Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“Blessed Are You”

Text: Luke 6:17-26; Jeremiah 17:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-20

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

You heard it over and over again today. In the Introit, in the Old Testament reading, in the Holy Gospel. You would have heard it in the Psalm appointed for today if we had sung that - which you will, actually, sing a hymnic version during communion in a bit. You heard blessed is the man . . . You heard what it means to be blessed. You heard where such blessedness is to be found. Which is a very important thing to know. And even more than know - to believe.

Because I’m not sure we do . . . For do we really believe what Jesus said today, that blessed are the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the hated and excluded and reviled? And woe to those who are rich and full and laughing now, and when people speak well of you? Or do we not think Jesus really got it backwards? He was not really having His best day when He said those things . . . 

Do we really believe as we sung in the Introit today, that blessed are those who walk in the law, or Word, of the Lord and keep His testimonies? Or as Jeremiah said, that Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord? I mean, we do . . . we say we do . . . we want to . . . we’re Bible-believing Christians, after all! And yet at the same time, do we demonstrate and live something else? That this really doesn’t work? Not in real life. Been there, tried that. Or, it works in this part of my life, but not this part. Yes, in church, but not in the world. Not if you want to get ahead. And so we wind up living a kind of dual life. The religious part of me, and the secular part of me. That’s hard to do. To live one way here and another way there. And it’s usually the religious part of me that suffers when I try.

But it’s not just us. It’s the same old story. Think of all the stories you know of people in the Bible and how they, too, struggled with this. The great Abraham believed God . . . and yet went down to Egypt and lied about Sarah being his wife. Job struggled mightily with what happened to him. David, the great king of Israel, writer of psalms . . . became an adulterer and murderer. James and John, apostles, two of Jesus’ inner circle . . . wanted for themselves the seats of glory next to Jesus. Remember what that one desperate father cried to Jesus one day: Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24) Sounds about right.

Luther thought about this a bit. What it means to be blessed. What and how we think about being blessed. And he realized that how we answer that question depends a lot on our stage in life. When you’re in school, when you’re a young adult, when you’re middle aged, and when you get to retirement, and beyond,  you have different thoughts about what it means to be blessed. And how you answer that depends on where you live in the world, and at what time in world history. An orphan in Nigeria, a widow in Russia, and a suburbanite outside Washington, DC are all going to have different thoughts about what it means to be blessed. And then there is also living in peacetime or wartime, bull market or bear market, sickness or health . . . 

Yet through it all . . . Jesus. He is the common thread through it all. Through all of history, through all ages, through all parts of life, and throughout all the world. And the bottom line is this: with Him, you are blessed; and woe to you if you are without Him. With Him you are blessed, even if it doesn’t seem or feel like it. And without Him, even if everything seems and feels good and successful, woe to you. 

We see this in the Holy Gospel today. People from all over, people who no one would consider blessed, came out to Jesus. People who were confused. People who were diseased. People who were troubled with unclean spirits. And Jesus taught them and healed them and cured them. And after He had done all that is when He then said, blessed are all these people. Because these things - these unblessings, if we could call them that - drove them to Jesus. Because they had no place else to turn, they went to the source of every blessing and were not disappointed. 

And so it is with us. Woe to us when everything in our lives is going well, for how easy is it to forget about Jesus. Oh, maybe not all the way. We still might go to church on Sunday. But during the week? Forgetting to pray, neglecting His Word, Walking in step with the ways of the world. And instead of blessing us, those things put us in danger. 

But when your life is not going so well, things are falling apart, friends are betraying you, everyday is a struggle . . . like the people in the Gospel today, we are driven to the only place we have to go, to the only One we can turn to - to Jesus. And then from woe comes blessing. For then - whether things improve or not - our lives are on a more firm foundation. We are focused on more than just the here and now, but what is truly important and what truly lasts - Jesus, His Word, and His life.

I saw our fellow Athanasian and the patriarch of our congregation Roy this week, just a couple of days before he died. He was very weak. I had to talk loudly because he had trouble hearing me. He had had trouble swallowing for some time, and so couldn’t eat what he really liked. I don’t think he could really walk anymore - or if he could, not very far. He had oxygen on for his breathing. Everything was being taken away from him, except for one thing: Jesus. Roy’s firm foundation, no matter what life threw at him. So we read Scripture, we prayed, and we received the Body and Blood of the Lord. And then, a couple of days later, Roy received the blessing of all blessings: he was called home to his eternal rest. To continue living the life given him in his Baptism, just now in a new place and time and way. 

Now, you could say, Roy was old so of course it was a blessing. But even those 67 who perished a couple of weeks ago near Reagan National, some of whom were very young . . . I don’t know anything about them, but I can say this, those in Jesus, they were blessed. Even when helicopter and plane collided in a deadly fireball. Blessed with a life that cannot end, even with a life that could end at any moment. 

That’s the sure and certain hope Paul was talking about to the Corinthians, as we heard today. A resurrected Christ who is with us always. Not just in the good times, for what kind of God is that? But a Jesus who is with is on the battlefield against satan, who is with us here in life, who is with us in death with His death on the cross and His time in the grave, and then rose victorious over it all - not for Himself but for you! That’s a Jesus worth having. Blessed is that man. Blessed are you.

And if that’s true, which it is, and which I know you believe because that’s why you’re here! Then why not live that blessedness all through your life? Not just now and then or here and there, but in all times and in all places? Wouldn’t that be better? Oh, it’ll be a struggle, no doubt about that. And you’ll have to keep coming back for forgiveness, and falling to your knees in prayer, and opening that mouth that lied and spoke harshly to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. But think of it this way: just as the living Jesus died for your sin and laid in your grave and then came out alive and victorious, so too does He enter your sinful mouths and dying bodies to come out of you alive and victorious. Your sin and your grave didn’t overcome Him - He overcame them! And He is doing the same even now in you. Overcoming your sin and death with his forgiveness and life. Overcoming your sinful life with His Spirit and love. That you live a blessed life.

And that looks like not only going to Jesus in all of your needs, but also going to others in all of their needs. Or, maybe to put it like Jesus did . . .

Blessed are you when you forgive, but woe to those who hold a grudge.

Blessed are you when you serve, but woe to those who demand to be served.

Blessed are you when you love, but woe to those who belittle and neglect.

Blessed are you when you give, but woe to those who only take.

Blessed are you whose riches are in heaven, but woe to those whose riches are only here. 

Blessed are you who bear the cross, but woe to those who look to place their cross upon others. 

I could go on, but you get the idea. Blessed are you when you live in Jesus and Jesus lives in you. 

And in that list of blessings and woes I just spoke, if you heard yourself in that, and maybe heard yourself a little too much on the woe side and a little too little on the blessed side . . . first of all, good! Be driven to Jesus in repentance and faith. Go to Him for the forgiveness and life you need. And then second, come and receive His healing, restoring touch here in His Supper. For the Body and Blood that touches you here and enters into you here is the very same that touched all those that day who were healed of their diseases and cured of their unclean spirits. To those of whom Jesus could then say: Blessed are you . . .

And so blessed are you, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ! Blessed indeed! At all times and in all places. Because of Jesus. To look at life different. To live different. For you are different. Blessed are you. Not because you feel it, but because Jesus has done it. So rejoice . . . and leap for joy, for great is your reward in heaven.

In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Congregation at Prayer

For the Sixth Week after Epiphany (February 17-22, 2025)

Invocation: In the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: Luke 6:36 – ”Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #402 “The Only Son from Heaven”

Hymns for Sunday: 684, 402, 540, 581, 845, 700

Readings for the Week: [The readings for Thursday-Saturday are the Scriptures for this coming Sunday.]

Monday: Psalm 103:1-13

What are all the things the Lord does for us? What is chief of all? Why? What is our response to such goodness and mercy?

Tuesday: Hebrews 4:9-13

How is the Christian life one of striving? Why? What do we strive for? What do we strive against? Where is our rest in the midst of such striving?

Wednesday: Luke 8:4-15

Despite all the rocks, thorns, difficulties, and evil in this world (and in our hearts!), does the seed of God’s Word grow anyway? Why? How? Why is this good news for you?

Thursday: Genesis 45:3–15

Why was Joseph so gracious to his brothers? How can this help us was faced with struggles and when dealing with those who are against us? Could God be at work in these things and in you?

Friday: 1 Corinthians 15:21–26, 30–42

How does the resurrection give us hope? How does it help us live now? How will we be different in the resurrection? How the same?

Saturday: Luke 6:27–38

How can we love as these verses describe? Is this possible? How? What do we need? How do we get it?

The Catechism - The Commandments, the Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.

Collect for the Week: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen

The Prayers:  Please pray for . . .

+ yourself and for all in need (remembering especially those on our prayer list).

+ God’s blessing, wisdom, and guidance for our congregational vice president, Scott Killian.

+ the Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea), for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, and provision for Lutheran World Relief and Human Care.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer from the Catechism.

Now joyfully go about your day (or to bed) in good cheer, child of God!

Collect for the Week © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

Lutheran Service Book Hymn License: 110019268

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“A Net Unlike Any Other”

Text: Luke 5:1-11

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

I’ve watched some fishing shows on TV from time to time, and when the crab pots come up full of crab, when they reel in the big fish, when they pull up nets full of fish, the fishermen aren’t sad or afraid, they’re full of joy! They don’t just see fish, they see dollar signs. A catch like that means they’ll be able to feed their family and pay the mortgage. It makes all the effort and hard work worth it.

And yet the day we heard about today, with Peter and his fishing partners out on the Lake of Gennesaret (which is another name for the Sea of Galilee), it wasn’t like that at all. Peter should have been ecstatic. With each one of those fish filling his boat and the boat of his partners he should have seen denarius signs! This would provide for their families. It is what they worked so hard for. But instead of visions of profits filling his head, to Peter, every fish that flip-flopped into his boat heaped another burning coal on his head. The weight of his sin was crushing him. 

Until that moment, Peter probably thought he was doing pretty well. He had a respectable business. Was married, had friends in the community. Jesus had even come over to his house and healed his mother-in-law of a fever! All in all, things were going well . . .

But something changed. Something brought him to his knees.

Maybe he had grumbled when Jesus wanted to use his boat, if he was tired and just wanted to go home and sleep . . . 

Maybe he muttered under his breath when Jesus then told them to go back out and fish again! At the wrong time of the day and in the wrong depth of water and after a long and frustrating night . . . 

Maybe he had had other impure thoughts that day . . . Maybe he had left the house last night after a fight with his wife . . .

Maybe it was that little white lie he told the fish dealer the other day . . .

Maybe it was remembering the neighbor he should have helped but just didn’t want to be bothered . . .

All things in the normal course of a day. All things everybody does. That’s just life, isn’t it? Right?

Until Jesus comes and after all that heaps blessing upon blessing upon you that you clearly don’t deserve! It is an honor for Him to use your boat, not an inconvenience. You get to hear Him preach. He wants to be with you. He enriches you! But all of a sudden, the weight of all those sins that before felt so small and light now feel so big and heavy . . . and crushing. Enough to bring a big, strong fisherman to his knees.

This wasn’t the first time Peter had met Jesus. As I said, Jesus had come over to his house and healed his wife’s mother. But this time was different. He wasn’t among a crowd of people, Jesus wasn’t doing for someone else - this was sinful him, in a boat now graciously filled with fish by the One who created the sea, the fish, and him! And suddenly, standing next to Him, to Jesus, the Holy One of God, the weight of his sins seemed to multiply as fast as the spinning numbers of the United States debt clock! This great catch of fish may have been sinking his boats, but his sins were sinking him! Quickly. And under such a burden and weight, he found himself at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

And then those words: Do not be afraid. How could he not be afraid?! And yet those words did what they commanded. They took away his fear. They took away his sin! And then Jesus gave him another gift - a new life. From now on you will be catching men. And not just Peter, but James and John, too. And while Jesus fills the nets and boats of this little fishing company with a multitude of fish, there’s really only one - or maybe three - fish He wanted in His net. And for Jesus, that was a very successful trip. For He landed Peter.

And imagine how many fish Peter caught in the roughly 2,000 years since that day! Not only in his ministry until his martyrdom, but even after, through his words and work handed down to us in the Bible. Peter reminds us so much of ourselves, in his hasty words, his misunderstanding, his fear, his denials, his failures. And yet how wonderfully God used him to bring people into the boat of the Church. A good reminder to us that it is not our goodness, our strength, our friendliness, our effective techniques, or anything in us that builds the Church. It is the work of God through sinners like Peter and you and me. That day, the work of God the Son. These days, the work of God the Spirit. 

But more than the fish Peter caught that day or all the days after that, it was Jesus’ forgiveness that netted Peter. Jesus’ forgiveness that transformed Peter that day, and all the days after that day when he kept stumbling and fearing and putting his foot in his mouth and falling asleep and denying and acting like the sinner he was. Jesus did not leave him or forsake him, but lifted him up and forgave him. With forgiveness that zeros the debt clock of our sin that always seems to be spinning out of control! Forgiveness that will not and cannot run out.

And forgiveness is the net that catches men and women today. Jesus hasn’t filled our church with fish, but He has filled it with forgiveness. So that is the gift we have to give, to a world filled with sin and sinners. They might not even realize they need it, like Peter at first. He was just living like normal, doing what everyone does, until he realized how bad our normal is, how great and numerous the sins we do everyday without even realizing it. Until that weight crushed him and left him no place else to go but to his knees. 

Are there people like that today? There are people like that today in these seats here! In your seat. For with what sins is your everyday life filled with? Sins that just seem normal, that everybody does, that are just a part of life and living. Except they’re not. And we need Jesus. We need to hear Him. We need to hear His do not be afraid. Because we are. Maybe you’ve just buried that fear deep down so you don’t have to deal with it. Maybe it hurts too much. Maybe you don’t want to admit you’re not okay. We do . . . but we also don’t, right? We confess, but . . . aren’t I more okay than the next guy, at least?

No. So how good that Jesus is here for you, and His words are here for you. Do not be afraid. I forgive you all your sins. These are words that do what they say. For Jesus, here, is casting the net of His forgiveness and catching sinners - even if just one or two at a time.

And this is the net Peter - and the Church ever since - would use as Jesus chose him and trained him and then sent him out as an apostle. Not everyone wants that forgiveness, or thinks they need that forgiveness. But when sin bring them to their knees, we have it for them. To let them know that Jesus has not left them or forsaken them, but is here for them. To take away the guilt and shame of their sin. And that even when death rears its ugly head, do not be afraid. Jesus has overcome that, too. Jesus’ resurrection means that His net even pulls us up out of the grave to live a new and eternal life.

A new life that you live where God has put you to live it. He didn’t make you an apostle like Peter, but He didn’t need to. And that doesn’t make you any less important, just different. With different people to be with and care for and especially forgive. Here’s how Luther put it:

Because God is gracious, ready to forgive, and kind, I go out and turn my face from God to human beings; that is, I tend to my calling. If I am a king, I govern the state. If I am the head of a household, I direct the domestics; if I am a schoolmaster, I teach pupils, mold their habits and views toward godliness. . . . In all of our works we serve God, who wanted us to do such things and, so to speak, stationed us here. 

So where has God stationed you? Wherever it is, and in all the places He puts you, forgive. In your family, forgive. In your school, forgive. In your church, forgive. At your work, forgive. In your neighborhood, forgive. For by forgiving, you’re casting the net of Jesus. And you never know what you’re going to pull up. It could be a great catch, it could be just one at a time. But one thing is for sure, the waters are not fished out. Peter and the others were out all night and caught nothing, but Jesus knew there were fish to be had. 

And maybe for us, too. So we’ll keep being the church, throwing out the net of forgiveness, showing mercy, helping others, and letting Jesus do the rest. It’s His net, His Church, His forgiveness, and His catch. He’ll do it. Maybe in quite surprising ways! Maybe at the wrong time of the day and in the wrong depth of water. Maybe with the wrong people and in the wrong neighborhoods. Maybe catching sinners so bad we look at them and think . . . them? Really? Here? With me? And then we look in the mirror and know: if there is forgiveness for me, then certainly there is for thee. 

Peter learned that great truth that day in his boat out on the Sea. A lesson he kept learning and a gift he kept receiving everyday. If that doesn’t sound like you, then drop to your knees (at least in your hearts!), for Jesus is here for you today in this boat, His Church. To provide for you and enrich you. The God who created the fish, the sea, and you, now says to you, Take and eat, this is My Body; Take and drink, this is My Blood. Do not be afraid. With this gift your sins are forgiven, you are raised to a new life, and can depart in joy and peace. You are not condemned, you are saved. And in His sight, you are a sinful man no more.

In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.