Great Vigil

Oh, and speaking of Lutheran Prayer Companion

Could we find better words to pray as the sun begins to westering and we know the joy about to break forth?

Prayer of Preparation for Easter

Lord God, we praise You; Lord God, we thank You that You have granted us to see the holy day of Easter in peace and good health. Most especially we glorify You for giving us the victory over all our enemies by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son.

O Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your triumphant resurrection from death by which You opened heaven to us, destroyed death, and obtained for us the comfort that You are the resurrection and the life.

O God the Holy Spirit, we thank You for Your paschal message, and we pray that You would plant the paschal joy in our hearts and increase and sustain it in us. And as by Your power the troubled hearts of the disciples were made glad at Easter, so comfort us with Christ's resurrection and that we have a gracious God, we shall live forever, hell and Satan have no power over us, and the world cannot hurt us.

O Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit, sustain Your Church against all her enemies, spiritual and physical. Grant that after this life we may all keep the joyful feast of Easter in Your life of gladness, and with all the angels praise, extol, and glorify You, most blessed forever. Amen.

P. 46, 47

Twas a Joy

This holy Lententide to spend some extra time in the Word and prayer. Lent calls for us to do this, for we have no strength in ourselves to live as God's children in a way that pleases Him. Our strength always comes from the Word and from invoking God. And when we do, our own frailty and struggle become no cause for despair, but rather in our weakness we learn to stand in awe at the strength God supplies that we know is not our own.

Cindi and I always start the day with Treasury of Daily Prayer, so again this Lent we've read through large swaths of Genesis and are now in Exodus; we've also read St. Mark and are in the midst of Hebrews. I added in for myself the Lamentations during Holy Week (optional reading in Treasury). During my commute, I finished up listening through the Scriptures on Audible right after Ash Wednesday (started a few weeks before PreLent). That is an experience by itself: listening to the Bible (rather than reading). 

This Lent I've tried to be faithful in praying the Psalms according to the monthly pattern laid out in the Book of Common Prayer (and provided also in our Concordia Psalter and Treasury). I've written that division into my Bible and I just turn there and pray them, morning and evening. Then during the days of Lent, I've also added after the morning psalms a reading from whatever chapter in Proverbs corresponds to the number of the day of the month we're on. And it has been odd how that chapter turns almost instinctively from instruction to supplication!

And then there is the marvel of Lutheran Prayer Companion! I've found myself relying on it every day for the Morning and Evening Benedictions and for the wonderful daily prayers on the petitions of the Our Father by Habermann (usually pray those in the morning). I love, for instance, how we pray for our pastor on Sunday in the "Hallowed be Thy name" petition: "O God, on this Sunday make my dear pastor as well as other faithful teachers and preachers, vessels of Your mercy and instruments of Your grace, and let their ministry attain to the praise of Your glory and to the welfare and blessedness of every soul entrusted to their care." I love the way we beg God the Holy Spirit to grant us grace that our last meal in this life may be the Holy Supper, the last image in our mind Christ crucified, and the last words on our lips "Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit." Preparation for Communion now invariably includes prayers from this wonderful volume. And I've tried to form a habit (only partially successful this Lent) Schmemann once recommended: offering the prayers for thanksgiving and for the fruit of the Sacrament for the three after I receive; and then prayers of preparation to receive on the three or four days before I receive again. Then there is the confession of sins in this the Lutheran Prayer Companion. It beggars belief in its brutal honesty, covering every base, the law having done its deep cutting work, no excuses, so extenuations, just naked owning up to the mess.  And that's just a teasing taste! So many times throughout the day, I find myself taking this volume in hand to pray for various needs that arise. It's so helpful that I have my physical copy at home but also carry it in my iPhone and iPad. It's been quite transformative and I cannot recommend this prayer book highly enough (just one of the many gems of Lutheran spirituality Matthew Carver has given in English). 

The extra time in the Word and prayer has stirred a greater hunger for more of both than I think I've remembered in my life since the days when I was a teen and it was all so new to me. I really hesitated to post this; I know it can sound pitifully prideful. But I risk offering it in the hopes that it will not be received that way, but will rather reflect on what an absolute joy this Lentide has been for this poor, miserable sinner through these two gifts of God's grace: His Word and prayer. 

Tomorrow’s Feast,

for any who are curious, will feature:

Appetizers: Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms topped with 5 year aged Cheddar; Deviled Eggs; Bay Scallops wrapped in Bacon; Mimosas

Main: Saganaki; Lamb-Beef-Feta balls; Felafel; Couscous; Greek Salad; Goat Cheese; Home-made Pita; Greek Shrimp; Tzatziki Sauce; Humus; Red Grapes; choice of Cab or Sauvignon Blanc

Dessert: Homemade Vanilla Ice-cream (made with homemade vanilla too!); Baklava; assorted Dark Chocolate; Limoncello and pour-over Coffee.

We did a similar meal last Easter and it proved so popular with the family, we decided to stick with it. Only thing missing this year was the spanakopita, but we subbed in Greek Shrimp instead.

And tomorrow, we'll be doing double duty: a delayed birthday celebration for Cindi (who doesn't even have to give a thought to clean up) and of course the great celebration of our Lord's Pascha (which commences tonight with the Great Vigil at 8; continues tomorrow with Easter Matins at 6:30; and reaches its culmination at 9 with the Divine Service for Easter Day).

At the Tilting of Triduum

Just got back a few moments ago from our parish's Tenebrae Vespers. A solemn praying of four Psalms (spoken) 22, 2, 27, 51. Then the singing of "O Sacred Head" (Bach setting; but four stanzas) leading into the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, According to the Holy Evangelist St. John (Schalk). David, as usual, did his bang up job on the Evangelista and the choir did a lovely job on the the cries of the crowd. Kudos to Kantor Muth for pulling it off! Responsory and then "A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth." Pastor preached a comforting homily "It Is Finished!" And then we concluded briefly with Kyrie, Our Father, and three collects. The sounding of the strepitus and then we left in silence, but not quite dark. Easter is so late this year there was even a touch of light in the sky.

Earlier, Cindi and I had taken Lydia, Henry and Oliver to the Chief Service, where they were good as gold for us. The Chief Service is longer and filled with some moments of silence, but they made hardly a peep. That liturgy begins unusually (though the way the ancient liturgy DID begin) with simply a collect and then the reading commences. Also unusual that a collect follows the first reading (Isaiah 53) and the second (2 Corinthians 5). Then we sang the first stanza of "Jesus, I Will Ponder" and proceeded to do just that: ponder His Passion as the St. John passion was read, interspersed with the singing of seven stanzas of the rhythmical version of "O Sacred Head." Sermon, then Fortunatus' "Sing My Tongue." The bidding prayer followed and I was delighted to hear grandson Henry chiming in on the Our Father at the end. Then the adoration of the cross with the reproaches (the school children sang the response to the pastor and we joined in the "Lamb of God" after each). They sang the last canticle: "We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, for by the wood of Your Cross You have brought joy into all the world" as the altar was readied for the Sacrament. Unlike our Roman brothers and sisters, our rite calls not for administration of the pre-sanctified carried from the altar of repose, but for an abbreviated communion rite. So we proceeded from Preface to Our Father to Verba and then Distribution. After the school children communed they sang a lovely Hildebrand setting of "God So Loved the World." Otherwise the Distribution was in silence. A collect after the Distribution and then "The Royal Banners" was sung and we left.

Only one more service to go for this year's joyous Triduum, the Great Vigil of Easter tomorrow. It will not start until 8 p.m. Our pastor (as I have noted before) is no trimmer. The whole provision for the rite will be done, and the service will stretch into the evening with its 12 Old Testament Readings; an epistle reading connected with the Baptismal Remembrance; the Easter Litany, and then the Easter Gospel and the Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom and then the Sacrament celebrated. Just thinking about it, brings such joy!

The tilt happens tonight. From here on out we're pressing toward the Descent into Hell, the Resurrection, and the Joy that cannot never be taken from us.

A bit of a soggy Palm Sunday

But the joy was there, despite the dampness. The bells began with a joyful Dobrinski prelude. Then after the ringing of the bell, the liturgy began from the chancel as Pastor gave the apostolic greeting, prayed the collect, and read the Palm Sunday Gospel. Bells and trumpet and organ led off with the beautiful processional hymn of Theodulph of Orleans, sung throughout the world on this day, "All Glory, Laud, and Honor." The children of the school, who formed our choir today, followed the cross, torches, and Gospel book as they waved their palm branches and the hymn came to life before our eyes and ears: "To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!"

The joyful procession leads to the solemn veiling of the crosses and then the long liturgy begins. Our pastor is not trimmer. He gives us the lot. So the service of readings (Zechariah's prophesy / gradual / Philippians 2 / tract) commenced, culminating in the Passion of St. Matthew, the 26th and 27th chapters of His Gospel, read with reverence. Onto the Nicene Creed and Hymn of the Day: "A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth" in which the children sang the second stanza. 

After a homily that summoned us to awe at the love that our Lord Jesus is revealing to us by His passion, the offertory and offering and intercessions, and then the Service of the Eucharist commenced. Pastor (wisely!) uses the crisp old Preface for Lent (the traditional preface for the feasts of the Holy Cross) from The Lutheran Hymnal and not the wordy version that appears in our current book (which by seeking to be clear ends up being merely pedantic). As always the Sanctus on this Sunday with its Benedictus qui venit rang with particular joy. Again, by the gift of the liturgy the events of the day are brought to us for us to participate in and receive with joy. 

Distribution rang long enough that we ended up singing all the Distribution hymns ("Hosanna, Loud Hosanna," "O Bride of Christ, Rejoice," "No Tramp of Soldier's Marching Feet") and so the children sang for us their memory verse for this year from Psalm 46: "Be still and know that I am God." They sang it first in Latin and then in English and in harmony. So beautiful. 

After the Nunc Dimittis, collect of thanksgiving and closing salutation, benedicamus and benediction, the liturgy closed with a hymn that I always find the most moving of all for Palm Sunday: "Ride On, Ride On in Majesty." "The Father on His sapphire throne Awaits His own Anointed Son." And, of course, trumpet with the organ to send us off. It was a feast of the Word, a feast of prayers and music, and above all, a feast of that sacrifice from the Cross which sustains our life in Christ across all these centuries and will ever till He returns in glory. The liturgy lasted an hour and twenty minutes. 

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

Last Sermon on the Passion

You can listen here, or read below: Concluding Homily on Luke’s Passion

Homily

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

Who is this that hangs upon the Tree? St. Luke is at pains to make us understand that this is the King. Before His passion began, He had told His disciples at the meal "I assign to you as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom."

Pilate asked: "Are you the King of the Jews?"

The inscription posted above His head as He hung upon His cross announced to any who looked: "This is the King of the Jews." 

And in the face of this Crucified King, you can go one of two ways when your final hour comes. You can either rail at him as the thief on one side did: "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" For what good, such a man thinks, is such a King, a Christ who lets you die? Useless! Who needs a King like that! Or, in contrast, with the eyes of faith, you can stand with the other thief. Had he read the inscription above our Lord's head? Beholding the Crucified in awe, he rebukes his fellow thief with the words: "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?" A deliciously ambiguous statement, by the way. Since you are under the same sentence of condemnation as....this man or as God? YES! "And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 

There's the crux. We have no right to complain of death (and it arrives to us in countless little foretastes before it finally squeezes out our last breath). Our deeds demand it all. "The wage sin pays," says St. Paul, "is death." Serve sin and that's the result. And you have, haven't you? I have. But this man, this man hanging here between the two, between the one who rails at death and the one who admits it is the just due for our sin, this King of the Jews, well, "this man has done nothing wrong."

Which means He doesn't belong here. Suffering and dying. Three times Pilate told the truth: I did not find this man guilty. I have found in him no guilt deserving death. That was profoundly true beyond anything Pilate ever imagined. And yet he consigns Him to the will of the people and so hands over the Innocent One to suffer right along with the guilty. And this was God's plan and purpose all along. "It was the will of the Lord to crush Him" as Isaiah said. Behold, the King of the Jews. Again Isaiah: He pours out His soul to death and is numbered with the transgressors. Thief, King, Thief.

And yet this other thief, knowing that King Jesus is innocent, knowing that he himself is only getting the punishment that he has deserved, dares to turn his eyes and prayer to the King on his wooden throne and beg: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And He answers: "Today, you will be with me in paradise." 

Paradise. Before the Innocent Sufferer, the flaming sword withdraws and the gate swings open wide. Paradise. One only enters it with Him, "with Me" as He said. This beautiful word from His cross was not just for that thief, but for you too. It was for all who turn to their eyes to the King who is establishing His kingdom by His suffering and death, to all who gaze upon the Innocent Suffer in awe at His love in choosing to be there for us. It is for all who in their final hours pray to this King who dares to join us in our misery: "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom." His answer to such a prayer stands forever: "Today you shall be with me in paradise." A King giving out a lordly gift indeed. "You will eat and drink with me in my Kingdom."

A promise to cling to as the darkness grew, as the temple veil tore, as he places His spirit into His Father's hands and breathes his last, as the verdict is heard once more, and again from a Roman, this time the centurion proclaiming: "Certainly this man was innocent." And it is as the innocent sufferer that His Father vindicates Him, and and in Him, you. His innocence is what He dies to give to you; it's how He gives the kingdom. "Not by gold or silver, but by His holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness." 

And as a Joseph welcomed Him into his arms at the beginning of the Gospel and carried Him from the womb when He could not carry Himself, so a Joseph welcomes him into his arms at the end of the Gospel and carries Him to a tomb. Joseph of Arimathea, about whom we are told: "and he was looking for the kingdom fo God." So He takes the body of his King into his arms and carries him to the new tomb. And then together he and the women cease their work as sun sets, as Sabbath arrives.

Where Jesus, there the Kingdom. Where Jesus, there your King. In your suffering, in your dying, He will not be far away. He, the Innocent One, has been there for you that He may always be there for you. Never cease turning to your King and praying: "Jesus, remember me." Hear and hold His promise: "Today. With me. Paradise. You." Then you too will be able to die with Your king in peace, whispering: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." And you will enjoy your own little Sabbath rest until the day of Resurrection, the Final Easter dawns, the Easter day that will have no end.  

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

Ah, the Perfect Way to Close the Lenten Midweeks

I worked from home today, and that afforded me the opportunity to attend our parish's Wednesday morning Eucharist with the school children (including my granddaughter). The adults show up a few moments before the school children, and sit and pray in silence. But then the school children enter, and the silence becomes even more profound. No one chattering or talking or whispering. Heads bowed here and there. Habakkuk's words ring: "The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him."

With the ringing of the bell, the pastors began the liturgy, a complete Divine Service, largely sung, though only singing one hymn: the Hymn of the Day. Pastor Ball preached to the children about death; about how we can face death like the thief on the cross, asking Jesus to remember us when He comes in His kingdom. About how Jesus has made death something we no longer have to fear; not if we face it with Jesus. And of course, how He remembers us and gives us paradise even already in the very gift of His Body and Blood. 

After the benediction, Pastor quizzes the children on the Catechism and they recited today the first section of the sixth chief part. Already they had learned it by heart: What is the Sacrament of the Altar? Where is this written? The adults join them in the recitation, and then in silence, the children file out and then the adults. 

Tonight we gathered in the Church yet again to pray Vespers and to finish our meditation on St. Luke's Passion. Many who had attended this morning were present for the Church's lovely evening prayer also. We chanted Psalm 40, sang the last stanzas of "O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken," heard the Passion, sang the responsory for Lent, heard a fine homily on a similar theme from the morning, but not geared toward children per se this time, sang with the holy Virgin her  Magnificat, and concluded with the Litany with its all-encompassing intentions. 

As Cindi and I drove home, I thought to myself: how blessed beyond words we are to be part of such a parish community! The Word preached so richly, the liturgy celebrated so reverently and joyfully, the children instructed so diligently, and the people who shine the love of Christ by their kindness and love. Yes, we are blessed indeed.

Homily on Luke’s Passion, Part V

Homily

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

O dearest Jesus, what must you have experienced when your own people demanded: "Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas"? When to Pilate's desire to release You, they began a raucous chorus of: "Crucify, crucify him!" And when the longer Pilate persisted in trying to free You, the louder grew their demands for Your death? Truly did Your Apostle write: "He came to His own and His own received Him not." As Pilate caved to their demand, he delivered You over to their will. And that will was to destroy You, You who had done so many acts of kindness and love toward our fallen race even before the days of Your flesh, but how much more afterwards.

And Barabbas? Oh, Jesus, we may not pass him by. They demand the son of a father, for so his name runs, be released and You, THE Son of THE heavenly Father, to be slain. Oh, Jesus. A rebel and a murderer was he. A true son of Adam, then. We cannot avoid seeing it: we are Barabbas, are we not? Sons of the man of dust and destined to the dust, rebels in our fightings against Your Father and His will, and murderers not just of one another, but, yes, of You. And You willing tender Your life for our own. You WANT Barabbas to be free. Love divine, all loves excelling.

And Simon unexpectedly getting to carry Your cross. Were you too weak then? Had the beatings of the night before by the soldiers taken their toll? 

The women with their mourning and lamenting. We want to join them. We want to cry out over this terrible thing unfolding before our eyes, but You forbid it. You don't want us to weep for you. You want us to weep for ourselves and our children. You, who set Your face like flint to go to Jerusalem knew exactly what it meant; You, who accepted in the Garden the cup that Your Father poured for You; You want no pity whatsoever for the doing of Your Father's good and gracious will. You want us to weep instead for the judgments that await those who refuse that will, who will be dry wood kindled by the fire. And even as You head into Your passion, Your mind is so filled with the words of the Prophets that Hosea comes tumbling from your lips. How those who shun Your sacrifice will on that Day of Yahweh's glory find no refuge in the earth, no place to hide, no cave deep enough, not though they were buried beneath the mountains. Weep, You tell the daughters of Jerusalem, for that, but not for You. You are moments away from Your glory, from providing the only refuge that will find hide from the true wrath of God. Your most holy cross.

And so the three condemned men arrive at the Skull, the Cranium, for You had comes to deal with death once and for all, had You not? Long before Your prophet Isaiah had foretold how You would be numbered with the transgressors, and so here You are crucified. Nailed to the dry wood and hoisted with them on either side. And as the nails are driven and You are lifted high, You again fulfill holy Isaiah. "He bore the sins of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors." Oh, Jesus, how sweet is that present tense at the end: not just that You did it then, but that Your sacrifice, Your oblation does this for us forever—a never ending plea for mercy before the Throne of Your Father: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

As the soldiers gamble for your garments, Psalm 22 opens before our eyes: They have pierced my hands and feet, I can count all my bones, they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots.

And how oblivious those for whom You sacrifice Yourself in such love. "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, His Chosen One." So the rulers, and the soldiers join their mockery with the sour wine: "If You are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 

Oh, dearest Jesus, how blind we are by nature! How we miss what is right before our eyes! It was to save others that You would not come down from the Tree; it was to save them, and us. You showed Yourself the Christ of God and His chosen One and Israel's king precisely by refusing to save Yourself, so intent were You on saving us and all for whom You prayed. This is love to the end.

When You stood before Pilate and he asked: "Are You the king of the Jews?" You had only answered: "You say so." And indeed he did say so by the inscription he posted above Your sacred head, now wounded: "this is the King of the Jews." 

Oh, dearest Jesus, our Jesus, thank You for letting us dwell here at Your cross this hour. Thank You for opening our eyes in awe by Your Spirit to see Your determination that we be saved and set free, we poor children of Adam, we Barabbases. Thank You for teaching us to sorrow over our sins, but to glory in Your suffering and Your cross as the most joyous and wondrous gift we could ever receive. Thank You for Your sacrifice pleading to the ages for our forgiveness, our salvation. Thank You for being such a King and welcoming us into such a kingdom. 

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You for by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world. 

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

Reflections on a Visit to a Graveyard

It was last June. My niece Jessica was getting married to her beloved Curtis. While we waited after the rehearsal for the meal to arrive (long story...), my brother Maupin and I visited the graveyard across the road from Richardsville United Methodist Church (I remember when it was still Richardsville Methodist Episcopal Church South!). We visited our brother's grave. Joe died 34 years ago tomorrow (it was Palm Sunday that year). We visited our parents' grave. And our grandparents'. Both maternal and paternal grandparents are in this graveyard. My father's mother's grandmother is buried behind the Church, the only grave in that location. All the rest are together in the cemetery. So many we had known and loved: Aunt Hattie, Aunt Connie, Aunt Emma, Aunt Fanny, Aunt Kitty, Aunt Ada, Uncle Archie, Uncle Leon, Uncle Jim, Aunt Gee and Uncle Cleve, plus those we never met, but learned to love through our parents' stories: Uncle Seldon, Aunt Annie. But above all Joe, mom and dad, and our grandparents. That's where we lingered.

They've constructed a memorial garden just beyond the Weedon section with a bench. Maup said: "So's you can just sit and remember." He sat for a spell (he was a bit winded that day). I stood beside him and we did remember.

I surely never guessed that the following day would be the last time I'd ever see him in this age. I said our good-byes after the wedding, we headed up to Maryland for a visit with Cindi's family and then home to Illinois. Only to hear in a couple weeks that Maupin had suffered a heart-attack and died. Reflecting on it, I wasn't surprised. He was weak at the wedding; I could see it. Much weaker than I remember him ever being.

We gathered in Richardsville UMC for the funeral and it was such a blessing to see the extended family. But it hit me then as it still does to this day: Maupin was cremated and Nancy, his wife, chose to keep the remains. That means there will be no grave to go visit when we return to Richardsville for him. I grieve for that. I don't know what it is, but there is something about returning to the graves, and remembering, and knowing that here lie the mortal remains of those from whom you came, or to whom you were connected by blood. I can't visit Richardsville without visiting the graveyard. I wish I could get there more often. My sister is so faithful in keeping flowers on the graves of our loved ones. I know some regard that as mere sentimentality. But I think it's more than that. It's a recognition that "what God joined together" death ought not separate. On many of the tombstones there are scripture verses proclaiming this in various ways: "Here we have no continuing city." "If this earthly tabernacle is destroyed..." "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."

I'll still remember Maupin. As long as I live I will never be able to forget this brother who was closer to me in age than any of my other siblings (I'm the caboose). But I grieve that there is no place for me to stand by his mortal remains and remember and pray. But I’m grateful I can still stand by Joe’s grave.

Addendum: Cindi asked me years ago where I wanted to be buried. I’d love to say: Richardsville, but here WATER is thicker than BLOOD. I’ll happily be buried in St. Paul’s cemetery in Hamel, which has become our home. And I’ll be near Cindi’s mom. She’s buried here too.

Homily on the Passion, Part III

Homily on Luke 22:46-62

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

As we noted last week, people loved by God, we don't get very far by studying the behavior of the disciples during the events of our Lord's Passion. Judas' sad betrayal, leading the mob to Jesus and identifying him for them with a kiss; the disciples with the unsheathed sword, wacking off the ear of the high priest's servant (John lets us know that was Peter and that the servant's name was Malchus); or Peter's denial that he knew Jesus or was one of his disciples or had the first clue what they were talking about. Selling out the Lord, hurting others in our zeal to defend the Lord, and then wimping out when we could open our mouths and confess...I dare say we know something of all of these and the shame that attends them. 

But what is captivating is Jesus' reaction to betrayal and violence and denial. To Judas, one last word of grace: "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" How often had Jesus embraced him, welcomed and loved him? And even at the Supper had fed him with his own holy body and blood and told him it was for him and for the forgiveness of sin, his sin too. But he turned away in heart from it all and then feared it was lost forever. Yet even as he went to embrace the Lord and kiss him to hand him over to the mob, Jesus is still reaching for him. 

And when Peter's sword swings and severs the ear of the high priest, Jesus intervenes: "No more of this!" He not only stops the violence that would seek to defend Him, to prevent Him drinking the cup that His Father had given Him to drink, but He even here does good to one of those who came to arrest him. He heals the servant's ear. Does His love know any bounds? He continues doing good to those who came out to do Him nothing but evil. And even his challenge to the officers and elders: "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?" What was He doing but inviting them to consider the madness of what they were doing in their hour and in the power of darkness? 

And after they have seized him and taken him into the high priest's house, Peter sneaking in and being caught, being afraid, and denying three times before the rooster crows, just as Jesus had told him it would be. But when it happens, only Luke records this, Jesus turns and looks at Peter. In our sinfulness, I fear we write on our Lord's face the wrong look. This was no: "See, I told you so." Jesus never had to play that game. He never got a high from showing others just how right he was the way we do. No, people loved by God, this was a look of love. It was a look that conveyed to Peter: "Man, you may deny that you know me, but I still love you and I do this for you, and remember that I have promised that I have prayed for you and that when you turn again, strengthen your brothers. You will turn again, Peter." 

It's that look of tender love that smashes the Rock-Man to bits and and leaves him running away and crying his heart out for his own shame in the face of such enduring love.

Such is the gaze, people loved by God, that your Jesus would turn on you this day too. He knows full well, better than you ever will, the countless betrayals and denials and all the harm you have wrought on others when you sought to defend Him. He knows it. For it all, He is going to the Tree for love of His Father and, yes, for love of you. He looks upon you in your nakedness, in your shame, in the mess of your life and when you see His gaze, it is not reproach. It is not "I told you you were a bunch of sinners and that you didn't know the half of your own evil" but it is His "how how much I love you and I will never let anything in heaven or on earth separate you from my love. You are mine."

During Lent and always when we remember our shame, it is good for Jesus to gaze upon us, that we might weep our bitter tears with Peter and all penitents. Repentance that is of such a depth is wholly the gift of His love, of knowing that we have betrayed and denied the One who loved us so deeply and still does. God grant us all such tears, but above all, God grant us all to see the face of Christ gazing upon us not in anger, disgust, rejection, or hatred, but from an abyss of love so fathomless that it swallows up all sin and shame. 

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

Quite the Feast

Today ten of us gathered to celebrate Rebekah Lee Ibisch's 28th birthday (which fell on March 21); she wanted surf and turf. So... We served up a huge baked filet of salmon, surrounded by bacon-wrapped bay scallops, muscles in tomato sauce, sautéed shrimp (with lots of old bay!), london broil, salad (for any who wanted the rabbit food), and her brother made her a fabulous pecan maple cheesecake. It was quite the feast!

Outstanding Homily for Oculi

People loved by God, this is the wonderful homily that we heard this morning at St. Paul's, delivered by Pr. Wm. Gleason. Enjoy!

Sermon for Oculi - Lent 3, 2019

Exodus 8:16-24; Luke 11:14-28 • Rev. William Gleason

Every time I hear about the plague of flies that God sent upon the Egyptians, it reminds me of a story told to me by a former parishioner in Missouri. He was a professor of history and archeology, and often traveled to the holy land for study.

He told me that in the holy land, flies are everywhere. They're so persistent and swarming that people don't even bother to swat them away. They just let them crawl over everything, including themselves.

The middle east being an arid land, the flies are drawn to a person's lips seeking the moisture there. Again, people would just put up with it…until they became too numerous or the person wanted to speak or eat. Then he would take his index finger and wipe it over his lips to remove the pests.

I don't tell this story to make your skin crawl. But it occurred to me, especially in the context of today's Bible readings, how well this illustrates the way God delivers us from the demonic attacks we suffer in this dark world ruled by the prince of demons, Beelzebul.

Beelzebul means "lord of the flies," and is one of the names for Satan. He was also one of the many idols of the Egyptians. When the Lord God sent the plague of flies swarming into Egypt and into the homes of the Egyptians, He was not only trying to soften Pharaoh's heart, He was also calling the Egyptians to repent of their idolatry. He was showing them who is the Creator of the flies and of all creatures; indeed, the Creator of heaven and earth. In this and in all of the plagues, He was calling them to turn away from their unbelief and false worship, and to turn to the true and living God.

Well, Beelzebul, the devil, still plagues the world with his hordes of demons seeking the attention and worship of men and women. He is particularly intent on tormenting Christians since we worship the true God who has delivered us from sin, death and hell through the blood of His Son. Like the ancient Israelites who were set apart and protected in the land of Goshen, so believers are set apart and protected in the holy, Christian Church. But, as we are still in this world, we must labor and struggle among and against the forces of darkness, as well as the "sons of disobedience," as Paul described those who reject the Gospel.

We are sojourners in this foreign land, and the devil is busy trying to tempt us and otherwise make our lives miserable. How does he do this? Well, there are countless ways, really, but in today's Epistle St. Paul gives us a good primer on the devil's devices. He lists three of the worst human vices: sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness. These are the go-to sins where Satan knows he can reap the most fruit of his evil enticements.

The first is sexual immorality. The KJV better translates it as fornication. The Greek word is porneia and means exactly what it sounds like. This sin has become so commonplace and so glamorized in our society, and in all of western societies, that it has turned into a perverted, twisted kind of morality. If you're not into it, then you're just not cool. It saturates our entertainment and our news; it is the most graphic and freely available on the internet; it is taught in our schools, from elementary to university (it has nearly become criminal to speak against it). And, saddest of all, it is glorified and promoted within churches, always falsely justified for the "sake of the Gospel." Satan has the world so enslaved to this depravity that he barely has to work at all tempting people to indulge in it.

The second vice is impurity. It's closely related to the first but includes any kind of impure incentive to sin. Impurity is the conceited and corrupt attitude that says it's okay to lie and steal, defame and kill as long as it is for a "good" purpose. But, for the sinner, that simply means any justification to satisfy his desires and lusts.

The last vice is what might be called the bedrock of the others: covetousness. That's the greedy lust of the sinful heart that moves a sinner to engage in every kind of sin. From enmity toward God and His Word to animosity toward our neighbor, covetousness turns the self, that carnal trinity of me, myself and I, into the greatest of all false gods. That's why Paul calls it idolatry. Satan can always appeal to the covetous heart to tempt a man to commit any kind of sin he wants.

This is the environment in which we Christians live. And there the devil attacks us and our faith. He tries to deceive us into false belief and disobedience to God. He tempts us to give up on our faith and our Lord. Like swarms of flies that relentlessly pester us, he, his demons, and the "sons of disobedience" in his service, try to drive us into a weary, spiritual complacency. They want the Christian to tire of fighting the good fight, to give in and just put up with the evils of the world. To go along with and even condone them. Or, worse, like the demon-possessed man in the Gospel lesson, Satan tries to mute our prayers and our praise to God by causing us to despair and lose hope. And, as Luther wrote in his famous hymn, "With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected."

Of course, he continues, "But for us fights the Valiant One, whom God Himself elected." Christ Jesus, our Sabaoth Lord and our only God, has come to deliver us from every attack of Satan. By the "finger of God," His Holy Spirit, He casts out every unclean spirit that seek to devour us. By His forgiving Word, He wipes away every sin and removes all guilt with which Satan would accuse us. Jesus is the stronger man who overcomes the evil one who, by "deep guile and great might," had taken us captive; who once imprisoned us in his hellish stronghold. Christ has overcome him and taken away the "armor" in which the devil trusted, "the power of death." Jesus disarmed the devil when He conquered death on the cross. He showed that He truly is the stronger man when He rose from the grave. His resurrection proves that death has no power over those who call upon Christ by faith.

The plagues that God brought down on Pharaoh and the Egyptians culminated in the tenth and last plague: the death of the first-born. Just before that, God instituted the Passover to protect His people from that hideous death. The blood of a lamb without blemish was painted on the doorposts of their homes. As they ate the flesh of that fragrant offering to God, and covered by its sacrificial blood, the angel of death passed over them. God delivered them from their bondage to Beelzebul, the prince of demons.

Jesus, our loving Savior, "gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." He is our paschal Lamb whose blood covers us, saving us from eternal death. His flesh is our food that strengthens us for the fight. By His death and resurrection, to which you were joined the waters of Holy Baptism, He has delivered you from the realm of darkness and brought you into His light. And in the light of His truth, we may walk as His Children. By His Spirit, we may resist the devil and flee from every temptation. By His holy Word, He has shown you all that is good and right and true. And you are truly blessed as you hear His word and keep it. Amen.

 

The Flood Prayer in the Lutheran Baptismal Liturgy

>
> Compare the Great Flood Prayer to this passage from 3 Maccabees:
>
> 3 Maccabees 2:4ff
>
> You destroyed those in who in the past committed injustice, among whom were even giants, who trusted in their strength and boldness, whom you destroyed by bringing upon them a boundless flood....
>
> Flood Prayer: According to Your strict judgment, You condemned the unbelieving world through the flood, yet according to Your mercy You preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all...
>
> 3 Maccabees 2:6ff
> You made known your mighty power by inflicting many and varied punishments on the audacious pharaoh who had enslaved your holy people Israel. And when *he* pursued them with chariots and a mass of troops, you overwhelmed him in the depths of the sea, but carried through safely those who *had put their confidence in you, the Ruler over the whole creation.
>
> Flood Prayer: You drowned hard-hearted Pharaoh and all his in the Red Sea, yet led Your people Israel through the water on dry ground.
>
>

A Study

Check out this:

https://cphfaithcourses.com/thank-praise-serve-and-obey/

A course on my book, hosted by yours truly!

Thanks, CPH!

Sermon on 1 Cor. 10:14ff.

Service of the Word

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

The Lord be with you. R.

Let us pray. O almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 115

Reading: 1 Cor. 10:14-22

1 Corinthians 10:14-22 (ESV) 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Homily

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

A 14th century english proverb runs: "He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon." That is, be cautious in getting too close; he's dangerous. St. Paul, of course, is not in favor of longer spoons, but the question is how Paul made the move he does from "idols" to "demons" or "devils."

"What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God." 

Whence such an idea? I think Paul had been reading his Septuagint, which in Psalm 96:5 says: "The gods of the nations are [not idols, as in Hebrew, but in Greek] demons; but the Lord made the heavens." So then idolatry is never just a mistake; it's downright evil. Inspired by the demons and whether wittingly or unwittingly, the worship offered to any but the living God simply goes to devils; to evil spirits and intelligences who desire our downfall.

And so St. Paul says when you see idolatry going on, there's really only one sane move and it's not grab a longer spoon. It's to toss the spoon away and high tail it out of there as fast as you can. "Flee idolatry." Run away from it. Don't toy with it. Don't think you can be so spiritual you will be untouched by it just because you happen to know that an idol is really an unding. You don't have a spoon long enough to partake with the demons. At least, not to do so and to remain Christ's. 

It's the same message at the end of 1 John. Speaking of Jesus, "This is the true God and eternal life" and so "little children, keep yourself from idols!"

How often we have lifted out the verses on the Supper in today's reading as independent and read them in isolation! Shame on us! Oh, it's true: the Supper gives you participation in Christ, in His blood and in His body, for the cup of blessing that we bless, the cup itself (or rather, its contents) IS a participation in Christ's blood; the bread we bread and distribute, it IS a participation in Christ's body. 

Yes, it's a fine text to prove the Sacramental union and all that, from Irenaeus even to Pope St. Gelasius, who taught "Certainly the sacraments of the body and blood of Christ are a divine thing, through which we are made partakers of the divine nature; and yet the substance or nature of bread and wine does not cease to be." and so, 1 Cor. 10:16 is a nice slam at Romish Transubstantiation. BUT let's not overlook the Apostles' main point. 

To be a participant in Christ's Supper, in His cup of blessing and broken bread, in His blood and body, to be one Body in Him through this participation, means you are HIS. You BELONG to HIM. And He is a jealous God, this heavenly Bridegroom of yours. He has no intention of sharing you with the demons. He makes you His or you reject that and make yourself theirs. 

Israel tried to play the spoon game in the days of the Kings; they'd keep Yahweh, of course, but what was a little offering on the side? A cake baked to the Queen of Heaven? What was wrong with some sex to Baal or even the offering a child or two to Molech? 

They found out what was wrong: You dine with those demons, you can no longer dine with Yahweh. In fact, He tossed the idols and their worshippers out of His house and out of His land. No one was the match for His mighty strength when roused to jealous anger. He left them in the hands of the demons they had chosen and that ended when the demons always want it to end: they ate them. Devoured them in death and misery and flame. 

The devil, the chief of the demons, says Jesus, is not only a murderer from the beginning, but "the father of lies." His worship is always founded on a lie, on believing a lie. "You shall not surely die" and the implied notion that God must be holding out on you, so doing your own thing is the only safe and sane way to go. This in contrast to the Table of the Lord where God reveals, definitively and finally, that He holds absolutely nothing back from you: in fact, He gave His dearly beloved Son for you, poured out His Spirit on you, and at the Table supplies the proof: the blood in the cup that carries every blessing to you, your Lord's blood; the body that unites you to Him. Held out on you? No way. He gives everything He has that you might be His own. There CAN be no blending of this truth that the Eucharist proclaims in such simplicity and clarity with the numerous shades of the demons' lies and worship. 

And, people loved by God, this is why when we see that the devil has gotten a foothold in some Christian community's confession and that it has embraced and upheld and defended some lie of the enemy, we can't just ignore it. It's why every Christian community that takes the Eucharist seriously has always practiced the closed table. It's closed to every falsehood. It's closed to every lie. It's closed to the too clever trick of trying to use the long spoon to dine with the demon while still seeking to enjoy the Lord's favor. And so the sadly divided state of the Church here until the Parousia, but there's no way around it when the demon's lie is put on the same footing as Christ's word. And that's also why we won't even think of worshipping in a mosque or Hindu temple. Run from them! We are not stronger than He and we know the truth of His jealousy.

And on that we must finally close. The demon can only project its own sinful heart onto God. So it imagines He's so narrow in His demands because He is a tyrant and vicious ogre who wants to devour the whole world all Himself. But the truth, the beautiful truth, behind the jealousy of the Lord is that He is terribly jealous for you because He knows that He alone can give you eternal life, the forgiveness that is only in Him, that your welfare and safety and future are only secure with Him. He wants you all for Himself not to devour you like the demons, but to fill you, to be devoured by you, because He is the only One who CAN save you (and he wants you saved!). Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.

In contrast, Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. So, O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is our help and our shield!...He has been mindful of us, He will bless us...He will bless them that fear the Lord, both great and small...And we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!"

Which might be paraphrased: Drop the spoon and run away from the table of those who want to devour you to the table of Him who wants to be devoured by you, in the awesome greatness of His condescending love.

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

Hymn: 623 Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray

Prayers:

Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray: Our Father...

Remember, Holy and most merciful Father, all who suffer for Your name, all who are in prison, the hungry and ill-clad, the poor and the lonely, those who travel, and all who cry out to You in their time of need, especially Molly, Melanie, Gene, Paula, Roger, Allen, Jan and all who grieve the passing of Elinor and Kathy and all who grieve for Bob. Take them all under Your tender care and grant them Your peace and a happy issue out of all their afflictions, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Almighty God, send the light of Your truth into all the earth. Raise up faithful servants of Christ to advance the Gospel both at home and in distant lands. Remember especially in Your mercy this day Pr. JP and Aimee Cima, serving in Asia, and all missionaries. By their devoted service cause faith to abound and the Kingdom to increase; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, You have given grace at this time and with one accord to make our common supplications to You and You promise that where two or three are gathered in Your name, You will grant their requests. Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Your servants as may be most expedient for them, grant us in this world knowledge of Your truth and in the world to come, life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all! Amen.

Homily for February 14, 2019

Prayer and Preaching, p. 260

Reading: Exodus 3:1-14

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned." 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." 6 And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." 13 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Homily

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

"The bush was burning, yet it was not consumed." That was the odd thing that attracted Moses attention and so he draws near, only to find himself on holy ground (and so off come the shoes; remember, cursed is the ground for your sake as spoken to Adam, but where Yahweh touches the ground again, it is holy, and so need for the shoes that will protect you from the thorns and thistles.) And so there Moses stands barefoot before the fire the burns without consuming and hears the voice and learns the Name and receives a commission of deliverance, of salvation for the people.

For Moses the Mount of Transfiguration was surely a bit of dejavu all over again, only BETTER. Only this time, the Messenger of Yahweh is shining not in a flame of fire in bush that doesn't burn up, but in the very human nature He assumed from holy Mary's womb. But it is the same One speaking and with the same purpose. He's seen His people's misery. He knows their suffering. He's heard their cry. He's come down to rescue them. His people. Not just Israel now, but His people, all the human family. And the human family has bigger issues than some earthly Pharaoh or his modern day descendants making life a misery and burden. The problem of Satan, the problem of sin which is Satan's beachhead in our hearts, our desires. The problem of where it all lands us inevitably: death and decay and separation from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who is the Great I Am.

But the awesome wonder was that instead of sending a servant with a message and signs of wonder like a Moses or even an Elijah, he tells the servants that He will do it Himself this time. This Exodus the One who is Son of God and Son of Man will lead. He'll lead the way not through some mighty sea, but through His own bloody suffering and death itself to open wide the way to home that the Promised land was only a type of. Home to the Father. "When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers." Te Deum

"In this bush the Son of God prefigured His future incarnation and appeared to Moses." Chemnitz, Two Natures, p. 90. Jesus, doing His Jesus thing even then, but His Jesus thing then was but a type and foreshadowing of the full glory He came among us to bring about.

Shoes off, holy ground, wherever you encounter the presence of Him who reveals Himself by name and is an all-consuming fire, and yet who do not consume the Virgin's womb or the nature He assumed there, anymore than he consumed that bush, but He comes among us, shining and radiant with divine love, not to consume us, but to consume that which would devour us, which He does upon His Cross and so open the way home, for our Exodus.

And how sweet that was for Moses. Moses, who would miss out on the earthly promised land that he wanted to go into so badly after those forty years of wandering due to his own sin, but he ended up being given so much more. On the Mount of Transfiguration he IS standing in the holy land, Mt. Tabor most likely. And it was sweet, but even sweeter to live forever in the presence of Jesus in the true land of the living. The light that shines from Him, from a nature that is like Moses' own, like yours or mine, that is Moses' eternal joy now. Beyond Horeb to Calvary, beyond Calvary to Zion. Home. Moses' home. Elijah's home. Your home and mine. Jesus, true God and true Man, and whose divinity did not consume His humanity, but glorified it. As it will yours and mine on the Day of His appearing. But first, the exodus through our own suffering and death, and then home free.

 

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

Hymn: 616 "Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory"

Prayers:

Chaplain Peter Burfeind

Melanie, Gene, Paula, Roger, Allan and Jan

Thursday’s Chapel Homily - Romans 13:8-10

You can listen right here.

A Little Cofffee Talk

With Andy and Sarah on See My Savior’s Hands

Wednesday’s Chapel Homily

Sermon on Romans 1. And it is as I was sitting at the piano and playing the hymn afterwards, that it hit me like a ton of bricks that I had left OUT the most crucial bit of Gospel. Hebrews 2:

Hebrews 2:11-13 (KJV) 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

HE IS NOT ASHAMED OF US. That’s the awesomeness of His love and that’s why finally we will not be ashamed of Him. Sigh. So, when you forget to give full octane gospel in the SERMON, you sneak it into the PRAYER. Which I did. And I hope everyone heard and was blessed by it too. For whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. Glory to God in the highest!