YouTube -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 19, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, January 19, 2025.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 19, 2025)

ISAIAH 62:1-5

THE LORD DELIGHTS IN A BLESSED UNION.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The first miracle of Jesus was done at a wedding feast where he changed water into wine so that the feast could continue.  We might argue that there were matters far more urgent to account for Jesus’ first miracle.  Jesus could have cured lepers or restored the limbs of the paralyzed.  Jesus could have restored sight to the blind or hearing to the deaf.  What if Jesus’ first miracle was to drive a demon out of one who had been possessed?  What a statement that would have made!  And yet, Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding banquet.  This begs the question: Why there?

     Perhaps the best reason is because of a theme that repeats itself throughout the Bible.  That theme is the blessed union between a husband and a wife.  The Bible begins with a wedding in the first chapters.  God had established this blessed union in the Garden of Eden, and called it very good.  It was not a reaction to sin entering the world, as if God said, “I had better come up with some arrangement so that people won’t behave like animals in heat.”  Rather, the Lord saw marriage as a godly arrangement which benefits both the man and the woman.  Each would be bound to the other, serve each other, and uplift each other.  Their sexual impulses would be fulfilled exclusively with one another.  The marriage bond would grow stronger as they built their lives together.  As God blessed them with children, they would raise them in a godly home.  This is what God calls very good.  It is still God’s plan, and it is still very good.  The Lord delights in a blessed union.

     The blessed union of man and wife finds his greatest fulfillment in the union of Jesus Christ and his Church.  Our Lord Jesus Christ binds himself to his Church.  He exalts her and provides her with good things.  The Church, in turn, honors and serves the Lord with loving obedience.  The Lord is faithful to his Church, and he looks for his Church to be faithful to him.  The Lord delights in this blessed union.

     But faithfulness is a two-way street.  Throughout the Old Testament, God’s chosen people were not faithful to him.  They turned to other suitors to find their happiness.  When there was a drought, they turned to Canaanite fertility gods and adopted their perverse worship.  At other times, they were enamored with nations which were powerful and rich.  They sought happiness and fulfillment through allegiance to godless kings.  The people were ruled by their belly, their purse, and their lust.  They violated the sacred union they had with the Lord.

     The Lord sent prophets, again and again, to woo his people back to him.  Eventually, the prophets declared a bitter divorce between God and his people.  They would be dragged into captivity, ironically, by the very nations they chased after.  The northern tribes of Israel were enamored with the Assyrians.  They came to Israel not to love them, but to conquer, to kill, and to drag them into exile.  The southern tribes did not learn the lesson.  Later, the Babylonians with whom they were enamored came to kill, to conquer, and to drag them into exile.  The people were abandoned.  The land was desolate.  The people, the nations, and the gods who were supposed to make them happy abused and failed them.  Trying to gratify their belly, their purse, and their lust left them empty.  The blessed union had been broken because Israel was not faithful to the Lord or to his word. 

     The Lord looks for faithfulness from his people.  But whenever we sin against God’s word, we prove ourselves unfaithful.  We chase after other things to make us happy.  We, too, are ruled by our belly, our purse, and our lust.  We, too, run after what we think will satisfy us more than God can.  This is true in all things, but it is especially common in regard to marriage and the marriage bed.

     The Lord established marriage as a blessed union between one man and one woman.  He called it very good, and it still is.  Any deviation from God’s design perverts what God has created.  But how many people seek their happiness outside of God’s design?  Marriage has been redefined.  Now it is the union of anyone.  It could be man to man or woman to woman.  It could include multiple people or be open to other partners.  It could even be a woman marrying her cat (which happened in the UK in 2022).  In some cases, people become bored with their own spouse and seek thrills through adulterous affairs.  Sometimes it is not an affair with a real person, but with an image on a computer screen.  God’s word says, “Marriage is to be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed is to be kept undefiled” (Hebrews 13:4), but many seize the bed without commitment to the marriage.  The Lord says this is worthy of judgment.  Besides incurring God’s wrath, it is also destructive to any relationship a husband or wife might hope for. 

     The Lord delights in a blessed union, and that is because marriage is an image of the union between Christ and his Church.  Those who alter God’s plan for marriage pervert the image of Christ and his Church.  That is why the Lord takes these sins so seriously.  These sins show disdain for God who established marriage as a blessed union.  We end up telling God that we know better, and that we will pursue our own paths to happiness —as if God is in no position to judge or even to comment on the holy estate he ordained.  Repent.

     Even though the Lord has been a jilted lover, he is steadfast in his love.  He remains faithful and seeks after those who are his.  He persists in his commitment.  That’s what Isaiah told the people of Israel who would be taken into captivity.  The Lord would restore their blessed union.  He said, “You will never again be called Abandoned, and your land will never again be called Desolation, for you will be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land will be called Married, because the Lord delights in you, and your land will be married.  …Just as a bridegroom rejoices over a bride, your God will rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:4-5). 

     The Lord delights in a blessed union, and he is the one who brings it about.  Isaiah declared the word of the Lord: “For the sake of Zion I will not be silent.  For the sake of Jerusalem I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth shining brightly, and her salvation burns like a torch” (Isaiah 62:1).  The righteousness which goes forth comes through Jesus.  The salvation which shines emanates from Jesus.  He is the light of the world which shows us the faithful love of God.

     The Lord Jesus is a faithful groom whose delight is in his bride, the Church.  Jesus will not leave you abandoned or desolate.  Although you and I have not been faithful to him, he persists in his love for you.  As a benevolent groom, he has assumed your debt and made it his own.  In Old Testament times, a woman who was proven to be unfaithful to her husband could be put to death.  Jesus, taking your place, was put to death for you.  By his death, he covered your debt and settled your account.  He has been faithful to you.  And now he dotes on you, seeking your highest good and promising you eternal pleasures.

     The Lord delights in a blessed union.  Jesus has acted to reconcile you to himself.  He is the dowry that wins you for himself.  St. Paul reminds you that “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).  Jesus Christ expunged your record and wiped it clean.  If Jesus had mercy upon prostitutes (whose sins were obvious and repeated) and restored them to morality and purity, then he does the same for you no matter what your past has been.  There is no sin which stands against you—no infidelity, no lustful cravings, no lingering blame for chasing after happiness from other suitors.  All past offenses have been pardoned.  “Just as a bridegroom rejoices over a bride, your God will rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5). 

     The Lord delights in a blessed union.  He has restored you to purity.  Isaiah tells you, “You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will assign to you.  …For you will be called My Delight Is in Her” (Isaiah 62:2,4).  The Lord Jesus not only delights in you; you are evidence of his glory.  Isaiah said, “You will be a beautiful crown in the Lord’s hand, and a royal diadem in the palm of your God” (Isaiah 62:3).  The Lord keeps you like a crown in his hand because he is proud to show you off.  He likes to gaze at you, as one might gaze upon jewels to admire their beauty.  The Lord does not see your flaws or dwell on your weaknesses, for you have been purified by his blood.  Do you see how much your Lord loves you?  He does not deceive you, abuse you, or manipulate you.  Rather, he seeks your good.  He gives you precious gifts.  He guides you in paths of righteousness.  He protects you from death and the devil.  Where else could you possibly turn to find greater satisfaction, greater joy, and greater hope?  The Lord delights in this blessed union.  And what other delight could we hope for?

     So, Jesus’ first miracle was done at a wedding.  He turned water into wine so that the feast would not come to an embarrassing end.  And typical of our Lord, what he supplied was far better than the people had previously and far more than they needed.  His grace is always poured out in excess.  His love and forgiveness do not run out.

     The Bible begins with a marriage, and it ends with one, too.  St. John was given a glimpse of the glories of heaven and wrote, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give (God) glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come.  His bride has made herself ready, and she was given bright, clean, fine linen to wear.  (In fact, the fine linen is the ‘not guilty’ verdicts pronounced on the saints.)  The angel said to me, ‘Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7-9).  The blessed union will culminate in the wedding feast of heaven which will be celebrated through all eternity.  The feast will be endless, and our joys will go on uninterrupted.  Blessed are you who, by God’s grace, will be there.

     And blessed are you now who already get to partake of the heavenly feast.  The holy Bridegroom nourishes his Bride so that his Church can serve him in strength and in joy.  The feast goes on because your Lord provides all you need.  Blessed are you who have been united to Jesus Christ.  And he delights in this blessed union.

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

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 14, 2024)

2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-17

JESUS CALLS US TO FOLLOW HIM.

In the name + of Jesus.

      St. Paul gave thanks to God for the Christians who lived in Thessalonica.  In two brief letters to these Thessalonians—eight total chapters—St. Paul gave thanks to God five times for their faithfulness to the Lord.  If you know their history, you know why.

     When St. Paul first came to Thessalonica, he went to the synagogue as was his custom.  He proclaimed to the Jews the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises.  He showed from Scripture that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-promised Messiah.  That news was not always so eagerly received.  Even Nathanael in our Gospel reading could not believe that anything worthwhile could come out of Nazareth, much less the Savior of the world.  Some in Thessalonica received God’s word eagerly, glad that God had fulfilled his promises.  Others bitterly rejected the message.  They did not tell Paul, “We will agree to disagree.”  Instead, they turned to violence.  They gathered a mob and stirred up a riot.  As a result, the Christians hurried St. Paul and his co-workers out of town in the middle of the night so that they would not be killed.   

     Paul, Silas, and Timothy were safe, but the Christians in Thessalonica remained.  Their homes, families, friends, and businesses were in Thessalonica, but so was the persecution.  St. Paul ached for those new Christians.  He prayed fervently for them, but he had to wonder: Would they remain faithful to Jesus if they had to suffer for his name?  Would they follow Jesus if the way involved violence or mockery or loss of friends and business?  Did they resort back to life without Jesus, living as they did before St. Paul showed up?

     When he could stand it no longer, Paul sent Timothy back to see if there was still a church in Thessalonica.  Timothy returned with great news.  Despite the persecution, the people had continued to follow Jesus.  Then Paul wrote two letters in quick succession.  The first letter expressed joy that the Thessalonians remained faithful to Jesus.  The second letter encouraged them to continue following Jesus, even if there was a cost to do so. 

     Jesus calls us to follow him.  Rather than consider what we might suffer for the sake of Jesus, let us consider what we gain.  After all, if following Jesus means suffering, what we gain from him had better be worth it.  St. Paul reminded the Thessalonians what they gained by following Jesus.  He wrote, “God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). 

     First, he notes, “God chose you.”  Their meeting with St. Paul was not coincidental.  Yes, it was Paul’s plan to go there and to preach, but the Thessalonians had not planned this.  The good news of Jesus was new to them.  The summons to follow Jesus was by God’s design.  Their faith in God’s promises was God’s working.  And so it is with you.  Perhaps you grew up in a Christian family and never knew any differently.  That is by God’s design, too.  God put you where he wanted you so that you would be set apart by the Holy Spirit and would know the truth.  Perhaps the summons to follow Jesus came later in life for you.  God arranged it that you would meet someone who told you about Jesus.  And God worked in you so that you would acknowledge that God’s word is true.

     Sometimes, the truth of God’s word gets rejected.  Those who rejected it in Thessalonica distorted the message to discourage others from even listening to it.  These were the charges lobbed against St. Paul and his co-workers: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, …and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:6-7).  Kind of true, but not really.  Yes, we do pledge our allegiance to King Jesus who lives and reigns over heaven and earth, but we do not call for insurrection against our governing authorities. 

     Do not be surprised when people misrepresent the Christian faith.  People who hate Jesus will say anything to dishonor him and to scorn the people who follow him.  They make false assertions about the Christian faith.  Because they are made boldly, many believe they are true.  Because they are made repeatedly, many regard them as common knowledge.  One common complaint that people make is that they are against organized religion.  But what does that mean?  What is “organized religion” and what about it do they hate?  Challenge the assertion, and listen to their reply.  Maybe someone was lied to or conned.  Their anger would be valid, but it should be aimed at the liar, not Jesus.  Jesus does not lie or cheat anyone.  But many do not know why they hate the church.  It sounds wise just to repeat what others say.  Assertions often go unchallenged.  Many regard assertions as facts.  They are like the mob in Thessalonica who got stirred up, even if they did not know what there was to be angry about.  Just because assertions are popular does not mean they are true.  Jesus calls us to follow him so that we are not deceived. 

     When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael was skeptical.  He did not think a Savior would come from some nowhere village like Nazareth.  Philip did not engage in a debate.  He simply invited Nathanael, “Come and see” (John 1:46).  This is all you need to do, too.  If you feel that you are capable of debating someone about what is true and what is not, go for it.  But often, this ends up being more about winning the debate with “Gotcha” statements than it does proclaiming God’s promises.  Rather than debate, ask, “Do you know what Jesus taught?  Maybe you would like to know, then your mockery can at least be informed.”  Many who despise Jesus don’t even know what he has to say or give.  In order for anyone to turn from sin and follow Jesus, they must hear the words of Jesus.

     Jesus calls us to follow him so that we continue to hear and grow in his word.  St. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to continue in it for the same reason.  They needed to follow Jesus so that they could stand firm as they suffered for the sake of his name.  St. Paul encouraged them, “Brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). 

     To follow Jesus is to listen to him.  The apostles like Philip and Nathanael were called to follow Jesus.  They heard his teachings and observed his actions.  Since we cannot do that, but the apostles recorded the words and works of Jesus so that we can know them.  These are the traditions that St. Paul referred to.  Traditions are literally, “things handed down” to us.  We have Jesus’ words handed down to us—whether they are preached or we read them for ourselves.  To hear the words of Jesus—to mark, read, learn, and inwardly digest them—is to follow him and to gain all he offers and gives. 

     Jesus calls us to follow him.  So, what does he give us that makes it worth it?  St. Paul wrote, “Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace” (2 Thessalonians 2:16).  Our Lord Jesus gives us eternal comfort.  That means the comfort he gives us is always consoling our consciences and granting peace to us.  I don’t know how long the persecution endured in Thessalonica.  I don’t know how intense it got.  I would imagine even a week of persecution would make life miserable—either suffering the hardships or enduring the stress of what might happen.  Who would not be tempted to abandon Jesus if there were a real cost to following him—loss of friends, reputation, or business?  If the persecution were particularly intense, they may have lost their lives.  But they never lost the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  They never lost God’s favor so that, whenever or however death came to them, they would be welcomed into the glories of the heavenly kingdom.  That comfort is eternal.  That hope remains secure.

     So it is for you, too.  You and I have not suffered intense persecution—ridicule, perhaps, but not confiscated homes or imprisonment.  Even if our troubles are not to the level of the Thessalonians, we still have our share of troubles.  Jesus calls us to follow him.  That means we are set apart not just from the curse but also the practice of sin.  It means we are set apart for good works and holy living.  If you continue in godly thoughts and godly living, the world will think you are strange.  You will be pressured to put away your faith, or at least to limit your faith to these four walls.  You will be told, “Keep your faith in your head.  You can believe what you want, just don’t talk about it.  Do not bring it out into the open.”  But if you follow Jesus—not just in church or in your head, but also “in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:17)—some may make your life miserable.

     Yes, the world can be a miserable place for God’s people.  But Jesus calls us to follow him to find eternal comfort in spite of any misery you may face—whether persecution, sickness, job loss, betrayal by friends, or your own death.  None of these cancels Jesus’ sufferings and death for you.  Nothing erases Jesus’ payment for your sins.  No matter what you suffer in this life, your eternal life is guaranteed by Jesus.  The world may condemn you; Jesus will not.  He has taken away your sins.  The world will judge you, but Jesus’ judgment is the only one that matters.  His judgment is eternal and final, and he has told you what it is: You have been cleansed by his blood and are innocent of all charges.  Everyone in the world is on their way to the grave.  You and I are too.  But Jesus has overcome death, and he will deliver us out of it.  If death should come through violence or virus, Jesus assures you of a resurrection with an incorruptible body and an endless life of glorious splendor.  This is the Christian hope. 

     Jesus calls you to follow him because he alone supplies eternal comfort and good hope.  Rather than call it hope, let’s call it expectation.  We expect to have eternal life.  We expect the resurrection of the body.  We expect endless peace and glory with Jesus.  We expect it because Jesus has promised it.  He has backed up every promise with his death and resurrection.  No matter what the world promises you, it cannot give you the blessings Jesus gives.  No matter how the world threatens you, it cannot take away the blessings Jesus gives.  Jesus calls us to follow him.  All who do will pass through a world of sorrow and follow Jesus into endless glory.

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

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 15, 2023)

Here is the service from Sunday, January 15, 2023.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 15, 2023)

JOHN 1:29-41

BEHOLD!  THE LAMB OF GOD!

In the name + of Jesus.

     When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking by, he appeared to be just another Jewish man among the crowds who came to hear John preach.  In fact, John himself did not make much of Jesus when he first saw him.  John admitted, “I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit’” (John 1:33).  It is exactly as Isaiah had declared: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). 

     This is the way it always is with Jesus.  When he was born, there was nothing spectacular about the birth itself.  Bystanders would have witnessed a young Jewish peasant who delivered a baby boy.  The spectacular part of Jesus’ birth came out in the fields among the shepherds.  The angels appeared to them to reveal what was really going on in Bethlehem: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). 

     Of course, Mary and Joseph knew, but not because the delivery of the baby was miraculous.  There was no special glow around the manger or halo over Jesus’ head.  Mary and Joseph knew that their baby boy was the Son of God because an angel had made it known to them.  The word of God revealed to them the divine nature of this human baby.  They took it on faith, not by sight.  And so it is with anyone.

     If you want to know who Jesus truly is and why it matters to you, it must be revealed to you through the word of God.  If you don’t have the word of God, you might say some nice things about Jesus, but you will not rightly honor him or benefit from his work. 

     Jesus’ identity was revealed to John by the word of God.  “He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:33).  What was revealed to John he made known to all who were there.  John pointed to Jesus—quite literally—and declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)!  Not only did John identify Jesus, he began to direct his own disciples over to Jesus.  John was a prophet, but Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God.  He is the one whom all people need.  So, “the next day again John … looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:35-36). 

     The two disciples followed Jesus and then spent the day with him.  By their conversations with Jesus, those two disciples were even more convinced that Jesus is the Christ.  By the end of the day, Andrew was compelled to find his brother and to spread the news: “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41).

     Behold, the Lamb of God!  Could there be a more vivid description of Jesus?  He is the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament—both religious ceremonies and prophecies.  Every day, lambs were presented at the temple.  In both the morning and evening sacrifices, lambs were slain for the sins of the people.  Their blood was shed and splashed against the side of the altar.  Their bodies were put on the altar and turned to smoke.  The smoke was a pleasing aroma to the Lord.  On account of the lambs that were slain, the Lord did not count the sins of the people against them.  When the people saw the smoke rising from the altar, they knew that God’s mercy rested upon them.  This happened every morning and every evening so that the people’s hope and comfort remained constant.  But now, Jesus had come: Behold, THE Lamb of God!

     The sacrifice of lambs goes all the way back to the first chapters of Genesis.  You recall that Cain and Abel presented offerings to the Lord.  Sadly, Cain did not believe the promises of God.  He went through the motions of worship and was angry that the Lord did not accept his bloodless sacrifice of vegetables.  But Abel, trusting in God and his promises, “brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions” (Genesis 4:4).  Now, a question arises here: How did they know that sacrifices, more specifically blood sacrifices, were the way that God wanted to be worshiped?

     I suppose we could chalk it up to conscience.  Our consciences bear witness that we have dishonored the Lord with our lives.  We feel bad when our sins harm other people, and rightly so.  Sins are wicked and they are hurtful.  They cause strife.  They destroy trust.  They show people how little we think or care for them.  It is right to confess our sins against one another, to seek forgiveness from each other, and to turn from our self-centered ways and instead show love, respect, and concern for our fellow man.

     Some sins do not harm our fellow man.  Many people insist that such private sins are fine, but that is a lie.  Every sin—whether it is private or public—is an attack on God.  Every sin—whether it is committed by your hands or only in your head—is rebellion against his word.  Our baptism rite reminds us of the depth of our sinful condition.  You will notice that it is not that it does not address how we treat each other; it speaks about our relationship with God.  It says: “We are without true fear of God and true faith in God.”  In other words, we don’t believe God, trust him, fear him, or love him.  If we did, we would not only keep his commands, we would do it with delight rather than with resentment.  But because we are sinners, we become angry and defensive when his word confronts us.  We insist that God needs to change and not be so rigid that he turns people away.  The sinful condition is turned away from God.  We are turned in on ourselves.  We want our will to be done, to be our own gods.  The devil deceived Adam and Eve that they could be like God, and it still the desire of the sinful heart.

     Our consciences testify against us that we have sinned against God.  That is why we feel guilt and are afflicted with fear.  We deserve God’s punishment.  Why else would we feel guilty?  “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and after death comes judgment.  Why else would we fear death?  So, how do we fix it?

     When a husband does something to upset his wife, he will perform some act of kindness to try to show he is sorry.  He may try to make amends by buying a bouquet of flowers, making a meal, or completing a project he had promised to do.  It may or may not work.  But how can we make amends with God?  Throughout all generations and cultures, many have concluded that some act of sacrifice is needed.  Something must be put to death to atone for people who deserve death.  Whether it is an animal consumed on an altar or a virgin thrown into a volcano, people have used sacrifices to appease God’s wrath.  Perhaps that practice goes all the way back to Cain and Abel.  Cain and Abel likely worshiped that way because that is what God told them to do.  Perhaps the practice continued, though corrupted over time by sinful people.

     But not all the blood of beasts on Israel’s altar slain could give the guilty conscience peace or wash away the stain.  Morning and evening, lambs were slain.  It had to be done day after day and year after year, because they could not atone for our sins.  But God had commanded the Israelites to worship this way because it pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Behold! The Lamb of God!  Jesus is the fulfillment of every blood sacrifice.  For, Jesus Christ is not just another person who was put to death.  As John the Baptist declared, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).  It is the Son of God in the flesh who dies for your sins.  His holy body was consumed in the fiery wrath of God’s judgment.  His divine blood was splashed on the cross to atone for the sin of the world.  Jesus is the propitiation for sins; that is, Jesus’ sacrifice appeases God’s wrath.  Isaiah foretold it: “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

     Behold, the Lamb of God!  He is also the true Passover Lamb.  The first Passover lambs were slain when the people of Israel were enslaved in Egypt.  The Lord had told them that he would kill every firstborn in Egypt.  But to deliver the people of Israel, the Lord told them to take a lamb without defect and slaughter it.  They were to put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their houses.  When the angel saw the blood of the lamb, he would pass over their homes so that death would not come to them.  The Israelites celebrated this deliverance annually.  It was ingrained into them: The blood of the lamb delivers us from death.  The blood of the lamb delivers us from death.  Behold, the Lamb of God!  He is the true Passover Lamb who delivers you from death.  He died the cursed death you deserve so that you will not be consumed in God’s fiery wrath.  He has also conquered death so that the grave must give you back.  Through holy baptism, the blood of the Lamb marks you so that the curse of death passes over you.

     Behold, the Lamb of God!  We feast each week on the Lamb of God to partake in his benefits.  In some churches, when the bread and the wine have been consecrated according to God’s word, the pastor will present them and declare, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  These words proclaim the death of Jesus by which we are forgiven, and they declare that Jesus is truly present to make us partakers of his death and resurrection.  The pastor makes the proclamation, and the people respond with their own confession, singing, “O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.  Have mercy upon us.  Grant us your peace.”  In the sacrament of holy communion, we are marked once again by the blood of the Lamb.  Jesus comes to us to have mercy upon us.  We feast on the Lamb who grants us his peace. 

     Just as the appearance of Jesus was common and unspectacular, so the appearance of the bread and wine are common and unspectacular.  This is why God must reveal what is really going on.  The word of God reveals that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  The word of God reveals that this bread and wine are the body and blood of Christ for you, for the forgiveness of sins.  And you, who may seem common and unspectacular to the world, are the redeemed of God, the children of the resurrection, and the heirs of eternal glory.  God has revealed that to you so that you can have comfort through this life and confidence for the world to come.

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

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 16, 2022)

Here is the service from January 16, 2022.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 16, 2022)

ISAIAH 62:1-5

THE LORD DELIGHTS IN HIS BETROTHED.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The first miraculous sign Jesus performed was changing water into wine at a wedding feast.  It is worthwhile to ask the question: Why is that Jesus’ first miracle?  Certainly, there were more urgent needs in Galilee than bailing out a bride and groom who did not have enough wine for their guests.  Galilee had blind people, lame people, lepers, and so forth.  We can understand why Jesus would have tended to them.  Their problems had been endured for a long time, and life would be hard for them to continue living with their problems.  The bride and groom, however, would have to endure embarrassment for a while, but their guests would have gotten over it soon enough.  So, why this miracle, and why this occasion?

     Isaiah helps with that answer.  Isaiah repeated a theme in the Bible, declaring the Lord’s his love for Zion with the love and commitment a husband has for his bride.  The Lord’s covenant with Zion was a special union in which each was devoted to the other and faithful to each other.  Therefore, when Jesus first revealed his glory as the Messiah, he gave the sign at a wedding banquet.  The Lord delights in his betrothed and seeks her devotion and her glory.

     If you have been blessed with a happy marriage, you know what a blessing it is.  However, if your marriage is full of strain and strife, it can make life unbearable.  This is especially true if one spouse has been unfaithful to the other.  The one who has been sinned against feels betrayed, rejected, ashamed, and sometimes even as if it his or her fault.  No one wants his or her marriage to be a failure.  And while divorce has become very common, it is never okay.  There is no such thing as a sinless divorce.  Even if one spouse was innocent, the other was not.  Our Lord despises divorce—not just because it causes harm and instability for families and society, but also because our Lord likens his love for the Church as a groom for a bride.  He reveals his union to his Church as one which is timeless, cherished, and intimate.  The Lord delights in his betrothed.

     The Lord had bound himself to the people of Israel in a special covenant relationship, but it was not the blessed union the Lord intended.  Isaiah told the people of Israel, “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate” (Isaiah 62:4).  If they were no longer to be called by those names, it means that these were the names they deserved.  The Lord, of course, was faithful to Israel, but Israel had not been faithful to him.  They chased after the gods of other nations because they craved the riches and pleasures that the other nations had.  They embraced Canaanite fertility gods, thinking they would grant bumper crops and, therefore, fatter cattle and fatter bank accounts.  They sought after the gods of Egypt and Syria.  More powerful nations surely must mean more powerful gods!  They even adopted the despicable practices of the Moabite god Molech and offered up their babies as burnt offerings to him.  Can you imagine a society that sacrifices their own children?  Sadly, we can.  The people of Israel looked at the world around them and said, “We want what they have!”  And they chased after it.  This is why the beginning of Isaiah’s prophecy met with bitter condemnation: “How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice” (Isaiah 1:18)!  Should we be surprised that Israel had earned the names “Forsaken” and “Desolate”?  The Lord was just in sending unfaithful Israel away with a certificate of divorce.

     These are harsh words, but they are a warning for us to take to heart.  People have not changed.  All are sinners.  It is easy to be seduced by suitors who say that they have something better to offer than our Lord.  Sin entices us to turn away from divine wisdom because it offers something attractive and alluring.  That is the way it is with temptation.  All temptations are attractive and alluring.  If they weren’t, they would be tempting.  Even when we know God forbids something, we are drawn in by the seductive voice which promises something fun, something appealing, something better.  When we chase after other things for our comfort, satisfaction, and happiness, we are unfaithful to our Lord.  Like the adulterer who has his affair, we think we can cheat on the Lord and still insist we are faithful to him.  It is a lie.  Repent.  Like the Israelites who turned away from the Lord, we, too, deserve the names “Forsaken” and “Desolate.”

     But Isaiah declares the amazing, faithful love of God.  God continues to woo people back to him.  He does not seek a divorce.  He desires a reconciliation.  He still delights in his betrothed.  This is what the Lord says, “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married” (Isaiah 62:4).  The Lord would not remember Israel for her unfaithfulness.  He delights in his betrothed and reconciles her to himself. 

     In the Old Testament covenant, the Lord had commanded that everyone who was caught as an adulterer should be stoned to death.  The Lord was very serious about chastity and faithfulness.  Although Zion was unfaithful, the Lord did not seek her death.  Rather, the Messiah came to die for Zion.  In betrothing himself to the Church, the Messiah took upon himself the responsibility for all her unfaithfulness.  It is a like a man who gets married to a woman who has accrued immense credit card debt and student debt.  He does not say, “That’s your problem.  I hope it works out.”  Instead, he assumes that debt as his own.  So, Jesus Christ has assumed the debt we owe.  He pays the price for our unfaithfulness.  He suffers the consequences and dies on our behalf.  This is the payment for all wickedness and unfaithfulness—for every divorce, every affair, every lustful thought, and every yearning to seek satisfaction from forbidden fruit.  This is what needed to be done to work out our reconciliation.  The demands of God’s Law were met by the Messiah who dies for us.  He dies for us because he does not want us to perish.  He does not want to divorce Zion.  He delights in his betrothed and wins her back all over again.  “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5).

     The Lord Jesus delights in his betrothed and does everything for her good.  St. Paul explains: “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).  In holy baptism, Jesus applies to you all that he has done for you.  He cleanses you from every stain of sin.  He wipes away every mark from your record.  He does not look at you to observe blemishes.  Rather, he covers them with his innocence.  He does not gaze upon our filthy garments or filthy thoughts.  The Lord says, “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (Isaiah 62:3).  The Lord delights in his betrothed and makes Zion beautiful.

     The Lord is committed to you for your salvation.  He is ever-faithful to his promises.  He continues to speak words of comfort so that you do not forget who you are.  He continually assures you of his love so that you can be certain of whose you are.  This is what the Lord says, “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch” (Isaiah 62:1).  The righteousness of Jerusalem is Jesus.  The salvation of Zion is the Christ.  He came to shine the goodness of God upon us. 

     Now, we don’t shine as bright as we should.  The Church is not as beautiful as we would hope.  Even God’s people become disenchanted with the Church because people are not always kind, because there is dissension, or because there is scandal among God’s people.  In other words, we still prove ourselves to be sinners.  This is a blemish that is ugly no matter how much we try to cover it up.  We ought to be honest and acknowledge that our beauty does not come from ourselves.

     What makes the Church beautiful?  Jesus does!  He declares, “You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give” (Isaiah 62:2).  The name we bear is given by God; we are Christians, marked by the name of the one who saves us.  We are not perfect, but pardoned—purified by the blood of Christ which was shed for us.  Jesus does not forsake us despite our flaws, and he does not leave his Church desolate because it is filled with sinners.  Jesus continues to woo us and to cover our blemishes with his purity.  Jesus fills us his Holy Spirit so that we develop greater devotion to him and love for each other.  There is no reason or point in running after others.  Jesus is the only source of comfort, satisfaction, and happiness.  Our delight is in him because he calls his Church, “My Delight Is In Her.”  The Lord delights in his betrothed.

     When Jesus comes again in glory, he will present the Church before all the world as his most beautiful Bride.  He dresses us in garments of salvation.  He will perfect us so that we will be continually without blemish or flaw.  We will be the righteousness of Christ in appearance and in action.  The union of Christ and his Church will be perfect and permanent.  And we will rejoice eternally at the heavenly wedding feast.

     That brings us back to Jesus’ miracle at the wedding in Cana.  When the marriage feast was about to become desolate, Jesus acted to save it.  Jesus was revealing himself as the heavenly bridegroom who restores his bride to him so that the feast will endure.  Jesus has done all the work to reconcile us to himself.  He is the ever-faithful bridegroom.  He continues to delight in his betrothed so that Zion is never forsaken; the Church will never be desolate.  He has given you a new name—a name which is written in heaven.  The Lord delights in his betrothed.  Therefore, you will partake in the wedding feast of the Lamb, just as that heavenly banquet is served to you here and now.

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

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 17, 2021)

JOHN 1:43-51

JESUS CONNECTS HEAVEN AND EARTH.

In the name + of Jesus.

      After Jacob had attained his blessing from Isaac, his twin brother Esau was enraged.  He had plans to kill Jacob, assuming the blessing would go to him by default.  Before Esau could act, Jacob was sent away to his mother’s family far to the north.  Jacob went alone—with no family (although he was told he would become the father of a great nation), with no companions (although he was told that people would serve him), and no estate (although he was told that the riches of the earth would be his).  As Jacob settled down for the night on his journey, the Lord appeared to Jacob in a dream. 

     “He dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven.  And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!  And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.’” (Genesis 28:12-13)  After the Lord reaffirmed the blessing Jacob had received from Isaac, “Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’  And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place!  This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’” (Genesis 28:16-17) 

     Sometimes people talk about climbing Jacob’s ladder, referring to us getting closer to God.  But never once did God tell Jacob to climb anything, and Jacob did not even take a step.  The point was not that Jacob, or anyone, is supposed to climb up to God; it is that God must come down to us.  And he has.  Jesus connects heaven and earth.

     While Jacob was awestruck by the Lord appearing to him, others were not awestruck when Jesus appeared.  When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, “Philip … said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’  Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’” (John 1:45,46)  Not only was Jesus’ appearance common, but his hometown was not impressive either.  Why should anyone take notice of what comes out of Nazareth?   

     You might know people who are unimpressed that you go to church or believe the Bible.  They might wonder, “What good comes from that?!”  If so, they may have preconceived notions about church, like we come together to hear how good we are and how bad other people are.  They might think the Bible is just a list of rules, and they have enough burdens in their life without having to add a divine to-do list to them.  One possible way to address their reluctance is to confess why you find such comfort in God’s word and to tell them what benefits you have in gathering with God’s people.  Another way to reply is by repeating the words of Philip: “Come and see.” (John 1:46)  To show people why the Bible matters and why church is important, let them see and hear it for themselves.  At the very least, they will no longer reject the Bible and the church because of ignorance.  Our prayer, of course, is that others will find the value and comfort in it that we know.

     Nathanael may have been skeptical, but he was not stubborn.  He went with Philip and met Jesus.  As soon as Jesus saw Nathanael, he said, “‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’  Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’  Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’” (John 1:47,48) 

     Can you imagine how hard those words might have hit Nathanael?  “I saw you.”  If you had someone say that to you, you might be a little bit unnerved, especially if someone began a conversation that way.  You enter a room, and your boss says, “I saw you.”  You would be trying to figure out what you might have done wrong.  Or was it something embarrassing, like you were lip syncing to your iTunes at your desk?  If you had done something wrong and someone said to you, “I saw you”, you would wonder who else saw.  How much did they see?  What does this mean for you?  How bad is it?  If only one person saw, can you keep others from knowing about it, too?   Such fears are understandable, but they also reveal our sinful condition.  If we are caught, we are more upset that we will look bad than we are about the bad that we actually did.  Rather than regret the sin, we regret being seen.  You may be able to hide your sins from others, but not before God.  He sees.  He always does.  And he holds you accountable—not because your sins look bad, but because you are.

     When Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree, we are not told what Nathanael was doing.  We are told how Jesus characterized him.  “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” (John 1:47)  In other words, Nathanael was not a phony.  He was not about putting up good appearances.  He did not lie to himself about being better than he was.  In addition, he was a true Israelite—one who was awaiting a Savior who would give him the righteousness he needed to stand before God without shame or fear and who would purify him of every stain of sin.  Nathanael’s skepticism changed to excitement when Jesus spoke to him.  No longer did Nathanael think that Jesus was just some random guy from backwoods Nazareth.  Instead, he confessed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) 

     While it is awesome that God sees and knows all things, it does not provide any comfort.  If you have dirty little secrets, you at least take comfort that they are secrets.  Not with God.  And so Jesus told Nathanael that there was something greater than him seeing Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip called him.  There was something more comforting, something more important for Nathanael to see.  It is this: Jesus connects heaven and earth.

     Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe?  You will see greater things than these.”  And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:50-51)  Here again is the ladder to heaven.  And again, Jesus did not tell Nathanael that it was up to him to climb it.  No one on earth can work his way up to heaven.  No one can have God look into his life and his heart so that God would say, “Heaven is open to you.  Come on up; you’ve earned it!”  The greater thing is that God comes to us and that he delivers heaven’s gifts to us.  Jesus connects heaven and earth.

     This is why the Lord became a human being.  St. Paul reminds us, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)  Jesus is the mediator because he is both God and man.  He is of heaven and of earth.  He is God who stands before us and speaks to us, and he is the man who stands before God and speaks to him on our behalf.  Jesus connects heaven and earth.

     Jesus came from heaven to earth is to reconcile the world back to God.  As we had considered, God sees what we are like.  God knows our sinful hearts.  And God knows that we cannot change our sinful nature or fix our broken condition.  The earth is marked for destruction because it, too, is corrupt and in a state of decay.  No climate change policy will ever fix that.  But Jesus comes to rescue us from our dying world and from our depraved condition.

     Heaven and earth meet in Jesus.  First, he endures everything that puts heaven and earth at odds with each other.  The wickedness of the world cannot be ignored; God sees it.  Therefore, Jesus took all wickedness, sin, and guilt into himself.  God the Father saw it, and he held Jesus accountable for it.  Jesus was made the target of God’s vengeance when he was nailed to the cross.  The Father’s rejection of his Son was publicly demonstrated for all to see—not only by Jesus’ crucifixion being a public display, but also by Jesus himself bearing witness under the sunless sky when he cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)   

     In this way, Jesus rescued you from divine wrath and rejection.  And in your baptism, the holy, innocent blood which was shed for you was applied to you.  By baptism you are connected to Jesus.  Now God sees you dressed in the righteousness of Jesus.  He knows that you believe in his word; for he has put that faith there.  And because you are a child of God, God commissions his angels to watch over you, to fight for you, and to protect you from the harm the devil wants to inflict upon you.  Jesus connects heaven and earth, and the angels ascend and descend by his command for your good.

     To this day, it is not our job to climb up to heaven and work our way closer to God.  It is God who continues to come down to us on earth.  But he does come, and when he does, we get to join in with angels and archangels and the likes of the patriarch Jacob, the apostles Philip and Nathanael, and all the company of heaven—all true Israelites—in praise of the God who saves us.  Behold!  The Lamb of God comes in the Lord’s Supper, and Jesus connects heaven to earth.  He delivers to us the body and blood which have taken away the sin of the world.  As we partake in these, Jesus delivers the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  And as we are connected to him, Jesus intercedes for us and guarantees our place in the kingdom of God.  The Father sees, and he knows, and he accounts us as righteous for Jesus’ sake.

     Jesus connects heaven and earth.  When the day comes that we depart from this earth, the angels will descend to bring our souls to heaven.  And when the Last Day comes, Jesus will descend with his angels to raise us up from the dead to live with him forever.  He will give us a new, restored creation in which true Israelites will dwell forever in peace.  The man Jesus has assured us that mankind will dwell with God.  And our God Jesus gives us the words and sacraments to bind us to himself forever.

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

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 20, 2019)

JOHN 2:1-11

THE LORD JESUS SUPPLIES 

WHAT IS LACKING.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When God created heaven and earth, he also put man and woman into that world.  He brought them to one another and blessed them as husband and wife, establishing marriage for the good of each other, for the benefit of children, and for the stability of society.  Just as God blessed Adam and Eve with a perfect creation, so he also blessed them with the gift of marriage.
     However, God's creation did not remain perfect for very long.  Sin entered the world and corrupted everything.  Most personally, it corrupted mankind.  Now we are familiar with selfishness, ingratitude, and bitterness.  Nevertheless, God remains good.  He still blesses mankind with his creation.  And he still calls marriage good.  By it, he intends to bless husbands and wives who are given as gifts to one another.
     But marriage is hard.  Two sinners bind themselves to one another, and each has to put in the work if they want to have a good marriage.  If God blesses them with children, the parents discover that raising children is hard.  Children are a blessing and a joy, but they take work.  And if God has chosen not to bless you with a spouse or with children, you still discover that life is hard.  No matter what stage of life you are in, life is hard.  We are sinners, living among other sinners, in a sinful world.  God still continues to bless us in this world, but we struggle to be grateful or content.  We face problems, stress, and disappointment.  We are lacking the perfection that God had first created people with.  And because we are lacking righteousness, we are also short on patience, gratitude, and a love that only seeks the good of others.  The problem is neither with God nor with marriage, but with us.  For, we are sinners.
     Our Lord Jesus Christ attended a wedding at Cana because marriage is good.  Unfortunately, the wedding had hit a snag.  They ran out of wine.  Wedding feasts back in Jesus' day could run for up to a week, and during that week the groom was supposed to provide for his guests.  If the wine ran out, the joyous occasion was over and the feast came to an embarrassing, disappointing halt.  When Jesus' mother recognized the problem, she gave Jesus a less than subtle nudge.  She said to him, “They have no wine.”  And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me?  My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:3,4)  Jesus' response was polite, but stern.  His kingdom would come and his glory would be revealed at the right hour.  This was not it.
     Nevertheless, Jesus did demonstrate compassion for the wedding couple.  He revealed his divine power by supplying what was lacking.  He told the servants to fill the stone water jars with water.  Then, by his command (although St. John does not quote Jesus' words here), the water became wine.  This was hardly a sleight of hand trick.  Each of the six stone jars held 20-30 gallons.  The miracle was undeniable.  God was at work, and our Lord supplied what was lacking so that the feast and the joy of the day could continue.
     St. John noted, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.” (John 2:11)  It was not only the first miracle Jesus performed, showing himself to be God; it was also the primary sign to show us what kind of Lord Jesus is.  He takes the ceremonies for outward purification and changes them into something better.  Jesus brings a new and better kingdom than the old one.  It is not based on the waters which scrub dirt or germs from the body, but it is based on the new wine which makes glad the hearts of men.  The Lord Jesus supplies what is lacking. 
     Jesus is the bridegroom, and the Church is his bride.  He has come to betroth himself to us—not because we are worthy, or pure, or even pretty.  He does not pretend that we are perfect.  He does not flatter us with lies or ignore what we have been.  Instead, the Lord Jesus supplies what is lacking in us.  As our loving bridegroom, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)  Through baptism, Jesus has removed from you every blotch of shame and wiped away every spot of sin.  He has covered you in his own righteousness so that you now stand before him pure and blameless.  Now, you are robed in beauty; for the Groom has dressed his Bride with his own innocence.  The Lord Jesus supplies what is lacking.
     When Jesus betrothed himself to you, he not only gave to you all that is his, he also took from you all is yours.  He assumed your debt, all that is lacking before God, and took the responsibility for it.  He made your guilt his own.  And then, when his hour had come for establishing his kingdom and revealing his glory, Jesus did not perform a miraculous sign.  Rather, he died in humble weakness.  Jesus subjected himself to God's curse on behalf of sinners when he hung from the cross.  And there, Jesus made the full payment for your sins.  A debt that you and I could not even begin to repay, Jesus paid in full.  The Lord Jesus supplies all that is lacking.
     On a joyous wedding day at Cana, Jesus provided all that was lacking at the wedding feast.  He was not stingy with his blessing.  It did not matter that the groom had been careless or negligent in his planning.  It did not even matter that the guests had abused the wine that had already been supplied.  Jesus acted to make sure that the joyous feast would continue.  He supplied what was lacking in quality and in quantity.  Jesus did not do a guest count and crunch numbers so that no a drop would go to waste.  He supplied the best wine in great abundance for the benefit of the wedding couple and for the joy of their celebration.
     In the same way, Jesus is not stingy with you, either.  You and I have been baptized into Jesus' name, which means that we have been cleansed of all sin, made pure before the Lord, and now bear the name of our Triune God.  We even remind ourselves of our precious status when we make the sign of the cross upon ourselves.  And yet, we do not live up to the honor of the name we bear.  Whether it is because we are careless or lazy, or because we are worn down by difficulties, disappointments, or the deception of our sins, we do not keep ourselves as pure as we ought. 
     But the Bridegroom still loves his Bride.  He continues to supply what is lacking.  He does not put a quota on his forgiveness or warn you that you are about to exceed your limit.  He pours out his mercies by the gallon.  He continues to present you with his sacred feast.  He serves you the better wine under which he gives you his holy blood for the forgiveness of your sins.  And the feast does not run out.  It is offered every week so that your joy will continue, and it will even endure through all eternity.  Jesus supplies what is lacking because your salvation is not based on how pure you have been or on how pure you can keep yourself.  It is based on Jesus' holy innocence with which he covers you.  And it is based on the righteous blood which he shed as the payment to pay off your debts.  He is not cheap with his grace or stingy with his mercy.  Rather, his mercy endures forever.  His grace supplies everything.
     The Lord Jesus continues to pour out his blessings upon you.  You will find peace and joy and contentment only in him.  And he will never fail you.  Even in a world of sin among a world of sinners, Jesus continues to bless you.  The Bridegroom loves his Bride and speaks tenderly to her.  The Church, who desires her Groom, is eager to listen to him and receive his good things. 
     The Lord Jesus supplies all that is lacking.  He and his blessings are yours.  Having been redeemed, you are his.  And he will finally bring you into the eternal wedding banquet where the peace will never be interrupted, where the joy will never run out, and where the feast will never end. 

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