Fatherly Wisdom-Praying with Modesty

From Cyprian of Carthage, Treatise on the Lord's Prayer, 4-6:

4. But let our speech and petition when we pray be under discipline, observing quietness and modesty. Let us consider that we are standing in God’s sight. We must please the divine eyes both with the habit of body and with the measure of voice. For as it is characteristic of a shameless man to be noisy with his cries, so, on the other hand, it is fitting to the modest man to pray with moderated petitions. Moreover, in His teaching the Lord has bidden us to pray in secret—in hidden and remote places, in our very bed-chambers—which is best suited to faith, that we may know that God is everywhere present, and hears and sees all, and in the plenitude of His majesty penetrates even into hidden and secret places, as it is written, “I am a God at hand, and not a God afar off. If a man shall hide himself in secret places, shall I not then see him? Do not I fill heaven and earth?” And again: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” And when we meet together with the brethren in one place, and celebrate divine sacrifices with God’s priest, we ought to be mindful of modesty and discipline—not to throw abroad our prayers indiscriminately, with unsubdued voices, nor to cast to God with tumultuous wordiness a petition that ought to be commended to God by modesty; for God is the hearer, not of the voice, but of the heart. Nor need He be clamorously reminded, since He sees men’s thoughts, as the Lord proves to us when He says, “Why think ye evil in your hearts?” And in another place: “And all the churches shall know that I am He that searcheth the hearts and reins.”

5. And this Hannah in the first book of Kings, who was a type of the Church, maintains and observes, in that she prayed to God not with clamorous petition, but silently and modestly, within the very recesses of her heart. She spoke with hidden prayer, but with manifest faith. She spoke not with her voice, but with her heart, because she knew that thus God hears; and she effectually obtained what she sought, because she asked it with belief. Divine Scripture asserts this, when it says, “She spake in her heart, and her lips moved, and her voice was not heard; and God did hear her.” We read also in the Psalms, “Speak in your hearts, and in your beds, and be ye pierced.” The Holy Spirit, moreover, suggests these same things by Jeremiah, and teaches, saying, “But in the heart ought God to be adored by thee.” Or, “In the heart, O God, ought we to worship Thee.”

6. And let not the worshipper, beloved brethren, be ignorant in what manner the publican prayed with the Pharisee in the temple. Not with eyes lifted up boldly to heaven, nor with hands proudly raised; but beating his breast, and testifying to the sins shut up within, he implored the help of the divine mercy. And while the Pharisee was pleased with himself, this man who thus asked, the rather deserved to be sanctified, since he placed the hope of salvation not in the confidence of his innocence, because there is none who is innocent; but confessing his sinfulness he humbly prayed, and He who pardons the humble heard the petitioner. And these things the Lord records in His Gospel, saying, “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood, and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are, unjust, extortioners, adulterers, even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. But the publican stood afar off, and would not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner. I say unto you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and whosoever humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Homily - Trinity 4

“In All Godly Quietness”
Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 12:14-21; Luke 6:36-42

In today’s Collect we prayed that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by God’s governance that His Church would joyfully serve Him – and here’s the phrase we want to ponder this morning – “in all godly quietness.”

What is this “godly quietness” for which we pray? It’s the peace of heart, the quiet and calm that can rule in our hearts even in the midst of the most difficult and trying times. It is the peace that passes understanding. It is the peace that does not fret and get all worked up, but instead entrusts itself into the hands of God. Godly quietness of heart is one of the fruits of faith.

To get a handle on it, remember today’s Old Testament reading. Here we meet Joseph, a 17 year old young man. He had those dreams of everyone bowing down to him and honoring him. God had told him that’s what would happen. And what came next? He was betrayed by his brothers, sold as a slave, and made an exile in a foreign land. Then he was falsely accused, and, because he would not compromise with wickedness, he was tossed into jail. Once in jail, he was promptly forgotten by those for whom he did nothing but good.

During this 20-year journey, I wonder if he struggled to hold on to the promises that God had made so many years earlier. Did God really mean them? Why then was He allowing such awful things to befall Joseph time and time again? But despite the roadblocks and setbacks, Joseph held on to God and His promises with “godly quietness.” He held on in true worship. According to our Confessions, true worship is “the exercises of faith struggling with despair,” (Treatise 44). Joseph clung to the promises, and in peace of heart, in godly quietness, he sought to serve in whatever new predicament he found himself.

Scripture says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6). Just think of how Joseph lived the truth of those words! He humbled himself and in godly quietness cast all his cares and anxieties on the Lord. And look at what happened! The day finally came when he went from being Pharaoh’s lowly, forgotten prisoner to serving as the Prime Minister of all Egypt. And he continued serving the Lord, saving the lives of countless Egyptians, and yes, of his own family, who did indeed come and kneel before him as his servants.

Godly quiet may have reigned in Joseph’s heart, but fear reigned in the hearts of his brothers who had treated him so poorly. “What if he pays us back?” they wondered, when they saw that their father Jacob had died. “What if Joseph decides to get even now?” How little they understood their brother’s heart! So they came and pleaded with him for forgiveness one more time.

Joseph spoke those astonishing words: “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” He spoke out of the godly quiet of his heart. He did not excuse their sins, but he did invite them to behold the miracle of God’s forgiveness. Yes, our Lord knows how to take the evil and sin we suffer at the hands of others, and even the evil and sin we do ourselves, and in sheer grace, He turns it into blessing for us and for others.

Joseph, of course, is a type, a foretaste, a preview, of our Lord. This same “godly quietness” for which we pray reigned in Jesus’ divine-human heart. His trust in His Father was unshakeable, and so He urges us to “be merciful, even as [our] Father is merciful.” He trusted in His Father to vindicate Him, and so He also exhorts us: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you.” Yes, all of this will be given to you, more than you ask or desire or deserve, “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.” Your Lord Jesus invites you to live the very life that He lived. He holds it out to you to be your life as well. It’s a life in which the godly quietness of heart trusts the Father’s plan, knows that He is the master of turning ill into good. It’s a life that trusts that God Himself redirects evil and hatred to serve the designs of His gracious kingdom.

Consider the Cross. Our Lord Jesus was also betrayed by His brothers, sold as a slave, wrongfully arrested, and then condemned to die—all of this even though He was completely innocent. He willingly accepted all of this in utter godly quietness of heart – the quietness of heart that comes from submission to the will of the Father. After all, He had prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Lk. 22:42). And then in peace He went forth to drink the cup His Father prepared for Him. Then, as happened with Joseph, a grand reversal took place. Through the very act of His betrayal, suffering, and death, our new Joseph was raised from death in an incorruptible and immortal body. And He does not rule some measly piece of earthly real estate, but He reigns over the whole universe. Instead of hating us for what we sinful human beings did to Him, He uses His suffering and cross to forgive us and love us. He also says: “Do not fear, I will provide for you and your little ones.”

Joseph gave them grain. Jesus gives us the living bread of heaven, His very Body and Blood – the same Body and Blood that hung on the cross for us, crying out for our forgiveness for all of the times that we have shamefully treated one another, betrayed each other, hated each other, and wished each other ill. His Body and Blood still cry out for our forgiveness, even now, from this very altar. They tell us the glorious and unfathomable truth that despite our wretchedness and sin, we are God’s beloved in His Son. They tell us that His will for us is to share with Him a life that never ends, the life of forgiveness and mercy.

So here in the Eucharist we receive our Lord’s gift of godly quietness. It soothes us with forgiveness; it frees us to live in Jesus’ own divine-human godly quietness. Like our Lord, we don’t need to avenge ourselves; we don’t even need to worry about looking out for ourselves. That is God’s job.

Instead, we get to live in the joy of today’s Epistle. St. Paul exhorts us: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all…. Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

In other words, we can say and pray it this way: “O Lord, grant us to serve You joyfully in godly quietness, to trust that our lives are governed by You and that all things do indeed work together to bring us blessing, especially when we are called to suffer for Your name.” Then we are utterly free in our Lord Jesus to love and bless, to forgive and give to all who mistreat us, to all who hate and seek our ruin. In our Lord Jesus, by the strength of His Holy Spirit, we are set free to love them and to seek God’s richest blessing on their lives.

“Give us, O Lord, this godly quietness of heart to trust in You at all times and in all places, for You are merciful and You love Your whole creation, and we Your creatures glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Amen.

Mystery Dinner Mania

So have you ever partaken of a "Mystery Dinner"? No, I don't mean the kind of dinner in which you take part in a murder mystery story while you dine. That's a "mystery dinner theater," or something by that name. I'm talking about a dinner in which *the food* is the mystery (and, yes, much different than the "mystery meats" you may fondly remember from the school cafeteria ;-).

In a "mystery dinner" the food, drinks, and utensils are all given different names--code names, if you will--in an attempt to keep the guests guessing about what they order and then eat. The dinner is divided into several courses. Each person at the table peruses the menu of "code names" and selects various menu items for each course. For example, a fork may be called "Perfect Pitch," and the French onion soup may be called "Cry Me a River." But when you see only those names, with only the context of a list of other items, you have no idea what they mean!

When dinner is served, the guests receive only what they ordered, nothing more, nothing less. Then, after each course, the table is cleared in preparation for the next course. Yes, all items, food, drink, and utensils, are removed!

Now this can present quite the dilemma as well as some great laughs. You see, it is quite possible and very likely that one person may get dessert for the first course, while another person gets their soup without a spoon to use for eating it. In fact, it's quite possible and altogether probable that someone will get their main course in the first course, their salad in the second course, and then their utensils in the last course. Great fun! (Especially if you're the kitchen service staff and you get to serve and observe! :-)

Well, the "Asburry Mystery Restaurant" opened its doors once again last night. We learned about this form of dining entertainment some years ago, and we have put on such mystery dinners in other congregations where I served. This time we offered a "Mystery Dinner" as part of my congregation's recent Dinner Auction. The highest bidder and some friends would receive a full-service mystery dinner compliments of Pr. Asburry and family.

So the Henricksons (highest bidder), the Viekers, and the Nielsens were treated to a royal and and fun(ny) meal. Here are some shots of the gala event.

Guests peruse the menu and receive instructions (from good looking restaurant staff, I might add!) for ordering the menu items:

1. Good Exercise
2. Latin Deluxe
3. Autumn Leaves
4. Wedding Bouquet
5. Chicken in a Basket
6. Cozy Blanket
7. Pine Forest
8. Puff ‘n’ Stuff
9. Herman’s Delight
10. Steamed Glacier
11. Cat’s Eyes
12. Mountain Treat
13. Cry Me a River
14. Perfect Pitch
15. Jack’s Surprise
16. Golf Club
17. Soaker
18. Hay Maker
19. Degreaser
20. Hot Slurpie

Then the guests make the tough decisions about what food, drink, and utensil(s) they may (or may) not receive for each course.

"What on earth is 'Herman's Delight'?"

I have no idea why these folks thought of some "independent newspaper editor" well known in LCMS circles! I mean, how did they get that from "Delight"? (BTW, Hermann, MO, is known for its wineries, if that's a clue ... one that the guests happened to miss! ;-)


Then, with the assistance of the loyal kitchen staff, the guests receive their meals, one course at a time, and only those items (food, or drink, or utensils) that they themselves selected.


"What this?" "C'mon, Charlie, that's a 'Golf Club.'"

Notice how everyone tries to figure out how the real items match up to the menu names as they eat.


Then, the guests enjoy their meal, if possible. Sometimes guests receive - and I repeat, by their own independent, free-will-driven selection process - only utensils for a particular course.




"Sure, *now* I receive my fork, knife, and spoon! I already ate my soup, salad, and main course!"

(BTW, those are, from L to R, the "Hot Slurpie," the "Hay Maker," and the "Jack's Surprise.")




Meanwhile, back in the kitchen...




Between serving courses and removing menu items, some kitchen help will try to sneak a bite of the tasty food for themselves. Aren't they suppose to wait until after the guests have finished? (No, I did not actually take that bite ... it was simply for the camera ... really! :-)



And, of course, we all know that dessert is supposed to be the last course.

(Left) "Mmm! Deviled eggs ("Chicken in a Basket") for dessert!"

(Center) "What kind of a restaurant serves pepper rolls ("Good Exercise") for dessert? I may have reconsider how will I tip."

(Right) "Finally, I get my main course! I guess dessert must have come earlier. Hey, what do I use to eat this with?"

Thanks, Henricksons, Viekers, and Nielsens for a wonderful evening! (We couldn't have done it without you. :-) It was lots of fun and lots of laughs - and we trust some good food to go along with everything else. Now, we'll have to see who next year's "highest bidder" will be. (Will any of these couples dare to bid again? ;-)

Oh, and of course, Porthos and Gimli got to enjoy the "Mystery Dinner" and our company as well.

No, they didn't eat the fine cuisine of the Asburry Mystery Restaurant! (Their regular dinner was served before the guests arrived.) But they did get to come out of their kennel to enjoy the attention of our our guests before plopping down for a post-dinner rest.

Christians as Pirates?

Have you been wondering why the upcoming reincarnation of Issues, Etc. calls its website "Pirate Christian Radio"? I admit it: I have. After all, what do pirates have to do with Christians? Can/Should Christians consider themselves pirates?

I must also admit that my first thought was along the lines of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It's an odd thing to watch a movie and root for *the pirates* as "the good guys," but in those movies Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and company are indeed "the good guys" (okay, protagonists) even though they are pirates. After all, they do have to "fight" against not only the bad pirates (Davey Jones, et. al.), but also against the tyrannical British imperialists in the movies.

Could something like that be in the minds of "the pirates" behind the new Issues, Etc.? Well, we'll just have to wait and listen and hope they explain such fine points of Christian doctrine. :-)

In the meantime, though, here's another possible, and speculative, explanation offered by Pr. Joel Brondos as he looks to St. Augustine for clues.

Check out

...the new pictures of the new Issues, Etc. studio and office space in the making over at Augsburg 1530. Cool stuff to see the beginnings of the "Issues, Etc. Arising." (BTW, don't for a minute believe that Schwarz' desk will stay that neat and clean, especially when the real work of producing a radio program resumes! :-)

Homily - St. Barnabas, Apostle

(This homily uses and expands upon my previous post for this day of remembering St. Barnabas.)

Son of Encouragement
Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3 & Mark 6:7-13

Today the Church remembers and thanks God for St. Barnabas, Apostle. His name means “son of encouragement” or “son of consolation,” and the Biblical witness gives ample testimony that he lived up to his name.

In our Gospel reading this evening, we hear how Jesus sent the Twelve out two by two to proclaim Him and His kingdom. While Barnabas was not in that group of sent ones, he most likely was in another group, the Seventy that Jesus later sent out (see Luke 10:1-20). To those seventy sent ones, our Lord gave the commission: “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you’” (Lk. 10:8-9). Barnabas learned from our Lord to encourage and console by proclaiming the Savior and His kingdom.

We first meet Barnabas in Acts 4. St. Luke, the author of Acts, says that the early Christians “were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common” (Acts 4:32). In our day, when diversity is trumpeted and even Christians seem to revel in how different they can be from one another, such a comment from St. Luke is quite the encouragement. Yes, there can indeed be something better. The unity of Christians in faith and life is indeed an encouragement and consolation.

We can certainly learn a lot from the early Church of Acts, and from Barnabas himself. As we are told of the early Christians selling their own property—perhaps the equivalent of “vacation homes” and extra property—we meet Barnabas in Acts 4:36: “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” What a great example of Christian charity! Barnabas saw the opportunity to use his wealth to proclaim Jesus Christ crucified and risen and to extend the kingdom of God. What great encouragement our Lord gives when His people give generously so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and His kingdom promoted.

The next time we encounter this Apostle of encouragement, he comes to the rescue, humanly speaking, of the Apostle Paul. Acts 9 gives us the conversion of St. Paul, formerly a persecutor of Christians. With good reason many in the early Church were quite nervous about this man who had previously hunted down and killed their brothers and sisters in the true faith. However, “Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27). What great encouragement Barnabas gave to St. Paul that someone would defend him and his name as a fellow Christian. What great consolation he gave to the other apostles that St. Paul was “the real deal” for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Then we meet Barnabas again in our second reading for tonight. Barnabas and Paul have become companions and coworkers in proclaiming Christ Jesus. In fact, they travel and preach and teach together for several chapters in the book of Acts. When Barnabas was sent to Antioch, he saw how the grace of God had taken hold there. So, true to his name, he encouraged the Antiochian Christians “to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” (Acts 11:23). Yes, we all need such encouragement. Everyone from lifelong Christians to those new to the faith need the constant encouragement in God’s love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness in His Son Jesus Christ.

After Paul later joined Barnabas in Antioch, the two apostles taught the Christians there for a whole year. The encouragement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ bore great fruit in Antioch, and that’s where believers “were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26).

The preaching continued, the missionary travels multiplied, and Barnabas kept encouraging. We even hear tonight how Barnabas joined Paul in gathering and delivering monies for famine relief for Christians in Judea. What a great testimony to the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. His love for us sinners, shown on the cross and given in the Eucharist, leads His people to care for and help one another in every need. Of course, the greatest need is to hear, trust, and spread the message of Christ crucified for sinners. But Christians also encourage and console one another in other needs, such as disaster relief. As Barnabas shows us, it’s just what the people of Christ do.

What makes St. Barnabas worthy of our remembrance is that he draws our attention to the true and eternal “Son of Encouragement.” Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ is the true source of encouragement and consolation. In His death on the cross He has forgiven the sins that easily discourage. In His glorious resurrection He gives ample and eternal consolation that we have life with our holy, Triune God. Such encouragement in forgiveness and consolation in the life of Christ free us to follow the good example of St. Barnabas.

So on this day we thank God for St. Barnabas, for his selfless, generous charity, and for his defense of St. Paul's reputation as a bona fide apostle to proclaim Jesus Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Let us pray that God will lead us also to be generous with our wealth so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and the kingdom of Christ may expand. Let us pray that God will give us the good courage to defend and support our pastors as they proclaim the mercies and life of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

St. Barnabas, Apostle

Today the Church remembers and thanks God for St. Barnabas, Apostle. His name means "son of encouragement, consolation," and the Biblical witness gives ample testimony that he lived up to his name.

We first meet Barnabas in Acts 4 when St. Luke, the author of Acts, says that the early Christians "were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common" (Acts 4:32). In our day, when diversity is trumpeted and even Christians seem to revel in how different they can be from one another, such a comment from St. Luke is quite the encouragement that there can indeed be something better. The unity of Christians in faith and life is indeed an encouragement and consolation.

We can indeed learn a lot from the early Church of Acts, and from Barnabas himself. As we are told of the early Christians selling their own property - perhaps the equivalent of "vacation homes" and extra land - we meet Barnabas in Acts 4:36: "Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet." What a great example of Christian charity! Barnabas saw the opportunity to use his wealth to proclaim Jesus Christ crucified and risen and to extend the kingdom of God. What great encouragement our Lord gives when His people give generously so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and His kingdom promoted.

The next time we encounter this Apostle of encouragement he comes to the rescue, humanly speaking, of the Apostle Paul. Acts 9 gives us the conversion of St. Paul, formerly a persecutor of Christians. With good reason many in the early Church were quite nervous about this man who had previously hunted down and killed their brothers and sisters in the true faith. However, "Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus" (Acts 9:27). What great encouragement Barnabas gave to St. Paul that someone would defend him and his name as a fellow Christian. What great consolation he gave to the other apostles that St. Paul was "the real deal" for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So on this day we thank God for St. Barnabas, for his selfless, generous charity, and for his defense of St. Paul's reputation as a bona fide apostle to proclaim Jesus Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Let us pray that God will lead us also to be generous with our wealth so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and the kingdom of Christ may expand. Let us pray that God will give us the good courage to defend and support our pastors as they proclaim the mercies and life of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Collect of the Day (LSB)
Almighty God, Your faithful servant Barnabas sought not his own renown but gave generously of his life and substance for the encouragement of the apostles and their ministry. Grant that we may follow his example in lives given to charity and the proclamation of the Gospel; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings for the Day (LSB)
Isaiah 42:5-12
Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3
Mark 6:7-13

Hymn Verse
For Barnabas we praise You,
Who kept Your law of love
And, leaving earthly treasures,
Sought riches from above.
O Christ, our Lord and Savior,
Let gifts of grace descend,
That Your true consolation
May through the world extend. (LSB 518:17)

Homily - Trinity 3

Heaven’s Lost and Found
Luke 15:1-10

For the third straight week we hear our Lord teach us by means of a parable. Two weeks ago we heard the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. The Church—the community of Christians—lives by hearing the Word who is Jesus and trusting Him above all things. Last week we hear the Parable of the Great Supper. Despite our weak and rotten human excuses, God still wants to fill His banquet hall with people who enjoy His feast of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Today we get to hear parables on “heaven’s lost and found.” We all know what it’s like to lose something valuable. It might be the car keys, a wallet, or a precious family heirloom. When we lose it, we are beside ourselves. And since it’s something very valuable, we give our time and attention to searching for it. Today our Lord teaches us about something He has lost and by no fault of His own. Jesus also shows us how He seeks and finds that which is lost—us sinners. And in “heaven’s lost and found” there is much rejoicing!

Once again Jesus finds Himself standing toe-to-toe with His archrivals, the Pharisees. They were very religious. They wore the right clothes. They went to church every week. They kept all of the rules and lived stellar lives. They gave their whole lives to serving their church. So, it did not sit well at all that this Jesus would eat and drink with sinners. It just wasn’t right that Jesus would welcome tax collectors and prostitutes. You see, as the Pharisees looked at life, they were the found ones; the tax collectors and sinners were the lost ones.

Now before we condemn the Pharisees, let’s remember that there’s a “little Pharisee” in each of us. Each of us here today has that little voice inside that says, “I’m religious. I wear the right clothes. I go to church. I keep the rules. I live a good life.” In fact, when we look down our noses at the Pharisees, we are being Pharisees ourselves!

What’s even more deplorable is that we treat Jesus and His message of mercy the same way that the Pharisees did: we don’t want to hear it and learn it. We want to stay religious, but we don’t want Jesus to show us our sin. We want to look religious to other people around us, but we don’t want to admit that we are truly lost. We don’t want to rely on Jesus’ Gospel and Sacraments for the life of the Church. Instead, we want to implement our modern, man-made techniques and strategies to “grow the church.” We don’t want to rely on Jesus’ forgiveness to stay strong in faith; we want to rummage around in the moldy, musty attic of our hearts for some kind of spiritual high.

Yes, Jesus’ parables are for us today! The Pharisees had to learn how to be lost. We too must learn how to be lost—how to admit that we are lost. It’s much like the husband and wife driving in an unfamiliar part of town as they go to a friend’s house. You know how it goes. The husband is driving. They are lost. But he doesn’t want to admit it. And he certainly does not want to stop and ask for directions! ☺ Well, that’s each of us before God. We are lost, but we don’t want to admit it. Even as Christians, we don’t like to admit our “lostness” in sin. But we really must admit it. After all, when we admit we are lost, then we are truly found.

Jesus tells a trilogy of parables—Heaven’s Lost and Found Trilogy. First comes the Parable of the Lost Sheep. One sheep wanders away. When it is lost, no doubt fear seizes the sheep. Perhaps it gets caught in a bramble bush. Perhaps it just grazes in a strange pasture. But it’s lost and it cannot return on its own. The shepherd must leave the other 99 sheep. Sounds strange, if you’re a shepherd. Why leave the 99? In real life shepherding, there would have been a team of shepherds tending the flock. But in Jesus’ story, He makes another point. He, the Shepherd, does not come for those who think they have found themselves. No, Jesus comes for those who admit that they are lost.

Shepherd Jesus goes all out until He finds His lost sheep—certainly a reminder of sacrificing Himself on the cross. And when Shepherd Jesus finds His lone lost sheep, He rejoices. He tenderly and gently picks it up and puts it on His shoulders and carries it home. He does all the work.

The sheep does not find itself, not does it wander back to the fold either by choice or by accident. And Shepherd Jesus does not rejoice by Himself. He gathers a whole community—in heaven and on earth—to rejoice with Him. After all, rejoicing is best done with others! And that rejoicing is a heavenly reality even when it happens here on earth. There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Then comes part 2 of Jesus’ Lost and Found Trilogy—the Parable of the Lost Coin. A woman has ten valuable coins. She loses one. Now, a coin cannot find itself. A coin cannot even call out and say, “Here I am!” Yet that one coin is so valuable to the woman that she lights a lamp and scours the house. When she finds the coin, she rejoices. And she rejoices with other people—community rejoicing. Who’s the woman? One writer suggests that the woman may refer to the Church. After all, the Church does the same thing Shepherd Jesus does. As the Bride of Christ, the Church seeks and finds the lost ones. She also rejoices with the heavenly angels over one sinner who repents.

But let’s be clear about how the Church finds the lost. The woman lights a lamp. The Church must light a lamp too. She is not called to use modern marketing strategies, nor the ways of pop-culture entertainment. No, she is called to use the light of God’s Word. As Psalm 119(:105) says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” After all, the best way to find something is to turn on the light. Jesus knew this too. That’s why He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12).

It’s also no coincidence that once Jesus identifies Himself as the Light of the world, He immediately starts talking about going to His death on the cross. As the darkness covered the earth, and as Jesus went to the darkness of death, He shines brightly for you, giving you life with God. As Jesus Himself was lost and forsaken by God on the cross, He found you and brings you out of your “lostness.” That’s heaven’s lost and found. That’s the Shepherd’s joy. That’s the Church’s joy.

And then comes part three of Jesus’ Lost and Found Trilogy—the Lost Son and the Merciful Father. You know this one. A son demands his share of the inheritance. He goes off to squander it in loose living. But when he returns in true repentance—that is, admitting that he is in fact lost—his father welcomes him. And rejoices! And restores him. And throws a party with lots of people in attendance. Community rejoicing!

What’s the point of Jesus’ Lost and Found Trilogy? What does all this mean for the Church and for us? We are the lost ones. We get to spend all our lives learning to admit it. “Yes, Lord, I am lost in my sin. I keep trying to find myself without You.” But it also means that we get to spend all our life being found by Shepherd Jesus. We get to spend all our life rejoicing in Jesus’ Church. Here we are taught and comforted by His never-ending love and mercy. Here, in the Church, our Lord lifts us up and puts us on His shoulders. And here, when we admit our “lostness,” when we confess our sins and live by His forgiveness, all of heaven goes crazy. All the angels whoop it up. Even God Himself—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—does a dance of joy over us. He finds us in forgiving us.

Here’s one more thing that Jesus tells us. In His eyes, one sinner is valuable. Too often we get fixated on grand, massive numbers and quick fixes that suddenly fill pews. But Jesus turns our eyes to the one sinner who repents. It may be a family member—a mom, a dad, or a child. It may be a co-worker or friend. Whoever it is, let’s learn to search for and find our fellow lost ones one sinner at a time. That’s what heaven rejoices in: not massive numbers, but sinners who repent and are found by Shepherd Jesus.

Here’s how Dr. Arthur Just summed up these parables: “Jesus the shepherd restores the sheep back to the fold, where there is rejoicing that the lost sheep has been found. But after restoration to the church has taken place, the church must continue to catechize so that Christ continues to be found in the ongoing life of the church” (Luke 9:51-24:33, p. 591). Amen.

The Great Litany

In trying to figure out how to upload videos to this blog, and even from YouTube to this blog, I came upon this video of the Great Litany, prayed evidently by students at CUW (Concordia University Wisconsin). What a beautiful prayer!

Wisdom from the Fathers

Here's a thought-provoking quote on Christian charity from Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea [379]:

Human beings should be like the earth and bear fruit; they should not let inanimate matter appear to surpass them. The earth bears crops for your benefit, not for its own, but when you give to the poor, you are bearing fruit which you will gather in for yourself, since the reward for good deeds goes to those who perform them. Give to a hungry person, and what you give becomes yours, and indeed it returns to you with interest. As the sower profits from wheat that falls onto the ground, so will you profit greatly in the world to come from the bread that you place before a hungry person.

You are going to leave your money behind you here whether you wish to or not. On the other hand, you will take with you to the Lord the honor that you have won through good works. In the presence of the universal judge, all the people will surround you, acclaim you as a public benefactor, and tell of your generosity and kindness.

Do you not see how people throw away their wealth on theatrical performances, boxing contests, mimes and fights between humans and wild beasts, which are sickening to see, and all for the sake of fleeting honor and popular applause? If you are miserly with your money, how can you expect any similar honor? Your reward for the right use of the things of this world will be everlasting glory, a crown of righteousness, and the kingdom of heaven; God will welcome you, the angels will praise you all who have existed since the world began will call you blessed. do you care nothing for these things, and spurn the hopes that lie in the future for the sake of your present enjoyment? Come distribute your wealth freely, give generously to those who are in need. Earn for yourself the psalmist's praise: "You gave freely to the poor; your righteousness will endure forever."

How grateful you should be to your own benefactor; how you should beam with joy at the honor of having other people come to your door, instead of being obliged to go to theirs! But you are now ill-humored and unapproachable; you avoid meeting people, in case you might be forced to loosen your purse-strings even a little. You can say only one thing: "I have nothing to give you. I am poor." Poor you certainly are, and destitute of all real riches; you are poor in love, generosity, faith in God and hope of eternal happiness. [Sermon on Charity, 3, 6: PG 31, 266-267, 275; cited in Wright, Readings for the Daily Office from the Early Church, 263]

Which Sci-Fi Character Are You?

It appears that Pr. Christopher Hall and I have something else in common: we're both compared to the Star Wars character Yoda.

I've always liked Yoda, his "wisdom" (in the movies, that is), and his idiosyncratic way of speaking. However, I'm not sure just how to take this comparison! I mean, Yoda is ancient and has no hair. I know my age is creeping up on me, but.... :-)

Here's the description that supposedly compares me to Yoda:

A venerated sage with vast power and knowledge, you gently guide forces around you while serving as a champion of the light.

Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not - for my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us, and binds us. Luminescent beings are we, not this crude matter! You must feel the Force around you, everywhere.

Hah! "Venerated sage"?

Anyway, for something fun and off the wall check this out to see which sci-fi character you may resemble. (I may take the test again and answer the questions differently just to see what other characters come up.)

HT: Pr. Christopher Hall

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Here's a great quote from St. Gregory of Nyssa on fixing our eyes on our head, Jesus Christ:

If the soul will fix its eyes heavenward on its head, who is Christ, as Paul urges, it will have to be regarded as blest through its keenness of vision, because it has its eyes where there is no obscurity of evil. The great apostle Paul, and others if there are any equal to him, had his eyes on the head; so also do all those who live and move and are in Christ.

Just as it cannot happen that the person who is in the light sees darkness, so it cannot happen that the one who has eyes on Christ will fix them on something lacking value. Hence, the person who has eyes fixed on the head--and by head we mean the principle of all things--has eyes on every virtue (indeed, Christ is the perfect virtue, and absolute in every way), on truth, justice, incorruptibility, and every good work. "The wise person has his eyes on the head, but the fool walks in darkness." Indeed, the person who does not place a lamp on the lampstand but places it under a bushel basket makes darkness take the place of light (from Sermon 5 on Ecclesiastes; cited in Wright, Readings for the Daily Office from the Early Church).

Update on New Issues, Etc.

Check out Pirate Christian Radio for some more information about the new and improved Issues, Etc. radio program. You can:

• link to "before" pictures of the new office and studio for the new Issues, and
• preview an article of the new journal for Issues, Etc.

As the PCR website also says, "Details of where and when you can listen are coming soon."

Our Honored Guest

Today Hope, St. Louis was honored to have Rev. Joseph Samuel, President of the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC), join us for the Divine Service. President Samuel (right) came to St. Louis for the dedication of some new furnishings for the LCMS International Center chapel on the 25th anniversary of the "purple palace's" dedication. The new furnishings--granite altar, pulpit (ambo), and Baptismal font--were made in India, as was the original granite work in the building. Deaconess Grace Rao (left), a member of Hope and in the employ of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, served as Pres. Samuel's escort. Pres. Samuel surprised me with the gift of this beautiful Indian wool shawl. I'm told that it's Indian custom to give such gifts to pastors, and I was very honored (and humbled) to receive it, especially just for doing what I do every Sunday morning. Deaconess Grace even said, "If you ever go to India, you can expect to receive several of these."

After the Divine Service the three of us went to Olympia restaurant, where we dined on, no, not Indian food, but good Greek food. :-) (I was told that Pres. Samuel had already had plenty of American food and that some rice would be more to his liking, so Olympia seemed the perfect place for some fare closer to what the president is used to.)

Thank you, President Samuel! It was my honor to meet you and to have you join us here at Hope!

Homily - Trinity 2

God’s Rich Feast
Luke 14:15-24

Today we join our Lord Christ as He dines at the house of a Pharisee. Since it’s a Sabbath Day, we rightly remember the Sabbath Day and gladly hear and learn God’s Word. Jesus also tries to teach us some table manners in God’s kingdom. When God invites us to His rich feast, He wants us to feast on what He has to say.

Jesus tells the story of a man who puts on a great banquet and invites many people. But the invited guests refuse the invitation. Evidently, they have too many other things to do to make it to this feast. So the master invites other guests, people you would never expect to be at a grand social affair. And even some of them must be compelled to come to the feast.

Let’s remember what we’re talking about here. Even though one man at the banquet table was clearly trying to butter Jesus up, he did catch on. Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of God. “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.”

As Christians, we are citizens of two kingdoms: the kingdom of the earth and the kingdom of heaven. In the kingdom of the earth people eat and drink, sleep and work, rest and play. Here they take care of all their physical and social needs. Here people are very glad to take part in picnics and barbecues, and sometimes they don’t even have to be invited to get some food. In the kingdom of heaven the food and life are different. Here the Lord of the Universe, the Creator of heaven and earth, throws a lavish, sumptuous feast. Here the food is richer and more nourishing than in the earthly kingdom. But here the invited guests are reluctant to come. It’s as if they’d much rather settle for watery chicken noodle soup than eat the filet mignon that God carefully prepares and freely gives.

So, the Lord Jesus is talking about God’s rich feast of heavenly food. God the Father prepares a grand, rich, sumptuous banquet. He invites us poor beggars on earth to eat and drink with Him at His heavenly supper table. The question is this: How will we earth-bound beggars respond to His gracious invitation? Will we be rude and spurn His invitation, or will we gladly feast on His divine delicacies?

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the true, spiritual banquet. Our heavenly Father is the rich man and host. He has prepared the banquet. Just as a chef prepares a lavish meal, the Father sent His Son to be born of the Virgin Mary, to suffer, to be slaughtered. And just as a good host puts juicy steaks on the barbecue grill, so the heavenly Father allowed His own Son to be roasted on the cross, and offered up in fervent love. Jesus is the Paschal Lamb sacrificed for the sins of the whole world.

But a good host never permanently leaves the filet mignon on the grill. No, when the meat is done, he removes it from the fire and serves it up for his guests to eat. And it’s in the feasting that people are refreshed, nourished, and strengthened. In the same way, our heavenly Father removed Jesus from the fiery grill of the cross, laid Him in the tomb, and raised Him from the dead. Now we, and the whole world, can feast on this food, on Jesus, the true, nourishing Bread of Life.

So, Christians gather together around God’s banquet table. The preaching of the Gospel is the main dish. The servers are the pastors. Christ is the food. Through the pastor’s mouth the food is laid on the table and served. When the Gospel is preached, this food is served and offered for you. And everyone gets to feast—rich and poor, old and young, healthy and sick, learned and unlearned. There are three essential ingredients to God’s feast: first, the dish, which is the Word of God in the flesh; second, the waiter, or servant-pastor, who puts the meal on the table; and third, the guests, who believe the message of Christ with the heart. When these three ingredients come together, our heart and soul start to eat and say, “Here is a juicy steak. Here Christ is proclaimed and given. Here the food is the roasted Christ. I get to eat divine delicacies and find my strength and joy and comfort in Christ alone.”.

And how does this food taste? A barbecued steak has a delicious flavor, it refreshes body and soul, it satisfies the appetite, and it strengthens the body. In the same way, when you hear and believe the Gospel, you partake of Christ. And this rich, tender “filet of Christ” nourishes and strengthens your soul with forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and heavenly bliss. This food gives life for all eternity, life that only Christ can give.

In John 6(:53-55) Jesus tells us more about this food: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.” So whoever believes with heart and mind that Christ has given His body and shed His blood for him or her need not fear death.

In our Lord Christ we have pure, everlasting joy. He is no longer sorrowful or fainthearted. He no longer sweats great drops of blood as He did in Gethsemane. But in Him there is true joy and gladness. And this same Christ, who is comfort and joy in the flesh, has become your food, served up in the preaching and on the Altar to be eaten with faith. So when you are forsaken, cast down, oppressed, and assaulted for being Christians, run to Christ. There you revive and strengthen yourselves. If Christ, your food, is filled with gladness, joy, and life, you too are filled with gladness, joy, and life. What a glorious banquet it is! All you have to do is come to the banquet table of Christ’s pulpit and altar, and feast on Jesus.

But here is where our Lord laments. He laments over the world’s callousness and indifference. He laments that people—even in the Church—ignore and despise this great, delicious banquet. He laments that so many—even self-proclaimed Christians—have no desire for the preaching of this Gospel or the heavenly food on the Altar, this feast of the roasted Christ. They refuse to come to God’s banquet table. And they excuse themselves with pretty flimsy excuses—real estate to see, animals or cars or trucks to take care of, or even family affairs, such as picnics, reunions, or remodeling the house.

No, these things are not evil in themselves. Yes, God gives the land, the animals, the vehicles, and especially spouses and children. But Jesus laments when people refuse His banquet of forgiveness and life because they are so attached to enjoying the land, or to using machines and technology for work or play, or to arranging so many family activities.

We must learn to put things in their proper perspective and order. We must learn the differences between coming to the banquet of Christ’s kingdom and enjoying the land, the machines and toys, and the family. God gives the good things of land, material things, and family to enjoy. In fact, He gives us spouses to avoid immorality and all family members to learn to serve and forgive. But what Christ laments is when we put these good gifts from God above coming to His kingdom banquet.

We can learn a lot from the Lord’s Prayer. First we pray for God’s name to be hallowed, for His kingdom to come, and for His will to be done. Only after these things do we then pray for daily bread—the things of physical and social life. When we put the things of physical and social life before the God’s rich feast of forgiveness and life, then our Lord laments. Then we deserve the wrath of God. But as Jesus says in Matthew 6(:33), “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” So our first priority in all of life is to hear and learn the Gospel, to eat and drink Christ’s Body and Blood, to dine at God’s banquet table. Only with that nourishment first can we truly enjoy the nourishment for the stomach and social life.

So, let’s not be misled by the world’s goodies, pleasures, and honor. Today our Lord warns us: “Be on your guard. Those who scorn My Gospel and My Meal will never get a taste of My righteousness, life, salvation, peace, and joy. But if you want to be a Christian, take care that you do not pass over this banquet. After all, in this banquet you have My righteousness, My life, My comfort, and My peace.” Amen.