Sermon -- Octoberfest Vespers (September 28, 2025)

MATTHEW 8:1-4

IF YOU ARE WILLING…

In the name + of Jesus.

    This is the first recorded miracle in the Gospel of St. Matthew.  A leper came to Jesus in hopes of being cured of his leprosy.  He came with the politest request that was ever made of Jesus.  Some came and deposited their sick before Jesus.  Others shouted and pleaded, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  This leper “came to him and bowed down to him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean’” (Matthew 8:2). 

     “If you are willing…”  This leper was not so presumptuous to think that he was owed a healing from Jesus.  He expressed his confidence in what Jesus could do for him: “you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2).  But he recognized that Jesus had every right to decline his request.  “If you are willing,” he prayed.

     Our prayers usually direct God to some specific action to be taken on our behalf.  This is not wicked.  Our Lord summons us to pray: “Call on me in the day of distress.  I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15).  St. Peter urges us, “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).  We get to tell our heavenly Father what our particular trouble is.  We even get to ask for a specific blessing or outcome.  The leper was specific: “You can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2).  A leper who had been cut off from his family, from his friends, from the temple, and from society would long to be cleansed.  His request was no surprise; but his submission to God’s will was.

     “If you are willing…”  It is good for us to recognize that God may have different plans for us than our requests.  When St. Paul fervently prayed, repeatedly, that the Lord would grant him relief from the thorn in his flesh which tormented him, the Lord was not willing to take it away.  When David prayed and fasted that the boy born to Bathsheba through an illicit affair would be spared or even that David could be put to death so that the child would live, the Lord was not willing to honor David’s petition.  The leper who came to Jesus recognized that Jesus might tell him, “I know that your life is hard with leprosy, but I am going to ask you to bear this cross.  You will receive relief and deliverance from your leprosy at the resurrection of all flesh, but for now your flesh will be corrupt.  You will be given the strength and the grace to deal with it, but it is not God’s will for you to be cleansed from it.”  But even when it is difficult, God’s will is always good.

     We don’t often know what God’s will is because he does not tell us.  Is it God’s will that my loved one lives or dies?  Is it God’s will that my pain is alleviated?  Is it God’s will that our nation remains peaceful and prosperous?  We know that God does not will what is sinful, but we also know that God may use evil for his own good purpose.  Whatever our prayer is—and you can make whatever petitions and intercessions you want, and you can make them as specific as you want—our prayer is and remains, “If you are willing….”

     We have a Savior who knows what it is to submit to the will of his Father.  In Gethsemane, Jesus already felt the sorrow, the pain, and the curse he would have to endure to take away our sins.  Jesus “fell on his face, and prayed.  He said, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me (a specific request). Yet not as I will, but as you will’” (Matthew 26:39) (If you are willing…).  Since there was no other Savior who could deliver us, and since there was no other way to remove the curse of sin from us, Jesus submitted to the will of his Father—not because it was fun, but because it was good.  Jesus took the cup of God’s wrath and consumed every last drop for us.  Why?  Because it is God’s will that sinners would be saved.  And if it is God’s will to save you and to give you everlasting life with him, then God’s will is always going to work for your good.  In fact, he tells you so.  “All things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

     “A leper came to him and bowed down to him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’  Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said.  ‘Be clean.’  Immediately he was healed of his leprosy” (Matthew 8:2-3).  In compassion for the leper, Jesus was willing to cleanse him and did.  When we do not know what God’s will is, we pray for whatever we want and, like our Savior, submit to whatever he chooses to do.  And when we do know God’s will, we submit to whatever he would have us do.  For, the will of God is always best, his word is always true, and his love never fails.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- 16th Sunday after Pentecost (September 28, 2025)

LUKE 16:19-31

ETERNALLY GOOD THINGS COME ONLY THROGH THE SCRIPTURES.

In the name + of Jesus.

    What do you consider the good things in your life?  It’s not a trick question.  We are right to recognize the blessings God has given us so that we can be thankful for them.  Some blessings are near and dear to us, such as parents, a spouse, children, and faithful friends.  God did not owe us these things but has graciously blessed us with them.  When God takes them away, we are usually reduced to tears.

     We enjoy other good things, although we probably won’t cry if they go away.  We have homes that are heated or cooled at the press of a button.  We have indoor plumbing and running water.  We have cushioned furniture and plush carpeting.  Our closets and dressers are filled with clothing for all seasons.  We decorate our homes as it pleases us.  How gracious God has been!  He has supplied us with many good things. 

     Finally, there are good things which are common to all—autumn colors, blue skies, music, laughter, and library books.  The list of good things is practically endless, and we get to enjoy them all.  That’s why God gives them to us.

     Jesus spoke about a man who enjoyed a lot of good things.  In fact, he had more good things than most.  He dressed in fancy clothes.  He dined on sumptuous meals.  He had a gated home and great wealth.  I suppose most people would want the kind of life he had.  By contrast, there was a beggar named Lazarus who “had been laid at his gate.  Lazarus was covered with sores and longed to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:20-21).  The fact that Lazarus had to be laid at the gate of the rich man suggests that he was immobile.  Maybe he was old?  Or crippled?  Either way, he was deposited there with the hopes that a rich man might share a few good things with him.  But Lazarus received no good things.

     In time, both of them died.  We should not get the impression that Lazarus went to heaven because he was poor or ill or ignored.  That is not what the Scriptures teach.  The Scriptures state “a person is justified by faith” (Romans 3:28).  If Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s side, he was saved the same way as Abraham.  “What does Scripture say?  ‘Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness’” (Romans 4:3).  Abraham is the father of all who believe; therefore, Lazarus went to Abraham’s side.  As it turns out, Lazarus did have one good thing, and it was the only thing he needed.  Eternally good things come only through the Scriptures. 

     Not so the rich man.  He died and went to hell—not because he was rich.  After all, Abraham had been rich.  The rich man perished because he did not regard God’s promises as good things.  “In hell, where he was in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus at his side.  He called out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me!’  …But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things’” (Luke 16:23-25).  No matter how many good things the rich man could have boasted about in his life, they all proved to be useless in the end.  They could not provide another moment of life, let alone with eternal life.  No matter how lavish his lifestyle had been, none of it had everlasting value.  Eternally good things come only through the Scriptures.

     As we have already considered, eternal life comes only by faith.  But faith needs to have an object.  You can have faith that tomorrow will be a better day, but the only thing you can base that on is your optimism.  Faith is not a wish.  It is confidence in something reliable, verifiable, and historical.  Even faith in something reliable is not a guarantee.  You can have faith that a plane trip will go well.  You base that on aeronautic engineering and a history of safe flight travel.  Such faith is reasonable, but accidents still happen.

     Saving faith, however, is certain because it comes through the Scriptures.  These are not fairy tales set in a land of make-believe.  The Scriptures record accounts which are historical, verifiable, and reliable.  We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.  The Old Testament foretold what the Messiah would do, and Jesus did it.  He declared that he would set us free from sin and overcome death by his own suffering, death, and resurrection.  And then, just as he foretold, he did it.  Jesus took our sins away by taking them into himself.  He removed the curse of death by dying the cursed death for us. 

     To prove that his word is true and that his death made the full payment for sins, he rose from the dead.  Once again, his resurrection is historical, verifiable, and reliable.  The risen Savior was seen repeatedly by different witnesses at different times, even by more than 500 people at once.  These witnesses testified to Jesus’ resurrection, preferring a painful death over a retraction of their testimony.  This is what our faith is based upon.  Since the Scriptures are historical, verifiable, and reliable, they do not merely allow us to wish for the resurrection to life everlasting; they guarantee it!  The Savior who was crucified and rose from the dead has promised: “Amen, Amen, I tell you: The one who believes in me has eternal life” (John 6:47).  Faith relies on Jesus Christ who is revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures.  So, eternally good things come only through the Scriptures.

     The Scriptures are consistent with this proclamation: Jesus Christ is the only Savior, and faith in Jesus Christ is the only hope for eternal life.  Jesus stated that clearly: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me” (John 14:6).  There is no other path, no other way, no other Savior.  This can produce some concern for anyone who comes to the Christian faith from either a different faith or from no faith whatsoever. 

     When such a person hears the word of God and believes it, he rejoices in all the blessings it gives.  For the first time, he has relief from his guilt, confidence of a life after death, and the peace of knowing that God’s favor rests upon him at all times.  What a joy to have such good things!  But he may also recognize that he has loved ones who do not believe in Jesus.  He comes to this sad conclusion: “If Jesus’ words are true, my loved ones who have died are in hell.”  Who could not be grieved by that realization?  Some have soured on the Christian faith, thinking, “I would rather be in hell with my family than in heaven without them.”  What do you say to that person? 

     Take heed to what the rich man said when he was in hell.  He five brothers who were still living.  The rich man does not say, “Just wait until my brothers get here!  We are going to have such a good time!  We are going to party and rock and roll forever.”  As far as we can tell, the rich man had no one with him.  Perhaps some of the horrors of hell include having to endure one’s sufferings completely alone.  In any case, the rich man pleaded, “I beg you, father [Abraham], send (Lazarus) to my father’s home, because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28).  The rich man did not want his brothers to end up in hell.  So, if you have loved ones who have perished outside of faith in Jesus, or if you are speaking to someone who has, then listen to the rich man’s plea.  No one in hell wants anyone to join them there.  They yearn for their loved ones to avoid it.

     The rich man did not believe the Scriptures when he was on earth.  They were not among his good things.  He still did not believe them when he suffered the torments of hell.  He pleaded, “I beg you, father [Abraham], send (Lazarus) to my father’s home, because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’  Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets.  Let them listen to them’” (Luke 16:27-29).  The rich man’s brothers were not hopeless.  The Lord has given testimony about how one’s sins are taken away and about how there is a Savior who delivers people from eternal damnation.  In fact, this testimony is recorded in the single-most popular book in the history of the world.  It is preached by pastors at churches in many languages and in different nations.  God reveals his love and salvation in the Holy Scriptures.  Eternally good things come only through the Scriptures.

     The rich man still did not believe.  He argued, “If someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”  Abraham replied to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’”

(Luke 16:30-31).  The rich man thought that God’s word was not sufficient.  Perhaps some gimmick would make it more believable.  But that is not true.  If a man will not listen to God, whose word will he care about?  Besides, when the rich man suggested a resurrected Lazarus would make unbelievers take God’s word to heart, that wasn’t true.  A man named Lazarus was raised from the dead.  Do you know how Jesus’ enemies responded to that?  “The chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too, because it was on account of him that many of the Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus” (John 12:10-11).  Even when Jesus rose from the dead, they still would not believe.  Rather, they took the apostles, “beat them, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus” (Acts 5:40).

     Eternally good things come only through the Scriptures.  The Scriptures do not need our help to make them more appealing.  Many Christian churches have already made concessions so that they will be loved by the world more.  Parts of God’s word are explained away so that people will not feel bad about their sins.  They are not called to repent.  As a result, the Church becomes more like the world rather than the world becoming more like the Church.  Making concessions to the world has not improved or increased the numbers of the Church.  That’s because the world never makes any concessions to God’s word.  The rich man’s strategy fails because it teaches people that the Scriptures need something else to make them good.

     Our Lord provides us with many good things in our lives.  But even the most precious of these are momentary.  Eternally good things come only through the Scriptures—the glory of the Lord, the resurrection to life everlasting, and the Paradise of God.  We have received these good things by faith; soon we will have them by sight.  Then God’s good things will be even better. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (September 25, 2025)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is Sundays at 9:00 AM.

Adult Bible Class is Sundays at 9:00 AM.  We will study the book of Revelation.  A schedule can be found here.
Bible Matters meets Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.  We will have an overview of the Minor Prophets.  A schedule can be found here.  

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

LADIES OF GOOD SHEPHERD
          There will be a meeting after church on Sunday, September 28 to discuss potential gatherings and events going into the winter months. We will also be making plans to assemble College Care Packages to send out in a few weeks. All ladies from Good Shepherd are welcome to join us.

EVENTS THIS FALL
Octoberfest, a celebration of the Lutheran Reformation, will be THIS SUNDAY, September 28.  (Yes, I know, SEPTEMBER. But that’s when they do it in Munich, so there!) The schedule for our Octoberfest is:

               5:00 PM -- Vespers
               5:30 PM – A bratwurst dinner
               6:30 PM – Luther Lecture (Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony, protector of Luther)
In order to make sure we will have enough food on hand for this event, please RSVP to welsnovi@aol.com, indicating your name and how many will be coming to this event. If you would be so willing, please bring a salad, side dish, or dessert to round out the meal.

Trunk or Treat will be Sunday, October 26 (3:00 - 5:00 PM).  We will have a planning meeting after church, Sunday, October 5, to make sure we are getting organized for this event which has proven to be quite popular with our community.  Even if you can't make the meeting, we will send out a Sign Up Genius form to indicate where we will still need help.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (September)

>  Our projector has not been consistent in projecting.  Since it is better than ten years old, we are considering a replacement.  We are looking into getting a smart TV with interactive capabilities which allows HDMI input as well as ability to draw with a special, electronic pen.  

>  We are hoping to get handicapped accessible entry via push-button installed in the coming weeks.  Currently, the parts are back-ordered.  So, we will wait. 

>  We plan on added to our Servant Keeper office management system to allow for texting to large groups, similar to the email blasts, but with texting.  When it is ready to go, we will do a test run after church some Sunday.  

>  After a number of years of service, Pamela Mattison will no longer be cleaning our facility.  Her health is preventing her from continuing.  We thank her for her service and will be planning on hiring a professional janitorial service soon.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from September 14, 2025. (1718) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, September 14, 2025 - YouTube

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
          For the most part, the pastor will be observing formal office hours (Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). Occasionally, duties will take him away from the office during these scheduled times, so you will still want to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Bible Matters -- Wednesdays at 6:30 PM 

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com 

Sermon -- Chapel at Hope Christian Academy (September 23, 2025)

This chapel devotion was delivered at Hope Christian Academy in Westland, Michigan.

AMOS 6:1-7

WE GRIEVE OVER OUR WORST AND LOOK FORWARD TO GOD’S BEST.

In the name + of Jesus.

    It was the best of times.  It was the worst of times.  But this time, it is not “A Tale of Two Cities”; it is the story of one nation.  For some people, it was a time of decadence and self-indulgence.  For many others—most others—it was a time of oppression, poverty, and injustice.  Those who were in authority reveled in their privileges.  Those who were under that authority suffered in their hardships.

     Listen again to how Amos described the life of the rich in the northern tribes of Israel: They “lie on ivory beds, sprawling upon their couches, eating lambs from the flock and calves straight from the stall, improvising tunes on the lyre, composing music for themselves on musical instruments like David, drinking large bowls of wine—they slather themselves with the most expensive perfumed oils” (Amos 6:4-6).  Ivory beds are very luxurious.  Someone dropped some serious cash to get those.  Most people only ate meat a few times a year, so, it was extravagance to eat lamb or veal every day.  They rocked to their music and drank large quantities of wine.  I suppose to many people, that’s the good life, the best of times, and something to strive for.

     Amos declared, “They do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph” (Amos 6:6).  They were like the brothers of Joseph.  Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery.  They watched the Ishmaelites put bonds and chains on him to drag him away.  Despite Joseph’s cries for mercy, his brothers sat down to eat, and drink, and count their money.  In the same way, the rich turned a deaf ear to the cries of those they were supposed to care for.  They sat down to eat, drink, and bask in their wealth.

     Economically, it was the best of times.  Spiritually, it was the worst of times.  Amos told them, you “do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph” (Amos 6:6).  Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.  They were the largest two tribes in the north.  But Joseph had gone to ruin.  The northern tribes had corrupted worship.  Even though the Lord was very specific about how he was to be worshiped, the people decided, “We will worship God the way we like.”  This corrupted worship encouraged corrupted lives.  If they did not care to honor and love God, why would they honor or love their fellowman?  Amos called them to repent.  If not, those who were the first in society “will go into exile as the first of the exiles” (Amos 6:7).  The Lord warned, “You want to be first?  You will be—the first to be banished!”

     The leaders and the wealthy in Israelite society had a pecking order in their hearts.  They put themselves first.  They placed their fellowman down the list.  Last on the list was the Lord.  Since God’s face was not directly in front of them, he could be ignored.  Since God’s threats were only words at this point, he was dismissed.

     This is the way it is for every sinful heart.  Our hearts are devoted to ourselves—our pleasures, our reputations, our glory, and getting our own way.  Down the list is our fellowman.  You might disagree, thinking, “I would do anything for my friends!  They love me and I love them.”  But what if your friend stops returning your texts?  What if your friend starts hanging out with someone else?  Does he or she remain your friend?  If you withdraw your friendship because you are no longer getting something from them, your love is not as pure as you think.  And that’s for friends!  To say nothing of strangers. 

     Finally, God comes at the end of the list.  Some argue that God is selfish because he demands that we fear, love, and trust in him above all things.  Do you know how much God changes if we reject him or refuse to obey him?  Not at all.  God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.  God is not envious of your possessions; he gave them to you.  God is not jealous of your wealth; he is the one who supplies it.  Everything you have comes from God’s hand.  Your very body, soul, and life come from the Lord.  He is not kind to you to get something out of you as if he needs anything.  But he does want you to recognize that he is good and loving.  And if God is good and loving, then his word is good and obeying it is good.  And he will not let anything else receive the honor that he, and only he, deserves. 

     But if we put ourselves first, we will be the first to be banished.  To put God below anything is to despise him.  To put anything above God is to choose those blessings over God’s.  Then we forfeit the goodness and mercy and salvation he brings.  Jesus warned repeatedly, “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first” (Mark 10:31).  To exalt yourself is to lose it all.

     The prophet Amos issued a warning to the northern tribes, and they did not listen.  Amos did not have much good news for these Israelites.  When God’s judgment finally came, those who were not slaughtered by the Assyrian army were taken into captivity, never to return.  We, too, have a judgment coming.  But here is the good news for you: The Lord Jesus Christ has come to deliver you from your sin and from the coming judgment.  Jesus Christ, by whom all things were made, made himself one with us.  Jesus, to whom belong all honor and glory and majesty, emptied himself of everything to save us.  Jesus, who is God over all, took the lowest place—the place of a cursed, rebellious slave.  He who is first made himself last.  Jesus’ selfless death has atoned for all our selfishness.  He did not do this to get anything out of us, but to give to us all things that matter, all things that have eternal value. 

     You and I rightly humble ourselves; we grieve over our sins.  But those who humble themselves will be exalted.  Jesus exalts us, making us to be children of the Most High God.  Our goal is not to make this world the best of times.  This world and all its wealth is passing away.  Therefore, we can dedicate our wealth for the good of others.  You won’t keep it, so use it here so that it will do some good for someone.  That is what God gave it to you for. 

     But the best of times are coming.  We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.  We long for the new heavens and the new earth where all God’s people will dwell in peace and security forever.  There we will feast with the saints and angels.  There we will sing and make music before the Lord.  There we will be anointed with the oil of gladness.  There, all evils will be put away.  Our Lord will delight in us, and we will delight in him above all things.  It will never get any better than that.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- Festival of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (September 21, 2025)

MATTHEW 9:9-13

JESUS SINNERS DOES RECEIVE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Church tradition suggests that St. Matthew served as a pastor in Ethiopia where he was put to death by the king, presumably by a spear.  What was it that moved St. Matthew to preach the word of God so faithfully despite the threat on his life that ended up being fulfilled in his martyrdom?  The short answer is: the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit worked in St. Matthew a firm faith and a courageous confession.  The Holy Spirit also worked through St. Matthew to record the words and works of Jesus Christ.  This makes St. Matthew an evangelist, one of the four Gospel writers.  He was also an apostle, one of twelve called by Jesus.  So, Matthew was an apostle and an evangelist, titles that were only held by him and St. John.

     Matthew’s devotion and courage were produced by the mercy he had been shown by Jesus.  Matthew had been a tax collector.  He had sold himself out to the Roman government to collect taxes and revenue for pagans.  Tax collectors were known for overcharging their fellow Jews to gain wealth for themselves.  It was no secret that they did this, but there was little anyone could do about it.  The Romans did not care, and the people were powerless to prevent it.  Matthew was probably a rich man.  He certainly was despised.  Nevertheless, Jesus did not avoid Matthew as a crook or dismiss him as a lost cause; rather, Jesus called him to a new life.  Jesus saw “Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s booth.  He said to him, ‘Follow me.’  Matthew got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9).  Matthew was living proof: Jesus sinners does receive.

    In response to God’s mercy, Matthew held a banquet and invited others to hear Jesus.  This resulted in Jesus associating with some unsavory people.  When you hear the reading, you probably find it endearing.  If you had witnessed it, you might have found it repulsive.  Imagine being invited to an LGBTQ luncheon and seeing Jesus there at the head table.  What would you think?  Would you sit down to eat, too?  Would you talk with anyone?  Would you try to keep a low profile and hope that nobody recognized you?  Now, if you felt anything cringe-worthy about those questions, then you agree with the Pharisees who thought it was reprehensible that Jesus would sit with sinners and eat with them.

     Blame Matthew.  Matthew invited Jesus to his house along with his disciples.  He also invited his friends to this banquet so they could meet Jesus and hear him.  Since Matthew had been despised, it is no surprise that his circle of friends was limited to fellow tax collectors and other low-lifes.  Just as Jesus did not steer clear of Matthew, so he did not steer clear of Matthew’s banquet.  “As Jesus was reclining at the table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were actually there too, eating with Jesus and his disciples” (Matthew 9:10).  Why?  Jesus sinners does receive.

     It is interesting that the Pharisees did not talk to Jesus about why he was doing this.  Instead, they approached his disciples.  “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 9:11)?  It seems that the Pharisees were trying to drive a wedge between Jesus and his disciples.  By confronting the disciples, the Pharisees were forcing them to consider if that is what good people would do.  “What kind of rabbi are you following if this is the kind of company he keeps?”  Maybe they could explain it.  Maybe they would apologize for it.  Maybe they would separate themselves from Jesus and learn to keep polite company so that no one would think less of them.  Jesus sinners does receive, but some sinners are just plain gross, right?

     Jesus interrupted the conversation.  Rather than see how his disciples might answer, Jesus spoke for himself.  “Jesus said to them, ‘The healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.  … In fact, I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Matthew 9:12-13).  First, we recognize how Jesus referred to the people who were sitting with him.  They were sinners.  They were sick, corrupted in their minds, hearts, and lives.  Jesus was not there to celebrate their sins.   He was there to rescue from their sins and to tell them that there is hope for sinners.  Jesus proclaimed the same mercy to them as he had to Matthew.  Jesus sinners does receive.

     The Pharisees, on the other hand, would not know such mercy.  Jesus issued a subtle rebuke to the Pharisees.  When he said, “I did not come to call the righteous” (Matthew 9:13), Jesus was referring to the Pharisees.  They were convinced that they were righteous.  They would not sully themselves by mingling with the wrong company.  They kept themselves separate, as if that is what made them pure.  Since they considered themselves righteous, they felt they had the right to look down on others and judge them.  If they were righteous, they would not need mercy from Jesus.  And they would not get it either.  Jesus comes only for sinners.

     If you have enjoyed a place in the Christian Church your whole life long, you are greatly blessed.  You have had the benefit and comfort of knowing that the blood of Jesus purifies you of all unrighteousness, and that the mercy of our Lord endures even through days of pain and sorrow.  Even in the darkest of days, you have basked in the light of God’s love and faithfulness.  Imagine going through life with none of that!  You are truly blessed.  But if there is a danger in it, it is that you may conclude the people who live outside of the Christian Church are to be despised because they should know better, or at least avoided until they clean themselves up.  Repent. 

     We have some friends who went hiking in West Virginia some years ago.  They parked at the trailhead and marched off into the woods.  Suddenly, they were lost.  I mean lost for over 24 hours.  They spent the night in the elements with few supplies and no shelter.  Mercifully, they were found.  They went to a hospital for a wellness check and to have some wounds and scrapes tended to.  Sometime later, the son who lived there wanted to show them where they got lost.  It turns out they were very close to their car.  If they knew the way back, they would not have had such a terrifying experience.  But lost is lost. 

     It is the same for many sinners.  Some make wicked choices on purpose.  Some make foolish choices—a moment of weakness followed by long-term consequences, and they are hurting.  Some are just confused, wandering through life without purpose, without direction, and without hope.  But they are all lost.  They need rescue.  It is our Lord who goes to find them.  And he uses you to do it.  Granted, many will seem repulsive to you because their minds and lives are so opposed to God’s word.  But how can anyone be restored to God unless God summons them?  How can the sick become healthy unless they encounter the healing words of God?  How can sinners become righteous unless they are cleansed by the blood of Jesus?  This is why Matthew invited his friends to the banquet with Jesus.  He wanted them to know the same mercy he had received.  The Pharisees, on the other hand, thought it was good and wise and safe to stay insulated in their little circle.  In doing so, they extended mercy to no one. That’s why Jesus told them, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’” (Matthew 9:13).

     The Lord calls us to show mercy, but he is the one who made the sacrifice to save people from the judgment they deserve.  Jesus did not treat people as their sins deserve.  Jesus, instead, suffered what sinners deserve.  Jesus received the blows, putting himself between God’s wrath and mankind.  Jesus is our refuge.  He is like a castle against which cannon balls are lobbed.  It is the castle which suffers the blows, but the people who take refuge inside of it are safe.  Outside of the castle is only danger and death.  But there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  In Christ, there is mercy, pardon, and peace. 

     This is why Matthew invited his friends to feast with Jesus.  The only way for anyone to receive Jesus’ mercy is if they hear about it.  That is why we, like St. Matthew, can be bold in telling others about it.  If anyone is going to be raised up from sinners to saint and from wickedness to righteousness, Jesus must do it.  He does not treat us as our sins deserve, but he does not leave us in our sins, either.  He declares us righteous, and he calls us to be righteous.  He restores the prostitutes to chastity.  He converts the foul-mouthed to those who speak better words.  He instructs the liars to be truthful, the self-centered to be generous, and those who prey on the weak to defend them.  Jesus sinners does receive and restore and rectify.  His mercy changes lives.  Jesus reveals the path of righteousness and guides people to a holy life as we look forward to a heavenly life. 

     You may not realize it, but Jesus still eats with sinners.  Sinners gather at the Lord’s altar to feast on the meal he has prepared for us.  He gives his body, slain for sinners, under the bread.  He gives his blood, shed to atone for sinners, under the wine.  He gives this sacred meal to sinners who long to have their sins forgiven, who are eager to have their faith strengthened, and who strive to amend their sinful lives and to live up to what God has called them to be.  Jesus sinners does receive, and feed, and strengthen.  He sets you apart for a more noble and virtuous life.

     Our Gospel reading ends abruptly.  We don’t know what happened to the guests St. Matthew had invited to his house.  Based on the rest of the Gospel, it appears that most Pharisees never did learn the lesson.  But what about the tax collectors and sinners?  It would be nice to think that they all repented and rejoiced in God’s mercy.  But people are people, so their reactions may have varied.  When Jesus noted that he had come for those who were sick, some may have hung their heads in shame and confessed, “Yeah, that’s me.”  Others may have sneered at Jesus and said, “I’m not sick.  My life is fine.”  Who knows?  Maybe Matthew was the only tax collector there who embraced the mercy of our Lord.

     The point is this: We don’t know who will rejoice in Jesus’ mercy, who will prefer to keep their sins, or who will continue to look down on others.  But we do know that all people need to hear about Jesus’ love and mercy.  So, like St. Matthew, we pray that God will give us a firm faith and make us courageous confessors of God’s word.   Like St. Matthew, let’s invite our friends to hear Jesus.  Even if someone’s past is despicable or diabolical, there is good news: Jesus sinners does receive.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM

I bought this coffee mug just a few weeks ago.  I thought it was high time that I had some Detroit Tigers' paraphernalia in my office.  

Ever since I bought this, the Tigers have gone into free fall.  Did I do that?????  Hmmmmmmm...

Sermon -- Funeral for Cheryl Ann Crenshaw (September 19, 2025)

Christian Funeral for 

+ Cheryl Ann (nee: Edwards) Crenshaw +

November 6, 1948 – September 10, 2025

1 CORINTHIANS 15:54-58

DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.

In the name + of Jesus.

    I was listening to the radio in my car the other day, and I heard it reported that the first death by West Nile Virus was confirmed in Michigan.  If it was the first such death and it is already September, that’s pretty rare.  The fact that I could say, “I know who that was,” is even more rare.  For over a week, you were hoping for better test results and for a happier outcome.  We said prayers for her recovery.  We asked for healing so that she could return home.  We committed her to the Lord’s care. 

     It may not have looked like it, but Cheryl Crenshaw was in the Lord’s care the whole time.  Psalm 139 says, “In your book all of them were written.  Days were determined, before any of them existed” (Psalm 139:16).  It may have been rare that the Lord used West Nile Virus to mark the end of Cheryl’s time on earth, but the Lord had this date marked out from the very beginning.  The Lord had never lost control.  Although you may not be happy about the outcome of her stay at the hospital, Cheryl Crenshaw is enjoying the most blessed outcome every Christian hopes for—life in everlasting glory.

     From our side of heaven, it does not look glorious.  How could it?  Death seems to have claimed victory because it has claimed a loved one.  In fact, death seems to have taunted Cheryl and boasted of victory for a long time.  Death claimed her beloved, Bob, some 26 years ago.  Death claimed an infant son from her even before that.  And although Cheryl’s various ailments and health concerns did not result in death, they were a continual reminder that bodies fail and death awaits us all.   

     Everyone knows that all people will die.  No one gets out of this world alive.  Cheryl’s death certificate may say something related to West Nile Virus, but the Bible tells us why all people die.  “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  Not everyone gets West Nile Virus, but everyone is a sinner.  Since everyone is a sinner, and since death comes as a result of sin, death claims victory over all of us. 

     Or so it seems.

     “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)!  God the Father has had mercy upon us in our sinful condition and sent his Son to rescue us from the tyranny of death.  Our joy is not merely that Jesus Christ wins us eternal life, but that he brings to us the resurrection from the dead.

     If Jesus had come just to give us eternal life and we would go on living forever in this world, just imagine the sorrows and pains that we would endure without end!  How many wars, how many natural disasters, how many pandemics, how many injuries, how many doctor’s appointments would we have to live through?  So, Jesus does not just clear out the hospitals from time to time, sending people home only to become more weary and more frustrated over a world that never gets better.  The Lord loves you too much to let you go on and on with life in a sin-corrupted world.

     God the Father sent Jesus Christ to swallow up death in victory.  To do that, Jesus had to take away our sin.  He bore our sin in his body when he went to the cross.  There, he absorbed the curse for all of it.  Since Jesus has taken your curse and died for your sin, he has rescued you from its condemnation.  Cheryl Crenshaw stood before God in judgment when she left this world, but the Lord had already told her what her judgment would be: “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  Having been baptized into Christ, Cheryl already died once.  Sin was put to death in her, and God raised her up a saint.  She was purified and clothed in Jesus’ righteousness.  She may not have known when her last day would be, but she did know what her future was because Jesus secured it for her.  Death has been swallowed up in victory, and life eternal is the prize.

     Although Cheryl’s baptism gave her the status of a saint, her body was not quite there yet.  These bodies of ours are still corrupted.  With Cheryl, that was evidenced by her getting tired, walking with a cane, and contracting a virus.  But the Savior shows us that neither sin nor death has the last word.  Jesus went into death in order to put an end to its rule over us.  Jesus was laid in a grave with a body that was bruised, beaten, flogged, and pierced.  It could not have been pretty.  Jesus let the grave swallow him so that he could destroy it from the inside out.  Jesus burst forth and swallowed death in victory.  When Jesus rose from the dead, he came with a body that was glorified.  His mortal body was raised immortal—forever victorious over death and decay.  Jesus did not merely overcome death; now he owns it.

     This is the victory Jesus won for Cheryl and for all who believe and are baptized.  This body, which has been reduced to dust and ashes, will be restored at the resurrection.  On that day, it will return in glory.  As St. Paul wrote, “Once this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put on immortality, then what is written will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).  Cheryl will not only have eternal life, she will have a risen body that will be imperishable.  It will never get sick or grow frail.  She will have a risen body that will be immortal.  She will never die again, for she has a living Savior who promises that she will live with him.  He has swallowed up death in victory.

     Maybe it seems like death mocks us and taunts us, but Jesus has turned the tables on death.  Now we get to mock death and taunt the grave: “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  Grave, do you boast that you hold Cheryl’s ashes?  Go ahead.  We will get them back.  Death, do you think you have won a victory?  You are nothing but the door to heavenly glory.  For all who live in Christ live forever.  Here, we live in weakness; there, we live in glory.  “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  In the end, you get nothing.  The victory belongs to Jesus Christ and all those who are his.

     Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Whatever weaknesses Cheryl had to endure are over.  Whatever sorrows she faced have passed.  Whatever struggles she knew she does not have to deal with anymore.  Her anxieties are done.  Now there is only peace and joy and rest.  And soon comes the resurrection where she will be risen, rejuvenated, and restored, body and soul, to live in the new heavens and the new earth where all things are new.  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)! 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (September 18, 2025)

 Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is Sundays at 9:00 AM.

Adult Bible Class is Sundays at 9:00 AM.  We will study the book of Revelation.  A schedule can be found here.
Bible Matters meets Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.  We will have an overview of the Minor Prophets.  A schedule can be found here.  

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

EVENTS THIS FALL
Octoberfest, a celebration of the Lutheran Reformation, will be on Sunday, September 28.  (Yes, I know, SEPTEMBER. But that’s when they do it in Munich, so there!) The schedule for our Octoberfest is:

               5:00 PM -- Vespers
               5:30 PM – A bratwurst dinner
               6:30 PM – Luther Lecture (Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony, protector of Luther)
In order to make sure we will have enough food on hand for this event, please RSVP to welsnovi@aol.com, indicating your name and how many will be coming to this event. If you would be so willing, please bring a salad, side dish, or dessert to round out the meal.

Trunk or Treat will be Sunday, October 26 (3:00 - 5:00 PM).

6th Grade Bible History will begin on Wednesday, September 24 (5:00-6:00 PM).

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
          9 Mile Road between Haggerty and Meadowbrook is OPEN in both directions.  It is also nice and smooth.  Enjoy the drive! 

CHRISTIAN FUNERAL

The funeral for Cheryl Crenshaw will be tomorrow (Friday, September 19) at 11:00 AM.  Please keep the Crenshaw family in your prayers.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (September)

>  Our projector has not been consistent in projecting.  Since it is better than ten years old, we are considering a replacement.  We are looking into getting a smart TV with interactive capabilities which allows HDMI input as well as ability to draw with a special, electronic pen.  

>  We are hoping to get handicapped accessible entry via push-button installed in the coming weeks.  Currently, the parts are back-ordered.  So, we will wait. 

>  We plan on added to our Servant Keeper office management system to allow for texting to large groups, similar to the email blasts, but with texting.  When it is ready to go, we will do a test run after church some Sunday.  

>  After a number of years of service, Pamela Mattison will no longer be cleaning our facility.  Her health is preventing her from continuing.  We thank her for her service and will be planning on hiring a professional janitorial service soon.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from September 14, 2025. (1718) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, September 14, 2025 - YouTube

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
          For the most part, the pastor will be observing formal office hours (Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). Occasionally, duties will take him away from the office during these scheduled times, so you will still want to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Bible Matters -- Wednesdays at 6:30 PM 

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com 

YouTube -- 14th Sunday after Pentecost (September 14, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, September 14, 2025.

Minor Festival -- The Festival of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

            Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  

            On Sunday, September 21, we will recognize a minor festival, the Festival of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.

            Matthew, also called Levi (Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-32), was a tax collector before Jesus called him to be a disciple and later appointed him to be an apostle.  We know little of Matthew other than his seedy background (tax collectors were often thieves).  Yet, the Lord, who redeemed this wretched sinner, had a special purpose for him.  As an apostle, Matthew devoted his life to proclaiming the good news of forgiveness through Jesus to others.  He was also inspired by the Holy Spirit to record the words and works of Jesus in the gospel that bears his name.  Even tradition is vague on Matthew’s ministry and death, except that he was martyred in some way.  Just as the Lord redeemed this sinner and called him to service, so the Lord does for us sinners as well.

Sermon -- 14th Sunday after Pentecost (September 14, 2025)

HOSEA 3:1-5

 A SPURNED LOVER REDEEMS HIS UNFAITHFUL BRIDE.

In the name + of Jesus.

    Even if you are unfamiliar with them, you probably have great respect for the prophets.  There have been many preachers throughout the history of the world.  Very few have had their words inspired by our Lord and preserved for God’s people until Judgment Day.  You may know next to nothing about the prophet Hosea.  Maybe you have never read the book of the Bible which bears his name.  Nevertheless, it is right to have respect for Hosea, but you probably would not envy him. 

     Consider what Hosea recorded: “When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go.  Take for yourself an immoral wife and children produced by sexual immorality, because the land has been committing flagrant immorality, turning away from the Lord.’  So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim” (Hosea 1:2-3).  How would you like that?  “Go and find a floozy.  Marry her.  She will continually cheat on you.  She will have children, but they will not be yours.  They will be children of infidelity.  Love her anyway.”  That is what God commanded Hosea to do.

     It is not the only time our Lord gave his prophets bizarre commands.  While the prophets spoke for the Lord, the Lord occasionally had the prophets’ lives be the sermon.  This was the case with Hosea.  He was the faithful and loving husband whose wife was unfaithful to him.  Hosea was an image of the Lord.  Gomer was an image of the northern tribes of Israel who turned away from the Lord, again and again, to chase after other sources of truth and pleasure.  Israel fell in love with whatever promised prosperity, pleasure, and power.  They pursued other lovers and spurned the Lord.

     What should a spurned lover do?  How should a faithful husband respond to a bride who cheats on him repeatedly?  I can’t think of anyone who would argue, “Well, he should put up with that and accept that this is who she is.”  No, we would expect the husband to divorce his wife and to send her away, perhaps with a few choice words.

     At first, the Lord’s words were calls to return.  The Lord sent prophets like Hosea to his beloved again and again.  Again and again, he called them back to him, wooing them and pleading with them to turn away from their false gods and their perverse worship.  Again and again, Israel spurned the Lord’s overtures.  The Lord cannot be faulted for his efforts.  He was, indeed, slow to anger.  He was most patient for a favorable response.  He did not get it; and finally, judgment came upon Israel in harsh and cruel ways. 

     The nation of Assyria came and ravaged God’s people.  Those who survived the sword, starvation, and disease were carried off into captivity where they died.  It happened just as the Lord had warned through Hosea: “The people of Israel will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred memorial stones, and without the special vest or family idols.” (Hosea 3:4).  The kingdom and the worship ceased during years of captivity.  The Lord had warned such judgment would come upon those who spurned him.  Perhaps the people did not think the Lord would follow through.  Many still don’t.  Don’t dismiss God’s warnings, and don’t confuse God’s patience with indifference.  The judgment he had warned about came at last—with crushing violence and banishment.  And it was deserved.

     There are many today who reject the notion that the Lord would send people to hell despite all his warnings.  They argue that a loving God would never do that.  Or if he would, they argue that he is not a loving God.  Perhaps you have kicked around those thoughts yourself.  “What kind of God is this who demands love and obedience under the threat of eternal damnation if he doesn’t get it?”  When the argument is set up that way, it surely makes our Lord look petty.  Do not be deceived by people who present God this way.  It is like the people who ask, “So, have you stopped beating your wife?”  A “Yes” means you admit that you have beaten your wife.  A “No” means you still are beating your wife.  The word of the Lord is most certainly not, “Love me or I’ll damn you.”

     Many people fail to understand this: No one begins his life in the kingdom of God.  No one is even neutral, as if God decides to toss some aside because he can.  All are sinners.  All stand outside of God’s love because of this sinful condition.  The Scriptures testify: “The mind-set of the sinful flesh is hostile to God” (Romans 8:7).  God is regarded as the enemy.  So, if anyone enters in the kingdom of God, it is because the Lord has brought him in.  If anyone loves God, it is God who has produced that love in him.  The Bible teaches, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).  He demonstrates a love that is unexpected and unearned.  He woos those who are unfaithful to be his very own.  He shows himself a faithful lover, not plotting to take, but seeking to give.

     If a woman has racked up some significant debt—credit cards, school loans, car payments, what have you—the man who marries her assumes those debts as his own.  Even though he did not accumulate them, he becomes responsible for them.  This is what Jesus has done for his bride, the Church.  In fact, for more than the Church, but for the world.  All people are accountable to God for their lives.  Sins deserve to be judged.  The guilty are held accountable.  They must pay the price.  But Jesus assumed the guilt for all.  He made himself accountable for the sins of the world.  He submitted himself to divine judgment, and he paid the price.  Although perfectly faithful to his heavenly Father, Jesus died as an adulterer, a cheater, a manipulator, and a liar; for the obscene, the impure, and the perverse. 

     Jesus covers sinners with his own innocence.  He opens the kingdom of heaven to those who were destined for hell.  If people go to hell, it is not because God failed them.  God has loved them with a selfless love.  The Lord does not thunder, “Love me or go to hell.”  He pleads, “To escape hell, come to me.  Don’t love the things that result in death.  Love me, for I will give you life and peace and hope.”  The spurned lover continues to reach out to those who have been unfaithful to him.

     Sadly, Israel did not listen or care.  They spurned the Lord for other gods.  They devoted their love to others.  Like Gomer, Hosea’s wife, they prostituted themselves to whoever made promises, even though those promises were empty.  They were willingly deceived, to their own destruction.

     Now, this is where God’s instructions to Hosea are incredible.  This is where Hosea’s life became the second part of the sermon he was preaching.  “The LORD said to me, ‘Go again.  Show love to a woman who is loved by another man, a woman who keeps committing adultery.  Show love just as the LORD loves the people of Israel, even though they keep turning to other gods and loving the raisin cakes.’ (Note: used in pagan worship.)  So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and nine bushels of barley.  I said to her, ‘You will stay with me for many days.  You must not be promiscuous.  You must not be with any other man, and I will also be for you’” (Hosea 3:1-3).  The Lord sent the spurned lover to redeem his unfaithful bride. 

     Hosea is an image of Jesus Christ.  He is the Groom, and the Church is his Bride.  Even though each of us has been unfaithful and have sinned against him, the spurned lover redeemed his unfaithful bride.  St. Paul wrote, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, by cleansing her with the washing of water in connection with the Word.  He did this so that he could present her to himself as a glorious church, having no stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but so that she would be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27).  The price Jesus paid to redeem us was himself.  He spared nothing, but gave himself completely into a cursed death to rescue us from dying the death we have earned.  In love for us, Jesus cleansed us of every blemish and stain from sin. 

     A bride on her wedding day wants to be as beautiful as possible.  But if a bride wakes up on her wedding day to discover a blemish on her face, she panics.  She fears that her groom will focus on her blemish rather than her beauty.  (News flash, ladies: He won’t.)  The Lord Jesus, however, removes every blemish from us.  Rather than leaving us in rags, he has clothed us with garments of salvation.  He presents us to himself in radiance and beauty and purity.  How great is his forgiveness!  He does not scowl at us, reminding us again and again of how we turned our wandering eyes to sin.  He does not threaten or manipulate us.  Rather, he speaks tenderly to his Bride, continually professing his faithful love to his Church.

     This is one reason why our Lord calls for chastity among people and why he holds up marriage in such high regard.  Those who are single are to reserve themselves for the one person to whom he or she will be united in marriage.  Marital relations are to be reserved for married couples.  And married couples are to be exclusive to one another.  Each is to be devoted to the other, love each other, and exalt each other.  For every marriage is the image of Jesus Christ to his Church.  Everything outside of the union of one man and one woman in a life-long union perverts the image of Christ and his Church.  The Lord calls the perversion of his image an abomination.  On the other hand, the union of Christ and his Church is glorious.  That is why God’s establishment of the union between one man and one woman in marriage is glorious as well.

     Even though Israel was unfaithful to the Lord, the Lord remained faithful to his bride.  The Lord would not forget or forsake his covenant promise.  The spurned lover redeemed his unfaithful bride.  The unfaithful bride repented and was restored to him again.  Hosea had foretold it: “Afterward the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king.  They will come trembling to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:5). 

     We come trembling before our God, not because he will damn us if we don’t.  Rather, it is because we know that we are not worthy of his love.  And yet, we marvel.  For, the Son of David loves us faithfully and fervently.  Therefore, we pledge ourselves to be his exclusively.  For, he is the only one whose love is truly pure and selfless, and he is the only one who saves.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.