YouTube -- 4th Sunday after Pentecost (June 16, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Sermon -- 4th Sunday after Pentecost (June 16, 2024)

Some of the thoughts in this sermon came from Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (LC-MS) of Austin, Texas. 

MARK 4:26-34

WHEN THE SEED IS PLANTED, SEE HOW IT GROWS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Jesus told two brief parables, each one about seeds.  The first parable is about how the kingdom of God grows inside each one of us.  The seed is God’s word.  It has been planted in you by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit continues to work in you to grow and strengthen the faith he has created.  When the seed is planted, see how it grows.

     When the farmer plants the seed, it looks like nothing is happening.  He sees nothing but dirt for a few weeks.  Still, the farmer does not dig up the dirt to see how the seed is coming along.  He trusts that the seed will do what it was created to do.  After a while, he sees the sprouts starting to pop up out of the ground.  As the weeks go by, the stalk begins to grow, and then finally the mature crop comes in.  This is representative of the faith God implants in us.  When the seed is planted, see how it grows.

     We often think of the kingdom of God in concrete terms—with a city and a capitol building and a throne.  But when we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” we are not praying for a government or a nation.  Martin Luther describes our prayer this way: “God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy word and lead a godly life now and forever in heaven” (Luther’s Small Catechism, 2^nd Petition of the Lord’s Prayer).  Or, as Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).  It is the faith in us by which our Lord leads and guides us as his people.  That gracious rule both saves us and directs us to godly living. When the seed is planted, see how it grows.  Faith is nourished and fed by the word and sacraments.  It is strengthened and continues to grow.  Your salvation remains certain, but your life becomes more godly and your desires become more pure.

     Does that match up with what you see in yourself?  Maybe not as much as you hope for.  We continue to struggle with sin, especially sins that are habitual or temptations that are appealing.  We might become frustrated that we still battle as much as we do and that we fail as much as we do.  This might even lead you to question if your faith is real. 

     God’s word does what it is designed to do—it creates or strengthens faith.  But the growth is slow.  Think of what it was like when you were a little child.  You were waiting for your birthday, which seemed like it took forever to come.  You wanted to be older, and it always seemed so far away.  The same is true for our faith.  Maturity takes time.  It also takes meditation on God’s word, devotion to prayer, and the experience of temptation, hardship, and discipline.  By these, God works in us to increase our trust, to teach us self-control, and to refine our faith.  As long as faith is being fed, it will grow, godly lives will result, and good works will increase.

     The second parable is not about how the kingdom of God grows within us, but how it grows and spreads throughout the world.  Jesus compares it to a mustard seed which, he said, “when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade” (Mark 4:31-32). 

     Those who like to pick a fight with the Bible will be quick to tell you that a mustard seed is not the smallest seed on earth.  Apparently, that title belongs to an orchid.  But Jesus was referring to what is sown in a Palestinian garden.  I don’t know if they even knew what orchids were, but they would not grow orchids to eat them.  A mustard seed, however, would produce something useful in a Palestinian garden.

     The mustard seed is about the size of a speck of pepper.  It seems insignificant, and you would not expect it to produce much.  And isn’t that how the kingdom of God had its beginning?  The prophet Isaiah foretold the Messiah’s appearance this way: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).  Jesus was an average Jewish peasant, unimpressive in appearance and seemingly insignificant.  His kingdom was established through his sufferings and death.  There, he looked pathetic.  He was a pawn in the power struggles of the priests and the Roman Empire.  He was beaten into a bloody mess, pinned to a cross, and mocked ruthlessly.  No one who witnessed Jesus’ agonizing death would have said, “I am going to be live my life and face my death based on him.”  You cherish the image only because you know that this death is the payment for your sins. 

     Jesus died and was planted in a tomb like a seed.  On the third day, Jesus sprung up from the tomb to live forever.  Then Jesus commissioned his apostles to preach the gospel.  Their listeners repeated the message.  Then as persecuted Christians were scattered, the kingdom of God spread like dandelion fluff that the wind carries off.  The Christian Church continued to spread across the globe.  Today it provides shelter and refuge to people of all nations, languages, and cultures.  When the seed is planted, see how it grows.

     Jesus describes the kingdom of God in such a vivid and wonderful way.  He said that it “puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade” (Mark 4:32).  My Mom used to have bird feeders in her backyard.  She enjoyed watching the various birds feast on the seeds in the feeders.  Occasionally, she would look outside, and there were no birds to be seen anywhere.  That was strange.  So, she walked outside to see what was going on.  Then she looked at the powerline overhead and saw a hawk perched up there.  The birds recognized the predator and were quick to take shelter in the safety of the pine trees.  There, the hawk either could not find them or could not reach them.

     This is exactly what Jesus Christ does for us.  The kingdom of God is our shelter.  It is the refuge that we flee to from all our enemies.  St. Peter reminds us, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  The devil’s name is Satan, which means Accuser.  The devil continues to accuse you, even dragging up sins that have happened decades ago.  He wants you to despair of God’s promises, thinking that your guilt is so great that God will not forgive you.  After all, if you can’t forget what you did, why should God?  But the devil is a liar.  We flee to Jesus who has destroyed the devil’s kingdom.  We take shelter in the kingdom of God and in the wounds of Jesus.  From those wounds Jesus pours out the holy blood that takes away the sins of the world.  He gives it to us in Holy Communion to feed our faith and to grant us pardon and peace.  Jesus nourishes the seed which has been sown in you.  When the seed is planted, see how it grows.

     Like birds which take shelter in the branches of the mustard tree, so we rest in the shade of God’s kingdom of grace.  There is no fear there.  If you remember the days of Catechism Class, you also remember reciting the Ten Commandments.  In Luther’s explanation of each Commandment, he began with the words, “We should fear and love God….”  We should recognize where true power is found so we don’t fear the things that are powerless.  It is as if God were telling us, “Do not fear your sin.  Jesus has cleansed you in his holy, precious blood.  Your sins do not condemn you.  So, don’t fear sin.  Fear me.”  And again, God says, “Do not fear death or the grave.  Granted, you will be spending a short season in a grave.  Death will come for all, but do not fear it.  Jesus has overcome the grave.  On the Last Day, he will cause you to spring up from your tomb to receive life everlasting.  So, don’t fear death.  Fear me.”  Again, God says, “Don’t fear the devil.  The devil lies and deceives.  He tempts and accuses.  But his words need not alarm you.  Jesus’ words are the only words that matter, and he assures you of your salvation.  So, don’t fear the devil.  Fear me.”  Again, God says, “Don’t fear the world or anything in the world.  Don’t fear natural disasters.  Don’t fear sickness or disease.  Don’t fear crime or war or terrorism.  Don’t fear anyone who would dare to threaten you.  For you are my beloved children, the apple of my eye.  Don’t fear the world.  Fear me.”

     We fear God because he is almighty and we are dust and breath, but we fear and love God because he is our merciful Savior.  With him is security from all that threatens us.  Nothing in the world can bring true harm to us because this world is not our home.  Our home is the kingdom of God.  The life of a Christian may end in this world, but it does not end in the kingdom of God.  We are simply transferred to glory everlasting.  In this world, we delight in God’s word and strive to order our lives according to it.  That will not change when we enter heavenly glory.  In fact, it will only get better.  Our goal is not to establish ourselves in this world; our goal is to dwell in the kingdom of God whether on earth or in heaven. 

     When the seed is planted, see how it grows.  The kingdom of God has spread throughout the world.  In it, people find safety and shelter from all enemies.  As long as you are in the world, there will be predators who want to snatch you away from the kingdom of God.  This may come by threats to your body, life, wealth, reputation, or family.  Even if you lose these, if you remain in Christ, you are safe. 

     The greater threat to your faith, however, comes through those who reject God’s word.  Many, including people in authority or in your circle of friends, promote beliefs which rival and reject God’s word.  Some arguments seem persuasive; others are so popular that it will be very uncomfortable to resist and to stand firm on God’s truth.  The only safe measure is to take refuge in the shelter of God’s kingdom.  The word of the Lord will sustain you against all attacks.  Joining with God’s people and receiving encouragement from them is crucial.  But you must seek this refuge for it to be any good.  It is not enough for the birds to know there is a place to nest; they must reside there.  Therefore, we go where our Lord is at work to save, to forgive, to protect, and to preserve us.  Everlasting life comes only through the seed which is planted in you, and it is preserved only by the gospel which is preached to you and by the sacrament which feeds you.  Blessed is the one takes refuge in the Lord.

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

YouTube -- 4th Sunday after Pentecost (July 3, 2022)

Here is the service from Sunday, July 3, 2022.

Sermon -- 4th Sunday after Pentecost (July 3, 2022)

GALATIANS 2:11-21

WE ARE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD BY FAITH. 

In the name + of Jesus.

     Last week we had considered Paul’s defense of his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Paul assured his readers that the Gospel he preached he received directly from Jesus, and that it was not in opposition to anything the other apostles were teaching.  Our reading through Galatians skips over Paul’s meeting with the apostles in Jerusalem.  There, they confirmed Paul’s faithfulness to the Gospel.  Paul was regarded as neither a rival nor a threat by the apostles.  Then, Paul related an incident when he had to confront Peter because Peter’s sin did threaten the Gospel. 

     Paul recalled that “before certain men came from James, [Peter] was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.  And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:12-13).  Peter had reverted back into Jewish ways and Old Testament customs. 

     Jewish culture and customs had been directed by God’s commands to keep the Jewish people distinct from all other nations.  This was done to preserve the nation so that the Messiah would enter the world through them.  But now the Christ had come and had fulfilled all that he was given to do to win salvation—not just for the Jews, but for all nations.  Since the Messiah had come, there is no reason to keep preparing for him with all the ceremonial laws such as keeping separate from Gentiles or eating only kosher foods.

     Now, if this were simply a matter of Peter being rude, Paul would not have rebuked him publicly.  Love would seek to preserve the honor of a chief apostle.  Paul would have pulled him aside and said, “Stop being such a jerk!”  But this was not about bad manners.  Paul recognized that Peter’s actions were a threat to the faith and salvation of all the Christians in Antioch. 

     Peter was giving the impression to the Gentile Christians in Antioch that the old ceremonial laws still had to be observed, that to be a real Christian, you had to live like an Old Testament Jew.  But if keeping those laws were necessary to be justified, then Jesus’ life and death were a waste of time.  It would be telling people, “Yes, Jesus suffered and died to pay for your sins, but it is still on you to observe Commandments and customs to be saved.”  If being justified is still your responsibility, then you are lost.  For, as Paul noted, “by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). 

     You are not justified because of your bloodline or ethnic background.  The Bible reminds you: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).  You are a holy people because you have received mercy and salvation through Jesus.  You have been set apart from sin so that it does not condemn you.  You have been set apart from death for the resurrection to eternal life.  You have been set apart from the devil so that you are now the people of God who are to honor him with godly lives.  This holy nation is established by faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of ethnicity, family ties, or social status.  We are justified before God by faith.

     Now, we don’t face the same issue Paul had to address.  We don’t care who we eat with; we enjoy the company of many kinds of people.  We don’t observe kosher laws; we know the tasty pleasure of pulled pork sandwiches and baby back ribs.  But Paul’s comments still apply to us.  Like Peter, we are still drawn to the idea that faith alone is not enough to justify us.  We keep on falling back into thinking that we have to add something to faith in Jesus to be assured of our salvation.  We still want to claim that we are justified because of us—that we are saved because we got something right, that we played a part, that we did it.

     Consider the Christian funeral for a moment.  People like to eulogize the deceased.  Chances are, you have wondered about your own funeral and what your friends will say about you when you are gone.  First of all, know that your friends like you.  They formed a bond with you for good reasons.  They will have fond memories of you.  They will have stories to share.  There is nothing wrong with having fond memories and close bonds.  These are gifts from God, and we are always thankful for God’s gifts.

     But eulogies often go beyond story-telling.  In order to achieve some consolation that our loved ones have a place in heaven, we turn eulogies into resumes.  We hear such things as, “He was a wonderful father and husband, a hard worker, kind-hearted, funny, and generous.”  We like to offer these as proof that our loved one is in heaven.  While we are grateful for the blessings we enjoyed by someone’s life, those deeds do not save.  God gives us our vocations so that we can serve others in them, not so that we would be saved by them.  Even people who despise Jesus can be good at their vocations.  We are not justified because we did enough good things to be remembered.  The apostle Paul states it bluntly to the Galatians among other places: “by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). 

     You are justified before God by faith in Jesus and by faith alone.  There is no greater comfort than this, especially when you are vexed by your conscience.  The devil would always have you take stock of your goodness and put your trust in that.  But “by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).  Notice that St. Paul does not say that sins against the Law will condemn us, although that is true, too.  He says that doing the good works of the Law cannot save us.  For, we have not done all the good according to all the Law all the time.  Our consciences testify that this is true.  God will not be moved by any eulogy, no matter how lavish in praise it is.

     Some might protest, “We aren’t saying that we have to work our way into heaven.  Jesus suffered and died for our sins.  We know that.  But we have to live good lives to be sure we are saved.”  This makes no difference.  Peter did not deny that Jesus paid for the sins of the world when he separated from the Gentiles and resumed Jewish customs.  His actions declared that Jesus’ work was insufficient, that it was not enough for the Gentiles to believe God’s promises but that they had to adopt Jewish culture to be justified.  The same is true if we insist that our own godly lives need to be added to Jesus’ work for our salvation.  Jesus’ work was done perfectly, but yours never will be.  If you must do the works to be justified, then “Christ died for no purpose” (Galatians 2:21).

     St. Paul wrote, “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).  We are justified before God by faith in Jesus and by faith alone.  This is endless comfort and perfect hope.  Jesus has done everything to justify you before God the Father.  If you want to stand before God without any fear, you must be without sin.  Sin provokes God’s wrath; therefore, sin must be removed.  Jesus Christ has taken your sin—all sin and guilt—from you.  He endured God’s wrath for you at his crucifixion.  He has satisfied the judgment of the Law for you.  If you want to dwell in God’s presence and have eternal peace with him, you must be holy.  Nothing sinful can dwell in God’s holy presence.  So, Jesus supplied the holiness you need.  Jesus at all times did all the good of all God’s Law.  When you were baptized, Jesus clothed you with his own righteousness.  Therefore, you have peace with your God and solace for your conscience.

     We are justified before God by faith in Jesus.  To be justified means to be found “Not guilty.”  It is a court room term and an official sentencing.  Jesus Christ has done everything so that you stand guiltless before God.  Your sins have been taken away.  You have been given a robe of righteousness to wear, which is your baptism.  You don’t have to find ways to convince God that you are good enough.  You don’t even need to do the works for salvation.  Oh, the works need to be done; but the works have been done.  By faith in Jesus, you receive the credit for his works.  You don’t need a resume or a eulogy.  You need the Savior, and you have him.  Jesus answers for you and issues his divine sentence: “Not guilty.  Fully pardoned.  Free.”

     Lutherans have been accused of teaching that being justified by faith also means it does not matter how we live—as if free forgiveness means freedom to sin.  This is a terrible misrepresentation of our teaching.  How we become God’s people and how we live as God’s people are two very different topics.  How we become God’s people is this: We are justified by faith and are dead to the Law, which means the Law does not condemn us.  Jesus has set us free.  But in regard to how we live as God’s people, St. Paul says this: “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

     The life we live by faith is not a life lived in order to be saved; rather, Christ lives in us to think and to act according to his word because we are saved.  A living faith will produce good works and a godly life.  We live for the good of our neighbor and for the honor of God.  We don’t live a godly life in order to be saved; we do it because we are saved.  We don’t do good works in order to be justified, but because we have been justified.  We strive to live as God’s people because God has made us his people—“a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9).

     If you should find yourself on your death bed and reviewing your life, the devil will remind you of everything you did wrong or should have done better.  Fear not.  You have a Savior who says, “Everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).  Jesus tells us to look to him, not to ourselves.  We do not need anything else.  Nothing else will help, and nothing else can.  We are justified before God by faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the Savior, and we are his saved. 

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

Sermon -- 4th Sunday after Pentecost (July 7, 2019)

2 SAMUEL 11:26 – 12:10,13-15

DEALING WITH SIN IS ROYAL BUSINESS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     With Independence Day upon us, it is an easy time to get patriotic.  And it is a good thing to pray for our country and for its leaders.  The Bible encourages us to do just that.  The Bible, however, does not ask us to ignore that our leaders do not always act according to his word.  It should come as no surprise that all our leaders are sinners.  Some prove it with shameful lives and by promoting wicked causes.  While their sins may be obvious, there is nothing particularly noble about sitting on one's high horse and sneering at other people.  And there is nothing particularly artful about being outraged at someone else's faults.  It usually means that we are ignoring our own.
     There are very few rulers who go through life scandal-free.  That was true even for the likes of King David.  David was described as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).  Still, David was a man of sinful flesh, and he proved it in a most shameful way.  When his army was out to battle, David was attracted to the wife of one of his officers who had been deployed.  The result of his illicit affair with Bathsheba was that she got pregnant.  In an effort to cover up his scandal, David arranged to have her husband, Uriah, killed in battle.  This was not collateral damage which happens in war.  Uriah's death was the battle plan.  After Uriah was killed, David took Bathsheba into the royal palace and made her his wife.  I don't know if there were rumors of scandal flying around Jerusalem or not, but God's opinion of the whole matter is spelled out clearly: The thing that David had done displeased the LORD. (2 Samuel 11:27)
     Therefore, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David to expose his sin and to call him to repent.  When Nathan told the parable about the rich man who stole and slaughtered the lamb of the poor man, David was enraged at such a merciless act.  David unwittingly proclaimed the sentence against himself: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die... because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” (2 Samuel 12:5-6)  
     It is always easier to see the faults of others than our own.  We are not really too bothered by our own faults.  We give our sinful flesh whatever it craves in order to find happiness and satisfaction for ourselves.  And we believe that all is well as long as no one gets hurt or no one finds out or if our friends say it is okay.  We can get drunk or stoned on our free time.  We can watch porn with the curtains drawn.  It doesn't matter who we go to bed with; that's our private business.  Abortion becomes a form of birth control as long as you can convince yourself that what is aborted is not a baby.  This reasoning is used to excuse sins—in fact to insist that they are not sins at all.  Repent.  Evil is not determined by who gets hurt or by who finds out or if society says it is okay.
     The Lord confronted David about his sin through the prophet Nathan.  God granted Nathan the courage to confront his king.  There was always the danger of David lashing out against Nathan, saying, “You have no place to challenge the king.  Whatever the king does is royal business.  It is not your business.”  And while we are not kings, we do try to claim sovereignty over everything we do.  Whether motivated by shame, anger, or stubborn resistance about our sins, we are quick to rail against a pastor or a fellow Christian: “Mind your own business.  Stay away from me.  What I do in my own home or on my own time is nobody's business but mine!”  This is a lie.  You are not your own.  Your actions and attitudes may not be criminal, but neither are they harmless.  Most significantly, in all that you and I do, we are accountable to God Most High, King of heaven and earth.  Dealing with sins is royal business.
     When the Lord confronted David, he could have gone through a long checklist of the ways David's sins affected other people: He impregnated another man's wife and destroyed their marriage.  He ended Uriah's life.  He stole Bathsheba's husband from her.  He emboldened all his subjects to copy his rebellion against God.  He brought international scorn against the Lord since people from foreign nations would regard the Lord as a god not to be taken seriously.  And all of those things would have been true.  But this is the main charge Nathan issued: “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7)  You are the one who acted so mercilessly.  You are condemned by your own judgment.  “Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight?” (2 Samuel 12:9)  
     Dealing with sins is royal business.  The King of the universe, the creator of mankind, has every right to say how life is to be lived, since he is the one who gives it.  God is good, and his word establishes what is good.  Still, we rebel and do what is evil.  And you cannot insist that your sins do not harm anyone else, because they do.  By your sins, you embolden others to sin against God.  After all, if God's people don't take God's word seriously, why should anyone else?  Even if no one knows about your sins, such as your thoughts, God does know.  And he asks you through the prophet Nathan: “Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight?” (2 Samuel 12:9)  Every sin—no matter how shameful, no matter how scandalous, no matter how secret—is a despising of God's word.  Repent.
     Dealing with sin is royal business.  David may have been a king, but God's word reduced him to nothing.  David did not invoke his royal status against Nathan, suggesting God's word applied to him differently.  There were no excuses.  David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13)  And immediately, God's prophet absolved David.  Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” (2 Samuel 12:13)   
     Just as David did not excuse his sin, neither did the Lord.  Nathan's absolution was not, “Oh, it's okay, David.”  It was not okay.  David had acted wickedly against God and against his neighbors.  Dealing with sin is royal business, and so the King of heaven and earth dealt with David's sin himself.
     The King of heaven and earth humbled himself to be a servant.  He became a man to serve us in our need.  In his service to us, Jesus took our sins away from us so that we are not condemned for them.  If you want to know how God deals with your sins, look to the crucified Savior who hangs on a cross for you.  There, Jesus dealt with your wickedness, your guilt, and your rebellion against God's word.  There, Jesus suffered God's judgment against all who have defied his commands.  There, Jesus swallowed the cup of God's wrath and endured the torments of hell for you.  For the sake of Jesus who shed his blood in your place, God has issued his royal decree: You are pardoned of all sins and offenses.  God's wrath has been taken away from you, and you are now under God's favor.  You have been brought into God's kingdom which is ruled by grace and peace and life.
     It ought to be understood what forgiveness is and what it is not.  Forgiveness is the royal decree that your sins are pardoned and that God's curse has been lifted for the sake of Jesus.  This is God's word and promised to you.  By it, you shall live forever in his kingdom.  But God's forgiveness does not mean that the consequences of your sins are taken away.  Uriah did not come back from the dead.  The scorn of the nations did not go away.  In the same way, the fallout from your sins may never go away in this lifetime.  Relationships may never be restored.  Debt may plague you for a long time.  You may fight against your addiction for the rest of your life.  Regrets may haunt you until you go to your grave.  But do not misunderstand: While consequences may not be taken away, your guilt most certainly has.  The absolution which Nathan proclaimed to David applies also to you who are in Christ: “The LORD ... has put away your sin.” (2 Samuel 12:13)
     Dealing with sin is royal business.  God has made it his business to save you, to take away your sin, to mark you for the resurrection to eternal life, and to bring you in his kingdom forevermore.  Since you are God's business, you are God's redeemed.  The King of heaven and earth has decreed it to be so.  And therefore, it stands forever.

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

Sermon -- 4th Sunday after Pentecost (June 12, 2016)

PSALM 32

BLESSED ARE THEY 

WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED.

In the name + of Jesus.

     A common theme in King David's Psalms is God's mercy and forgiveness.  David had good reason to be mindful of God's mercy and forgiveness.  He was a sinner, and he proved it.  He needed God's mercy and forgiveness, and he knew it.  He was granted God's mercy and forgiveness, and he praised him for it.  That is why David also desired to proclaim it, as Psalm 32 declares: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)  This instruction is not about doing what you must do, but about knowing what the Lord has done for you.  David desires that you have God's mercy and forgiveness upon you.  Blessed are they whose sins are covered.
     David had lost that blessing because of his sin and worse, because of his cover up.  You are likely familiar with David's affair with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his trusted officers.  Once David got word that she was pregnant, David went into full cover-up mode.  He summoned Uriah from the battlefield under the guise of getting information from him.  Uriah, however, refused to go home to be with his wife.  After all, the other soldiers did not get to see their wives.  Even if Uriah was not in combat, he was on duty.  So, David's cover-up became more extreme.  He sent Uriah back to the front with the battle plans intended to get Uriah killed.  This was not to be an unfortunate casualty of war.  This was a hit job ordered by David.  After Uriah was killed in battle, David brought Bathsheba into the palace.  The citizens of Jerusalem must have gushed over the benevolence of the king: “Oh, how wonderful he is, taking care of the widow of one of his officers.  Now she will not be a widowed, single mother.  David will even take care of the child!”  It seemed perfect.  David was going to get away with it.
     David could con his citizens.  He could even lie to himself.  But David's conscience did not let him rest.  David admitted as much: “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” (Psalm 32:3-4)  From outward appearances, everything looked fine.  But David's conscience testified against him.  It turned his stomach in knots.  It interrupted his sleep, haunted his thoughts, and ruined his appetite.  The conscience testified what God also knew: David was guilty.  His cover up was a farce, as cover ups do not take away any sin.
     We have not learned the lesson from King David, either.  We try all to cover up our sin and guilt, as if the Psalm taught us, “Blessed are they who figure out how to cover their tracks.”  Like David, we cover up by lying about our sins.  We insist we did not do them.  But this is what the Lord says, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper....” (Proverbs 28:13)  Our cover up does not work.  We may also have family and friends who embolden us in our sins.  They will not confront us when we sin against God, and they will try to console the guilty conscience by stating that our sins are no big deal.  Friends think they are helping us when they want to cover up for us.  We are led to believe that we need not feel sorry for our sins, much less stop doing them.  And so, we are encouraged to continue in impenitence and to persist in our sins.  Therefore, David implores you, “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.” (Psalm 32:9)  In other words, do not let your pride or stubbornness be the reason you perish in your sins.  Denying your sin does not make you guiltless.  Ignoring guilt does not take it away.  Digging in your heels against God's word will not make God change his mind.  King David wrote, “Blessed is the man ... in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:2)  On the other hand, there is no blessing for those who deceive themselves and think they can cover up their sins.  Repent.
     Since we cannot cover our own sins, someone else must cover them.  And this is what David proclaims: “Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity...” (Psalm 32:2)  The Lord does not impute your sins against you.  Blessed are they whose sins are covered.  That is what Jesus came for.  Instead of treating you as your sins deserve, Jesus came to be treated as your sins deserve.  God does not ignore your sins.  That would make him unjust.  But in his mercy, Jesus has taken all your sin and guilt.  God counted your iniquity against Jesus, who then paid the price for all sin through his innocent sufferings and death.  God is most merciful.  Instead of counting your iniquity against you, God imputes Jesus' holy obedience to you.  The holy blood which Jesus shed for you was poured upon you in Holy Baptism.  It continues to be poured into you in Holy Communion.  In this way, Jesus covers you so that you stand before God as holy and blameless.
     Blessed are they whose sins are covered.  “Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:2)  It is not that God pretends we have never sinned.  It is that God covers our sin.  He does not ignore our sins; he forgives them.  Therefore, deception is unnecessary.  We do not need to pretend to be what we are not.  We do not need to invent virtues that we don't have.  We confess that we are sinners.  We confess the various infractions which we have committed against the Lord.  But we confess with faith in God's promise: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)  The Lord Jesus has covered the cost for your iniquity, and he covers you with his holy, precious blood so that you are found to be holy and blameless before God.
     Blessed are they whose sins are covered.  You have God's blessing upon you, but that does not mean the consequences of our sins melt away.  David's repentance and forgiveness did not restore the marriage of Uriah and Bathsheba.  Nor did it make David forget what he had done.  Nevertheless, his guilt was covered by Jesus.  Likewise, your sins may also come with their consequences.  Being repentant and forgiven for gluttony does not automatically make you thin.  Some sins may damage your reputation for a long time.  Though you may never forget your sins and though you may even have others label you for them, the Lord takes away your sin.  He covers your guilt.  And rather than reminding you of your sin, he reminds you of his mercy.
     Blessed are they whose sins are covered.  But there are many who live apart from this blessing.  Their only hope is your only hope—that the Lord is pleased to send someone to declare God's mercy and forgiveness.  Nathan declared it to David.  David declared it in the Psalm.  You have come here to hear it declared to you, for you have not outgrown your need for it.  And you get to declare it to friends and family whose personal cover up efforts are not working.  For them, there is hope and relief, but only in Jesus.  And since you know Jesus' works and promises, you get to bring hope and relief to them.
     All have sinned, but there is hope.  Jesus has you covered.  He is merciful.  He forgives all your sins.  He is the refuge for all sinners.  Blessed are they whose sins are covered.

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

Sermon -- 4th Sunday after Pentecost (June 21, 2015)

LUKE 7:36-50 

HE WHO IS FORGIVEN MUCH 

LOVES MUCH. 

  

In the name + of Jesus. 

     The woman had built a reputation for herself, that’s for sure.  She was most likely a prostitute.  Regardless of what her sin was, she was well known in the whole town as a sinner.  She came into the house where Jesus was reclining at the banquet table.  She was not invited, and she did not go unnoticed.  She placed herself at Jesus’ feet which were extended out from the table.  The host of the banquet, Simon the Pharisee, saw it and thought to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39)  Simon thought that decent and noble people, especially anyone who claimed to be God’s prophet, would scrape this kind of woman off and shoo her away.  Simon was disgusted by the woman, and he was disgusted by Jesus for showing her any kind of approval at all.  After all, she was a sinner, and she had not even been discreet about it.
     I suppose most people would think that Simon was reasonable in his judgment.  This woman had made a mess of her own life.  She was not a victim of slander; she had built her own reputation.  It isn’t hard to find people like that.  They have messed up their lives, and their mess is of their own doing.  No one forced the alcoholic to start drinking.  No one made the young man tell lies.  No one made the young girl resort to prostitution or exotic dancing.  These are all choices—bad choices with bad consequences.  Sins often carry consequences.  The recovering alcoholic will always be tempted to have another drink.  The liar may never be considered trustworthy again.  The community may assign the scarlet letter to the pole dancer for the rest of her life.
     Simon the Pharisee assumed that Jesus was like him—that Jesus should never let this sinful woman live down who and what kind of woman she was.  She should always be branded.  She should always be shunned and shamed.  Simon, of course, assumed that he had nothing to be ashamed of.  Now, to be fair, it is probably a safe bet that Simon was an up-standing citizen.  He was likely a faithful worshiper at the synagogue and a regular pilgrim to the temple for the prescribed feasts.  Simon probably would have considered his life an open book.  Certainly no one could impugn his reputation.  This woman was well-known as a sinner.  Simon was not.  Her life was a mess; Simon was clean.
     Therefore, Jesus told a parable about a money lender who had made sizable loans to two people.  One debt was 500 denarii and the other fifty.  A denarius was a day’s wage, so to translate: One debt was a month and a half’s wages, the other was a year and a half’s wages.  Neither debtor could repay.  The moneylender did not work out payment plans for either person.  He simply canceled the debt of each.  A month and a half of wages and a year and a half of wages—gone!
     You and I shake our heads at a money lender who wipes out such tremendous debt.  He gets none of his investment restored.  He absorbs the loss as if it were his own.  We might even wonder, “What sane man would loan so much to these kinds of people?  The money lender sounds like a fool.”  Simon must have thought so.
     But Jesus did not ask Simon to assess the business sense of the money lender.  He asked Simon to consider the gratitude of the debtors.  Jesus asked, “Which of them will love him more?”  Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” (Luke 7:42-43)  Jesus did not disgrace the sinful woman.  No matter how great and how many her sins were, Jesus’ grace upon her was greater.  Jesus did not excuse the woman for her sordid and seedy life.  He did know what kind of woman she had been.  Rather, he took up her sins and endured the punishment on her behalf.  Jesus loved her, but his love was not based on who and what kind of person she was.  His love is based on who and what kind of person he is.  Jesus loves that which he has created.  Instead of destroying what is corrupt, Jesus seeks to restore it.  Even if people make a mess of their lives, Jesus provides cleansing for all their impurity and forgiveness for all their iniquity.  He does not excuse and he may not erase the consequences of your sins, but he does pardon the debt of sinners.  Jesus has paid the debt we owe, no matter how great it is.  He paid a debt that he did not owe because we have a debt that we cannot pay.
     Jesus truly loves much.  Consider this: If you committed only one sin a day—which is impossible—how many sins have you racked up in 20 years?  Or 40?  Or 60?  Or more?  This is your debt to God.  You owe him for your lack of compassion, patience, and love.  This is the debt Jesus paid for you by his sufferings and death.  He did not wait for you to prove your worth.  To Jesus, you are worthy.  To Jesus, all are worth it.  Though all are sinners, all are redeemed by the blood of Jesus—so great is his love for you.
     Jesus’ love is not without effect, either.  The woman who had come to Simon’s house demonstrated her love for Jesus.  She had been forgiven much; therefore, she loved much.  She washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.  She smothered Jesus’ feet with kisses.  Finally, she anointed his feet with ointment.  That should not be lost on you.  This woman had been a prostitute.  The ointment she had would have been used to doll herself up for her lovers.  But she would not need it any longer.  Her repentance was genuine.  Her love for Jesus was real and proven by her joyful obedience in God's word.  She forsook her immoral life.  No longer would she seek lovers or look for value in selling herself.  She would instead love and serve the one who redeemed her, who forgave her iniquity, and who showed her that she is invaluable to God.  He who is forgiven much loves much.
     Simon, on the other hand, offered no apologies and confessed no faults.  Therefore, he had little love for Jesus.  He did not even extend the normal courtesies you would usually show your invited guests.  He thought nothing of God’s mercies, because he did not believe he needed them.  For that reason, he had no mercy on anyone else, least of all on those whose sins have made a mess of their lives.
     He who has been forgiven much loves much, but he who has been forgiven little loves little.  Simon lived by the creed that people get what they deserve.  Simon foolishly believed that he deserved God's love and his place in God's kingdom.  We do not know what became of Simon after Jesus' rebuke.  But if he did not repent, sadly, Simon did get what he deserved because of who and what kind of person he was—a sinner.
     He who has been forgiven much loves much.  The sinful woman fell at Jesus’ feet to pay him honor and to show her love for him.  She did not care how it looked to others.  She did not care about Simon’s attitude toward her or his opinion of her.  She would confess Jesus as her Savior.  She would demonstrate her love for him no matter what anyone thought of her.  She would renounce her sinful way of life, even if it cost her all of her expensive perfume and income.
     Likewise, the Lord Jesus has forgiven all your sins.  Indeed, he continues to forgive much—no matter who or what kind of person you have been.  That is why you love Jesus and continue to come to God's house to hear of his love again and again.  He who has been forgiven much loves much.  Your love for Jesus cannot help but overflow in your dealings with other people.  You get to be merciful even to people who have made a mess of their lives.  You can argue that they do not deserve mercy, but mercy is never given because it is deserved.  It is given because it is needed.  The Lord has been merciful to us.  He has demonstrated great love for us.  He has forgiven us much.  Therefore, we love much.
 

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