Advent 4 (year B)- Luke 1:26-28

Since Advent is short this year, and the Fourth Sunday is also Christmas Eve, it is especially appropriate that the Gospel focuses on the Virgin Mary. The Gospel from Luke 1:26-38 recounts the Annunciation of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. To prepare for and appreciate Christmas, it is good to contemplate the message of Gabriel and the response of Mary. The angel brings Mary divine greetings and addresses her as favored one (in Greek "highly-graced"; in Latin, "full of grace."). He assures her that God is with her. Understandably, Mary is troubled, somewhat fearful, and has questions. Gabriel provides her with a general explanation of her calling within the divine plan, and Mary responds humbly and faithfully. In faith she accepts her calling to participate in the divine plan for salvation. She prepares the way of the Lord in a unique way. 

Luther and his followers did reject some exaggerated medieval ideas about the Virgin Mary, but unlike some later Protestants, they maintained a healthy biblical view of her role. Luther had great respect for Mary as the "God-bearer," the mother of the Lord. God was with her, she was blessed among women, and she deserved to be called blessed by all generations. 

Today, we give thanks for Mary's faith in God throughout her life and for her humble acceptance of her role in the Savior's life. Although our situations are certainly different from hers, through grace, may we also respond to God's work in Christ with similar faith and humility!

Pentecost 26/Christ the King (year A)- Matthew 25: 31-46

This Sunday is the last Sunday in the church year. Since the 1970s, a number of churches have observed this Sunday as the festival of Christ the King. It is appropriate for Christians to think of our Savior as our King on any day. Days such as Christmas, Epiphany, Palm Sunday, and Ascension include themes of Christ's kingship. And the Gospels are full of Jesus' teachings about the kingdom of heaven. 

In today's Gospel from Matthew 25: 31-46, Jesus looks to His return to sit upon the throne and judge humanity as the righteous king. Yes, God in Christ is gracious and merciful, but before we can truly appreciate divine mercy, we must acknowledge His majestic power and holiness. In other words, we need to hear about divine commands and expectations before we can apply His forgiving promises. Thinking of Christ as our King should first point us to His righteousness and then lead us to the comfort of His mercy.

Human beings always need this two-fold message. Even the most faithful Christians need to be reminded again and again. Each day, month, or year brings new applications. This year has been a rather dramatic case. We have been buffeted by natural disasters, international conflicts, and political and social turmoil. Chaos and crisis have been abundant. Humanity has been reminded of its weaknesses, its failures, and its sins. All have been tested, and many have fallen into depression and despair.

So we all need to be reminded that Jesus Christ is King. He is both righteous and merciful. He holds us accountable, but He also pours out His grace. Despite the changes and challenges of this world, He is still our ruler, and one day, His rule will become clear to all creation.

Harvest Thanksgiving- John 6:25-35

The giving of thanks to God is a theme found in many passages of Scripture, and giving thanks for the blessings of the autumn harvest has existed in many nations. Americans may focus on Anglicans giving thanks in Virginia or Congregationalists giving thanks in Massachusetts, but other Protestants also had various local harvest festivals. So besides being rooted in ancient biblical customs, a day of Thanksgiving is also an aspect of the Reformation heritage.

The Gospel reading assigned for Thanksgiving Day is from John 6: 25-35. It refers to divine providence in supplying natural food, but then it looks beyond physical to spiritual nourishment. Our Lord concludes with this statement in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (ESV). So while we appreciate and give thanks to God for food and other material gifts, let us also look beyond those physical blessings to the spiritual blessings that we receive through Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God for all His gifts, material and spiritual!

Luther's Birthday- 10 November

 Among all the happenings of November, one important event is often overlooked even by many Lutherans and other Protestants. On November 10, 1483, Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Saxony, Germany. He was born to Hans Luder (or Ludher, later Luther) and his wife, Margarethe Lindemann Ludher. Martin Luther was baptized the next morning on the feast day of St. Martin of Tours.

Of course, Luther later became an Augustinian friar, a priest, a doctor of theology, a professor of Bible studies, and the great reformer of the Western Church. He had many human failings, but his insight into the Christian faith was profound. Luther emphasized Scripture, Christ as Savior, divine grace, and living faith. Today, we offer a prayer of thanks for his birth and his work on behalf of the Gospel.

The Word of the Lord- I Peter 1: 25

 

VERBUM DOMINI MANET IN AETERNUM

The Word of the Lord endureth forever. (I Peter 1:25)

As we approach another anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation, let us keep in mind the centrality of the divine Word- incarnate in Jesus Christ, written in Holy Scripture, and witnessed to by Christian believers of all times and places.

Pentecost 8 (year A proper 11)- Matthew 13

The Gospel for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost is from Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. These verses contain Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and the Tares and His explanation of it to His close disciples. While we prefer to be positive and emphasize the growth of goodness, this story reminds us that the spread of goodness is not always upward and onward. Even in good times, there are problems. As goodness is growing, there is also evil growing beside it. The church in this world is God's field, but all is not as it should be even in the church. God's spiritual enemy has scattered bad seed in the field. 

By the parable of the tares or weeds, our Lord reminds us that life in the world, including life in the earthly church, is a mixture. Of course, there is a need for individual and community discipline. There are times when certain obvious sinners can be excluded from the church. Yet, although we may long for perfection, it is not attainable in this world. Until the final harvest, there will be weeds growing beside the good grain in God's field. There are bad things even when we are at our best. We should recognize that reality. Therefore, we should always seek divine grace in order to grow in goodness ourselves and encourage its growth around us.

The Augsburg Confession 1530

On 25 June 1530, Lutheran princes, civic leaders, and theologians presented their confession of the Evangelical faith to Emperor Charles V and the Diet convened at Augsburg. This year marks the 493rd anniversary of that event. The Augsburg Confession is a clear and relatively concise statement of the theological principles of the German Reformation. Among other points, it affirms basic Reformation views on Scriptural authority, justification by faith, the nature of the Church, and the importance of the two biblical Sacraments. Although certainly reflective of its historical context, the Augsburg Confession has abiding importance as an affirmation of Biblical Christianity.  It has influenced many other Protestant confessions, both directly and indirectly. So, we offer thanks to God for the principles of this first official Reformation confession of faith. May God help us to live by such Scriptural principles!

Pentecost (year A)- John 7: 37-39

Pentecost is one of the ancient Christian observances based on Scripture. The name Pentecost comes from the Greek word for fifty. Greeking-speaking Jews applied this name to the "Feast of Weeks" which began 50 days after Passover. During this feast, weeks after Christ's resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ's disciples in a powerful new way and gave the timid followers of Jesus the strength to be His Church and to proclaim His Gospel. We see this event in today's reading from Acts 2.

On some lectionaries, the Gospel for this Pentecost Sunday is from John 7:37-39.  In this short selection, Jesus promised that those who believed in Him would be refreshed with "rivers of living water." The evangelist adds that this referred to the Holy Spirit who would come after Jesus was glorified.

This teaching gives valuable insight into the varied workings of the Holy Spirit among believing Christians. The Spirit can certainly mean many things for Christian teaching, witness, and life, but one of the important functions of the Holy Spirit is to refresh believers like fresh, life-giving water. So may our observance of Pentecost be refreshing for our souls!

Easter 4 (year A)- The Good Shepherd- John 10:10

The theme for this Sunday is Christ the Good Shepherd, and this has been a theme during the Easter season for many centuries. The theme is especially appropriate at this time. We need to be reminded about the spiritual dangers of earthly life, but we also need the comfort of Christ. Jesus is our Good Shepherd who truly cares for us and leads us to the best places. Our Lord's death and resurrection are the highest expressions of His shepherding. He has died to save us from evil and destruction, and He has risen so that we "may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). We rejoice and continue to give thanks for His protection and guidance!

Easter (year A)

The early morning Gospel for Easter is from John 20. In this passage, we see three different reactions to the empty tomb. At first, Mary Magdalene is afraid and distressed, and Simon Peter is uncertain and hesitant. Only the beloved disciple, John, has a truly positive reaction. John 20:8 tells us, "... he saw and believed." Faith is the most desirable reaction to the empty tomb. It is the appropriate response to the predictions Jesus had made and to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Faith that Jesus Christ, the crucified Redeemer, has overcome sin, death, and the devil is the source of any real hope for human existence. Such faith is our hope!

Lent I (year A)- Romans 5: 12-19

The Gospel for the First Sunday in Lent is the familiar story of Jesus' tem[tation in the wilderness. Often this story is discussed as an example for us, and on one level, it is. However, our Lord is much more than a good example. The deeper meaning of Christ's Temptation and His entire ministry on earth is brought out in today's second reading from Romans 5: 12-19. The key conclusion by the Apostle Paul comes in Romans 5:18-19, "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." 

Jesus Christ is the New Adam, the greater man, who overcomes temptation, sin, and the devil. By His triumph over evil, He offers human beings a new beginning. He offers us new life and righteousness. The whole of His Incarnation reflects this work to save and renew human life. We see this redeeming work at His Temptation as we see it all the way to His Death and Resurrection. May His ongoing victories over sin and death be applied in our lives through faith!

Ash Wednesday and Lent- Matthew 6: 19-21

There are many ways to approach Ash Wednesday, Lent, and our time of preparation for Easter. We often focus on the important disciplines of prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. But this week, some familiar words from the Gospel struck me in a new way. In Matthew 6:19-21(ESV), Jesus says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

These words apply to our lives in many ways. We are generally aware that we Christians should not be overly concerned about earthly treasures. The principle always applies. However, it has particular relevance to us during Lent. This season is a stark reminder to consider where our treasures really are. Lent is about renewing our Christian priorities. So whatever our personal disciplines during this time, let us evaluate our pursuit of heavenly or spiritual treasure. Living by faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior is the greatest treasure!

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (year A)- Matthew 5:1-12

The Gospel for this Sunday is from Matthew 5:1-12, and it is a famous section of the Sermon on the Mount called the Beatitudes. Beatitude means blessed, and these sayings describe people blessed by God. There is an irony to some of the sayings because they do not describe situations that many people consider positive. They include meekness, mourning, and persecution. 

One way of looking at the Beatitudes is to see them as a two-fold description of life blessed by God. First, there is a sense in which these blessings apply to Jesus Himself. During His life on earth, He manifests His divine glory in the kinds of situations described here. He follows a simple, lowly, and humble way of life. He pursues true righteousness and offers true peace. He is saddened by the pervasiveness of disease, sin, and death in the world. He is innocent but suffers persecution, even to death on the cross.

Secondly, by His redeeming work, Jesus makes it possible for His disciples to share in the same kinds of blessedness. Through God's grace, these same humble states of life can become ways of being truly happy in faith. Knowing and trusting God's work in Christ, we become truly blessed in all kinds of lowly or painful circumstances. Such blessedness is not some superficial happiness, but by divine grace, it is a real and deeply spiritual contentment.

Second Sunday after the Epiphany (year A)- John 1: 29-42

The Gospel for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany is John 1:29-42. It begins with the witness of John the Baptist to Jesus. Because we know that Elizabeth and the Virgin Mary were some kind of cousins, we may imagine that Jesus and John the Baptist were personally close,. Yet, Scripture gives a different impression of the two men as adults. While Matthew 3 indicates that John recognizes Jesus' holiness, the Baptist only comes to sense Jesus' unique identity and mission by divine revelation.  In John 1:32, we read: "And John bore witness: 'I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.'" Through divine inspiration, John sees that Jesus is the Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and John's witness leads some of his followers to follow Jesus.

At times, we may still be a little like John the Baptist. We may recognize Jesus' holiness and respect Him, but we need to go further through divine grace and inspiration. We need to acknowledge Jesus as the unique Son of God and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. May John's witness motivate us to follow Jesus as it did the first disciples!

Luther's Basic Daily Prayers

In his Small Catechism, Martin Luther drew upon Christian tradition, practical considerations, and personal experience to provide a short pattern of daily prayers  This pattern is still useful for us even if we have the time and inclination for other devotions.

MORNING PRAYER

In the morning, when you rise, you shall bless yourself with the sign of the cross and say:

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayer:

I thank You, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray You to keep me this day also from sin and all evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.

EVENING PRAYER

In the evening, when you go to bed, you shall bless yourself with the sign of the cross and say:

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayer:

I thank You, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day, and I pray You to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen. 

(Adapted from the Small Catechism)