tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52211305738710374032024-03-08T14:56:33.521-05:00Claimed, gathered and sent“Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world.”
(Sent! by God's grace for the sake of the world, July 2006, "Global Missions Event." 5).Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.comBlogger1033125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-34641026823308858762024-03-08T14:56:00.028-05:002024-03-08T14:56:00.129-05:00the Spirit Creates<p> Here are some thoughts on this coming Sunday's gospel:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4By0wqb1NZBqoRkpclnRMTBgp2sVV4gNck8PsuoohwD8ASp325Bdgd14kX6scfvDDUZTpMzjPUhWIdIz1z10IHYkgfAs_YszWQilEVz11nLYhjoZNg0PDhooWOTySeSHn6C2yltaaSDtASWywknltxsZZuwK-lpSirIoDqCTyNOXMvHu4gQ4fNuJJ_jis/s474/th-1694243221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="474" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4By0wqb1NZBqoRkpclnRMTBgp2sVV4gNck8PsuoohwD8ASp325Bdgd14kX6scfvDDUZTpMzjPUhWIdIz1z10IHYkgfAs_YszWQilEVz11nLYhjoZNg0PDhooWOTySeSHn6C2yltaaSDtASWywknltxsZZuwK-lpSirIoDqCTyNOXMvHu4gQ4fNuJJ_jis/w640-h480/th-1694243221.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br /></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-0cab6d99-7fff-b8b9-5c15-74d4f65dc93b" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gospel: John 3:14-21</span></h3></b><p></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0cab6d99-7fff-b8b9-5c15-74d4f65dc93b" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0cab6d99-7fff-b8b9-5c15-74d4f65dc93b" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: lightgrey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus said:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: lightgrey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">]</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">14</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">15</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0cab6d99-7fff-b8b9-5c15-74d4f65dc93b" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">16</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0cab6d99-7fff-b8b9-5c15-74d4f65dc93b" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">17</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">18</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">19</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">20</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">21</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0cab6d99-7fff-b8b9-5c15-74d4f65dc93b" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This Sunday, we will continue to see how the Holy Spirit desires to alter us. In this gospel text, it is through God’s creativity. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God created the world and everything in it, declaring it good in Genesis. According to Bible commentator Gail Ramshaw, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By ‘world,’ </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kosmos</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the evangelist means both the place and the time in which God’s salvation is unfolding” (sundaysandseasons.com). That has to be the here and now and the future. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to Pastor Brian Stoffregen, world:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">… often refers to the “people associated with a world system and estranged from God” (Louw & Nida).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “world” hates Jesus (7:7; 15:18).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “world” hates & persecutes the followers of Jesus (15:18-19; 16:33; 17:14)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “world” is unable to receive the Spirit of truth (14:17)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “world” does not know the Father (17:25)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And yet it is the “world” that God loves (3:16).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Into the “world” God sends Jesus (1:9, 10; 3:17, 19; 6:14; 9:5, 39; 10:36; 11:27; 18:37).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus takes away the “world's” sin (1:29).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is the Savior of the “world” (4:42).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus gives life to the “world” (6:33, 51).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus conquers the “world” (16:33) Into the “world”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">•</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus sends his followers (17:18) (Brian Stoffregen, crossmarks.com)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The very world God created and declared good rejected God. Jesus came into the middle of the chaos to re-create and make new God’s creation. We not only have the privilege of experiencing God's new creation, but we too are God's new creation. </span></p><br /><a href="http://seedstuff.blogspot.com">picture</a><br /><br /></b><p></p><br />Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-80768823646883908962024-03-07T14:53:00.003-05:002024-03-07T14:53:51.630-05:00Altered By Disruption<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached Sunday at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The gospel was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=576840982">John 2:13-22</a>. </i><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp23n-6tgpaccoUvTtHt0A1j2VdXvaI884uJTKjElUmkp0QTgmDxlxAb9sUxyir_YrHsG9F2DSylKjfr30WpmJnRnYijYvyyNjxxk2HL3SEdTyKHHJde8on-OpcHeCMo-cM40B4qmHdaZsR-LwxP0XnS8tPFpiLf0WjmZu6b_LsddrqeH8jFbpaSOJWfQ/s1080/Cleanse-Temple-Slide08.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp23n-6tgpaccoUvTtHt0A1j2VdXvaI884uJTKjElUmkp0QTgmDxlxAb9sUxyir_YrHsG9F2DSylKjfr30WpmJnRnYijYvyyNjxxk2HL3SEdTyKHHJde8on-OpcHeCMo-cM40B4qmHdaZsR-LwxP0XnS8tPFpiLf0WjmZu6b_LsddrqeH8jFbpaSOJWfQ/w640-h362/Cleanse-Temple-Slide08.webp" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />Have you ever wondered if Jesus really felt what you feel when he was living on earth? How human was he? Any of you? In this week’s gospel, we see that he certainly experienced anger. It seems that Jesus needs an intervention in anger management. Did Jesus let his emotions get the best of him? Is Jesus overreacting? Is John's purpose of including this story to emphasize Jesus' humanity? There are lots of questions we should be asking about this passage of scripture. In our series of being Altered by the Spirit, today we’ll look at being Altered by Disruption. Jesus delighted in disrupting business as usual. <br /><br />John writes, “…in the temple he found people selling” (v. 14). Can you imagine what it would be like if we found our sanctuary full of loud people, smelly animals and merchants making a profit off of those who came to worship? Wouldn't we be incensed at such inappropriate behavior? <b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But things are rarely as they seem when it comes to Jesus. He is not meek and mild or tame and definitely doesn't like staying inside the boxes we like to put him into. </span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firstly, what the gospel calls “the temple” was a part of the temple complex, but it was not the part where sacrifices were made and worship took place. Rather, the merchants would have been in the Court of the Gentiles, which was </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">outside</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the temple proper. Jesus just turned over a few tables in one section of the area surrounding the temple--an area specifically designed for this sort of commerce. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The merchants were there because the feast of Passover was one of the great pilgrimage feasts, bringing people from far and wide to Jerusalem's temple. The pilgrims would need animals for the sacrifice, but it would be difficult to bring animals along from great distances. So, the merchants were providing a service for the throngs who required an animal to bring for a sacrifice. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about the moneychangers? They, too, performed a service for those making the pilgrimage to the temple. Worshipers were required to pay a half shekel temple tax. However, when people arrived at the temple, the only currency they would have would be Roman currency. The problem with that is Roman currency was not allowed to be used to pay the temple tax because it bore portraits of the imperial rulers who were worshiped as gods by the Romans. The image on the coins was considered idolatrous. For a small fee, the money changers would exchange the Roman currency for the temple currency. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why did Jesus turn the temple system upside down that day? The emphasis on Jesus' humanity is believed by some to be the issue John is writing about. Others believe the temple system at Jesus' time within agrarian social structures was oppressive and perceived by many (especially peasants) as “highway robbery.” They suggest that Jesus didn't reject the temple, but the redistributive institution benefiting only the few. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, the most common and believable theory, in my opinion, is that Jesus' act was staged as a symbolic demonstration to disrupt the status quo. He was altering the system by disruption!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cleansing was not enough. Jesus was challenging the very essence and continual existence of the temple, issuing a challenge to the purity of the temple that literally shook its foundations. Jesus disrupted the temple system during one of the most significant feasts of the year so that neither sacrifices nor tithes could be offered that day. Was it any wonder that the Jewish leaders asked for a sign to warrant his actions? After all, what gives this man the right to derail their whole system of worship? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jewish leaders evidently understood the claims Jesus was making by his actions with the merchants and money changers, so they asked him for proof of the authority he claimed to have. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How did Jesus respond? He declared, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (v. 19). The force of Jesus' response is more than “if you destroy,” but is more like the challenge, “Go ahead, I double dog dare you and do this and see what happens.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus speaks the truth and the religious leaders hear what is apparent. The Jewish leaders were thinking in strictly human physical terms, so Jesus' words went over their heads. The temple had been under construction for 46 years and may well have not yet been completed. Jesus was speaking about a completely different plane of existence, a spiritual one, which leaves us with the message of his coming crucifixion. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Judaism, the temple was the center of God's presence on earth. For John, the temple is more than just a building, it is the resurrected body of Jesus, the new focal point of God's presence. In Revelation, we are told that the New Jerusalem will not have a temple because the Lord and the Lamb are its temple. As the place where people go to meet God, the temple has been supplanted and replaced by Jesus himself, in whose resurrected person we may now encounter God. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a story of a conflict of values between what Jesus really means, and those values espoused by the structures of religion with which Jesus contended. They asked for a sign and Jesus gives them the ultimate and final sign, his death and resurrection. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, this is a story directed to us as the church. We have to be careful of allowing even good acts and intentions to intrude on the space that belongs to God alone. It's not the big things like murder, robbery etc. that are problems for most Christians. It is the good things that can keep us from the best God has for us. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Doubtless we have all known people who were faithful and devoted, but when there was a change in the building, the pastor, or the style or time of worship; they packed up their toys and left. We want to be in charge of our lives and manage all our relationships, even those with God. Why is it so difficult for us to first bow our hearts before God and listen before we proceed with action, before building our altars and framing our liturgies and falling on our swords? Knowing Christ as our sanctuary allows us to know what the church building is and is not. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lent is a time to look at our lives, to examine ourselves in the light of God's word and will, in the shadow of the cross. Throughout the gospels, Jesus' presence and actions challenge those around him to make a decision about who Jesus is. The disciples identified Jesus positively, while his enemies questioned Jesus' action. How do we identify Jesus? Positively or negatively? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our own contexts, then, we might ask what systems are chugging along, doing what they were created to do? What tables might need to be flipped in our community? What might the community’s response to that kind of disruption be? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ultimately, it comes down to is there anything that encroaches on the holy space in our lives, that which belongs to God alone? Who is in charge--Jesus or us? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">References </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred B. Craddock, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Preaching Through the Christian Year B</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beverly Gaventa, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV-Year B</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K. C. Hanson and Douglas E. Oakman, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Palestine in the Time of Jesus: Social Structures and Social Conflicts, Second Edition</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lent in a Box </span></p></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark Allan Powell, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f20; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus as a Figure in History: How Modern Historians View the Man from Galilee.</span></p></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-535dc0c4-7fff-c905-9c1c-bc6ff9ba8444" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.stevethomason.net/2022/01/10/visual-guide-john-213-22-jesus-cleanses-temple/">picture </a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /></b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /> <p></p><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-79346892039423149552024-03-01T14:51:00.001-05:002024-03-01T14:51:00.134-05:00Everything's Upside Down<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS2W0CHTb1T1gSWknjM8hIIF5smFkIIZloIbZn-MQCp-SaKKgZHQFnrE-GssppO8cfbgwsiQXhCm01bjVRdERe254D7PguVqLy4qrk2unWNKW1jjhKUYgmm2R3tQC4Ng77xuwsUvbIkVLnumAmuit1MLghbZk7hGyx0oOQKuM5URFXysis44xJMYaRB1M/s200/Icon3_Color_Lent3_B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS2W0CHTb1T1gSWknjM8hIIF5smFkIIZloIbZn-MQCp-SaKKgZHQFnrE-GssppO8cfbgwsiQXhCm01bjVRdERe254D7PguVqLy4qrk2unWNKW1jjhKUYgmm2R3tQC4Ng77xuwsUvbIkVLnumAmuit1MLghbZk7hGyx0oOQKuM5URFXysis44xJMYaRB1M/w400-h400/Icon3_Color_Lent3_B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8604dc93-7fff-0bfc-f404-1e6738ea7d7d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gospel: John 2:13-22</span></b></h3><p></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-8604dc93-7fff-0bfc-f404-1e6738ea7d7d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8604dc93-7fff-0bfc-f404-1e6738ea7d7d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">13</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">14</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">15</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">16</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">17</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">18</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">19</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">20</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">21</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But he was speaking of the temple of his body. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">22 </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-8604dc93-7fff-0bfc-f404-1e6738ea7d7d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">William Butler Yeats’ poem, The Second Coming, says,</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Things fall apart, the center cannot hold….</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The best lack all conviction,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the worst are full of passionate intensity.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But that not only applies to this gospel text but also to the situation in our own world today. It certainly fits our theme this week, Altered by Disruption. An interesting comment on this text from sundaysandseasons.com says, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the midst of a seemingly stable religious center, Jesus suggests that the center itself has changed.” We may feel that way today.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is Jesus’ first prediction of his death and resurrection in John’s gospel. That would definitely shake things to the core in Judaism, the temple, and everything else. The center will be Christ. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The center of the organization is what it's all about: us, as a whole. Is the center of our lives Christ and his love? If so, we can weather the changing systems in our world. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our own lives, church and the ELCA, what systems are chugging along, doing what they were created to do? What tables might need to be flipped in our community? How might we find ourselves responding?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To work our way through such systemic change, we need to answer another question: “What encroaches on the holy space in our lives, that which belongs to God alone?” Lent is a time to look at our lives, to examine ourselves in the light of God's word and will, in the shadow of the cross. Jesus' presence and actions throughout the gospels challenge all those around him to make a decision about who he is. The disciples identified Jesus positively, while his enemies questioned Jesus' actions. What is our response to Jesus? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By your word, eternal God, your creation sprang forth, and we were given the breath of life. By your word, eternal God, death is overcome, Christ is raised from the tomb, and we are given new life in the power of your Spirit. May we boldly proclaim this good news in our words and our deeds, rejoicing always in your powerful presence; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evangelical Lutheran Worship</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><br /></b><b><a href="http://sundaysandseasons.com">Picture</a></b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /> <p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-83059776592360979342024-02-29T14:44:00.000-05:002024-02-29T14:44:31.963-05:00Altered Through Stories We Don't Trust<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, February 25 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=576235297">Mark 8:31-38</a>.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCa8LkaOs7rK8TBB7coI1GrUJdtxYgc7RTUfWYr8LFM2CrolzPWbkFz9WpaW55lW4mUHm4Gu7hCFct5TtSFIKtVvglWuGfaT4Y155TAtB-8jtRXbzkkBGfoJeNjy-RMjq3Lue8btlvHbaH_b37DDggGswxgaUF2k-GPT87VgKiToYzutMASZgZM0eGpYr/s474/th-593362812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="474" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCa8LkaOs7rK8TBB7coI1GrUJdtxYgc7RTUfWYr8LFM2CrolzPWbkFz9WpaW55lW4mUHm4Gu7hCFct5TtSFIKtVvglWuGfaT4Y155TAtB-8jtRXbzkkBGfoJeNjy-RMjq3Lue8btlvHbaH_b37DDggGswxgaUF2k-GPT87VgKiToYzutMASZgZM0eGpYr/w640-h480/th-593362812.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b id="docs-internal-guid-5e50cd97-7fff-332b-e92f-402709397c2f" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our sermon series “Altered by the Spirit” continues as we focus on being “Altered Through Stories We Don’t Trust.” I would add “or Like.” Today’s gospel is among the “hard sayings” of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will change us as we give ourselves over to these “hard words.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus was preparing his disciples for his upcoming crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. He would no longer, physically, be with them. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What was wrong with Peter's response to Jesus' news? After all, Peter loved Jesus and cared about what would happen to him. Peter could not imagine his messiah and friend being subjected to such horror. Wasn't Peter responding in a way any loving friend would? Do any of you wonder why Jesus is talking like this? Here was certainly a story that Peter didn’t trust. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firstly, this passage is right in the middle of Mark's gospel. Jesus has given his disciples plenty of lead-time to understand what was ahead for himself and ultimately for them. Here we have the first of three times in Mark that Jesus talks about his coming crucifixion and resurrection. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is Mark's signal that a shift in the message is taking place. Here is Jesus' new message, He </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">must</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> undergo great suffering, be rejected by elders, chief priests, scribes, be killed and rise after three days. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have to admit that's a lot to tell anyone. We have in this one verse references to Jesus' future path which would be one of suffering, rejection, and death and he will rise after three days. We like Easter and its focus on the victory of Christ over death and the grave. It's more positive and upbeat. But we cannot rush ahead to the resurrection without experiencing the pain of the cross. Mark does not want the church to use Easter to escape Lent and Holy Week. There is no crown without the cross. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is the most important issue in Mark's gospel--the prediction of Jesus' passion and the fact that it is normative and definitive for the life of a follower of Jesus. Remember that Jesus “said all this quite openly.” This is intense, strong language. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where has Peter been? Jesus has encountered open hostility from the religious authorities. Their plot could not have been overlooked. Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, another truth teller, had been beheaded because of his refusal to water down his message to the authorities. Given all of this, Peter's response is startling. Peter did understand what Jesus was saying. He just doesn't like what he is hearing. He wanted to alter God's plan and fix this problem. Peter could not see as far as the resurrection. He could only see as far as the cross.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As startling as Peter's response to Jesus' prediction was, Jesus' rebuke of Peter is even more startling. Wouldn't you expect Jesus to comfort Peter by telling him that everything will be fine? The phrase “Get behind me Satan” or “Depart behind me” contrasts with the original call to discipleship. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Follow me and I will make you fish for people” (Mark 1:17). By standing in front of Jesus, Peter was literally an obstacle on the way to the cross. As a disciple, he should be following </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">behind Jesus. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Jesus is rebuking Peter</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jesus is telling Peter that he needs to set his mind on divine, not human things. Wasn't Peter thinking about divine things? Immediately prior to today's gospel, we see the divine things he has been thinking about--Jesus' power, authority and even Jesus' status as Messiah. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who was at fault? Jesus introduced human things into the conversation with his insistence on talking about his future suffering and death. The issue at hand is perception. Who knows better, Jesus or Peter? Part of Peter's problem was that, as the disciple, he was trying to correct the teacher. Peter was trying to correct Jesus' false theology. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By human standards, the cross appears to be foolishness, and an awful defeat to Jesus' work, but by God's standards, it is wisdom. The cross was the plan from the very beginning. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The way of the cross is not only for Jesus and the twelve, but for all the multitude who follow. Unlike the crowd that day, we have access to both the private and public teaching of Jesus. Jesus spells out the meaning of real discipleship. A better translation of the Greek is “one MUST deny” oneself. The cross we are called to bear is not the inconveniences or pains of life, but the suffering involved in discipleship and Christian mission. It is to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If someone comes to Jesus, they will probably be rejected by many people. If self-protection is a key motivation in your life, then you will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. Whoever is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life. Jesus calls us to a 100% commitment to use our gifts, skills, talents and resources to share the gospel and to live in the reign of God now. It's all or nothing. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suffering and sacrifice for being Christ’s disciple is not limited to the first century. Russia invaded Ukraine. Hamas attacked Israel. Israel invaded Gaza and is driving the Arab people from there. We, in America, sometimes think that the American Christian church has really experienced persecution. There are attacks on public Christmas displays. School sports take place on Sundays. There is a lack of prayer in school or at public events. However, we have not experienced the pain that our Christian brothers and sisters are going through in other parts of the world. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, where's the good news? Can we trust these words of Jesus? The way of the cross emphasized during Lent is the only way to true joy and fulfillment. A surrendered life, with Jesus at the center, is full of things that money, power and prestige can't buy. True love, unlimited hope, deep relationship, radical generosity and true power are the upside-down, inside-out vision of God's design for the world. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the good news. May we allow the Holy Spirit to daily alter us into Christ’s image, through this story that we may not trust or like. Amen. </span></p></b><i> </i><p></p><p><i><a href="https://youtu.be/GvCHoy5moZI?si=r6ZTFl8dji_CSKJT">picture</a></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><br />Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-15873972516151936272024-02-16T15:20:00.006-05:002024-02-16T15:20:00.127-05:00Altered on the Edge of Belonging.<p> <i>Here are some random thoughts on this Sunday's gospel. I'm using the resource Lent in a Box, which has the overall theme for Lent as Altered by the Spirit. For the first Sunday, we're focusing on Altered on the Edge of Belonging.</i></p><p><i> </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY48UVhGHvYjGHxqW84cFEatDObw3pqrLsQSLdoPS93jucrpqHyFiafJL43DF8PzG9ptU5i1W37GIY0TE0Nj91GQpYkVAdS6GMnn-yXlqseQOcLKv3k84T7HLkLzxZSjuYQ0dLOFMFgPB8D0zB_RJuw79O05TbEmR7PfTDuudEIXx6FMi1KEzZJFlO1GD/s200/Icon3_Color_Lent1_B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY48UVhGHvYjGHxqW84cFEatDObw3pqrLsQSLdoPS93jucrpqHyFiafJL43DF8PzG9ptU5i1W37GIY0TE0Nj91GQpYkVAdS6GMnn-yXlqseQOcLKv3k84T7HLkLzxZSjuYQ0dLOFMFgPB8D0zB_RJuw79O05TbEmR7PfTDuudEIXx6FMi1KEzZJFlO1GD/w640-h640/Icon3_Color_Lent1_B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gospel: Mark 1:9-15</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">9</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">10</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">11</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">12</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">13</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">14</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">15</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our overarching sermon theme will be Altered by the Spirit throughout the Sundays of Lent. For this particular Sunday, it is Altered on the Edge of Belonging. What does this mean? It means that we’re looking at what’s happening with people on the edges, outsiders, outliers. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rather than John the Baptist traveling from village to village, people had to come to him at the Jordan River. Among those people was our Lord. It is a trek from Nazareth to the Jordan River, and it is uncertain as to which portion of the Jordan John was situated in. Was it closer or farther from Galilee? </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s see how the Holy Spirit showed its work in this passage. First, it came down from the torn-apart heavens, descending like a dove. Dove is the same word translated as pigeon in Greek. Hmm… not so sweet sounding, is it? Just as the people came from the Edge of Belonging, so did the Holy Spirit, coming down from the distant, wide-open heavens. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus received quite an “atta boy” from his Father. Oh, how nice and encouraging, until the Spirit “drove him” into the wilderness to be tempted. “Drove” is the same expression used to refer to Jesus driving out demons from people. Basically, the Spirit drop-kicked him out into the wilderness. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We might wonder if Jesus was truly tempted, but unless he was, he would not be truly human. He certainly was. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where is John in the story? “In order for Jesus (or anyone, for that matter) to be baptized by John, he has to leave the boundaries of the city, safety, and comfort behind and enter the wilderness place” (Church Anew, Lent in a Box). It is most definitely not safe there!</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wilderness was Jesus’ proving ground, after which, he was ready to proceed with his preaching and healing. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We may be the ones on the edge. Maybe it’s others at church. Perhaps those who are in no way related to the church. Could one of them be pointing a finger at the Savior, who is right there with them? Can He be seen by them and not us?</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Open our eyes, Lord, to your presence in and around us, in friend and stranger alike. Use us to bring others to you now and always. Amen. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><i><a href="https://members.sundaysandseasons.com/Visuals#clipart">picture</a></i></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-79678500070802339972024-02-15T15:20:00.002-05:002024-02-15T15:20:50.877-05:00Transfigured to Transform<p><i>This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, 2/11/24 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href=" https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=575028120">Mark 9:2-9</a>. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIr-aouWlJ3-YTFCT-dtNl7k2HgBkJXVX59am9oIjytN9ebUkKKvXEtjvxGTclvP3JLdUySTVesKUEFUFEqDpVhIuHrklXZQFBvnsDSckCUlCLhh6WPGTSZfmlnI0wcqrlPIdgCYof9TaZRYm9PEoL4OUa0mZM90vJNqgZGPhVSzBufg3zWBz9LZ7ZfH0s/s474/th-3522390370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="474" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIr-aouWlJ3-YTFCT-dtNl7k2HgBkJXVX59am9oIjytN9ebUkKKvXEtjvxGTclvP3JLdUySTVesKUEFUFEqDpVhIuHrklXZQFBvnsDSckCUlCLhh6WPGTSZfmlnI0wcqrlPIdgCYof9TaZRYm9PEoL4OUa0mZM90vJNqgZGPhVSzBufg3zWBz9LZ7ZfH0s/w640-h334/th-3522390370.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-796ca26d-7fff-a857-e740-64c49ba1a827" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-796ca26d-7fff-a857-e740-64c49ba1a827" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You probably thought I misspoke when I said “transformed” instead of “transfigured” in the reading of this morning’s gospel. However, in Greek, they are the same word. It is the same word used in Romans, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed…” and in 2 Cor. 3:18, “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” In these verses, I hear echoes of Jesus’ transfiguration/transformation. Let’s look more closely at these events.</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-796ca26d-7fff-a857-e740-64c49ba1a827" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moses represents the law, while Elijah represents the prophets. Both ascended to God at their deaths, as will Jesus. Their appearance is beyond what most people think is possible.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In scripture, there are numerous signs of God’s presence. The cloud is one such mysterious sign. Additionally, the mountain, the light and the voice tell us God is there. The dazzling white clothing too signals the presence of God or God’s agent. There are numerous additional connections to occurrences in the Hebrew Scriptures, which would be well-known to the followers. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Transfiguration literally means to change figure or form. Jesus’ appearance was changed, but not that of Moses or Elijah. Here, the disciples, Mark’s audience and we are allowed a glimpse of the true glory of Jesus. His transfiguration anticipates his resurrection. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peter liked what was happening and wanted the mountain-top experience to continue. His attempt to capture the moment, reduces it to a mere photo opportunity. Peter is rejecting the suffering that lies ahead, but is eager to welcome the glory. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are also struggling with wanting the mountain-top experience to continue today. Many of us want glory without the cross, but they are inseparable. I will not name names, but there are those preachers who tell you that you can have everything now. You don’t have to suffer in this life because Jesus has already suffered for you. They claim it is your own fault if you are struggling. That is heresy! If that was true, many faithful followers of Christ throughout the centuries, including the disciples, would not have suffered so horribly for the faith. Do we think we are better and more learned than they? I have heard some preach that we have a greater revelation of God’s truth than even the Apostle Paul, which is why they say he suffered for the faith. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After this great experience of the Transfiguration, with a conference between Moses, Elijah and Jesus, Jesus will walk the way of the cross to suffer and die. We, too, must follow the way of the cross and not the way of glory.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Martin Luther wrote, “[one] deserves to be called a theologian…who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross. A theology of glory calls evil good and good evil. A theology of the cross calls the thing what it actually is” (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heidelberg Disputation</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Isn’t this the epitome of truth telling?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The offer of a gospel of success is an invitation into what theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, described as “a kingdom without judgment through a Christ without a cross.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is where the heavenly voice comes in. At Jesus’ baptism, the Father says Jesus is the Son, the Beloved. Then God said, “…with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Jesus was the One being addressed. In today’s gospel, it is the disciples who are being addressed and the heavenly Father’s voice ends with “…listen to him” (v. 7). The Greek word for “listen,” implies continuing action: “Keep on listening to him:” or “Continue to listen to him.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peter, James and John were not yet Jesus’ followers when he was baptized. These words of the Father were new for these disciples. This moment of glory accompanied by the voice allows us to remember Jesus’ baptism and anticipate the final triumph of Christ, the glorious king. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where do we hear the voice? We hear it in scripture. We hear it in music and preaching and our fellowship together. Likewise, we may have a spiritual dream. We may hear God’s voice as we are lifted out of depression by the words of a brother or sister. And God speaks to us in unexpected ways as well, as long as we are open to listening.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During fellowship, we will have the opportunity to hear God’s voice through Gale and Sarah, as they share about their time in Honduras. Let us hear what the Spirit is saying. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We listen to Christ when we proclaim the gospel in word and deed by feeding the hungry, visiting the prisoners, clothing the naked, healing the sick, forgiving those who have offended us and seeking to be peacemakers in our communities. How can we be silent when we have seen the glory of Christ and are being transformed? (Rhonda Garrison Haynes).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moses and Elijah have disappeared. Their appearance with Jesus says that he was the messiah and that the end times are fulfilled in him. The fact that they disappear, leaving Jesus alone, says that the old has ended and the new has come. Jesus incarnated the missions of Moses the lawgiver and Elijah, the first of the prophets.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus does not escape with his heavenly visitors to glory, but remains to complete his journey to Jerusalem and the cross. He stays behind, so that he is with his disciples then and now. Jesus does not abandon them, expecting them or us to go it alone.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Throughout Mark, people are told to be quiet about what they’ve experienced. It’s the Markan secret. After the resurrection, the church is let in on the secret and becomes the dwelling that Peter thought to erect. The disciples were to wait until after Jesus was raised from the dead, when they could really understand what had happened. They were then prepared to share the good news.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we listen to the beloved Son of God, he will direct our ways so that we too may share the good news. Just as Jesus was transfigured, we are transformed so that God may use us to transform the world. But we must know what aspect of the good news one needs to hear. For the hungry, a sandwich is good news. For the drowning, a rope or life-jacket is good news. For the cold and homeless, a place to go is good news.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Listen to God’s beloved Son. Jesus is transfigured and we are transformed because of what God in Christ has done for us. Be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and go out from this place as those who are willing and enabled to transform our world.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resources</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred B. Craddock, <i>Preaching Through the Christian Year B</i></span></p><i><br /></i><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beverly Gaventa, <i>Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV-Year B</i></span></p><i><br /></i><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rhonda Garrison Haynes, asmweb.org/epiphany-season-year-b#Transfiguration</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barbara Kay Lundblad, </span><a href="http://huffingtonpost.com/Barbara-Kay-lundblad/mark" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">huffingtonpost.com/Barbara-Kay-lundblad/mark</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> -9-2-9-visions-on-the-mountain_b_html</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Martin Luther, <i>The Heidelberg Disputation</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brian Stoffregen, </span><a href="http://crossmarks.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">crossmarks.com</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="http://sundaysandseasons.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sundaysandseasons.com</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rob Myallis, lectionarygreek.blogspot.com</span></p><br /></b><i><a href="https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2020/11/04/20/02/45/e6db7ed2-56f4-443b-a46b-822b0d5a5874/transfiguration-2018.jpg">Picture</a></i><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-42824580826665875152024-02-02T14:15:00.001-05:002024-02-02T14:15:00.248-05:00Some Questions<p> <i>This is the message on this coming Sunday's gospel that will go out to the people of S<a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">t Timothy Lutheran Church. </a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAF8YFgJEn9YeDAVdD0z7Y0ojvUEfvd9vk25h2v7RcpkrIVP_5nlkD3EA5zlbDceTwVwQgvIQgo7IhQVBTQuMPHceYo_hWlr-iNv65QaOAEHOtWMyx3gdflpHvH52rUxR-5nf8suzBpxO9anFz7xBmJ6R5a_biFMJ-Xr3kO6JIc3LfcYtLjQsN6SfmUwC/s186/th-2822671654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="186" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAF8YFgJEn9YeDAVdD0z7Y0ojvUEfvd9vk25h2v7RcpkrIVP_5nlkD3EA5zlbDceTwVwQgvIQgo7IhQVBTQuMPHceYo_hWlr-iNv65QaOAEHOtWMyx3gdflpHvH52rUxR-5nf8suzBpxO9anFz7xBmJ6R5a_biFMJ-Xr3kO6JIc3LfcYtLjQsN6SfmUwC/w400-h400/th-2822671654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-c2af8691-7fff-423c-9071-a4d8f6be2c79" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gospel: Mark 1:29-39</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">29</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As soon as </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: lightgrey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus and the disciples</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: lightgrey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">]</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">30</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">31</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">32</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">33</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the whole city was gathered around the door. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">34</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">35</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">36</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And Simon and his companions hunted for him. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">37</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">38</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">39</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are your questions after reading this gospel text? What stands out to you? What makes you scratch your head?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are mine. If I were Simon's mother-in-law and had a fever, I wouldn't want some noisy friends of Simon's in the house. And then Jesus heals her, which is great, but then she serves them. Considering the role of women in those days, could Jesus have healed her to allow her to fulfill her usual duties of serving guests? I told you it was bad. It seems to me that her serving showed how well she felt.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My next wondering is in v. 34: “He</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.” Would</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">n’t it seem that if the demons knew about or knew him, that would be good publicity? Again, it goes to something we talked about last Sunday, the issue of the source of information. If it isn’t from God, we don’t want anything to do with it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In v. 35, we’re told that Jesus has gone off by himself to pray. This is something we see throughout the gospels. He needed time alone to refresh. I love the way it’s worded about the disciples looking for Jesus; they “hunted for him." What was their message for Jesus once they had found him? “Everyone is searching for you." Oh my, nothing like adding pressure and maybe even heaping a bit of shame onto Jesus! Hurry up. They’re waiting! Everyone! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does Jesus go to the place where “everyone” was from? No. They have all come to him and he heals “most” of them. Jesus is on a different schedule for when and where he should be. He tells his disciples that they are going on to the “neighboring towns." </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s ok and even good to come to Scripture with our questions. It makes us think and ask and learn. After all, we’re not on our own as we read scripture. The Holy Spirit is with us, giving us insight into God’s word and ways. </span></p><br /><a href="http://holytextures.com">picture</a><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-14344356489178710952024-02-01T14:14:00.001-05:002024-02-01T14:45:49.475-05:00Evil Rears Its Ugly Head<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, 1/28/24 at S<a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">t. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=573814130">Mark 1:21-28. </a></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ9LuSriN1q2hytEL8LXdl5VRzaEADm9Wgz1cY0fmq_D-jxCnZJwv-BkzWoCah5VcztKR8juiN-FtPQNQC1UdM5A9woADCJPUiAsPSTgFQ9WCPPmR-PuUcpUTrT8l9PdI6gSy6f05Tf1yAZl-gUM07hb8I4K9CkEIBsCDlazgbXwKJE2xB9giX5MZ85BF/s474/th-4178491154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="474" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ9LuSriN1q2hytEL8LXdl5VRzaEADm9Wgz1cY0fmq_D-jxCnZJwv-BkzWoCah5VcztKR8juiN-FtPQNQC1UdM5A9woADCJPUiAsPSTgFQ9WCPPmR-PuUcpUTrT8l9PdI6gSy6f05Tf1yAZl-gUM07hb8I4K9CkEIBsCDlazgbXwKJE2xB9giX5MZ85BF/w400-h297/th-4178491154.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In today’s gospel, we see the kingdom of God on the move. Where King Jesus is, there is the kingdom. Where we are, with Christ in our lives, is the kingdom. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5defa7f1-7fff-ba35-7a47-69f3c6752bbd" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One thing that stands out to me in this reading is, how can there be a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue where Jesus is teaching? Isn’t that supposed to be a safe place where worshipers would not encounter evil? His shouting out to Jesus was so disruptive. Where are the ushers when you need them?</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-5defa7f1-7fff-ba35-7a47-69f3c6752bbd" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don’t have much experience in our daily lives with demons. However, if you talk with missionaries, they likely have knowledge in this area. For us, the best definition of a demon or unclean spirit is, “…anything that has power that is not of God” (Eric Fistler and Robb McCoy, pulpitfiction.com). It’s all about the source of power and authority. </span></p></b><div><b id="docs-internal-guid-5defa7f1-7fff-ba35-7a47-69f3c6752bbd" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One would think that a sanctuary would be a safe place to be. It wasn’t for the people in Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. Bible study in the sanctuary of Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, SC, was not a safe place to be as congregants and the pastor were killed. Closer to us is the example of the quiet and peace of the Chautauqua Institution being shattered as speaker Salman Rushdie was attacked. Don’t tell me evil isn’t real today.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have the people’s reaction to Jesus’ teaching recorded before and after Jesus’ encounter with the demon. Prior to the confrontation, the people were “astounded” (v. 22) and that’s before they saw anything happen. Jesus’ teaching contrasted so powerfully with that of the scribes, who were well-respected, knowledgeable, teachers in that day. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, they also were part of Jesus‘ opposition and later the early church’s. The issue between Jesus and the scribes is not how they teach, but who represents the authority of God. Who is speaking for God? Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus speaks as the king of the ages, appointed by God. This authority is a “willingness or right that has everything to do with seeing justice served” (Graves).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the miracle, the people were amazed, and they added that “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him” (v. 27). “Astounded” and “amazed,” are two different words in English and in New Testament Greek. The differences may be slight, but they are there. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unclean in scripture means ritually impure in comparison to the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Holy One in contrast to the unholy spirit possessing the man. The spirit is reacting to Jesus’ teaching. That’s when all hell and all heaven breaks loose. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The unclean spirit demonstrates how public honor, reputation and status worked in Jesus’ day. It begins by using public information to show that it knows who Jesus is. “I know who you are (socially) Jesus of Nazareth.” But then the spirit reveals information that is not public knowledge, that which is known only in the spiritual realm. “I know who you are (spiritually)—the Holy One of God.” It is this spiritual status that is the source of Jesus’ authority. The demons had a better idea of who Jesus was than many humans. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Have you come to destroy us?” (V. 24). Why the change from the singular to the plural? This spirit represents every manifestation of evil: sickness, sin, death and the whole kingdom of evil. Jesus is encountering the entire demonic world. The demons know they are already defeated. Jesus commands them with a simple word, and they are gone. Jesus restores the man to his community. Here we see that the final victory of God over demonic evil is already present in Jesus’ ministry. And yet, there is still evil at work in the world. It is the case of experiencing the now, but not yet of the fullness of God’s kingdom.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is Jesus’ new teaching? What is new is the authority behind Jesus’ words. Things happen when Jesus speaks and teaches. His word is powerful. In this case, Jesus’ word freed a man who had been enslaved by a demon. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God stands steadfastly against all forces that are keeping you, as God’s people, down as well. God is opposed to anything and everything that robs you of abundant life. God will do battle with those who seek to rob you of joy, meaning and purpose. God is committed to doing this for you and for all God’s children (Lose). And today, I can’t help but think of those surrounded by war in so many places—without homes, wounded inside and out—without homes and nowhere they can possibly go. Somehow, some way Jesus reaches out to them, loves them and restores them. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a song the praise band has sung that illustrates what God is calling us to. Think about these words this week and see how God speaks to you:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God put a million, million doors in the world</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For His love to walk through</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of those doors is you</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I said God put a million, million doors in the world</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For His love to walk through</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of those doors is you.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We bring the kingdom come…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With every act of love</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus, help us carry You</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alive in us, Your light shines through</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With every act of love</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We bring the kingdom come </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Jason Gray).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resources</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David Ewart, </span><a href="http://holytextures.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">holytextures.com</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mike Graves, Ofelia Ortega, in David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, editors, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feasting on the Word</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Year B, Volume 1</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David Lose, Epiphany 4B-Against the Robbers, </span><a href="http://davidlose.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">davidlose.com</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bruce J. Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels</span></p></b><i> </i><p></p><p><i>Picture<br /></i></p></div>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-57762262141481526212024-01-24T11:57:00.000-05:002024-01-24T11:57:03.398-05:00Evil in a Holy Place?<p> <i>This is the message I sent to the people of <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy</a> regarding this coming Sunday's gospel.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3L806SvPCo7qsphMSAbIF62WzzaxvE1BlSuNNcAbk4v3B5nnGMeYDBBQrgPIg-SpQnlOgWfKw7p1j4T7lyumcax96ldeMtbIxk2St0paVYpjA-HCjT-bQUG5b1ffYRy0fM2it9HlIZ-nxJfvEfEzz4QXv_6zi__9Bq6eQ5kp3EKhbXTwRdJ1NYjPDA0m/s751/2015-02-26_1819.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="751" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3L806SvPCo7qsphMSAbIF62WzzaxvE1BlSuNNcAbk4v3B5nnGMeYDBBQrgPIg-SpQnlOgWfKw7p1j4T7lyumcax96ldeMtbIxk2St0paVYpjA-HCjT-bQUG5b1ffYRy0fM2it9HlIZ-nxJfvEfEzz4QXv_6zi__9Bq6eQ5kp3EKhbXTwRdJ1NYjPDA0m/w640-h386/2015-02-26_1819.png" width="640" /></a></i></div><p></p><p><i></i><b id="docs-internal-guid-81adf952-7fff-b0b0-f603-ed7a84e30441" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-81adf952-7fff-b0b0-f603-ed7a84e30441" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gospel: Mark 1:21-28</span></b></h3><p></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-81adf952-7fff-b0b0-f603-ed7a84e30441" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-81adf952-7fff-b0b0-f603-ed7a84e30441" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">21</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: lightgrey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus and his disciples</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: lightgrey; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">]</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">22 </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">23 </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">24 </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">25</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">26 </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">27</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">28</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-81adf952-7fff-b0b0-f603-ed7a84e30441" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. What differentiated his teaching from the scribes’? It was the authority with which Jesus taught. I suspect the scribes were so focused on every detail of the law, of every action, and how it must be done that, compared to Jesus, their teaching was bleak.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are certain places where we expect to have peace and quiet. One of them should be a place of worship, like a church or synagogue. How disruptive this man with the demon must have been! People are focused on Jesus, and then this happens. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What was Jesus’ response to this attention-grabbing away from God’s Word? Jesus looks past the disruptive behavior and sees the man in need. He loves him and heals him. To be in a love relationship with our God is to be healed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One would think that a sanctuary would be a safe place to be. It wasn’t for the people in Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. Bible study in the sanctuary of Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, SC, was not a safe place to be as congregants and the pastor were killed. Closer to us is the example of the quiet and peace of the Chautauqua Institution being shattered as speaker Salman Rushdie was attacked. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A sanctuary should be a safe place to be, but it isn’t necessarily. Where can we find peace and safety? There is only one truly safe place. It is found in the Word of God, in Christ. As the old hymn says, “On Christ the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand” (My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, #596). In the arms of the great I AM, there is no room for the devil, who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. In Christ, we find abundant life. (</span><a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=573113366" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 10:10</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKgEKcqrtSR4rK47WcP5rXtuD81h4jltPFTHoDj91oBxbpmkiAxJD1plas-6TwqwwQhAQIyjjG73j8UEnQDBp4ggyf1QCmxRKcNeqqrQ0zx6pYWBdlWhNCOvrCmqo7KjzGGzYFrjSiCo-/s1600/2015-02-26_1819.png"><br />picture</a><br /><br /><br /></b><i> </i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><br />Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-19880753216606356062024-01-23T16:16:00.000-05:002024-01-23T16:16:29.200-05:00Fishy Story<p><i>This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, 1/21 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church.</a> The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=573044203">Mark 1:14-20.</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSOZFEPzynHrvV7ok4ZqiVzoZUIiyY63RqgaPnfoiCy0N3GKsJkXRNumOFePSw28NA7IMwgkf5_HDSeUDFwJOhtbcUJJ4TlIdzcJJaBOF6wbQJL_QjElMQwoX83fCMwhWDOCGSbO00XD_ZFK3YYRaNrZuZ9qTRU9NC1EPHyts6h27aiFO-xLKTKBCo_qa/s710/IMG_0172.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="710" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSOZFEPzynHrvV7ok4ZqiVzoZUIiyY63RqgaPnfoiCy0N3GKsJkXRNumOFePSw28NA7IMwgkf5_HDSeUDFwJOhtbcUJJ4TlIdzcJJaBOF6wbQJL_QjElMQwoX83fCMwhWDOCGSbO00XD_ZFK3YYRaNrZuZ9qTRU9NC1EPHyts6h27aiFO-xLKTKBCo_qa/w640-h396/IMG_0172.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s something fishy about today’s gospel. Are we really to believe that these four prospective disciples would instantly drop everything and follow Jesus? And this was at night, when fishing took place, to get the fish to market while they were fresh. Jesus has dropped his net to fish for disciples. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The kingdom having come near is the refrain for Jesus—where the work of God is done among the people of God, there the kingdom of God can be found. It is the heart of Jesus’ message. This phrase located the realm of God, this defining moment, and space is near. It also means that an action has now begun and is yet unfinished. Mark’s view is that the kingdom is future, but so near that it already affects the present. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Jesus called Simon and Andrew, they were busy fishing. They were doing pretty well for themselves. After all, they had a good occupation, living right on the Lake of Galilee with plenty of fish to be caught. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unexpectedly, there was Jesus calling to them to follow him. There was no time to think over this proposition, no invitation to take your time. Just go. This was certainly unexpected and undeserved. Here we see an epiphany that demanded an immediate response. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They “</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">immediately </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">left their nets and followed [Jesus]” (v. 18). They got into Jesus’ net. Used repeatedly in Mark’s gospel, “immediately” is Mark’s indication of the urgency of Christ’s call to his hearers. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s a lot Mark doesn’t tell us. Were Simon and Andrew, James and John dissatisfied with their occupation? Doubtful. Did they have a previous knowledge of Jesus? Probably. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They likely lived in the same area as Jesus and were acquainted with each other. So, it seems less odd that they would leave everything to follow Jesus. Plus, they wouldn’t be leaving forever. They doubtless took periodic trips with Jesus, then returned home. Only during the dry season could people travel around (by either land or sea) to follow Jesus. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to Pastor David Ewart there’s another issue:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fact that Jesus is out alone at night and that the four all leave their families to follow / travel with Jesus [was considered to be] abnormal and deviant behavior. Their friends and neighbors would view them with alarm and suspicion — be very concerned about the breakdown in their social fabric. Loyalty to one's family and strictly observing all social conventions were paramount in Jesus' day. Any deviants were quickly brought back into line or expelled from the community. (Holytextures.com)</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don’t know all the answers, but we do know that there was something compelling about Jesus to draw them to him immediately. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus tells Simon and Andrew that they will fish for people. Caught in Jesus’ net, they’ll catch others with their nets. Early Christian imagery shows baptism as water, believers as water-dwellers, the net as the gospel, and the boat as the church. These new disciples got caught in the net of the gospel.</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">All these men immediately obeyed the call of Jesus. They could not pretend, ignore or avoid the moment. They respond not with fear or flight, but with faith and trust, believing this call is good news. Likewise, they freely follow Jesus, confident of the future that is in the hands of the One who could be counted on no matter what. They have entered into a new reality. Now they can give themselves away in love to their neighbors, so they too may believe that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near” and they can set nets for a different kind of catch.</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a second career pastor, I can imagine just a bit of what these disciples experienced—our departure from Rhode Island to seminary wasn't nearly as sudden. We moved quite a bit—from Rhode Island to Gettysburg for two years, from Gettysburg to West Virginia for a year of internship, then back again to Gettysburg for my senior year of seminary. Then, we moved from Gettysburg to Portville, living in two different houses before moving here. Since our marriage, our last move, from Portville to Bemus Point, is where we’ve been the longest—9 years this month. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">What would make you leave what you know and venture out in quest of something new? When we fall in love and get married, it sometimes means a geographical move along with other changes in our lives. We may not want to leave our family and friends, but we are willing to do so to be with our beloved. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Jesus calls us, our lives are immediately altered by the preaching of the word. We are to “repent, and believe in the good news” (v. 15). Believing in the good news is better translated, “Trust in the good news.” It’s not a matter of having an opinion about the good news, but responding to a call for a radical, total, unqualified basing of our lives on the good news; a living into the good news. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes, our response is outside our control. I vividly remember labor with my first child, Sarah. The closer I got to her being born, the more I thought that there was absolutely nothing I can do to stop this. I am going to be a parent, and it is completely outside my control. It is happening, no matter what. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is perhaps what it was like for the disciples in Mark. If the heavens are ripped apart, then you’d better get ready for a wild ride. This is “simultaneously freeing and terrifying. We are free to respond and yet terrified of how the future may unfold” (Karoline Lewis,</span><a href="http://workingpreacher.org/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">workingpreacher.org</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">].</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is God calling you to, individually and as a church? Are you called to visit people? There are openings for that. Are you called to sing? There is always a place for that. Is your call to be friendly and welcoming? We excel at that, and yet there can never be too much welcome. I came across a statement while preparing my message that sums up what our response to Jesus should be, “Our task is to share a faith that is exciting enough to be contagious” (</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Douglas R. A. Hare, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew, Interpretation</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Amen.</span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><a href="https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/third-sunday-after-epiphany-2/commentary-on-mark-114-20-5">Picture</a><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p><br /></p><div class="main_content_container clearfix" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(41, 41, 41); color: #292929; flex: 0 0 auto; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1600px; width: 720px;"><aside class="sidebar-container sidebar-invisible" role="complementary" style="background-color: white; inset: 0px 0px 0px auto; max-width: 320px; overflow-y: auto; position: fixed; transform: translateX(320px); transition-duration: 0.3s; transition-property: transform, transform; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1); width: 320px; z-index: 101;"><div class="sidebar section" id="sidebar" name="Sidebar"><a class="skip-navigation" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2018/02/astounded-and-amazed.html#main" style="background-attachment: scroll; 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max-width: none; padding: 0px;"><div class="blog-posts hfeed container"><article class="post-outer-container"><div class="post-outer" style="position: relative;"><div class="post-content container" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex: 0 1 auto; margin: 0px; max-width: none; order: 1; width: 720px;"><div class="post-title-container" style="background-color: #25a186; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 62px 24px 24px; width: 720px;"><a name="8145199606771922649" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer;"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.416667; margin: 0px;">Astounded and Amazed</h3></div><div class="post-header-container container" style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 24px;"><div class="post-header" style="float: left; height: 84px;"><div class="post-header-line-1" style="position: relative; top: 42px; transform: translateY(-50%);"><span class="byline post-timestamp" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54)" face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px;"><a class="timestamp-link" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2018/02/astounded-and-amazed.html" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><time class="published" datetime="2018-02-01T12:54:00-05:00" title="2018-02-01T12:54:00-05:00">February 01, 2018</time></a></span></div></div></div><div class="post-body-container" style="margin: 32px 24px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="post-body entry-content float-container" id="post-body-8145199606771922649" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, 1/28 at <a href="http://sttimothybemus.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href="http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=384505780" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Mark 1:21-28</a></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">So far in Epiphany, Jesus has been revealed as the King of the Jews, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, a preacher and one who calls disciples. Today we have learned that he’s a teacher and exorcist and we hear a new title, the Holy One of God.</span></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Today’s gospel takes place in Capernaum, Jesus’ base of operations. Although Nazareth was his hometown, Capernaum was his base. On the screen, you see ruins of a synagogue in Capernaum from the 4th or 5th century, A. D. It is built on the foundations of a 1st-century synagogue, likely the one from today’s gospel. It is one of the few places today in the Holy Land where you can be where Jesus had actually walked. Capernaum was also where Peter was from and there are ruins of his house there as well. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Now we need to change gears to have a better understanding of this story. Let’s talk about food!</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">How do we eat sandwiches? As children, we may want the crusts cut off. Very small children may pull a sandwich apart, eat the inside and then the bread. But generally, we eat a sandwich as is, all together. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Well, today’s gospel reading is a Markan sandwich…meaning that a set of verses begin and end with similar material, with something different in the middle. Just as most of us eat a sandwich, so today’s gospel reading must be understood as a whole and not just the individual parts. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Nevertheless, here are the parts:</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin-left: 16.35pt; text-indent: -16.35pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus teaches with authority and the crowd is amazed (vv. 21, 22).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin-left: 16.35pt; text-indent: -16.35pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">An unclean spirit cries out and Jesus demonstrates his authority over the spirit (vv. 23-26).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin-left: 16.35pt; text-indent: -16.35pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">The crowd is amazed and comments that he teaches with authority (vv. 27, 28).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">The commonality in each part of the Markan sandwich is the emphasis on Jesus’ authority, which is what must be chewed over. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">As any good Jewish male would do, Jesus went to the synagogue on the sabbath. That Jesus taught in the synagogue would not have seemed odd or unusual. He took advantage of the sabbath, the day the faithful ones meet, to teach them, as a trustworthy Jew who has a word for the people. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">But there was something very special about the way he spoke, “as one having authority” (v. 22). That does not mean he was simply a dynamic teacher compared with the scribes. After all, the scribes were regarded as important, knowledgeable teachers in the Jewish community. They were not mere secretaries, but official scholars of scripture and Jewish tradition. However, they also were part of the opposition to Jesus and later to the early church. The issue between Jesus and the scribes is not how they teach, but who represents the authority of God. Who is speaking for God? Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus speaks as the king of the ages, appointed by God. This authority is a “willingness or right that has everything to do with seeing justice served” (Graves).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Now let’s go the filling of Mark’s sandwich, Jesus’ encounter with an unclean spirit. Unclean in scripture means ritually impure in comparison to the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Holy One in contrast to the unholy spirit possessing the man. The spirit is reacting to Jesus’ teaching. It responded immediately giving voice to what may well have been the concerns of the crowd: What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?, Have you come to destroy us?, and I know who you are, the Holy One of God.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">The unclean spirit demonstrates how public honor, reputation and status worked in Jesus’ day. It begins by using public information to show that it knows who Jesus is. “I know who you are (socially) Jesus of <i>Nazareth</i>.” But then the spirit reveals information that is not public knowledge, that which is known only in the spiritual realm. “I know who you are (spiritually)—the Holy One of God.” It is this spiritual status that is the source of Jesus’ authority. The demons had a better idea of who Jesus was than many humans. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">“Have you come to destroy us?” (V. 24). Why the change from the singular to the plural? This spirit represents every manifestation of evil: sickness, sin, death and the whole kingdom of evil. Jesus is encountering the entire demonic world.The demons know they are already defeated. Jesus commands them with a simple word and they are gone. Jesus restores the man to his community. Here we see that the final victory of God over demonic evil is already present in Jesus’ ministry. And yet, there is still evil at work in the world. Read the paper. Watch or listen to the news or read it online. It is the case of experiencing the now, but not yet of the fullness of God’s kingdom</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ultimately, when Jesus speaks, evil flees. As Martin Luther wrote, “Jesus has freed us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.”</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">We are likely unfamiliar with the language of exorcism, but a mini-exorcism is included in our baptismal rite. We hear, “Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God?” The response is, “I renounce them.” “Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God.” “I renounce them.” “Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?” “I renounce them” (P. 229, <i>ELW</i>). </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">As we go to the last part of our sandwich, what is Jesus’ new teaching? “The kingdom of God is near” is reminiscent of John the Baptist’s call to repentance. It can’t be that. What is new is the authority behind Jesus’ words. Things happen when Jesus speaks and teaches. His word is powerful. In this case, Jesus’ word freed a man who had been enslaved by a demon. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">That word of Jesus is novel because it produces healing. “That word liberates the earth from the forces of evil and makes our world habitable for…human being[s]…that word guides the church to create spaces of freedom and places of healing and communion” (Ofelia Ortega).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus speaks truth because he is the Truth. He speaks for God because he is God. He speaks the Word of God because he is the Word of God. Jesus is the authority and so speaks with authority (Westphal). It all comes as a result of who he is.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">There are powers in our world today that work to make people’s lives miserable; to rob them of the abundant life God desires for them. What forces promote hunger and poverty? What systemic issues and structures make it harder for those who suffer with addiction? What about the intoxicating power that causes the powerful to abuse others sexually?</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">God stands steadfastly against all forces that are keeping you, as God’s people, down as well. God is opposed to anything and everything that robs you of abundant life. God will do battle with those who seek to rob you of joy, meaning and purpose. God is committed to doing this for you and for all God’s children (Lose).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus has authority over all those things. Didn’t Jesus give his disciples the same authority as they were sent out to preach and heal? And we, in baptism, as children of God, with the Holy Spirit abiding and working in and through us, don’t we have authority to speak the power of the kingdom of God against the kingdoms of this world? What do you think the Christian witness of Jesus and God’s people can bring to these and other situations?</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">There is an opportunity that has fallen into our laps at St. Timothy, to exercise authority over the demon of hunger for children right here in Bemus Point. I know it’s hard for some of us to believe that we have those in need in our area, but we do. St. Timothy participates with the 5 & 2 Ministry. The title refers to the feeding of the 5,000 later in Mark, where Jesus fed the multitude with 5 loaves and 2 fish and had leftovers. If you look in our front entryway, you will see a black container. That’s where specified contributions of food can be put. It is then collected and privately distributed to school children to bring food home for the </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">weekend. You will see a pile of cards like this one. On it is the list of what foods in what amounts are needed. Please take one or more. Share them with friends and neighbors.</span></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">There is a song the praise band has sung that illustrates what God is calling us to. Think about these words this week and see how God speaks to you:</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">God put a million, million doors in the world</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">For His love to walk through</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">One of those doors is you</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I said God put a million, million doors in the world</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">For His love to walk through</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">One of those doors is you.</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><br /></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">We bring the kingdom come…</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">With every act of love</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus, help us carry You</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Alive in us, Your light shines through</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">With every act of love</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">We bring the kingdom come (Jason Gray).</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin-left: 32.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Amen.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 6.666666px;">References</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 6.666666px;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;">M. Eugene Boring, <i>Mark </i></span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;">M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock, <i>The People’s New Testament</i></span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;">Fred B. Craddock, <i>Preaching Through the Christian Year B</i></span><i><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;"></span></i></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;">David Ewart, </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="line-height: 5px;"><a href="http://holytextures.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">holytextures.com</span></a></span></span><span class="None"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mike Graves, Ofelia Ortega, in David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, editors, </span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Feasting on the Word, </i></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Year B, Volume 1</i></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="None">David Lose, Epiphany 4B-Against the Robbers, </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="line-height: 5px;"><a href="http://davidlose.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">davidlose.com</span></a></span></span><span class="None"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Martin Luther, <i>The Small Catechism</i></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bruce J. Malina, <i>Social Science Commentary on the Gospels</i></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="None">Aaron Matson, </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="line-height: 5px;"><a href="http://blogs.elca.org/faithless/January-29-2012/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">http://blogs.elca.org/faithless/January-29-2012/</span></a></span></span><span class="None"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="line-height: 5px;"><a href="http://sundaysandseasons.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">sundaysandseasons.com</span></a></span></span><span class="None"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><br /><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;">David Westphal, 2018 Epiphany Devotions, Saturday, January 27</span></span></div></div></div><div class="post-bottom" style="-webkit-box-align: baseline; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: baseline; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; justify-content: space-between; margin: 32px 24px; max-width: 968px; padding: 0px;"><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex-wrap: wrap; flex: 1 1 auto; line-height: 1; margin-right: 24px; order: 1;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; 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background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 2; text-decoration: none;">AUTHORITY</a> <a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/search/label/exorcism" rel="tag" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 2; text-decoration: none;">EXORCISM</a> <a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/search/label/Mark%201%3A21-28" rel="tag" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; 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font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 36px;">Popular posts from this blog</h3><div role="feed"><article class="post" role="article" style="margin-bottom: 85px;"><div class="post-outer-container"><div class="post-outer" style="position: relative;"><a class="snippet-thumbnail" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2009/05/bidden-or-not-bidden.html" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; background: repeat rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: flex; flex: 0 0 auto; height: calc(-32px + 66.666667vw); justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 136px; order: 2; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 672px;"><span class="snippet-thumbnail-img" id="snippet_thumbnail_id_9171593661817835672" style="background-image: url("https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-a6mYIoideq7kfdvMeKvGCm04rWs66OdDpAiUj3XjNebbeCDJKvs2_ybQFjLqZgt_jEPe2MDl0m-kC3XVVlhoFmSJ-SCOl67IhedTarp5qwVm8zUlNQvDZI7o2VdObflC5Co8ml6tW_l/w968-h645-p-k-no-nu/charge+to+couple.jpg"); background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; height: 448px; width: 672px;"></span></a><div class="post-content container" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex: 0 1 auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; order: 1; width: 672px;"><div class="post-title-container" style="margin-bottom: 16px;"><a name="9171593661817835672" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer;"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #25a186; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2009/05/bidden-or-not-bidden.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; text-decoration: none;">Bidden or Not Bidden...</a></h3></div><div class="post-header-container container" style="margin-bottom: 12px;"><div class="post-header" style="float: left;"><div class="post-header-line-1"><span class="byline post-timestamp" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54)" face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px;"><a class="timestamp-link" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2009/05/bidden-or-not-bidden.html" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><time class="published" datetime="2009-05-26T22:56:00-04:00" title="2009-05-26T22:56:00-04:00">May 26, 2009</time></a></span></div></div></div><div class="container post-body entry-content" id="post-snippet-9171593661817835672" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div class="post-snippet snippet-container r-snippet-container" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 112px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><div class="snippet-item r-snippetized" style="line-height: 2;">My son and his fiancée were determined to have a secular wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. The phrase that kept going through my mind was, "Bidden or not bidden, God is present." God is with us whether we realize it or not. And of course we kept praying for them. They are a wonderful couple who are very good for each other. We are thrilled to have Marisa in our family. The setting was beautiful: an outdoor patio area with plants around. It was evening and there was a nice breeze. The groom's father and best man told us that when they met with the minister (yes, minister, not justice of the peace) they found out he's a Lutheran minister. Hmm, isn't that interesting? The ceremony used the traditional vows. The minister spoke seriously to Christian and Marisa, charging them that they were in this for the long haul...as long as they lived. He did not use the word God , but certainly gave them godly counsel in the ceremony. God was there...bidden or not bidden. God was th</div><a class="snippet-fade r-snippet-fade" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2009/05/bidden-or-not-bidden.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 20%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 100%); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 96px;"></a></div></div><div class="post-bottom" style="-webkit-box-align: baseline; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: baseline; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 968px;"><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex-wrap: wrap; flex: 1 1 auto; order: 1;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-0" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; flex: 0 1 auto;"><div class="byline post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="color: #25a186; display: inline-block; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 1em; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase;"><div aria-owns="sharing-popup-PopularPosts1-footer-0-9171593661817835672" class="sharing" data-title="Bidden or Not Bidden..."><button aria-controls="sharing-popup-PopularPosts1-footer-0-9171593661817835672" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Share" class="sharing-button touch-icon-button flat-button ripple" id="sharing-button-PopularPosts1-footer-0-9171593661817835672" role="button" style="appearance: button; 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display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 1em; text-transform: uppercase;"><a class="comment-link flat-button ripple" href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5221130573871037403&postID=9171593661817835672" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-radius: 2px; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: -8px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;">POST A COMMENT</a></span></div></div><div class="byline jump-link" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; color: #25a186; display: inline-block; flex: 0 0 auto; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px; order: 2;"><a class="flat-button ripple" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2009/05/bidden-or-not-bidden.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-radius: 2px; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: -8px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;" title="Bidden or Not Bidden...">READ MORE</a></div></div></div></div></div></article><article class="post" role="article" style="margin-bottom: 85px;"><div class="post-outer-container"><div class="post-outer" style="position: relative;"><a class="snippet-thumbnail" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; background: repeat rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: flex; flex: 0 0 auto; height: calc(-32px + 66.666667vw); justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 136px; order: 2; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 672px;"><span class="snippet-thumbnail-img" id="snippet_thumbnail_id_2328680642596324389" style="background-image: url("https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyek5nv_CWVnr3MLSxbTl-QfxPjyssROpCvtYoFGexRIEPMJvdjApkyRpGqAt_A4bT8tt1dzvzzcxXh7GejS6SGilRrlRYsSDThkUIoOuGGPd8xKEE4lV3yNevZz07G4IdER5oEf8ZIMU9/w968-h645-p-k-no-nu/Trinity-dance.jpeg"); background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; height: 448px; width: 672px;"></span></a><div class="post-content container" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex: 0 1 auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; order: 1; width: 672px;"><div class="post-title-container" style="margin-bottom: 16px;"><a name="2328680642596324389" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer;"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #25a186; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; text-decoration: none;">Dancing with the Trinity</a></h3></div><div class="post-header-container container" style="margin-bottom: 12px;"><div class="post-header" style="float: left;"><div class="post-header-line-1"><span class="byline post-timestamp" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54)" face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px;"><a class="timestamp-link" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><time class="published" datetime="2019-06-20T16:59:00-04:00" title="2019-06-20T16:59:00-04:00">June 20, 2019</time></a></span></div></div></div><div class="container post-body entry-content" id="post-snippet-2328680642596324389" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div class="post-snippet snippet-container r-snippet-container" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 112px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><div class="snippet-item r-snippetized" style="line-height: 2;">This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church on Trinity Sunday, 6/16/19. The text was John 16:12-15. This is Holy Trinity Sunday. What comes to mind when you think of the Trinity—questions, confusion, a puzzle, a mystery? It seems to me that just when you think you have a bit of understanding, it all starts to unravel as you think of something else. This is a difficult concept to wrap our minds around. For centuries, the early church struggled with a right and proper interpretation and understanding as they formulated the doctrine of the Trinity. The more I read, the more I see the wisdom of Dr. Jerry Christianson who taught The Early Church and its Creeds my first year of seminary. He explained the Trinity as a love relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just as God is all about relationship, so too the Christian life is all about relationship: our relationship with God, our relationship with each other and our relationship with our community. </div><a class="snippet-fade r-snippet-fade" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 20%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 100%); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 96px;"></a></div></div><div class="post-bottom" style="-webkit-box-align: baseline; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: baseline; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 968px;"><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex-wrap: wrap; flex: 1 1 auto; order: 1;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-0" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; flex: 0 1 auto;"><div class="byline post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="color: #25a186; display: inline-block; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 1em; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase;"><div aria-owns="sharing-popup-PopularPosts1-footer-0-2328680642596324389" class="sharing" data-title="Dancing with the Trinity"><button aria-controls="sharing-popup-PopularPosts1-footer-0-2328680642596324389" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Share" class="sharing-button touch-icon-button flat-button ripple" id="sharing-button-PopularPosts1-footer-0-2328680642596324389" role="button" style="appearance: button; 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display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 1em; text-transform: uppercase;"><a class="comment-link flat-button ripple" href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5221130573871037403&postID=2328680642596324389" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-radius: 2px; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: -8px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;">POST A COMMENT</a></span></div></div><div class="byline jump-link" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; color: #25a186; display: inline-block; flex: 0 0 auto; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px; order: 2;"><a class="flat-button ripple" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-radius: 2px; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: -8px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;" title="Dancing with the Trinity">READ MORE</a></div></div></div></div></div></article><article class="post" role="article"><div class="post-outer-container"><div class="post-outer" style="position: relative;"><a class="snippet-thumbnail" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2015/06/specialty-of-day-markan-sandwich.html" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; background: repeat rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: flex; flex: 0 0 auto; height: calc(-32px + 66.666667vw); justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 136px; order: 2; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 672px;"><span class="snippet-thumbnail-img" id="snippet_thumbnail_id_7618651409941131788" style="background-image: url("https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BiIEB7DXrJsMOft_RGtS3Q4FkfnOuUoJr5jrH55Okl56JP47J2ofyg0unWAmHDZTPDxRCBHzgqutpEoST0ML-ki2Syj1mGjKYtSUd0DNrR2J6SaYyJJmqSM-3Rq9XXAxb-22r0lOOI62/w968-h645-p-k-no-nu/Mark03v20to35_2015.jpg"); background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; height: 448px; width: 672px;"></span></a><div class="post-content container" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex: 0 1 auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; order: 1; width: 672px;"><div class="post-title-container" style="margin-bottom: 16px;"><a name="7618651409941131788" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer;"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #25a186; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2015/06/specialty-of-day-markan-sandwich.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; text-decoration: none;">Specialty of the Day--Markan Sandwich</a></h3></div><div class="post-header-container container" style="margin-bottom: 12px;"><div class="post-header" style="float: left;"><div class="post-header-line-1"><span class="byline post-timestamp" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54)" face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px;"><a class="timestamp-link" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2015/06/specialty-of-day-markan-sandwich.html" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><time class="published" datetime="2015-06-10T15:42:00-04:00" title="2015-06-10T15:42:00-04:00">June 10, 2015</time></a></span></div></div></div><div class="container post-body entry-content" id="post-snippet-7618651409941131788" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div class="post-snippet snippet-container r-snippet-container" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 112px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><div class="snippet-item r-snippetized" style="line-height: 2;">Below is the sermon I preached on Sunday, June 7 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church and St. Mark Lutheran Church. The gospel text is Mark 3:20-35 . Do you like sandwiches? What is your favorite kind? Is it peanut butter and jelly, roast beef, a meatball sub or maybe it's beef on wick. We know that a sandwich usually consists of two slices of bread with something in between them. Believe it or not, today's gospel also has a sandwich. It is a literary sandwich. This literary device is used by Mark in trying to explain a sub theme within a theme. Some scholars call this literary device, the Markan Sandwich. The Markan Sandwich begins with a story. Once you are really drawn into the story, Mark switches to another story. When that story is concluded, he switches back to the original story and finishes that. The first slice of bread is Jesus' Nuclear family. People love to talk about the sensational and spread rumors, don't they? It was no different in Jesus</div><a class="snippet-fade r-snippet-fade" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2015/06/specialty-of-day-markan-sandwich.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 20%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 100%); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 96px;"></a></div></div><div class="post-bottom" style="-webkit-box-align: baseline; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: baseline; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 968px;"><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex-wrap: wrap; flex: 1 1 auto; order: 1;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-0" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; 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font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;">CLAIMED, GATHERED AND SENT</a></h1></div><p style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; 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max-width: none; padding: 0px;"><div class="blog-posts hfeed container"><article class="post-outer-container"><div class="post-outer" style="position: relative;"><div class="post-content container" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex: 0 1 auto; margin: 0px; max-width: none; order: 1; width: 720px;"><div class="post-title-container" style="background-color: #25a186; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: -1px; padding: 62px 24px 24px; width: 720px;"><a name="8145199606771922649" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer;"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.416667; margin: 0px;">Astounded and Amazed</h3></div><div class="post-header-container container" style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 24px;"><div class="post-header" style="float: left; height: 84px;"><div class="post-header-line-1" style="position: relative; top: 42px; transform: translateY(-50%);"><span class="byline post-timestamp" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54)" face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px;"><a class="timestamp-link" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2018/02/astounded-and-amazed.html" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><time class="published" datetime="2018-02-01T12:54:00-05:00" title="2018-02-01T12:54:00-05:00">February 01, 2018</time></a></span></div></div></div><div class="post-body-container" style="margin: 32px 24px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="post-body entry-content float-container" id="post-body-8145199606771922649" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, 1/28 at <a href="http://sttimothybemus.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href="http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=384505780" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Mark 1:21-28</a></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">So far in Epiphany, Jesus has been revealed as the King of the Jews, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, a preacher and one who calls disciples. Today we have learned that he’s a teacher and exorcist and we hear a new title, the Holy One of God.</span></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Today’s gospel takes place in Capernaum, Jesus’ base of operations. Although Nazareth was his hometown, Capernaum was his base. On the screen, you see ruins of a synagogue in Capernaum from the 4th or 5th century, A. D. It is built on the foundations of a 1st-century synagogue, likely the one from today’s gospel. It is one of the few places today in the Holy Land where you can be where Jesus had actually walked. Capernaum was also where Peter was from and there are ruins of his house there as well. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Now we need to change gears to have a better understanding of this story. Let’s talk about food!</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">How do we eat sandwiches? As children, we may want the crusts cut off. Very small children may pull a sandwich apart, eat the inside and then the bread. But generally, we eat a sandwich as is, all together. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Well, today’s gospel reading is a Markan sandwich…meaning that a set of verses begin and end with similar material, with something different in the middle. Just as most of us eat a sandwich, so today’s gospel reading must be understood as a whole and not just the individual parts. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Nevertheless, here are the parts:</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin-left: 16.35pt; text-indent: -16.35pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus teaches with authority and the crowd is amazed (vv. 21, 22).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin-left: 16.35pt; text-indent: -16.35pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">An unclean spirit cries out and Jesus demonstrates his authority over the spirit (vv. 23-26).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin-left: 16.35pt; text-indent: -16.35pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">The crowd is amazed and comments that he teaches with authority (vv. 27, 28).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">The commonality in each part of the Markan sandwich is the emphasis on Jesus’ authority, which is what must be chewed over. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">As any good Jewish male would do, Jesus went to the synagogue on the sabbath. That Jesus taught in the synagogue would not have seemed odd or unusual. He took advantage of the sabbath, the day the faithful ones meet, to teach them, as a trustworthy Jew who has a word for the people. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">But there was something very special about the way he spoke, “as one having authority” (v. 22). That does not mean he was simply a dynamic teacher compared with the scribes. After all, the scribes were regarded as important, knowledgeable teachers in the Jewish community. They were not mere secretaries, but official scholars of scripture and Jewish tradition. However, they also were part of the opposition to Jesus and later to the early church. The issue between Jesus and the scribes is not how they teach, but who represents the authority of God. Who is speaking for God? Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus speaks as the king of the ages, appointed by God. This authority is a “willingness or right that has everything to do with seeing justice served” (Graves).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Now let’s go the filling of Mark’s sandwich, Jesus’ encounter with an unclean spirit. Unclean in scripture means ritually impure in comparison to the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Holy One in contrast to the unholy spirit possessing the man. The spirit is reacting to Jesus’ teaching. It responded immediately giving voice to what may well have been the concerns of the crowd: What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?, Have you come to destroy us?, and I know who you are, the Holy One of God.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">The unclean spirit demonstrates how public honor, reputation and status worked in Jesus’ day. It begins by using public information to show that it knows who Jesus is. “I know who you are (socially) Jesus of <i>Nazareth</i>.” But then the spirit reveals information that is not public knowledge, that which is known only in the spiritual realm. “I know who you are (spiritually)—the Holy One of God.” It is this spiritual status that is the source of Jesus’ authority. The demons had a better idea of who Jesus was than many humans. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">“Have you come to destroy us?” (V. 24). Why the change from the singular to the plural? This spirit represents every manifestation of evil: sickness, sin, death and the whole kingdom of evil. Jesus is encountering the entire demonic world.The demons know they are already defeated. Jesus commands them with a simple word and they are gone. Jesus restores the man to his community. Here we see that the final victory of God over demonic evil is already present in Jesus’ ministry. And yet, there is still evil at work in the world. Read the paper. Watch or listen to the news or read it online. It is the case of experiencing the now, but not yet of the fullness of God’s kingdom</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ultimately, when Jesus speaks, evil flees. As Martin Luther wrote, “Jesus has freed us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.”</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">We are likely unfamiliar with the language of exorcism, but a mini-exorcism is included in our baptismal rite. We hear, “Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God?” The response is, “I renounce them.” “Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God.” “I renounce them.” “Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?” “I renounce them” (P. 229, <i>ELW</i>). </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">As we go to the last part of our sandwich, what is Jesus’ new teaching? “The kingdom of God is near” is reminiscent of John the Baptist’s call to repentance. It can’t be that. What is new is the authority behind Jesus’ words. Things happen when Jesus speaks and teaches. His word is powerful. In this case, Jesus’ word freed a man who had been enslaved by a demon. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">That word of Jesus is novel because it produces healing. “That word liberates the earth from the forces of evil and makes our world habitable for…human being[s]…that word guides the church to create spaces of freedom and places of healing and communion” (Ofelia Ortega).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus speaks truth because he is the Truth. He speaks for God because he is God. He speaks the Word of God because he is the Word of God. Jesus is the authority and so speaks with authority (Westphal). It all comes as a result of who he is.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">There are powers in our world today that work to make people’s lives miserable; to rob them of the abundant life God desires for them. What forces promote hunger and poverty? What systemic issues and structures make it harder for those who suffer with addiction? What about the intoxicating power that causes the powerful to abuse others sexually?</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">God stands steadfastly against all forces that are keeping you, as God’s people, down as well. God is opposed to anything and everything that robs you of abundant life. God will do battle with those who seek to rob you of joy, meaning and purpose. God is committed to doing this for you and for all God’s children (Lose).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus has authority over all those things. Didn’t Jesus give his disciples the same authority as they were sent out to preach and heal? And we, in baptism, as children of God, with the Holy Spirit abiding and working in and through us, don’t we have authority to speak the power of the kingdom of God against the kingdoms of this world? What do you think the Christian witness of Jesus and God’s people can bring to these and other situations?</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">There is an opportunity that has fallen into our laps at St. Timothy, to exercise authority over the demon of hunger for children right here in Bemus Point. I know it’s hard for some of us to believe that we have those in need in our area, but we do. St. Timothy participates with the 5 & 2 Ministry. The title refers to the feeding of the 5,000 later in Mark, where Jesus fed the multitude with 5 loaves and 2 fish and had leftovers. If you look in our front entryway, you will see a black container. That’s where specified contributions of food can be put. It is then collected and privately distributed to school children to bring food home for the </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">weekend. You will see a pile of cards like this one. On it is the list of what foods in what amounts are needed. Please take one or more. Share them with friends and neighbors.</span></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">There is a song the praise band has sung that illustrates what God is calling us to. Think about these words this week and see how God speaks to you:</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA"><br /></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">God put a million, million doors in the world</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">For His love to walk through</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">One of those doors is you</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I said God put a million, million doors in the world</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">For His love to walk through</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">One of those doors is you.</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><br /></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">We bring the kingdom come…</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">With every act of love</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus, help us carry You</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Alive in us, Your light shines through</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">With every act of love</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">We bring the kingdom come (Jason Gray).</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #3b3f43; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin-left: 32.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Amen.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 6.666666px;">References</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 6.666666px;"></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;">M. Eugene Boring, <i>Mark </i></span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;">M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock, <i>The People’s New Testament</i></span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;">Fred B. Craddock, <i>Preaching Through the Christian Year B</i></span><i><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;"></span></i></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 5px;">David Ewart, </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="line-height: 5px;"><a href="http://holytextures.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">holytextures.com</span></a></span></span><span class="None"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mike Graves, Ofelia Ortega, in David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, editors, </span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Feasting on the Word, </i></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Year B, Volume 1</i></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="None">David Lose, Epiphany 4B-Against the Robbers, </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="line-height: 5px;"><a href="http://davidlose.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">davidlose.com</span></a></span></span><span class="None"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Martin Luther, <i>The Small Catechism</i></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bruce J. Malina, <i>Social Science Commentary on the Gospels</i></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="None">Aaron Matson, </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="line-height: 5px;"><a href="http://blogs.elca.org/faithless/January-29-2012/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">http://blogs.elca.org/faithless/January-29-2012/</span></a></span></span><span class="None"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="line-height: 5px;"><a href="http://sundaysandseasons.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">sundaysandseasons.com</span></a></span></span><span class="None"></span></span></div><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><br /></div><br /><div class="BodyA" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="None"><span style="font-size: x-small;">David Westphal, 2018 Epiphany Devotions, Saturday, January 27</span></span></div></div></div><div class="post-bottom" style="-webkit-box-align: baseline; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: baseline; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; justify-content: space-between; margin: 32px 24px; max-width: 968px; padding: 0px;"><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex-wrap: wrap; flex: 1 1 auto; line-height: 1; margin-right: 24px; order: 1;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; 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background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 2; text-decoration: none;">AUTHORITY</a> <a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/search/label/exorcism" rel="tag" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 2; text-decoration: none;">EXORCISM</a> <a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/search/label/Mark%201%3A21-28" rel="tag" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; 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font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2009/05/bidden-or-not-bidden.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; text-decoration: none;">Bidden or Not Bidden...</a></h3></div><div class="post-header-container container" style="margin-bottom: 12px;"><div class="post-header" style="float: left;"><div class="post-header-line-1"><span class="byline post-timestamp" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54)" face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="display: inline-block; 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font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><time class="published" datetime="2009-05-26T22:56:00-04:00" title="2009-05-26T22:56:00-04:00">May 26, 2009</time></a></span></div></div></div><div class="container post-body entry-content" id="post-snippet-9171593661817835672" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div class="post-snippet snippet-container r-snippet-container" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 112px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><div class="snippet-item r-snippetized" style="line-height: 2;">My son and his fiancée were determined to have a secular wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. The phrase that kept going through my mind was, "Bidden or not bidden, God is present." God is with us whether we realize it or not. And of course we kept praying for them. They are a wonderful couple who are very good for each other. We are thrilled to have Marisa in our family. The setting was beautiful: an outdoor patio area with plants around. It was evening and there was a nice breeze. The groom's father and best man told us that when they met with the minister (yes, minister, not justice of the peace) they found out he's a Lutheran minister. Hmm, isn't that interesting? The ceremony used the traditional vows. The minister spoke seriously to Christian and Marisa, charging them that they were in this for the long haul...as long as they lived. He did not use the word God , but certainly gave them godly counsel in the ceremony. God was there...bidden or not bidden. God was th</div><a class="snippet-fade r-snippet-fade" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2009/05/bidden-or-not-bidden.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 20%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 100%); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 96px;"></a></div></div><div class="post-bottom" style="-webkit-box-align: baseline; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: baseline; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 968px;"><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex-wrap: wrap; flex: 1 1 auto; order: 1;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-0" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: -8px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;">POST A COMMENT</a></span></div></div><div class="byline jump-link" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; color: #25a186; display: inline-block; flex: 0 0 auto; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px; order: 2;"><a class="flat-button ripple" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2009/05/bidden-or-not-bidden.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-radius: 2px; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: -8px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;" title="Bidden or Not Bidden...">READ MORE</a></div></div></div></div></div></article><article class="post" role="article" style="margin-bottom: 85px;"><div class="post-outer-container"><div class="post-outer" style="position: relative;"><a class="snippet-thumbnail" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; background: repeat rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: flex; flex: 0 0 auto; height: calc(-32px + 66.666667vw); justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 136px; order: 2; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 672px;"><span class="snippet-thumbnail-img" id="snippet_thumbnail_id_2328680642596324389" style="background-image: url("https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyek5nv_CWVnr3MLSxbTl-QfxPjyssROpCvtYoFGexRIEPMJvdjApkyRpGqAt_A4bT8tt1dzvzzcxXh7GejS6SGilRrlRYsSDThkUIoOuGGPd8xKEE4lV3yNevZz07G4IdER5oEf8ZIMU9/w968-h645-p-k-no-nu/Trinity-dance.jpeg"); background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; height: 448px; width: 672px;"></span></a><div class="post-content container" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex: 0 1 auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; order: 1; width: 672px;"><div class="post-title-container" style="margin-bottom: 16px;"><a name="2328680642596324389" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer;"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #25a186; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; text-decoration: none;">Dancing with the Trinity</a></h3></div><div class="post-header-container container" style="margin-bottom: 12px;"><div class="post-header" style="float: left;"><div class="post-header-line-1"><span class="byline post-timestamp" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54)" face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px;"><a class="timestamp-link" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><time class="published" datetime="2019-06-20T16:59:00-04:00" title="2019-06-20T16:59:00-04:00">June 20, 2019</time></a></span></div></div></div><div class="container post-body entry-content" id="post-snippet-2328680642596324389" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div class="post-snippet snippet-container r-snippet-container" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 112px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><div class="snippet-item r-snippetized" style="line-height: 2;">This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church on Trinity Sunday, 6/16/19. The text was John 16:12-15. This is Holy Trinity Sunday. What comes to mind when you think of the Trinity—questions, confusion, a puzzle, a mystery? It seems to me that just when you think you have a bit of understanding, it all starts to unravel as you think of something else. This is a difficult concept to wrap our minds around. For centuries, the early church struggled with a right and proper interpretation and understanding as they formulated the doctrine of the Trinity. The more I read, the more I see the wisdom of Dr. Jerry Christianson who taught The Early Church and its Creeds my first year of seminary. He explained the Trinity as a love relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just as God is all about relationship, so too the Christian life is all about relationship: our relationship with God, our relationship with each other and our relationship with our community. </div><a class="snippet-fade r-snippet-fade" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2019/06/dancing-with-trinity.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 20%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 100%); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 96px;"></a></div></div><div class="post-bottom" style="-webkit-box-align: baseline; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: baseline; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 968px;"><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; 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background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-radius: 2px; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: -8px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;" title="Dancing with the Trinity">READ MORE</a></div></div></div></div></div></article><article class="post" role="article"><div class="post-outer-container"><div class="post-outer" style="position: relative;"><a class="snippet-thumbnail" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2015/06/specialty-of-day-markan-sandwich.html" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; background: repeat rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; display: flex; flex: 0 0 auto; height: calc(-32px + 66.666667vw); justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 136px; order: 2; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration: none; width: 672px;"><span class="snippet-thumbnail-img" id="snippet_thumbnail_id_7618651409941131788" style="background-image: url("https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BiIEB7DXrJsMOft_RGtS3Q4FkfnOuUoJr5jrH55Okl56JP47J2ofyg0unWAmHDZTPDxRCBHzgqutpEoST0ML-ki2Syj1mGjKYtSUd0DNrR2J6SaYyJJmqSM-3Rq9XXAxb-22r0lOOI62/w968-h645-p-k-no-nu/Mark03v20to35_2015.jpg"); background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; height: 448px; width: 672px;"></span></a><div class="post-content container" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex: 0 1 auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; order: 1; width: 672px;"><div class="post-title-container" style="margin-bottom: 16px;"><a name="7618651409941131788" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer;"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #25a186; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2015/06/specialty-of-day-markan-sandwich.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #25a186; cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.333333; text-decoration: none;">Specialty of the Day--Markan Sandwich</a></h3></div><div class="post-header-container container" style="margin-bottom: 12px;"><div class="post-header" style="float: left;"><div class="post-header-line-1"><span class="byline post-timestamp" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54)" face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: 600; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 0px;"><a class="timestamp-link" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2015/06/specialty-of-day-markan-sandwich.html" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><time class="published" datetime="2015-06-10T15:42:00-04:00" title="2015-06-10T15:42:00-04:00">June 10, 2015</time></a></span></div></div></div><div class="container post-body entry-content" id="post-snippet-7618651409941131788" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div class="post-snippet snippet-container r-snippet-container" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 112px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><div class="snippet-item r-snippetized" style="line-height: 2;">Below is the sermon I preached on Sunday, June 7 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church and St. Mark Lutheran Church. The gospel text is Mark 3:20-35 . Do you like sandwiches? What is your favorite kind? Is it peanut butter and jelly, roast beef, a meatball sub or maybe it's beef on wick. We know that a sandwich usually consists of two slices of bread with something in between them. Believe it or not, today's gospel also has a sandwich. It is a literary sandwich. This literary device is used by Mark in trying to explain a sub theme within a theme. Some scholars call this literary device, the Markan Sandwich. The Markan Sandwich begins with a story. Once you are really drawn into the story, Mark switches to another story. When that story is concluded, he switches back to the original story and finishes that. The first slice of bread is Jesus' Nuclear family. People love to talk about the sensational and spread rumors, don't they? It was no different in Jesus</div><a class="snippet-fade r-snippet-fade" href="http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2015/06/specialty-of-day-markan-sandwich.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 20%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 100%); background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 96px;"></a></div></div><div class="post-bottom" style="-webkit-box-align: baseline; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: baseline; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 968px;"><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: 2; flex-wrap: wrap; flex: 1 1 auto; order: 1;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-0" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; 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cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><svg class="svg-icon-24"><use xlink:href="/responsive/sprite_v1_6.css.svg#ic_post_blogger_black_24dp" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"></use></svg> Powered by Blogger</a></div></div></div></footer></div></div></aside></div>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-49551240960044078222024-01-19T15:36:00.007-05:002024-01-19T15:36:00.134-05:00<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached on 1/14 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church.</a> The text is <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=572610275">John 1:43-51</a>.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4AFGSQks5Ki3zP18cPOXlhsZlvve6T-kibyx8d7FeE_sPJtxPi9MBKjSUJnpi_GLB8iTcvvZeYUzVaFEiEI41zHzarRtqfc-wLA-Y3Jk4J2tgg3sG7fjjbafU8hWW-ttEVUtcusAtAqfUA9qHop0IP8ZO8PRRLqQvESx9pBw9TWSSciP_K4c3yq3vkH5/s1200/3_John1-46_v1_Facebook-4286748796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4AFGSQks5Ki3zP18cPOXlhsZlvve6T-kibyx8d7FeE_sPJtxPi9MBKjSUJnpi_GLB8iTcvvZeYUzVaFEiEI41zHzarRtqfc-wLA-Y3Jk4J2tgg3sG7fjjbafU8hWW-ttEVUtcusAtAqfUA9qHop0IP8ZO8PRRLqQvESx9pBw9TWSSciP_K4c3yq3vkH5/w640-h336/3_John1-46_v1_Facebook-4286748796.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-1fe8b523-7fff-66cf-1b1b-6cde8fb8fad8" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other day I was in the grocery store. I noticed a couple wearing Bills regalia and decided to say to them, “Go Bills.” They smiled and responded in kind, “Go Bills.” Because they identified themselves as fans, we were able to identify each other and greet each other as fans. They displayed their identity and I saw it. I wonder how often we display our faith, not so much by t shirts and colors as by our actions. Others can then see Jesus in us.</span></p></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-1fe8b523-7fff-66cf-1b1b-6cde8fb8fad8" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sight is key in John’s gospel. In fact, the number of times it’s coupled with “come” is impressive. We hear “Come and see:” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A) When Jesus begins his ministry</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B) When the woman at the well returns to her hometown to invite others. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C) When they bring Jesus to Lazarus' tomb</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">D) When they find Jesus on the cross</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">E) When they come to the empty tomb.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today's gospel passage is found at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. We use the words “to see” in different ways. “I see” can be a child’s excited outburst when playing with friends, meaning he or she found something. It can be just that, the actual, literal seeing of something. But there is another meaning as well—to understand, as in a deep conversation between people when one responds, “I see.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is true as well in the gospel writer’s uses of “to see.” John typically has both meanings in mind in his writing. At face value, it may mean physically seeing something, but with an additional one that is more mystical. For example, Jesus answers Nathanael, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” That word “saw” is obviously loaded, so much so that Nathanael’s response was a confession of faith in Jesus. That was a pretty big “saw” if Jesus had only seen Nathanael with his eyes.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus responds to Nathanael’s faith, “You [Nathanael] shall see greater things than these. ٠ ٠ you [all of you] will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (1:50-51) (Craig R. Koester, digitalcommons.lutherseminary.edu). Wow. I can’t help but wonder what Nathanael thought when he heard that. Those were the kinds of words used to talk about the end times, when Jesus shall return in power and glory. For a Jewish person, it would mean the messiah had come. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Heaven opened,” there would be no closure or distance between heaven and earth. “Jesus refers to the story of ‘Jacob's Ladder,’ a dream that Jacob had when he saw angels going up and coming down a ladder from heaven. (See Genesis 28:10-22)… The story of Jacob's dream led to the naming of a sacred PLACE, [but] Jesus says this same vision will show Nathaniel a sacred PERSON…</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John wants us to SEE Jesus, to COME to him, and thereby to receive LIFE in its abundance.” (David Ewart, holytextures.com)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes we see a movie that wows us and we rush to tell others about it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We want them to go see it for themselves so they may share the experience we had. This is what happens in John 1:35-51.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One disciple after another encounters Jesus and has a transformative experience that leads him to tell others, so they too will “come and see” this man from Galilee and be changed by that experience. In John, the way the community of disciples grows is more like the “sleeper hit” whose box office success results from “word of mouth” than from a well-funded advertising blitz. (Gilberto Ruiz, workingpreacher.org)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what does this have to do with us? I’m not trying to scare anyone, but look around. Think about those who have died just this year and other years. What will St. Timothy look like in a few years if this continues? We certainly cannot stop people from dying, as much as we may want to. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not suggesting that we need to stand on street corners holding large “come to Jesus” signs. In our gospel, how was the good news spread? Philip told Nathanael, “We have found him…Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Philip said, “Come and see.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philip did not keep the news bottled up inside him. Neither should we. He then took it one step farther by inviting Nathanael. That’s how the church grows. That’s how St. Timothy maintains its witness here. If you talk to virtually anyone that’s here now, it is because someone told them about this church and invited them to come. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus saw you, loved you and called you to himself in holy baptism. “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By your word, eternal God, your creation sprang forth, and we were given the breath of life. By your word, eternal God, death is overcome, Christ is raised from the tomb, and we are given new life in the power of your Spirit. May we boldly proclaim this good news in our words and our deeds, rejoicing always in your powerful presence; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evangelical Lutheran Worship)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></b><i><a href="https://thealliancecanada.ca/updates/john-143-51/">picture</a></i><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-45237363746377673812024-01-18T15:35:00.002-05:002024-01-18T15:35:49.014-05:00We Are Baptized!<p style="text-align: center;"> <i>This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, Jan. 7, Baptism of Our Lord at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church. </a>The scripture text is <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=572609593">Mark 1:4-11</a>.</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiBvssB3EH_bfcOPEGhgq6sOJBqAsJgRq4v8nBegkxbx5tzYTj-LBxo2em-oEYIfzSKYY6-ZIdkAO1r-kGl137ZozV8xsXYpq7b497hhOUFXgtxlak6VOPo0dOubpq5kcI8Jrv02JF2wnlMLcayT0XuzctwP0_JyZfkffLOWadUrH4vs23o4Vhb5GKp3Y/s900/the-baptism-of-jesus-jeff-haynie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="686" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiBvssB3EH_bfcOPEGhgq6sOJBqAsJgRq4v8nBegkxbx5tzYTj-LBxo2em-oEYIfzSKYY6-ZIdkAO1r-kGl137ZozV8xsXYpq7b497hhOUFXgtxlak6VOPo0dOubpq5kcI8Jrv02JF2wnlMLcayT0XuzctwP0_JyZfkffLOWadUrH4vs23o4Vhb5GKp3Y/w488-h640/the-baptism-of-jesus-jeff-haynie.jpg" width="488" /></a></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This last part of this morning’s gospel reading grabbed my attention. It stood out like the words were neon lights.They are action-packed and we are going to concentrate on the part which is Jesus’ baptism. Today we have the appearance of all three members of the trinity at this event—Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father’s voice. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><b id="docs-internal-guid-3d7dfd99-7fff-dbb2-6443-54c1e9c55571" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3d7dfd99-7fff-dbb2-6443-54c1e9c55571" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In one sense, Jesus did not need to be baptized, since he had nothing to repent of. He was sinless, so why did he get baptized by John? In doing so, he more fully identified himself with sinful humanity. As the Nicene Creed says, Jesus “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">became truly human.”</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3d7dfd99-7fff-dbb2-6443-54c1e9c55571" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this passage, as Jesus starts coming out of the water, four things are happening simultaneously: as He comes out of the water, the heavens are ripped open, the Spirit descends and enters Jesus like a dove and lastly, the Voice—declaring Jesus as the beloved Son. They do not happen in a nice, linear order, but all at once. I can’t even imagine that. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Greek prof, Dr. Carlson, loved the Greek for “torn apart,” referring to the heavens. It’s σχιζομένους, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">schizomenous, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">meaning the heavens were being ripped apart. This was not a one and done. There is no gentle moving aside of the curtain between heaven and earth so we can get a peek. It’s ripped wide open! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Celtic spirituality, there is the concept of “thin places,” places and times where it is easier to sense God’s presence and commune with God. The veil between heaven and earth is thinner. Forget about those places here! This is much more! God comes down to humanity again. We’re seeing a perpetual thin place.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next and only other time Mark uses this word is when the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom at Jesus’ crucifixion. He concludes that Jesus’ baptism changes the relationship between God and humanity. Jesus’ baptism and the cross are related. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the text we cannot tell if Jesus is the only one who saw all this, but from what I’ve studied, I suspect so. It does say “he saw.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, our text says the Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. Oh how nice and sweet and gentle—right?—wrong! For one thing, the Greek word for dove is the same as the one for pigeon! So the Holy Spirit’s coming down like a pigeon. It did not just land on Jesus, but according to the Greek word used, it entered into Jesus. In the other gospels the Spirit rests upon Jesus, but not for Mark—the Spirit goes into Jesus. Considering what Jesus would be facing throughout his life and at his death, it’s no wonder he needed the Holy Spirit so close. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now to the next simultaneous event. There’s a sound, a voice</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from heaven speaking. It’s the voice of the Father, announcing, proclaiming that Jesus is the beloved Son. There’s another bit of encouragement for the Savior. The Father makes it clear that Jesus is the Son of his love, the Savior. He tells him how pleased he is with Jesus’ obedience. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even if we look simply at this instance, Jesus got baptized with a mass of humanity—the good, bad and indifferent—definitely the smelly! He did not have the attitude, “Why do I have to be baptized? After all, I’m the sinless Son of God. Seriously Dad?” Jesus submitted willingly to all the Father asked of him and it wasn’t necessarily easy. In Philippians we’re told that</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">though he was in the form of God, [he]</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baptism was important for Jesus. Baptism still speaks to us today. The Spirit has come upon Jesus and all of us, calling us God’s beloved children and setting us on Jesus’ mission to recreate the world in the image of God’s vision of justice and peace…Baptism is both for our own sake and for the world. In our baptism, we breathe in forgiveness and reconciliation and breathe out the Spirit in our life and works. That’s the full life of the baptized disciple (sundaysandseasons.com).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In baptism, the Father claims us as his own, calling us beloved. But that does not mean we just sit here on our hands. In confirmation, the same questions are asked of the confirmand that were asked of parents and sponsors in baptism. “How does the life of Jesus model what it means </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to live among God’s faithful people; hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper; proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed; serve all people; and strive for justice and peace in all the earth</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?” It’s good to be reminded of these words from time to time. God wants to use us to spread the Good News throughout the earth. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We also need to be aware of the verses following Jesus’ baptism, as the Holy Spirit drives him, kicks him out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. That is what happened to this beloved One. Of course, not only that, but we know he is later crucified. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We, too, are God’s beloved. When we are in the midst of hardships, depression, any kind of trouble, God calls us “beloved.” God loves us so much and is with us in all situations. Jesus needed to hear that before his testing, and so do we. We wonder what we’ve done wrong when we have problems. Have you ever thought that maybe you’ve done right? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you hear? What are you called? God calls Jesus Beloved. We too are called beloved. May we have open ears this week for the “voice” of the One who loves us best. Amen. </span></p></b><p></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3d7dfd99-7fff-dbb2-6443-54c1e9c55571" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/the-baptism-of-jesus-jeff-haynie.jpg">Picture</a><br /><br /><br /><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3d7dfd99-7fff-dbb2-6443-54c1e9c55571" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3d7dfd99-7fff-dbb2-6443-54c1e9c55571" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><br /><br /></b><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-80002619565172487612024-01-05T15:55:00.003-05:002024-01-05T15:55:59.361-05:00Heaven Comes to Earth<p style="text-align: justify;"> <i>This is the sermon I preached at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a> on Christmas Eve. The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=571488047">Luke 2:1-20. </a></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZtcahOG2dvBwvFzCA1Xc2551UxUQN53wTeSF1zbsnmwUp1wMD79A7H1rSNL31fwfig3AvgHOQoJR2NfJHPTTnoVQnW1wJp0IFvn9Yi1wsBqmqLf4gSnEHWzZS7xtErruMzRrqhvwsJ_VnT1GAN0ySIMhAwOTenkksLvs-gbR_eKiZUR2FEQ68SIDa0EF/s519/IMG_0171.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="519" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZtcahOG2dvBwvFzCA1Xc2551UxUQN53wTeSF1zbsnmwUp1wMD79A7H1rSNL31fwfig3AvgHOQoJR2NfJHPTTnoVQnW1wJp0IFvn9Yi1wsBqmqLf4gSnEHWzZS7xtErruMzRrqhvwsJ_VnT1GAN0ySIMhAwOTenkksLvs-gbR_eKiZUR2FEQ68SIDa0EF/w640-h296/IMG_0171.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4058341b-db58-f7b6-2701-c4369aa6e1d2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4058341b-db58-f7b6-2701-c4369aa6e1d2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">We gather to proclaim the coming of the light. In this familiar account of Jesus’ birth, the eveningsky is bright with the heavenly host singing, “Glory to God in the highest.” Amid our broken world,we proclaim that the prince of peace is born among us. (Sundaysandseasons.com).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keeping a distraught family together, struggling to get a job, and worrying about a loved one serving overseas are some of the things that we have to do after all the shopping, cleaning, cooking, and preparing. The short, simple, peaceful word that we are of infinite value and worth to God is perhaps just what we need to hear this morning.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We long and hope that God will counter the challenges of our lives and our world. We look to One who claims us from marginal lives and engages us in this story of hope and promise.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Bethlehem, God reveals his power in weakness and the people who count include migrant workers keeping watch over their flocks by night. Shepherds had bad reputations. Socially and religiously, they were treated almost as non-persons. They usually ranked with ass drivers, tanners, sailors, butchers, camel drivers, and other jobs that people hated at the time. Because they had to be with the sheep at night and could not protect the women of the house, they were considered dishonorable. They were often thought of as thieves since they grazed their flocks on other people’s property. Because of their work, they normally couldn’t make it to the temple worship services. They didn’t practice sabbath day observances. They were seen as ignorant, irreligious, immoral, crude and vulgar.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The early rabbis added herdsman to the list of those ineligible to be witnesses in court and were among the type of dishonest people excluded from the court. But you know what—men who were not considered fit to be witnesses in court, are the first to witness the Christ child.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The positive aspect of shepherds is that they connected Jesus with the shepherd King, David. We also find them on Luke’s guest list for God’s kingdom: along with the poor, the maimed, the blind and the lame (14:13,21).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In scripture, whenever someone has an encounter with an angel, they are afraid. The first words out of the angels’ mouths is always, “Do not be afraid.” When the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds, they were not only terrified, but “they feared a mega-fear.” This was a rare, special agony that was replaced by the “mega-joy” of the angel’s good news.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">How else did the shepherds respond to the angels’ news? They responded by going and seeing and telling. Then they returned, glorifying and praising God. Shouldn’t that be the life of all believers? We are to go where Christ is present—in Word and Sacrament, gathering with God’s people. Here we are to see and hear and share. From here, we return to our homes and places of work, glorifying and praising God.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why did the shepherds go to see Jesus? They went because God extended an invitation they couldn’t refuse. The shepherds came, not because they were worthy, but because God invited them.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why should anyone pay attention to a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, just like any other baby, whose crib is a manger, an animal’s feeding trough? God's son, vulnerable as every infant is vulnerable, subject to all the conditions under which we all live, fully identified with every human being's need for love. He lies here unnoticed—without trumpet or drum roll and without a place to lay his head.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus came to show us just how much God loves us. God got involved—personally and intimately, with God’s fallen creation.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">How did Mary respond to the shepherds’ words of revelation? She treasures, holds dear, stores these words in her mind. She ponders them in her heart. Both her mind and heart are connected with all that has happened and all that she has heard. This doesn’t mean she understood everything that has happened. The angels declare that which we so desperately long for today, peace on earth. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peace is a quality of wholeness in life, not the absence of war. It is too immense to be confined to an inner experience, and too personal to be left to the affairs of nations. It is fulfilled in the Christ child who would “guide our feet into the way of peace” (1:79) as Luke writes in his first chapter.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">While people often speak of the magic of Christmas, God calls us to speak of the incarnation of Christmas. We come together to hear a familiar story and sing familiar hymns. The blessing and challenge of this time is to once again witness to God’s promise and promise-keeping with vitality. And to join the chorus of joy in what God has done and continues to do in being made real among us, ordinary people.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This Christmas, what does it mean to us to hear that God is found in the hidden and neglected places of the world—in Ukraine and the Holy Land? Have you seen the most recent pictures of the devastation in Gaza? Where are these people to go?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does it mean to us this year to know that when God takes a census, all the people of the world matter as much as any citizen of any empire and any citizen of high class birth?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus’ nativity demonstrates God’s reign spilling over the boundaries set by the powerful people of this world and into the margins. The holy family’s peace is interrupted by migrant laborers and an army of angels, who point to a vision of the world as it could and should be. Being connected to the right people is replaced by being interconnected by a spirit of unity that brings all of us from the margins into the center of life. In Jesus, God declares a new standard for power, a word of hope, “good news” for all the fragile, the weak, the overlooked, the despised, the abandoned, the homeless and all those hovering between life and death. The festival of Jesus’ incarnation as one of us is “salvation to all” (Titus 2:11).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">God, in Christ, came down to us and continues to come down to us because we are incapable of even living the Christian life on our own. We might not be as bad as shepherds, but it is only by God’s invitation and work that we have come to Jesus. God not only invited shepherds to see and believe in Jesus, but God has invited each of us to see and believe in Jesus, the world’s Savior and our own Savior. Heaven declares that God is among us. We are all now as Mary, bearing Christ for the world. We cannot and dare not keep this amazing good news of God coming to humanity to ourselves or in our church. After all, if God can use uneducated shepherds to spread the good news, he can use us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=christmas+eve+religious">Picture</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-10368049699272332602023-12-21T13:06:00.001-05:002023-12-21T13:06:42.869-05:00Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks...Always<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached Sunday at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=570179848">1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.</a></i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1FAY5l0761_OxuD_rhO-OaFtMwxMrSEfFxXGhpZox0ckkrATLA6Dc1P6lnp_FVKfSIZQl9j21U8xuyjCU4JyYGZzOspx5F_soS-jX65yhI_a0USpsdQae05EWyYV_8kNBOUYRnnAA4gRGRZGG8UaVH15UDVMPaQjzz6N826bmuDOrBqKUZBN_P8z71DP/s636/th-1037276545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1FAY5l0761_OxuD_rhO-OaFtMwxMrSEfFxXGhpZox0ckkrATLA6Dc1P6lnp_FVKfSIZQl9j21U8xuyjCU4JyYGZzOspx5F_soS-jX65yhI_a0USpsdQae05EWyYV_8kNBOUYRnnAA4gRGRZGG8UaVH15UDVMPaQjzz6N826bmuDOrBqKUZBN_P8z71DP/w477-h640/th-1037276545.jpg" width="477" /></a></i></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, the third Sunday of Advent, is Joy Sunday. Our celebration of our Lord’s birth is right around the corner, and there is much to rejoice about. Today’s epistle reading begins with the words, “Rejoice always” (v. 16).</span></b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The verbs are all plural. Paul is not addressing individuals, but the community of faith. This is a church that has experienced much persecution, and yet Paul writes, “Rejoice always” (v. 16). Really???</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rejoice is but the first of three quick, staccato-like commands to be done “always, without ceasing... [and] in all circumstances” (vv. 16–18). The command is to rejoice not only when things are good, but when they are bad as well.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul says to pray always; that is the only way to be joyful in times of trial. This conversation grows out of a relationship with God and God’s people. To pray always is to cultivate “the habit of gratitude [so] that being grateful becomes… an attitude that [enlightens and molds] all that we do” (Griffiths). Prayer opens our hearts to the possibility of receiving God’s gifts.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prayer “without ceasing” is a constantly recurring prayer from an attitude of dependence upon God. Lifting our hearts to God while involved with various duties is what counts. Verbal prayer becomes spontaneous, punctuating our daily schedule.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can eventually live in prayer as an attitude of gratitude, like a second skin, making it possible to pray without ceasing. Constant rejoicing and regular thanksgiving are themselves perpetual prayer (Bartlett)</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, Christians are to give thanks in all circumstances. What can this mean? Should we rejoice when the person we love dies horribly before our eyes? Should we pray when we are studying, when we are making love, when we are eating, or when we are sleeping? Should we give thanks when we get the news that we have contracted a fatal disease that will kill us painfully within six months?</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are not gifts for which we rejoice, but occurrences of loss that call for lament. Lament is the prayerful response to the damage to God’s gifts, just as gratitude is the response to their wholeness. “Both are required in a damaged world, and both belong to prayer” (Griffiths).</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultivating gratitude, the basic attitude of prayer, makes a difference in our openness to God. It removes deep anxiety, a problem for many of us. This happens over time as we grow in faith and love.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul continues, “For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (v. 18), justifying the brief commands to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. These are such vital parts of God’s will for us. Only “in Christ Jesus” can our inner motives be touched.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God seeks to be glorified in every avenue of our lives. Voting, family relationships, and business decisions are all as important to God as are public and private worship. There is no situation in which we cannot recognize expressions of divine mercy, thereby giving God thanks.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul writes, “Do not quench the Spirit;” literally, “Stop putting out the Spirit’s fire.” The Holy Spirit is likely the person of the trinity that we understand the least. Its work is more behind-the-scenes and yet so integral to the life of Christ’s church. The Holy Spirit is a burning presence, imparting special gifts for ministry to the people of God.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps Paul tells the Thessalonians to “stop” quenching the Spirit because there has been abuse of the Spirit’s gifts in worship, such as prophecy. Rather than risk misuse of such gifts, they may have been prohibited altogether.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we quench the Spirit, worship becomes a lifeless ritual and chore rather than something that revitalizes us. We lose prophetic consciousness. The church then becomes a despiser of the poor and a hater of the weak instead of obeying the prophetic impulses of the Spirit when issues of poverty and care for the destitute and needy are at stake. In today’s world, we have many opportunities to care for these hurting ones.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul instructs, “Do not “despise the words of prophets” (v. 20). The Thessalonians’ lives were to be grounded not only in the Holy Spirit but also in the words of the prophets, who had already been directing their lives. Prophets are not psychics who claim to predict the future, but ones who proclaim God’s will, forth-tellers rather than foretellers.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Without the Holy Spirit’s work, the church’s life becomes dull and fades. Yet without discernment, everything may be attributed to the Spirit, whether it is from God or not. Just because someone claims to speak for God doesn’t mean that he or she does. Do their words glorify God? Is the cross uplifted? Is Jesus Christ proclaimed as Lord? Ultimately, genuine gifts of God are conducive to growing Christian love and the Holy Spirit’s power in our communities of faith.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul writes, “Abstain from every form of evil” (v. 22). To put it simply, if it isn’t from God, stay away. If it fails the test, we don’t want it. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul ends this passage with a prayer and a promise. Paul prays for wholeness and sanctification for the Thessalonians. The promise is that it is God who makes us whole. Sanctification and blamelessness are God’s work. The issue at hand is wholeness and completeness. The sanctification Paul writes about concerns staying away from false teaching and has nothing to do with one’s lifestyle per se. God wants to sanctify us in our entirety, through and through.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this” (v. 24). Phew! All of these “dos” and “don'ts” are not put on our shoulders to carry. God does all of this work in and through us.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God does, therefore, we can. The result of a joyful, prayerful, holy life is not that we sit inside and pray all day, ignoring the world around us. God’s concern and care for all humanity and creation motivates us to take action. God directs us by the Spirit into ways we need to be involved in our world. This week, let's think about a few things. What has made us hopeful? What have we thanked God for? How have we been open to God’s Spirit in practical ways? Where have we seen God at work in our lives and in this world?</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our lives are full and joyful because of God’s work in and through us, and God is faithful.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">References</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David L. Bartlett, W. C. Turner, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feasting On the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Broding,</span><a href="http://sunday.com/Filesb/3Advent-b/SR-3Advent-b.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sunday.com/Filesb/3Advent-b/SR-3Advent-b.html</span></a></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charles Cousar, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV-Year B</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul J. Griffiths, Baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/92494.pdf</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lucy LInd Hogan,</span><a href="http://workingpreacher.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">workingpreacher.org</span></a></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5ff15df7-7fff-cfcc-cbb5-6e5b8f681fa4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Robb McCoy and Eric Fistler,</span><a href="http://pulpitfiction.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pulpitfiction.com</span></a></b></p><i><a href="http://pinterist.com">Picture</a></i><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-15265167919142715872023-12-16T13:38:00.001-05:002023-12-16T13:38:00.125-05:00Wild and Wooly John the Baptist<p><i>This is the sermon I preached (yes, I'm finally over COVID and I'm back!) on Sunday, Dec. 10 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text is <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=569579272">Mark 1:1-8.</a> </i></p><p><i> <br /></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ib537Q9I3nd0MtzmZCjAImG6Tjw-guRzOx3CNpqkGD4rcbTttHt9XfrnanB0bHjd0MOtCjPtjFQakP9ByDF5YRu9P-DTijaoubbd6PWB5z4tApCoWuSaLGx_-eVotuQlG-iVtOiO6lzPI0IBzVdj8oHhITeh2_i3kngx8ucTb_DEEqXQ5irOgu6Z2e3J/s1024/mark+1v3-1809693275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ib537Q9I3nd0MtzmZCjAImG6Tjw-guRzOx3CNpqkGD4rcbTttHt9XfrnanB0bHjd0MOtCjPtjFQakP9ByDF5YRu9P-DTijaoubbd6PWB5z4tApCoWuSaLGx_-eVotuQlG-iVtOiO6lzPI0IBzVdj8oHhITeh2_i3kngx8ucTb_DEEqXQ5irOgu6Z2e3J/w640-h428/mark+1v3-1809693275.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7514f389-7fff-9656-8d57-4ffb1e03afd5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7514f389-7fff-9656-8d57-4ffb1e03afd5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is impossible not to love Mark’s version of things. He cuts right to the chase. There is no birth story. His gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The rest of the gospel explains how he can make that claim. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7514f389-7fff-9656-8d57-4ffb1e03afd5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The good news doesn't start with the gospel or anything else in the New Testament, because the story of salvation and God's loving interaction with humanity began in Genesis "in the beginning;"</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7514f389-7fff-9656-8d57-4ffb1e03afd5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immediately after Mark’s introductory verse, he goes back to the prophets of Israel and the promises God made through them. Mark cites Isaiah, but what we have here a mash-up of Isaiah, Malachi and the author of Exodus (Exodus 23:20; Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3).</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7514f389-7fff-9656-8d57-4ffb1e03afd5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hear “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness” (v. 3). “The wilderness is key to Israelite history. It was in the wilderness that God tested the people, and it was in the wilderness that they rebelled. It was in the wilderness that God saved them again and again, and the wilderness was the crucible where they became a nation. The wilderness was both a route to the Promised Land and a place of exile. It was a place where people sinned and where they also repented to restore their relationship with God” (Bob Cornwall).</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7514f389-7fff-9656-8d57-4ffb1e03afd5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right away, Mark connects the good news with the Old Testament prophecies of salvation, which traditionally come from the wilderness. Moses, Elijah and David all had to flee to the wilderness. Jesus will emerge from the wilderness to begin preaching the good news and will return to the wilderness several times. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now we come to John, who is reminiscent of Elijah, a man who is at home in the wilderness, wearing strange clothes and eating strange food. John’s ministry was a bridge between the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures and Jesus. God wanted to make it plain that our Lord, the redeemer, was not disconnected from the God of the Old Covenant. He is the fulfillment of those prophetic promises to the people of Israel. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John’s preaching and baptizing occurred in the wilderness, which was a scary place. It was thought of as deserted (obviously!), inhospitable, lacking food and water. It was the haunt of animals, demons and death. However, it was also the place where Israel was faithful to God before entering the Promised Land. It was a place of new beginnings. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John proclaimed the coming of Jesus and was his forerunner in several ways. The wilderness would be important for both of their ministries. Both will call people to repentance. Both will be betrayed and arrested and killed because of God’s message.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God meets us in our wilderness. In Chautauqua County, we don’t have any real wilderness, in the sense that they have in the Holy Land. Where I lived in Bethlehem was wilderness, even though it was populated. I could look out from my balcony and see the Judean Wilderness, which was blindingly beige in the daylight; yet in late afternoon and early evening, it took on a pinkish hue that was beautiful.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We do not have to be in a physical wilderness to experience one. There are times when our lives are dry and we are bone tired. There are all kinds of wildernesses we may go through.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People all over the world find themselves in a wilderness: those who are mourning, those living in war zones with no place to go—like the people of Gaza and Ukraine and elsewhere. They must wonder where God is in their suffering. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we wait in Advent, we wait in the wilderness for God to hear our prayer and deliver us. High school seniors wait for their acceptance letters from the colleges of their choice. A young lady may wait for a proposal from her beloved. We wait for doctors’ reports of the tests we’ve been given. Sometimes we wait and hope for a cure. All over the world today, many are in the wilderness. Parents of a drug addict cry out for their son or daughter’s deliverance. Children of alcoholics pray their parents would stop drinking. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our wilderness is hard, and we may be in it for a short time or a long time. Whatever the wilderness, God will meet us there, just as he met the people of the Old Testament, those who heard John and all of us through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are not alone in our wildernesses. Jesus is with us, holding us, comforting us and transforming our lives to be more like him. Our wilderness can be like a crucible, purifying us. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s all well and good, but so what? John promises the people that someone is coming after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. That’s Jesus! Jesus is the one who immerses, submerges and overwhelms us with his Spirit, with the presence of the living God Jesus brings us through our wilderness. He is our food and drink; our companion; everything that we need to get through the difficulties of this life, and he gives us a foretaste of the feast to come. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of Mark’s story is only a beginning. All of us are challenged to continue the story of God breaking into our lives in our own way. God wants to prepare the way in us; inviting us into God’s story. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God doesn’t do this simply for our own benefit. How do we respond when we read or hear the news from all over our world? The pictures of the devastation in Palestine and Ukraine rock me to the core. Do we just sit back thinking, “But by the grace of God…?” Are we simply thankful that it’s happening to someone other than us?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I confess I am not always the most faithful at praying for people I don’t know—and yet God knows them and cares about them, so, shouldn’t we?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of my years in Palestine, my heart goes out to the people of the Holy Land. I am appalled as I see the streets of Bethlehem and Gaza filled with violence. These are places I used to walk with my kids! What can we do? We can pray. We can write our politicians concerning decisions we deem as destructive to any possible peace process. Furthermore, we can check out the ELCA’s site, “Peace, Not Walls.” We can support our Christian brothers and sisters there in prayer. Did you know that there are Arab Lutherans in the Holy Land? They are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are we doing here, closer to home? The opportunities are abundant. The needs are many. Maybe we feel like we are too busy to help out. If that’s so, then we need to start saying “No” to some of our involvements and let God use us to be God’s presence and to help others out of their wilderness.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about the people we see every day? Can we be as Christ to them? Can we listen when they need to vent? Can we share the stories of what God has done in our own lives? Can we be life-givers for them?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not trying to heap guilt on any of us. Many of you are involved in multiple ways of helping others. I give thanks for each and every one of you. Keep it up. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Advent is about waiting and the coming of God. We await Jesus’ coming as a baby born in Bethlehem. We await his return as the glorious king. God will come and fulfill all of God’s promises whether or not we do anything. We are called to repent and believe the good news and to share it with others. Knowing God is on the way, why wouldn’t we want to do these things?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">References</span></p></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-7514f389-7fff-9656-8d57-4ffb1e03afd5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bob Cornwall, </span><a href="http://bobcornwall.com/2014/12/prepared-with-water-and-spirit.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bobcornwall.com/2014/12/prepared-with-water-and-spirit.html</span></a></p></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-7514f389-7fff-9656-8d57-4ffb1e03afd5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Martin Luther, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Large Catechism</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pheme Perkins, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. VIII, Mark</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David Westphal, Advent Devotions</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://hiswordinpictures.blogspot.com"><br /></a></p><p><a href="http://hiswordinpictures.blogspot.com">picture</a><br /></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-10506399077250799792023-12-15T13:26:00.001-05:002023-12-15T13:26:00.139-05:00Take Time, Make Space<p> <i>This is the sermon I wrote and Kristie Bloomquist preached for me at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church,</a> while I was home with COVID. Thank you Kristie! Good job! The text is <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=569578592">Mark 13:24-37</a>. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBvF-XVtOs87sLFvHvNNAIKGi4onGPM8MV3V1eTOX1kJh4ZZhlKpxagsOwbuMQYDb62fdGHbQaidIven_ULlBVIdBla9ehmsqWDGPKCrbgUSxW5GDUz4jN6QnO1C3Rlq1NtHulSdbHOpgHrYBn6kaEX3QQvpxZ3V3ZH314B_lKw-DUfzo5-yBLsyICK1g/s640/Mark13v24to37_2014-1761785221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="640" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBvF-XVtOs87sLFvHvNNAIKGi4onGPM8MV3V1eTOX1kJh4ZZhlKpxagsOwbuMQYDb62fdGHbQaidIven_ULlBVIdBla9ehmsqWDGPKCrbgUSxW5GDUz4jN6QnO1C3Rlq1NtHulSdbHOpgHrYBn6kaEX3QQvpxZ3V3ZH314B_lKw-DUfzo5-yBLsyICK1g/w640-h196/Mark13v24to37_2014-1761785221.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-09d8e5f8-7fff-3d1f-4fcc-493ada6f6be2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-09d8e5f8-7fff-3d1f-4fcc-493ada6f6be2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today is the first Sunday of Advent! We lit the first Advent candle, the one of hope. And what is the gospel about? It’s not about a cute little baby or a manger. It seems to be all about disasters and death. Likewise, it doesn’t seem to go together, does it?</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-09d8e5f8-7fff-3d1f-4fcc-493ada6f6be2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The thrust of this gospel reading is not a dystopian future as is portrayed in movies and elsewhere. Jesus is teaching his disciples, disciples throughout the ages, how to live and believe in the midst of tragedy—how to be alert for his coming.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus comes to us in many ways. That can be seen with the eyes of faith. In Advent, we look for the coming of Christ as the One who will return in majesty and power at the end of the ages. We also look for the incarnation of the Savior of the world. In the midst of all of that, there looms the cross because that sweet baby will become the adult, the Son of God who is crucified. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus teaches in a very hands-on way. He tells them what they will see…you’ll see this and this, then THAT will happen—his return. We just don’t know the when. Even Jesus didn’t. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is so concerned about his followers understanding what is going on that he gives them two understandable illustrations. The first concerns the fig tree. What point is Jesus trying to get across with the illustration of the fig tree? In scripture, “…the fig tree provided both food and shade for Israelites, and even clothing in the story of the fall.” Here in “Mark 13 the fig tree is a positive image for the arrival of God. What is now in bud will see its fruition” (Sundaysandseasons.com). Jesus is coming again!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The illustration of the man taking a trip is like a mini-parable; the point of which is no one knows the time when the Lord will return, so we have to be ready. As Jesus said, “Stay at your post. Keep watch” (v. 37)—the final words of this gospel text. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the midst of all the hard things in life, first, we’re to take courage because Christ is with us. God arrives not only in the future of our lives, but in the here and now—in the laughing and crying and pain and pleasure. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do we get through the hard times? Remember what God has done in the past. Just as Advent is about more than one coming of Christ, so it is in our daily living. Has God ever let you down? God is with us even in the worst of times. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can’t help but think of those suffering in Ukraine and the Holy Land. Their cry goes up, “How long?” Some have the strength through their faith, but what of the others? Their needs are so great. We need to help them by prayer for them, of course, but also by giving to help ease their pain. How frustrating it must be for them and for all in the midst of suffering to have no idea when relief will come. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The movie, “Jesus Revolution” is about the Jesus people movement of the sixties and seventies that began in California. Some might call it a revival. In those days, there was great emphasis on Christ’s second coming. Early contemporary Christian music strongly accented Jesus’ future return, reigning in glory. One such song, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” by Larry Norman, says:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life was filled with guns and war</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And everyone got trampled on the floor</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wish we'd all been ready</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children died, the days grew cold</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wish we'd all been ready</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There's no time to change your mind</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Son has come and you've been left behind</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s a pretty scary ending. As Lutherans, our emphasis isn’t so much on the immediacy of Jesus’ return, as it is for some churches. The big picture for us that Jesus is presenting is he’s coming, there are signs, stay alert. We don’t have to be concerned about when if our eyes are on Jesus. If we can see him with us, the when doesn’t matter. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But how do we do that? Especially, this time of year, advertisers demand our attention to what we must buy for Christmas, how it’s just around the corner. There’s not much time left. Lean into Advent and its message for us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The author, Linda Grenz, counsels us:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Advent calls us to hope for the coming of Christ. This positive hope comes from knowing that we already belong to Christ and already live in communion with him and each other. Through grace we are made ready [to] meet Christ, both in our daily lives and at the Day of Judgment. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Advent reminds us to take time to watch, to make space for that waiting which is so important to our spiritual journey, and to look to tomorrow in positive hope, living expectantly for the coming of Christ. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen!</span></p><br /><a href="http://agnusday.org">Cartoon</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-21795988976025711582023-12-14T13:26:00.000-05:002023-12-14T13:26:18.881-05:00Christ the King<p><i>This is the sermon that was preached on Sunday, 11/26, Christ the King Sunday at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church.</a> It's a collaboration between parishioner Trish Pecuch and myself. The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=569577852">Matthew 25:31-46. </a></i> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig83pXYoFBZeekB7GgcJ7YoNqf4hBKNOjg9R3aidvbViEnufkJOG578FloK_DRM9chFWjIDI5WfGX4z11GBqOjmsu0MSbK_4kfvfJJGbw4WVNY8WjJEcgu55OnOww6EOR9O-ztaCrYlR6pQkBbGSYvGjuWtEnHcupXUqcWnYeOjRQ_c8qH-j2Yxy6xOX41/s480/th-3129755554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig83pXYoFBZeekB7GgcJ7YoNqf4hBKNOjg9R3aidvbViEnufkJOG578FloK_DRM9chFWjIDI5WfGX4z11GBqOjmsu0MSbK_4kfvfJJGbw4WVNY8WjJEcgu55OnOww6EOR9O-ztaCrYlR6pQkBbGSYvGjuWtEnHcupXUqcWnYeOjRQ_c8qH-j2Yxy6xOX41/w640-h480/th-3129755554.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today is Christ the King Sunday! </span><p></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have to admit, until Pastor Ivy mentioned it to me, I didn’t know really know anything about the occasion! </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christ the King Sunday is a newer addition to the church’s liturgical calendar- marking the last Sunday of the church year- Next week, the first Sunday of Advent, begins a new church year. It was created in 1925- (when the world was in turmoil) in response to increased secularism and atheism. With WWI having just taken place, and many world dictators in the picture throughout Europe, Russia, and Mexico- Christ the King Sunday was created to remind the church- that it belongs to Jesus- not to the world or the authority of any other person, country, or force---that Jesus’ authority is the only one that should be considered and honored. It stressed to people that Christ reigns as our King. While leaders and governments change, and come and go- Christ is our King forever- He does </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">change -He stays. Jesus is forever. It’s something that is comforting and good to know- today as well </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can look to our Heavenly King and His kingdom instead of Earthly leaders, governments, issues, or events. It is in essence, the basis of our faith- that no matter what, God is for us, with us, and here, now, to get us through and provide unchanging, unconditional grace, mercy and love to us. What a gift to have such a wonderful King. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thankfully, salvation is not based on how we act, or what we do, or don’t do. It is by grace alone, not by works, that we are saved. Yet today’s gospel describes how the sheep group get rewarded with eternal life in heaven because they did certain works or deeds. What is Jesus really saying?</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today’s gospel describes the Final Judgment of the world and Jesus’ second coming. He and his disciples are gathered away from the crowds on the Mount of Olives- and Jesus is answering and reassuring his disciples. They have many questions and fears about Jesus leaving them. And Jesus tells this parable. Jesus tells them that on judgment day He will come again and separate the nations into sheep and goats. The sheep will have eternal life in heaven while the goats- well, you know where they end up in the gospel. Is this another of the terrible parables from Matthew where we hear that if we don’t do the right things and make the right choices we will end up being thrown into darkness, gnashing our teeth, and shut out from heaven? Interesting enough is the timing of Jesus telling his disciples the parables we’ve heard over the last several Sundays –it is right before His Passion. In just a few days Jesus will be led away, arrested, and crucified. He has little time left on earth with his disciples, and this is what he chooses to tell them- how the Final judgment day will work. This must be pretty important if this is what Jesus says right before his death. Or rather- He must really </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> us to choose this as his final account. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew’s depiction of the last judgment is much like a wellness check. It is not to condemn or scare us, but to provide a snapshot of our overall health, development, learning, and growth. This should lead to new habits and ways of life. Just as our doctor wants us to flourish, so does our Creator, Redeemer, Judge, and King.</span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It always has bothered me, personally, when I think about this parable. I reassure myself that I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">must </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be a sheep. Maybe we all do that to a certain extent- we can make neat lists of all the good things we do (we come to church, there’s the 5&2, food pantry, Honduras Mission, serving on committees, fund raisers, and all the things we do in our personal lives as well, that make a difference and help others.) But I worry that I have a little goat in me as well- </span></p></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-5f2ac59c-7fff-cf41-73a8-076407b9299d" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember: the goats are </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not saved</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> because of what they Don’t Do.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t always choose to be involved or take action when I could. I drive past the guy on the street corner holding a sign saying he is hungry and homeless; I often say “no thanks-not today” when the grocery store clerk asks me if I want to donate to whatever cause that store or business is supporting; and I have never even considered joining a prison ministry to visit inmates. And lately, I’ve been throwing- or recycling ,so much of the mail I get that is asking for donations. Does that make me a goat? We certainly can’t say Yes to everything and everyone! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Perhaps we all are a little saint and sinner at the same time. I am pretty confident that these things are not what Jesus is describing. And it’s not really the point of this parable. Remember when He separates the nations- Jesus tells both groups that they did or( did not) feed, visit, help or clothe </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Him </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">when they saw Him - and both the sheep and goats are </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">surprised</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by this. They ask Jesus- “when did I do this for You- I didn’t see you, I never met you and gave you water or visited you”… and the goats ask the same thing- “When did we meet you and not help you?” Jesus answers that when they chose or did not choose to help the least of His brethren , they did so unto Him. They are surprised and don’t get it- neither the sheep or the goats KNEW their actions and deeds- or lack thereof, was actually done unto Jesus. It was their instinct-part of their nature- it was who or </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">’s</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> they were. The sheep didn’t keep track or do it for show. As Christians we do things almost as a reflex- it is inherit in us to want to help others, to care, to take time, to make a difference. Each and every one of us serve and help in some compacity and that is the same as if we are serving and doing it unto Jesus. We do it because as Christians- as Jesus’ sheep- it is our instinct and nature to serve and care and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">those in need. We don’t do it because it helps buy a ticket to heaven- we do it because as we are saved by grace alone- and because of that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">great love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> God has for us, it is part of our nature to reach out and do for others as Jesus has always done for us. It is our response to salvation. God’s Grace is the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cause</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of our actions- not the effect. We don’t receive His great love and mercy because we earn it. His great love and compassion causes us to love and care in return. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, and every day- Jesus reigns as King in our hearts. He is there no matter how often we forget to come before His throne and praise and thank Him. He is always there- whenever or however we need or welcome him. He </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">loves</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> us- and His love is unconditional. That, in my opinion, is the bottom line of today’s gospel. Serving and living in love is our King’s greatest command. It makes me feel excited, confident, and fulfilled to know I am chosen to be loved by Christ our King. I hope you feel excited about that too. </span></p></b><a href="https://youtu.be/HlXXr0N3L8w?si=1nVLrrP6RRPVYkpA">Picture</a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /> <p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-85713822215624938432023-12-13T13:02:00.005-05:002023-12-13T13:02:50.850-05:00Talents<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, Nov. 19 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church.</a> The text is <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=569490305">Matthew 25:14-30. <br /></a></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXddckQnVKf-E3Q_Tu7jWUFR1aEzDOOkfKDe6TPuLysWCVyiwZhXLOGOe68byeo1M0xwePE9PdXAvS-WaET2Dlp9aSSFAkIFLSk-diuKM-f8itOv6d8MiBKWWhDq2EsjUVUeHUwKM5Cp_YgO91dpxchURXkcPxbzN6Utc4V2cBhY5YPhZzPdWmpwZqqTJq/s474/th-2206171406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="474" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXddckQnVKf-E3Q_Tu7jWUFR1aEzDOOkfKDe6TPuLysWCVyiwZhXLOGOe68byeo1M0xwePE9PdXAvS-WaET2Dlp9aSSFAkIFLSk-diuKM-f8itOv6d8MiBKWWhDq2EsjUVUeHUwKM5Cp_YgO91dpxchURXkcPxbzN6Utc4V2cBhY5YPhZzPdWmpwZqqTJq/w640-h360/th-2206171406.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s look at the cultural context of our gospel. First, what is a talent? Doesn’t talent mean that someone can sing or dance or do stand-up comedy well? In Jesus’ time, a talent was not an ability, but rather a very large sum of money—between 75–96 pounds of silver. One talent was equal to 15 years of a laborer’s wages. Five talents would be more than a lifetime’s wages. </span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not all disciples have the same amount of responsibility, as we see in this parable of the slaves. They were all given talents “according to their ability” (v. 15). As God’s children, we are obligated to participate in God’s mission “according to [our] ability” (v. 15).</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The master called his slaves and “delivered over” or “gave over” his possessions to them. That’s the meaning in Greek of the word translated as “entrusted.” It seems to imply “giving up control of.” The talents became the property of the slaves.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of the slaves went and made more talents. They had taken the risk of obedience and faithfulness and were successful. The master praised them as “good and faithful.” This is a stance of “active responsibility that takes initiative and risk” (Boring). The master rewards the faithful slaves with his joy, changing the relationship with them to one of equals. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does it mean to us to “enter into your master’s joy” (vv. 21, 23)? Joy comes as the result of what God has done in sending Jesus: speaking the Word, the coming of the kingdom, saving the lost and the resurrection—in other words, the gospel—the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ. We may understand the “talents” as the gospel—the great treasure God has given the church. If, like the third slave, we try to protect it, or save it only for ourselves, we risk losing it (Stoffregen).</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first two slaves are “foils against which to compare the third servant, whose actions are unique, whose speech is unique…, and whose condemnation by the master serves as the climax of the story” (Mark Douglas).</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The third slave accused the master of harvesting from someone else’s field, which sounds scandalous, doesn’t it? He had no basis for his description of the actions of the master. In insulting his master, he blamed the master’s perceived harsh character for his own failure to increase his talent. If anything, the master was very generous. He placed great wealth at the disposal of all the slaves, including this one.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, the master deemed this slave to be wicked and lazy (v. 26). The unfaithful slave failed to use his gifts faithfully, but his failure to see the gifts as precious and, most importantly, his failure to know his master was the worst. The motivation of this slave was fear. That was his problem. Because he saw the master as an immoral taskmaster to be feared; the master became exactly what the slave imagined him to be. This parable warns us against fear that “the God we face is the one we imagine” (Douglas). If we imagine fear, we will receive fear. If we imagine grace, then grace is what we will receive.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you hear what was different about the slaves’ response to their master’s return? The first two were confident, showing the master what they had done. Before showing the master anything, the third slave declared the master to be harsh. Therefore, he was afraid, burying his one talent. Fear had paralyzed this slave from stepping out and taking some risk. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The master does not judge on the basis of outward appearances, but on the basis of their relationship to or their perception of him. He gave no clear instructions of what to do during his long absence, so faithfulness was not merely obedience to directions. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who do we identify with in this gospel passage? We are the slaves, but in which one do we recognize ourselves? How will we use our time and God’s generosity while waiting for Christ’s return? We might ask ourselves about the attitude that characterizes our relationship with God. Do I dread God’s wrath, or do I have confidence in God’s mercy? Am I able to follow Luther’s advice to “Sin boldly, but believe even more boldly still?”</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story is a parable of the graciousness and generosity of the master and our response to that. Even the slave that received only one talent received a lot of money. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is also a disturbing story about what Christians do or don’t do with the gospel as they wait for the coming of the kingdom of heaven (Long). What would life be like if we were as concerned about increasing the spread of the gospel of God’s grace, as we are about increasing the return on our financial investments? </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is a completely different kind of master and lord, offering hope to those who fail.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a follower of Jesus is all about relationship-our relationship with God, our relationship with each other and our relationship with our community. Fear paralyzes God’s children and warps their view of who God is. One who is not a child of God should be afraid because a day of judgment is coming. As negative and depressing as that may sound, it means justice will be meted out. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Advent will soon be upon us. Emanuel, God with us, came in the flesh to always be with and for us. This Advent and Christmas season, let us check our assumptions of Jesus against the image and promise of the Christ child. It may take time and may be difficult, but let us allow our images of God to be reshaped and reformed. May we realize that God meant it when God called us. Then we can fearlessly proclaim to all the world that God is a God of love, who entrusts us with great gifts and riches, who is eager for us to make the most of them and is always inviting us to enter the joy of our Lord (Lose). </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resources</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eugene Boring, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew, New Interpreter’s Bible</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark Douglas, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feasting on the Word: Year A, Volume 4: Season after Pentecost 2.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Douglas Hare, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interpretation: Matthew</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, p. 287.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thomas G. Long, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew, Westminster Bible Companion</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Petty, </span><a href="http://progressiveinvolvement.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">progressiveinvolvement.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brian Stoffregen, </span><a href="http://crossmarks.com/brian" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">crossmarks.com/brian</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://sundaysandseasons.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sundaysandseasons.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-618befba-7fff-bd07-e214-37b0080ac777" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><br /><br /></b><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-64501166634444938982023-11-17T10:56:00.000-05:002023-11-17T10:56:25.991-05:00Who is Who?<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached last Sunday at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text is <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=567236095">Matthew 25:1-13</a>.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTCfRBNr7GSipu2YKRGnhM5C7vHv1muQWL7NbnHrXIyQlVFLPFVjxhJdEatCeqCc-VTYcBPyjdO3CFQ34Uq2N-QkrgquaHVSNHgVLoOttIa9hHqWnxjDx_QkbBLVNhMcG_7eCkA5v9E127HxiIhVgaKovuMUxwUtMs-z0lEWu-8sXHWRnD9bgPJf0y4Ti/s245/IMG_0167.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="245" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTCfRBNr7GSipu2YKRGnhM5C7vHv1muQWL7NbnHrXIyQlVFLPFVjxhJdEatCeqCc-VTYcBPyjdO3CFQ34Uq2N-QkrgquaHVSNHgVLoOttIa9hHqWnxjDx_QkbBLVNhMcG_7eCkA5v9E127HxiIhVgaKovuMUxwUtMs-z0lEWu-8sXHWRnD9bgPJf0y4Ti/w640-h538/IMG_0167.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a seemingly clear, yet troubling parable. There are a few things scholars cannot agree on, even going back to Martin Luther. For instance, does the oil symbolize good works or faith as Luther believed or the Holy Spirit? We don’t know for sure.</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another funny thing is the identity of the bridegroom. From other parts of scripture, we tend to believe that the bridegroom is Christ, and that this is about his return in the age to come. But one pastor says, “this Bridegroom simply cannot be an image of God. God the lurker; God the waiter-until-some-people’s-oil-is-spent; God the “gotcha! master”; God the forgetful – these are such unworthy ways of imagining God” (D. Mark Davis, leftbehindandlovingit.blogspot.com). Hmm, makes you think, doesn’t it?</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This passage is often referred to as a parable, but, nowhere, are we told that this is a parable. After all, it doesn’t have the earmarks of one, which I shared with you in the e-ministry. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are some odd things about this gospel passage. The one that bothered me the most is the last verse, “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (verse 13). It squares with other passages, for instance, when Jesus exhorted the disciples to wakefulness when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">But here, both wise and foolish bridesmaids fell asleep. None of them got in trouble for that. The issue that distinguished the wise from the foolish was their preparedness or lack thereof for the bridegroom. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So why would the bridegroom say, “Keep awake?” It’s a head-scratcher—that is, until we check out the Greek. It is better translated “be prepared,” not “Keep awake” (M. Eugene Boring, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew, New Interpreter’s Bible</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One commentator writes that, “Matthew… pictures faithful disciples as those who do their duty at appropriate times and are thus prepared for … [Christ’s return] whenever it comes” (ibid.). Now that makes sense! “Be prepared therefore, for you know neither the day not the hour.” That is what this passage is all about. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something else I found interesting is that there is the issue of honoring the bridegroom. By being unprepared, the foolish bridesmaids were disrespectful and insulting to the bridegroom. This story highlights, honoring the bridegroom who has gone to get his bride by being prepared for his return-at the time of his choosing, whenever that may be. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How shall we here today await the Bridegroom with honor? (David Ewart, Holytextures.com).</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yesterday, I was at Heather Allport-Cohoon’s ordination. The music and liturgy, the preaching, were all inspiring and beautiful. As Bishop Lee Miller II was praying for Heather, while the congregation was singing, he anointed her with oil, which is so very symbolic—the Holy Spirit and its work when there’s a new role, good works, God’s continued presence. And memories came flooding back from my own ordination. We sang some of the same songs, prayed some of the same prayers, and I was challenged whether I would accept this new role in my life, serving the people of my first call. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is God saying to us today, as the people of God of St. Timothy? How are we to proceed in the face of fewer people and other issues? How can we be better prepared to live the lives God has set before us, to serve those around us?</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Accenting waiting, David Lose says:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can we offer ourselves as a genuine community in a world where more and more people feel isolated? A community that celebrates together. That slows down to prepare together. And that waits together, making sure when the waiting is the hardest part that no one – not one person – has to wait alone? The waiting is the hardest part. We can’t change that reality, but we can change the experience by waiting together, in Christian solidarity, community, and fellowship.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Waiting is hard. We can wait in a prepared manner like the wise bridesmaids, or we can let things come upon us, seemingly suddenly. I don’t know how the Palestinians of Gaza could have been better prepared for the onslaught they’ve been experiencing. Or how could the Israelis that were initially attacked have been ready for this? Many Christian Arabs have left the Holy Land and moved to America and other places. That’s fine for them, but what about those left behind? I know from my time living there that those who are suffering think that the rest of the world is unaware of their plight. Let’s not forget the Ukrainians, which have disappeared from the news cycle. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overseas and in our own country, there are countless people seeking genuine community. They look in all the wrong places, making gods out of sports, alcohol, drugs or possessions. These people need God’s church and we need them. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he challenged his disciples then and now to share the good news. How can we best do this in a way that is understandable and appealing to today’s generation?</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday night, we had a Finance Committee meeting, which consisted partly of spontaneous brainstorming about the future of our church. I want to spread this out to each of you. When you walked in today, you were given a card with these words on it, “What is one way we can reach out to our neighbors?” Please take time to think about this. Write down your idea and return your card by next week.</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let us pray. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Almighty God, grant that your holy word which has been proclaimed this day may enter into our hearts through your grace, that it may produce in us the fruit of the Spirit for witness and service in the world and to the praise and honor of your name, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.restorationmn.org/listen-in/the-oil-that-cant-be-bought">Picture</a><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-41284052472574875212023-11-03T13:03:00.001-04:002023-11-03T13:03:00.139-04:00True Freedom<p> <i>This is the message I preached Sunday, at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church.</a> The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=565858310">John 8:31-36</a>. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTNGPBEUb2NIZo5hLjDjfp_CTazAbyRl9S_D5_ECIvBOPYkcvwI370WxCoFIIGt6IEWx-wBkZixRO3d-yfypyfQGpDAu5c3OSGZDK5fClAr6t805PLp-B3g0Hp-S5cHQkvNXpc6yF-FuouYN83A_NByxRXZV2AzKj2mj2hG7zdNVtV77YTBsWo-PTpiP8/s474/th-4143613798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="474" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTNGPBEUb2NIZo5hLjDjfp_CTazAbyRl9S_D5_ECIvBOPYkcvwI370WxCoFIIGt6IEWx-wBkZixRO3d-yfypyfQGpDAu5c3OSGZDK5fClAr6t805PLp-B3g0Hp-S5cHQkvNXpc6yF-FuouYN83A_NByxRXZV2AzKj2mj2hG7zdNVtV77YTBsWo-PTpiP8/w640-h504/th-4143613798.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-67dad619-7fff-b15f-aca9-3ffebd048c35" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today's gospel reading is all about freedom. The whole Reformation is all about freedom as well. From Paul's declaration that we have been justified by grace to Luther's hammering his 95 Theses on the Wittenburg Church door, we are reminded of the supremacy of God's grace. What the Reformation tells us is that there is nothing we can do, say or accomplish to earn God's love. God's love is a free gift. We have problems when we forget that we already have love as a gift from God and try to earn it on our own. </span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-67dad619-7fff-b15f-aca9-3ffebd048c35" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the years, many songs have been sung about the longing for freedom--from “We Shall Overcome” to the song, “People Got to Be Free,” by the Young Rascals. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does this have to do with the Reformation and today's gospel? Everything.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a monk, Martin Luther struggled mightily to be free from the sin he was convinced permeated his very being. He took harsh measures to subdue his body and its desires. It wasn't until he read God's word in Romans that his eyes were opened to the way of freedom from sin and the power of the devil through Jesus. The word “free” appears throughout today's reading. Jesus is the word, the truth that gives freedom and the son. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today's gospel text follows Jesus teaching the Jews in the temple about his own identity. This passage begins a dialogue in response to the Jewish people who had believed in Jesus' message. However, these Jews did not understand what Jesus was talking about when it came to freedom. If the Greek was translated literally, it would say, “We have never by no means ever been slaves to no one.” But since that is bad English grammar, it was not translated that way. It is incredible that the Jewish followers would make such a claim! Certainly they had short memories when it came to their past: they were enslaved by the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Assyrians and others. In Jesus' time, it was the Romans who were occupying the Jewish homeland. In the history of the ancient Jewish people, they were enslaved more than they were free. What were these people thinking????</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jews were centering on the biological connection between Abraham and themselves (v. 33) and their confession in one God (later in v. 41). But that is not enough. Jesus, the Son of Man, is a descendant of God! Jesus is reforming the thinking of the Jews of his day, but they just don't seem to get it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One's actions may be as slaves or as free children. The word free implies that one is no longer dominated by something or someone--one is not a slave. One can be free in Christ, even when dominated by society or a political regime. On the other hand, one can be in bondage even as he or she lives in a free country. Many Americans could echo Jesus' opponents, “We are already free! After all, we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we are in bondage to sin, we are anything but free. Sin enslaves, while Jesus frees. Luther expressed it in this way:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“…if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world… Pray boldly – you too are a mighty sinner.” (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luther's Works</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Vol 48, p. 281-282)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another way to express Luther's statement about sinning boldly can be stated in a motto from the business world, “Make sure that you generate a sufficient number of excellent mistakes.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luther understood sin as self-centeredness, being turned in on ourselves. Some people think of freedom as being able to do whatever they want to do. That definition of freedom, means slavery to one's self. True freedom means having our desires and centeredness turned away from ourselves. As a free response of love, as a result of being connected to Jesus' word, we can give of ourselves to others. We can honestly care only when we are free to not care. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In modern literature, movies and TV, we hear the words, “the truth will make you free.” This occurs as a character is trying to decide whether not they should tell the truth about a situation, or whenever they feel compelled to explore the depths of a mystery to get to the bottom of it. This is a general truth, such as the truth about bacteriology and medicine, sets people free from superstitions about disease and makes possible cures. However, this is not what Jesus means by truth. In John's gospel, truth is personal and it is embodied in Jesus himself (14:6). It is the Word of God, present in Christ, that sets people free. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The word “truth” is repeated several times in today's gospel. In fact, truth, and freedom are connected. Those who desire freedom, will not receive the kind of freedom Jesus expresses without the truth about him. Freedom is entirely dependent upon the truth. In New Testament times, truth was “what is firm or sure, and thus reliable.” A true friend is one who is reliable, genuine and trustworthy. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is the key to truth? It is the close and continual connection between the disciple and Jesus' word. In its original sense, disciple meant learner. Through welcoming Jesus' word, we know the reality of God, and this is what frees us. We are forgiven, as God's word assures us. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The hard things in life that we experience matter. Whether it is illness, hurt or anything else, it does matter and may be true of us. But these things do not define us. God calls us his own beloved children, and that's what defines us. Our identity, freedom and truth are found in Christ.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The third verse of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” speaks of “hordes of devils” filling the land. What is God's response? He acts, but not in the way we would expect. God does not make his army bigger, but instead, “one little word subdues him.” It is the word of grace from the cross of Christ that defeats the enemy. The one little word is Jesus and the work he has done for us on the cross. This word frees us and it is in this word that we find the hope of the world. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so we are free. Free to risk and serve and help and care and try to struggle and laugh and love. We are free to love just as God loves us.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://raisedtowalk.org/praise/america-the-beautiful/attachment/john-8_36/">picture </a></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-40025685249018122622023-11-02T12:53:00.001-04:002023-11-02T12:53:00.139-04:00It All Belongs to God<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached Sunday, 10/22 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church.</a> The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=565857740">Matthew 22:15-22. </a></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIBkJTcYg7CngM0gcod4AXQkhrgvK4B2rA9CigFGeR3fm0p-BYBKYOCgYYGvhsDjhd9ujlK8pR_Oxn3nYYK8sOGPWa17DT9jK7lsUUIWcMKAWaUoHNAFkl3lqDgpwSxsPRn_RNY5NxbvyIGi_qgjQtBq9ioIn8nfHMVimoBuY3kGyHV8U5tQ_QJGny95e/s474/th-1469712616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="474" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIBkJTcYg7CngM0gcod4AXQkhrgvK4B2rA9CigFGeR3fm0p-BYBKYOCgYYGvhsDjhd9ujlK8pR_Oxn3nYYK8sOGPWa17DT9jK7lsUUIWcMKAWaUoHNAFkl3lqDgpwSxsPRn_RNY5NxbvyIGi_qgjQtBq9ioIn8nfHMVimoBuY3kGyHV8U5tQ_QJGny95e/w640-h334/th-1469712616.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The question the Pharisees and Herodians present to Jesus is a yes or no question. It sounds simple enough: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?” (v. 17). That’s like someone asking if such and such is in the Bible or not. But from the beginning, we’re told it’s a trap. Before they even open their mouths, suspicion has been aroused. Here, together, were Pharisees and Herodians—most unusual bedfellows. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b id="docs-internal-guid-fba1f1d0-7fff-7e60-427a-aefb2a9e88e6" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-fba1f1d0-7fff-7e60-427a-aefb2a9e88e6" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Pharisees were popular with the people. They disdained the actions of religious leaders who kowtowed to the Roman occupation and they were a kind of renewal movement in Judaism. In principle, they resented and resisted the tax, but did not go as far as the radical nationalists who publicly resisted its payment. Then there were the Herodians who wanted to maintain their standing and wealth, resulting from their support of the Roman occupation. </span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fba1f1d0-7fff-7e60-427a-aefb2a9e88e6" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s the problem with the tax? This is a tax supporting the machinery of the Roman occupation. The occupied were being asked to fund the very occupation that made their lives miserable. The issue was far from abstract. In 6 CE, the Roman head tax was instituted when Judea became part of a larger Roman province. The annual tax of a denarius was roughly the amount a laborer would make in a day. Many faithful Jews were incensed at their forced participation in such activity. There was an immediate revolt, and a larger and disastrous revolt by the Zealots from 66-70 CE (Douglas T. King, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feasting on the Gospels: Matthew, Volume 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is between a rock and a hard place. If he agrees that the imperial tax should be paid, then he will experience the wrath of not only the Pharisees, but the people. Jesus sided with the poor and disenfranchised. Siding with those who believed in paying the tax went against everything for which Jesus stood. If Jesus said they shouldn’t pay the tax, then he could be accused of sedition, or rebellion against the government. Collaboration or treason are the two horns of the dilemma in which Jesus finds himself, while the Pharisees and Herodians hope to stick Jesus on one or the other.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Pharisees and Herodians were not asking Jesus an honest question, so he is not giving them an honest answer. He saw their hypocrisy, so was evasive. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love this part of the story where Jesus asks his questioners for a coin. The denarius was the specific coin with which the tax had to be paid. Jesus asks for one, and someone had one. Now this took place in the temple, and here these ever so religious people had taken the coin into the temple. We may say, “Big deal.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a big deal because, as we find out in the story, the head of the emperor was on the coin. But that isn’t all that was on it. There was also the inscription, “Tiberius Caesar, august son of the divine Augustus, high priest.” The emperor was worshiped as a god. Here, God’s commandments of no other gods and no images were being broken by these religious leaders, which was not lost on Jesus. Jesus’ answer amazed them and they left.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The word translated “head” is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eikon</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It is this same word used in the creation account, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness” (Gen. 1:26). In Genesis, it’s translated “image.” Whose image do we bear?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Humanity is made in the image of God. We bear God’s likeness and we were made God’s own in holy baptism. What are we to give to God? The things stamped with God's image--us! We are to give God ourselves--our whole selves--not just some part.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does this mean? When we deny the divine image in others, persons are made less than human by political circumstances. Then Jesus’ words speak to both the oppressed and the oppressor.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have much dissension today in our country. We vilify those with whom we disagree politically, considering them to be stupid and fools. Some support Israel and others the Palestinians. We all seem to feel sorry for the Ukrainians, but differ on how to support them. Is this how we should treat those made in the image of God? Even those who are evil are made in God’s image, although that image is flawed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are God’s, completely and totally—all we are and all we have. We are called to serve as God’s agents, God’s partners, and God’s co-workers, being stewards of creation and extending to all the abundant life God wants for all. How does how we spend our money, our time, our energy, our resources, our gifts reflect that all of it and all of us have been imprinted with God’s very image? Take a personal inventory of your life—maybe starting with finances or your calendar. What might that reveal? By striving to give back to God what is already God’s, we are daily working out what that means. And that means all of me. That means all of us together. All the time. Amen.</span></p><br /><a href="http://politicaltheology.com">picture</a><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-56184075716143054462023-11-01T12:51:00.006-04:002023-11-01T13:11:34.625-04:00You're Invited<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached Sunday, Oct. 15 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=565858677">Matthew 22:1-14. </a></i></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGy1PlGNd68YRvp-E9POdeHj5UtJB_WBNcOGymddMSLzsoQzcRSEheZw7o5Tma2jnRSkaoB0in_ly8Gosf_6GwaPK5pA3wThotlj72VbE7b4Tya_Go_ep1jLkfnfqoUy0YmRaBqaNxJ1tmnd6Ka544oCJXVxB9nL-gbg1DeNoDnvg3vjNSvGUVIV3ZGZNQ/s474/th-1849100290.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGy1PlGNd68YRvp-E9POdeHj5UtJB_WBNcOGymddMSLzsoQzcRSEheZw7o5Tma2jnRSkaoB0in_ly8Gosf_6GwaPK5pA3wThotlj72VbE7b4Tya_Go_ep1jLkfnfqoUy0YmRaBqaNxJ1tmnd6Ka544oCJXVxB9nL-gbg1DeNoDnvg3vjNSvGUVIV3ZGZNQ/w640-h360/th-1849100290.jpg" width="640" /></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of Jesus’ parables in Matthew are hard to understand. It seems like God is very harsh and judgmental, what Lutherans would call emphasizing law instead of gospel. </span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this parable, sometimes it seems we can equate the king with God, who graciously invites everyone to the banquet. But, what about when the king had those who did not accept his invitation killed and their cities destroyed? Does that sound like God?</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the servants invited everyone, good and bad, to the banquet, the king picks on one man who was not appropriately dressed. Did he have time to change? In those days, the king provided the proper clothing for those attending the banquet. Was it the fault of one of the servants? Did the man just make light of this banquet and dishonor the king by not changing? We don’t know, but there are certainly plenty of possibilities. The king/God seems to have a hairlike trigger when he finds the man without a wedding robe. And to throw him into utter darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth--what we would think of as hell. It appears that the essence of the message is that God graciously invites all to come and follow. However, the issue is how people respond to God’s generosity. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last verse of this gospel passage says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” This has especially plagued me this week, particularly as we relate it to the banquet and the man cast out into darkness. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We understand God’s call as being for all, the good and the bad. God desires that all should be saved, that all should experience the abundant life today that God has promised.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We know the promises of Holy Baptism, that “It brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe it, as the words and promise of God declare” (The Small Catechism). </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, we cannot just sit back and live however we like. Luther also writes regarding baptism, “the old person in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily sorrow for sin and through repentance, and on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever” (ibid.).</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus continues, “but few are chosen.” This is what has really been bugging me this week. We know it’s the Holy Spirit who works in our lives, enabling us to live Christlike lives, so how can “few” be chosen? We can go back to the parable to see what that means. There are those who took lightly the king’s generosity, who had farm work to do, business to attend to and those who murdered the king’s slaves who were his messengers.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What would our world look like if everyone everywhere answered God’s call and lived their lives as those selected by Christ? Would there be war between the Russians and Ukrainians? Would there be the terrible destruction in the Holy Land, laden with death?</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This may seem simplistic and naive, but just think about it. It only takes a bit of light to extinguish the darkness. But we are here and so much trouble is over there. Can’t our light, the light of Christ, spread from person to nations to our world? What specifically can we do for this to occur?</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday morning, I wrote an email to Bishop Miller, thanking him for the letter I shared with you this morning. I then signed a petition to President Biden to not fight war with war. I have been praying for other parts of the world. Likewise, I must say that my heart is especially moved by incidents in the Holy Land, having lived there in the 1980s for 6 ½ years. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am especially struggling with the little news that we’re hearing about the Palestinian situation in all the fighting. We only hear of Hamas and other terrorist organizations. But there are innocent civilians whose hospitals are not receiving supplies. Barricades are preventing food and medicine from reaching residents of Gaza. They have been told to leave because of the oncoming ground offensive, but have nowhere to go and no way out. There is no electricity because the Israelis have shut it off. I suspect there is no fresh water either.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We experienced such tactics when we lived in Bethlehem, in the West Bank. There were times we didn’t get water for days. The electricity and phone would be shut off. Whenever there was trouble, we knew the phone would be shut off. That was the case in 1989 when my mother was in the hospital. When she died, friends in Rochester could not call us to tell us. Our pastor in Jerusalem did not experience such phone issues, so they had his number and called him. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were happily playing board games one evening when there was a knock at the door. It was our pastor. We invited him in, expecting he would come just for a visit. He told us my mother had died. To drive the short distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem (10.4 miles) he had to go through a security checkpoint. The Israeli soldiers did not want to allow him through, even though his van said “pastor” in English, Hebrew and Arabic. He finally was allowed to go through to Bethlehem.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of us will not be called to such extreme measures of obedience to Christ and his calling to us. But how can we today, in Bemus Point, Jamestown and Chautauqua County be “chosen?”</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like Jesus, we can feed the hungry, hang out with outsiders, heal the hurting. If we cannot do these things, we can pray for those in need, enabling others to do what we cannot. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a7c56001-7fff-19ed-ba5a-12ceba95f610" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think of the small beginnings of the Five Loaves and Two Fish Ministry. Yesterday, I heard that we are now packaging 800 bags of food a month. Like the author, T. S. Lawrence said, “From small beginnings come great things.” If allowed, God does the work in our lives to make us chosen. Jesus invites all to the banquet of life, so that we may live invitational lives. </span></b></p><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2020/11/02/a-wedding-invitation-you-dare-not-refuse-matthew-22-mark-12/">picture</a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-78618917184179192802023-10-04T10:27:00.002-04:002023-10-04T10:27:58.774-04:00Who gave you the right?<p><i>This is the sermon I preached Sunday at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=563429417">Matthew 21:23-32.</a></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3SzyKoh9Wb4IfHoarnmvZjuqeDa-7GjM_Y6kFZk6QNJIpWq_a0kjzZWL1vXTm3wLEdUlcieHPhOfy1BjkdEUugjpuTjpreEo5t-aTSefY3ELeBC6ICpovqc2ZcBa6MSexJ0l32zX-HG4yOxAy3R3yP9id2sQCwpqrBJNBIhap5q_tr9Zc1SWn1h6Ui2D/s225/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3SzyKoh9Wb4IfHoarnmvZjuqeDa-7GjM_Y6kFZk6QNJIpWq_a0kjzZWL1vXTm3wLEdUlcieHPhOfy1BjkdEUugjpuTjpreEo5t-aTSefY3ELeBC6ICpovqc2ZcBa6MSexJ0l32zX-HG4yOxAy3R3yP9id2sQCwpqrBJNBIhap5q_tr9Zc1SWn1h6Ui2D/w640-h640/images.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i></i><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a6514812-7fff-57b2-afcb-8199e7ed85f5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a6514812-7fff-57b2-afcb-8199e7ed85f5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would like you to join me in listening to an exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders in Jerusalem. Jesus was in the middle of teaching in the temple and the chief priests and elders of the people interrupted him, saying, “Who do you think you are, Jesus? You’ve caused so much trouble lately.” </span></b></p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a6514812-7fff-57b2-afcb-8199e7ed85f5" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talking among themselves, we hear, “Why didn’t he just stay put in Galilee?” while another chimes in, “He comes marching in here like he belongs here!” Then an elder says, “And the crowd! Not one bit of decorum among them! They kept crying out, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Hosanna!’”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And if that weren’t enough, did you hear about the incident with the money changers? Jesus confronted them, tipping over their tables and making a huge scene.” “Then he said something about making it a house of prayer. What did he mean by that? This is God’s house. Of course, it’s a house of prayer.”“He called our money changers thieves.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And if that wasn’t enough, he started healing people here in the temple.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes, and that crowd again! Did you hear what they said? ‘Hosanna to the Son of David.’” “Did Jesus stop them? No! He just quoted some scripture about the mouths of infants and babes.” “Now he’s back here again; and he is teaching!” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jesus, by what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” “Yeah, who does he think he is and who said he could do this?” “What gives him the right?” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What? You won’t answer our questions until we answer one from you?” “John the Baptist? You want to know if we thought his baptism was from God or of human origin?” “Guys, we’re in trouble now.” “That’s right. If we say John was from God, then Jesus will want to know why we didn’t believe him.” “Yeah, and if we say his work was of human origin, the crowd will tear us apart. They all thought he was a prophet.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, they answered, “We do not know.” “What was that Jesus said? ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’” “Are we never to get an answer from Jesus?”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What do you think?” asks Jesus. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh no, not one of his parables. I just wish he would give us a clear answer for once.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus tells the story of a man who had two sons. He asked Son One to go out into the vineyard to work. Son One said he wouldn’t work in the vineyard, but then he had a change of heart. He regretted how he spoke to his father. It was shameful to behave that way, so he did what his father asked.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Son two acts very deferentially toward his father. Yes, of course, he would go, but did he? No. He was all talk, but where the rubber meets the road, he fell flat. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, in this culture of honor and shame, the son who obeys his father to his face is the righteous son, the son who has kept his place, the son who has kept the relationship, the son who has not shamed the father. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then comes the surprising turn in the parable. Jesus doesn't ask, "Which of the sons honored their father?" but "Which of the two followed his instructions?" shifting the focus from shame and respect to obedience.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The first!” can be the only correct answer to his question, which ironically shames the assembled authorities. Jesus spells out the metaphor: the place of honor on the way into the kingdom of God will be given to those who presently occupy places of shame but who do God's will, while the religiously righteous will bring up the rear. (Cynthia A. Jarvis, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feasting on the Gospels: Matthew, Volume 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Did you hear what Jesus said? He said that those prostitutes and tax collectors would go into the kingdom ahead of us, us with our theological training, us who are the heads of the elite families of Jerusalem. They would go before us? Shocking!”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus did not directly answer their question, but they got the message. He was claiming that the cries of “Hosanna” of the crowd were justified. He had every right to be in the temple, healing and teaching and overturning tables. Not only had he overturned the money changers’ tables, but he turned the tables on the religious elite.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A pastor in San Diego was called into the sanctuary early one morning and saw a strange offering that had been left on the altar. Hanging on the altar was a bloody white T-shirt, and a note. The note consisted of only three words, “Please listen, God.” It was signed and included a phone number.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pastor dialed the number. A young man answered and told his story. He had run away from home and had been wandering the streets, doing drugs, drifting from one place to another, and getting into all kinds of trouble. There had been a fight and an almost fatal beating. After making sure the victim of his assault was taken to a hospital, this young man came to the church, found an unlocked door, and went into the sanctuary. He stayed there all night, crying, and praying. He asked God to forgive him and show him the way to go. All at once, the presence of God became real to him. He knew God was there. He felt God's forgiveness. A wonderful peace came over him. He committed himself to Jesus Christ, and said that he was determined to make right the things he had messed up.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wonder if the religious officials ever got the point of Jesus' parable? I hope you and I do – for the message of repentance is for us as well. Sometimes we are blind to God's actions in our life. Sometimes, we are all talk and no action. Sometimes we refuse to let God break into our lives and help us make a new start. If so, listen to this parable, a father had two sons ………</span></p></b><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/stpaulsgi/">picture</a></i><p></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-51900051672325859992023-09-27T14:57:00.034-04:002023-09-27T14:57:00.148-04:00It Isn’t Fair!<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached Sunday at <a href="St. Timothy Lutheran Church">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The gospel was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=562754819">Matthew 20:1-16</a>. </i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X-8TftACQzARGW5J0Uy-NU4x2bRNKfV1XzeeGPQAM3y0ZpDUFo6hsKwUOhxcQ6zniUbRS7YN3guy_kEY1ihmWkKDbjBYC3xoGHqHxANtKEJyZxoGE49-c6u_UtQFW4eVozFgdrgMvQOp58CEdAHBzf8HDQSmQDwpKJF5pb2_-7hdTo6aiVznCo07xbBp/s1080/IMG_0159.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X-8TftACQzARGW5J0Uy-NU4x2bRNKfV1XzeeGPQAM3y0ZpDUFo6hsKwUOhxcQ6zniUbRS7YN3guy_kEY1ihmWkKDbjBYC3xoGHqHxANtKEJyZxoGE49-c6u_UtQFW4eVozFgdrgMvQOp58CEdAHBzf8HDQSmQDwpKJF5pb2_-7hdTo6aiVznCo07xbBp/w640-h640/IMG_0159.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s not fair!” How many of you, who are parents, aunts and uncles, anyone who has had anything to do with children, have heard these words. Our goal is to explain to the child why something can't be done. That may help, or it may not.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">God doesn’t play fair, at least by our standards. As we look at today’s difficult, startling parable, we may respond like the early workers, like children. Maybe we are those called later in the day, who embraced faith later in life. </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are two main parts of this parable: the hiring of the workers and then the paying of the workers. From the beginning, just the way the parable plays out lets us know that something is up. </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">For one thing, it would be unusual for a landowner himself to go hire workers. Why didn’t he send someone else? Throughout the day, he goes four times to hire workers. Palestinian workers in Palestine go to specific places to wait to work for Israeli bosses to pick them up from the labor pool. </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The landowner goes early at about 6 am. Then he goes at 9, noon and finally 5 pm. This too tells us that we are dealing with unusual practices. Who would hire workers with only one hour left in the workday? Just one note about his meeting with the last group at 5 pm. Our translation says, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” It makes them sound lazy, like they were just wasting time. A better translation of “standing idle” is literally “without work.” Now that’s different! It has a better connotation of “wanting work, but not able to find it” (Amy-Jill Levine, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Short Stories By Jesus</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next we get to paying the workers. And here it really looks like God is not being fair. Everyone was paid the same, exactly what the landowner promised: the “usual daily wage” or “whatever is right.” So far, so good. However, Jesus could have avoided any controversy if he told the parable differently. If those hired first were paid first, there would be no problem. </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is the parable really about? On the surface, it appears to be about wealth, but the underlying issue is about status in the reign of heaven. It seems to be about wages, but something else must be going on. I love the ending of the parable. “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (V. 15). </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God doesn’t play fair. Author Mary Gordon, in her book</span><a href="https://www.journeywithjesus.net/BookNotes/Mary_Gordon_Reading_Jesus.shtml" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading Jesus</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> answers God’s question with painful honesty…Yes, “I am envious because you are generous. I am envious because my work has not been rewarded. I am envious because someone has gotten away with something. Envy has eaten out my heart.”</span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I appreciate Gordon’s candor, because really, if this parable doesn’t offend us at least a little, then we’re not paying attention. After all, we know what fairness is, and we know how it’s supposed to play out. Equal pay for equal work is fair. Equal pay for unequal work is NOT fair. Having our sincere efforts noticed and praised is fair. Having them ignored is NOT fair. Rewarding hard work and ambition is fair. Excusing sloth and sloppiness is NOT fair (Patrick J. Wilson, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feasting On the Gospels: Matthew, Volume 2</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The vineyard is symbolic of God’s reign in scripture. The first group entered and worked in the vineyard longer than those who came late. They had the blessing of being in God’s vineyard longer than all the others. </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about those who came later, especially the ones who only worked an hour? Their pay must have blown them away. That’s the thing about God. God’s generosity is beyond anything we can imagine. That’s what bothered Jonah so much in our first lesson. He knew God would be gracious and would forgive the people of Nineveh. That would make him look foolish after preaching that God would destroy them. </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is not interested in favoring the best, the biggest, the brightest — those with the elite educations, astonishing professional achievements and the fanciest houses and cars. God favors the disadvantaged. The first have to wait at the back of the line to get paid. The back of the line offers perspective (Wilson).</span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">God can do what God wants to with what belongs to him. Do we envy God’s generosity to others? Let’s look at life through this parable and its final words, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (v. 15). </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever felt so dejected and down in the dumps when looking at what others have accomplished or what they have? What am I, chopped liver? In all situations, let our generous Lord lift you up, hold you and lead you. Then we can be a light for others. In this parable, Jesus illustrates that we are his so that we may leave our lives in God’s hands because they are not our own. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). </span></p><p><a href="https://www.inspiritencourage.com/mini/parable-of-the-workers-in-the-vineyard-matt-201-16">Picture</a><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221130573871037403.post-34875222051776816082023-09-26T14:56:00.000-04:002023-09-26T14:56:22.243-04:00Forgiveness 2.0<p> <i>This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, Sept. 17 at <a href="https://www.sttimothybemus.com/">St. Timothy Lutheran Church</a>. The text was <a href="https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=562753772">Matthew 18:21-35. </a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYVIbeob6w1DoCJP4vgfUd3zYQD2uyBO1ZmK8PhP4xqwPoJXlyp3iI_155_1xtBCTPacXt5xi6NNS3ACluz1c7R5ru6WS5vkJFayBH8gy6ZUwle2U7F15JsL9JFHgnXXmKrY1_e8ivmAJMWrpcrcXaH5dmO04mbSpKK3mJV9GV22p2DDDgctoooFPQZl5/s300/IMG_0158.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYVIbeob6w1DoCJP4vgfUd3zYQD2uyBO1ZmK8PhP4xqwPoJXlyp3iI_155_1xtBCTPacXt5xi6NNS3ACluz1c7R5ru6WS5vkJFayBH8gy6ZUwle2U7F15JsL9JFHgnXXmKrY1_e8ivmAJMWrpcrcXaH5dmO04mbSpKK3mJV9GV22p2DDDgctoooFPQZl5/w640-h358/IMG_0158.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last week’s gospel was about forgiveness, and I’m calling this week’s Forgiveness 2.0. Jesus focused last week on individual relationships and this week, he highlights forgiveness and the community of faith, beginning with fellow believers. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Peter asks Jesus if seven times were enough to forgive a repeat offender who asks for mercy, he thought that was an incredibly large number. For the Jewish people of Jesus’ day, three was considered the most that forgiveness should be sought. Peter was being quite expansive with seven. How does Jesus respond? Seventy times seven! Yikes! That’s a new way to look at forgiveness in relationships. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus tells a parable about what forgiveness looks like in the kingdom of God. In some ways, the king can be a picture of God. The first issue dealt with is the erasure of debt (v. 27). The slave had incurred an incredible amount of debt, around twenty years of salary for a day laborer, more than is possible to accrue in several lifetimes. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The king mercifully responds to the slave's pleas and forgives him everything. He’s free and clear. How do we think the slave would respond to that? Will he be moved to pay it forward? There is the expectation that the slave will have a response of mercy toward others. He had dodged quite a bullet and must have felt fairly light-hearted. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, the slave is not recognizing the role of the king’s grace and forgiveness in his life. It should affect how his daily life is lived. He was owed such a small amount compared to how much he was forgiven. The debt-free slave refuses “mercy,” that is, to pay his debts of interpersonal obligation to an equal (</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bruce J. Malina & Richard L. Rohrbaugh, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The slave’s ruthlessness was observed by the other slaves, and the king lowered the boom. Jesus ends the parable with these words, “And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy” (v. 35). What are we to make of these words? Sounds like hellfire, doesn’t it? “</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The viciousness of the Lord’s response in the parable is now attributed to how God reacts when we, who are forgiven much, do not forgive another” (D. Mark Davis, leftbehindandlovingit.blogspot.com).</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do we pray for together every Sunday? “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” “Forgive us our debts.” That is at the heart of the kind of forgiveness God requires of us. According to Martin Luther’s </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Small Catechism:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We ask in this prayer that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins nor deny these petitions on their account, for we are worthy of nothing for which we ask, nor have we earned it. Instead, we ask that God would give us all things by grace, for we daily sin much and indeed deserve only punishment. So, on the other hand, we, too, truly want to forgive heartily and to do good gladly to those who sin against us.</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We cry out for mercy to our all-merciful God. If we let him, his essence of mercy and love will work through us. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you been wondering why this bottle of glue is here on the pulpit? It’s a visual reminder for us. Forgiveness is the glue that holds last week’s and this week’s passages together. We have all these teachings of Jesus in today’s gospel. Jesus is showing us his mercy and forgiveness. Everything in last week’s and this week’s gospels revolves around forgiveness. It is what holds our families together, our church, all of God’s church together. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, we know it’s by God’s grace that we are saved and made the people of God. But as a community of faith, how do we demonstrate in our lives together what God has done? God is endlessly merciful and forgiving, but are we? We all have people in our lives that we struggle to forgive. However, “Forgiveness is not an excuse for unjust behavior, and to forgive is not necessarily to forget.… Some events and situations we should not forget: the Holocaust, slavery, ethnic cleansing, exploitation of children and women, mistreatment of Native peoples, the infidelity of a spouse, a lie told that turned your life upside down, abuse, or betrayal” (</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charlotte Dudley Cleghorn, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feasting On the Word: Year A, Volume 4</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I read more and more about the war between Ukraine and Russia, I can’t help but wonder how it affects God’s people and God’s peace in their lives. There are faithful, believing Christians in Russia who decry the awful war. There are faithful, believing Christians in Ukraine. Many are even of the same denomination. We can pray for them to lean on God, so they can forgive each other. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s be honest. We all say and do things that hurt others. It’s the sinner part of our saint/sinner nature. It is forgiving each other that will prevent us from exploding, that will cause us to grow together in love, and that will reach out to people around us. God has forgiven us so that we exercise mercy and forgive others. I like the way </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charles Cousar summarizes this. “To be forgiven means to give up the power game of playing innocent versus guilty and to join a fellowship of forgiven sinners” (</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV—Year A). </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We are all forgiven and all sinners—and saints! Welcome to the fellowship.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://crossroadsofthenations.sermon.net/main/main/22101038">Picture</a></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p><br /></p>Ivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132396587581088115noreply@blogger.com0