Sermon for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“When Big Is Little and Little Is Big”

Text: Mark 12:38-44; Hebrews 9:24-28

 

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

When you think of role models, poor widows are not the first thing that pop into your mind. Maybe a teacher, or someone who goes out of their way to help others, or someone who leads in the face of danger. 

If you lived in Jesus’ day, the scribes would be the kind of people you looked to, along with the Pharisees. They were serious about their religion. They knew their Scriptures. They were leaders. And yet, as we heard today, Jesus says to beware of them. They are, in fact, not good role models. 

Because while they looked good, they were anything but good. Whitewashed tombs, Jesus called them (Matthew 23:37-38). Meaning that just as a tomb may appear beautiful and impressive on the outside, when you open it up it is anything but! Inside is a rotting corpse. So outwardly the scribes may look good and righteous and holy, like good role models, but inside, in their hearts, it is quite a different story. Inwardly they are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. It was all a show. They weren’t sincere. They prayed long prayers with their lips but not their hearts. The widows they should have helped they instead devoured. 

The same could be said of the rich folks Jesus saw that day. He didn’t criticize them, but He didn’t praise them either. Like with the scribes, don’t judge by what you see, Jesus is saying. They were putting large sums in the offering box, yes. Dumping in lots and lots of coins. But only because they had lots and lots of coins. 

But hey, Jesus says, all of a sudden, look at this widow. Maybe they hadn’t even noticed her, in her plain clothes, her offering not in a large money bag but hidden in her small hand. Be like her. Because she’s the opposite of a whitewashed tomb. On the outside she doesn’t look like much, but inside! Ah, inside is the most beautiful faith! Faith that took two coins, her last two coins, all she had to live on, and gave them to God. And not because she was commanded to do so - she should have been receiving alms, not giving them! Had she not gone to the Temple that day, no one would have missed her or her offering. But it mattered to her. So she went. And she gave. And she mattered to Jesus.

As do you. No matter how rich or poor you are. No matter how much you matter to the world. That’s why Jesus gave all He had. For you. Not just giving all He had to live on, like this widow, but His very life itself. And He gave not only more than anyone else, but more than everyone else put together, and what no one else could give - a perfectly sinless life to atone for all the completely sinful lives of the world. And while just one life for the countless lives that have lived since the creation of the world may seem as small and insignificant as the offering of the widow - the two small coins that make just a penny - like the offering of the widow, that one life was more than all other offerings. For it was given in the most beautiful faith and love. With perfect faith in His Father, and with perfect love for you. And like the widow, Jesus should have been receiving offerings, not giving them - not because of His poverty, but because of His majesty and glory as the Son of God! But you mattered to Him. So He came. And He gave Himself for you.

For when our inward and our outward don’t agree. Which, at least for me, happens more than I care to admit. And this can happen in two ways: first, when my faith isn’t shown in my life; and second, when I look good on the outside but am filled with ugliness and sin on the inside. 

Maybe you, too, struggle with this. First, when I know what I should do, what my faith and God’s Word are telling me to do, and really what I want to do as a child of God . . . and yet I don’t. The inward doesn’t become outward. Instead I act selfishly; I’d rather be lazy than put myself out for others. I say words that hurt, or I don’t say words that would help - maybe because I’m scared to do so, or don’t want to get involved. I don’t pray as I should or for who I should. Have you ever done that? Told someone you’d pray for them and then forget? Instead of apologizing or repenting to someone, I put it off and hope that time will make it better. Or that they’ll just forget it. Maybe you, too? Or am I the only one? All the good things I know I should do but don’t. My inward and outward don’t agree.

But then I can also be that second way, too - when I make myself look good on the outside, but am filled with ugliness and sin on the inside. When I smile at someone while judging and criticizing them in my heart. When like the scribes I pray with my lips but not my heart. When I act one way at church or around other Christians, but at work or school or home I look completely different. Maybe you too? My inward and outward don’t agree.

What a mixed-up, jumbled up, confused, scrambled person I am! And yet Jesus, whose inward and outward perfectly agree, said: Yup. I want them. I want that pastor and all those sinners gathered at Saint Athanasius [or Hope] to be my own. I don’t want them to be spiritual widows; I want them as My Bride. So He came and laid down His life for us. Gave all He had for us. Not coins, big or small. But His blood. For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

But with the shedding of blood - and not just any blood, but the blood of the Lamb of God - there is forgiveness. With the shedding of His blood, Jesus takes away the sin of the world. One sacrifice for all sin. One sacrifice for all time. That the blood from His one cross now fill every Font, every sermon, every absolution, every chalice, with His forgiveness. To make us right again. To fix our brokenness. That our inward and our outward agree. 

Because when the inward and outward don’t agree and we aren’t in sync, it’s no good. You can take your car to the car wash and get it all cleaned and waxed and detailed and looking great on the outside . . . but if inside the engine’s shot, what good is it? Or the opposite, too. You can have your house redone, remodeled. New paint, new floors, new furniture and appliances . . . but if you have holes in the roof or broken windows, if the outside is shot, what good is it? 

That’s what sin has done to us. We’re out of sync. And not just with ourselves, our inward and outward, but with each other, and with God.

So Jesus came and gave all He had for us. He put us back in sync with God with the forgiveness of our sins. Yes! But . . . He has also come to put us back in sync with each other. His forgiveness is what our broken homes, our out of sync marriages, our strained friendships, need. Not just to change those with disagree with, because they’re obviously stupid and wrong, right? But to change me. To fix me. That I can be at peace. And then I can spread that peace to others with my love and forgiveness. Not whether or not they deserve it; but because Jesus lives in me.

And you know, it might not seem to matter . . . the little I can do in my little life. Because there’s so much sin in our world, right? We’ve just come out of another bitter election. There are wars and crime. We have big problems in our world and society. And we need people to address these problems. Big, important people. Educated, knowledgeable people. People who can contribute great things to the world. Large bags of solutions for large problems.

And you and me? With our penny of forgiveness? What difference does it make? Really? 

But hey, Jesus says, look at Jackie! Look at Ray! Look at Liana! Look at each of you. Maybe no one else notices you, in your regular clothes, with your regular job, with your regular life, not solving world hunger or creating world peace, but feeding your family, helping the poor, forgiving those who sin against you. But Jesus does. Be like that, He says. 

And sometimes, just doing those things is giving all you have, isn’t it? It’s not easy. And maybe you don’t get the thanks you deserve, or the best seats in the synagogues, or the places of honor at feasts. But that’s not why you do it. You do it because you know who had the best seat and the place of honor in heaven, and gave it up for you. And one day - and I pray, soon! - He’s going to come and take you there to His place and give it to you. And you’re going to be like: No! I don’t deserve this seat. If I even deserve to be here at all, it’s waaaay down there! But Jesus is going to say, nope. I don’t make mistakes. This is your seat. I noticed you and your faith. This is for you.

And until that day - and I pray it is soon! - Jesus gives you a seat at His Table here. THIS is for you now. His Body and Blood. His forgiveness. His life. So we can live synced up lives; lives of peace. Peace with God and peace with one another. And while it’s just a little piece of bread, a little sip of wine . . . two little things to the eye, to our faith, nothing could be bigger. All Jesus and all His gifts. All we need to live on. 

So these last few weeks of the Church Year, as we wait for the end, for Jesus to come as He promised, as we wait to get to the end, Jesus has brought the end here. A foretaste of the feast, and the peace, to come. Until that day, take the peace and forgiveness you receive here and give it to others. They may not notice. They may not care. They may even laugh and take advantage of you. But Jesus knows, and notices. And a little forgiveness is a big offering to Him. 

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

The Congregation at Prayer

For the Week of Pentecost 25 (November 11-16, 2024)

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

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: Hebrews 10:25b – ”Encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #508 “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near”

Hymns for Sunday: 644, 508, 622, 514, 733, 813

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

Monday: Psalm 16

What is the “path of life” the psalmist is talking about? How did Jesus prepare this path for us? How do we go through this with Him? How will we be delivered from corruption?

Tuesday: 2 Peter 3:3-14

Why hasn’t the Last Day come yet? Why is this good? What should we be doing as we wait for that Day and Jesus’ return?

Wednesday: Matthew 25:31-46

Are the sheep righteous because of what they did, or did they do what they did because they are righteous? What about the goats? How was life and death already evident in them?

Thursday: Daniel 12:1–3

How does Daniel describe the Last Day? What will happen on that day? Who will be delivered? Who will not? Why?

Friday: Hebrews 10:11–25

What confidence do we have in Christ and what He has done for us? What does this enable us to do? How can we now live?

Saturday: Mark 13:1–13

What are the signs of the end coming? How is the world falling apart? Do you see some of these signs today? Does this make you anxious? Why? Why do you need not be?

The Catechism - The Sacrament of the Altar: What is the Sacrament of the Altar? [Part 1] It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

Collect for the Week: O Lord, by Your bountiful goodness release us from the bonds of our sins, which by reason of our weakness we have brought upon ourselves, that we may stand firm until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 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 Christ Evang. Lutheran Church – Sierra Leone, for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, and provision for Hope for the Destitute (Kenyan widows and orphans).

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 Feast of All Saints

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“A Place for All the Saints”

Text: Revelation 7:2-17; Matthew 5:1-12; 1 John 3:1-3

 

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

No more hunger. No more thirst. No more scorching heat. Springs of living water. No more tears. 

It sounds a little like all the promises we’ve been hearing for the past few months! Everything will be great. You’ll have all you need and want. No more heat upon you from others. Everyone will be happy. If you just elect ______________ (fill in the blank).

And all the crowds shout: Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our candidate forever and ever!

But, of course, it won’t be like that, no matter who is elected. Sin will go on. It might look different, things might sounds different, but one thing you know about sinners: they gonna sin. It’s what we do. We break promises. We hurt others. We hurt ourselves. So there will always be hunger, thirst, heat, and tears. Not by God’s design, but because of our sin. 

This world will never be a utopia. Which, ironically, is exactly what that word means. I just started reading a book that explained that. That the word utopia is made up of two Greek words - ou, meaning no; and topos, meaning place. So, utopia is literally: no place. Nowhere.

And yet today, All Saints Day, we declare there is such a place. Not here. Not yet. But there was, and there will be. There was, in the beginning, when God created everything perfect and good, and before our sin ruined it. And there will be again, when God re-creates everything perfect and good again. A new heavens and a new earth. Not a utopia; not a no place. But a place. Where the dwelling of God is with man, and man with God. No more separation caused by sin, because there will be no more sin. Or death. Or tears. Only life. As it was meant to be.

This is what God has desired all along. This is the way He made us. To have life with Him. And then we decided that wasn’t good enough. We wanted more. And when Adam and Eve reached for more, they got more alright! But not the more they thought they were getting! They got more pain, more tears; trials and trouble, and death.

But still God desired to dwell with man. He did not give up on us. It could no longer be the way it used to be. Now as fallen, sinful beings, for God to dwell with us as He did in the beginning would only bring our destruction. So it would now have to be different. So God now hides Himself in order to dwell with us. In clouds. In burning bushes. In Tabernacles and Temples. Until He did His greatest work, and came to us hiding in our own flesh and blood. Jesus, Immanuel, God, the blessed one, and the source of all blessing, God with us. Not just to save us, although yes, that. But not just save the old creation, but re-new us; make us new creations. Undo what we did. So that as it was in the beginning, it could - and would - be again.

Jesus came to do that, and to show us what such a life looks like. What it means to be blessed. He hungered and thirsted for righteousness - our righteousness. He was meek and merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker. And for all this He was reviled and persecuted and had all kinds of evil spoken against Him, culminating in His reviling, accusations of evil, and crucifixion on the cross. When once again a tree ended the dwelling of God with us.

Except this time, it really didn’t! This time, just as a tree in the Garden once overcame us, a tree saved us. Jesus’ tree. The tree once stained by His blood, but which led to His resurrection. That His blood be for us the cleansing we need, when in baptism He washes us clean from our trespasses and sins and makes us children of God. And so we are, John goes on to say. We are, though what we will be has not yet appeared. That is, just as the Son of God was hidden in human flesh and blood, so are we children of God in this world and life. Hidden. We’re subject to the same troubles and struggles as everyone else. But with this difference . . . we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. Then we will see and be seen, and what was hidden now revealed for all to see. 

And what will we see? A great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. 

A great multitude. Which is great to hear, comforting, because being a Christian, as many of you know, can be very lonely. Great multitudes of Christians seem to be less and less these days. A prominent Lutheran theologian once called Christianity The Lonely Way. Lonely at work, at school, in your neighborhood, maybe even in your own family. Others not sharing your beliefs but scoffing at them. And it’s easy to feel vastly outnumbered in this world where so many are rushing at increasing speed away from the Christian truth. But the good news is this: one God dwelling with you is more than a great multitude against you. 

So though perhaps lonely now, there is a great multitude that belongs to Christ, and you among them. You, for you have washed your robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. You, for your hope is in the Lord, and everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. All Saints Day means you are not alone and never will be. You are part of the Body of Christ, one flesh with your Saviour and with your fellow believers. 

So not what can be seen or felt defines you - your faith does. Your saint-creating, life-sustaining, forgiveness-receiving, faith. Faith that receives the gifts of God and makes them your own. So while it has become fashionable these days to define yourself, name yourself, identify yourself, far better is to receive the name and identity given you by God Himself: child of God, and saint.

And blessed with such an identity and life, you can live accordingly. A blessed life. A saintly life, we could even say. The life Christ lived, and as we heard today. Not, though, as what you have to do to be blessed, but because you are blessed. God has already promised you all the blessings we heard today in those verses from Matthew, the Beatitudes. So you’re not doing those things in order that God may bless you, as if you are earning those blessings. Rather, you’re doing those things because you are blessed. These are the things that make your blessedness visible.

So according to Jesus, what does a saint look like? What does blessed look like? It looks like this: poor in spirit, meek, mourning, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted. Maybe not how you think of a blessed life! Certainly not what the world would consider blessed! But should we not expect a different view from a world rushing at increasing speed away from the Christian truth? It is, in fact, when the Church - or us Christians - look and sound and align with the world that should be a warning sign to us, to return to the Scriptures, to repent and return to Christ, the source of every blessing. To return to Him here at the altar and receive His Body and Blood hidden in bread and wine. And thus holied, sainted, raised, and forgiven, live blessed! Live this blessed life we’ve been blessed with.

Live this life until we join with that great multitude coming out of the great tribulation; coming out of the trials and troubles, the struggles and persecution of this world, and take our place before the throne of God. We remember today those who have done so this year - from our congregation, from our families. We mourn our loss and rejoice in their gain. God kept His baptismal promises to them and took them home. That great multitude got a little bigger. And for that we give thanks.

And we give thanks for the multitude that is gathered here today. The visible multitude isn’t so big. But the invisible multitude is! And unseen doesn’t mean unreal. The angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. We confess their presence because it is very much real. Here, around Christ, we take our place with them. With all the saints. The Lamb in the midst of the throne is their Shepherd; the Lamb on the altar is ours.But it’s the same Lord, tending His flock, losing none that belong to Him. That All the Saints find their rest in Him. 

So whatever happens on Tuesday, whoever gets elected, lift up your hearts to the one making all things new. Lift up your minds to the truth of His Word. And lift up your faith to the promises that will never let you down. The promises not of a politician, but of a Saviour. Of God Himself. Who does not promise a utopia, a no place, but promises you a place - a place with Him, and with All the Saints, forever. 

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

Sermon for the Festival of the Reformation

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“No Fear When God Gives Himself to You”

Text: Revelation 14:6-7; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36; Psalm 46

 

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

What is the worst thing in this world? What is the worst thing that could happen in this world? What do you fear the most in this world? 

We all have little fears . . . losing a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing a test, messing up at work. And these are our own. But there are bigger fears, too. And these are shared by many.

Like, people losing their minds over next week’s election. Both sides stirring up fear if the wrong candidate gets elected as our next president. 

You’ve also heard the fear that the war in the Middle East, or the war in Ukraine, or an upcoming war for Taiwan might escalate into World War III or a nuclear holocaust. 

We were told to fear Helene and Milton. Storm surge, flooding, tornadoes, devastation. We’ve seen the pictures from the Carolinas and Florida. They’re frightening. It looks very much, in fact, like what Psalm 46 was describing - the earth giving way; mountains moving and the waters roaring and foaming.

We fear crime. We fear losing our jobs, our homes. Buy a generator, stock up on food and water, arm yourself. Fear covid, or the next covid variant, or the next pandemic-causing virus coming down the pike. 

There is certainly no shortage of things to fear in this world. Big things. And I’m sure you could add more things to this list.

But there is something worse than all this. Worse than politics, worse than war, worse than natural disasters, worse than food shortages, worse than disease or nakedness or poverty. It simply does not get worse or more desperate in this life than a person who does not know his Saviour; who does not know that she has a gracious, loving, giving God.

Now maybe you disagree with me about that. I’m a pastor, after all, so I have to say that, right? But maybe I’m right. And maybe that little nagging voice in your head is telling you I’m right. That you’ve been fearing the wrong things. That you’ve been loving the wrong things. That you’ve been trusting the wrong things. Things that are of this world, not of eternity. This world that is passing away. This world that is constantly changing. That’s been your focus instead of the changeless one, the eternal one. And therefore, fear. 

But the reading from Revelation that we heard today is to give us hope. To direct our hearts and minds back to the one who is greater than all; greater than whatever it is you fear. 

Chapter 13 of Revelation, just before our reading for today, describes two beasts, servants of the dragon, satan, unleashing persecution on Christians. I didn’t mention that before; and maybe that is something you fear - persecution. At the beginning of chapter 14, though, we are given a vision of the Church Triumphant. That all who belong to the Lamb, who belong to Jesus, are safe. All of them. Every single one known and counted. Neither the dragon nor his beasts could have them. And never will.

But that’s not us, yet. We’re still here. In the Church Militant. So to us, three angels are sent to announce the defeat of the dragon and his beasts. And the first angel’s message is the one we heard today; a message for all who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And his message is this: Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.

So he says first, fear God. If you are going to fear anyone or anything thing, don’t let it be one of the things that are less than Him! Fear Him! The one who is over all. And second, he says, give Him glory. I think it’s important that those two things are put together and are not separate. Because to fear God is to give Him glory. It is to acknowledge Him as the one above all. The one who holds all things in His hands - not just the present, but the past and the future. There is nothing above Him or equal to Him. Nothing that can overthrow Him. He is the Almighty. Fear Him and give Him glory . . .

Because the hour of His judgment has come.

Now maybe that statement makes you fear! The thought of death and Judgment Day. The thought that I’m going to be on trial! And our guilty consciences fear. I know my sin, and so I know what the judgment against me should be . . . 

But that statement is not meant to make you fear. Because in this context, the judgment is on the dragon, the beasts, and those who follow him. This is a proclamation of good news! That all the evil and wickedness and sin and turmoil that causes us fear will one day end. There is an hour, a time, a day, already chosen. These things may all be greater than us, but they are not greater than our Lord. And as I said a couple of weeks ago, just as satan and his angels were cast down from heaven to the earth, so the day is coming when they will be cast down from the earth into the abyss, once and for all. And the hour for that is coming. It. Will. Be. We may wish it to come sooner - and maybe it will be soon! But that’s not up to us. Our Lord has His time. And it is the right time. 

And we know this because our Lord has already shown us. Satan tried to make his hour and his judgment come, avenging his casting down by casting Jesus into death and the grave. And it worked! . . . for a few hours. But when Jesus rose from death and the tomb was empty, the victory was won. So while it is true, as Paul wrote and as we heard again today, that all have sinned - we have sinned - and fall short of the glory of God, and deserve judgment and casting down ourselves, we will not be. For this is true as well, that we are justified - made right, raised up - by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 

So in Christ Jesus, we need not fear Judgment Day. The Son has set us free. So we are free indeed. Free from fear, from from judgment, free to live. For when you are baptized into Jesus, your Judgment Day happened some 2,000 years ago when Jesus took your sins - all of them - and was judged for them; condemned for them. That’s done. That water, filled with the words and promises of God, washed you clean with His forgiveness, put God’s name on you, and made you His. Your judgment is done. The verdict is in. You are free.

Free now, as the angel in Revelation said, to worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water. 

Now, the angel already said to fear God and give Him glory, so to worship Him means something different than that. And it’s not just that God is the Almighty, though He is that. Maybe the clue here is in the words themselves, the creation of heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water. For why did God create these? He didn’t need them. They are for you. They are gifts for you. And the highest worship of God is to receive His gifts. To acknowledge Him as the giver, to receive His gifts with joy, and to give thanks for them. For this gives Him joy. How do you feel when someone despises a gift you give them? Not good, right? But when they are filled with joy, so are you.

But let me circle back to the beginning of this sermon . . . if our greatest fear should not be the things of this world and life, but not knowing and having our Saviour, then the greatest gifts of God we receive are not the things of this world and life, but the gifts given here. That’s why this is often called worship, or better, the Divine Service. For here the Divine is serving us. Here God gives us the gifts we need the most: His Word, His forgiveness, His Body and Blood, His life and salvation. The gifts that give eternal life. The gifts that join us to our Saviour and set us free. This is number one.

Now maybe you disagree with me about that. I’m a pastor, after all, so I have to say that, right? But maybe I’m right. And maybe that little nagging voice in your head is telling you I’m right. That you’ve put other things first in your life, and so fear.

Saint Augustine, an early church theologian, preached it this way. He said: God does not merely give us what belongs to Him, rather He gives Himself to us . . . It is one thing for God to sacrifice what is His. It is entirely another for Him to sacrifice Himself for us. . . . You appear to yourself to be rich. Yet if you have not God, what do you have? And a poor man, if he has God, what does he not have?

God gives Himself to us. You know, really, that is what the Reformation was all about. Oh, they didn’t deny that at the time, but it wasn’t the focus. The focus, rather, was about us giving ourselves to God. But have you? Have you enough? Have you well enough? And with those questions, fear.

But God gives Himself to us. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. The answer in Psalm 46 to all that causes us fear in this world, is this, at the end: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. And what helps you when you are afraid? When someone is with you. And especially, someone who can do something about and help you with your fear.

Luther picked up on that, and so wrote his hymn A Mighty Fortress (LSB #656). And so over the years, some folks have thought that he was the angel in the reading from Revelation, proclaiming again this good news. And I will say: he was. But there are also others who thought this angel was Elijah - and I will say: they are right, too. He was. And this angel is Saint Augustine, John the Baptist, and all who preach the Gospel. All who point to Christ crucified and say: There is your judgment. There is your salvation. There is your hope. For there the Son of God has set your free. For He came and was Bound in Death’s Strong Bands (LSB #458) for you, and broke them. He is free, and so you are free.

So let me ask you again . . .

What is the worst thing in this world? What is the worst thing that could happen in this world? What do you fear the most in this world? 

Maybe your answer has changed, like it changed for Luther, who somehow became so bold to stand against both Pope and Emperor. That’s what the Word of God does. It takes away our fear. The Word preached to us, the Word crucified for us, the Word that washes us, and the Word fed to us. And the Word that is coming again for us. And when He does, no fear, just joy. No more death, just life. 

And until that day, you can live in joy and peace. Because A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.

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