More Homiletical Musings

God has two outcomes that He constantly works for in our lives: that we be humble and that we trust in Him. To keep us humble, He commands that His Law be proclaimed; to keep us trusting, He commands that His Gospel be proclaimed. Further, whenever the Law is proclaimed in its full severity it carries in itself the power to engender humility; and whenever the Gospel is proclaimed in its full sweetness, it carries in itself the power to engender faith. These two proclamations belong together always, for humility without trust lands us in despair; and trust without humility land us in pride and deception. Through the Law, we come to know ourselves as we are. Through the Gospel, we come to know what God has done for us in His Son and what He declares us to be and causes us to be.

Where is love? Love is the inevitable fruit of a humble, trusting heart; a heart that has been turned from preoccupation with itself towards the neighbor in love. By keeping us humble and believing, the Law and the Gospel together keep us loving.

What is the Church on earth then? Among many other things, it is the arena for the real practice of humility, trust, and love. God sets other people before us - people who may irritate us, betray us, slander us, and do all manner of evil to us. And He says: "Can you consider them better than yourself? Can you believe that I love them just as I love you and that I love you just as I love them? Can you serve them in humility and in the faith that they are precious in my sight?"

What an adventure! What scope God gives us for practicing the life of the Age to come! And should we ever say: "I don't think I can" we know that we "can do all things through Him who strengthens us." What is impossible for us is never impossible for Him, and so rejoice to let His Word of Law ever humble our pride of heart; we rejoice to let His Word of Gospel ever engender the faith that holds Him tight; we rejoice that through both we are set free to love with the Calvary love.