Christmas 2019- Luke 2: 10

This Christmas, let us focus for a few minutes on the announcement of the angel to the shepherds. St. Luke 2:10 says, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (KJV). The angel’s message “I bring you good tidings” translates two Greek words which could also be translated as “I announce good news to you” or “I proclaim the gospel to you.”

These words mean that Christ’s Birth is the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel. His Nativity is not an isolated event. It is part of the whole story, one aspect of the entire Christian message. This birth cannot be separated from all that Jesus Christ means in His teachings, life, death, resurrection and ascension.

The story of Jesus brings “great joy.”  Obviously, there are hardships in the story. Joseph and Mary are relatively poor people from a small village in an obscure area. At the whim of the Roman oppressor, they have to make a dangerous and difficult journey for several days. At the end, they have to take shelter in a rock formation used as an animal barn. Mary’s labor is real, and there are evil forces in the world plotting to destroy the holy child.

But despite all the humility and suffering that are part of the story, its message is about deep and lasting happiness, an inner blessedness. And this joy is open to all people. The lowly shepherds are merely the first chosen to hear. They are humble representatives of all God’s people through the ages.

Christmas continues to bring us a similar message. The deliverer that we long for still comes in simple ways. Christ comes to us through the unseen work of the Spirit, the Word recorded in ancient tongues, and sacramental bread and wine. This is really good news; these are tidings of great joy. However, the joy of the message is not to be confused with external worldly happiness.

Sometimes, we do not always have the best external circumstances at Christmas. There may be issues of health, of family, or of job. There may be sad memories. We may not have the time or money or energy to celebrate as we wish. We may not be with some of the people we love. But such externals are not the true joy of the season. Christmas is about a deep joy based on our faith and hope in God’s love, grace and mercy. Such a joy can survive in any circumstance- even as it did in a stable among poor oppressed people.

So whether we have a great external celebration with lots of people, gifts, and food  or we just have a simple quiet observance, let us focus upon what God does- how He sends His Son, the eternal Word, to become flesh and dwell among us. God the Father sends the divine Savior among us to save us all from sin and death. This is the Gospel; these are tidings of comfort and joy. Glory to God in the highest!

Advent 2019 (year A)- Matthew 24:36-44

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. The word “Advent” comes from a Latin word that means “coming” or “arriving,” and it is good for Christians to think about Jesus Christ coming into the world and into our lives. We can think of His coming in three tenses- past, present, and future. 

In the past tense, we think of His coming at His Birth. This is the coming of the Lord longed for by Isaiah and other prophets. It is the coming announced to Mary by the angel Gabriel and pointed to by John the Baptist. This manifestation of God the Son is what we commemorate in a special way in December. It is fitting for us to recall Christ’s historic coming into the world as the divine Word made flesh. We consider all that He did, all that He taught,  and all that His earthly life means for our redemption. Remembering His first coming is the essential foundation of the Christian faith.

Secondly, we think of Jesus Christ coming in the present tense. Sometimes, we tend to overlook this coming of Christ into our lives. He comes repeatedly. He keeps being born anew in our hearts. Jesus speaks of this ongoing presence at many places in the Scriptures. For example, in Matthew 18:20, Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” In Matthew 28:20, He promises His followers, “and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” In Revelation 3:20, He says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Through His Word, through the work of His Holy Spirit, and through the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, Jesus Christ comes to us many times in many ways. He asks us to be open to Him and allow Him to dwell in our hearts, minds, and souls. He asks us to be His body and continue His presence and work in this world as He watches over us and intercedes for us from the Father's right hand.

Thirdly, as we remember Christ’s coming in the past and His repeated coming to us in this present life, we also look to His future coming. Our Lord has promised many places in Scripture that He will come again at the end of earthly history. This is a basic affirmation of all Christians. Christ will come to establish His universal divine rule. He will come both in mercy and in justice to set this fallen creation right. He will gather His people from all times and places into the fullness of eternal life.

This is a great hope and a strengthening truth for believers. Unfortunately, some Christians have gone a little crazy over the details. There have been wild speculations and unfounded claims. Some have even gone against the Bible by claiming to know the day or the hour. But as our Lord says in Matthew 24:42, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” And so as He adds in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

As Christians, we should always be prepared and be preparing anew for our Lord. We should be humble enough and faithful enough to avoid too much speculation. Instead, we should focus on what we can do as we await the future. And what we can do is accept the grace available to live in ways attuned to Christ, spiritually and morally. We are called to continue in faith, hope, and love. That is the proper spiritual way to prepare for our Lord’s final coming.

In summary, the days leading up to the observance of Jesus’ Birth or Nativity should be a time of renewed devotion and spiritual preparation. We can think and reflect on the coming of Jesus Christ into the world and into our lives. Christ came in history 2000 years ago, Christ keeps coming to us again and again, and Christ will come again in final victory and glory. Let us be open to Him in all these ways and live in spiritual preparation each day.

Second Sunday after Pentecost (year C proper 7)- Luke 8:26-39

The Gospel for Pentecost 2 is the fascinating and somewhat strange story of Jesus healing the demoniac in the pagan region of the Gerasenes, across the sea of Galilee (Luke 8:26-39). One could analyze the details and implications of the healing. But today, I would focus on two points.

First, the evil spirits recognize and acknowledge who Jesus is. This is a warning for those who think that simply admitting that Jesus is the divine redeemer is enough. On the contrary, such an admission is only a little part of true faith. The demons do not have real faith but only make a grudging admission of a fact. Living faith goes beyond the facts and acknowledges Jesus' identity with a positive, trusting, and hopeful attitude.

Secondly, there is the reaction of the surrounding population. They are fearful of this manifestation of divine power and of the cost that freedom from spiritual bondage may involve. They prefer to see a man remain a slave to evil than to lose a few roaming swine. They prefer to remain in spiritual bondage themselves than to open up to the message and mission of Jesus the Christ. Although such a response is ridiculous and self-destructive, it is all too common among human beings. Often people prefer to remain in a familiar bondage to evil than to open themselves to the costs of redemption.

Thus, like many Scripture passages, our gospel from St. Luke contains both warnings and encouragements. Let us avoid confusing admitting who Jesus is with true faith in Him. And let us avoid letting our fears deprive us of His redeeming activities among us. Instead, let us truly turn to Him in faith, and let us be open to His work even when there may be a cost.

Trinity Sunday 2019- John 8

There is much to say about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. There are various Scriptural passages that allude to all three divine Persons. There are the teachings of the three ancient Creeds and statements in the Lutheran confessional documents. Yet, this year, the Lutheran lectionary Gospel focuses on one aspect of Trinitarian doctrine- the divinity of Jesus the Christ.

In John 8:54-58 (ESV), Jesus proclaims-

“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

These words "I am" are a reference to the divine name revealed in Exodus. By using these words about Himself, both Jesus and His opponents know that He is claiming to share one nature with God the Father. Many modern Christians prefer to overlook or at least downplay this belief. But the Gospel does not allow us to ignore Jesus' divinity. It is a basic and essential aspect of Christ's identity and of His saving work. Only a divine Redeemer can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil and save us from our sins. Only the divine Christ can lay down His life, take it up again, and offer us new and eternal life. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit...

Pentecost

As I have said elsewhere, people say many things about the Holy Spirit, some sublime and some ridiculous. I make no claims to be sublime but I do hope to avoid ridiculous statements. The best way to be sound is to focus on the teachings of Jesus Christ about the Holy Spirit. In today's gospel from John 14:16-17 Jesus says, :"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (ESV)

In these words of our Lord, we are reminded of the origins of the Spirit's work among believers. The Holy Spirit comes among Christ's followers as a gift from God the Father at the intercession of Jesus Christ. Although Scripture speaks of many functions and gift of the Spirit, here our Lord stresses two chief characteristics. The Holy Spirit is our Helper who strengthens us, and He is our guide in appreciating and applying divine truth.  The Holy Spirit must be distinguished from the spirits of the surrounding world. For the Holy Spirit who comes from the Father and the Son reflects their holy nature with us and in us.

Observing Lent- Matthew 6

The key to observing Lent is found in the Scripture lessons for Ash Wednesday. They all stress the spiritual aspects of fasting and repentance. The Gospel from St. Matthew 6 makes it clear that a disciple's attitude is very important. Our Lord assumes that His followers will fast. However, the key to proper devotion and discipline is attitude. Christ's followers should not be hypocritical or ostentatious but sincere and humble. 

Given fallen and distorted human nature, there is always a tendency for humans to go astray in religious and devotional practices. At the time of the Reformation, many people had lost sight of the church's original intentions for Lent. Church rules on Lent had become increasingly complicated and rigid. Secular governments got involved in enforcing church rules, and only a few people seemed to remember the inward goals of their outward practices.

Such issues led Protestant Reformers to try to reduce the complications, rules, and abuses. Luther and his followers sought a moderate approach, and Evangelical Lutherans generally tried to keep Ash Wednesday and Lent as times to emphasize devotional renewal in preparation for Easter. Any special services, readings, prayers, or forms of self-discipline were supposed to encourage inner spiritual awareness and renewal.

As we consider Lent in our churches and in our personal lives, let us focus on our devotion to God and our understanding of Christ’s journey toward the Cross. External acts of devotion can be useful. Increasing our prayer time and Bible study is good. Giving up or decreasing some food, drink, entertainment, or purchases can be suitable reminders. Giving more money or time to charity is valuable. These and other practices can be expressions of faith and renewal. But the most important thing about Lent is our inner attitude. In all we think, say, and do, let us repent, think of Christ, and respond to Him with living faith. Faith in Christ is the central issue!

Epiphany Season Gospels

Of course, all the Sundays on the church calendar are for proclaiming the Word of God, but personally I have always found the Gospels for Epiphany and the following Sundays to be particularly meaningful, whatever calendar one follows. After all the craziness of modern Christmas observances and before the appropriate somberness of Lent, we have a little time to pause and reflect upon some of the epiphanies or manifestations of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We think of Christ's divine glory manifested to the Magi and of His first adult appearance at His Baptism. We recall events as simple as Christ turning water into wine and as dramatic as healing lepers and a centurion's servant. Depending on our lectionary, we may remember His teaching and rejection at Nazareth, His healings of those with various illnesses, and His power over unclean spirits. We think of the calling of disciples and even Jesus' Transfiguration on the mount.

All of these stories show Jesus of Nazareth as more than merely a teacher and more than even a miraculous healer. They manifest Christ's glory as the Son of God. They are earthly signs of His heavenly identity. Furthermore, these manifestations call for an appropriate response- the response of faith in Jesus as Messiah and divine Savior. May His glorious appearances inspire us all to renewed affirmations of faith!