Sermon -- Ash Wednesday (March 5, 2014)

JOEL 2:12-19

REND YOUR HEARTS AND RETURN TO YOUR GOD.

In the name + of Jesus.

     “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)  This is what Jesus said about all of the ceremonies, charities, and actions of his disciples.  It is not that Jesus is opposed to ceremonies, charities, and actions.  Far from it!  He said in our Gospel, “When you give to the needy…”, “When you pray…”, and “When you fast…” (Matthew 6:2,5,16, emphasis added)  Jesus’ words presume that you will observe ceremonies, give charitably, and do righteous acts.  The issue is that such acts are not for show. 

     The fact is, anyone can get a cross of ashes on his forehead today.  Anyone can fast, or pray, or give alms to the poor.  Anyone can put on sackcloth and rend his garments.  Those things are easy.  They have all the appearance of being holy and pious.  But if they are only appearances, they are useless.  They are worse than useless; they are deceptive.  They Pharisees put on a good, pious show in all of their deeds.  The Pharisees received the admiration for their piety and had their egos stroked by words of praise.  They even believed they were worthy of that praise.  They had convinced themselves of how good they were.  But they were deceived by their own deeds.  God is not impressed by impressive shows.  There was no reward for the Pharisees.

     Nor is there any reward for you if you take pride in your acts of righteousness.  We all want others to think that we are good people.  If the truth makes us look back, we don’t hesitate to lie and impugn the reputation of others so that we can still look good.  Like the Pharisees, we have an ego which loves to bask in the praise of others.  And like the Pharisees, we can be deceived by it.  We all like to take an inventory of our good works, and we give ourselves high marks because, well, we love ourselves.  Our family and friends love us, and they tell us so.  So we must be good.

     This is what the Lord says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?  ‘I the LORD search the heart and test the mind…’ (Jeremiah 17:9-10)  The Pharisees were guilty.  The Old Testament Israelites were guilty.  We are guilty.  We all deceive ourselves with our righteous acts.  But God knows. God sees the heart which is eager for the praise of others and expects a reward for good deeds.  God is not impressed by impressive shows, and God is not pleased by empty rituals.  Repent.

     Through the prophet Joel, the Lord calls for true repentance.  “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.”  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (Joel 2:12-13)  Rend your hearts and return to your God. 

     Why return to God with all your heart?  Because you recognize that your heart is lacking what it needs.  You do not have the righteous life that God demands.  But the Lord has revealed that he is gracious and compassionate.  He relents over disaster, that is, he is not eager to see you perish in your sins.  Rather, he sent his Son to take from you all that is sin and wickedness.  Jesus has atoned for every time you have lived to make yourself look good, and that often at the expense of others.  Jesus did not try to come up with excuses why he should not be charged with sin.  Even when he was being falsely accused, Jesus did not reply.  For, he was absorbing into himself the sins of all.  All your guilt, all your shame, and all your wickedness Jesus accepted as his own without a word of protest.  Then he was put to death for your sins, but that is how he has paid for them.  The Son of God has died for you so that you would be granted a pardon for all of your sin. 

     The Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. (Joel 2:18)  The Lord is jealous for you.  His forgiveness does not mean he gives you license to sin.  Rather, he calls you to repent so that your sins do not drag you away from him.  The Lord is jealous for you.  He is not willing to let the devil claim you, so he has rescued you from the devil’s clutches and destroyed his kingdom.  The Lord is jealous for you, wanting you to be his for all eternity.  Therefore, his compassions never fail.  He is abounds in steadfast love.  He always forgives.

     Rend your hearts.  A broken and contrite heart—these God does not despise.  Rather, he has compassion.  He mends the heart that is broken.  He restores those who are crushed.  He cleanses you and makes you righteous in his sight.  You may recognize that you are not as righteous as you should be.  That’s good.  You ought to remember that righteousness does not come from within you—from your ceremonies, charities, or deeds, no matter what their quantity or quality.  Righteousness comes from your Lord, Jesus Christ.  Therefore, return to your God with your heart rent.  Confess your sins, and do not fear, even when you return with the same sins.  God does not despise the broken hearted or the penitent.  The Lord is merciful, gracious, and compassionate toward you.  The Lord is jealous for your salvation.

     So, rend your hearts and return to your God.  He is the one who supplies all that you need for your forgiveness and salvation.  While the smudge on your head may bear witness that you are sorry for your sins, it is the blood of Christ that actually pays for them.  And your Lord pours out the blood of Christ upon you so that you can continue to be comforted and confident of your salvation.  Joel wrote: The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.” (Joel 2:19)  The grain has been made into bread, and the wine is here.  Here is the feast which removes every reproach from you.  The blood of Christ which cleanses you of all sin is delivered to you from the chalice.  The body of Christ which bore your sins on the cross is delivered to you by the minister’s hand.  This is where broken hearts find healing.  For this is where your loving Savior delivers you the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

     Rend your hearts and return to your God.  He is gracious and compassionate, and he heals your heart of all of its brokenness.  Your sin and your smudge may have marked you as one who is going to die, but Jesus has marked you as one who has eternal life.  He has taken away your sin and the sting of death.  The Lord has sent his anointing, his bread and his wine, and he has satisfied all of your longings for peace.  You don’t have to put on a show for anyone.  Instead, look to the Lord who has shown you his goodness and mercy.  The Lord is pleased with your acts because he is pleased with you!  He is jealous for you and for your salvation.  Return to your God, and you will always find pardon and peace.

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

Liturgy and Nostalgia

          Today, Good Shepherd was privileged to have Rev. John Gierach serve as guest pastor for our Mission Festival.  Pastor Gierach currently serves at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northfield Township (rural Ann Arbor), MI.  He and his wife, Vivien, had served in Zambia, Africa for ten years after Pastor Geirach had graduated from the seminary.  They each talked about life, ministry, and challenges in Africa.  Their presentation was fascinating, and it taught us all to appreciate the life of luxury and, by comparison, ease that we take for granted here.  Pray for the Christians in Africa, and give thanks for your own life here.

          In order for Pastor Gierach to come here for our Mission Festival, he and I exchanged churches this morning.  It was a blessing for each of our congregations, I think.  But I also got to enjoy something I had not enjoyed for decades.  St. John's is still using The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) of 1941, the hymnal I grew up with.  Christian Worship, our current hymnal, was introduced while I was at the seminary and pretty much the only hymnal I have used since my ordination.  So, not only did I get to experience worship with TLH, I also conducted TLH, page 5, for the first time in my life (I think).

          It was a blast from the past, and it was like talking with a long-lost friend.  Of special note was enjoying hymns that were written and meant to be sung in four part harmony.  I esepcially hope that any new hymnal projects will work hard to bring those back again.

Sermon -- Transfiguration (March 2, 2014)

This sermon was preached at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Northfield Township (Ann Arbor), Michigan.

2 PETER 1:16-21

HERE WE HAVE DIVINE REVELATION.

In the name + of Jesus.

     From time to time, everyone wonders if God loves him.  Even Christians wonder if God loves them, because Christians also suffer hardship, pain, loneliness, and sorrow.  When you feel like you’ve been robbed of blessings or when you feel like you’ve been abandoned, Satan starts to worm his way into your heart.  He gets you to ask some probing questions.  If God is the giver of every good and perfect gift, and if I have been robbed of blessings, does that mean that God has failed me?  If God promises that he works everything for the good of those who love him, and if I am hurting as I am, does that mean that God’s promises are unreliable?  If everyone else is neglecting me, does that mean God has turned his back on me too?  Perhaps I have been mistaken all these years.  Perhaps God is not love after all.  There is no doubt: Satan will lead you to despair if you listen to him.

     But the question, “How do I know that God really loves me?” is not without an answer.  Epiphany season highlights that the one who loves you truly, completely, and perfectly is God.  Jesus reveals that he is the true God who has come in the flesh.  He has come to those who are hurting and suffering.  He comes to those filled with grief and shame.  He comes to those who are filled with fear and dread.  And he comes to help.  More than that, he comes to save.  Take a close look at Jesus, because here you have divine revelation. 

     St. Peter reflected on one of the most vivid revelations that Jesus had given.  After telling his disciples that he would be going to Jerusalem to suffer, be killed, and rise from the dead, Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain top in the northern extremes of Israel.  There he was transfigured before them. (Mark 9:2)  The appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.  …Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.  They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:29-31)  A bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5) 

     It was not a dream, or a vision, or fantasy.  Here we have divine revelation.  Jesus was revealed as true God by the appearance of his face and clothing, by the company of prophets who had joined him, by the words of the prophets who had foretold him in the Scriptures, by the words of the prophets who were conversing with him on the mountain right then and there, and ultimately by the testimony of God the Father himself!  “This is my Son!”  This man is God.  This God is your Savior.  “Listen to him!”  For, here we have divine revelation.

     While faith is content to listen, the sinful heart is not.  We want to see the divine majesty.  Like Peter, we would like to set up shrines where we could dwell in such glory.  Let’s bask in the glow of divine radiance.  Let’s stay on the mountain where all things are good and right and holy.  Let’s stay where the blessings are always obvious, where the joy is not interrupted by sorrow, and where God looks like God.

     This vision of glory is what the sinful heart craves.  The problem is that sinners think that they can dwell in it.  King David asks: LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?  Who may live on your holy hill?  David answers his own question.  Let’s see if we qualify.  He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts….” (Psalm 15:1-4)  

     At the sight and sound of divine glory, Peter, James, and John fell facedown to the ground, terrified. (Matthew 17:6)  You would not have fared any better.  As much as you might want to see the divine glory, you cannot stand before it.  You would be destroyed by it; for you are not righteous.  You have not kept your tongue from slander.  You have not kept your heart from evil.  You have not despised the wicked; you have envied them and copied their ways.  And when it has hurt to obey the Lord, you opted for the easy way and preferred sin to righteousness.  Repent, for that which is sinful cannot dwell with him who is holy.  He who is covered in shame cannot stay where all is glorious. 

     For this reason, Peter, James, and John did not stay on the sacred mountain.  No sinner can dwell in that glory.  Jesus did not remain on that sacred mountain, either.  For, he did not come to establish glory that we can enjoy for a moment.  He came down to prepare us for glory that will endure forever.

     Therefore, St. Peter does not tell us to look for radiant, divine glory that we can see and feel.  Though he had witnessed it with his eyes, he tells us to witness it with our ears.  He reiterates what he had heard from the heavenly Father: “Listen to him!”  For, we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place…. (2 Peter 1:19)  We do not merely have promises; we have fulfillment.  Jesus does not talk about forgiveness is terms of “I might” and “You may be,” but “I do” and “You are.”  If you want to know whether or not God loves you, “Listen to him!”  “You will do well to pay attention to (him).”  For, here we have divine revelation.

     He who was revealed as divine came down from that mountain.  Jesus walked away from a moment of glory to secure eternal glory for you.  He put aside radiant glory to receive dirty shame.  He had never cast a slur, even against his enemies; yet he was crucified as a man of unclean lips.  He spoke only truth, but was numbered among the liars.  His walk was blameless, yet he went to the cross with felons.  He was innocent; yet, he died for your sins.  He was crushed for your iniquities.  By his shame, he purchased you for glory.  By his death, he won you for eternal life.

     Here we have divine revelation—God’s love revealed at the cross.  Through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, you are reconciled to God.  Through his blood, you are cleansed and blameless and pure.  No sinner can dwell in glory.  Therefore, Jesus has made you saints through your baptism.  And he continues to cleanse you with his blood in the Lord’s Supper.  Therefore, as surely as you are able to stand before him in this sanctuary, you will also dwell in his everlasting sanctuary.  You will live in his presence without fear and without end. 

     Here we have divine revelation.  It was all foretold by Moses and Elijah and the prophets.  God had revealed his divine love through them.  St. Peter reminds you: “No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20,21)  God had promised that he would come and deliver you from your sins.  And God kept his oath, even when it hurt.  Even when it meant death.  Even when it meant the pains of hell.

      You do well to pay attention to all that Jesus Christ has to say and to all that Jesus Christ has done.  For, here we have divine revelation—God’s Son, God’s Word, God’s mercy, God’s love, God’s forgiveness, and God’s salvation.  Here is where you learn and know and trust that God does, indeed, love you no matter what anything or anyone else suggests.  From this altar, you repeatedly receive the testament of God’s love and the pledge of his forgiveness.  So take to heart and cling to this divine revelation.  Jesus Christ is God who lived and died for you.  Jesus Christ is God who lives and reigns for you.  Jesus Christ is God who will bring you to live and reign with him forever.

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

Ash Wednesday and the Imposition of Ashes

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.

            Ash Wednesday is March 5.  We will have a Divine Service at 7:00 PM with the Imposition of Ashes.  The Imposition is still fairly novel in our circles, so some words of explanation are in order.

            These words paraphrase Genesis 3:19 where the Lord proclaimed a curse upon man when he had first sinned.  St. Paul repeated that thought in his letter to the Romans: “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)

            Ashes to ashes.  Dust to dust.  This is the harsh reality of sin.  The use of ashes long pre-dates the New Testament Church.  In the era of the Patriarchs, Job confessed his sin and declared, “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:6)  The Imposition of Ashes teaches a dual lesson. 

            1)  It is a mark of penitence.  We demonstrate outwardly the sorrow for sin that we have inwardly. 

            2)  It is a mark of death.  It is a reminder that we are all dust, and to dust we will return.  The ashes remind us that we are helpless in our sinful condition.  Our only hope is a Savior.  We repent of our works.  We cling to Jesus for his.

            No one should feel obligated to receive the ashes on the forehead.  If you do not want to do it, the ushers will simply pass you by and go to the next row.  Children may participate at the discretion of their parents.

            We will begin the service with the rite.  Where the bulletin indicates, the ushers will begin to invite people by row to come to the communion railing to receive the ashes.  The penitent will kneel at the railing (like Lord’s Supper), and wait as the pastor applies the ashes to the forehead in the shape of a cross.  Please resist all temptations to scratch or smear the ashes.  (The ashes will easily be washed off with soapy water.)

            This ceremony truly sets the tone for Lenten season.  We are marked as sinners.  We are marked for death.  We are marked as the penitent whose only hope is Jesus Christ. 

            Our comfort comes from Jesus who takes our sin.  He dies our death.  He marks us as his own who have been baptized into his name.  That is where the penitent find comfort.  That is where the dying find life.

Another Senior Year Moment

A long time ago, when Laura and I were young parents with only two children, we were gushing over all of the firsts that we were enjoying with our children.  First steps.  First words.  First full night's sleep.  First day of pre-school.  All of those good things.  And then a pastor with children who were quite a few years older than ours was talking about the lasts.

Quite often, you don't even realize that you had your last moment of something.  When was the last time you picked up and carried your child?  Even if you can remember it, you had no idea that it would have been the last time.

But the senior year of high school is marked by a whole string of lasts, and we can pretty much mark them all.  Last Saturday, we had a few lasts.

It was the last time Nathanael would play a home basketball game for MLS.  They played Ithaca, a decent opponent, and won the game, 56-48.  It was also the last time Nathanael and Andrew would play a home game together in any sport.  They had played a lot of basketball together in grade school, and this year Andrew got pulled up to varsity.  I hope they enjoyed playing together all these years, because we are quickly come to the last time it will happen.  They have at least three games left, all on the road.  And it seems unlikely that we will get to see any of them.  (Playoffs begin on Ash Wednesday?!  Really?!?!?)  So this was probably our last time getting to see them play together, and our last time getting to see Nathanael play high school basketball.

I know that Nathanael will miss these games, and we will miss seeing him play.

 

 

Nathanael's last shot at the MLS gym.  He made it.

 

 

Brothers line up on the home court for the last time. 

 

Nathanael walks off the home court for the last time.

Sermon -- Sexagesima (February 23, 2014)

ISAIAH 55:10-13

THE LORD WORKS THROUGH HIS WORD.

In the name + of Jesus.

     In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  And God said, “Let there be light.”  And there was light. (Genesis 1:1,3)  And there was light, because God said so.  That is the way it was with all the rest of creation.  God called forth the dry land from the seas; and it was so—because God said so.  God called forth the sun, moon, and stars; and it was so—because God said so.  God commanded that the earth bring forth all kinds of land animals; and it was so—because God said so.  After he formed Adam and Eve from the dust of the ground, God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it….” (Genesis 1:28)  And to this day, people reproduce one generation after another, because the word of the Lord works.  It is so, because God says so.

     The Lord also gave another word to Adam.  “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)  And it would be so, because God said so.  Of course, you know that Adam and Eve did eat from the forbidden tree.  And so just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…. (Romans 5:12)  The Lord was true to his word.  The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)  And the soul who sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4)  It is not good news, but it is exactly what God said would happen for all who have sinned against him.  God is true to his word.  He will not mislead you or lie to you.  The word of the Lord does the work he says it will do.

    Of course, you also know that the Lord has not abandoned you in your sinful, mortal, and cursed condition.  But the Lord does not simply declare that all his previous words are reversed.  God does not contradict himself.  The wages of sin is death no matter how much the Lord does not take pleasure in the death of anyone.  The soul who sins shall die no matter how much the Lord is not willing that any should perish.  The word of the Lord stands because God is not wishy-washy.

    Still, the Lord worked through his word.  The Word made flesh has come to demonstrate that God is merciful and just.  God is just; for he sees to it that the wages of sin is death and that the guilty perish.  Jesus has taken all your guilt from you.  He has borne the curse for all mankind.  Jesus made himself the guilty one on behalf of all sinners, and he has died the death and received the damnation for all sinners.  God said that is the price for sins.  Since God said so, so it was. 

     But Jesus also shows you that God is merciful.  Jesus willingly suffered and died for you.  He did it because God does not take pleasure in the death of anyone.  Jesus did it because God is not willing that you should perish.  Jesus suffered for your sins.  Jesus died under your curse.  Jesus did all of this for you, so that you would be forgiven of all sins and saved from every hellish torment.  So, Jesus’ sufferings and death mean that God is just and that God is merciful.  The guilty has been punished—Jesus on behalf of you.  The guilty have been pardoned—your sins are remitted.  God has been true to his word; and the Word made flesh has saved you.  The Lord has worked through his word.

     Now, God does not simply make a decree which reverses the curse of sinners.  It is not accurate to say that all are saved simply because God says so.  Even with salvation, God works through his word.  This word still stands: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)  But in order to believe in Jesus and confess his name, people need to hear about him.  The word of the Lord must be preached so that Jesus’ sufferings and death are proclaimed, revealing God’s mercy and salvation.  And that is why you come to church, study the Scriptures in Adult Bible Class, and read your Bibles at home—so that the Lord would work in you through his word, creating and sustaining in you the faith which saves you.

     Now, you have heard a good number of sermons over the years, and chances are you vividly remember few of them.  And you may also hear a sermon that you think is a dud.  It happens.  Not every sermon will be an award-winner.  But do not think that means listening to sermons is a waste of time.  And do not despise preaching and his word; for, this is where the Lord does his work.  Listen to Isaiah: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11) 

     As often as you hear the word of the Lord, the Lord is sustaining and strengthening your faith.  If you neglect or ignore the word of the Lord, the Lord cannot feed your faith.  Jesus does not tell his parable for nothing.  Sometimes our hearts are the hardened path where the word never takes root.  Sometimes we let the weeds, that is, the cravings of worldly pleasures, choke out our zeal for Jesus.  Sometimes times of testing cause us to cast of the cross the Lord would have us bear so that he might teach us to rely all the more on him.  This is to our own detriment. 

     Our sinful pride convinces us that we do not need the word of the Lord, and that we can get along fine without it.  After all, many people live for decades without God’s word.  But do not be deceived by their supposed happiness.  In these cases, the Lord still works through his word, but he works against them.  Remember: The wages of sin is still death, and they have no deliverance from their sins.  The souls who sins will die, and they call on no Savior and so they have no salvation   Do not envy those who ignore or defy God’s word.  Rather, cling tightly to the Lord and yearn to hear his word.  This is where the Lord works salvation in you.

     Hear what the Lord works for you through his word.  Isaiah states: “Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 55:13)  Isaiah proclaims the salvation worked by the word of the Lord.  No longer shall life be cursed by thorns and thistles, weeds and briers.  Instead of a cursed and crooked world, we shall know a lush and vibrant life.  Instead of a life filled with pain and toil, we shall know peace and rest.  For now, you know the peace which comes from God’s mercy and forgiveness.  But that peace is still marred by a world that is marred and a life that knows sorrows.  But you have a salvation coming where all things shall be perfect and all things shall be made new.  The world will not know thorns and briers, but cypress and myrtles.  Bodies shall not know pain and disease, but health and wholeness.  The world shall not know disaster and destruction, but all things shall be verdant and vibrant.  Everything shall be restored to the glory and perfection of Eden. 

     This is the salvation which is promised by the word of the Lord.  It has been won by the Word made flesh.  This salvation is pledged to you by the word which is preached.  It was poured upon you by the word which was attached to baptismal waters.  It is poured into you by the word which is combined by the bread and wine on the Lord’s altar.  The Lord works through his word to strengthen you, to sustain you, and to save you. 

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

Sermon -- Septuagesima (February 16, 2014)

MATTHEW 20:1-16

THE MASTER GIVES THE SAME GIFT TO ALL.

In the name + of Jesus.

     In this world, you earn what you get.  The more experience you have at your craft, the more valuable you become and the better you will be compensated for it.  If you invent a product that everyone wants, you will cash in.  If you work an eight hour shift at an hourly wage, you are going to make more money than the man who works a three hour shift.  These things are obvious, and they are generally true.

     But Jesus tells us that in the kingdom of heaven, it all works backwards.  He concluded the parable with the phrase, “So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16)  And when you consider Jesus’ parable, you might find yourself objecting to it.  You want to correct Jesus and tell him to be fair.  But this is where the problem lies.  You and I have a warped view of what is fair, especially when it comes to the kingdom of God.  Because God’s kingdom is not based on what is fair.  God’s kingdom is ruled by grace.

     You know the parable well enough.  The master of the house goes out to find day laborers to tend the grapes in his vineyard.  He goes to the marketplace at the break of day to find men to work for him.  The master promises a fair wage – a denarius.  A day’s wage for a day’s work.  So far, so good.  But there is more work to be done.  More hands are needed.  So the master goes back to the marketplace and finds more men standing around doing nothing.  He goes at the 3^rd hour, the 6^th hour, and the 9^th hour.  Still hoping to get more work done, the master goes back even at the 11^th hour.  The work day is almost done, but the master recruits more workers anyway. 

     And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’  And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.  Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.  And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’” (Matthew 20:8-12)   

     You can appreciate the anger of the day laborers who worked a full day.  From 6:00 AM until 6:00 PM, they toiled in the hot sun, tending the vines and harvesting the grapes.  But what about those who only worked half a day?  Isn’t half a wage fair?  And what about those who only worked for an hour?  How do they deserve a full day’s wage?  And if they are rewarded a full day’s wage for an hour’s work, then shouldn’t the other laborers get more?  Fair is fair.  But the master gives the same gift to all.

     One laborer was bold enough to speak to the master about his denarius.  “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” (Matthew 20:12)  In other words, “Master, you are not fair.”  And the master does not deny it.  He does not pretend to be fair.  He responds to the criticism, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong.  Did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what belongs to you and go.  I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?  Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:13-15)  In this master’s house, all receive the same gift.  All are treated as equal.  None had deserved to be there.  The master had gone out and found them.  He did not treat them according to what is fair.  His behavior was generous and gracious.

     Now, you may find yourself having sympathy for the disgruntled laborer.  You could probably argue that he is right.  And in fact, you do agree with him when you get angry about God’s grace.  For the most part, you are among the workers who were hired at the first hour of the day.  You have been Christians your whole life long.  And your denarius is forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation. 

     But you know that there are people who have been called into God’s kingdom much later in life.  Some have been saved in their 20’s.  Some, in middle age.  And a few in old age.  Life-long Christians get upset because others got to give themselves over to their seedy and selfish desires for all of those years.  Now, they are forgiven, and you feel ripped off.  Surely you must be better; but then you discover that you are made equal to those who sinned more and were believers for much less time.  The master gives the same gift to all.

     You shake your head at the injustice of it all.  “God, you are not fair!” is the cry.  But this demonstrates that sin has gripped your heart just as fully as it has gripped the hearts of others.  Do you really want God to be fair?  Then he must judge you by your actions.  And he does not just weigh your good deeds, which are not as many as you think.  But he also measures every sinful, selfish moment.  He sees the heart which thinks it deserves a reward, a heart that wishes it could have sinned more and gotten away with it, a heart which has deceived you into thinking you are good and does not really see a need for grace or mercy.  If you insist on being put first, you will be made the last.  If you demand that the Lord be fair with you, he will be.  He will give you what your deeds deserve.  The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

     But the Lord came and found you.  He called you from standing idle, out of your sin and death, to bring you in his vineyard, that is, into his Church.  And here, he promises you your denarius—the gifts of forgiveness, new life, and salvation.  Your Lord has called you, and he has given you the gifts.

     The master gives the same gift to all, and that is because all are the same.  All are sinners.  All deserve to be damned.  But that is also why Jesus came for all.  Jesus has borne all your sins.  He did not ask which sins were little, as if they need no forgiveness.  He did not ask which sins were big, as if some are too great to be forgiven.  Jesus bore the guilt for all sins.  And he came to bear the guilt for all sinners.  He did not ask which sinners were nice, as if you are worthy.  He did not ask which sinners were violent or mean or filthy, as if there are some who could never be saved.  Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for every sinner.  All are equal.  All are sinners.  All need to be saved.  So the master gives the same gift to all.

     Is it fair?  Hardly!  It is not fair that Jesus should be pierced to the cross for your hands which have taken what does not belong to you.  It is not fair that Jesus should have his side pierced for your heart that schemes to do wicked things.  It is not fair that Jesus should perish in bitter darkness for the sins you commit in secret.  It is not fair that Jesus should have been mocked for the sarcastic and slanderous words you have used.  It is not fair that Jesus should have died for you.  But he did, and he did it willingly.  By his willing and innocent death, Jesus has made atonement for you.  He has made atonement for the whole world.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) 

     The Lord has called to into his kingdom and gives you salvation.  This is your denarius, given to you by your Lord.  The master gives the same gift to all who believe in his Son, Jesus Christ.  The Lord does not give it to you because he is fair, but because he is gracious. Do not begrudge him for being generous, but be grateful.  For, he has generously given his Son to save you.

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