Pentecost 24 (year A, proper 27)- Matthew 25:1-13

 Both the Old Testament reading and the Gospel for this Sunday speak of the day of the Lord. The selection from Amos 5:18-24 is a stark prophetic warning of judgment for those who are not prepared. Insincere religion does not make a person spiritually or morally ready. God looks for righteousness rooted in living faith.

The Gospel reading from Matthew 25:1-13 is the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. In story form, it also points to the coming day of the Lord. Like several Biblical accounts, this parable compares the coming of the kingdom and the Messiah to a wedding. In first-century Palestine, friends of the bride would accompany her and the groom to his house. In this parable, ten young women have been invited to serve, and they have been given time to prepare. Five are ready, but five have been lazy and are not ready. They have no light for the procession, and so they are excluded from the feast. Our Lord concludes with a warning in Matthew 25:13, "Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

Human life on earth is like waiting for the groom's arrival. In grace, Christ has invited us to share in His eternal spiritual feast. God gives people the time and provides the necessary spiritual resources, but many do not appreciate His gracious offer. They just don't bother to prepare. Eventually, they run out of time and are left out of the kingdom.

In the Person of Jesus Christ, God has called us to the feast of the heavenly kingdom. He offers us divine grace and gives us time to respond faithfully, but we are not always appreciative. We are often foolish and lazy in our preparations. So we are warned to be more aware. God wants us to enjoy His presence, but He also expects us to appreciate His offer and respond to His grace with faithful and wise spiritual preparations.

All Saints Day (Pentecost 23 year A)- November 1- Matthew 5:1-12

 For over a thousand years, the Western Church has observed the festival of All Saints in November, and in spite of some medieval abuses concerning the saints, Lutherans have continued to view the saints and All Saints Day as worthy of commemoration.  In numerous New Testament passages, the term “saints” refers to any faithful member of Christ's Church (for example, Acts ch. 9, Romans chs. 1,8, 12, 15, 16, Hebrews chs. 6, 13, Jude v. 3; Revelation chs. 5, 8, 11,13, etc.). All Christians are saints or “holy ones” because they have been made holy by faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. They have Holy Baptism and the Holy Spirit. They belong to Christ’s holy universal Church. 

The saints are the kind of believers that our Lord calls "blessed" in the traditional reading from Matthew 5. They are not all saintly or holy in the sense of being perfect examples, but they are holy in the sense that they belong to God and have been set apart for His purposes. They are ordinary people who believe in Jesus as Savior and who remain loyal to Christ and His Gospel through the varied circumstances of this earthly life. These blessed people hunger and thirst for righteousness and continue faithful, even through persecution and death.

There have been many blessed saints, famous and unknown, in the past, and there are still saints in the present. We give thanks for the examples and influence of past and present saints. Even more importantly, we hope and pray that we are also saints. May God's grace strengthen us in our Christian faith and keep us saints in thought, word, and deed- graciously forgiven and made holy through living faith in the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reformation Sunday (Pentecost 22)- Romans 3:19–28; Matthew 11:12–19

Many Protestants commemorate the beginnings of the 16th-century Reformation on the last Sunday in October. The Epistle from Romans 3:19–28 is an obvious choice. While this passage shows respect for the purposes of divine Law, it emphasizes that no one can be set right with God or justified by works of the Law. All humans are sinners and can be justified only by divine grace received through faith in Jesus Christ. This teaching lies at the heart of the Reformation. It teaches the distinction between Law and Gospel and human dependence on divine grace.

One Gospel reading suggested for this Sunday is Matthew 11:12–19. At first glance, this passage may not seem like an obvious choice. It notes the different approaches of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. John had a very simple way of life. He proclaimed judgment, repentance, and preparation for the Kingdom on the edge of society. In contrast, Jesus is more involved with people. He is present at various occasions, eating and drinking with all kinds. Those who wished to find fault criticized both teachers and their approaches.

However, both criticisms missed the mark. For the messages of John and Jesus were basically the same. Despite differing approaches, both proclaimed repentance and faith, judgment and promise, Law and Gospel. Both taught divine wisdom, and as Jesus concludes in Matthew 11:19 (KJV), "...wisdom is justified of her children." In other word, for those with open ears and hearts, the message of Scripture is the same regardless of the external accompaniments: Repent and believe the good news!

Pentecost 21 (year A proper 24)- Matthew 22:15-22

The Gospel from St. Matthew 22:15-22 is a famous passage concerning paying taxes. Here two groups of Jesus' opponents join together and try to trap Jesus. They ask whether it is lawful (according to the Jewish Torah) to pay the tribute demanded by the Romans. Jesus knows their true designs. He knows that these hypocrites simply want to cause problems. Almost any answer He gives will upset someone. Outwitting His opponents, He requests to see a coin and asks about the image- Caesar's. Since it has Caesar's image, it must be his, and any person willing to use the coin must acknowledge Caesar's claims to tax. 

Christ avoids their trap, and His answer suits the immediate context. Yet, Christ's answer is more than just clever debate. He enunciates an important general principle: Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's (St. Matthew 22:21b). Government, even that of an oppressive conqueror, serves certain purposes such as preventing anarchy and insuring a rough justice and stable economic exchange. Believers like other people benefit from whatever degree of stability a government provides, and so believers are not anarchists. As seen throughout Scripture, especially as developed in the New Testament epistles, Christians pray for rulers and acknowledge that worldly power has certain legitimate purposes. 

However, the claims of Caesar are limited. Money may bear Caesar's image, but every human being bears the divine image. Therefore, the highest human loyalty is to God, not to any political and economic leader or system. It turns out that true faith is both collaborative and subversive at the same time. To the extent that a government restrains human evil and promotes the common good under God's Law, it deserves Christian support.

Nevertheless. Christians must always put God's requirements first. When any government (even a democratically elected one) claims too much for itself, it must either be ignored or opposed in some way. Caesar, for example, can claim taxes, but he has no right to claim to be worshipped as a god. In modern democracies, a government can justly ask many things of us, but it has no rights when it asks Christians to agree with practices that are against Scripture (for example, idolatry, abortion, euthanasia, or sexual immorality).

Pentecost 20 (year A proper 23)- Matthew 22:1-14

  The Gospel from Matthew 22:1-14, like several parables, compares the kingdom of heaven to a feast. In this example, a king prepares a wedding feast for his son and invites guests, but those invited despise the invitation. Some simply ignore it, while others attack and even kill the messengers sent to them. The king responds to such ingratitude and evil with strong justice. He destroys the evildoers and seeks new guests for his feast. According to the customs of those days, the royal host even has appropriate garments provided for them. Yet, one guest refuses to be grateful and to cooperate. He does not bother to put on the garment, and so he is cast out.

This parable stresses two points about the heavenly kingdom.  First,  the kingdom has its origin in the graciousness of the divine King. God always has the initiative. He invites people to share in fellowship with Him. He provides all that is needed. Secondly, however, the invited guests are expected to respond in gratitude. People must accept the divine invitation and prepare in appropriate ways. The divine host provides all that is needed to join the celebration, but He will judge those who despise or reject His grace.

As Christians, we must notice both points about the heavenly kingdom. We are dependent upon the graciousness of God. He invites us; He calls us. And He provides all that we need to enjoy His company. Nevertheless, He also expects us to respond appropriately. If we reject His call and ignore His gifts, we bring judgment and exclusion from His presence. So let us be open to God's call and accept  the invitation with gratitude!

Pentecost 19 (year A, proper 22)- Matthew 21:33--46)

 The Gospel for this Sunday. Matthew 21:33-46 is known variously as the parable of the wicked husbandmen, or tenants, or vine dressers. In Jesus' story, a landowner plants a vineyard, rents it out, and goes to a distant place. At harvest time, the owner sends representatives to collect his portion of the produce, but the tenants resist, mistreat, and even kill the owner's employees. Finally, the owner gives the tenants a last chance and sends his son. However, the wicked tenants even kill the owner's son. The natural result of such actions will be the just destruction of such evil people.

Of course, the parable about the vineyard and the tenants concerns religion. It is about God's people and the kingdom of God. In the first century, it applies to religious leaders at Jerusalem. They have repeatedly rejected and mistreated messengers sent by the Lord God. Rather than submit to divine authority, these tenants eventually kill God's Son, Jesus Christ. And in doing so, they assure their own destruction.

Unfortunately, this pattern has been repeated and is still being repeated among professing Christians. Many who belong to the Church often start viewing it as their property rather than God's vineyard. They want to use it for their personal benefit, and they reject and abuse those who call on them to be responsible and loyal to God. Again and again, religious people have been disloyal to God and rejected His Son. Often they face worldly consequences in the decline of their organizations, but even more seriously, apart from repentance and acceptance of divine rule, they will face spiritual consequences as well. 

As Christians, we should recognize that we are all God's tenants in this world. We owe God all that we are and all that we have. We should gratefully offer Him loyalty and service in all areas of life. We should respect the messengers He sends to us, most especially His Son Jesus Christ.

Pentecost 18 (year A proper 21)- Matthew 21:23-27, 28-32

This week my focus is on a section of the Gospel, Matthew 21:28-32. This passage is unique to Matthew and often overlooked. In a way, this parable is generally similar to the longer parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke. It is the parable of the Two Sons. In the parable, one son promises to do his father's bidding, and the other refuses. Ironically, the son who promises to obey does not follow through, and the son who refuses later repents and obeys. Jesus asks which of the two sons did his father's will. Then our Lord warns His hearers about their own responses to the biblical message.

This parable conveys two points. First, there is a general point about sincerity. We should fulfill our duties and do what we say. Secondly, there is a more specific point about responses to the proclamation of the kingdom of heaven. God calls people to serve Him, and He wants them to say yes. However, human beings must be careful about their promises. Those who promise a lot and do nothing are less faithful than those who promise nothing, repent, and obey. Through divine grace, may we all be obedient to our heavenly Father, and when we fail, may we repent!

Pentecost 17 (year A proper 20)- Matthew 20:1-16

 This Sunday's Gospel selection from Matthew 20:1-16 is Christ's Parable of the Laborers. This story questions ordinary human standards about work, merit, and reward. We human beings like to focus on what we do, our effort, our struggles, and what we think we earn. These concerns have a place in ordinary earthly matters, but they should not be exaggerated.

However, in spiritual matters, the situation is different. The parable in Matthew 20 uses labor and compensation as a comparison for the kingdom of heaven, and it reflects the divine perspective. God is the rightful owner of all, and any work done for Him is a privilege, not a right. In His gracious and generous nature, He can reward all as He chooses. All faithful human responses are important in His sight, whether a lifelong effort or a sincere response at the close of the day. If God calls us to His service, we are not in any position to question His arrangements with others. Rather, we should accept His grace in faith with humble gratitude.

Pentecost 16 (year A proper )- Matthew 18:21-35

 The Gospel for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is from Matthew 18:21-35. It contains two sections on forgiveness. In the first brief section (18:21-22), Peter asks how many times he is expected to forgive a fellow believer. According to one Jewish tradition, forgiving someone three times was sufficient. So when Peter suggests that forgiving seven times might be enough, he is being generous. Jesus, however, tells Peter that it should be "seventy times seven." Of course, keeping a mental count of 490 incidents would be impractical and unlikely. So, by this figure of speech, our Lord tells Peter and us not to keep count of how often we forgive. Our graciousness and mercy should be as abundant as God's.

The second section of today's Gospel (Matthew 18:23-35) has been called the Parable of the Unjust or Unmerciful Servant. This parable illustrates Jesus' preceding message to Peter, and it warns us against being unmerciful. In the parable, a servant owes his king an enormous debt, a billionaire's debt. He and his family are about to be sold into slavery. The man begs for an extended payment plan, and the king graciously writes off the whole debt. 

As a recipient of such mercy, the servant should be humble, grateful, and kind; instead, he goes out and ruthlessly tries to get every penny from a fellow servant who owes him a minuscule debt. When the king hears of this lack of mercy, he revokes his previous decision and punishes the unjust servant to the full extent of the law. Then our Lord adds the key conclusion in Matthew 18:35 (KJV), "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every man his brother their trespasses."

In a similar way, all the debts that we human beings owe each other are minuscule compared to what we owe our heavenly King. We can never repay God for what He has given us and forgiven us. He has given us life, and through Christ, He has forgiven our sins. Our trespasses are enormous offences against divine goodness and holiness. We can not make amends, and we are completely dependent upon divine mercy. Although we should not encourage manipulative people, we are also called to show mercy by forgiving others. As we pray repeatedly, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Pentecost 15 (year A proper 18)- Matthew 18:1–20

 The Gospel for this Sunday, Matthew 18:1–20, contains a collection of Jesus' sayings on several subjects. In particular, let us focus on the words about little children. Who are these children, and what are their characteristics? They are "little children", and they are in the crowd listening to Jesus. They do not have great knowledge, but they are humble and do have a simple faith or trust in the Lord. They may have bad moods or do the wrong things, but they are still humble, open, and loving. They know that they are dependent on God and other people. They have appropriate attitudes. Christ holds such little ones up as examples of those who inherit the kingdom. May we all seek such an humble and trusting attitude before God!

Pentecost 14 (year A, proper 17)- Matthew 16:21-28

 The Gospel for this Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is from Matthew 16:21-28. This selection comes immediately after Peter's great confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Here, our Lord points out that He must go to Jerusalem to face rejection, suffering, and death.  In other words, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of  His Cross. In his enthusiasm, Peter protests against these ideas, but our Lord rebukes him as the voice of Satan. The entire earthly ministry of Jesus finds its completion and significance in His suffering, death, and resurrection. No true believer can deny the theology of the Cross. Like Peter, we need to acknowledge the necessity of the Cross and keep it central in our faith.

Pentecost 13 (year A proper 16)- Matthew 16:13-20

The Gospel for this Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost tells of Peter's confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13-20). This passage includes several themes: Christ's identity, Peter's role, Christian faith, and the Church. The central themes are who Jesus is and faith in Him. Although Jesus has many titles and fulfilled many roles, His basic identity can be summed up in the words of Matthew16:16. He is "the Christ, the Son of the living God." This is a foundational affirmation of faith, a necessary belief for all Christians. In Scripture, faith that Jesus is both the Messiah/Christ and the Son of God is basic.

Another theme in the passage is the enduring character of the Church. The Church built on faith in Jesus Christ experiences many problems in this world. Problems within the Church and attacks on the Christian community from outside have been common and continue. Yet the true Church founded on the Gospel survives and will survive. As Jesus promises in Matthew 16:18, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Corruption, opposition, and persecution are perennial issues, but a faithful Christian remnant persists and will continue. Jesus Christ has overcome evil in many ways, especially through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He promises that those who have faith in Him will share in His victory. So let us remain steadfast in confessing the biblical Christian faith!