Monday in Holy Week

Today is Monday in Holy Week as we prepare to observe our Lord’s death and resurrection for us.  The season of Lent will conclude on Maundy Thursday as the Triduum begins – the one service that runs over the course of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.  On Monday in Holy Week, the Gospel reading is John 12:1-36.

Scripture reading:

            Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

            When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

            The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

            “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

            behold, your king is coming,

                        sitting on a donkey's colt!”

            His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

            Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

            “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

            When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.  (John 12:1-36)

Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one  God, now and forever.

Sermon for Sunday of the Passion

                                                                        Sunday of Passion

                                                                        Zech 9:9-12

                                                                        4/13/14

            Political speeches are usually staged events.  Politicians choose to give speeches in settings that help to support or reinforce their point.  They choose a location or have people on the stage with them that they hope will help drive home their message.

            Of course, no politician has more resources for doing this than the President of the United States. And so it was that on May 1, 2003 that President George W. Bush used the Nimitz class aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln as the setting for his speech announcing that the invasion of Iraq to remove Sadaam Hussein had ended.  The president made a grand entrance as he landed on the aircraft carrier in a jet.  Then he made his speech there was a huge banner in the background on the aircraft carrier island that said, “Mission Accomplished.”

            However, subsequent events contradicted the message of that day, and the “Mission Accomplished” banner became a powerful symbol for a broad range of miscalculations about Iraq.  Instead of “Mission Accomplished” the situation in Iraq soon turned into one of an ongoing war as the U.S. fought against an insurgency campaign.  In fact, the U.S. military would not leave Iraq until the end of 2011 after nearly five thousand service personnel had been killed in action.

            Today we are observing Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Passion. The Divine Service began outside in the procession with palms as we recalled Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey.  Our Old Testament reading from Zechariah this morning was fulfilled in this event.  Matthew tells us, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

            Matthew tells us that like the “Mission Accomplished” speech, Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem was staged.  It was choreographed by Jesus in order to form a very clear impression for those observing the event.  It was meant to say that Jesus was the Christ – the Messiah.  And yet as we heard in the reading of the Passion of Our Lord this morning, by the end of the week events powerfully contradicted that message.  The one heralded as the Davidic Messiah today would be mocked as the King of the Jews by the sign above his head and by those below on the ground as he died on a cross.

            When we listen to the account of the events leading up to Jesus’ entrance on Palm Sunday, we find that Jesus was very specific about the way he was going to enter Jerusalem.  After all, he could have walked into the city.  No doubt he had done this many times before when he came to Jerusalem for the Passover and Jewish religious festivals.

            But this time was different.  This trip to Jerusalem was different.  In the previous chapter Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and for the third time predicted his passion.  He said, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

            And so when they were about to enter the city Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”  Our Lord specifically had them get a donkey for him to ride in upon.

            This was very intentional.  This was an animal that had messianic associations.  It was the kind of animal that the king descended from David – the Messiah – rode.  And indeed Matthew tells us that this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Zechariah about the Messiah.  In a way that went beyond what the crowed understood, their words were exactly correct as they cried out: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

            Of course, in our Old Testament lesson, Zechariah goes on to say, “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off,

and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”  In our text the arrival of the Davidic Messiah is accompanied by God’s action to remove the implements of war and bring peace. And we learn that this Messiah rules as king from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

            However, that’s not what happens in the Passion of Our Lord.  Instead Jesus is arrested.  He is handed over to the power of the Roman Empire at whose hands he is tortured, and mocked and crucified.  Jesus doesn’t rule as king.  Instead he is enthroned on a cross with the sign over his head, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”  As I described in this month’s newsletter, the suffering, crucifixion and death of Jesus would have proved conclusively to first century Jews that Jesus was not the Messiah.

            Jesus was on the cross because the Messiah was more than the Jews expected, by appearing to be less.  He was not only the mighty conquering king.  He was also the suffering Servant.   And he was sent by God not simply for the sake of Israel.  He was sent also for you.  He was sent because you don’t fear, love and trust in God above all things.  He was sent because you get angry with others and have hate in your heart.  He was sent because as Jesus said, out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander.

            Jesus had said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Anointed by the Spirit at his baptism in the Jordan, Jesus went forth as the Messiah who was also the Servant sent to bear your sins.  By his death he won forgiveness for you.  He has removed the sin that incurred God’s wrath by receiving that wrath in your place.  And because he has done this for you, through baptism and faith you are now righteous in God’s eyes – you are forgiven.

            In our Old Testament lesson, Zechariah describes the Messiah as the One who rules everything.  We don’t see that in the Passion of Our Lord.  And of course, we know that this is not the whole story.  Our reading of the Passion ended with Jesus dead and buried in a tomb.  He didn’t stay there.  On the third day he rose from the dead. 

            Yet that is the message for the morning of the first day of the week … next week.  Today we behold the crucified Christ as we enter into Holy Week.  Jesus is the Christ – the Messiah descended from David.  He fulfills all that the Law and the Prophets have said.  And because that is true, on Friday he will die on the cross.  And on Saturday he will lie in a grave. 

 

           

           

Culture news: No, Christians aren't obsessed with sex

Nathaniel Givens has written a thoughtful piece in which he rebuts the charge that Christian obsession with sex drives their opposition to abortion and same sex marriage.  He writes:

Throughout Ehrich’s piece what becomes clear is that what motivates Christians to oppose abortion and same-sex marriage is not an obsession with sex, but an obsession with what was always at the heart of Christ’s concern: ministering to the vulnerable and the powerless—in this case, the pre-born and the lately born. Defenders of legalized abortion want to clear the way to have sex without the threat of incurring obligations to any child who may be conceived. The majority of proponents of same-sex marriage view the institution of marriage as one that exists fundamentally for the benefit and fulfillment of adults (hence the rhetoric about equality) rather than to codify obligations of parents to their offspring. In both cases Christians refuse to allow the bonds of duty between parent and child to be severed. Christians stand for those who need protection in the womb and those who need the richness and the resources of a father and a mother in the home. It’s not about sex. It’s about caring for those who are dependent and defenseless.

Sermon for fifth mid-week Lent service

                                                                                    Mid-Lent 5

                                                                                    Mt 5:43-48

                                                                                    4/9/14

            I recently saw a figure that was quite shocking.  It is estimated that since 2000, 1.3 million Christians have been killed worldwide because of their faith.  The majority of these have been killed by those who belong to Islam – by Muslims.

            In northern Nigeria, the terrorist group Boko Haram is carrying out ethnic cleansing against Christians as they attack villages and slaughter the inhabitants.  In Somalia and eastern Africa, Al Shabab executes Christians in the public square.  In Egypt Christians are murdered and churches are burned.  In Syria, groups associated with Al Qaeda demand that Christians convert to Islam or be killed on the spot.  In Pakistan mobs attack churches and the homes of Christians.  In Iraq, churches are bombed.

            The reports about acts of violence by Muslims against Christians incites indignation at those who carry out such barbaric acts in the name of a religion.  At the same time, the unrelenting flow of these kinds of stories does have a numbing effect.  It is important that we are informed about what is happening to Christians around the world.  But, we can almost get used to this kind of news – disturbing as it may be.

            And then along comes a story like that of Sadia Ali Omar.  Sadia and her cousin were executed by Al Shabab in Somalia because they were Christians.  The residents of the village, including Sadia’s own fifteen and eight year old daughters, were forced to watch as the Muslims beheaded the two women.  Sadia’s husband had previously died, and so the brutal act has left the two girls as orphans.

            When we hear about something like this – and it by no means an isolated incident – our natural reaction is anger.  The urge that rises up within us is hate for those who could do something so vicious and horrible. But as we listen to our text tonight from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that this is not how it is to be for those who have received the saving reign of God. Instead those who have received the unmerited and undeserved love of God in Christ Jesus, share that love and forgiveness with others.

            Our text this evening is the sixth and final time that Jesus set up the contrast, “You have heard that it was said … but I say to you.”  Like the previous five times, Jesus once again takes up an interpretation of the Torah that was present in the Judaism of his day.  He takes it up and rejects it as instead he provides the true and full interpretation.

            In our text, Jesus begins by saying, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”  Now the book of Leviticus says, “You shall love your neighbor.”  However, there is no text in the Old Testament that says, “You shall hate your enemy.”  We have here the clearest proof that Jesus is taking up and correcting an interpretation of the Torah that was present in Judaism at that time.  There is evidence that the Jews at Qumran who produced the Dead Sea Scrolls had a teaching of hatred about those outside their group.

            There were Jews in the time of Christ who were saying, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”  However, Jesus responded, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

            Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us.  We do this in order to be what God has made us to be.  We do this to live as sons and daughters of the our Father who is in heaven.

            Now this is not how the world works.  In the world, if someone does something to you, you get angry; you seek to get payback.  You pay attention and look for an opportunity to get revenge. The hope is not only that you can hurt the other person, but instead to hurt them worse than that person hurt you. Of course, this action often prompts and an even greater reaction by the other person, and so an ascending spiral of anger and hate emerges.  This is the way of the world.  It is a way that still comes naturally for the old man within you. And it is often a way that you find difficult to relinquish. 

            In our text, Jesus reminds us that we are not the world.  Instead, we are people who have received the saving and transforming reign of God through the work of the Spirit.  We have received the Gospel, and the Gospel turns everything upside down.  It negates all our expectations about how things are “supposed” to work.

            On Sunday we will remember that Jesus Christ entered into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. There, he encountered opposition and hatred.  And yet, did Jesus react in anger and revenge?  No, he continued his way to the cross of Good Friday where he willingly died for the sins being committed against him.  He died to provide forgiveness before God – forgiveness even for those who tortured and killed him.  He came to share God’s love with those who don’t want to love God. And then on the third day he rose from the dead.  He showed that the reign of God present in him overcomes all things – even death itself.

            You have received this saving reign. Next week on Saturday, at the Vigil of Easter we will together return to the foundational reality by which this happened.  We will return to our baptism.  St. Paul wrote about baptism, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

            Through baptism you received the reign of God.  You shared in Jesus’ saving death and so now through the work of Spirit you live in Christ.  You live in the newness of life that Christ provides and so the Spirit gives you new ways of living.  The sacrificial love of Christ for you becomes the both the source for your life and also its guide.

            Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  After all, you don’t need the Gospel to be able to love the people you like.  Jesus says in our text, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

            Yet to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, this is something that only God can work in you through his Spirit.  This is something that only Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for you can make possible.

            Now contrary to our world’s sappy sentimentality, love is not merely a feeling.  It’s not just a warm fuzzy inside of you that dissipates when harmed or wronged.  Instead, love is action.  Love seeks to help and not to harm, just as Jesus Christ loved us.  Love prays for the welfare of others – even those who persecute us.

            We know that this is a struggle.  It is often not something that we want to do.  It is an action that often does not match the feelings we have inside of us. And because of this fact, the words at the end our text reveal our shortcomings.  They reveal the fact that we are living in the now and the not yet.  Jesus says, “You therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

            In ourselves we are not yet perfect. But in Christ, we are.  Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are forgiven and righteous.  As those who are in Christ through the work of the Spirit, when God looks at us he sees a saint.  And it is by returning daily to Christ as he is present for us through the Means of Grace that we receive the grace and strength to live this way in the world.  The more we cling to Christ and his love for us, the more his love will prompt us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us.

             

           

                  

           

Culture news: Brandeis University withdraws planned honorary degree for critic of Islam

One of the truly puzzling features of our politically correct world is its refusal to criticize Islam.  While the status and rights of women and homosexuals are key issues for academia and the media, these are largely ignored when it comes to Islam.  Instead, criticism of Islam is staunchly rejected and labeled as "Islamophobic."  Another example of this can be found in Brandeis University's decision to withdraw a planned honorary degree for Ayann Hirsi Ali who has spoken out against the treatment of women in Islam.  Faculty and students asked for the honorary degree not to be conferred because Ali has been critical of Islam.   

Culture news: Gay activists target food store because of owner's beliefs about marriage

In yet another example of the intolerance of "tolerance," gay activists in Oregon have targeted a soon to be opened health food store because of statements the Mormon owner made in support of marriage on Facebook.  Events continue to reveal the goal of the homosexual agenda - they intend to eliminate all public discourse that does not embrace homosexuality.