. 34). So, Jesus goes to the Temple during Passover to praise God, and
what does He find? Zeal? No. He finds apathy. Jesus found religious leaders and
marketeers involved in sacrifices whose attitude towards praise was
indifference and indolence, listlessness and laziness. He saw no enthusiasm or
energy, no vigor or vitality. And so, he shouted, <b><i>“Zeal for your house
will consume me.”</i></b> Not <i>has consumed</i> me, as the psalm reads, but
will consume me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Allow me to step
outside of Scripture for a moment to talk about zeal. Zeal is not a word that
we use very often. The Latin word for zeal is <i>zelus</i>, and the Greek, <i>zēlos</i>.
Zeal is great enthusiasm or interest in pursuit of an objective or a course of
action. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Don’t confuse zeal
or enthusiasm with emotionalism. Some people feel a particular emotion when
they hear certain kinds of music. Attend a political rally or any sporting
event today, and you will find an array of music that gets people in the mood
for the main event. Whoever is choosing the music is trying to whip the people
into an emotional momentary frenzy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus had zeal.
Jesus had a great enthusiasm for His Father’s will. Enthusiasm, the Greeks
would tell us, is a divine inspiration. The Greeks also thought that one who
was enthused was possessed by a god. That’s because the word enthused is a
combination of two words. <i>En</i> means in, and <i>theos</i> means god.
Recall that on the first Sunday of Lent, when we heard of Jesus’ Baptism and
the Temptation in the wilderness, it was the Holy Spirit that drove Him into
that confrontation with the devil. The text does not say that Jesus went into
the wilderness. It reads, <b><i>“The Spirit immediately drove him out into the
wilderness”</i></b> (Mk 1:12). Jesus was possessed by the Holy Spirit. That is
why zeal, properly understood, is a key to understanding John’s Jesus. Back to
our text.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Zeal would consume
Jesus because this was His Father’s House. His personal identification with God
as His Father would eventually lead to His death because each time He said it,
the Jews became more intent on killing Him. In chapter five, after Jesus healed
a man lying on a mat on a Sabbath in order to display His Father’s power
working in Him, He answered His persecutors with, <b><i>“My Father is working
until now, and I am working.”</i></b> (5:17) In John, the Father’s power is
Jesus’ power, and He could use it whenever He saw fit. So, speaking of God’s
works as His, and speaking of God as His own Father, and making God His equal,
is why unbelieving Jewish authorities sought to kill Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Because God the
Father’s power resided in Jesus, worship of God through the Son of God, Jesus,
could take place anywhere. People no longer needed to come to the Temple. People
did not need to exchange coins or purchase overpriced animals. All of that
meant bad financial news for the people who worked at the Temple.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The religious
leaders should have seen this coming. Jesus’ actions were “like that of the
prophets of old against the profanation of God’s house and a sign that the
messianic purification of the Temple was at hand.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Jewish institutions were
not only being cleansed; they were being replaced. Now, there is a lot more to
say about the heightened animosity between Jesus and the Jews in John, but I
will save that for another time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Allow me to move
from what was going on with Jesus in the Temple to what is going on with us? I
mean, if Jesus arrived on the scene here, what would happen? What’s going on
here? What would he see? Would he see zeal? To answer that, I step into my time
machine and travel back four years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When I arrived to
meet people from Mt. Olive in April 2020, there were four or five people (some
wearing masks) in the large social hall at the other building. Our first weeks
of worship were during the Sundays of Easter when most of you viewed by
Facebook. By Pentecost, we opted for in-person worship, and our gatherings
numbered between 15-25. It stayed like that for about a year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In all honesty, I
had serious doubts about the survival of this congregation. I was working other
jobs and gigs just in case we would fold, because that is what I heard every
Sunday. Today, we average 50 worshippers, give or take a few depending on the Sunday.
We’re not going to return to glory days. In my experience, we will remain a
small congregation. That is not a bad thing. There are many small congregations
across our land and in our Synod. And the District has a plan to help small
congregations thrive. I have no intention for bigger and better activities or
ministries. I have no ambitions to build or expand. My days of professional
fundraising are complete. My intention is to remind you and myself of one
thing: Be <u>faithful</u> to Christ’s teachings and how we interpret them
through the Book of Concord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So, if Jesus would
enter our doors, He would see zealous worshippers of God the Father. As I said
earlier, zeal or enthusiasm is not emotionalism. Jesus would not see the
emotionalism that he would at a worship service where rock bands replace
traditional Lutheran hymns. Jesus would not see four pastors each waiting for a
word to speak. He would not see a worship leader cranking up people’s emotions
to the point that everyone feels obliged to stand and clap or roll around in
the aisles. He would not see emotionalism devoid of true worship and holding no
real sustaining substance.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> What Jesus would see is
what He was looking for in the Temple. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To know what
John’s Jesus was seeking and what he would see here, we must continue to read
the Gospel after He left the Temple. Here, Jesus would see people born of water
and the Spirit seeking to enter the kingdom of God (Jn 3:5). He would see
baptized believers of Christ freely receiving His gifts of grace (3:25ff.).
Jesus was seeking people who worship the Father in spirit and in truth because
the Father was seeking such people (Jn 4:23-24). He would see people who
believed that the Word of God healed them or their loved ones (4:46-54). I
believe Jesus would find that here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Friends,
worshipping God the Father through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit
is not something we do only on Sundays, or twice a week, or even every morning.
Worship is life. True worship involves absorbing the Word of God into our
lives. As an active Lutheran recently told me, “It’s not the pastor’s role to
keep me enthused. It’s my own duty by being in the Word every day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">True worship
occurs before, during and after our Divine Worship. True believers have the
same zeal and desire for God that David had, like a deer that longs for flowing
waters, so must our souls long for God (Ps 42:1). True worship is learning how
to live a God-pleasing life, and how to deal with various situations daily.
Reading and studying both the Bible and The Small Catechism helps us do that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We are not to be
simply students of God’s Word, but more importantly, doers of the Word (Jas
1:19ff). I believe that in this congregation, Jesus would see people living
according to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He would see how we manifest <b><i>love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control</i></b> (Gal 5:22-23). And if He would not see that, hopefully, He
would come in during our time of Confession and Absolution when we are calling
to mind our sins and asking God for forgiveness and absolution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Friends, that is
what I imagine Jesus would see. All I ask you to do is help me make that
imagination real by seeking God’s will first and forsaking your own. When we do
that, pray that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will keep our
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
See also Amos 4:4.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
See also Zech 14:21.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Raymond
E. Brown, The Gospel According to John: I-XII, Garden City, NY: Doubleday and
Company (1966), p. 121.</p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Tony Taylor, “Emotionalism vs True Worship,” The Surrendered Life. </span><a href="http://www.thesurrenderedlife.com/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">www.thesurrenderedlife.com</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">. See
also Matt Costella, “Emotionalism: An Enemy of the 21</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">st</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Century
Church,” Grace Gospel Press (January 14, 2020). </span><a href="http://www.gracegospelpress.org/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">www.gracegospelpress.org</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span></p></div></div><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-62641833631732830952024-02-23T04:37:00.000-08:002024-02-23T04:37:48.644-08:00FOLLOW CHRIST<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKBxYgZdhQQc3WTgwZ6sSDC_UeGMQseQdm7n8JR1blegpJPm4qJhAhkUD9dnSr-bwauv5RQT16ZeRPAvkh-OaFNkUYqUkX-ZewgTdT7hj5hw4hmVVu-sM8iKmDXGM5lNxF5py46IajQHj1glWfj-HY_OvTE5H5VzWktI30pWj0J-Qm-fnlvZ0ZAvIRyA0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="370" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKBxYgZdhQQc3WTgwZ6sSDC_UeGMQseQdm7n8JR1blegpJPm4qJhAhkUD9dnSr-bwauv5RQT16ZeRPAvkh-OaFNkUYqUkX-ZewgTdT7hj5hw4hmVVu-sM8iKmDXGM5lNxF5py46IajQHj1glWfj-HY_OvTE5H5VzWktI30pWj0J-Qm-fnlvZ0ZAvIRyA0" width="148" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Have you ever played Follow
the Leader? First, we pick the leader. Then, everyone else lines up behind the
leader. The leader then moves around and all the followers have to copy the
leader’s actions. Anyone who fail to follow or do what the leader does is out
of the game. When only one person other than the leader remains, that player
becomes the leader, and the game begins again with all players joining the line
once again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Have you ever played Simon
Says? In this game, one person is Simon and tells the others to do something,
like jump in the air or stick out your tongue, but you only follow the commands
that begin with “Simon Says.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If you follow a command where
Simon does not say “Simon Says,” you’re out. If you do not follow a command
immediately after he says “Simon Says,” you’re out. The winner is the last
player who has successfully followed all of the given commands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Our Gospel gives us a choice
to play Simon Says or Follow the Leader. Peter is playing Simon Says and Jesus
is asking people to Follow Him, the Leader.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If we choose to do what Simon
says that may be easier, but it won’t lead us to our Father in Heaven. If we
follow Jesus, it may be harder, but only that will lead us to our Father in
Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A lot of people choose what’s
easier and fewer people choose what’s harder, but more rewarding. I am hoping
you always choose to follow Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">With that, let us pray.
Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless
these and all children, and give their parents 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.</span><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-8407589015772402952024-02-21T15:03:00.000-08:002024-02-21T15:03:01.093-08:00Christ's Cross and You<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjayIlsnZ6rnUMoNYrufaX52YKg6K3qT2SwDVkL88QK-CiwovmH-wgW5yFBEFXAOqBSIMd7_Qxqex9yVT1CW9FFGhwCFuMJMq5XVJnosY6S8GB2ldaxiPu-Zva90dyUnmzT9IgyhR2fgFYzJPzmACnqvvRYk3NvsuQ3BxAsUWLFp2XIko7gc2KWWgkITHQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjayIlsnZ6rnUMoNYrufaX52YKg6K3qT2SwDVkL88QK-CiwovmH-wgW5yFBEFXAOqBSIMd7_Qxqex9yVT1CW9FFGhwCFuMJMq5XVJnosY6S8GB2ldaxiPu-Zva90dyUnmzT9IgyhR2fgFYzJPzmACnqvvRYk3NvsuQ3BxAsUWLFp2XIko7gc2KWWgkITHQ" width="173" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. … My sermon is entitled Christ, Cross and Christians,
and my focus is our Gospel (Mark 8:27-38). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the
psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the
Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I divide my sermon on the Gospel into three parts. First,
the Christ (verses 27-32a); next, the Cross (32b-34); and finally, the
Christian (35-38).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Undoubtedly, the Passion prediction narratives are the crux
of the synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke. And while each of them varies
slightly, they convey the same message. Jesus asks his disciples who others
think he is before asking them. Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and a
moment later the two of them exchange rebukes. The conditions of discipleship
are laid out before Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him to the mountain
where he is transfigured. While this passage in Mark is indeed the gospel’s
crux, I go to my first point, Christ before speaking of Cross and Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus did not suffer from an identity crisis. His identity
was absorbed into and defined by his mission. He was quite sure of who he was.
Unfortunately, no one else was.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Yet, he still asked his disciples what others were saying. And it’s interesting
to note that Jesus asked this question in Caesarea Philippi, the center of the
Canaanite Baal cult and pagan religions. Amidst all these false gods, the true
God revealed Himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this setting, the first question was comfortable enough,
but the disciples’ answers as to what others were saying showed that people
were blind to who Jesus was. Humans never considered Jesus as Messiah, and the
disciples’ answers were identical to those offered by the audience of Herod’s court
after he executed John the Baptist (6:14f). Those answers made sense since 1<sup>st</sup>
century Jewish expectations varied widely on how the agent of God would usher
in His Kingdom. Hence, people saw Jesus as a prophet, messiah, teacher or charismatic
holy man.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Because the disciples’ responses were no more insightful than those offered by Herod’s
court, Jesus asked the disciples a more troubling question.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, Peter is the spokesperson of the Twelve, representing
both insight and blindness. That he blurted out, <b><i>“You are the Christ!”</i></b>
is an amazing answer because Christ was not a title used by Jews during Jesus’
time. His answer was like that of the blind man (8:22-26) to whom Jesus
restored sight in that he partially saw people that looked like trees; and so, Jesus
had to fully cure his blindness and that of his disciples.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Folks, everything in the Church, including its mission then
and today depends on who Jesus is. For the disciples, everything, including
following him on the way, depended on their recognition of his identity.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We don’t know why Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell
anyone about himself at this point in the gospel. It seems strange to command
this after he went around Galilee announcing the Kingdom of God, expelling
demons, curing the sick and feeding the hungry. This is not the type of
behavior expected of someone who did not want anyone to know about him.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was no or little expectation in early Judaism that the
Messiah would come <i><u>and</u></i> suffer. Hence, Jesus’ first prediction of
the Passion which included the idea that the Messiah was to suffer was in
complete contrast to Jewish expectations.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Jesus spoke of his Passion, he referred to himself not
as Christ or Messiah, but Son of Man. If you were here on January 14, you may
remember my sermon on this title. It is a confusing title because it meant that
Jesus saw himself either as a typical human or the figure in Daniel (7:13-14). While
Son of Man expressed both suffering and glory, Jesus used it in a paradoxical
way to refer to himself as the lowly, disreputable, rejected messenger of the
powerful kingdom of God assured vindication in the future.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus used this phrase earlier in Mark when he healed the
paralytic. In the presence of the scribes and others, Jesus said, “‘<b><i>That
you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’— he
said to the paralytic — ‘I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home’” </i></b>(Mk
2:10-11). He also used it when he and his disciples walked through fields
picking grain (2:28).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To better understand Jesus as Son of Man, we look to
Philippians (Phil 2:6-11). Paul wrote that when Adam rejected his role as
co-creator and grasped for immortality, he could no longer claim full humanity
as God intended. Jesus reestablished full humanity by accepting the most basic
human limitations, which is to suffer and die.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
All of Jesus’ references to his own suffering and death reflect not only the
particular manner of death and his acceptance of it, but also his understanding
that He would serve as a ransom for us (Mk 10:46). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus was very clear about his message, and made three
predictions. If you have read Mark, you know that there are indications that Jesus’
life would end with passion. The Pharisees and Herodians plotted to destroy him
(3:6), and those conflicts continued not only with them but also with scribes
and demons (3:23; 7:1-13; 8:11-13)<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, his announcement was not a prediction in the common sense,
but a pastoral teaching to open his disciples’ eyes because while they accepted
Jesus as the Christ, they did not accept his Passion and Resurrection as Son of
Man. In short, there was a serious problem with their attitude, and he planned
to open their eyes as well as their minds and hearts. In short, Jesus accepted
the title of Christ but did not want it announced because his identity could be
grasped only by true disciples. That said, we move from Christ to Cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the ancient world, crucifixion on a cross was the
cruelest form of capital punishment. It was reserved for slaves, rebels and
violent criminals, and carried out in public to serve as a powerful deterrent.
The condemned person was forced to carry a crossbeam (picture an 8x8) to the
site of the execution, where it would be fastened to the upright beam. Then the
victim would be nailed or tied to the cross and left to die, which sometimes
occurred only after days of torment.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Jesus spoke about the cross, he did so frankly and
clearly. He is Christ and Son of Man. He is eternal God and mortal man. He
accepted his mortality, and gave his life for others. In turn, the disciples would
be called to do the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unwittingly, Peter, serving as Satan’s tool, did not want
Jesus to continue teaching this way for the sake of the disciples. When he took
Jesus aside, he did not think that he was tempting the Lord but protecting the disciples.
Peter rejected what the Passion implied not only for Jesus, but also for the
disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And when he took Jesus aside, he literally turned Jesus’
body away from the disciples so that Jesus’ back was towards them when he
turned around and fixed his eyes on them. Bluntly, he warned the disciples not
to be tempted by Peter.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn12" name="_ednref12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus’ command has two meanings. He could be saying “Get out
of my sight!” or “Get in line behind me!” His rebuke is severe because the
temptation is profound. Jesus knew where God’s path for him led – suffering,
rejection, death and resurrection – and he was sorely tempted to follow Peter
in departing from this path and taking with him these disciples, but He
persevered through the straight and narrow in spite of this temptation.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn13" name="_ednref13" style="mso-endnote-id: edn13;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next words were directed not to those who did or did not
confess Christ, but to those who followed and those who did not. The cost of
the cross to followers was shame that was great and public. And, that, my
friends, brings me to my third point, Christians. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before we were known as Lutherans, we called ourselves Evangelicals,
a Greek word meaning good news. It was John Eck who labeled people who
identified with Martin Luther’s theology as Lutherans. He meant it as an
insult. We wear it as a badge of honor. Before we were called Christians, we
were known as Nazarenes or People of the Way, while many Church members
referred to themselves as saints, meaning people dedicated to God. It seems to
me that People of the Way took root in Mark’s Gospel because he used the phrase
“on the way” multiple times. Today, as Christians, we are still people on the
Way, following behind Jesus carrying our crosses as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, before we determine why the cost of the cross is so
extravagant, we must determine what it is and what it is not. Here, Jesus is
not talking about ordinary, or even extraordinary, human burdens that we
sometimes bear, yet have no direct connection with discipleship to Him. I
thought that when I was the primary care-giver of my mother during the last
year of her life that this was my cross to bear. I was gravely mistaken. An
illness may be a thorn in the flesh, but it is not our cross to bear. A
difficult relative or a troublesome friend may be a problem, but it is not our
cross to bear. Cross-bearing as a follower of Jesus means nothing less than
giving your whole life over to following him. And here comes another surprise.
This is the way to total freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keep in mind that Mark strengthened the faithful in times of
suffering. He reminded Christians that Jesus did not insist that followers lose
their lives but did insist that they deny themselves and be prepared to die if
that meant remaining true to Him. So, what does it mean for me to follow
Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, deny yourself. Place yourself totally at the disposal
of Jesus Christ. Second, take up your cross. Join Jesus in offering your life
for others. Third, follow Christ. Commit yourself to be with Jesus on a life
journey characterized by self-renunciation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To see this in a teaching lived out by a Lutheran martyr, I
quote a few words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor known for his
staunch opposition to the Nazi dictatorship, Hitler's euthanasia program and the
genocidal persecution of the Jews. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bonhoeffer once wrote, <i>“</i></span><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the
cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace is the
treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all
that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell
all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck
out the eye which causes him to stumble;<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Such grace is costly because it
calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.
It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives
a man … true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it
justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of
his Son: ‘ye were bought at a price,’ and what has cost God much cannot be
cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too
dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is
the Incarnation of God.”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn14" name="_ednref14" style="mso-endnote-id: edn14;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><b><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Folks, if the words of a Christian martyr and Jesus do not
persuade you, here is a final reason for denying yourself, taking up the cross
and following Christ. Jesus ended His teaching with this: <b><i>“Whoever is
ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him
will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father
with the holy angels.”</i></b><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn15" name="_ednref15" style="mso-endnote-id: edn15;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Friends, there are persecutions more overt and covert than
those of ancient Rome, Nazi Germany or Communist China, but no less a threat to
Christian discipleship. How often are we pressured to tailor our words and
behavior to win approval and avoid derision from our woke, cancel culture? How
often are you tempted to soft-pedal Law and Gospel in order to conform with
today’s political correctness? The danger of refashioning Christ and Christianity
into something safer and securer is summed up in Jesus’ rebuke of Peter. Over
the centuries, millions of believers were martyred for their faith, and yet,
the famous axiom holds true: <i>“The blood of martyrs is the seed of
Christians.”</i> (Tertullian, Apology 50.13)<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn16" name="_ednref16" style="mso-endnote-id: edn16;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus did not insist that you embrace martyrdom but He did
insist that you accept His cross. Recognize Jesus as your messiah and master,
your glorious Lord and humble servant. Embrace and lift high the cross. Follow
Christ daily, and wherever you find yourself on the way, know that the peace of
God that surpasses all understanding will keep </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Meier, JBC, 1323.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Ibid.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Witherington, 240.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Ibid.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
LaVerdiere, 26.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Ibid.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
RSV fn 8:31-32, 1225<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Meier, 1325.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
LaVerdiere, 28.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
LaVerdiere, 27.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn11" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Healy, 168.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn12" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref12" name="_edn12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
LaVerdiere, 33.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn13" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref13" name="_edn13" style="mso-endnote-id: edn13;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Witherington, 241f.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn14" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref14" name="_edn14" style="mso-endnote-id: edn14;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Healy, 172.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn15" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref15" name="_edn15" style="mso-endnote-id: edn15;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Mark 8:38.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn16" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref16" name="_edn16" style="mso-endnote-id: edn16;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Healy, 171f.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-1786041436004487522024-02-17T04:51:00.000-08:002024-02-17T04:51:57.785-08:00WHAT JESUS DID<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEita0-aNXGYryCWnKRlj95AGm0zw7fzsBRA0S-YQjTb6Y5ouSz65PVxVKCVDhZpxzyVKm4KaiwvmCsiPU691cDhOKs7jmOi7P8p1UA9k_ee8Ch5EyOa7NVi03BTyw8SAC7yhdBs-buygrRvyO5fAqORLqNrclmBQhET_8G7GT9Xu9orix3MIsmt5wLdLkU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEita0-aNXGYryCWnKRlj95AGm0zw7fzsBRA0S-YQjTb6Y5ouSz65PVxVKCVDhZpxzyVKm4KaiwvmCsiPU691cDhOKs7jmOi7P8p1UA9k_ee8Ch5EyOa7NVi03BTyw8SAC7yhdBs-buygrRvyO5fAqORLqNrclmBQhET_8G7GT9Xu9orix3MIsmt5wLdLkU" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">How many of you have ever seen
a WWJD bracelet? Can any of you tell me what the letters WWJD mean? The letters
stand for "What Would Jesus Do?" WWJD bracelets were popular many
years ago. Many people wore them. Maybe your parents wore one. When a person
was tempted to do something wrong, the bracelet was to remind him to ask, “<i>What
would Jesus do?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I saw some people do naughty
things while wearing WWJD bracelets, but, the most important thing is not what
I THINK Jesus would do. The most important thing is -- WHAT DID JESUS DO? If we
want to know what we should do when the devil tempts us, we should read what
Jesus did when the devil tempted him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jesus was tempted by the devil
just as we are. One time Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where
he was tempted by the devil for 40 days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We heard that Jesus did not
eat for 40 days. Satan said to him, “If you are really the Son of God, turn
these stones into bread.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The devil took Jesus to a high
place and showed him the kingdoms below, and said, “All of this belongs to me.
If you will bow down and worship me, I will give it to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Next, the devil took Jesus to
Jerusalem and led him up to the highest point on the temple, and said, “If you
are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. God will send his angels to
rescue you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Each time, Jesus quoted
Scripture, and the devil gave up! The next time the devil tempts you to do
something wrong, remember: Do What Jesus Did...answer him with Scripture!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">With that, let us pray.
Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless
these and all children, and give their parents 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-45663127400876559512024-02-15T04:46:00.000-08:002024-02-15T04:46:33.899-08:00Lent and Temptations in Life<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoTsdVRf3vVEJ_zmj2I4X2ovAf7fjR3ERtJQPYKGQ--pubhUe1DCHJFp4ugbSLjdHtsJMEJnVX7_slm4br0kZJumZzD7W9Qak8K60KptEx4_wIUVkHVi4ZSSKEUKk8yadx7-5CYeiJpjg-vnLNXwUOfAyyqpWH_QO7J49T_19ay8Km0RFlndEoYh3s_M4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2460" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoTsdVRf3vVEJ_zmj2I4X2ovAf7fjR3ERtJQPYKGQ--pubhUe1DCHJFp4ugbSLjdHtsJMEJnVX7_slm4br0kZJumZzD7W9Qak8K60KptEx4_wIUVkHVi4ZSSKEUKk8yadx7-5CYeiJpjg-vnLNXwUOfAyyqpWH_QO7J49T_19ay8Km0RFlndEoYh3s_M4" width="288" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. … My sermon is Lent, Temptation and Life and my focus is
our Gospel (Mark 1:9-15). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today, I examine Lent,
Mark’s account of how Satan tempted Jesus throughout his life, and how this
relates to us. Lent is a solemn religious observance that begins on Ash
Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks or 40 days before
Easter Sunday. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In Latin, Lent is
referred to by the term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Quadragesima</i>,
meaning fortieth, referring to the fortieth day before Easter. In English, the
word Lent initially meant spring, from the Germanic root for long, because in
spring the days visibly lengthen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The traditional
purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, and
repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial. During Lent, our
worship assumes a penitential character. The color for the season is purple, a
color associated with penitence. By omitting the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hymn of Praise</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alleluia</i>,
we distinguish Lent from the rest of the year, and form a powerful contrast
with the festive celebration of Jesus' resurrection when our alleluias ring
loud and clear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Lutheran
perspective of “giving up something for Lent” is a matter of Christian freedom.
Our church has no law requiring members to “give up something,” since the
Scriptures do not require this. If a Christian wants to give something up for
Lent as a way of remembering and personalizing the sacrifice Christ made on the
cross for our sins, then he is free to do so, as long as he does not judge
others who opt not to do this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The penitential
character of Lent is not its sole purpose. In the ancient Church, the period
leading up to Easter was a time of intense preparation for the candidates being
baptized at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. This time is appropriate for
Baptism because of the relationship between Christ's death and resurrection and
our own in the sacrament (Rom 6:1-11). This suggests that Lent serves as a time
to meditate on the suffering that Christ endured on our behalf, and an
opportunity to reflect our own Baptism and what it means to live as a child of
God. I encourage you to read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Be Gracious
to Me, Portals of Prayer,</i> LWML’s Mustard Seed devotions or the Lutheran
Hour Ministries devotions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We base our 40-day
Lenten observance on Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness. In Mark we read, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He
was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.”</i></b> (Mk 1:13) Though
Mark’s account of Jesus’ temptation is brief, if we interpret it without referring
to Matthew or Luke,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
we taste Mark’s fuller flavor. We also see that Satan tempted Jesus throughout
his life and even onto the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Before his
wilderness experience, John baptized Jesus. It may initially appear problematic
that Jesus accepted John’s baptism. After all, it called for a change of heart
in view of the forgiveness of sins. How could Jesus, who was not a sinner, have
accepted such a baptism? I will save the answer for later.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As Jesus emerged
from the baptismal waters, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">heavens tore open and the Spirit descended
on him like a dove. </i></b>This is a response to Isaiah’s prayer that God<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
“rend the heavens and come down” </i></b>to bring his flock up from the sea,
put his holy Spirit in the midst of his people and guide them in a new exodus
(Isa 64:1).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At Jesus’ baptism,
the rending of the heavens announced the beginning of the end; and as he
breathed his last, the Temple’s sanctuary veil, decorated to look like the
heavens, tore from top to bottom, symbolizing that in the end-time, the holy of
holies and ancient sacrifices would be no more. The image of the dove, a symbol
for Israel, revealed Jesus as the personal embodiment of a new Israel. As the Christ,
the Anointed One, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prayer.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Immediately after
Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit that descended on him drove him into the wilderness,
where he was tested as Israel was tested in their exodus wilderness. This
40-day test evoked the days and nights Moses spent with God on the mountain as
he received the Covenant (Ex 34:27-38), and called to mind Elijah’s 40-day walk
to the mountain of God (1 Kgs 19:8).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus’ 40 days
represented his entire baptismal life, ending with his passion. Sent into the
wilderness by the Spirit to lead people in a new exodus, Satan tested Jesus.
Satan, the adversary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, represented the power of
evil. Satan was the obstacle Jesus had to overcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The setting for
Jesus’ baptismal test was simple. Angels ministered to him while he was among
wild beasts, symbolic of the world’s evil forces. The scene evoked numerous Old
Testament passages, particularly the story of Daniel in the lion’s den (Dan
6:23), and the primal contest of creation where human beings dominated wild
beasts (Gen 1:24-28). Mark also alluded to the Psalms (8:6-8) and Isaiah 13,
where we read, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there
the owls will dwell, and there wild goats will leap about. Hyenas will inhabit
her strongholds, jackals her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her
days will not be prolonged.”</i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> (Isa 13:21-22)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As the one
anointed by the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ life was an ongoing conflict with Satan,
the spirit of evil. It began in the wilderness, but reappeared throughout the
Gospel. In the Capernaum synagogue, a man with an unclean spirit engaged Jesus
in a verbal skirmish.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Here, Mark showed the
battle between the unclean spirit that possessed the man and the Holy Spirit
that possessed Jesus. In another case, no one was strong enough to bind the Gerasene
man possessed by a demonic spirit until Jesus appeared. And after Peter rebuked
Jesus, because he could not imagine a Messiah who would suffer and die, Jesus,
in turn rebuked Peter as Satan because he too acted as a stumbling block to the
cross.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The point is that
throughout his life, Jesus battled Satan. Satan was and is a strong man (Mk
3:27). He effected demon-possession and physical maladies, created disorder in
the natural world, and snatched up the Word of God sown on the path (Mk 4:1ff).
He tempted people to abandon God’s will and inspired them to adopt hearts and minds
set on human ways. His activity extended to Jesus’ enemies, the Lord’s
followers and Jesus himself. Satan tested Jesus in the wilderness, in
Gethsemane and on Golgotha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Satan’s activity
was implicit when Jesus asked God to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“take this cup from me.”</i></b> (Mk 14:36)
And when Jesus exhorted his disciples to imitate him by watching and praying
lest they enter into a test, the same language used in the wilderness account,
this too confirmed the moment was Satan’s test.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Bound and hung on the
cross, Jesus’ opponents declared he could not save himself – Satan’s final test
to abandon God’s will. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally, upon his
death, Jesus cried out in a loud voice that recalled the cries of those from
whom he cast unclean spirits. As he died, the Holy Spirit that descended from a
violently torn heaven and possessed Him at the start of the gospel, left His
body as the Temple veil tore. The Spirit’s departure implied that it completed
its work. Jesus’ death marked victory, not defeat, in His conflict with Satan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At that moment, the
centurion, upon seeing Jesus breathe his last, confirmed His divinity, just as our
Heavenly Father declared Jesus to be his beloved Son. Now, instead of rising
from the waters of baptism to declare the nearness of God’s Kingdom, his Resurrection
from the tomb declared God’s victorious Kingdom.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">How does this
relate to us? Lent is an appropriate time to remember our Baptism and its
relationship to Christ's death and resurrection. It is also a fitting time to
meditate on the suffering Christ endured on our behalf and what it means to
live as a child of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Although Christ
broke Satan’s power, God never promised a conflict-free world, but a world in
which the risen Christ meets and restores errant followers so that they may
imitate him in their struggles against satanic powers, and like him, endure to
the end, empowered by the Holy Spirit.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As we leave here,
children of God filled with grace, love, mercy and the Holy Spirit, we enter a
world of conflict, corruption and evil that both blinds and blind-sides us. Satan’s
temptations are open and blatant, as well as secretive and surreptitious.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I may not be
tempted to murder, but may be silently complicit over one million children
aborted annually. I may not be tempted to break the Sixth Commandment, but may peruse
inappropriate material. I may not steal from my neighbor, but may never open a
generous hand to feed the poor. I may never swear false testimony in court, but
may never speak kindly about others. I may never treat people as God treats me –
with kindness, mercy and compassion – but may consider myself a good Christian.
As a good Christian, the commandment most difficult to keep is the First: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You
shall have no other gods.</i></b> Of this, Martin Luther wrote plainly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Many
a one thinks that he has God and everything in abundance when he has money and
possessions; he trusts in them and boasts of them with such firmness and
assurance as to care for no one. Such a man also has a god, Mammon by name, that
is, money and possessions, on which he sets all his heart, and which is also
the most common idol on earth. He who has money and possessions feels secure,
and is joyful and undismayed as though he were sitting in the midst of
Paradise. On the other hand, he who has none doubts and is despondent, as
though he knew of no God. For very few are to be found who are of good cheer,
and who neither mourn nor complain if they have not Mammon. This care and
desire for money sticks and clings to our nature, even to the grave.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So,
too, whoever trusts and boasts that he possesses great skill, prudence, power,
favor, friendship, and honor has also a god, but not this true and only God.
This appears again when you notice how presumptuous, secure, and proud people
are because of such possessions, and how despondent when they no longer exist
or are withdrawn. Therefore, I repeat that the chief explanation of this point
is that to have a god is to have something in which the heart entirely trusts.”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Each week I
confess <u>I</u> <u>am</u> a miserable sinner addicted to my things and ways of
doing things. As I said last week, I think highly of my bad ideas and
overinflated opinions. I marry my feelings and divorce myself from others’
sensitivities. In short, I need to be saved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The good news is,
Christ saved me. Through no merit of my own, He saved me. He who conquered
Satan, sin and death saved me from the tyranny of that trio. That brings me
full-circle to my earlier question.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “How
could Jesus, who was not a sinner, have accepted such a baptism?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">John’s baptism of
Jesus revealed His humanity and His <u>solidarity</u> <u>with</u> and <u>commitment</u>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>to</u></i> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>sinners</u></i></b>. What
occurred when Jesus emerged from the water revealed His divinity and His <u>solidarity</u>
<u>with</u> and <u>commitment</u> <u>to</u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God His Father</i></b>.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If I approach
life’s challenges in individualistic terms (me against the world), the baptism
of a sinless person is senseless because baptism has no meaning beyond the
individual who is baptized. If, however, I view life’s challenges in
interpersonal terms (we are all in this together), the baptism of a sinless
person makes a lot of sense.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus did not have
to be a sinner to accept John’s baptism. All he needed was to be in personal
solidarity with men and women who are sinners in need of salvation. Jesus’
baptism by John presented him as a person in solidarity with all human beings,
and it demonstrated his willingness to bear the weight of our sins on his
sinless shoulders.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Friends, as he
tempted Jesus, Satan will tempt you until you exhaust your last gasp. You will
be tempted to commit heinous sins and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">victimless
crimes</i>. If you rely upon yourself or any power but God to free yourself
from his grip, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>you</u></i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>lose</u></i>. Satan will bind you. Only
Christ can free you … and the Good News is that He has!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Brothers and
sisters, you will always have the Holy Spirit to guide you in the wilderness of
life just as Jesus did, but as Paul exhorted the freed Christians of Rome, I
beg you not to be addicted to yourself and your ways, your ideas and feelings.
Forgiven fully by Christ, surrender to the Holy Spirit. Be a slave of the Holy
Spirit, an addict of the Third Person of the Trinity and the means of God’s grace.
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When you are, the peace of God that
surpasses all understanding will keep </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_edn12" name="_ednref12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Peter
Edmonds, The Way Companion to the Sunday Missal. Oxford: Campion Hall (2014), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>77.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Eugene
LaVerdiere, The Beginning of the Gospel: Introducing the Gospel According to
Mark, Volume 1. Collegeville MN: The Liturgical Press (1999), 34.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Elizabeth
Shively, “Characterizing the Non-Human: Satan in the Gospel of Mark,” Character
Studies and the Gospel of Mark. Edited by Christopher W. Skinner and Matthew
Ryan Hauge. London: Bloomsbury (2014),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>139ff.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Shively, 144f<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Shively, 146<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Shively, 148<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Shively, 151.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Book
of Concord, Ten Commandments<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
LaVerdiere, 34<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Ibid.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn11" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Ibid.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn12" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%202024.docx#_ednref12" name="_edn12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Philippians 4:7<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-14715064122947183462024-02-13T04:06:00.000-08:002024-02-13T04:06:31.244-08:00Ash Wednesday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8RrnedCAmI29jMxlFIaQW13j2d-z-f2oXhV9dF7xArvev5e715mwuX3yShD2RQwRFkGZTEjZ3kQs_yAS4GtVgBBkK4KxHuJx31zu4_E1X6hJH_tchRJRjlm6UU07eihJe22vPTS_xs4LNRslAXu64_rsroQbWLvaQ7g13Mz47XqY0ajrfiKRhK_Ooz3I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8RrnedCAmI29jMxlFIaQW13j2d-z-f2oXhV9dF7xArvev5e715mwuX3yShD2RQwRFkGZTEjZ3kQs_yAS4GtVgBBkK4KxHuJx31zu4_E1X6hJH_tchRJRjlm6UU07eihJe22vPTS_xs4LNRslAXu64_rsroQbWLvaQ7g13Mz47XqY0ajrfiKRhK_Ooz3I" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. … My focus is the Gospel of Matthew and my theme is Day,
Dust and Do. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Throughout the
year, people observe events by wearing symbols. In December, you saw people
wearing Christmas sweaters and ties. Next month, you might see a man wearing a
shamrock on his lapel on St. Patrick’s Day. Today, if you saw a woman wearing a
brooch in the form of a heart, you would say it is St. Valentine’s Day. It is,
and it is also Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Surprisingly,
people don gay apparel, shamrocks and hearts without knowing the reasons we
wear those symbols. So it is with ashes upon our foreheads. Why do we ask
pastors to smudge a cross above our brows on this day? Hence, Ash Wednesday’s
significance, Ash Wednesday’s symbols and Ash Wednesday’s suggestions; or, Day,
Dust and Do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">First, Day. The
significance of Ash Wednesday is that it is one of the most solemn days of the
church year. Forty-six days before Easter, this liturgy marks the beginning of
a penitential discipline climaxing on Maundy Thursday. The mood is penitential
and reflective. Worshipers keep reverent silence before the service and leave
the service in silence. In some churches, there is no greeting at the door by
the pastor.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">It used to be true
that “liturgical churches” — those with a regular, calendar-based liturgy, or
set of rituals and observances — marked the day, but nowadays, even Baptist and
evangelical churches observe Ash Wednesday.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">According to
Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he
endured temptation by Satan. Lent originated from this, fasting 40 days as
preparation for Easter. Every Sunday is a commemoration of the Sunday of
Christ's Resurrection, and a feast day on which fasting is inappropriate.
Accordingly, Christians fasted from Monday to Saturday (6 days) during 6 weeks
and from Ash Wednesday to that Saturday (4 days), thus making up the number of
40 days.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">While there is no
Biblical commandment to observe Ash Wednesday, it offers Christians the
opportunity to acknowledge our frailty and sinfulness, and confess our
imperfections. According to one Evangelical pastor, we can let down our
pretenses and be truly honest with each other about who we are: that we all
bear the mark of sin, from the youngest babies to the oldest seniors. We stand
guilty before a holy God. As mortals, we will someday experience bodily death.
Thus, we all need a Savior.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">We all need a
Savior. And so, we move from significance to symbol, from day to dust. As I
apply ashes to your forehead, I speak the words from Genesis, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Remember
that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”</i></b><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Based on the words spoken
to Adam and Eve after their sin, the formula reminds us of our sinfulness and
mortality and of our need to repent. A newer formula, from Mark, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Repent
and believe in the Gospel,”</i></b><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> makes explicit what was
only implicit in the old, reinforcing the truth that we all need a Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">According to the
ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting, the practice of wearing of
ashes on the head symbolizes the dust from which God made us.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Ashes express grief. When
Tamar was violated by her half-brother, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"she sprinkled ashes on her head, tore
her robe, and with her face buried in her hands went away crying."</i></b><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Ashes express
sorrow for sins and faults. Job said to God, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I had heard of you by the
hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and
repent in dust and ashes.”</i></b><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Jeremiah called for
repentance by saying, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth,
and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation,
for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.”</i></b><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>We find similar mention on
the lips of Jesus and elsewhere.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> So, remember that you are
dust.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">As I was preparing
for this day, I reflected on something I do daily throughout these months. I
clean out the fireplace, and dispose of the ashes. It got me to thinking: Is
there any value to ashes? If I add them to my garden, there is some benefit. If
I sprinkle them to an icy sidewalk, that helps prevent a fall. Other than that,
ashes have no value. Ashes equal dust.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Dust is nothing
but common, ordinary dirt, taken for granted and trampled underfoot. One speck
of dust looks like the rest. Disagree? You think you are unique? Think again. Billions
of people never heard of you. Take a moment and consider that. Folks, you are
dust.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Pretty grim, isn’t
it? Only if you stop there; only if you stop with the symbol that is dust. But
that symbol is incomplete. When I dust your forehead, I dust with another
symbol: the sign of the cross. That symbol declares that dust has been
redeemed. Redeemed not in the shadowy sense but with startling realism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Ever since
Bethlehem and Calvary, this speck of humanity that is you, is now <i>“charged
with the grandeur of God.”</i> You are brothers and sisters of God-in-flesh.
Your dust is literally electric with God’s own life. Your nothingness is filled
with God’s eternity. Your nothingness has Christ’s own shape. You are dust
redeemed. That brings me to my final point … do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The roots of the verb
“do” are Middle English and Germanic.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn12" name="_ednref12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> It means to bring to
pass, to put or to perform or execute.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_edn13" name="_ednref13" style="mso-endnote-id: edn13;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">I believe the best
way to walk through Lent is to do what Jesus suggested, or better yet, commanded.
Jesus is our Way and our Light. The only way to live with courage and
conviction as Christians in the face of a world that is blessed and broken is
to do what he commanded. Use the season of Lent to do what He commanded in
today’s Gospel: pray, fast and give alms.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But let us do those things this Lent without anyone knowing,
except God. And when you do, may the peace of God that surpasses all
understanding keep </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Ash Wednesday Service. The Spirit Annointed Christ for Mercy – Lenten Worship
Series. www.lcms.org<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/18/ash-wednesday-explainer_n_6705404.html<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday#cite_note-4<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/ash-wednesday-practice-and-meaning/<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Genesis 3:19<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Mark 1:15<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/ashwed.php<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> 2
Samuel 3:19<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Job 42:3-6<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Jeremiah 6:26<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn11" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Matthew
11:21; Luke 10:13; Daniel 9:3; 1 Maccabees 3:47; 4:39; Numbers 19:9, 19:17,
Jonah 3:6, Esther 4:1; Hebrews 9:13.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn12" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref12" name="_edn12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=do<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn13" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Ash%20Wednesday%202024.docx#_ednref13" name="_edn13" style="mso-endnote-id: edn13;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-81839541688762146092024-02-08T15:10:00.000-08:002024-02-10T14:14:24.352-08:00Transfiguration<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIaAp-nUWmCgEIF3vdsAzKDFYhf42LY72EyUDM4CTEbnzrLUBTg64dkMqCXRRwj-oa5DSPrLks46cwHqxKtNbqoH5cskiYAprZMlGtKkWdbJnATnaUuVpgR0zJBoL2DFfq-gOd68-iNg3akjBiHWbT6JMXYKFC21b1EyXWCpaCzn7Cu1vKR3_1FPmIW2M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIaAp-nUWmCgEIF3vdsAzKDFYhf42LY72EyUDM4CTEbnzrLUBTg64dkMqCXRRwj-oa5DSPrLks46cwHqxKtNbqoH5cskiYAprZMlGtKkWdbJnATnaUuVpgR0zJBoL2DFfq-gOd68-iNg3akjBiHWbT6JMXYKFC21b1EyXWCpaCzn7Cu1vKR3_1FPmIW2M" width="289" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. … My sermon is based on our Gospel (Mark 9:2-9). Let us
pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go
to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Generically speaking the word, transfiguration, means a change
in form or appearance. It also means an exalting, glorifying or spiritual
change. Harry Potter diehards define transfiguration as a core subject taught
at Hogwarts, the art and science of changing an object’s form and appearance.
That is not what we understand and observe today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I want you to understand why we observe Transfiguration today,
that is, why the church places it on the Sunday immediately prior to Ash
Wednesday, why Mark placed it in chapter 9, and what practical application the
Transfiguration plays in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The church places the Transfiguration on the Sunday immediately
prior to Ash Wednesday. As a Christian feast, the Transfiguration commemorates
Christ’s transfiguration or metamorphosis on a mountaintop in the presence of
three disciples. It makes a great deal of sense to observe it today, because
when we look at the church’s liturgical year beginning with Advent, we see the
Sundays after Epiphany framed by the Baptism of Jesus and the Transfiguration.
On these Sundays, God the Father proclaims, <b><i>“You are my Beloved Son”</i></b> and <b><i>“This
is my Beloved Son.”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The whole Season of Epiphany is about revealing who Jesus is,
and emphasizes that He is God’s Son. We hear this at the beginning of his
ministry and as Jesus travels to Jerusalem, which happens right after the
Transfiguration. After this Sunday, the church observes Ash Wednesday, which
plunges us down into the valley of Lent, which precedes Easter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the Transfiguration we get a glimpse of the glory of God.
That glory is fully revealed in the Resurrection of our Lord. And although the
Transfiguration is not a prequel to the Resurrection, on <u>this</u> day, we
look over the valley of Lent to Easter. Imagine that you are looking from one
mountaintop to another, knowing that there is a deep valley between the place
where you stand and the next peak. Today, we say good-bye to Alleluia and
anticipate its return at Easter. This is how our feast fits into our liturgical
year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Mark placed the Transfiguration in chapter 9. When we expand the
text of our Gospel and look at chapter 8, the account is depressing. After
Jesus’ multiplication miracle, the Pharisees demanded a sign, Jesus restored
sight to a blind man, and Peter confessed him the Christ. Jesus predicted his
passion, death and resurrection, and after Peter and Jesus exchanged rebukes,
the Lord stated the cost of discipleship: deny yourself, take up your cross and
follow me. As a striking counterbalance, the Transfiguration reveals heavenly
glory vis-à-vis the humiliation in 8:31, where Jesus said, <b><i>“that the
Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests
and scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Chapter 9 begins with Jesus saying, <b><i>“Truly, I
say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they
see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”<a name="_ednref3"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=713878135839984830#_edn3"></a></i></b><span style="mso-bookmark: _ednref3;"></span> In this verse, Jesus meant the
Resurrection, which all standing there, with the exception of Judas, witnessed
on Easter. Mark closed the Transfiguration passage with, <b><i>“As they
were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had
seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”</i></b> In other
words, although the Easter Resurrection is not the sequel to the
Transfiguration, the Paschal Mystery – Christ’s suffering, death and
resurrection – frames today’s passage and allows us to read it in its proper
context.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If we expand the passage to include the whole Bible, we see that
the Old Testament clearly underlies Mark’s Transfiguration account. Now
remember, our most reliable lens for understanding the Old Testament is through
the teaching of Jesus and the writings of the New Testament. Who among us can
say that I or someone else knows the Scriptures better than these? So, Mark opens
the account by telling us that Jesus took Peter, James and John – the disciples
who witnessed Jesus’ agony at Gethsemane – up a high mountain. Moses took
Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu up Mount Sinai to meet God. From the outset,
Jesus’ ascent triggered thoughts of a new Sinai experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As it was for Moses and Elijah, the mountain was a special place
in Mark for prayer, contemplation, apostolic commissioning, and, as shown in
the Transfiguration, extraordinary revelation. Elsewhere in Mark, we
read, <b><i>“After he took leave of them, he went up on the mountain to
pray.”</i></b> In chapter three, Jesus <b><i>“went up on the mountain
and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As I explained earlier, transfiguration means a glorifying or
spiritual change. There are several Old Testament references regarding this
change. In Exodus, after Moses met God, his skin glowed. Later, the
Psalmist wrote of God, <b><i>“You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment.”</i></b> And Daniel
described God’s clothing as white as snow. So, we see the glorifying or
spiritual change when man meets God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In their transfiguration accounts, Matthew described the change
in Jesus’ face, and Luke Jesus’ face and clothing. Mark described only His
clothes as <b><i>“radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could
bleach them.”</i></b> Mark’s point was the disciples could not account for
what they witnessed, but identified Jesus through his clothing. This way of
identifying Jesus prepared them for the message from the voice in the cloud.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Next, two Old Testament figures appear. Verse 4 states, <b><i>“there
appeared to them Elijah with Moses.”</i></b> All the Evangelists used the
word <i>‘appeared.’</i> Luke used the same word to describe the what
occurred after the two disciples returned from Emmaus. He wrote, <b><i>“The
Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”</i></b> Likewise, Paul
used the word when he wrote of the Resurrection to the Corinthians.
Christ <b><i>“appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to
more than five hundred brothers at one time … He appeared to James, then to all
the apostles. Last of all … he appeared also to me.</i></b>” The word
‘appear’ conveyed the presence of God in Jesus, the Second Person of the
Trinity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Onto the Old Testament figures. Unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark
reversed the order when he wrote that Elijah and Moses appeared to the
disciples. We quickly think they represented the Prophets and the Law, but the
text begs us to dig deeper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Note that Mark mentioned Elijah twice already – immediately
prior to John the Baptist’s death and Peter’s confession. In the minds of
Jews during Jesus’ time, Elijah’s appearance meant that the time of fulfillment
was near.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While Moses represented the Law, he lifted eschatological –
or end-time hopes – as Israel awaited the Messiah. Two Sundays ago, we heard
Moses say, <b><i>“The <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> your
God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your
brothers—it is to him you shall listen.”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Therefore, in the minds of Jewish people, the appearance of
Elijah and Moses fulfilled every hope, for the glorious end-time had now begun
with the coming of Jesus. To the righteous, such an appearance brought
delight, but to the sinful, scorn. As with Jesus, people rejected Elijah and
Moses. The Hebrew people constantly grumbled against God and Moses; and Elijah
was an exemplary model for suffering at the hands of the ungodly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Responding to the unfolding action of the Transfiguration, Peter
proposed what he thought a brilliant idea. Actually, his proposal was a clumsy
way for a practical man to express what to do at such a time. Given that God
declared and commanded, <b><i>“This is my beloved Son; listen to him,”</i></b> Peter’s
proposal to put Elijah and Moses on par with Jesus is even more out of place.
Mark reminded readers how inappropriate Peter’s idea really was, but
first, the cloud.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In between Peter’s suggestion and God’s command came the cloud,
a theophanic motif, or a sophisticated way of saying how God showed himself. In
Exodus we read, <b><i>“The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of
cloud to lead them along the way.”</i></b> And later, <b><i>“When
Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the
entrance of the tent, and the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> would
speak with Moses. When the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the
entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his
tent door.”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Transfiguration’s cloud on the mountain and the voice of God
that spoke from it echoed what occurred to God’s people in the Sinai. In short,
as God spoke there, God spoke here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Transfiguration remained the disciples’ private event until
after the Resurrection. It encouraged them to persevere. Before the
Transfiguration, the disciples could only focus on Jesus Crucified; after it,
they could focus on Jesus Resurrected. Biblically and liturgically, we look
over the valley of Lent and see the Risen Lord on Easter Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Having examined why the church places the Transfiguration
on the Sunday immediately prior to Ash Wednesday, and why Mark placed it in
chapter 9, we now examine what practical application the Transfiguration plays
in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Returning to Peter’s proposal, we see it was inappropriate.
Tents were dwellings of the world to come. Peter wanted the vision to last and
to withdraw Jesus from this earth. Fortunately, the voice commanded Peter
to <b><i>“listen to him,”</i></b> a message Peter did not like.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Listen to him,” is a message we, like Peter, dislike and
disregard. To listen to Jesus requires intimacy. To listen requires intimacy,
but after 37 years of counseling couples preparing for marriage, counseling
couples enriching their marriage, and counseling couples dissolving their
marriage, the complaint underlying all faults is, “You’re not listening.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, if the person with whom you are most intimate informs you
that you are not listening, how often does our Heavenly Father say it? I know
He tells me multiple times throughout the day. I am sure He reminds you too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First, let us presume that God wants us to listen to Him.
Evidently, He does, for early in Mark, Jesus summoned disciples, created The
Twelve and called them into fellowship with him. We read, “<b><i>He went up on
the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. He
appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him
and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.”</i></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That they might be with him</span></u></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> was the first duty of the apostle. Before preaching or
casting out demons, they were to <i><u>be with</u></i> or in
fellowship with Jesus. This is part and parcel of the portrait of the
fully human Jesus. He needed a support group. He longed for fellowship. He
lived as a person in community, not as an isolated prophet. These were not
merely Jesus’ pupils, but his friends and coworkers. He appointed them for
fellowship and to witness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus calls you into fellowship with Him. He calls you to be
with Him. The Father calls you to listen to Him. The time we call fellowship
over coffee and cookies pales in comparison to what we are doing right now.
Fellowship is listening to God speak to us and receiving Christ’s Body and
Blood to nourish our souls. Fellowship elsewhere is simply talking to one
another about mundane stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, friends, throughout each day, how much time do you
fellowship with or listen to Jesus? To put that into perspective, let me read a
snippet of <i>A Man’s Guide to Spiritual Disciplines</i>.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“A young businessman told me, </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘I really don't have a lot of time for prayer and Bible reading.
I have young kids, I'm building my career, and I'm very active in my church.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When I was in that same mindset, I took a suggestion from
management guru Peter Drucker. I sat down with a piece of paper and charted how
I actually spent my time. Drucker says everyone has expectations about what
their chart will say, and without exception, everyone is surprised by what they
actually find. I discovered that I spent one to two hours every night watching
television. … I started going to bed early instead of watching TV, and getting
up two hours earlier in the morning. People sometimes think I'm crazy to get up
at 4 a.m., but that's okay. I'm in conversation with God.</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Martin Luther is famous for commenting, </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘I have so much to do today that I'm going to need to spend
three hours in prayer in order to be able to get it all done.’<i> We must
learn to see prayer as the most powerful and efficient use of our time.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If you want a close relationship with Jesus, you can have it,
but you must cultivate that relationship through conversation.”</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If you want a close relationship or fellowship with Jesus, you
can have it, but you must cultivate that relationship through conversation. Cultivating
that relationship first means that we have the right understanding of
fellowship. Fellowship with Jesus is being here with the community of believers
listening to God’s Word and receiving Christ’s true Body and Blood. During our
Divine Worship, we have a conversation with God primarily by listening to God
and accepting Christ’s Body and Blood in, with and under the form of bread and
wine. Here, we pray. Here we have a conversation with God. Here we listen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, responding to the unfolding action of the Transfiguration,
Peter proposed what he thought a brilliant idea. Actually, his proposal was a
clumsy way for a practical man to express what to do at such a time. A selfish,
sinful or worldly way for a good man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When we scrutinize many of the brilliant ideas we propose, we
see that they are actually clumsy, selfish, sinful or worldly. While this
observation makes me squirm with remorse, regret or revenge, I know it is true.
Like Peter, I do not listen to Him <b>because <u>I do not take time
to listen to Him</u></b>. I am too busy for prayer and Bible reading. I have
young children. I'm building my career and my friendships. I have lots of
social activities that keep me busy. And so on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Question: Do I make choices based on listening to Jesus or to a
sinful world and my sinful self? Are the choices I let my children make based
on the teachings of our church or the values of our culture?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Friends, your presence here, listening to me, tells me you
want a close relationship with Jesus. You want to fellowship with Him. You can
have that relationship, but you must cultivate it through prayer. Listen to him
as he prepares to take his disciples to the mountaintop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said, ‘If
anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man
to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return
for his soul?’”</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">From here, the mountaintop of Transfiguration, I can see our
Risen Lord on Easter morning and when we gather in fellowship with Him. Today,
His Word washes away my sinful inclinations and thoughtless ideas; enriches my
choices and relationships. His Body and Blood nourish me for the journey
through Lent’s valley and life’s trials. His Spirit enlightens my mind and
moves my heart to love deeply as Jesus loved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Between now and Ash Wednesday, chart how you spend your time.
Throughout Lent, instead of watching TV or reading social media, turn in early
and spend that amount of time in conversation with God each morning. If you
want a close relationship with God, you can have it, but like the people Jesus
called into fellowship, you must cultivate that relationship through prayer and
conversation. <span style="background: white;">When you do, may the peace of God
that surpasses all understanding keep your heart your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus. Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-39230089367146935972024-02-03T04:59:00.000-08:002024-02-03T04:59:56.439-08:00RUN!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMz1St-0EW4-9eRCofKJjQ8Pfgah_6Dmds7DwIjlCK8C8BjDqDe0aVRCfJhYk72v9QK6wt2FBBKgFaksOaaayFQ-gM91wnvYtN7o8HgR15FYiPKZvAesUMm-DN_xsQL7X9QMKrtVdHwklIx5HIAHGzoYvZ1tOYoTnzWS753adEcnJm7tSf18-eszaagHk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="299" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMz1St-0EW4-9eRCofKJjQ8Pfgah_6Dmds7DwIjlCK8C8BjDqDe0aVRCfJhYk72v9QK6wt2FBBKgFaksOaaayFQ-gM91wnvYtN7o8HgR15FYiPKZvAesUMm-DN_xsQL7X9QMKrtVdHwklIx5HIAHGzoYvZ1tOYoTnzWS753adEcnJm7tSf18-eszaagHk" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Do you like to run?
When I was younger, I used to love running. As an adult I ran for exercise. I
could easily run for 5 miles. Then, one day I decided I would run a marathon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Do you know how far you
have to run to finish a marathon? It would be like running from Mount Olive
Church to the Pittsburgh Airport! Do you think you could run that far?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Well, before any of you
were born, I ran a marathon in Oklahoma. I enjoyed it so much that I ran two in
one day: my first and my last marathons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When you run a marathon
or any race, you stay on a course. Sometimes you run through neighborhoods and
parks. Sometimes you run in a straight line or an oval track. You do not run
aimlessly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Paul tells us in our
second reading (1 Cor 9:16-27) that he did not run aimlessly. Paul was not a
runner or a boxer, but he liked to use athletics to explain God’s grace and our
salvation through Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Because Paul wanted to
win people to Jesus, he worked really hard because he knew how much Jesus loved
him and all people. Because Paul loved Jesus so much, he would do anything for
Him in order to win people to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You may enjoy running
or boxing, science or music, video games or outdoor games, and as a Christian,
you can win people for Jesus. Do you know how?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You love them. You love
God with all your heart, mind and soul, and you love your neighbor as much as
you love yourself. So, no matter what activity you do, you can always love God
and neighbor while you are running or playing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">With that, 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-56070470599180913962024-01-31T04:45:00.000-08:002024-02-03T04:56:05.901-08:00Isaiah's T's<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr-96PgYRxZX741bPgJVLgOE8zvFI9IMTHH1Wz0uXKHCsVUpyk8S79AmHJe1O4IwRojaI2twN_fkqFdbxXLbT8Fqz7Ryyvk_V7mjJXFWkpE4NkqtexZ4J64jOW5BOrIHDeQF6Ed_NngUiPm4xu_mu9EOxbw0KS8kr4GvAzshXLVgj8erY14bTjWkOZczg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2388" data-original-width="2100" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr-96PgYRxZX741bPgJVLgOE8zvFI9IMTHH1Wz0uXKHCsVUpyk8S79AmHJe1O4IwRojaI2twN_fkqFdbxXLbT8Fqz7Ryyvk_V7mjJXFWkpE4NkqtexZ4J64jOW5BOrIHDeQF6Ed_NngUiPm4xu_mu9EOxbw0KS8kr4GvAzshXLVgj8erY14bTjWkOZczg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled Isaiah’s T’s because I will
address Isaiah’s Trilogy, Israel’s Travailing Travels, and finally, a Trial.
Sound like categories for Jeopardy? Of course, my focus is Isaiah (40:21-31).
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I rejoiced when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Isaiah’s Trilogy.
A trilogy is a series of three dramas, literary works, musical compositions or
movies that are closely related and develop a single theme. It is a Greek word
that literally means three words. Some fan favorite trilogies include <i>The
Godfather, Back to the Future, Toy Story</i>, and my wife made sure I included
this one, <i>Star Wars</i>. The best-known literary trilogy is J.R.R. Tolkien’s
<i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. Incidentally, did you know that Tolkien was a philologist,
a linguist, and a contributor to The Jerusalem Bible for his translation of the
Book of Jonah?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Although it is
compiled as one book, Isaiah is an anthology of poems composed chiefly by him
and his disciples.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
While some have divided Isaiah into two books: The Book of Judgment (chapters
1-39) and The Book of Consolation (chapters 40-66), others see three separate
works. Chapters 1-39, record the events in Israel between 740-700 BC. Chapters
40-55, between 700-515 BC. The third section, chapters 56-66, relay the events
between 515-480 BC.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As you read
Isaiah, you will notice a marked difference in style. That’s not conclusive
proof that the three were written by different authors. One author could write
in different styles. If you read my sermons and then my graduate research
papers, you will see that they are written differently. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Something else you
will notice is that the historical setting is different. The oracles or visions
of Isaiah in the first 39 chapters are threatening and allude to events under
Kings Ahaz and Hezekiah. The oracles of chapters 40-55, are consoling. Finally,
chapters 56-66 read like the exiles were home again.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Keeping with the
historical setting, you will notice that The Book of Consolation, sometimes
known as Deutero-Isaiah (think Deuteronomy), recalls those events immediately
before the fall of Babylon to Cyrus, King of Persia. These chapters emphasize
the significance of historical events in God’s plan, a plan which extends from
creation to redemption and beyond.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">One last division
exercise before we move to my second point. Chapters 40-48 emphasize the Lord’s
Glory in Israel’s Liberation. Chapters 49-55 address the Expiation of Sin and
the Spiritual Liberation of Israel. Chapters 56 through the end of Isaiah are
about the Return of the Captives.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Now, there is a reason for
all this talk of separating chapters in Isaiah, and that has to deal with my
next point, Israel’s Travailing Travels, aka, the Babylonian Exile. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Travailing is a
laborious or painful work, and I call this Israel’s Travailing Travels because
not only was Israel forced to march from its homeland to Babylon, but Israel also
marched back to their homeland. Because Israel was defiant to the Babylonian King
Nebuchadnezzar, he burned Jerusalem’s gates and walls and destroyed the
original temple.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As you can see
from this map, the red shaded area is the most likely path that the Babylonians
took to transport the Israelites to Babylon. In total there were three waves of
Israelites: the first in 605 BC, which included the prophet, Daniel; the
second in 597 BC; and the last in 586 BC when the city fell. This third deportation
of people and destruction of the temple marked the end of the first temple
period and the reign of kings in Judah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">During the 70-year
exile, the prophets brought God’s word to his people. Isaiah’s oracles and
prophecies brought hope and dignity to God’s people. He made it clear that the
people would first suffer in order to be free. Eventually, this message of hope
was fulfilled in 539 BC when the Persians rose to power, overthrew the
Babylonians, and Cyrus ascended to the throne. With the fall of Babylon, the
Persian King Cyrus decreed that the Israelites be freed to return to their
homeland and rebuild the Temple, and that he would pay for all the expenses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But, as Rome was
not built in a day, neither was the nation nor the Temple. In chapter 40, as Isaiah
brought messages of comfort to the people of Israel, many Jews were hesitant to
return to their former home. After all, life for some exiled Jews was not all
bad. Many married and raised families. Others made money or rose to positions
of prominence in Babylon. They lived there long enough to feel accepted. In the
end, many felt comfortable and chose to stay for a very long time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">To get the Jews to
trek back to Israel, Isaiah delivered hope for what the future back home would
hold. It was a message that was slowly received. Many Jews were in denial of
exile, and as I said, many chose to stay, but as the situation in Judah
continued to improve, they eventually began to flow back into the homeland.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So, as you see, the
return was not without problems. Those who did return found themselves in
conflict with those who remained in the country and now owned the land. These
two groups – the Jews and the Samaritans – were in conflict over what sort of
government should be established. And, if you were here for our Thanksgiving
service, you may recall that the remaining Samaritans in occupied-Israel during
the Babylonian Exile were also able to convince the power-wielding Persians to
force the Jews to refrain from rebuilding the Temple temporarily. Yet, more
Jews realized that the message of hope from Isaiah and the other prophets meant
that rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem would stand as a symbol of that hope.
By 515 BC, they started to rebuild Jerusalem’s Temple.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As an historical
side note, the Jewish community of Babylon, also known as Babylonia, or today,
Iraq, rose to prominence as the center of Jewish scholarship. It became home to
many important Talmudic yeshivas (schools) through the second half of the 19<sup>th</sup>
century. And when Jews did flee Iraq to avoid persecution, many went to India.
It was only in the 1950s under Operation Ezra and Nehemiah that the majority of
Jews, 125,000, living in Baghdad left Iraq to return to Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There were also after-effects
of living in Babylonia for decades. As aliens who lived in a land whose people
worshipped other gods and possessed other values, Israelites knew that the fall
of Jerusalem years prior meant many of them forgot or no longer knew their homeland,
their religion and their values. Imagine if you were forced out of your homeland,
and all of the most admired and beloved buildings were destroyed, and then
being told that you would never return home, and that it would be better for
you to adopt a new way of life. How would that eventually impact you and successive
generations?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We get a sense of
what influenced the exiled Israelites from this text. They were defeated by foreign
rulers and governed by their great princes (v 23). And like the Babylonians, they
searched the stars for answers (v 26). This was not the first time that God’s
people sought other gods whether in the form of humans or stars. We read in 2<sup>nd</sup>
Kings, <b><i>“They abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and
made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and
worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.”</i></b> (17:16) Later, we
read that Manasseh <b><i>“rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had
destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of
Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. And he
built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, ‘In
Jerusalem will I put my name.’ And he built altars for all the host of heaven
in the two courts of the house of the Lord.”</i></b> (21:3-5) Yet, even if all
of Israel would abandon their God, Isaiah would remain His steadfast prophet.
This was Isaiah’s trial, Israel’s Trial, our trial and God’s trial. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Now that we’re
into Superbowl week, let me reach back to 1969, and Chuck Noll’s initial press
conference after being named Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Asked if his
goal was to make the Steelers respectable, Noll said, “Respectability? Who
wants to be respectable? That's spoken like a true loser.” If you have ever
coached or worked with people, you know that it takes great effort to get them
to buy into your vision, especially if your first year’s record is 1-13. In
short, Noll’s trial seemed insurmountable, but eventually, his players bought
into it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What about Isaiah?
Did Israel buy into his message? What about Israel? Did it buy into God’s plan?
What about us? Do we buy into God’s promises? What about God? Does He hear our
prayers? Let us then turn to my third point, Trial.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Whose trial is
this? It could be Isaiah’s trial. After all, he’s the one making the case for
Israel to heed God’s promise and return home. Yet, Isaiah utters no complaint nor
lament. So, is it Israel’s trial? For years, many of them compared their God to
the gods of Babylonia. They looked to other religions or the stars for
guidance. Many believed that God did not hear their prayers. Others just gave
up because they grew weary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">That said, could
this be our trial? Do we (Christians) compare other gods to our Triune God? Definitely.
Far fewer people raised as Christians still identify with that denomination.
Many consider themselves “Nones.” Others embrace non-Christian religions.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Still others look to
science, technology, financial advisors, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, life
coaches or astrologers for guidance rather than the teachings of Jesus Christ.
It could be that we are like the exiled, 2500 years later. We look elsewhere
for answers to our prayers because we believe that God does not hear and answer
us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But the longer I
thought about this passage, the more I was drawn to ask if we put God on trial.
If we put God on trial, we are certainly not the first. Elie Wiesel wrote a
play that was later adapted for TV entitled <i>God on Trial</i>. It was based
on what Wiesel witnessed first-hand while in Auschwitz as a teenager. He said,
“Three rabbis—all erudite and pious men—decided one winter evening to indict
God for allowing his children to be massacred.” The trial lasted several
nights. Witnesses were heard, evidence was gathered, conclusions were drawn.
The verdict was unanimous: the Lord God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth,
was found guilty of crimes against creation and humankind. And then, after what
Wiesel describes as an ‘infinity of silence’, one of the scholarly rabbis looked
at the sky and said “It's time for evening prayers”, and the members of the
tribunal recited the evening service. Wiesel added, “I witnessed a strange
trial. I remember: I was there, and I felt like crying. But nobody cried.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">None of us are
going to experience what Jews in concentration camps did, but every one of us
has experienced tragedy at some point. We may not put God on trial as erudite
rabbis did, but we may have questioned his power, his authority, his mercy, his
love. We may wonder if God hears and answers our prayers, and a quote from
Martin Luther probably will not suffice. So, as one of my fellow pastors is
fond of saying, “Let Scripture do the heavy lifting.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After a series of
questions – Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the
beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? To whom
then will you compare me, that I should be like him? – we get to this: <b><i>“They
who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not
faint.”</i></b> (v. 31) The key word? Wait.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Wait is an
overlooked but essential concept in Isaiah.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> To wait is not simply to
mark time, but to live in confident expectation of God’s action on our behalf.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> He is transcendent and
imminent. God sits outside of His creation and is involved in it. God is not
conditioned or limited by time or space. He is aware of our distress and
captivity. The Almighty is great enough to help us and near enough to want to
help. And all of this is summed up in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God and man
at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Jews of the
Babylonia captivity did not initially believe that God could transform them.
How can God renew our strength? Give us wings like eagles? How can an old man
like me run and not be weary? How will the aged walk and not faint? Israel
sharply questioned God’s ability to change their circumstances, but those who
wait on the Lord, and are in a relationship with God understand that it is
something outside of us that renews our strength that we feel as if we have
wings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Those who wait for
the Lord are called believers. Believers have the unwearying, unfainting
strength of God that does not allow them to fail before life’s demands.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> As Christians, we find ourselves
bound to the realities of a deeply tragic world that is ravaged by human sin
while we cling to promises that God will one day make this world right, joyful,
and just. And that is the deep and fundamental tension at the heart of
Christianity: the claim that God is faithful and good as we face a daily
onslaught of contradictory evidence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My friends, you
know someone who has God on trial right now. But you are believers and you know
that God gave you wings of love and hope that empower you to fly to that person
prosecuting God, and simply say, “Wait.” Wait because God seems hidden right now,
but eventually, the merciful, loving-kindness of our Triune God is revealed to
you and all. When that happens may the </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">peace
of our God that surpasses all understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ
Jesus. Amen.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The
New American Bible. New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co. (1979), p. 824.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The
Lutheran Study Bible: English Standard Version. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House (2009), p. 1084f.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The Jerusalem Bible. Doubleday and Co (1966), p. 1124f.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The
New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha Expanded Edition: Revised Standard
Version. New York: Oxford University Press (1977), p. 822.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> New
American Bible, p. 824.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/05/12/chapter-2-religious-switching-and-intermarriage/<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
See Isaiah 8:17; 25:9; 33:2; 49:23; 64:4.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> John
N. Oswalt, Isaiah: The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
(2003), p. 448.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/5th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> J.
Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press (1993), p. 308.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-41116710479796087582024-01-27T07:40:00.000-08:002024-01-27T07:40:19.287-08:00PSALM 111<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs9YR3JDfckmdZ5Jdhn8xHpzGdndiRLsMDqkAm3By8Y8QwKvSnesJNZj0PdPckz_iW8GLmakKb14tFtB9EsAeOqa0AlKYa4mSzVaT0mijyPEJ7_kHwoiWmVDwppv5YzFgs62YYZpQ7hQliYPJmdttkUOb7yakk2U5dlCLyEo3taLgesUN9pc2voIxkPKM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs9YR3JDfckmdZ5Jdhn8xHpzGdndiRLsMDqkAm3By8Y8QwKvSnesJNZj0PdPckz_iW8GLmakKb14tFtB9EsAeOqa0AlKYa4mSzVaT0mijyPEJ7_kHwoiWmVDwppv5YzFgs62YYZpQ7hQliYPJmdttkUOb7yakk2U5dlCLyEo3taLgesUN9pc2voIxkPKM" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">What are your favorite
foods? Some of my favorite foods are grilled steak and baked potatoes.
Sometimes I like roast pork, cabbage and pierogies. Then, at other times, I
want fish and chips or spaghetti and meatballs with a small side salad. We have
so many different foods, that it’s hard to have just one favorite.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And there are so many
ways to prepare foods. Maybe you look through your mom’s cook books and see so
many different recipes? Maybe you sit with your parents and watch cooking
shows. Or go to a restaurant and you cannot decide what to get?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In our Psalm (111)
today, we read that God provides food for those who fear him. It’s true. God
provides food for every living creature. God has provided so much food not only
for humans, but also for cows, chickens, pigs, fish, birds and even insects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">But there are other
ways that God feeds us. He feeds our minds and hearts with all his works. If
you look up at the stars on a clear night, you can see God’s works. If you go
into the woods, you see all kinds of wonderful plants and trees. If you travel,
you may hear ocean waves or echoes in the mountains. If you travel north to
Buffalo, you will be dizzy just looking at Niagara Falls. You won’t be able to
hear anything because the falls are so loud.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Lastly, our psalm tells
us that God gave redemption to his people. God has saved us from Satan, sin and
death. That’s why we give thanks to the Lord with our whole hearts in
the company of the congregation. God has saved us through His Son, and He’s
here when we gather for prayer. He’s here in Word and the Lord’s Supper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When we understand
that, we praise God for everything He gives us. There’s even a song we can sing
called <i>“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!”</i> … And so, 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-84586972127447096302024-01-24T04:43:00.000-08:002024-01-24T04:43:19.864-08:00Exorcisms<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxFeyg1lzQhU_0qEWKHoT4hLHrDWBD7VGcgAsNVO69VzXpEuP0hmsiX91e6Mc5ARCnJQr_aRqPKAyt11bcQR8yv2_5ikksU1XJ5LkwH59sTNcVI9k2Fj__eUJl1DMy4GrCW7pjdOh8GefsXPKAA0Kc02hYgyeogCbPzfqnbcv-H_HIkB_W54So9f_JTo0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="245" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxFeyg1lzQhU_0qEWKHoT4hLHrDWBD7VGcgAsNVO69VzXpEuP0hmsiX91e6Mc5ARCnJQr_aRqPKAyt11bcQR8yv2_5ikksU1XJ5LkwH59sTNcVI9k2Fj__eUJl1DMy4GrCW7pjdOh8GefsXPKAA0Kc02hYgyeogCbPzfqnbcv-H_HIkB_W54So9f_JTo0" width="285" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. … My sermon is
entitled <i>Exorcisms, Excerpt and Examination</i>, and my focus is our Gospel
(Mark 1:21-28). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b><i>“I
rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Would you be surprised to know that there are more than 70
movies about exorcisms? There was one released recently entitled <i>The Pope’s
Exorcist</i> with Russell Crowe. In addition to <i>The Exorcist</i> by
William Peter Blatty, the list includes comedies (<i>Beetlejuice</i>) and
cartoons (<i>Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters</i>). Mention the word exorcism and most
likely, once you get past the gore of movies, you will settle upon the practice
of the Roman Catholic Church. Since this is a sermon during the Divine Worship
of the Lutheran Church, I will stick to our teachings and pastoral practice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The word itself is a Greek command meaning <i>Get out!</i> It
is the expelling or banning of evil spirits. In the broad sense, exorcism is a
ritual widely practiced in many religious cults. In the narrow sense it is a
Christian ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the early church, special formulas of exorcism were
developed alongside baptism. Martin Luther included exorcisms in his Little
Baptismal Book published in 1523. During the Reformation, Catholic and Eastern
Orthodox Churches preserved the ritual, while the Lutheran Church, following
Martin Luther's lead, generally kept exorcism until the 18<sup>th</sup> century.
At that time, some Lutheran leaders rejected the rite of exorcism. C. F. W.
Walther advised congregations that practiced it not to abolish it in haste and
those that did not have it not to reintroduce it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So, there is no official position in the LCMS. The
Synod believes in the existence of Satan and of demonic beings, but has no
official position on demonic possession. It does not subscribe officially to
any formal rite of exorcism or have special clergy assigned to this task, but
individual pastors have participated in exorcisms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 2018, Fort Wayne Seminary Professor, Dr. Gene Vieth
wrote about the topic. In <i>The Lutheran Approach to Exorcism</i>,
Vieth pointed out that psychology and pastoral counseling led to a downplay in
demonic possession. He then cited Pastor Robert Bennett, who worked in
Madagascar, one of the largest and fastest-growing Lutheran populations in the
world, where Lutheran pastors cast out demons regularly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Bennett concedes that while mental illness is real, the
devil attacks us at our weakest point. Hence, Satan may attack us because our
mental condition is weakened from financial worries, professional ambitions or
personal fears. His lies include: “You are not worth saving.” “Your
life is worthless.” “God cannot love someone like you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Bennett observed that while pastors practice the ritual,
Jesus is the true exorcist, and where He is, demons are
defeated. Thus, demons are cast out not so much by elaborate rituals
but by the Word of God and prayer. In fact, every Christian has at his or her
disposal the powerful resources to combat devils. Confession and Absolution,
found within the Divine Service and the individual version, is a powerful
weapon. That said, when is the last time you asked a pastor to hear your
private confession? In addition to these, The Lord’s Prayer and many Lutheran
hymns are also effective.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Now that we have some understanding of exorcism, let us
move to my second point, excerpt. Our Gospel excerpt today (Mk 1:21-28) takes
place in a synagogue in Capernaum. This was a sizeable congregation, and like
all synagogues, the right to teach was controlled by leaders. We read in Acts
13, how Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue in Antioch. <b><i>“On the
Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from
the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them,
saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say
it.’”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus was already active in the area as a known and
respected teacher when he was invited to speak. And even though this excerpt is
known as <i>Jesus Driving Out an Unclean Spirit</i>, the exorcism is
secondary to His teaching. His mission is fundamentally oriented not toward
miracles, but rather toward proclamation of the Word.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus’ teaching did two things: first, it astonished; and
second, it exposed evil. Teaching God’s Word frees people, and exposes evil
which seeks to destroy people and hinder God’s plan. We do not know the details
of Jesus’ teaching in this synagogue, but we do know that his views on Sabbath
and purity laws, divorce and other matters challenged the regime. Those
who heard his teaching were astonished because unlike the scribes, he taught
like a prophet. Prophets received a word of God without study. And the reaction
of the audience was frequently described as astonishment at his unprecedented
power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">With regards to the man, it is important to distinguish
between the sick and the possessed. This man was not like Peter’s
mother-in-law, the man with leprosy or the paralyzed man. This man was
possessed by the unclean spirit. Furthermore, we do not know if the man was a
regular attendee at the synagogue. Mark is silent on this detail. We do know
that the spirit felt threatened and became hostile, and that it spoke for the
whole threatened fraternity of demons. Hence, we see that Jesus’ battle was not
with an individual spirit, but against the realm of evil. Evil is not an
impersonal force but is concentrated in invisible, malevolent beings who are
bent on destroying human beings and hindering God’s plan of salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The demon who took possession of the man affected his
thinking, words and physical behavior. The exorcism passages all speak of the
demon as an active personality, distinct from the human host, and is able to control
his behavior. Its crying out and convulsing was a mark of desperate but
ineffectual resistance. It was not concerned about Jesus’ earthly origin but
His Divine Nature for it was aware that it was facing a superior supernatural
power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When the evil spirit does call Jesus the Holy One of God, a
term usually reserved for God, priests or prophets, he responded by rebuking
and silencing the man with a command that must be observed. The phrase the Lord
used literally means “be muzzled!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The reaction of the crowd suggests exorcisms were not
common, and that Jesus’ style was strikingly different. I mean, to teach people
is remarkable enough but to exercise power over demons creates amazement like
nothing else. Yet, the amazement of the crowd must not be mistaken for faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">And while teaching is primary in Jesus’ ministry, Mark
includes three other accounts of Jesus exorcizing demons (5:1-20; 7:24-30;
9:14-29), two accounts where Jesus empowered his disciples to do so (3:15; 6:7)
and one where someone else is doing so in his name (9:38-40).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Notice lastly that the New Testament shows little interest
in demons except when the discussion is about exorcisms, namely, when the
powers of darkness impose themselves on human life. Mark’s Gospel does not seek
to explain mysterious knowledge to satisfy curiosity about the great unknowns
or the existence of evil in this world. His exorcism accounts are not lessons
in mysticism or early Gnosticism. Rather, Mark offers saving knowledge to those
who need help and healing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Folks, you may not need help and healing against demonic
spirits in your life as did this man, but each of us needs divine help against
sin. Whether that sin comes to us from Satan or our sin-scarred society;
whether that sin brings sickness or suffering; or whether we are plagued by
selfish, sinful tendencies within ourselves, our workplaces, social settings or
even in families. We will never escape sin. Yet, we need not give up and give
in. Our God is not a cold and vicious Creator. He is a Trinitarian God loving
us into creation, salvation and sanctification. And, as I mentioned in my first
point, God has given us the means of grace to combat and defeat Satan, sin and
self. And finally, for those who were in our Small Catechism class a few weeks
ago, as Francis said, don’t try to dialogue with the devil, he’s smarter than
all of us combined. Just do what Jesus did, and say, “Get out!” Now, onto my
third point, examination.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lest you think I am going to quiz you on your attentiveness
or understanding, fear not. My examination – my point – is our daily
examination of conscience. In 2018, the Synod issued a report on Confession and
Absolution. In it, the report cited Luther’s use of the confession of sins
in three settings: 1) private confession to a pastor; 2) confession to God
alone as we find it in the Lord’s Prayer; and 3) confession made to a fellow
Christian (James 5:16). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Regarding private confession, Luther once said, <i>“Private
confession should be retained in the church, for in it consciences afflicted
and crushed by the terrors of sin lay themselves bare and receive consolation
which they could not acquire in public preaching.”</i> On a side not, Cindy and
I have started reading “Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet.” It reports that
while he was an Augustinian monk, some of Luther’s parishioners complained that
he would not absolve them, because they showed no true penitence nor reform.
They appealed with letters of indulgence from Tetzel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the 20<sup>th</sup> century periodic attempts were
made in the Synod to restore individual confession, but the most common form
remains the general public confession and absolution in the course of the
Eucharistic service or immediately before it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That said, some examination of conscience has been
advocated by various districts. The ancient Christian practice called “The
Examen” can strengthen our connection to God and others. It is a daily process
of examining my behavior and God’s actions in the light of His words of truth.
It is a daily practice where I ask God to help me see His presence and plan in
the confusion of daily life. As I review the day by the hour, I offer thanks to
God for allowing me to accomplish tasks and encounter people. I may also be led
to repent of certain actions, thoughts or attitudes that emerged over the past
24 hours, before looking forward to tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have used the examination of conscience throughout my
life. For those of you who recall, several weeks ago, I wrote in my sermon
about journaling and writing a spiritual biography. Part of this came from my
practice of a daily examination and journaling. Yet, the focus is not on how I
am doing or what I am doing. The focus is on God’s grace – how the Almighty Trinity
is active and alive in my insignificant, sinful life. It’s not about my effort
or the method of the examination, but the loving-kindness of God directing my
life.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/4th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[1]</span></sup></span><!--[endif]--></span></sup></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My friends, you’re going encounter evil in your life and
our world. Evil may be overt but it is also subtle. Satan did not tempt Eve and
Adam with a sales pitch of an Oklahoma car dealer. Satan was personal and
social. In reality, facing evil is scarier than Hollywood horror flicks, and
how you face it is crucial. But remember this, every sin and every evil is
surmountable through the Grace of God and the Cross of Christ. As we love to
sing, <i>“one little word can fell him.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My life may not require an exorcism, but may benefit from
an examination. Adopting a daily examination of conscience will hopefully help
you to be more aware of how and where God is active and alive in your
sin-filled life. Reflecting upon the movements of grace and gratitude, sin and
shame, the need for confession and absolution in your life, incorporating a
daily examination of conscience in your life may be what’s missing. Consider
it, and when you do, may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep
your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/4th%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My attempts at locating current mention of a
daily examen on LCMS District websites were met with negative results. Having
exhausted all attempts, I refer to two other Lutheran pastors who suggest the
practice. My own experience with thoughtful LCMS pastors is that the examen is
a personal practice that is often not published in their writings. Here you go:
</span><a href="https://www.stplc.org/our-life-together/examen"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">https://www.stplc.org/our-life-together/examen</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">; and </span><a href="https://newjoy.org/resources/dailyprayer/daily-examen/"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">https://newjoy.org/resources/dailyprayer/daily-examen/</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-18995186054978575572024-01-19T04:02:00.000-08:002024-01-19T04:02:43.978-08:00JONAH<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr3mfdOVu55RcH86fW_rIWlJr1cUkt56MIVQ60TGZ_1JuVTXIHrYGSaC3ueyyx7D1SLNAQbOt6a_T0KHET8GIu2dKlw7X6VadfMe8X1jXq-xWFawbJ4JK8T_rfROatUDnx2he2utll3FLnP7orjAzT9oBc6GT5bLOvVTZSYjUeeCg3UlHAUk2BuKMl1IY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1000" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr3mfdOVu55RcH86fW_rIWlJr1cUkt56MIVQ60TGZ_1JuVTXIHrYGSaC3ueyyx7D1SLNAQbOt6a_T0KHET8GIu2dKlw7X6VadfMe8X1jXq-xWFawbJ4JK8T_rfROatUDnx2he2utll3FLnP7orjAzT9oBc6GT5bLOvVTZSYjUeeCg3UlHAUk2BuKMl1IY" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Have your parents ever told
you that you or one of your brothers or sisters were going to be punished for
something and didn’t do it? Have you ever seen a friend or schoolmate do
something wrong and not get punished for it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Sometimes when that happens,
we get upset because we think everyone who does something wrong should be
punished. If someone cheats, he should be punished. If someone lies, she should
be punished. If one person hits another, that person should be punished. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In our reading from
Jonah (3:1-5, 10), God told his prophet to give a message to the people of
Nineveh that their city was going to be destroyed because the people were so
evil. So, he did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When all the people
felt sorry for what wrongs they did, they showed God how sorry they were, and
God did not punish them. So, how do you think Jonah should have felt about
that?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jonah thought that this
was very wrong and he was very angry and extremely sad. He left Nineveh and he
pouted … big time! And he complained to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">God told Jonah that he
cared for the people of Nineveh as much as he cared to him. Do you know that
God cares for the person who should be punished for breaking His commandments
as much as He does for you? Do you know why? Because God is good … all the time.
And all the time, … God is good!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I would like you to
remember that phrase. So, we’re going to practice it with all the people in
church today. Repeat after me: “God is good … all the time. … All the time …
God is good.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Alright, let’s see if
everyone knows it. First part: God is good all the time. Second part: All the
time, God is good. One more time…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You say that prayer
throughout the day, no matter what happens, and soon you will start to see life
like God does. Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-56124412579464010812024-01-18T03:45:00.000-08:002024-01-18T03:45:22.022-08:00Three Questions<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ5xR1TYwDJ0uLkhRlmacnH0QBAFH6fxv97A24mQ0lWscfk2leWgUDNaHpG_gvSRB08UmO_VVblEUoenxJaRu9On85SBm6Yy_Uj6wMlSWfxPqilNpxLkuT3E1xfu3kJp7F8MxYD0dvmq8G8bqx77VRRmMmNW047wKcQw2UPOB2yw7nZCc8D0VeaALeuxE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="646" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ5xR1TYwDJ0uLkhRlmacnH0QBAFH6fxv97A24mQ0lWscfk2leWgUDNaHpG_gvSRB08UmO_VVblEUoenxJaRu9On85SBm6Yy_Uj6wMlSWfxPqilNpxLkuT3E1xfu3kJp7F8MxYD0dvmq8G8bqx77VRRmMmNW047wKcQw2UPOB2yw7nZCc8D0VeaALeuxE" width="258" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. My sermon consists of three questions, and my focus is our
Gospel (Mark 1:14-20)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the
psalmist wrote, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the
Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">If you never read
the Bible, my advice is that you start by reading the Gospels. I say that
because we read the Bible through Jesus as our interpreter. So, like the first
disciples, it behooves us to understand all that is written in the Law and
Prophets through Christ. Start with the Gospel of Mark because it is the
earliest and the shortest of the four Gospels. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">If you like action
stories, Mark is a good book to read because Jesus is always on the move. If
you like mysteries, think of Mark as a whodunit murder mystery. And if you stop
reading at chapter 16:8, you need to ask yourself a question. What would I do if
I saw the empty tomb and an angel invited me to see where Jesus was laid and
then instructed me to <b><i>“go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going
before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”</i></b> Like
the women who went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, would I also flee
trembling with so much fear that I would say nothing to anyone? … As you read
Mark, note these three questions. Who are these people? What are they doing?
Why should that matter to me?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">First, who are
these people? Our passage mentions John the Baptist, Jesus, Simon, Andrew,
James, John and Zebedee. I covered John previously, and Mark mentioned Zebedee
only as a reference. Hence, I focus on Jesus and his four disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Who was Jesus? We
know him by numerous titles – Lord, Son of Man, Son of David, Lamb of God,
Rabbi <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">et cetera</i>. Based on the opening
verse of the Gospel, Mark preferred Christ, the Son of God. Yet, titles are not
enough to portray a person. As quarterback, running back, receiver or lineman
tell us only so much about men who play football, Mark needed more to complete
his portrait of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Mark portrayed
Jesus differently than other evangelists. In fact, he complicated Jesus’
identity by offering six portrayals: (1) man of authority, (2) man of power,
(3) someone feared, (4) someone divine, (5) someone human and (6) someone odd.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Unlike other
ancient biographers, Mark aroused feelings in readers’ minds and hearts with
his style and content. He showed Jesus, through his deeds, words and suffering
as a man making his way through an anxious world of humans and demons.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
While there was no doubt Jesus was the hero of the story, Mark portrayed him as
an unrecognized, rejected, humiliated, disappointed individual, deserted by his
closest allies and victimized by a hostile environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>… So, who was Jesus? The answer can fill
libraries. Personally, Jesus is my Lord and Master.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">What was Jesus
doing? Our Gospel opens, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“After John was arrested, Jesus came to
Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, the
kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”</i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> (Mk 1:14-15)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Clearly, Jesus
proclaimed the Gospel of God. He began his ministry in Galilee after John the
Baptist, who also attempted to reform Judaism, was arrested. Why did Jesus go
to Galilee after Herod, who ruled there, arrested and beheaded John? Was Jesus
naïve? Was he challenging Herod by moving into his territory? On the other
hand, did Jesus simply realize he would reach more people in Galilee?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Jesus’ first
message, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and
believe in the gospel,”</i></b> summarized the first chapter. It was also the
most basic statement of Christian faith – repent and believe in the gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">So, what was Jesus
doing? Calling people to repent and believe – to live now as they would in the
Kingdom of God. Jesus saw the reign of God in his lifetime, and when others
responded to his message and recognized God ruled their lives, he formed a
community. Jesus needed and called disciples because he knew his work would
have to continue after he ascended to his heavenly throne.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">To ask who Jesus
was, and what he was doing means I must ask who his disciples were. Mark knew
that he not only needed to tell the personal story of a prophet from Nazareth
but also needed to inspire others to play their proper part in the movement
Jesus founded. So, when we discuss Jesus in Mark, we not only discuss
Christology – the study of the Christ, but also discipleship – what it means to
accompany him as disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The disciples were
a central element in Mark’s story; and discipleship is the proper outcome of a
healthy Christology.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
In other words, if you are going to talk about Jesus, you need to know and
articulate why you are following him, and why others, including immediate
family members, should join you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">In verses 16-20,
Jesus called the core of his disciples – Simon, Andrew, James and John. Unlike
rabbis, Jesus did not wait for disciples to come to him. He went to them.
Unlike Greek scholars, Jesus did not entice students with his reputation, but
like Elijah, he called people to leave their work and follow him. Interestingly,
Jesus not only called these men to repent and believe, but also recruited and
trained them to become fishers of men, a skill more difficult than fishing in
the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">So, who were these
disciples and what were they doing? These were fishermen who left their jobs
and families and followed Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who called people to
repent and believe in the Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Before I answer my
third question – why should that matter to me? – I remind you that for
centuries the Church set aside specific days to remember persons and events
significant in the proclamation of the Gospel.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a> The
Lutheran Service Book lists January 24<sup>th</sup> as the Feast of St.
Timothy, January 25<sup>th</sup> as the Conversion of St. Paul, and January 26<sup>th</sup>
as the Feast of St. Titus. Ancient saints are not our only models of faith. God
called countless saints who left opportunities on the table to serve Christ and
His Kingdom. Here is an example of a man from St. Louis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Thomas Dooley
captured the imagination of the world, when, fresh out of medical school and
the navy, he went to Southeast Asia to do medical work among the world’s
poorest. This was especially surprising because Dooley came from a wealthy
family and enjoyed a very good life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Dooley said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“If people can be born with a desire, I
guess mine was to have a good time, and good times came easy in our home. There
was plenty of money; I had my own horse, went to school abroad, and studied to
be a concert pianist.”</i><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Dooley’s family
was deeply religious. He said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We were
the prayingest family you ever saw. We prayed when we got up in the morning,
when we sat down to eat, when we finished eating, when we went to bed, and frequently
in between.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">His favorite
Scripture passage was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Blessed are they who mourn, for they will
be comforted.”</i></b> (Mt 5:4) Dooley reflected on this verse after his ship
picked up a thousand refugees drifting off the coast of Vietnam. In the midst
of his backbreaking job of helping these people, he discovered that the
simplest medical treatment brought smiles to pain-filled faces. He also
discovered that helping them made him happier than he had ever been.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Dooley wrote that
those who mourn are not miserable, but simply more aware of sorrow than
pleasure in our world. He wrote, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“If you
are sensitive to sorrow and try to alleviate it, you cannot help but be happy.”
</i>If you are sensitive to sorrow and try to alleviate it, you cannot help but
be happy. Tom Dooley, like the apostles Jesus called, was aware of God’s
Kingdom and was ruled by it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">To get to my third
question – Why should that matter to me? – I ask – Why should it matter to you
to know who Jesus was and what he was doing? Why should it matter to you to
know who Christ’s disciples and Tom Dooley were and what they were doing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">It should matter
to you only if you call yourself Christian. It should matter to you only if
Jesus is your Lord and Master. It should matter to you only if you want to be
in God’s Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">If you call
yourself Christian, if Jesus is your Lord and Master, and if you want to be in
God’s Kingdom, it should matter that you repent and believe in the gospel – for
– like the people of Nineveh – time is short. Death offers no 40-day notice. …
That is why it matters to us who Jesus was and what he did. He offers us what
no one else can. He offers eternal life. How will we respond?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Few people, like
Tom Dooley, who have money, respond to Christ’s call as he did. Few people, who
have time, respond as Dooley did. By the way, he died one day after his 34<sup>th</sup>
birthday. When we enjoy the comfort of money and the leisure of time, Satan
tempts us. So, a story of three devils.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Three
student devils in hell were packing their bags. They were about to be beamed up
to earth for some on-the-job experience. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">When
all was ready, they reported to their teacher for last-minute instructions. The
teacher asked them what strategy they decided to use to get people to sin.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The
first little devil said, “I will use the tried-and-true approach. I will tell
people, ‘There is no God, so sin up a storm and enjoy life.’” The teacher
nodded approvingly. Then, he turned to the second devil and asked, “What about
you?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The
second little devil said, “I will use the contemporary approach. I will tell
people ‘There is no hell, so sin up a storm and enjoy life.” Again, the teacher
nodded approvingly. Then, he turned to the third devil and asked, “What about
you?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The
third little devil said, “I will use a down-to-earth approach. I will simply
tell people, ‘There is no hurry, so sin up a storm and enjoy life.’”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></span></sup></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">When you have
time, you succumb to the temptation that salvation will be there when you need
it … later. When you have time, you succumb to the temptation that the church
will be there when you need it … later. When you have time, you succumb to the
temptation that you will be there for others … later. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Throughout my
life, I have encountered many men and women who have said that the reason they
no longer attend worship is “because the Church was not there for me.” I
understand that. The Church I once knew is different. After I left ministry, I
was for a period of time a man making his way through an anxious world of
humans and demons. Most of these humans were well-intentioned men and women who
taught me how to raise money by writing appeal letters, grant proposals, and
hold special events. I raised a lot of money for social service and educational
organizations, and did a lot of good for a lot of people, but still felt like I
was making my way through an anxious world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Later, more
well-intentioned people showed me how to conduct background investigations for
men and women requiring top-secret security clearances. During this time, I met
a lot of good people looking to serve our country as military and civilian
personnel. I enjoyed meeting a lot of good people. Still, I felt that I was
making my way through an anxious world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">I did these things
because for me church leadership was not there when I thought it should be, even
when I returned to ministry as a Lutheran Pastor. I was not rostered because a
congregation did not call me and the Synod did not place me. I was told, “Find
your own place because we don’t do that.” I was not recognized because I had no
call from a congregation, and then I was asked to serve here. That said, I
realized a long time ago that my call was not from church leadership or from a
congregation. My call is from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, and what
the Father saw was that I needed to be in this place at this time because these
people need me. My call is from God to be here for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">True, other men
have come and gone as pastors. All of us, including myself, have mixed memories
and emotions about pastors and congregations. That is history. Someday, I will
be past history. What matters for me is that Christ has called me to be here
for you now, and He calls you to be here for Him by serving one another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Returning to my
story about the three devils, I ask: If you are not there now for others; if
you are not there now for the church; if you are not there now to respond to
Jesus’ call to repent and believe in the gospel, will you have time later?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The good news is
that Christ offers salvation here and now through Word and Sacrament. The good
news is that our merciful Father invites you into his kingdom now. The good
news is that all you have to do is accept God’s invitation – and live each
moment guided by the Holy Spirit. Friends, accept God’s invitation, accept Christ’s
call, and may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your heart
and mind in Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
James Voelz, Mark 1:1 – 8:26 St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House (2013), 41f.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> R.
T. France, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (2002), 4ff.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
France, 28.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=435<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Mark
Link, Decision. Valencia, CA: Tabor Publishing (1988), p. 83.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/3rd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Mark Link, Challenge. Valencia, CA: Tabor Publishing (1988), p. 119.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-7874393155419455732024-01-10T04:54:00.000-08:002024-01-10T04:54:32.911-08:00Jesus is Calling<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinDKhxktI-zzcuSrOZIWPbzjqCdTvNt0xP7QVMxX4ulLrdh0WS-2cCbdqR_h4a1ycoUoUXc9xky0PGGrmtRs1kHegtY1azFEqT3ZjShVauZbjIiRwzSdca8aPSb1QWO2JNMiIQALU5_RmuMOOlFxHrFUn0Mm8mzU-hhmlzeS8pNk0RmkaMgAQbkZa-lq0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinDKhxktI-zzcuSrOZIWPbzjqCdTvNt0xP7QVMxX4ulLrdh0WS-2cCbdqR_h4a1ycoUoUXc9xky0PGGrmtRs1kHegtY1azFEqT3ZjShVauZbjIiRwzSdca8aPSb1QWO2JNMiIQALU5_RmuMOOlFxHrFUn0Mm8mzU-hhmlzeS8pNk0RmkaMgAQbkZa-lq0" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled <i>Who’s Calling? </i>and my focus
is our Gospel (John 1:43-51). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote,
<b><i>“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After last
summer’s Vacation Bible School ended, Linda Rodenbeck gave me a spreadsheet
with the names of the children who attended and their parents’ information. I
called a few of the parents, and as I began to inquire on the correct
pronunciation of one family name, the man on the other end of the call kept
asking, “Who’s Calling?!” I responded, “This is Pastor Cwynar from Mt. Olive
Lutheran Church.” He then said, “You can never be too sure these days when you
answer the phone.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I get that …<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a lot because when I call, your cell phone
shows that the caller (me) has an out of state number. Often with first time
callees, I send a text immediately afterwards. I learned to do this when I was
conducting background investigations for security clearances. Most of the
people I called always had good reason to be suspicious.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I thought of these
experiences as I reflected upon this Gospel because Jeus is calling His first
disciples. These men may have asked themselves, “Who’s this guy calling me to
follow him?” And so, let us look at “Who’s Calling.” Then, “Who’s Called.” Finally,
“What’s the Call About.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Who’s Calling? We
already know that it is Jesus calling. He calls Philip, who subsequently calls
his brother, Nathanael. Our passage opens with Jesus deciding to go to Galilee.
Keep in mind that Jesus was in the area where John the Baptist was preaching
and baptizing – in Bethany across the Jordan (1:28). Now, don’t try to figure
out how Jesus got from there to Galilee in time for the wedding at Cana (2:1).
John the Evangelist was neither a cartographer nor a travel guide. He was a
mystic theologian. He was not concerned about making geographical sense, but
was concerned about a spiritual journey with Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The other thing we
should keep in mind is how this passage fits into the rest of chapter one.
After the Prologue (1-18) and the Testimony of John the Baptist (19-28), Jesus
is spotted by John who identifies Him as <b><i>“the Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world.”</i></b> After recalling the Baptism of Jesus, John
further identifies Him as the Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Two of the
Baptist’s disciples follow Jesus (35-42) and address Him as Rabbi, and after
spending a day with Him, Andrew tells his brother, Peter, that He is the
Messiah. In today’s passage (43-51), Jesus calls Philip, who then believes that
He is the one prophesied by Moses and the prophets, and he calls Nathanael, who
also addresses Jesus as Rabbi, and then “King of Israel.” Our passage closes
with Jesus identifying Himself as the “Son of Man.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, there are
many titles applied to Jesus throughout the New Testament. In the first chapter
of John alone, Jesus is called the Word, the Lamb of God, the Son of God,
Rabbi, the Messiah, and King of Israel. Today, I focus only on the one Jesus
uses to speak of Himself – Son of Man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Son of Man. When
Jesus spoke of himself and His mission, He often referred to himself as “Son of
Man.” Many of Jesus’ listeners knew the term from the Books of Ezekiel and
Daniel. “Son of Man” highlighted Jesus’ human nature, just as “Son of God”
emphasized his divinity. Drawing from the Jewish tradition’s use of the term,
“Son of Man” brings together his identity as Messiah and as one who was to
suffer for others. It helps highlight Jesus’ identity as one who came to give
up His own life and in doing so gave life to others. We read in the Gospel of
Mark: <b><i>“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give
His life as a ransom for many”</i></b> (10:45). And so, the phrase helps us see
Jesus’ self-understanding of His relationship to humanity: as suffering servant
as found in Isaiah and in the Gospels, when he predicts: <b><i>“The Son of Man
must suffer greatly”</i></b> (Mark 8:31; Luke 9: 22).<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">John has his own
view of the cross, not as a moment of humiliation, but as Jesus’ consummation
of his life’s journey and purpose, the place where he returns to the glory that
was his and where he glorifies his Father by bringing to perfection the task
given him. John uses a Greek word that has a double meaning. As a play on
words, <i>hypsothenai </i>means “to lift up physically” and “to exalt.” The
lifting up of Jesus on the cross simultaneously means exalting Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Because everything
is viewed through the prism of the Cross. The use of the term in John’s passion
predictions differ from those in the Synoptics<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
stressing not so much the suffering, but the necessity that one believe in
Jesus as the one who has been exalted or glorified in order to attain
salvation.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
After Jesus multiplied bread to feed his audience, many of his disciples
abandoned Him because they found his teaching too difficult to swallow. He
warned his disciples, <b><i>“what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending
to where he was before?”</i></b> (6:62) In other words, John the Evangelist
developed his own “Son of Man” saying apart from the other three Gospels. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The pattern of
descent, rejection, and ascent to a prior place in heaven is introduced in John’s
Prologue (1:1-18). In light of the Word’s preexistence that we find in the
Prologue, rejection and suffering were recast into descent/ascent patterns. In
our closing verse today (1:51), the vision Jesus promises is fulfilled in the
believing community, the Church. That will be important as I move to my second
point.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The other
difference between how the Synoptic Evangelists understood Son of Man and John
was his unique authority to judge. For Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Son of Man
would return in the future as a universal judge. For John, because the presence
of Jesus <i><u>is</u></i> the revelation of God among men and women, this
presence also brings judgment. We read this in chapters 3, 5 and 12. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In Jesus’ words, <b><i>“whoever
does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name
of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the
world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works
were evil.” </i></b>(3:18-19) In chapter 5, we hear, <b><i>“Truly, truly, I say
to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He
does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”</i></b> (v.
24) And in chapter 12, Jesus says, <b><i>“The one who rejects me and does not
receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the
last day.”</i></b> (v. 48)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">John brings
together the two judgments. As we heard in that last verse, future judgment is
not totally excluded, but present judgment is real. Those who reject or change
Jesus’ teaching bring judgment on themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The place where
Jesus is lifted up, where he is exalted, the cross, is the focal point of
revelation to humanity. Christ on the Cross points to the imminent revelation
of the glory of God as John saw it. During the Passover meal when Judas left
the upper room, it was night, and Jesus spoke of himself on the cross, <b><i>“Now
is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified
in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.”</i></b>
(13:31-32) That brings me to my second question.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Who is Called? The
text tells us that Jesus called Philip and Nathanael. We learn from Philip’s
words something that the disciples would come to know after the Resurrection in
Luke’s Gospel. Recall the Road to Emmaus. Beginning with Moses and the
Prophets, Jesus interpreted for them all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Lk
24:27) Here, Philip tells Nathanael that Jesus is the one described in the
Mosaic Law and the prophets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Nathanael initially
reacts to Philip’s news with disparaging doubt, a reaction that Jesus often encountered
among Jews who believed in the Law and the prophets.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Yet, at Philip’s insistence, Nathanael’s willingness to come and see the Christ
shows that he is not like those who claimed to accept Moses but rejected Jesus and
remained in the dark (9:29, 41). We are reminded of this in Paul’s Letter to
the Romans when he wrote, <b><i>“not all who are descended from Israel belong
to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring.”</i></b>
(9:6-7) Jesus hails Nathanael and proclaimed him to be a true Israelite, a true
representative of Israel because was willing to come to the light.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Some think that
this is a reference of Jacob, but he was a man of guile. He deceived his
brother, Esau, out of his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew and a piece of
bread. (Gen 25:29ff.) Jacob also tricked his elderly father into blessing him,
the second-born, instead of the firstborn Esau. (Gen 27) Yet, when he wrestled
with God, his name was changed to Israel because he struggled or wrestled with
God and man and prevailed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Others see this as
a reference to Isaiah 44, where we read, <b><i>“I will pour water on the
thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your
offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the
grass like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’
another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand,
‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.”</i></b> (3-5) But in the
verses that follow, we are reminded that the Lord, the King of Israel, is God,
and in the days when people are waiting for the Messiah, the true believer will
be the one who is faithful to Yahweh alone. A man of guile would be unfaithful.
In Nathanael, the purpose of John the Baptist’s ministry is fulfilled, for he
spoke <b><i>“the reason I came baptizing with water was that he [Jesus] might
be revealed to Israel.”</i></b> (1:31)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus revealed himself
as the Son of Man exalted on the Cross. Nathanael shows himself to be a true
believer and represents true believers. Jesus is the caller. Nathanael is
called. Now, what is the call about?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Do you believe
that Jesus is calling you? I do. I believe Jesus is calling everyone of you. I
believe Jesus is calling all of you to be His brothers and sisters, His Father’s
sons and daughters. Jesus Christ is calling us to be a faithful family to our
loving and merciful Triune God. He is calling you simply to be faithful to his
teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Like Nathanael,
one minute you are resting under a fig tree, and the next, you are confessing
Christ as King. One day, you are simply living your life, and the next day, you
realize that Jesus Christ has called you. You do not understand or comprehend
who Jesus Christ is as fully as you will when God calls you home, but one day
you will. For now, keep focusing on Christ exalted on the Cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Keep in mind that
just as Jesus took an interest in the smallest detail of Nathanael’s life, he
also notices the smallest details of your life. Through Jesus, God stirs your
heart. Our Father wants to speak to us and show us his love and his glory
through His Son on his throne, the Cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Let me close by
telling you a brief meeting with Pastor Robert Newton, the former District
President of the California-Neveda-Hawaii District. It took place in his office
in Livermore, California, when I was inquiring about becoming a pastor in the
Synod. He explained that as Lutherans we understand that God’s grace comes to
us from the Father through Christ on the Cross, and all we have to do – and he
leaned back in his chair and widened his arms as if to prepare to embrace
something – is receive it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Friends,
through the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ is calling you to receive His Father’s
loving-kindness. Whatever it is you do in life, open yourself to God’s grace,
and you too will recognize God’s Son as your King. When you do that, </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">may the peace of God
that surpasses all understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ
Jesus. Amen.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
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<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Dave Andres, “A Question of Faith,” The Catholic Telegraph, February 1, 2019. https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
John 3:14; 8:28; 12:34; Mark 8:31.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Pheme Perkins, “The Gospel According to John,” The New Jerome Biblical
Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall (1990), p. 953.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/2nd%20Sunday%20after%20Epiphany%202024.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Raymond E. Brown, The Gospel According to John (I-XII). Garden City, NY:
Doubleday & Company, Inc. (1966), p. 86.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-78186755639967569592024-01-06T04:16:00.000-08:002024-01-06T04:16:29.798-08:00YOUR CHRISTIAN BAPTISM<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHjD-ndcgdCHlaQM-AcrPBtqDL8n5sZQLUd2FHppyi2yO3oGBdVeRqDvVIt9_j853hZh51k-cD5Qs7ZLuMUiPTW7H9TF1LH6_fWvoVASw_fyZ1liCE80I_Wqrrq2dnZvYcN9B74beHQP5YxNZQ77tDoHCvTaHPRfetS4XzqI88jUD-Yw9Bm9ntb5KIMSU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="775" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHjD-ndcgdCHlaQM-AcrPBtqDL8n5sZQLUd2FHppyi2yO3oGBdVeRqDvVIt9_j853hZh51k-cD5Qs7ZLuMUiPTW7H9TF1LH6_fWvoVASw_fyZ1liCE80I_Wqrrq2dnZvYcN9B74beHQP5YxNZQ77tDoHCvTaHPRfetS4XzqI88jUD-Yw9Bm9ntb5KIMSU" width="255" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Do you know what
happened on April 14, 1957? That was the day I was baptized! Do you remember
your baptism? I don’t remember mine either. I know the date because it’s on the
paper stating when and where I was baptized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You may not know when
or where you were baptized, but there are people who were there, and some of
them remember. Your parents, godparents and pastor were there. Maybe your
grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and some friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Today, we celebrate the
Baptism of Jesus. We don’t know exactly when or where Jesus was baptized. We do
know that he was baptized in the Jordan River in Israel by John the Baptist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There were other people
present, but we don’t know their names. We do know that God the Father and God the
Holy Spirit were also there when Jesus was baptized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Did you know that God
the Father and God the Holy Spirit were present at your baptism? God the Son –
Jesus – was also there. That’s why when a pastor baptizes people, he baptizes
them “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We say that phrase a
lot in our worship service. We say it at the beginning of our Divine Service. And
after we confess our sins, the pastor says, “… As a called and ordained servant
of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s good to remember
our baptism because it reminds us that Jesus died and rose for us for the
forgiveness of sins and to make us His brothers and sisters, children of God
our Father. And so, let us pray to God our Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-12886016351999770642024-01-04T04:55:00.000-08:002024-01-06T04:13:49.265-08:00Baptism of the Lord<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqaJIsTsIT1Pwnr8YOnuaa0J7LbrFbdQwgp_MuKFvlb96Dyz2vkAOuB6WTyfsezYZAM5OMguquIFVsxxU8wuIFKv3-qkJKYyEN9CNtHUu9QKr3cGnrhLUgRM2OZTi9NwY5f0y8-npNiUEE1XuLNw8BWUxHTLMUOdYTgWEDtdHz1l2C98D29HyQD5PfMDg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="550" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqaJIsTsIT1Pwnr8YOnuaa0J7LbrFbdQwgp_MuKFvlb96Dyz2vkAOuB6WTyfsezYZAM5OMguquIFVsxxU8wuIFKv3-qkJKYyEN9CNtHUu9QKr3cGnrhLUgRM2OZTi9NwY5f0y8-npNiUEE1XuLNw8BWUxHTLMUOdYTgWEDtdHz1l2C98D29HyQD5PfMDg" width="287" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled Baptisms
and Biographies. My focus is our Gospel (Mark 1:9-11). Let us pray. Heavenly
Father, the psalmist wrote, <b><i>“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let
us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baptisms and biographies may seem to be incongruent, but when we
read about Jesus’ Baptism within Mark, we understand that the Evangelist was
writing a biography for his time. Hence, baptisms and biographies are analogous
because for many of us, the former marks a significant milestone in one’s life
as it did in our Lord’s. This morning, I address Our Lord’s Baptism, Christian
Baptism and Your Biography.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, Our Lord’s Baptism.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> In three verses, Mark does
not explain why Jesus walked 28 miles over nine hours from his hometown of
Nazareth of Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. Given that He
will baptize with the Holy Spirit, it seems surprising that he assumed the role
of a lowly penitent and went into the water. We can surmise that he did so
because he recognized John’s ministry as the prelude to his own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus submitted to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness
of sins not because he was a sinner, but because of his solidarity with sinful
humanity, a solidarity that would eventually lead to the cross. Like Moses,
Jesus acted as the ideal intercessor, not standing apart from sinners but in
solidarity with them (Ex 32:31-32). His baptism anticipated his passion. His
immersion into water symbolized his death. He spoke of his death as a baptism (Mk
10:38); and while he acknowledged God’s just judgment on sin, he offered to God
the response of perfect repentance on behalf of all people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus’ emergence from the water was met with the descent of the
Holy Spirit from above. The heavens were abruptly and violently torn asunder
overcoming humanity’s sin, which created an insurmountable barrier distancing
man from God. We read in Isaiah, <b><i>“The Lord’s hand is not shortened,
that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities
have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his
face from you so that he does not hear”</i></b> (59:1-2). God would only come
down only after his people had been cleansed of impurity. <b><i>“The
Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and
tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day.
For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the
sight of all the people’”</i></b> (Ex 19:10-11). So, the Spirit’s descent upon
Jesus foreshadowed its descent upon the Church at Pentecost, after sin had been
removed by the grace and blood of the Cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note that the Spirit did not simply descend upon Jesus, and
perch on his shoulder, but descended <i><u>into</u></i> him. According to one
scholar, the descent <i>“is an actual going into Jesus, … a possession of him.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></i>
This possession of Jesus by the Holy Spirit is so obvious to Mark. Given that
both Jews and Greeks believed that the descent of gods into human affairs
appeared in the form of doves, Mark encompassed both cultures which populated
the Church.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> In verse 12, Mark wrote
that the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness. Mark also wrote that Jesus’
family, who did not quite understand him, thought that Jesus was out of his
mind (3:21). To a greater degree the scribes falsely accused Jesus as possessed
not by the Holy Spirit but by Beelzebul (3:22). There are several other
episodes in which Jesus’ behavior seems odd to those around Him (1:41-43; 6:48;
11:13-14). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With the anointing of the Spirit, Jesus’ baptism became a
turning point in his life for here he formally inaugurated his mission as
Messiah. By sharing in Israel’s baptism of repentance by John, he committed
himself fully to the Father’s call: to be the obedient servant who would be
innocent yet “counted among the wicked” because he bore the sins of many (Isa
41:1; 53:11-12).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is no doubt that the voice Jesus heard was his Father’s,
and here we see the Trinity at work. His Father’s words of affirmation – <b><i>“You
are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased”</i></b> – are full of
scriptural echoes. The Psalmist wrote, <b><i>“The Lord said to me,
‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’”</i></b> (2:7). Isaiah spoke of
such a servant when he prophesied, <b><i>“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my
chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring
forth justice to the nations”</i></b> (42:1).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As readers of Mark, we are privileged to know about this secret
exchange among the Three Divine Persons of the Trinity. And with that, I now turn
from Our Lord’s Baptism to Christian Baptism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How does the Baptism of Our Lord differ from Christian Baptism?
Nowhere in the New Testament does any writer invoke Jesus’ Baptism as a
precedent for or as an explanation for Christian Baptism.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Baptism of Jesus and his first coming to us brought the rule
and reign of God, but only as a foretaste of the feast to come. We await the
full end-time feast in a way that Simeon and Anna waited – as believers of the
old covenant. All things that the Old Testament believers experienced took
place as examples for us. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, <b><i>“Now these
things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our
instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come”</i></b> (1 Cor 10:11).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we await the fullness of the heavenly feast, we still live in
this old age, and so, we prepare for it by confessing our sins and repenting of
them. Baptism with water is necessary for this preparation. This is why Peter
said, <b><i>“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit” </i></b>(Acts 2:38). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Church refused to separate this baptism from the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit. Even after the Holy Spirit was poured out onto Gentiles in
Cornelius’ house, Peter asked, <b><i>“‘Can anyone withhold water for baptizing
these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”</i></b> (10:47-48).
In short, baptism with water and the Holy Spirit are marks of the final age.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christian Baptism is a means of identification for us as it was
for Jesus. As he identified with his people in their sinfulness, in our
Baptism, we identify with Jesus in all that he has brought for the benefit of humanity.
He is the personification of Israel, humanity and God himself. May I remind you
that you who <b><i>“were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”</i></b> (Gal
3:27).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just as Christ received the Spirit in his Baptism, we too
receive that same Spirit in ours. As Christ was declared to be the Son of God,
we too are united to him through Christian Baptism as sons and daughters of
God. Paul is quite explicit about this in Romans 8. Perhaps for your devotional
reading today, you can choose those first 15 verses of that chapter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those of us who are in Christ are heirs according to St. Paul.
To the Romans, he wrote <b><i>“If children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow
heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be
glorified with him”</i></b> (8:17). To the Galatians, <b><i>“If you are
Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise”</i></b>
(3:29) And as we read in Ephesians, we <b><i>“were sealed with the promised
Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire
possession of it, to the praise of his glory”</i></b> (Eph 1:13-14).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so, heirs of God, let’s move from Baptism to Biography. We
understand that a biography is the written history of someone’s life. If you
are asked to submit a biography for the company or community newsletter, you
will be asked to keep it short. If you are writing a biography on Abraham
Lincoln, your research will take you to Kentucky, Illinois, Washington and
Gettysburg, and will be substantially longer with a perspective others have not
yet taken.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, allow me to ask and answer a fundamental question: Was Mark
a biography? Yes and no. Mark told the story of Jesus, but in a different style
from other biographies of his time. His style and content of the story aroused
a feeling, and so, Mark’s is not a biography like other biographies, but a
development of the actions, sayings, and suffering of a human being on his way
through this anxious world of human beings and demons.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark has the capacity to shock and subvert comfortable literary
expectations. While there is no doubt that Jesus is the hero of this story,
Mark portrays him as an unrecognized, rejected, humiliated, disappointed
individual, who was deserted by his closest allies and eventually victimized by
a hostile environment. This is not the stuff of an ancient biography.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We must view Mark as a biography based on other ancient
biographies, and must examine its <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Jewish</u></i>
content, though written in Greek, which reflected the rhetorical and
biographical conventions of his time.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[6]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a> In
other words, ancient biographies, like modern ones, center on a particular
person and seek to present an adequate and accurate characterization of that
person, including information about other persons and groups of people. In the
case of Lincoln, it may include his wife and children, cabinet members, mentors
and political allies or opponents. Biographies also reveal the subject’s
character and personality. The message of ancient biographies was not simply to
provide the reader with information, but offered a message: “go and do
likewise” or “go and do otherwise.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In evaluating Mark as a biography, we must have a firm handle on
its chronological and social setting. Whatever its date, Mark was written after
the beginning of the Roman Empire and during the rise of Roman biographical
tradition, following in the footsteps of the Greek biographical tradition.
Unlike Greek biographers, Roman ones added a greater concern for the family
traditions, the need for the demonstration of public honor, and, sometimes in
the latter two-thirds of the first century, a focus on the hero’s patient
suffering and death under a tyrant.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[7]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although Mark was a biographer, he was more of an editor than a
writer, bringing together what was already known about Jesus. He had a working
relationship with Peter and Paul.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[8]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In Acts, we read, <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When he (Peter) realized this, he
went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where
many were gathered together and were praying.”</i></b> And later, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Barnabas
and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service,
bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[9]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
</i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In
chapter 15, Mark is mentioned once again as a companion of Barnabas on his
journey to Cyprus.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[10]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This shows that Mark’s account was not a distant evaluation by a
scholarly admirer of Jesus, but the personal experience of one who shared
closely in the stirring and profoundly disturbing events of Jesus’ public
ministry and his confrontation with the Jerusalem establishment. It reflected
those experiences as they were passed on in the day-to-day teaching ministry of
a living community of His followers.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[11]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why all this talk about the biography of Jesus? How does it
relate to his Baptism? How does it relate to us? Well, a dozen years ago, when
I began to prepare for pastoral ministry in the Lutheran Church, I was required
to write an extensive autobiography detailing my life experiences in the
secular and sacred worlds, as a professional fundraiser and a priest. This
first-person biography included relationships with family members and faith
communities. I mentioned not only my highlights, but also my setbacks. And
throughout, I could see the Holy Spirit weaving together all the moments of my
life into an artistic tapestry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By now, you know that I am always encouraging people to pray
more deeply and extensively. One method of prayer that some find helpful is to
journal or write an account of what has occurred when praying over a particular
Scripture passage. This can result in a biography.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps this year, you can take time to journal and write your
own biography. How is your life interwoven not only with family and friends,
but also with Christ and his adopted brothers and sisters? What are the obvious
and obscure moments when the Holy Spirit has been active in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we began this year, maybe you made a resolution to pray
daily? Maybe you struggle with that resolution. Maybe prayerfully writing your
biography in the form of a daily spiritual journal is a way to see how God –
Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is active in your life. Start from a point in
your life – today or your childhood – and reflect on the activity of the Holy
Spirit entering you as it did Jesus on the day of His Baptism and the day of
yours. What are the highlights of your spiritual journey? Where have you
experienced setbacks? My friends, today, prayerfully consider the path God sets
before you, and when you do may the peace of God that surpasses all
understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Mary Healy, The Gospel of Mark. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic (2008), 34-37.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
James W. Voelz, Mark 1:1-8:26. St, Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House
(2013), 126.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Voelz, 126-131.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Voelz, 138ff.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> R.T.
France, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI,
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (2002), 6. See fn 14.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Ben Witherington III, The Gospel of Mark: A Social-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand
Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (2001), 4.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Witherington, 5<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Witherington, 25.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Acts 12:12, 25. See also 13:5, 13<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Acts 15:36-41<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn11" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Baptism%20of%20the%20Lord%202024.docx#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
France, 9.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-60047818925819903082023-12-29T04:15:00.000-08:002023-12-29T04:15:26.454-08:00HOLDING BABY JESUS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_-rRT9KVZbKaSHgQYJcVE5iOZkoR98eic6P-4WEZp7yqbW3lmdZTiWEWpwnBHbg9AbDlZzNFxftxQo8J4ivhZf5r_eW43rKLAuqq_9dhIcKJlIrpKH4dh3RBYO_y-ncJn8BKtLSPCfjMbVZ4Q9HMYnrkAvD73Kh9BXyrcisSiUx5K-z-noX21sh_abL4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="279" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_-rRT9KVZbKaSHgQYJcVE5iOZkoR98eic6P-4WEZp7yqbW3lmdZTiWEWpwnBHbg9AbDlZzNFxftxQo8J4ivhZf5r_eW43rKLAuqq_9dhIcKJlIrpKH4dh3RBYO_y-ncJn8BKtLSPCfjMbVZ4Q9HMYnrkAvD73Kh9BXyrcisSiUx5K-z-noX21sh_abL4" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Do you like looking at
and holding tiny babies? Everyone does. Mothers and fathers, grandparents and
godparents, aunts, uncles and siblings – everyone – loves holding a baby. When
each of our four grandchildren were born, I couldn’t wait for my turn to hold
them. Holding a baby makes you feel awesome, and every Christian has wanted to
hold the Baby Jesus because that would be the most awesome feeling!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Everyone does not have
the same love and respect for babies as Christians. We read in the Gospel of Matthew (2:13-23) that Herod was angry that the Three Wise Men returned home without
telling him where the Baby Jesus was born, and had his soldiers kill all the
male babies who were two years old and younger.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Herod was evil, but he
was not the first ruler to have babies killed and not the last either. Today,
we have rulers in the world and our country who think it is okay to have
newborn or preborn babies killed. It’s not a happy topic to discuss in the
Christmas Season or anytime, but St. Matthew wanted Christians to know that
such evil exists, but this evil act fulfilled a prophecy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The Prophet Jeremiah
had a vision that God would gather all of His people and protect them from evil
(Jer 31). The Lord said among the people He would protect are women ready to
give birth to a baby. Still, God heard Rachel weeping and crying for her
children; she refused to be comforted, because they were no more. That means
that someone killed them. But when God gathers us in his arms, men and women
rejoice because He turns our sorrow to into gladness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The Baby Jesus grew up
to announce the Good News. Jesus died and rose from death to save us from evil
people like Herod and to live joyfully as Christians. That is the Good News
that we celebrate all year round. With that, we pray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-80828836176070354212023-12-27T17:26:00.000-08:002023-12-27T17:26:06.068-08:00Seasons, Scene, Sense<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWWNb4ei3vbUUqZbD9i-U7JOp9QMNPaUYcAUKpQ07YKHeyjjW9udsQONdP7YwkAwSAMm8mAaSqVlMW76wvPqMjogWmgwesgbn_wnb_jcFKEu3_fjpuuSbEOFbwz2mzsbLykwilr7GmD9BvEGaLgJkuOXk-B5xR2g_KQMj9GNrHDtUnjTDs_Fy8HRbyxCw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="799" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWWNb4ei3vbUUqZbD9i-U7JOp9QMNPaUYcAUKpQ07YKHeyjjW9udsQONdP7YwkAwSAMm8mAaSqVlMW76wvPqMjogWmgwesgbn_wnb_jcFKEu3_fjpuuSbEOFbwz2mzsbLykwilr7GmD9BvEGaLgJkuOXk-B5xR2g_KQMj9GNrHDtUnjTDs_Fy8HRbyxCw" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled <i>Seasons, Scene and Sense,</i> and
my focus is our Gospel (Luke 2:22-40). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the
psalmist wrote, <b><i>“I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house
of the Lord.’”</i></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Season. The
Sundays after Christmas and Easter are like the second game of the season in
baseball. Everyone wants to attend the home opener. The second game, not so
much. Yet, like baseball, Christmas has a season. The Christmas Season started
with the Christmas Eve Divine Service and runs for twelve days or through
January 5<sup>th</sup>. On the Catholic calendar, the season runs though the
Baptism of the Lord, this year on January 8, 2024.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The Byzantine and the Syro-Malabar (India) Churches have different names for
some of their seasons, and the Orthodox hold fast to celebrating Christmas on
January 6<sup>th</sup>. My Serbian high school classmates would skip school in
January to celebrate Christmas, and others would lament not exchanging presents
in December. In other words, not all Christians observe the Christmas Season
consistently.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Church Year,
as you see from page 8 of Lutheran Worship, consists of Seasons and Major
Festivals. Lutherans have also maintained some lesser festivals, which are
listed on page 9. Periodically, festivals fall on a Sunday, which gives pastors
a choice to observe them or not. We often forget that we have retained the
Feast of Stephen (Dec 26), unless the words of “Good King Wenceslaus” remind us
that the snow that day was deep and crisp and even. We remember the Apostle and
Evangelist St. John on December 27, and The Holy Innocents the following Day.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus are observed on New Year’s Eve and Day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unfortunately,
many Christians have gotten into the habit of celebrating Christmas as some
secularists do. They start as early as November 1<sup>st</sup>, skipping
through Thanksgiving and cancelling Advent. Of course, the trees are at the
curb if not at the local drop off site by December 26<sup>th</sup>. Christmas
music ends at 11:59 PM on December 25<sup>th</sup>, and if it were not for one
particular song, we might even forget that there are Twelve Days of Christmas. Lest
I belabor the point, we move on to our Gospel scene.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Scene. Picking up
with what I said on Christmas, I turn to a sermon by Martin Luther on today’s
Gospel.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Luther had a keen use of language. Reading his sermon on this passage, you see
that he is part Biblical professor and part preacher who does not hold back on
his criticism not only of the Catholic Church, but also of his hearers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As he speaks about
the response of Joseph and Mary to Simeon’s words about the Baby Jesus, Luther used
the word marvelous more often than Fernando Lamas. These marvelous things were
the words Simeon had spoken when he took the child Jesus in his arms. What
Simeon publicly said in a holy place about a poor, despised baby, whose mother
was poor and insignificant, and whose father, Joseph, was also poor, was
rightfully marvelous. Luther asked, “How could such a baby be considered the
Savior of all People, the light of the Gentiles, and the glory and honor of all
Israel?” Today, it does not seem such a big deal, but it was when Simeon
prophesied this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Some may wonder
why his father and mother marveled at what was said about Jesus. After all, did
not Mary recall what was said by the Archangel Gabriel – that this child <b><i>“will
be great and will be called the Son of the Most High”</i></b>? Did she not
recall what the shepherds reported? Didn’t Joseph remember what was revealed to
him by an angel of the Lord? (Mt 1:20-21) We need to keep in mind that Simeon,
whose name means “one who hears,” represented all the prophets who foretold the
coming of the Savior, and that when Joseph and Mary saw their poor baby in
Simeon’s arms, they clung to “what was said about” that baby.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Turning on a dime,
Luther had this to say to those who wish they could have held the baby in their
arms. “Some think that if they were to see the baby Christ with His mother,
they also would joyously bless Him. But they lie for they would certainly have
been averted by His infancy and poverty and His contemptible appearance. They
prove it by disregarding, hating, and persecuting such poverty and humble
appearance in the members of Christ. But Simeon was not offended at His
appearance. Simeon was a preacher and a lover of the Cross and an enemy of the
world.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Luther taught that
what Simeon said next can be set into four points. First, Christ <b><i>“is
appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel.”</i></b> Christ is not the
cause of this fall; arrogance is. “Christ came to be the light and Savior of
all the world, … and everyone is justified and saved through faith in Him. For
that to happen, all other righteousness which is sought in ourselves with works
apart from Christ must be rejected. … People who rely on works and seek their
own righteousness, who must take offense at Christ and faith and must fall …
persecute and kill whatever speaks or acts against them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Luther reminded
his listeners – and us – that we need to be aware that we can be misled by
pastors, parents, professors, partners or anyone else who “tell us what God’s
Word means.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Second, Simeon
says that Christ is <b><i>“a sign that is opposed.”</i></b> Christ is the sign
that is always opposed. I know that we often think that our enemies are taking
aim at our faith and values, marriage and family life as we once understood it,
the Church, our schools and kids, one nation under God and so on. All of this
is based on Christ’s teaching. All of our enemies have set their sights on one
target, Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Luther reminds us
that even enemies, such as Pontius Pilate and Herod, become friends once they
take their aim at Jesus Christ. This, he said is the fulfillment of Psalm 83: <b><i>“They
say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be
remembered no more!’ For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a
covenant—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal
and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Asshur also has
joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.”</i></b> (vv. 4-8)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In Luther’s words,
“From this we learn and become certain that we may take comfort and be happy …
when many people take offense at our words and faith and oppose them,
especially the great, the learned, and the spiritual.” Furthermore, we can take
comfort knowing that Christ “is a sign that is opposed, but not overthrown or
destroyed.” My father used to say, “What you learn, no one can ever take from
you.” It’s why we teach from the Bible and Luther’s Small Catechism. Once we
know what we believe, we take comfort knowing that the world’s best and
brightest cannot destroy our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Third, <b><i>“a
sword will pierce through your own soul.”</i></b> This is not a physical sword,
but the fact that Mary would endure great sorrow and grief in her heart.
Indeed, every parent and grandparent knows heartache. My mother would always
say when we were sick, “I wish it were me rather than you.” It’s easier for a
parent to suffer than to see your children suffering. Heartache is bitter, and
Mary, whose name means bitter, will come to understand that heartache
throughout her own life. It is why many women can relate to her when they
experience suffering in this life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally, Simeon’s
conclusion, <b><i>“so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”</i></b>
Luther points out that there are two kinds of scandal and temptation among men.
The first temptation is to coarse sins – disobedience to parents, killing,
unchastity, stealing, lying, blaspheming and so on. These are all sins against
the Fourth through the Tenth Commandments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The greater
scandal, the greater temptation is performed by those who “build on their works
and themselves” because these disobey the First Three Commandments. Those who
commit such sins, says Luther, “endeavor to destroy and interfere with all that
belongs to faith and God.” Of course, Luther saw this in the acts of popes,
bishops and almost all of the clergy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He goes on. “In
order to protect us, God has set up His Christ as a target (at which they
stumble and fall…) so that we … may not accept and follow their life as good.
Before God no life is really good without faith; and where there is no faith,
there is nothing but lies and deception.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I summarized
Luther’s sermon on this passage, focusing only on that scene involving Simeon,
Joseph, Mary and Jesus because something that was said 500 years ago, still
makes sense for us today. That brings me to my third point, Sense.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sense. What do
Simeon’s words have to do with life in our world today? As I was preparing this
sermon, two articles caught my attention. The first was an interview of Dr.
Anthony Fauci with a BBC reporter that was released in late November. The
interview occured in Washington, and one scene involved a walk past the church
where he and his wife were married. The reporter questioned him on his
religious upbringing and its impact on him today. Here is what Fauci said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">"My own
personal ethics on life are enough to keep me going on the right path, and I
think there are enough negative aspects about the organizational Church that
you are very well aware of. I'm not against it. I identify as a Catholic, I was
raised, baptized and married in a Catholic Church, but as far as practicing, it
seems almost like a proforma thing that I don't really need to do."<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, it would be
easy to target Catholicism, and I am sure that is what some readers did, but
that is missing the point. Fauci echoes what a lot of people think regardless
of what denomination or upbringing. As it relates to this passage, let’s back
up to what Luther said. To think that my own personal ethics on life are enough
to keep me going on the right path is foolish arrogance no matter how
intelligent I am, or think I am. This is the scandal and temptation to disobey which
is performed by those who “build on their works and themselves” because such
thinking rejects the First Three Commandments. You shall have no other gods.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day by
keeping it holy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If I think like
Fauci, and there are times that I do, and many more times I am encouraged and
tempted to do so by others, like sinful Adam, I make myself equal to God. Those
who commit such sins, says Luther, “endeavor to destroy and interfere with all
that belongs to faith and God.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The other article
I read that caught my interest was simply its title, “Holy Abortion.” This
dealt with how mainline Protestant theologians have made choice the preeminent
religious value. I will quote only the ending of the article, but strongly
encourage you to read it on the website First Things. If you receive my
sermons, you will find the site in my footnotes or on my blog.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Choice has become
a religious value, the bedrock of an emergent morality that bears no
resemblance to the Abrahamic tradition. It is a stealthy adversary, donning the
mantle of Christian love and charity to corrupt traditional faith from the
inside. In this topsy-turvy faith, the immoral is called moral. The
irresponsible is called responsible. The life-destroying is called
life-protecting. Murder is called rescue. The pregnant mother is, in her
omniscience and power, her own god. Her volition is sacred and absolute. And
her holy abortion is saving the world.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Friends, God so
loved the world, God so loves us that He sent His only Son to save us from
making mistakes as grave as Anthony Fauci’s that elevate the human to God and
every faulty human choice to an absolute good. We are not God, and we make
sinful choices all the time. That is why we need God and one another (Church). That
is why Simeon’s words are important to us. As we come to the end of the year,
behold the Christ that Simeon did. See in Christ and in Christ’s teaching the
wisdom that will lead you not only to a fuller life here and now, but eternal
life. See in Christ the only One who can forgive you and me for our sins, love
us mercifully and call us to love one another as brothers and sisters in our
Father’s family. And when you do, may the peace of God that surpasses all
understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
A good site for the Lutheran calendar is <a href="https://trinitylutheranchurch.360unite.com/the-lutheran-church-year-explained">https://trinitylutheranchurch.360unite.com/the-lutheran-church-year-explained</a>.
For the Catholic calendar, see <a href="https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/christmas">https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/christmas</a>.
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
For an understanding of The Holy Innocents, see these pages: <a href="https://allthehousehold.com/the-holy-innocents/">https://allthehousehold.com/the-holy-innocents/</a>
and <a href="https://resources.lcms.org/history/the-holy-innocents/">https://resources.lcms.org/history/the-holy-innocents/</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther: Sermons from Luther’s Church Postil,
Volume 1. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House (2018). For quoted sections,
see Luke 2:33-40, pp. 178ff.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Jacqueline Schneider “How Dr Anthony Fauci delivers 'inconvenient truths' to
world leaders.” November 30, 2023. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20231130-anthony-fauci-interview-influential-katty-kay">https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20231130-anthony-fauci-interview-influential-katty-kay</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/1st%20Sunday%20after%20Christmas%202023.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Samira Kahwah, “Holy Abortion,” First Things, December 2023, pp. 37-41. <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/12/holy-abortion">https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/12/holy-abortion</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713878135839984830.post-8653631180954176992023-12-23T04:58:00.000-08:002023-12-23T04:58:22.690-08:00Do I Love?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2AkSZRzq5d7BSCkMPAL1GAtOS6tpB2hhPneb8FwaAeM7iHnOLf4q1yFX-zFlCbhxzrm2bEfI8Ess4odDJVc6NekPCjQon32mFKAlC09hFbVjMzBoXGm0ji2N_XQVi3vwFgJuNn48yxeGW1xs2CVejk5VPpnomOBWxBxh8trvhvWTwbUkZrbo_711tFp0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="894" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2AkSZRzq5d7BSCkMPAL1GAtOS6tpB2hhPneb8FwaAeM7iHnOLf4q1yFX-zFlCbhxzrm2bEfI8Ess4odDJVc6NekPCjQon32mFKAlC09hFbVjMzBoXGm0ji2N_XQVi3vwFgJuNn48yxeGW1xs2CVejk5VPpnomOBWxBxh8trvhvWTwbUkZrbo_711tFp0" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s grace, peace
and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled <i>Do I Love?</i> My focus is our
Gospel (Luke 2:1-20). Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, <b><i>“I
rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”</i></b>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I started reading
“A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther,” which prompted me to ask this
question – Do I love? Do I love Christmas? Do I love Christ? Do I love my neighbor?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Do I love
Christmas? I love Christmas. I have always loved Christmas. As a boy, I loved
all the trappings we place around our celebration of Christmas. Growing up in
the 60s and maturing in the 70s, Christmas was about gifts received and given.
What child does not love to receive gifts?! What child does not learn to give
gifts to parents and siblings? Whether it was candy in our stockings, a drum, a
new railroad car for the train set, sports equipment or new clothes, I loved
Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I loved visiting
family. Since four of my mother’s sisters lived in Ambridge, we would visit
them December 25 or 26, and on December 29, my mom’s birthday, they all would
visit us in our 800 square foot home that had expandable walls whenever company
appeared. The food – ham, kielbasa, chicken, stuffed cabbage, pierogies, and so
on – was always delicious. And who doesn’t love Christmas cookies?!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I loved hanging
all the Christmas cards with hand written letters on the hallway doors;
listening to Christmas albums; decorating a live tree and placing the manger
under it. I loved attending church because everyone was in a festive mood, and
sang on Christmas even if they never sang on any other Sunday. I loved
Christmas because it brought out the best in everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today, I still
love Christmas, but for different reasons. I love the fact that the Son of God,
our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary – is
fully human, fully divine and lovely to behold. I love that our God who is Love
in the flesh was born like each of us in order to save us from sin, Satan, death,
and may I add, ourselves. I love having the opportunity to meditate on the
mystery of the Incarnation. Each of us has the opportunity to reflect upon what
it means for me to be saved by our God who became one of us. I love Christmas
because of the reason we celebrate it – the Incarnation. And if you still love
to receive Christmas presents, the Incarnation is God’s greatest gift to you,
to all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Loving Christmas
leads me to my next question: Do I love Christ? To answer that, let me return
to what I said at the beginning of this sermon – that I have been reading “A
Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/Christmas%20Sermon%202023.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
In his sermon on our Gospel, Luther wrote on the arduous trip that Joseph and
Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Surmising that like most people, Joseph
and Mary were poor, they most likely made this trip on foot. Scripture never
mentions a donkey. So, Joseph and Mary, nine months pregnant, walked over 100
miles. When is the last time you walked 100 miles? Their journey offered no
comfort or leisure. There was no guest room for God and the birth scene was
pitiful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Luther wrote that
no one took pity on Mary. No one saw the strange place where she gave birth,
and that she had nothing necessary for a delivery. It was midnight. There was
no light. No fire. “Everyone was dead drunk in the inn, a crowd of guests from
all places; no one thinks of this poor woman.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We have few
details about the birth, and being the teacher, Luther reminds us to turn to
the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed – that Jesus was born of the Virgin
Mary. Luther wrote that Jesus was her natural son and she was his natural
mother, continuing that “she gave birth without sin, without shame, without
pain, and without injury, just as she also conceived without sin. … When we
look at this birth and recognize the work of God in it, only modesty and purity
flow from it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Luther turns from
what was happening in Bethlehem to what was happening in heaven. This obscure
birth, despised by princes and powers, is honored a thousand times more in
heaven. “If an angel came from heaven and praised you and your work, would you
not regard it of greater value than all the praise and honor the world could
give you and for which you would be willing to bear the greatest humiliation
and contempt?” The angels could not contain themselves and broke out rejoicing
so that even the poor shepherds heard them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, we cannot
receive Christ’s birth in a bodily way, but we all receive it spiritually
through God’s Word. And God’s Word demands that “you firmly believe that Christ
is born for you, and that this birth is yours and occurred for your benefit.” This
birth frees us from our sinful birth from Adam. Because of original sin, “Christ
wanted to be born, so that we might be born a new and different way.” As Jesus
himself said, <b><i>“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he
cannot see the kingdom of God”</i></b> (Jn 3:3). So, before we give any
Christmas gifts to one another, we must first receive God’s gift to us, for the
story of Christ’s birth is not history nor an example. Receive Christ’s birth
as your own. Trade places with Him so that you can be freed from sin and death,
but keep in mind that this happens only if and when you believe in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Luther’s
understanding of this Gospel (Lk 2) is that it all points to Christ, and
because He was born at midnight indicates that all the world was in darkness,
which means that Christ cannot be known through reason alone. He must be
revealed from heaven. The light that shone around the shepherds – the glory of
God – is God’s love and goodness that saves us through Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The angel is the
preacher of the Gospel to the shepherds who are the hearers. The angel said, <b><i>“I
bring you good news.”</i></b> Christ is given for you. You are saved through
Him by Baptism, and are fed by Him through His Body and Blood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today, you are
hearers of that Gospel. You are the shepherds. And what did the shepherds do
after leaving the crib at Bethlehem and seeing all that the angel told them?
They returned to their flock (family) and glorified and praised God for all
they had heard and seen. And what will you do after this Divine Service? You
will return home to your flock, your family, and hopefully, you will praise God
for the Good News you heard and saw here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Shepherds, I have
no doubt that you love Christ. You fare hearers, learners not in the comfort of
your own living room, but in the fields at night – in a dark world. Like the
shepherds, you too are poor, for the poor have the Good News preached to them
(Mt 11:5), and are blessed with the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 5:3). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While your life
may be obscure and insignificant on the world’s stage, you are the ones who
carry the Gospel to others. In the words of Luther, “No one is to hear the
Gospel for himself alone, but everyone is to tell it to others who do not know
it.” Luther did not leave his hearers with that. He went on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Each one should
compare himself to the Gospel and see how close or far he is from Christ, and
what is the character of his faith and love.” Here, he challenges his listeners
who cling to dreamy devotion to turn their gaze to their neighbor. That brings me
to my third question: Do I love my neighbor?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Do I love my
neighbor? Do I look next door to see how many of my neighbors need my help or
do I ignore them and leave them as they are? Each of us has “poor, miserable,
sick, erring or sinful people around him.” Luther asked, “Why does he not
exercise his love to them? Why does he not do for them as Christ has done for
him?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Citing the parable
of “The Rich Man and Lazarus,” he asked, “if your neighbor were now what he
shall be in the future [that is, one comforted at the bosom of Abraham], you
would surely wait on [the poor beggar]. But now, since it is not so, you pay no
attention to him and do not recognize your Lord in your neighbor; you do not do
for him as He has done for you. Therefore, God permits you to be blinded,
deceived … so that you squander [your money rather than] help your neighbor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Such words stung
the ears and pierced the hearts of Luther’s original hearers, but it’s where
the rubber hits the road. Loving Christmas and loving Christ requires that I
love my neighbor. So, I thought, “How do I love?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I love my
stepchildren, grandchildren and in-laws by loving my wife, Cindy. By putting
Cindy before me, I love her family members, our family members. By completing
my mundane household duties – daily cleaning the dishes, feeding the dogs and
cat, removing the trash, maintaining our vehicles, helping her in her duties –
I place her ahead of myself. By praying together daily in the morning, before
meals and before we retire, and worshipping together in the same church, I
place her spiritual needs on a higher plane. Now, I know that each of you loves
your spouse and family members. I have seen it in your relationships here and
in your homes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">How do I love my
neighbor? I have needs that my neighbors fulfill, and we try to fulfill our
neighbor’s needs. We offer hospitality and garden-fresh vegetables. We offer
greetings on our walks, kind words and prayers for them. When our teenage
neighbor helps with landscaping chores, I am overly generous with his pay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I know that each
of you loves your neighbor, but how do I love you? Maybe your initial thought
is that I do not know you. That may be true if you are visiting here for the
first time or you are making your annual pilgrimage to church, but I am here
every Sunday, and if you are here on a regular basis, you know that I love you.
In addition to getting to know your name, I take a personal interest in you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If you had someone
confirmed in the last few years, I took time to teach the faith to them. If you
had a child baptized, I welcomed them into the Church. If you have a family
member who is hospitalized, elderly or physically challenged, I come to them. Every
month I visit those unable to worship with us. I sometimes take Maggie, our
younger Golden Retriever, to offer comfort. More importantly, I bring to them
what I bring to you today – the Good News of salvation, God’s Word. I offer
them confession and absolution, and the ultimate gift – the Body and Blood of
Christ. The elderly, especially the elderly, are deeply grateful for these
gifts, and they tell me with their tears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Many of you know
that the highlight of my week is worshipping here with you. I know that you
love not only Christmas, but Christ, and that’s why you worship weekly. I know
that you love your neighbor, and if you do not, take to heart Luther’s words on
that. Now, if you have any doubts if you should love Christmas, Christ or
neighbor, let me answer that by posing three questions. Does God love
Christmas? Undoubtedly. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit love
Christmas. Does God the Father love His Son? Definitely. Does God love you and
your neighbor? Absolutely. <i>Not to</i> would go against the nature of God who
is divine love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My friends, today
our Savior is born; let us rejoice. We ae all aware of the blood spilled in
Israel, Ukraine, Nigeria and Armenia, but sadness should have no place on the
birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy
with the promise of eternal happiness. No one is shut out from joy; all share
the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no
man free from sin, came to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the
palm of victory at hand. Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of
forgiveness. Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian,
remember your dignity. You now share in God’s own nature, and have been brought
into His Kingdom. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, you have become a temple of
the Holy Spirit. God has shown you what is good. And so, one last question:
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with your God. (Mic 6:8). Love like that, and when you do, may the peace
of God that surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther: Sermons from Luther’s Church Postil,
Volume 1. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House (2018). For quotes, see Luke
2:1-14, pp. 90-109.<o:p></o:p></p>
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</div>Paul Cwynarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760746251914467733noreply@blogger.com0