Christmas- the Birth of Christ- Luke 2:10

As we pause to meditate on the meaning of the Christmas celebration, let us consider the announcement of the angel to the shepherds. Luke 2:10 (KJV) 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.” The angel’s message “I bring you good tidings” translates two Greek words which could also be translated as “I proclaim the gospel to you.” 

So the announcement of Christ’s Birth is a proclamation of the Gospel. His Nativity is an integral part of the whole story,  of the entire Christian message. His birth cannot be isolated from all that Christ means. This good news is “of great joy.” Despite all the humility and suffering that will be part of the story, it brings a 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.

Christmas still brings us this message. Our Savior comes into the world through His Word and Sacraments. This is really good news- tidings of great joy. This joy should not be confused with external worldly happiness or festivities. Christmas goes beyond the externals; it is about a deep joy based on faith in God’s grace and mercy. Rejoice in the Lord always!

Advent 2 (year C)- Luke 3:1-20

The Gospel for the Second Sunday in Advent is from Luke 3:1-20, the introduction to the ministry of John the Baptist. John warned the people of first-century Palestine to get ready for the coming of the Lord. He did not stress his own importance but pointed to the Messiah. As he pointed to the future redemption, John stressed two main themes: preparation and repentance.

During Advent, we do anticipate the joyful celebration of the Messiah's birth. However, we must not rush the celebration. Before we can properly appreciate the celebration, we must prepare a way for the Lord to come into our lives. And since we are all fallen and sinful creatures, an essential part of our preparation is repentance. We must turn both from our general corruption and from our particular failings. This is true during Advent and every day of our earthly lives. Only by this awareness can we appreciate the great joy that the birth of the Savior brings. In other words, human beings need to hear the rebuke of divine Law if they are to grasp the good tidings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Advent 1 (year C)- Luke 21: 25-36

The Gospel for Advent 1, the first Sunday in a new Christian year, is from Luke 21:25-36. It contains several themes associated with the season of Advent. This season is a time for reflection upon the theme of Christ coming into the world- past, present, and future. Advent is also a time of spiritual and moral preparation. Believers are called to renewed dedication to live in ways that express their faith in Christ.

As we move through Advent, one important reminder is to look to Holy Scripture. In Luke 21:33, Jesus says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."  Our Lord and the Apostles repeatedly warn us that this world is temporary and will pass away. Ultimately, the only things that are dependable are God, His Word, and His heavenly Kingdom. May we be open to learning from God's Word and respond in faith throughout Advent and all the days of our lives!

Pentecost 25 (year B proper 28) - Daniel 12:1-3; Mark 13:1-13

The first reading from Daniel 12:1-3 looks to a time of trouble followed by resurrection, judgment and everlasting life for God's people. This passage is a fitting reminder as we approach the end of one church year and anticipate reflection on Christ's first and second Advents.

Psalm 16 expresses confidence in God despite the trials of earthly life. Peter and Paul applied verse 10 of this Psalm to Christ (Acts 2:25ff and Acts 13:35).

The second reading from Hebrews 10:11-25 speaks of the confidence of Christian believers based on the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ our great high priest. The passage concludes by pointing to "the Day drawing near."

The gospel passage from Mark 13:1-13 looks ahead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the close of the age. These words of Jesus can be applied in some ways to the disasters following the great Jewish revolt against Rome. They can also be applied to many transitional periods in human history, but most of all, they apply to the final end of earthly life. Our Lord warns against being mislead by false Messiahs and jumping to premature conclusions. He warns of the persecution of believers by governing authorities and of social disintegration. At the same time, Christ promises strength from the Holy Spirit and salvation for those who endure to the end. For Christians, Christ's prophecies help prepare us for all times of trial in this world, for our personal difficulties and for the final judgment. Let us remain observant, wary, and faithful!

Pentecost 11 (year B proper 14)- John 6:35-51- Bread of Life

The gospel for this Sunday, John 6:35-51, continues that from last week and develops the teaching that Jesus Christ Himself is the bread of heaven or the bread of life. In particular, let us focus on verses 47-51 (KJV)-

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

These words highlight the supernatural identity of Christ, the purpose of His Incarnation, and the benefits for Christian believers. Interpreters have sometimes argued over these words. Some have held that they are a general description of Christ's work; others have seen them as a prediction and foreshadowing of communion with the risen Christ through the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Personally, I have never liked such an "either/or" alternative concerning these words. A "both/and" interpretation seems both more natural and more edifying. 

On a general level, believers are nourished by the living Christ- by His words, His teachings, His presence. He is the source of eternal life. Within this general meaning, one particular and important way that Christ comes to His people again and again is through His real presence promised in the Lord's Supper. This sacramental truth is seen in other passages. In Matthew 26:26, we read, "Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body'” (ESV; see also Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, I Corinthians 11:24). St. Paul also tells us, "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" (I Corinthians 10:16-ESV).

Our Lord never abandons His followers in this fallen world. He keeps coming to us. He forgives us, nourishes us strengthens us, and offers us Himself to give us eternal life. He does these things through His presence in Word and Sacrament. Let us respond to His promises in faith!

Pentecost 9 (year B proper 12)- Mark 6:45-56

The Gospel for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost this year is Mark 6:45-56. The passage has two distinct sections. There is the account of Jesus walking on water and an account of healings in Gennesaret, across the Sea of Galilee from Jewish Galilee. In differing ways, both accounts point to the divine nature and ministry of Jesus the Christ. Briefly, I would focus on the miracle of Jesus walking on the water.

The disciples are in a boat on the great lake, and in the winds, they have trouble crossing. In the wee hours of the morning, Jesus comes walking on the water. At first, they don't recognize Him and cry out in fear, Then, He enters the boat, and the winds subside. The disciples are astounded because they still do not understand who He really is. They have seen numerous miracles, including the miracle of the loaves and fish, but they still do not "get it." They have not really acknowledged even to themselves that Jesus is unique. He is more than just a great prophet, teacher, and healer. He is God present with them. He is Lord over nature and natural law. The disciples still need to grow in faith. 

Down through the ages, many Christians have been and still are like those hesitant and fearful disciples. We still need to grow in our understanding of Jesus. It is good to appreciate His prophetic words and teachings. It is right to acknowledge His healing power and His compassionate feeding of the hungry. However, such affirmations are only a beginning. True disciples must trust in His higher and deeper identity. Jesus Christ is God present with us. He is ruler over all nature, and He is Lord of our lives! And He can do things that our worldly minds consider impossible!

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (year B proper 8)- Mark 5:21-43

In this Sunday's Gospel from St. Mark 5, we have two healing stories interwoven. Both stories make important points about Jesus and about human responses to Him. First, let us look briefly at Jairus' situation. He is called a ruler of a synagogue. That means that he has a position of local religious leadership. It probably implies that he is fairly well-to-do in his community. Yet, in his concern for his daughter, he is also humble. He implores Jesus to come and lay hands upon her. 

Another encounter interrupts the trip to Jairus' house, and messengers arrive to inform the man ,“Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” Overhearing this report, Jesus says to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” Jesus takes His core disciples, Peter, James and John to the house. All think the girl is dead, but Jesus goes in with the three disciples and the girl's parents. He tells her to arise, and she does. Faith is the key; it opens the way for Jesus' life-giving power.

The other healing is the inserted story of the woman with the bleeding problem. This woman has suffered from her illness for years and has used up all her money in failed treatments. Beyond that, the nature of her problem means that she is ritually unclean, and contact with her makes other people ritually unclean. So the woman hides in the crowd. She believes that Jesus can heal her, but she dares not approach Him openly- for fear of shunning by the crowd or of an embarrassing rejection by Jesus.  

With great and humble faith, the woman reaches out to touch the edge of Christ's robe, and immediately, two things happen: she senses God's healing, and Jesus senses that divine power has flowed from Him. He asks who has touched Him, and the woman comes to humbly admit her action. Jesus in turn recognizes her faith and sends her away in peace and health. This second story is also about how faith opens the way for Jesus' life-giving power. 

Let us highlight two distinct applications of our Gospel. One application is about physical healing. Despite all the advances of modern medicine, there are still difficult cases- cases of critical illness like the girl and cases of chronic illness like the woman. Faith does not overcome every single physical ailment. Not everyone in first-century Palestine was healed, but there were miraculous healings like these, and sometimes there still are. In faith, we need to be open to unusual possibilities.

Besides the matter of physical disease and healing, there is a broader application of these stories. The healing of God also applies to mental and spiritual issues. Many troubles in human life affect people in ways similar to the frantic father and the desperate woman. Many things can frighten us or slowly wear us down until we come to Jesus. He is the great physician of bodies, minds and souls. He wants to help us. He wants to give us better lives now and eternally. So let us not make faith a last resort. Instead, let us seek Christ out on a daily basis. 

Holy Trinity Sunday (year B)

The Gospel for Trinity Sunday is the familiar story of Nicodemus coming to meet Jesus and their ensuing discussion of the new birth. The new birth is an important topic in itself, and the passage shows us how the new birth or regeneration is dependent upon divine initiative and grace. This Scriptural emphasis on divine action is different from many common interpretations which emphasize human action. In the discussion, we see the Holy Trinity permeating the whole process. So let us briefly look to the basic doctrine of the Trinity in the context of this passage about the new birth.

First, we see the origin in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth. This origin is assumed by both Nicodemus and Jesus (John 3:1-3). Creation is rooted in divine love and grace, and the Father's goal for His human creatures is that they have eternal fellowship with Him; in other words, God desires the salvation of human beings. Even when they rebel against Him, He seeks their reconciliation.

Secondly, we see an emphasis on the work of Jesus Christ at the beginning and end of the Gospel passage (for example, John 3:2, 13-17). Christ's public ministry is the occasion that draws the attention of Nicodemus. As the discussion progresses, it becomes clear that Jesus is more than merely an unusual rabbi. He is also God the Son. He is the embodiment of the Father's desire to save human beings by offering them grace for a new birth, a deep spiritual transformation and renewal.

Thirdly, we see that the Holy Spirit is the invisible power working behind and through natural creation and human history (John 3:5-7). Through the external means of Word and Sacrament, the invisible Spirit comes like the wind, sometimes abruptly, sometimes gently. The Holy Spirit comes to revive sin-deadened souls. He comes to apply the love and the grace of the Father and the Son and offer new life.

Thus, we see that a familiar passage of Scripture proclaims the Holy Trinity although it does not use the term or develop formal definitions. As always, we must be careful in two respects. On the one hand, we must see the distinctive work of each divine person. On the other hand, we must not separate their work. They are one in purpose and in essence. In the words of the Athanasian Creed, "we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance."

Pentecost (year B)

There is so much that can be said about Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit. (In fact, many things have been said- some sublime, some ridiculous.) This year, my focus is on two verses from today's Gospel. In John 15:26-27, Christ says, "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning." (ESV)

In these two verses, we see something about the nature and work of the Holy Spirit and about the appropriate response of Christ's disciples. First, we see that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father, sent by the Son. Secondly, we see that the Spirit is the Helper (also Advocate, Counselor, Comforter). He is the Spirit of divine truth. In general, He reveals the divine truth of the Scriptures, and in particular, He bears witness to the culminating divine revelation in Jesus Christ. For Christians, the work of the Holy Spirit must never be separated from Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Thirdly, the work of the Holy Spirit among Christ's disciples is intended to produce results. There are numerous possible results or fruits, but in broad terms, all are ways of bearing witness to Christ. When the Holy Spirit comes to us, He witnesses to Christ, engenders faith, and empowers believers to witness to Christ in thought, word, and deed.

Easter, the Resurrection of our Lord (year B)

The Paschal Feast, the Feast of the Resurrection or Easter is the high point of the the biblical message and of the liturgical year. The one who accepted terrible physical and spiritual suffering to save us from sin has risen from the dead to offer us new life, in this world and the next. Easter is the great dividing point in human history. The Resurrection is, among other things, the seal of divine approval upon the earthly life, ministry and death of Jesus. It is the key event that transforms a band of disheartened and defeated disciples into faithful witnesses and ministers of the Good News. The whole New Testament is written from the standpoint of faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. The apostolic writings are also written to inspire and strengthen that same Resurrection faith in others. 

In the lectionary, the Gospel for the first service is from St. John 20, and it highlights the importance of faith. The initial reaction of the women at the empty tomb and of the apostles who hear the women's report is not faith but fear and curiosity. When the apostles hear the first reports, Simon Peter and the other disciple (traditionally identified as John) run to see for themselves. Peter goes in first to see the grave clothes. Then that other disciple enters, "and he saw and believed" (St. John 20:8). The empty tomb is a real and important event. But acknowledging the empty tomb is only a first step. This first step must be followed by the second step shown by John; that is, the empty tomb demands the response of belief or faith. 

So on this Easter, let us renew our faith. Let us accept with faith what the empty tomb tells us about Jesus. He is unique. He is not merely someone who has recovered from physical death. He has experienced Resurrection; He has conquered death. He has overcome the forces of evil, destruction and death for all time, for all who truly believe in Him. He is the Word of God incarnate, the Messianic King, God the Son. By overcoming death, He has (in the words of one Prayer of the Day) "opened unto us the gate of everlasting life." Christ lives, and because He lives, we also may truly live in union with Him. Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed; O come, let us adore him. Alleluia.

Good Friday (year B)

"Then delivered he [Pilate] him [Jesus] therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews. " (John 19:16-19 KJV)