Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“Perfectly Imperfect”

Text: Matthew 9:9-13; Romans 4:13-25; Hosea 5:15-6:6

 

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

Follow me, Jesus said to Matthew.

[Looking around] Me?

Yes, you! Follow me.

But I’m a tax collector! A Jew collecting taxes for the Romans! Nobody wants me. 

I do. You’re perfect. Follow me.

Perfect?

Yes, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Outcasts. The ones nobody else wants, I do. Follow me.

But Lord! [Now the others there chiming in . . .]

Yes?

A tax collector? Really? I mean, a couple of smelly fishermen was bad enough! Now this? Him? And the others like Him? 

Isn’t it great? 

No! You’re making yourself unclean, hanging out with . . . you know.

No, I don’t know. With who?

With . . . them! 

Exactly!

What?

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I will become sick, I’ll take their sickness, that they may be well. I will become unclean, I will take their uncleanness, that they may be clean. That’s what I came for.

But he doesn’t deserve it!

Neither do you! Now, where were we? Oh, yes. Matthew, follow me.

And he rose and followed him.

That same scene could have played out with Abraham, who was an idolater until God called him (Joshua 24:2). And with Paul, who was a persecutor of Jesus and the Church until God called him. And maybe with the prophet Hosea, too, though we don’t know much about him. They were all perfect because they weren’t. Because it all depends on God and His grace. Whoever they will be, whatever they will do, will be all by grace through faith.

And what about you? You fit this pattern too, don’t you? Perfectly imperfect. For what is there about you that should disqualify you from being a Christian? Because I know there’s something! Something in your past. Something you’re struggling with right now. Something with your children or your parents. Something with your family or your marriage. Something you wish you wouldn’t have done, or done differently. Regrets. Failures. Great and magnificent sins. What is it for you? What is that thing that if others knew about . . . would make you one of . . . you know, them.

Truth is, you shouldn’t be here. Yet here you are. Sick with sin. Ashamed. Unclean. Perfect for Jesus.

For Jesus said to you: follow me. Actually, even more than that. For when you were baptized in His Name, He said: you are mine. Washed clean, forgiven, by grace through faith. Because whoever you are, whatever you are struggling with, you are exactly who Jesus came for. 

God used the prophet Hosea to illustrate that for Him. As I said, we don’t know hardly anything about Hosea before God called him to be a prophet. But after that, we know how God used him. And what God had Hosea do was marry a prostitute as a living parable; as a picture of Himself and the nation of Israel, who was being unfaithful to Him and prostituting themselves with false gods. And while God would strike Israel down, as we heard Hosea say today, He did so in love! So that He could raise them up again. To bring them back from their unfaithfulness and rescue them. And Hosea explains how: 

After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.

Two days and three days are figurative days for the nation. They will be struck down for just a short time, not forever. But they were also literal days . . . for the one who would do the raising. For the one who would take their sickness and uncleanness to make them well and clean. Who would take their shame and guilt and atone for it. The one who came to do that for Israel and all the nations and people of the world. 

Even for tax collectors.

The one who was promised to Abraham when God called him from his idolatry for this very special purpose: to be the father of the one to come; who would come and do this and be heir of the world. Who would redeem the world - all people of all time, from Adam and Eve to even those today not yet born - to redeem us from our bondage to sin. That all follow him. From the least to the greatest. From the least sinner to the greatest sinner. From tax collectors and fishermen, to accountants, lawyers, and technology gurus. That on the third day, as Paul said, the one who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification, bring us to life together with Him in His resurrection from the dead. That by grace, [our] faith be counted to [us] as righteousness. 

That’s what happened for Matthew. He tells his own story in so few words that it’s easy to miss its significance. But once we realize this, it also makes this account a perfect reading to begin this long, green Pentecost season with. To start this season by reminding us who we are and how we got here, and what we might be struggling with.

Struggling, because it’s easy to look around and compare ourselves with others and maybe think: I shouldn’t be here! And it’s easy to look around and compare ourselves with others and maybe think: They shouldn’t be here! But the truth is: none of us should. My issues may be different than your issues, my sins than your sins, my struggles than your struggles, but all of us are here by grace through faith. The perfectly imperfect made perfectly perfect in Jesus. 

And so it is now to this house that Jesus has come to recline at table with many tax collectors and sinners. To be our great physician. To feed us and lift us up from our sins to sit at His table. And what makes us worthy to do so, the Catechism teaches us, is that, like Matthew, we know we’re unworthy! But Jesus said: follow Me! So follow we do, as we follow Him to the cross, and from the cross to the Table, where acknowledging our wretchedness and unworthiness, repenting of our sins, the Body and Blood of the cross are given to us to eat and drink and raise us in forgiveness to life.

Now, the Pharisees didn’t like that! Jesus should be keeping better company! But that’s not how Jesus sees it, and thank God for that! For then He wouldn’t be here, with us and for us. And then we’d have to earn an invitation with our own goodness and worthiness . . . and I don’t know about you, but that is one invitation I could never earn! And I don’t think that would stop the grumbling either. In fact, I think it might even make it worse! For I think those who think they are righteous and have earned it would grumble at those they think unrighteous and unworthy, and those folks would grumble right back at those who think themselves superior! 

So instead, since none of us are worthy, instead of grumbling at one another, we can join together in praise and thanksgiving to the one who made our presence here possible. To the one who said follow me. To the one who died for us all and rose for us all and now feeds us all. Because Jesus wants us all - tax collectors, sinners, smelly fishermen, Pharisees, accountants, lawyers, teachers, technology gurus . . . even pastors! And He wants those not here yet - those still out there, some needing to be struck down, some needing to be lifted up, all needing to hear His call, and for the work of the Spirit through those words, follow me. 

Follow me. 

Follow me to the cross, where I laid down my life for you, and you can lay down your life to be a blessing for others. Follow me to the Font, and remember your sin - all your unworthiness, ALL of it - is washed away and you are raised with Me to a new life. Follow me to the Altar, to be fed and strengthened in your struggle. Follow me to the Word, and hear how much I love you. And one day, finally, you will follow me is rising from the dead, to My heavenly Feast. Where Matthew will be. And not a few smelly fishermen. A few lawyers. Maybe even a few pastors! All one in Christ. All imperfect no more.

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 2 (June 8-13, 2026)

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

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: Matthew 9:36 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #834 “O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth”

Hymns for Sunday: 646, 834, 634, 830, 524, 566

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

Monday: Psalm 100

Who is being called on to praise the Lord? Where? Why?

Tuesday: Luke 14:15-24

Why were people avoiding the great banquet? What things do you put ahead of God and His gifts? Why? Is this wise or foolish?

Wednesday: Acts 11:19–30, 13:1–3

Commemoration of St. Barnabas, Apostle. What kind of man was Barnabas? What did he do? How was he a gift to the church? 

Thursday: Exodus 19:2–8

What did God do for the people of Israel? What does He call them here? Why? Did they deserve such a high honor?

Friday: Romans 5:6–15

How do we know God loves us? How does this enable us to love God? What do we need? How does Jesus give it?

Saturday: Matthew 9:35 - 10:20

Jesus gave His disciples a pretty daunting task! Why? How could they do this? What confidence did they have?

The Catechism - The Creed: The Second Article [part 4]: And [I believe] in Jesus Christ . . . the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ . . . has redeemed me . . . that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

Collect for the Week: Almighty, eternal God, in the Word of Your apostles and prophets You have proclaimed to us Your saving will. Grant us faith to believe Your promises that we may receive eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, 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, guidance, and strength for Pastor Douthwaite.

+ the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church, for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, wisdom, and provision for our Synod’s Veterans of the Cross program.

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 Festival of the Holy Trinity

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“The Sound of Creation and Re-creation”

Text: Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a; Acts 2:14b, 22-36; Matthew 28:16-20

 

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

If you’re like me, when you hear the account of creation from Genesis like we just did, you kind of form a picture in your mind of what God’s new and perfect creation might have looked like. Or maybe you think of pictures you’ve seen in books. But this morning, instead of that, think about this: creation isn’t just something to be seen - creation has a sound to it as well.

Laurie and I spent a few days at a cabin this week and we heard sounds other than car engines, honking horns, construction equipment, and the constant sound of technology dinging, beeping, and ringing! It was quite delightful! We heard birds and animals, water, wind, and rain. Lots of rain! The sounds of creation. And imagine Adam and Eve in the Garden hearing for the first time the sounds of creation around them - the singing of birds, the flowing of water - the joy they must have gotten from that! 

But even before that creation had a sound: the sound of the voice of God. Before there was anything else, there was God’s speaking let there be . . . and that sound of the Father, through the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, brought into being all of creation. And then, on the sixth day, no let there be, but instead the sound of God speaking, Let us make man in our image. And when God carefully crafted the crown of His creation, His man and woman, then more sound! The voice of God speaking again - not just instructions, but gifts: Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over every living thing. And every plant you shall have for food. And this voice of God Himself I imagine was more beautiful to the ears of Adam and Eve than anything else they ever heard. 

But soon that beautiful voice wasn’t so beautiful anymore . . . when sin distorted the hearing of God’s man and woman. When they heard a satanic mockingbird, imitating the sound of God’s voice, speaking as God did, but not to create - to destroy. To corrupt and ruin all that God created good. You see, sin has a sound, too. It is the sound of doubt, uncertainty, questioning, deception, contradiction. Satan was the first scammer. Like when you get that text, that email, and just for a moment wonder if it’s real, if it’s true . . . Well, Eve clicked. She fell for it. And they got nothing promised in that scam - only pain and grief. And then a sound not heard before: accusing and blaming voices.

But then another sound . . . the sound of the Rescuer. God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. Sound that before would have brought Adam and Eve joy, now bringing dread and fear. But God didn’t just make the sound of walking in the Garden - God again spoke. This time, a promise. To fix what they had broken. To scam the scammer. To restore the life and innocence he had taken. To make them whole again. And with the sound of that promise, God created again. He created faith in His children. To give them hope. 

The sound of that hope and promise was then repeated through the years and centuries, until the sound of God’s very voice sounded forth from a most unusual place: a manger. The Rescuer had come. The Father had sent His Son into our flesh. And once grown, with the sound of His voice He created, He healed, He restored. To many, it was the most beautiful sound they had ever heard. But others heard His voice not with joy, but with anger and spite. And they silenced that beautiful voice of God . . . on the cross.

That’s what we heard Peter talk about in the reading from Acts today. His preaching on the Day of Pentecost. Of the Son of God, the Word of God made flesh, silenced in death by men of distorted hearing, which caused them to live twisted and distorted lives. But this Peter also said: that this happened according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. Which is to say, according to the promise the sounded forth from God in the Garden. This was the sound of hope from the mouth of Peter. The sound that rescued Adam and Eve, to rescue their descendants as well. The promise of God fulfilled, the rescue of God accomplished, when the one whose voice was silenced on the cross sounded forth again in His resurrection.

And remember what we heard last week: those who heard the sound of Peter and the others preach this were people from all over the world. And they were hearing the sound of this beautiful good news in their own language. Now to appreciate how beautiful that must have sounded to them, realize that up to now, they would bring their offerings to the Temple and present them to the Lord with Hebrew words the priests said and they repeated but didn’t understand! But now they could! Hear and understand. 

Because just as creation has a sound and sin has a sound, so too does re-creation have a sound. The sound of the voice of God spoken by His apostles, speaking of His promises and gifts. Of what once was and now is again in Jesus. But not just that. The sound, too, of the splashing of water that gives new life, and the biting and chewing and swallowing of bread and wine that is far more than just bread and wine - but the Body and Blood of God Himself. The one who in the beginning gave every green plant for food, now giving His Body and Blood for food! And with that, the beautiful sound, the good news that the tree of the cross is now the tree of life giving its fruit again.

And with those sounds, Jesus told His disciples, go once again, fill the earth and subdue it! With children born of God, born again, born from above. Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them with the sound of the splashing water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them with the sound of the beautiful good news of a Saviour, a Rescuer. Of a promise made and a promise fulfilled. Of life and new life. Of creation and re-creation. Of hope and a future. The same voice of the Father, through the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit sounding forth again through His Church.

And now it is our turn. The sound of the Gospel goes forth from this place. It is proclaimed, it is sung, it is splashed, it is eaten, it is confessed. The sounds of men and women, young and old, gathered together by God and joined together by God into this one holy communion here, this Church. To proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). And the power of the Holy Spirit continues to work through this Word, re-creating, restoring, and renewing by the gifts of forgiveness and faith.

And when other sounds come forth from us . . . other than helpful words, loving words, faithful words . . . sounds that should not be, but are . . . sounds of anger, hate, deception, shame, lies . . . then more sound: the sound of repentance. I am a poor, miserable sinner . . . in thought, word, and deed . . . I deserve present and eternal punishment. But the One who spoke in the beginning and it was so, the One who promised to make things right, the One who came and fulfilled that promise, then speaks again: I forgive you. I am the sinner. I took your sin, I took your punishment - all of it. You are free. 

Because the promise, I am with you always . . . it’s really always been so. You may not always realize it, you may listen to voices other than mine, Jesus says, but from the beginning I have been caring for my creation and caring for you. I am with you always, so that you will be with me always - in a new Paradise. That as it was in the beginning, it will be forever. All that you need, I provide. All that you need, I have done. I created you and redeemed you. I died for you and rose from the dead for you. I baptized you and feed you. And I will until the end of the age. And then I will continue in the life of the age to come.

Hear this sound of the voice of your Good Shepherd, all His words and promises, and follow where He leads. For He is leading you to life. The life of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That life that has no end. And what sound then? Well, just as creation has a sound, and sin has a sound, and re-creation has a sound, so too does glory have a sound! And that sound will be unlike anything you’ve ever heard before! Of angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. One great voice of praise to our triune God, more beautiful than anything you’ve ever heard before.

We’ll confess that now, as we sound forth together the words of the Athanasian Creed, the catholic, that is, universal faith that has been confessed for centuries, from places all around the world, and in languages of every kind. That this is who God is. That this is what God has done. That this is what we believe, teach, and confess. That by grace through faith our sins are forgiven and our good works are remembered. That without this faith, we still bear our sins and have nothing good in us. But that our triune God has spoken life into us. That by His wounds - and then His words - we are healed, forgiven. So that when He comes again in glory, we will go with Him to glory. 

Until that Day, hear the sound of His blessing, and know that it is true. That even better than the hymn we just sang, Saint Patrick’s hymn of the Trinity (LSB #604), that Saint Patrick bound unto to himself the strong name of the trinity - even better than that, this truth: that the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - has bound Himself to us. 

To bless you and keep you.

To make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

To look upon you with favor, and give you peace. 

Beautiful words, to give you life. His life. Perfect life. As it was in the beginning.

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