26 December 2022
25 December 2022
23 December 2022
20 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
They must preach the resurrection of the dead, that great and truly glorious sign by which testimony is borne him that the Emmanuel is truly God and by nature the Son of God the Father. He utterly abolished death and wiped out destruction. He robbed hell, and overthrew the tyranny of the enemy. He took away the sin of the world, opened the gates above to the dwellers upon earth, and united earth to heaven.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 49 on St. Luke
Luther
Therefore we should let joy have rule, let Christ be greater than our sins.—Sermon for Advent IV, Epistle (CP VI:96)
Catechesis: Fourth Commandment
“For if we wish to have excellent and able person both for civil and for Church leadership, we must spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and educating our children, so that they may serve God and the world.” —LC I:172.
19 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
The feeding of the multitudes in the desert by Christ is worthy of all admiration. But it is also profitable in another way. We can plainly see that these new miracles are in harmony with those of ancient times. They are the acts of one and the same power.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 48 on St. Luke
Catechesis: Fourth Commandment
But those who keep God’s will and commandment in sight have this promise: everything they give to temporal and spiritual fathers, and whatever they do to honor them, shall be richly repaid to them. They will not have bread, clothing, and money for a year or two, but will have a long life, support, and peace. They shall be eternally richly and blessed. So just do what is your duty.—LC I:164
15 December 2022
Well, we’re down to…
…six more podcasts to record….three more podcasts to write….two more Issues’ shows to write and record…have finished up at St. Paul’s School…and THEN all that remains is singing in choir for Advent IV, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
102 Years Ago
Stuart Maupin Weedon was born to Chancellor Barbour Weedon and Bessie James Maupin. They had married relatively late in life, and Stuart was their first child, to be followed four years later by Edgar Jackson Weedon. His father was 41 years old when he came along (as he was nearly 40 when I came along); his mother was 34. He was born in Fredericksburg, but raised in Richardsville, Virginia, where they both grew up. The house he was raised in (what’s left of it!) stands still on land my sister owns. This picture of him was taken upon his last birthday. He died some 16 days later. It was a rule in our house that the tree did not go up until on or after daddy’s birthday. I see the tree up here and I honestly don’t remember when we even got it that year. Everything was a blur. He was fading fast. So his earthly pilgrimage was 59 years and 16 days. The older I’ve grown, the more I resemble my dad. It’s odd passing a mirror and out of the corner of the eye catching a glimpse of my father walking past! 
13 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
A man who has an evil spirit is a figure of the Gentile people, covered in vices, naked to error, vulnerable to sin.—St. Ambrose of Milan, Exposition of Luke
Catechesis: Fourth Commandment
We must therefore impress this truth upon the young that they should think of their parents as standing in God’s place. They should remember that however lowly, poor, frail, and strange their parents may be, nevertheless they are the father and the mother given to them by God.—LC I:108
Luther
Mark you, beloved, to serve Christ, or to serve God, is defined by Paul himself as to fulfil a Christ-ordained office, the office of preaching. This office is a service or ministry proceeding from Christ to us, and not from us to Christ.—Sermon for Advent III, Epistle (CP VI:66)
12 December 2022
Thinking of something Lewis wrote…
…about prayer: that God, who is outside of and beyond all time, has all of our history spread before Him “at once”, and He has no problem answering a prayer that we offer today some two weeks or even two decades ago.
This led me to ponder the nature of the Our Father. It occurred to me that all of Christendom is praying these seven petitions for all of Christendom.
We are praying them today, but also praying them for the saints who have gone before us, for those who journey with us now, and for those who may yet come later. Wherever the others may find themselves in the “space time continuum” they are within the embrace of the Church’s unceasing Our Father. Truly, that “our” embraces the entirety of Christ’s people on pilgrimage. I find it a very comforting thought that prayers offered centuries before, even, are coming to fulfillment in my little life here in the 21st century.
Patristic Quote of the Day
We may also learn this from what befell the herd of swine. Wicked demons are cruel, mischievous, hurtful, and treacherous to those who are in their power. The fact clearly proves this, because they hurried the swine over a precipice and drowned them in the waters. Christ granted their request that we might learn from what happened that their disposition is ruthless, bestial, incapable of being softened, and solely intent on doing evil to those whom they can get into their power.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 44 on St. Luke
Catechesis: Third Commandment
On the other hand, the Word is so effective that whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, it is bound never to be without fruit. It always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not lazy or dead, but are creative, living words.—LC I:101
Luther
[On 1 Cor. 4:1] The same limit here made concerning apostles applies also to bishops. It designates the character of their office and the extend of their power. So when we see a bishop assuming more than this text gives him warrant for, we may safely regard him as a wolf, and an apostle of the devil, and avoid him as such.—Sermon on Epistle for Advent IV, CP VI:65
11 December 2022
09 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
It will never happen that those who love Christ will become subject to them [that is, the demons].—Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 44 on St. Luke
Catechesis: Second Commandment
To confuse the devil, I say, we should always have this holy name in our mouth, so that the devil may not be able to injure us as he wishes.—LC I:72 (with import for the use of the Jesus Prayer)
Luther
Let him who desires to fast and make confession, do so, but let no one censure, judge, condemn or quarrel with his fellow over the matter.—Sermon for Advent II, Epistle (Church Postil VI:47).
08 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
He calls the holy church “a lamp stand.” By its proclamation, the Word of God gives light to all who are in this world and illuminates those in the house with the rays of the truth, filling the minds of all with divine knowledge.—Origen, Fragments on Luke
Catechesis: Second Commandment
For when He says “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,” He wants us to understand at the same time that His name is to be used properly. For His name has been revealed and given to us so that it may be of constant use and profit.—LC I:63
Luther
Paul says God grants patience and comfort; we do not possess them of ourselves. If they are granted they are not of nature, but of grace, and are gifts.—Sermon for Advent II, Church Postil, VI:45
07 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
The parable points out to the eyes of the mind what is impossible to see with the eyes of the body. It beautifully shapes out the subtlety of intellectual things by means of the things of sense and palpable to touch.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 41 on St. Luke
Catechesis: Second Commandment
The First Commandment has instructed the heart and taught faith. This commandment now leads us forward and directs the mouth and tongue to God.—LC I:50
Luther
This life is simply a mortification of the old Adam, which must die. So patience is essential. Again, since the life to come is not evident to mortal sense, it is necessary for the soul to have something to which it may cleave in patience, something to help it to a partial comprehension of that future life, and upon which it can rest. That something is God’s Word.—Sermon for Advent II, Epistle (CP VI:43)
06 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
Christ is our love. Love is good, since it offered itself to death for transgressions. Love is good, which forgave sins. Let our soul clothe herself with love of a kind that is “strong as death.”—St. Ambrose, Issac or the Soul 8:75
Catechesis: First Commandment
We will see how He requires nothing greater from us than confidence from the heart for everything good. Then we may live right and straightforward and use all the blessings God gives, just as shoemaker uses his needle, awl, and thread for work and then lays them aside. Or we may behave like a traveler using an inn, food, and bed only to meet his present need.—LC I:47
Luther
Now, the Christian hatred of sin discriminates between the vices and the individual. It endeavors to exterminate only the former and to preserve the later. It does flee from, evade, reject or despise anyone: rather it receives every man, takes a warm interest in him and accords him treatment calculated to relieve him of his vices. —Sermon for Advent II (Epistle), CP VI:35
Tik Tok Fun
…for the Podcast. Click here. Peter has me answering some of the most frequently asked questions about the Bible. This one makes me sad, because I forgot to mention that the Fathers speculate that the prohibition on the tree of knowledge of good and evil may have only been for a time. In which case, it was more like a Christmas gift under the tree with instruction: “Don’t open this YET!”
05 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
He came that He might forgive the debtors much and little and show mercy upon small and great, that there might be no one whatsoever who did not participate in His goodness.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 40 on St. Luke
Catechesis: Close
These are the people He means when He says, “those who hate Me” (Ex. 20:5); i.e., those who persist in their defiance and pride. Whatever is preached or said to them, they will not listen. When they are rebuked in order that they may know themselves and make amends before punishment begins, they become mad and foolish.—LC I:38
Luther
We are to avoid as heathen those who obstinately attempt to justify their sins and are unwilling to forsake them.—Sermon for Advent II Epistle, Church Postils (VI:37)
04 December 2022
Joyous day!
Today our oldest granddaughter (in process of adoption) was baptized into Christ and adopted into the family of the heavenly Father! Aunt Meaghan, Uncle Jon, and honorary Aunt Kinsley were godparents. Pastor Christian allowed the family to sing right before the Baptism a song I had written for Bekah’s baptism some 31 years ago. We are so happy that K’s with our family, but even more that she is with the heavenly Father’s family through the grace of baptism!
03 December 2022
Well, it’s been interesting…
…My friend Stephanie pointed out that with Illinois’ change of law, hearing aids are much cheaper and you can order and try them with no doctor’s appointment. And if you’ve ever had to endure my constant “what?”, you know I needed them. Just ask the poor kids at St. Paul’s school! So, I went shopping online and found a promising pair at Walmart (for just $188!) and they even charge overnight (so no changing of batteries!!!).
My first choir rehearsal wearing them was definitely an improvement. I could hear Kantor’s instructions clearly, which I had been struggling to hear before. And last night I went to the Collinsville Chorale Christmas concert and, well, WOW! The difference to me was truly shocking. I could understand what the choir was singing, at least most of the time.
The only down side, thus far, is that my ear canals are a bit sore from the foreign object persistently in them. I figure that will mend in time. I’m really looking forward to experiencing Church with them, and seeing if I can hear the sermon better.
Cindi has threatened to drag me to the Muny next summer (I always hated it because it was a boring, two hour waste of time, since I just couldn’t make out anything they were singing). We’ll have to see about that! It might still be a boring waste of time even if I CAN figure out what they’re singing!
01 December 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
The kingdom of God signifies, as we affirm, the grace that is by faith, by means of which we are accounted worthy of every blessing and of the possession of the rich gifts which come from above from God. It frees us from all blame and makes us to be the children of God, partakers of the Holy Spirit, and heirs of a heavenly inheritance.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 38 on St. Luke
Catechesis: On Catechesis
For the reason we exercise such diligence in preaching the catechism often* is so that it may be taught to our youth, not in a high and clever way, but briefly and with the greatest simplicity. In this way it will enter the mind easily and be fixed in the memory.—LC Shorter Intro, par. 27
*The custom at Wittenberg in Luther’s time was to preach through the Catechism four times a year, using the Ember days.
Luther
All foods are good creations of God and to be used. Only take heed to be temperate in appropriating them and to abstain when it is necessary to the conquest of the works of darkness. It is impossible to lay down a common rule of abstinence, for all bodies are not constituted alike. One needs more, another less. Everyone must judge for himself, and must care for his body according to the advice of Paul: “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” [Note: Luther’s German reads, Make provision for the flesh, yet not so as to fulfill the lusts thereof.”]—Homily for Advent I Epistle, Church Postils
29 November 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
While it is people’s duty to examine themselves and to order their conduct according to God’s will, they leave this alone to busy themselves with the affairs of others. He that judges the brother, as the disciple of Christ says, speaks against the law and judges the law…. Whoever therefore is guided by good sense does not look at the sins of others, does not busy himself about the faults of his neighbor, but closely reviews his own misdoings.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 29 on St. Luke
Catechesis: Intro to LC
It must be true that whoever knows the Ten Commandments perfectly must know all the Scriptures. So in all matters and cases, he can advise, help, comfort, judge, and decide both spiritual and temporal matters.—LC Intro 17
Luther
A Christian ought to live as he would be found on the last day before all men.—CP VI:20 (Advent I Epistle)
27 November 2022
This morning, getting ready for Church…
…it suddenly occurred to me that I am still using THIS:
Which happens to have belonged to my father; his handkerchief. And he’s been dead for going on 43 years this January. The little hanky that could, I guess. It’s a little yellowed with age, but it still serves.
25 November 2022
Dear Mom,
Well, it’s been 28 years since your earthly sufferings came to an end. I still miss you more than words can say. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the details of that Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that year as it is this year. After I heard that they’d taken you to the hospital, I called and spoke to the doctor. He said that you were trying very hard to die, your poor heart just giving out. I remember telling him to please let you go. But I’m so thankful John and Tammy were there to see you that day!
I wonder if you remember how it was a Thanksgiving years before that we realized something was very wrong. You were staying with us, and Cindi and I had decided to teach you a new card game: sevens. After we explained the rules of the game, it became apparent to us that you didn’t remember numerical order any more. It took a while for that to sink in. How can someone forget the order of numbers? And then we thought back and realized that a year or two before you had given up doing your beloved crossword puzzles and your jigsaw puzzles. We should have known then, or at least gently asked what was up.
Most of the family joined us that Thanksgiving down in North Carolina and we talked about what on earth we were going to do as we gathered on the porch, while Dawn, I believe, occupied you inside the house. We decided to let things alone and just watch for a while longer. Sissy, you remember, was still working at the FBI, as was Jimmy. But it wasn’t long, mom, before we realized that you being alone during the day wasn’t going to work. You called 911 about things that were very real to you, but that just weren’t there. Uncle Edgar came over to help out more than once, as did Doug. Finally, Sis got a sitter to stay with you during the day. That helped for a little bit, but nothing was stopping the change in you.
Cindi and I tried to take you to our home in North Carolina. Do you remember your time there that last time? I think we started with a hospital trip and getting your gall bladder out, of all things! Then the terrible allergic reaction to the medicine (Cindi is a saint!). I remember when I finally had to put a lock on your bedroom door so you wouldn’t wander about at night. I hated doing it, mom. It felt like a betrayal, but it was the only way we could think of to keep you safe. And then when Cindi ended up on bedrest before Rebekah was born, I had to call Sis to come and get you. And she did in an instant. She was such a help! She came and took care of some laundry and other household things before she packed you up to head back to Virginia. I remember telling her that it was getting worse. Mom, your hallucinations were so sad and so persistent. You seemed to be living in a nightmare that never got any better. And you’d reached the point you couldn’t really be left alone.
Still, mom, my heart breaks when I remember that one day. You were crying there in your bedroom at our house. I asked what was making you so sad. You said: “You’d be sad to if you were losing your mind.” It was a moment of lucidity, but what a horrid thing to be clear about! You knew something was seriously wrong. We’d long since ceased trying to argue with you about the things you saw. I just tried to distract you with memories from the past (which were always somewhat clearer, at least for a time). And that moment of weeping and sadness for what you were losing, is the sole instance I ever recall of you ever complaining.
I just commented to Butch and Sis the other day, that the thing that always amazed me about you was that despite your physical ailments, the constant pain from the shortened leg, your headaches and whatnot, you just never complained. You never one time before that instance even referred to your suffering at all. And you certainly did not let it quench your spirit. You were always such a delightful tease!
The last time I saw you, sadly, you were pretty far gone in the loss of your memories. I am certain you had no idea who I was. I tried to feed you, mom, but you looked at me with nothing but suspicion and distrust. I remember I left that day in a very black mood; I stopped in Culpeper at Clore’s on the way home to Maryland and ordered a tombstone for Joe. I think Butch and Sissy helped me with the cost of that; it grieved me that his grave had never been marked; and now poor Maupin doesn’t even have a grave to mark! That was the summer before you died. I think Joe’s death probably did more to hasten your aging than even daddy’s. But a month or so before you breathed your last, do you remember who came to see you?
Yup, your beloved Tommy. He came with Aunt Emma. Emma told you: “Mibby (her special name for mom), Tommy’s come a long way to see you.“ (Tommy lived out in Cheyenne Wyoming.) Without missing a beat, you said: “Well, aren’t I worth coming a long way to see?”
I had taken the call to Illinois by then, the year after Bekah was born. Leaving you wasn’t easy, mom. I remember the fall before you passed away, I read the children “I’ll Love You Forever” and I just lost it. I couldn’t keep the sobs in. I just wanted to go home to see you. But when I stopped the tears, there was still work to do and I had used up my vacation that summer. So I stayed here. I prayed for you. And to this day I feel terrible that I didn’t just pick up and head home right then for a visit with you. I hope you’ve forgiven me for it. I would dearly loved to have hugged you and kissed you one last time.
The day after Thanksgiving 28 years ago, we were expecting our friends, the Whaleys, to drop in for a visit. You remember, Linda, mom? That day Cindi had to go to the hospital for bedrest, it was Linda who came and sat with you. I will always be grateful to her for that. Well, she came through again that day. After her long drive, Linda arrived and set to work packing our car with distractions so that the kids (they were little back then) would have games to play and books to read on the long ride to Virginia. Yes, Linda to the rescue yet again! And so we headed off.
I talked Sissy and Maup into getting you a cedar coffin. We all know how much you loved Cedar. And we did Christmas greenery for your funeral too. Do you remember how each year we’d go out into the woods behind Granddaddy’s and gather the running pine and running cedar and slice some of the holly off of the tree that Ann Field planted by the old house? I can still see you hobbling to the woods, determined to gather the greens to take home to Maryland, cheerful as can be. It seemed fitting your coffin should be decked with them too.
Mom, I remember too the horrible Christmas when you got shingles and you couldn’t wrap your packages the way you used to, always making your own beautiful bows. It was the start of a number of awful Christmases, wasn’t it? Then the year when Peggy almost died of that horrid virus, I think 1970. Then the Christmas daddy was dying, 1979. But you were always our rock. We knew we could count on you. You would laugh and swing your sweat towel and we knew the world was okay. Until it wasn’t. Until you began to be taken from us, memory by memory.
Well, this has gotten a bit out of hand, but I wanted to write to you. 28 years is a very long time to live without seeing you, and I just wanted to tell you how very, very much I have missed you. But your words of wisdom have been and continue to be my constant companions, especially your words from Aunt Annie.
Love you, mom. Can’t wait to see you again.
23 November 2022
21 November 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
If you propose a choice between these two things, which is better, to laugh or to cry? Is there anybody who wouldn’t prefer to laugh? Because repentance involves a beneficial sorrow, the Lord presented tears as a requirement and laughter as the resulting benefit. How? When He says in the Gospel, “Blessed are those who cry, because they shall laugh.” So crying is a requirement, laughter the reward, of wisdom. He wrote laughter to mean joy.—St. Augustine, Sermon 175.2
Luther
That (Matthew XXV:41) ought to be a strong and earnest warning that we as Christians should so study and live that we shall be able to stand with honour and unafraid at the right hand of this Lord of Majesty, where there will be no fear or terror, but only pure eternal comfort and joy.—Sermon on 26 Trinity, 1544.
Catechesis: Monastic Vows
Paul speaks of faith differently than the philosophers. He does not assign faith to those who have mortal sin. So he says that people cast off faith who do not care for their relatives. In the same way he also says that unchaste women cast off faith.—Ap XXVII:68
15 November 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
The nature of an envious person is such that he makes the praises of others the food for his disease and is wickedly maddened by their reputation.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 23 on St. Luke
Catechesis: Monastic Vows
The Gospel does not advise about distinguishing clothing and meats and giving up property. These are human traditions, about which it has been said: “Food will not commend us to God” (1 Cor. 8:8). Therefore, they are neither justifying services nor perfection. Indeed, when they are presented covered with these titles, they are mere “teaching of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1).—Ap XXVII:26
Luther
The Prophet Isaiah speaks the truth about Him, for He hides His omnipotence, His wisdom, power, and strength, and makes it appear as though He could do nothing, know nothing, understand nothing, or does not wish to. Now He lets our enemies do as they like with His Word, Sacraments, and Christians; He lets us call and cry, and keeps silence.—Sermons, 1531
14 November 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
For if grace comes from penitence, surely the one who scorns penitence renounces grace. Those who make themselves out to be holy will be wounded. The Bridegroom is taken from them.—St. Ambrose, Exposition of Luke 5:20-22
Catechesis: Monastic Vows
Therefore, this blasphemy, which appears in Thomas, also cannot be tolerated, “The monastic profession is equal to Baptism.” It is insane to make a human tradition, which has neither God’s command nor promise, equal to Christ’s ordinance. Baptism has both God’s command and promise, which contains the covenant of grace and of eternal life.—Ap XXVII:20
Luther
Thus it is written in Psalm cxlix: ‘Let the saints hold a two-edged sword in their hands.’ Those are not material swords, but spiritual swords of the mouth of Christ. With these swords and with their wisdom Christians must rush into battle and smite down heathen nations and kings, with all their visions of holiness, and take them prisoner and subject them to Christ. Such is the honour of God’s warriors and saints.—Day by Day, p. 389.
11 November 2022
Patristic Quote of the Day
So the Lord prays, not to entreat for himself but to intercede for me. Although the Father placed all things in the power of his Son, yet the Son, in order to fulfill the form of a man, thinks that the Father must be entreated for us, because he is our Advocate… If he is an Advocate, he must intercede on account of my sins.—St. Ambrose, Commentary on Luke, Homily 23
Catechesis: Monastic Vows
“Another one,” he [the monk, John Hilton] said, “will come in 1516. He will destroy you and you will be unable to resist him.” Later, his friends found this very prediction about the declining influence of the monastic orders and the very date written in his surviving commentaries dealing with certain passages of Daniel.—Ap XXVII:3
Luther
For where God through His Word and faith has gathered together a Church, the devil cannot be at peace, and where he cannot achieve her destruction through sectarianism he strikes at her with persecution and violence, so that we must risk body and life in the fight, and all we have.—Sermon for Trinity 3, 1544
10 November 2022
Patristic Quotes of the Day
He has not called those who, wishing to establish their own justice, have not been made subject to the justice of God. He calls those who, being conscious of their weakness, are not ashamed to confess that we have all offended in many things. In them too is fulfilled his saying that he had not come to call the just but sinners. That is, he does not call the exalted but the humble. He does not call those puffed up about their own justice but those showing themselves devotedly subject to the one who justifies the wicked. Such people, when they are converted, bear witness with a sincere heart that they must not be regarded as just, but sinners.—The Venerable Bede, Homilies on the Gospels
Catechesis: Prayer for the Dead
Epiphanius declares that Aerius maintained that prayers for the dead are useless. He finds fault with this. We do not favor Aerius either, but we do argue with you because you defend a heresy that clearly conflicts with the prophets, apostles, and Holy Fathers. This is heresy is that Mass justifies by the outward act (ex opere operato), that when applied it merits the pardon of guilt and punishment even for the unjust if they do not present an obstacle. We object to these deadly errors…—Ap XXIV:96
Luther
Yet each Christian should be so armed that he himself is sure of his belief and of the doctrine and is so equipped with sayings from the Word of God that he can stand up against the devil and defend himself, when men seek to lead him astray, and so can help to fight the battle for maintaining the true doctrine.—Sermon, 1531
09 November 2022
The sunrise yesterday vs. today…
Very glad to be home and all, but we will miss the Caribbean big time.
Patristic Quote of the Day
When the Savior says to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you,” he addresses this to humankind in general. For those who believe in him, being healed of the diseases of the soul, will receive forgiveness of the sins which they formerly committed.—St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 12 on St. Luke
Luther
The Word and doctrine will create Christian unity and fellowship. Where they reign all else will follow. Where they are not no concord will ever abide. Therefore, do not talk to me about love and friendship, if that means breaking with the Word, or the faith, for the Gospel does not say that love brings eternal life, God’s grace, and all heavenly treasures, but the Word.—Sermon, 1531
Catechesis: Prayer for the Dead
Regarding the adversaries quoting the Fathers about offering for the dead, we know that the ancients speak of prayer for the dead, which we do not ban.—Ap XXIV:94
31 October 2022
Reformation Day Homily for St. Paul Lutheran School
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Boys and girls, we’re going to think together on this Reformation Festival only about the opening verse of today’s Gospel reading. Remember, it went like this:
From the days of John the Baptist until now
the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence
and the violent take it by force.
I think that in order to understand why this text was chosen for Reformation Day, you need to remember a couple things we way too often forget about the Church: first, the Church is the militia Christi, we are Christ’s army! And so when you are baptized you are enlisted in the Lord’s army, and given your marching orders, which include holding that little piece of earth you call your body and soul as the Lord’s territory where Jesus is acknowledged as the true King to whom you yield your obedience and to whom you give your loyalty.
And here’s another thing we forget: that we’re not in peace time. There is a spiritual battle raging all the time, all around and it reaches even down inside you. And at the heart of that spiritual battle is the attempt of Satan, the Rebel, to retake the territory he’s lost. That means, to get you to switch sides back to him, to return to his revolt and rebellion against God. Instead of bowing your knee to King Jesus, Satan wants you bowing your knee to HIM, of to YOURSELF which amounts to the same thing. It’s all fine with him as long as you don’t serve King Jesus. Anyone or anything else will work just peachy as far as he’s concerned. It puts you back in his rebellion, whether you realize it or not.
Now battle, He gives you weaponry. But the weapons we use are all spiritual. Listen to St. Paul on this: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh, but the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience.” (2 Cor. 10) So Jesus gives you as a shield the gift of faith. He puts the promise of His salvation as a helmet over your head to protect it, and His righteousness as a breastplate to protect your heart. And He puts into your hands the most awesome weapon of all: the Sword of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God. You can see the depiction of it there with St. Paul. So being in Christ’s army doesn’t mean getting to take a wack at people like Peter did to poor Malchus in the garden, thinking he was protecting Jesus. No. It means armed with those weapons from Jesus, the attempt of the enemy to dethrone Him in our lives is bound to fail, even when it waxes violent. And it does wax violent.
The Kingdom has suffered violence from the days of St. John the Baptist. Wherever the message has spread, it has been opposed and people have tried to stop the Word about the true King, King Jesus, from spreading. Across the year’s they’ve locked up those who speak it and spread it, those who print Bibles and share them, and like with John, they’ve even chopped off heads to try to silence it. You know how they killed almost all the messengers Jesus sent, but how the message itself kept moving. The hatred couldn’t stop it. It kept advancing. Kept on capturing hearts for the King.
In the 16th century, Martin Luther experienced a joyous “aha” when he realized that the righteousness God demands from us in the Law is the righteousness He freely forks over to us in the Gospel. He gives us Jesus to be our righteousness, with His unbroken “yes” to His Father made our very own. That’s the big gift of Baptism. And when Luther tried to share this good news of King Jesus and how He spreads His reign through this good news that frees hearts from hating and fearing God and fills them with joy and peace and love, well, Luther found pretty quickly that it was still like Jesus said in the Gospel: from the days of John the Baptist until now…. That now reached all the way up to the 16th century. It reaches right up to today. The Kingdom still endures violence from those who hate the King and don’t want Him to be our Righteousness; and who above all don’t want us talking to others about Him, sharing His Word.
But even though the Kingdom suffers violence, WE, Christ’s army, WE are the violent who take it by force. That means, we ruthlessly put to death in ourselves anything and everything that opposes Jesus and His will and His reign. We seek to be loyal soldiers and hold this outpost for the Kingdom that is our life for Him. It’s an unending struggle to preserve this body and soul of ours as territory ruled by Jesus, since the attacks never stop. And we could never do it without the Spirit’s gifts in the Word and in the Sacraments, where He fires us for the fight, by constantly forgiving our sins.
Today when we celebrate His Supper, we come to receive Him who IS our righteousness. And we will kneel before our living and reigning King. And receive from His own lips, His forgiveness with His body and blood, and that’s how He strengthens us for the fight to keep our lives as His own territory, as His possession where what Jesus wills is the only thing that finally counts. To Him be glory with His Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
30 October 2022
Joys of Reformation
“A Mighty Fortress”…Buxtehude’s Every Word and Thought…Bach stanza of “Salvation Unto Us”…John Behnke’s “Thy Strong Word” on the Bells… “We All Believe in One True God”… “Isaiah, Mighty Seer”… “Lamb of God, Pure and Holy”… “O Lord, Look Down from Heaven Behold”… “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”
28 October 2022
Have you ever had one of those kids…
…who just never outgrew playing dress-up? That would be my David. To the delight of his children!
Mom’s family place
My brother Butch was back in Richardsville recently. He sent me this pic of our grandparent’s old house. My mom’s grandparents (see below) expanded it considerably right after the Civil War. The oldest (central) part of the house we think predates the Revolutionary War. It was originally the miller’s home on the plantation.
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