Sermon -- All Saints' Day (November 1, 2015)

MATTHEW 5:1-12

BLESSED ARE THE SAINTS OF GOD.  

In the name + of Jesus. 

     Chances are, when you think of All Saints' Day, you think of early Christian figures such as St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Augustine, or St. Athanasius.  While it is true that they are saints of God, sainthood is not limited to apostles or martyrs.  The word “saint” means holy one.  It refers to all who are righteous in the sight of God and live under his favor.  In other words, you are saints.
     Every Sunday we confess: “I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.”  There is only one kingdom of God, not many kingdoms.  We confess it in the Apostles' Creed: “I believe in the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.”  We confess that the Holy Christian Church is united, whether they are saints in heaven or on earth.  In our communion liturgy, we join with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, lauding and magnifying the name of Jesus.  The Church in heaven and on earth join in praise and in the heavenly feast.  Blessed are the saints of God.
     If you just don't feel like a saint, that's because we are sinners.  None of us looks or acts like a saint.  Our words and actions mount up plenty of evidence against us.  But that is why we confess, “I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.”  It is God who tells us that we are saints.  Our eyes and ears and our consciences say it cannot be true.  But God says it is.  And so, we take God at his word and believe God over all the evidence that says otherwise.  Blessed are the saints of God.
     If you recognize that you do not look or act or feel like a saint, that is a good thing.  It is good and right to confess that we are sinners.  Jesus said that this is what his disciples are like.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)  One who is poor in spirit does not boast of anything or claim any kind of credit before God, as if we should receive some kind of reward from him.  We all come to God as beggars.  We have nothing with which we can appease God.  If we are to have anything good, it must come from God.
     God has been good and merciful to you.  Blessed are the saints of God.  Jesus pours out this blessing upon you.  He comes to you and says, “Yes, you are poor in spirit.  But in place of your poverty, I will pour out great riches.  I take from you all that condemns you.  I take your guilt, your punishment.  I die your death and take your curse.  I submit to hellish torment so that you will not have to.”  In exchange, Jesus gives you a place in the kingdom of heaven.  Listen carefully to Jesus' words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)  The blessing is not something you will receive some day; yours IS the kingdom of heaven.  You are children of God now.  You are possessors of God's good gifts now—peace, rest, forgiveness, and joy.  Blessed are the saints of God.
     Still, you can't help but notice that you are not experiencing the glory you'd think a saint would have.  Yes, there is peace.  You know that God's wrath has been removed from you.  There is rest.  You do not have a list of tasks to perform endlessly so that God will stay happy with you.  There is forgiveness.  Your sin no longer condemns you.  There is joy.  Your place in God's kingdom is secure.  But where is the glory?  We are still weak and frail.  Our bodies fail us.  Our minds fade.  And we still fall into temptation because our sinful flesh never gets better.  We don't see the glory that should come with the title, “Saint.”
     Twice in the Beatitudes, Jesus says of the saints, “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3,10)  But in the majority of the Beatitudes, Jesus uses a future tense.  Blessed are the saints of God.  “For they shall be comforted.  They shall inherit the earth.  They shall be satisfied.  They shall receive mercy.  They shall see God.  They shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:4-9)  The glory that we are hoping to see will be ours in the future.
     But this need not surprise or disappoint you.  It was no different for Jesus himself.  When Jesus preached and served on earth, he acted in humility.  He did not radiate with glory.  Rather, he subjected himself to false accusations, ridicule, arrest, injustice, and cruel death.  He did this all for you.  Jesus mourned over the sins of mankind, was meek, sought our peace, hungered and thirsted for our righteousness, was merciful, and was crucified with a pure heart and innocent life.  Jesus lived and died in humble and obedient weakness.  But then he rose from the grave.  It was after Jesus' resurrection that he entered into a glory that will never fade.  So it will be for you.  You will be shown mercy.  You will inherit the earth.  You will see God.  You will be raised gloriously and for eternal glory.  Blessed are the saints of God.
     St. John caught a glimpse of the Church in heaven.  There were innumerable people from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes.... (Revelation 7:9)  These white robes are the wedding garments given to everyone by the Lord at baptism.  For, this is what the Lord says, “All who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)  You have this righteousness now, for you have been baptized.  When God sees you, he sees the righteousness of Jesus.  But at the resurrection, you will actually appear as the saints God says you are.  That is where you will receive the glory you hope for—with hearts unable to sin, minds unwilling to think evil, hands unwilling to do evil, and bodies unable to die.  Blessed are the saints of God.
     The final words of the Beatitudes, however, are a bit disconcerting.  With them, Jesus reminds you that your glory will not come yet in this world.  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)  
     Though you fail to see yourself as a saint, others may see it.  They see it when you do not give yourself into sins and do not apologize for a chaste and pure life.  They notice that you confess the name of Jesus, worship him, and pray to him.  They know that, since you are a Christian, you believe that God's Commandments are uncompromising truth and that you insist that there is no other way, truth, or life than Jesus Christ.  In this day and age, those are fighting words.  But you are not those who fight.  You are merciful—not vengeful, meek—not belligerent, pure in heart—not wishing evil on anyone.  And for this, you may be persecuted and reviled.  They may utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on Jesus' account.  Dear Christians, if you should suffer such things, Rejoice and be glad.  Yes, those are Jesus' words: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (Matthew 5:12)  All this means is that, while you fail to see yourself as a saint, the world does!  It means that the world recognizes that you bear the name of Christ not only as a status, but even as you live.  And if they hate Christ, they will hate you, too.  Yet, Jesus reminds you—their slander is false.  Their hatred is misdirected.  And you are still saints.  You still have God's blessing upon you.  The kingdom of heaven is still yours.  Blessed are the saints of God.
     It is true.  We do not look like saints.  We do not even act like saints.  We do not see the glory that saints possess.  But that is why we confess, “I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.”  We do not see it; we believe it.  And we believe it because God says so.  We have been baptized into Christ.  We are clothed in his righteousness.  We are children of the resurrection and heirs of heaven.  And even if the world should revile us, we cannot do better than what we have.  Blessed are the saints of God, for you shall be comforted.  And the kingdom of heaven is yours.
 

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

MLS Football vs. Bay City All Saints -- playoff edition

On Friday night, October 30, the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Cardinals got to host round one of the state playoffs.  We welcomed the Cougars of Bay City All Saints, who came to the MLS field with a 6-3 record.

Other than the weather which was terrible last year, this round started to shape up like our game last year vs. Manton.  We were so convinced that we would run away with the game that we were a little unnerved to be scoreless at the end of the 1st quarter and then down 8-6 after a bobbled ball turned into a 78 yard TD for the Cougars.  As it turned out, I think that is what finally got us to wake up.

And then the route was on.  At one point in the 2nd quarter, MLS put up 22 points in about a minute.  MLS' defense stepped up, refusing to let the Cougars run anywhere.  One M-Live said that the Cougars gained -1 yard rushing all game.  (Another said 9 yards total.  Go figure.)  The Cardinals on the other hand, threw the ball deep several times.  Hunter Miller scored on two nice passes.  I was giddy to see this, because it sends a message that we do not rely on two or three players to carry us.  Andrew scored one TD in the 2nd quarter and another in the 3rd.  Cade Kestner ran for three.  And even back-up QB, Adam Arrowsmith, who played QB for the JV, ran one in in the 4th quarter.

Besides receiving, Andrew also returned punts, including one long return down deep into Cougar territory.  He also posted an interception which ended the Cougars' first drive.

Caleb was pulled up to varsity and was told that he could expect a lot of playing time.  I also think that we were expecting the big lead to come much earlier than it finally did.  Caleb almost missed playing time, but a coach threw him in for the final :30, in which Caleb played defensive end for three plays.  Final score, MLS wins 54-14 and advances to round two.

We will be playing Friday, November 6 at MLS, hosting Fowler.  Fowler will come into the game at 7-3 after beating Merrill 29-7.

Some photos below are from after the game.  MHSAA rules prohibit posting any game photos, so if you want to see them, you have to drop by my house.

You can read an M-Live article here.  You can find another M-Live article here.
You can also watch the Friday Night Highlights here.  MLS' highlights begin at the 3:26 mark.
MLS also made the highlights on Part 2 of the Highlight Zone and begins at the 3:26 mark.  Apparently, the camera guy did not show up until the 4th quarter.

Football players with a St. Peter's Lutheran School (Plymouth) connection-- Nathanael, Damon, Tyler, Andrew, and Caleb.

2014 Class reunion -- Charli, Nathanael, Chad, and Travis

Grandpa Schmidt, Grandma Schmidt, Laura, and Andrew

Class of 2020 "pre-union" -- Cole, Philip, and Kai

MLS Football -- Playoff preview

If you are interested in following the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Cardinal playoffs through M-Live, you can find a preview article here.  The article seems to favor Bay City-All Saints.

Unfortunately, MHSAA rules prohibit MLS from live-streaming the game.  Apparently, you will still be able to find it at the MLS website and it will be posted about one hour after the game.

The following is from an MLS e-mail:

The MLS football team has made the MHSAA playoffs again this year with a record of 8-1. They will play Bay City All Saints High School on Friday, October 30, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at MLS. Because this is a playoff game, MHSAA regulations do not allow us to livestream the game. It will be broadcast via our Cardinal Casts site one hour after the conclusion of the game. In order to access this broadcast you will need to enter the password MLS on the Cube log-in page. 

Let's all cheer our Cardinals football team on to victory!

Go Cardinals!

A Prayer for All Saints' Day

          In our liturgical tradition, we offer up a prayer of remembrance for those who have died in the Christian faith in the past year.  Normally, we do this on the second last Sunday of the Church Year, a Sunday known as "Saints Triumphant."  This year, since All Saints' Day lands on a Sunday, we will observe this rite this Sunday, November 1.
          Below is the prayer that we will use, as well as the names of members, members' family, and members' friends which have been submitted for remembrance.  (Names may still be submitted for remembrance, but will not be included in the bulletin.)
          "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15)


PRAYER FOR ALL SAINTS’ DAY

Almighty God, today we recall with thanksgiving those saints who were taken from us in the Church Militant and carried by the angels to you and the Church Triumphant.  Especially, we give you praise for our departed family and friends who have gone before us in faith and all those who are in our hearts and minds this day:

(The names of those who are to be remembered are read.)

Irmgard Black, aunt of David Kirvan, (died January 2015)
Yesmeen Zayed, aunt of Norma Kirvan, (died February 2015)
Walter G. Trapp, friend of David & Diane Rumics, (died February 16, 2015)
Catherine Reising, daughter of Richard & Janet Reising, (died March 16, 2015)
Steven Paul Voigt, cousin of Colleen Fadool, (died April 2015)
Alice Rauchholz, mother of Jean Rauchholz Nabozny and Dan Rauchholz, (died June 1, 2015)
Melvin Usimaki, uncle of Mary LeFevre, (died September 17, 2015)
Genevieve Usimaki, aunt of Mary LeFevre, (died October 25, 2015)

To these, you have granted eternal rest this past year.  We thank you for giving them new life in Christ while on this earth and for sustaining them in true and saving faith throughout their life.  We praise you for finally giving them the fulfillment of your promises of salvation and eternal life.  Strengthen and sustain us in this saving faith so that we may also join with the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven in joyful praise, peace, and rest forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Cong: Amen.

Floor hockey tournament

On Saturday, St. Peter's Lutheran School made the journey to St. John's Lutheran School in Westland for the annual floor hockey tournament.  With a small squad coming from St. Peter's, I don't know if anyone had many expectations for St. Peter's.  Nonetheless, St. Peter's did have mainly 8th graders playing, so we thought that might produce some results.

The first game was tight -- a 2-1 loss to the 7th grade team from St. Paul's, Livonia.  We won the next contest 10-1 against Peace, Livonia.  The results were tallied from all the morning contests and teams were slotted for the playoff rounds.

St. Peter's won their first playoff match against St. Paul's, Livonia 8th graders in tight 2-0 match.  As the playoff brackets lined up, that put St. Peter's in the championship game vs. the home town St. John's Leopards.

Philip took the opening face-off and broke into the St. John's zone for a quick score.  St. Peter's was up 1-0 within the first 15 seconds of the game.  As it turned out, that goal was incredibly important, as it was the only one St. Peter's scored all game.  St. John's hit the tying goal with about 3 minutes left in the game.  We went to a shoot out.

St. Peter's hit three goals, and John Lovell came up BIG in St. Peter's net blocking the St. John's attempts.  The last St. John's attempt was dangerously close to a goal (photo below).  St. Peter's came home as floor hockey champs for 2015.  Way to go, Eagles!

Photos below.

This was just before Philip scored a goal less than 15 seconds into the championship goal.
It was St. Peter's only goal until the shoot out.

St Peter's first goal of the shoot out.

2015 Floor Hockey Champs!

MLS Football at Birch Run (Varsity)

On Friday, October 23, the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Cardinals traveled south to Birch Run to face the Panthers.  Birch Run entered the game playing for their playoff lives, as well as Parents' Night, an awareness for cancer game, and in recognition for the wife of their athletic director who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Despite all of the emotional incentives for Birch Run, they could not contain MLS from grabbing a quick 20-0 lead in the first quarter.  Casey Williams managed to bust free for a number of long touchdowns and give MLS a comfortable lead.  Eventually that lead expanded to 34-7.

Birch Run managed to move the ball with pretty good consistency, mainly with a running game that saw anywhere from 3 yard gains to 7 yard gains.  That methodical kind of offense takes a lot of time off the clock, which did not work in Birch Run's favor because they were down early.

In all, MLS managed to score seven TD's to Birch Run's 3.  Final score was 49-21, ensuring that MLS will host a playoff game next Friday.  (We will be stunned if we don't.)

Andrew had four catches for 89 yards, but none of them ended with him in the end zone.  He jumped high for one in the first quarter, but he needed about six more inches to grab it (photo below).

You can also read an article from M-Live here, and see a spot featuring MLS on Friday Night Lights here.  (The MLS-Birch Run contest begins at the 1;20 mark.)

Some photos below.

This throw to the end zone was just a little bit too tall.

Andrew on a long run after a catch.

3rd quarter action.  The throw was a bit high.  #11 from Birch Run came in on the hit and ended up taking the worst of it.

Andrew comes in for the assist on the tackle.

This was a nice run-after-catch by Andrew in the 4th quarter.

Sermon -- Reformation (October 25, 2015)

JOHN 2:13-22

JESUS IS THE GREAT REFORMER.  

In the name + of Jesus. 

     We do not see Jesus get angry very often.  That is why his actions in this gospel reading are so shocking.  Jesus was not only angry, he displayed his anger by overturning tables, scattering coins, and driving animals out of the temple courtyard.  It's not that Jesus punched anyone out.  But he did treat animals like animals, and he showed no respect for the coins.  What we see on display at the temple during that Passover festival is what the Psalms said we would see: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:17; Psalm 69:9)  Jesus demonstrated zeal, love, and respect for the place where God had said that he will come to his people to bless and to save them.  And Jesus took it upon himself to rid from the temple whatever would intrude and desecrate that.
     We do not see Jesus get angry very often.  Though the Lord is slow to anger, that does not mean he never gets angry.  But we ought to understand exactly what Jesus got angry about.  Jesus was not angry that there were animals in the temple.  Sacrifices went on daily in the temple.  Naturally, animals would have been there.  Jesus was not angry that the Jews were exchanging money or buying animals.  Many Jews came to the Passover from distant lands.  They would not have brought animals with them for the feast; they would have bought them in Palestine.  They also would have been carrying Roman coins with them.  At the Passover, each Jewish man was obligated to pay the temple tax.  That was not paid with a coin which bore the Roman Emperor's image.  So, each Passover pilgrim would have exchanged his Roman denarius for a shekel or a didrachma.  Such transactions were not evil.  However, the priests had decided that the best place to do this business was in the temple courtyard where people were praying and worshiping.  Jesus had assessed it correctly: “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” (John 2:16)  
     What's worse is that people were being taught that forgiveness was a commodity to be purchased:  “Come to the temple.  Buy your animal.  Pay your tax.  Make your sacrifice, and God's forgiveness has been secured.”  God's people were not being taught not to trust in the Lord and his word for salvation, but that salvation could be purchased for the right amount of money.  Zeal for God's house and for God's salvation moved Jesus to drive the animals and the money-changers out of the temple courtyards.  Jesus acted to reform their worship to what is God-pleasing.  Jesus is the Great Reformer.
     You'd think that people would have learned the lesson.  You do not look for salvation where God does not give it.  Nevertheless, God's people were deceived again.  While you cannot fault people for their desire to be saved, you can fault people for seeking it wrongly.  Many have sought God's favor by fasting, by monastic vows, by paying money for a mass offered in honor of a loved one or for themselves, by reverencing relics, or by purchasing indulgences.  Much money was handed over by people who were eager to believe that God forgives sins and saves sinners.  But it was all a lie.  Salvation is not something that man works out.  Forgiveness is not a commodity to be purchased.  As a result of his own conscience being vexed by such inventions, Martin Luther challenged the church leaders of his day and demanded that they forsake their inventions.  Luther clung fervently to God's word as the only source of hope, certainty, and salvation.  If God said it, we can be sure of it.  If God did not say it, at best we are in doubt that salvation is real.  When you are facing death, you do not want to be vexed by doubt or fear.  You want certainty.  Our works may have the appearance of piety, but they have no certainty.  Only faith in Jesus' words and works are certain for salvation; for it is only Jesus Christ who saves.  He was pleased through faithful ministers like Luther, to turn people away from pious-sounding inventions to the sure word of God.  Jesus Christ is the Great Reformer of his Church.
     You'd think that people would have learned the lesson.  You do not look for salvation where God does not give it.  Nevertheless, God's people are still often deceived.  To this day, we are told and tempted to look into our hearts for assurance that we are doing or believing the right thing.  But this is what the Lord says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)  Our hearts are so corrupt that God has to reveal to us how bad our condition is—and even then many do not believe it.  Everyone believes that he is basically a good person.  The Lord declares that none are good, that all fall short of his glory.  Our sinful hearts believe that God owes us answers and that God should act like we would act.  Then we assume he does, and we reject God when he does not.  This is blasphemy and idolatry.  It is evidence of utterly corrupt hearts and minds, and it will result in damnation to be sure.  Repent!
     Jesus is the Great Reformer.  He does not submit his word to us for our approval.  He does not take suggestions for how to improve it.  By his word, Jesus overturns in our hearts everything that desecrates his kingdom or distracts from his word.  Jesus pours on us fear, terror, judgment, and despair in order to destroy every religious impulse that derives out of our hearts, no matter how pious it sounds.  For, our salvation does not flow out of our hearts and minds; it comes only from God's word to us.  God reforms our hearts and transforms our minds.  He causes our hearts and minds to submit to his word.  That is where we find divine truth and a sure salvation.  Jesus is the Great Reformer.
     When Jesus did lash out at the false worship in the temple, the Jewish leaders said, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” (John 2:18)  They demanded to know by what authority Jesus did what he did.  Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19)  Jesus pointed them to the resurrection.  The temple is the place where God dwells among his people to bless and save them.  Who is Jesus?  He is God who dwells with his people to bless and save them.  The people would put him to death, but he would raise up the temple of his body to show that he has all authority.  Jesus has authority not only to drive out men-centered worship, but also authority to forgive sins, to raise the dead, and to give eternal life to all who believe in him.
     Jesus is the Great Reformer, and he turns us away from ourselves and put our trust completely on him.  It seems like a violent act because it destroys all that we consider to be reliable and trustworthy.  It destroys every other foundation so that we are left with nothing but Jesus.  And that trust is not misplaced.  For Jesus Christ has paid for all our sins by his death.  Jesus has delivered us from death by his resurrection.  Jesus opens the kingdom of heaven to us and has every right to do so.
     Jesus summons us to hear his word and receive his sacraments.  That is where he delivers salvation to us.  That is where Jesus is at work to wash away sins, to strengthen faith, to proclaim salvation, and to feed his people.  Jesus continues to reform us, to work in us, to preserve us, to strengthen us, and to save us.   And since Jesus is the one doing the work for us and in us, we do not have to doubt if it is sure or fear that it will fail.
     At the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus cleansed the Temple and reformed its worship.  Jesus repeated this cleansing at the end of his ministry, just three Passovers later.  The people did not learn their lesson.  Jesus is the Great Reformer, for he continues to cleanse and re-form each one of us who are still learning the lesson.  Salvation never comes from us—from our works, our worship, our piety, our sincerity, and our hearts.  It all comes from Jesus.  He delivers it through his word and sacraments.  And since it is Jesus who has worked at the cross and tomb to win salvation, it is sure.  Since it is Jesus who delivers it in the sacraments, it is sure.  Since it is God's Word to you, it is sure.
     Jesus is the Great Reformer.  Since you and I are humble sinners in need of God's reformation continually, we will surely continue to flee to God's word and to feed at God's altar where God re-forms our sinful hearts into godly ones and where God delivers his forgiveness.  And where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

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