Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: 2020

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Luke 2,32-40. 1. Sun. After Christmas

Luke 2,32-40 0621

1. Sonntag nach dem Christfest 09

Stephen, Deacon and Archmartyr. Martyr in Jerusalem 34

11 Nigerians Martyrs 2019 in NE Nigeria by Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP)

27. Dezember 2020

1. O Almighty and Everlasting God, mercifully direct our ways, so that we may walk in Your law, and be made to abound in good works. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »And Simeon arrived in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:„Lord, now you are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for Glory to Your people Israel.“ And His father and His mother marveled at what was said about Him.«

3. In today’s Gospel reading we see and hear the Nunc Dimittis in its pristine form: first sung by Simeon when he saw the Messiah enter the temple. He proclaims that the Messiah brings Yahweh’s salvation, which is for all people; Messiah is a Light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the Glory of Israel.

4. Simeon puts to song what the Prophet Isaiah had proclaimed 700 years earlier: »The people who walked in darkness have seen a Great Light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them Light has shined« (9,2). From this we arrive at the Great Antiphon for 21. December:

℣ O Morning Star, splendor of Light Everlasting and Sun of Righteous- | ness: *

℟ Draw near and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shad- | ow of death.

The Apostle John tells us in his Gospel that the new born Jesus is our Light who shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome Him (1,4-5). In the darkest of our nights, when all hope seems to be extinguished, when tribulations surround us and weigh down upon us, when death seems unconquerable, Christ the Light of the world shines brightly and illuminates our darkness. Hope is restored. Tribulations are overcome. Death is conquered. Jesus is the Morning Star who heralds the dawning of a new day of light and glory, a day full of grace, mercy and peace.

5. Anna, who was also there that day in the temple, gave thanks to God for the advent of the Messiah. She told others who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Anna connects the arrival of the Messiah to the language of atonement. This language book ends the beginning and the end of Luke’s Gospel. In chapter 1, Zechariah the father of John the Baptizer, says: »Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel, that He visited and made redemption for His people« (1,68). In chapter 24, the 2 Emmaus disciples tell the yet unrecognized Jesus: »We were hoping that Jesus of Nazareth is the one about to redeem Israel« (24,21). Simeon, Anna, the two disciples and Luke speak with words anticipating salvation and forgiveness.

6. The Church still speaks of Jesus as our Redeemer and Savior to this very day; this gospel is the cornerstone of preaching and proclamation that happens each Sunday. The Prophet Isaiah assures us: »Yahweh has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted« (49,13). The Apostle Paul tells us that the Lord pours out this comfort through Christ: »When the right time had arrived, God sent a forth His son, born of woman, born under the law, and redeemed those who were under the law, so that we received adoption as sons and daughters« (Galatians 4,9).

7. Luke concludes this pericope by telling us Jesus became strong [εκραταιιουτο], filled with wisdom and the favor [χαρις] of God was upon him. This is the fulfillment of Isaiah 11: »The Spirit of Yahweh shall rest upon the Branch of Jesse, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength [ίσχυος], the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of Yahweh« (11,2). The favor of God the Father was upon Jesus, and Jesus places this grace and mercy upon us now and always. Amen.

8. Let us pray. O Lord, You remembered Your steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; by this mercy let us see that all the ends of the earth have seen Your salvation, so that we are comforted that Your favor, mercy and grace is upon us too. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

1. Sunday after Christmas video

1. Sunday after Christmas DS IV

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Isaiah 11 video

Isaiah 11 Bible study

Genesis 18,1-2.9-15. Rorate Caeli

Genesis 18,1-2.9-15 0421

Rorate Caeli 04 (4. Sunday in Advent)

Ammon, Zenon, and other Confessors, ✠ 250

Katharina von Bora Luther, ✠ 1552

20. December 2020

1. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, it is meet and right that we should give thanks unto You, that You have given us a more glorious baptism than that of John the Baptizer, and have therein promised us the remission of sins, the Holy Spirit, and everlasting life through Your Son, Jesus Christ: Preserve us, we beseech You, in such faith in Your grace and mercy, so that we may never doubt Your promise, but be comforted by the same in all temptations: and grant us Your Holy Spirit so that we may renounce sin, and ever continue in the righteousness bestowed upon us in Baptism, until by Your grace we obtain eternal salvation. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »And “And Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth. They said to him: „Where is Sarah your wife?“ And he said: „She is in the tent.“ Yahweh said: „I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.“ And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying: „After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?“ Yahweh said to Abraham: „Why did Sarah laugh and say: ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.“ But Sarah denied it, saying: „I did not laugh,“ for she was afraid. He said: „No, but you did laugh.“«

3. There is a parallel between Genesis 18 and John 1: prepare the way of Yahweh. In Genesis 18 it is Yahweh Himself who prepares His way, and in John 1 it is John the Baptizer who prepares the way. In Genesis 18 Yahweh tells Abraham and Sarah that when He returns this time next year they will have had a son, whom we know is Isaac. In John 1 John the Baptizer tells the people that the Messiah, the descendent of Isaac, is about to arrive, whom we know is Jesus

4. The Messianic promise goes through Abraham and Sarah, but in chapter 18 they have no children and the prospect is bleak because Sarah is 89 years old – she is past the childbearing years. So the fact that she laughs at hearing she will become a mother at 90 is a laugh of surprise with a tinge of mocking humor, one which we would expect from someone in her position. Yet, Yahweh will turn her laughter into one of joy. Genesis 21 tells us the story of Isaac’s birth. His name means he laughs. Sarah herself says: »God has made laughter for me« (21,6). Not only did Yahweh give Sarah the joyous laughter but He rained down blessings upon her with the miraculous birth of Isaac who is the heir of Abraham and the ancestor of the Messiah.

5. On the 4. Sunday in Advent the heavens shower down righteousness and salvation (Isaiah 45,8), for Yahweh has arisen and has had compassion on His creation; it is now the time of grace; the appointed time has arrived (Psalm 102,13). The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed: »Break forth together into singing, for Yahweh has comforted His people; He has redeemed them« (Isaiah 52,9).

6. Today’s Advent antiphon is:

℣ O Key Key of David and Scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open:

℟ Draw near and rescue the prisoners, those who are in darkness and those in the shadow of death.

Yahweh opened Sarah’s womb and she bore Isaac; Yahweh caused Mary’s virgin womb to conceive and she bore Jesus. This Jesus is the Key of David and the Scepter of Israel. He holds the keys of Death and Hades; He opens locked doors, releases those bound by the Devil and brings light to those in the shadows of despair and lost in the darkness of unbelief. Christ is the splendor of light everlasting.

7. The 4. purple Advent candle is lighted today, and proclaims: »Rorate caeli, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness« (Isaiah 45,8a). Its light completes the advent wreath and shines forth with the other candles. The 1. candle begins the illumination of Advent and proclaims: »Rejoice greatly, Populus Zion! Behold, your King is drawing near to you; He is justifying and saving« (Zechariah 9,9). The 2. candle adds its light: »Unto You, O Lord, Ad te Levavi« (Psalm 25,1). The 3. candle brings the light of joy: »Gaudete in the Lord always; rejoice: the Lord is at hand« (Philippians 4,4-5). The righteous rainfall of Christ’s grace cleanses us as we anticipate the 5. candle in our wreath, the white center one, that transforms the Advent wreath into the Christmas wreath on Thursday Eve with its proclamation: »The Lord said to Me: „You are My Son, today I have begotten You« (Psalm 2,7b), for we will celebrate Christ’s birth in 4 days with Word and Carols. Amen.

8. Let us pray. O Christ Jesus, the Perfect Song of Your Heavenly Father; inspire in us the verses we sing to You, our King, so that our hearts overflow with a pleasing theme. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Rorate Caeli video

Rorate Caeli DS III

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Isaiah 9 video

Isaiah 9 Bible study

Luke 1,67-79. Gaudete

Luke 1,67-79 0321

Gaudete 3. Sonntag im Advent 03

Lucia, Virgin Martyr of Syracuse 304

Odilia,Virgin, Abbess, ✠ 720

13. December 2020

1. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, who did suffer Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to become man, and to come into the world, so that He might destroy the works of the Devil; deliver us poor offenders from sin and death, and give us everlasting life: We beseech You so to rule and govern our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, so that we may seek no other refuge than His word, and thus avoid all offense to which, by nature, we are inclined, in order that we may always be found among the faithful followers of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and by faith in Him obtain eternal salvation. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: „Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.“«

3. There are two miraculous births at the beginning of the Gospels. Jesus is the obvious one, for He was conceived while Mary remain a virgin. The birth of John, later called the Baptizer, is the other. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were older than was the norm to be having babies, and Elizabeth furthermore was barren. The only way they were going to have a child was if the Lord Himself intervened, which is exactly what He did. Jesus, of the house of David, is a prince, and John, of the tribe of Levi, is a priest; both of these cousins were also prophets. In Jesus and John we have the three Old Testament offices active: Prophet, Priest and Prince.

4. There are all sorts of prophecies being uttered in the opening chapters of Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels. The angel Gabriel prophesies to both Zechariah and Mary. Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary all prophesy at the announcements and the births of both John and Jesus. The last canonical prophet was Malachi, whose name means in English My messenger, who prophesied in 430 bc; four centuries separate Malachi from John and in that gulf the prophetic voice was silent. As the Gospels of Matthew and Luke begin, the prophetic voice is once again speaking boldly and powerfully.

5. The prophecies in Luke 1 are joyfully jubilant, and they rejoice in what the Lord is doing. Zechariah calls Jesus »a horn of salvation« and John »the prophet«. Together these cousins would give light to those who sit in darkness and guide our feet in the way of peace.

6. When John begins his prophetic ministry, he begins where Malachi ended: The Lord spoke through Malachi: »Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I arrive and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction« (Malachi 3,1; 4,6). Jesus quotes the Prophet Malachi when He tells the crowd that John is the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophetic messenger to come.

7. John’s preaching is one of preparation, and as the last of the Old Testament prophets his message is an exhortation to repent for the reign of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3,2). The Judeans who heard his proclamation were baptized by him confessing their sins (Matthew 3,6) and bearing fruit in keeping with this repentance (Matthew 3,8). The Messiah who is coming after me is mightier than I; He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mathew 3,11). John is referring with this phrase, the Holy Spirit and fire, to the last day (Gibbs 172). Christ baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire referrals directly to the final salvation and judgment that Christ will administer when He returns in glory (Gibbs 173). John proclaims that on the last day, Jesus will pour out the Holy Spirit on those who repented and looked for the advent of God’s reign in Jesus, and all such will be saved (Gibbs 173). Those who persist in their unbelief and reject God’s reign in Jesus will receive on that day the fire of eternal judgment (Gibbs 173). Only God can do this, and John points to Jesus and declares: »Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1,29)!

8. The advent of Jesus and the messianic reign He brings that ushers in the last day is cause for rejoicing. The central theme of this messianic reign is God’s redemption and restoration of His fallen creation. Sin is forgiven. The curse upon sin is now being undone. The gospel is being preached. God’s Absolution is spoken to the repentant. Those who believe in Jesus are blessed (Matthew 11,6).

9. John the Baptizer prepares the way for Jesus. He called people to repentance and promised that the Lord is merciful and forgiving. The order of our Divine Service follows this proclamation: we prepare our way unto the Lord with repentance and confession; God’s Absolution and forgiveness is spoken to us; the Word and Sacraments remind and assure us that we have a gracious, merciful Savior in Jesus Christ. Rejoice!

10. The 3. Advent candle is lighted today, and it is not purple bit rose/pink. It sets this Sunday apart from the other 3 Sundays in advance, for it proclaim: »Gaudete in the Lord always; Gaudete: the Lord is at hand« (Philippians 4,4). This candle shines forth with the 1. candle and its proclamation: »Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Behold your King is drawing near; He is justifying and saving« (Zechariah 9,9), and also with the 2. candle and its proclamation: »Lift up your soul unto the Lord, for your redemption is drawing near« (Luke 21,28). Let us rejoice at Jesus’ advent in anticipation of the 4., and final, Advent candle with its exhortation of: »Shower down, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness!« (Isaiah 40,8a). Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, our Merciful God; pour out upon us Your grace and righteousness, so that we may rejoice, and in rejoicing bear witness to all the world of the salvation You bring. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Advent III video

Advent III Divine Service IV

Friday, December 11, 2020

Isaiah 7 video

Isaiah 7 Bible study

Romans 15,4-13. Ad te Levavi

Romans 15,4-13 0221

Ad te Levavi 02 (2. Sunday in Advent)

Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, ✠ 352

6. December 2020

1. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, who by Your Son has revealed to us that heaven and earth shall pass away, that our bodies shall rise again and that we all shall appear before the judgment seat: we beseech You, keep us by Your Spirit in Your Word; establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, so that our hearts may not be overcharged with surfeiting, drunkenness and cares of this life, but that we may ever watch and pray, and in trusting fully in Your grace, await with joy the glorious advent of Your Son and at last obtain eternal salvation, through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the Glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your Name. [Psalm 18,49] And again it is said: Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people. [Deuteronomy 32,43] And again: Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol Him. [Psalm 117,1] And again Isaiah says: The Root of Jesse will arrive, even He who arises to rule the Gentiles; in Him will the Gentiles hope. [Isaiah 11,10] May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.«

3. The Prophet Isaiah is often called the Fifth Evangelist because of his countless prophecies regarding Christ. He proclaimed the following: »O Yahweh, when you did awesome things that we did not look for, You descended, the mountains quaked at Your presence« (Isaiah 64,3). Perhaps the most unlooked for thing Yahweh did was Isaiah 7, 14: »Therefore Yahweh Himself will give to you a sign: behold, the virgin will conceive in the womb and will bear a son, and you will call him Immanuel.«

4. The Apostle Paul tells us why messianic prophecies such as Isaiah 7,14 are vital: »For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promise given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.« Paul makes a theological connection with Advent I’s Gospel pericope: Jesus entered Jerusalem on an ass, a beast of service, indicating that Jesus enters into His messianic ministry as a servant. Paul writes that Christ became a servant. He uses the Greek word διακονον, deacon, which also means minister, servant and helper.

5. Jesus assures us that: »Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never ever pass away« (Luke 21,33). Like the apostles, we can easily become concerned or obsessed with signs and historical events in regards to their theological or spiritual significance. As Jesus comforts the apostles concerning when the temple will be destroyed, so He comforts us in our concerns. Maybe we are concerned about the political decisions of our leaders, the COVID-19 pandemic, the environment or a host of other things that we focus our attention upon. It is easy to become discouraged, distraught and afraid. This is part and parcel of our fallen nature; we do not fear, love and trust God as we should. Jesus exhorts us to remain always faithful and vigilant, living a life of godliness and spiritual maturity (France 758-59).

6. The Apostle Paul quotes one of Isaiah’s messianic Psalms: »The Root of Jesse will arrive, even He who arises to rule the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles hope« (Isaiah 11,10). The season of Advent promises hope in a dreary time. The promise of Messiah and His heavenly reign is a light shining in the darkness. The Apostle John begins his Gospel with these words: »In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not conquered It. The True Light, which gives light to everyone, was arriving to the world. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His Glory, Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.«

7. The Advent wreath with its 4 candles reminds us of this during the early darkness of winter. Neither winter nor the darkness shall prevail for in the midst of Advent the light pivots, turns and wheels around whereby the daylight begins to lengthen. Christ fulfills this as the Light of the world who at His advent brings light to the world and illuminates the darkness.

8. The 2. purple candle is lighted today in our Advent wreath to proclaim: »Lift up your soul unto the Lord, for your redemption is drawing near« (Luke 21,28). This candle shines forth with the 1. candle and its proclamation: »Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Behold your King is drawing near; He is justifying and saving« (Zechariah 9,9). Let us lift up our souls to Jesus in anticipation of the 3. Advent candle that exhorts us to rejoice, for the Lord is at hand (Philippians 4,5). Amen.

9. Let us pray. O Christ Jesus, our Lord who judges all the world; remind us of our good standing before You in Your righteousness and faithfulness that You have given to us as a gift, so that we remain certain of our salvation. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Advent II Divine Service video

Advent II Divine Service III

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Jude Bible study video

Jude 17-25 Bible study

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Zechariah 9,9-10. Populus Zion

Zechariah 9,9-10 0121

Populus Zion 1. Sonntag im Advent 01

Noah

Saturninus, Bishop of Toulouse, France. Martyr 250

29. November 2020

1. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, we thank, laud and praise You eternally, that You have appointed Your Son a King for us poor men and women, who had to be under death’ and Satan’s tyranny on account of our sins, a Righteous King who frees us from our sins by His death and wants to be a Savior, who helps us against and saves us from death. We also beseech You: enlighten, rule and guide us with your Holy Spirit, so that we hold fast alone to this Righteous King and Savior, and do not, like the world, take offense at His humble form and despised word and thus be saved eternally by a firm trust in Him. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Proclaim, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is drawing near to you; He is justifying and saving, humble and mounted on a donkey and a you g colt. ¹⁰And I will utterly destroy the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem, and He will rule over the bow of warfare, and abundance and peace will be upon the nations; and His will rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.«

3. The Prophet Zechariah writes the book the bears his name in the 8. month in the 2. year of Darius; this dates to November 520 bc. The Darius mentioned is Darius I aka Darius the Great, King of Persia from 522-486 bc. Israel’s Babylonian Captivity has ended. Cyrus had declared that the Jewish exiles may return to Judah 18 years prior in 538 bc. Four years after Zechariah prophesies, the temple was rebuilt and ready for use in 516 bc. Zechariah was living and prophesying at a time of great change. In chapter 8, Zechariah declares that Zion will experience peace and prosperity. In chapter 9 he declares that Judah’s enemies will be judged. This is then contrasted with the Messiah’s arrival mentioned in verse 9.

4. Messiah arrives humbly on an ass with righteousness and salvation. He will speak peace to the nations and rule to the ends of the earth. Having endured 2020, we long for peace and salvation from the hand of Christ. We have endured partisan politics, a bitter election cycle and a worldwide pandemic complete with lockdowns and other demanding restrictions. Zechariah’s message arrives at the most opportune moment in human history. The Apostle Paul’s words of edification strike at our hearts: »And you knew the time, that the hour has arrived for you to wake from sleep, for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed« (Romans 13,11). We begin a new Church Year with this 1. Sunday in Advent rejoicing in Jesus’ advent in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and thus fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9,9-10. Jesus entered Jerusalem to justify and save us fallen sinners. In Jesus’ day, many Jews only focused on the blessings Messiah would bring for Judah, but Zechariah reminds us that the Christ is for all people and all nations; He justifies and saves not just Judah but all the world.

5. Luther comments on verse 9, saying: „He arrives to you a just Savior. This is quite a wonderful description of this King. Just as He is very different from all the kings of the world, so also His area of responsibility and His royal apparatus are clearly different from those which fit a king of this world. Here there is no violence, no armor, no power, no anger and no wrath. All these, you see, or proper for kings of this world. Here there are only kindness, justice, salvation, mercy and every good thing. In short, He dispenses the sweetness and the mercy of God. He is just, because He justifies. He is Savior, because He saves. These are qualities which no king could ever bring to his throne. They are qualities far greater than those which befit a man. Moreover, all of these properties are spiritual and depict a spiritual kingdom, which the arrival and ascension of this just King reveal. For he arrives in humility, riding on an ass.“

6. Zechariah proclaims the advent of the Messiah. His message is: Yahwe shows mercy and remembers His covenant by rescuing His people and guiding our feet into the way of peace. Jesus began to fulfill this covenant on Palm Sunday when He entered Jerusalem where five days later He was crucified in the place of sinners and raised as the first fruit of their resurrection. Today begins the new Church Year with the season of Advent that prepares us for the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born into this fallen world to justify and save us sinners in need of redemption. Amen.

7. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of Zion; shine forth upon us as we prepare to celebrate Your birth, so that we celebrate with joyful hearts certain of our forgiveness and eternal life. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Advent I video

Advent I Divine Service III

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Isaiah 1,10-18. Day of Repentance and Prayer

Isaiah 1,10-18 6220

Buß- und Bettag 072

Gregory Thaumaturgus (the Wonder-worker), Bishop of Pontus. ✠ 270

18. November 2020

1. We, miserable sinners, acknowledge and confess unto you, O our God and Lord, that during our lives we have grievously sinned against You and our fellow man in many ways, by evil thoughts, words and deeds. We are by nature sinful, unjust and unclean, inclined to all that is evil, and corrupt in body and soul, having thereby merited Your Divine wrath, temporal punishment and eternal death. Nevertheless, since You, in Your Word, bear testimony and assure that You have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that through penitence and sorrow he turn unto You and live, therefore we flee unto such Your promises, and to Your unfathomable mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace. O God, be gracious and have mercy upon us, miserable sinners, and forgive our sins and offenses for the sake of the precious merit of Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Löhe 397-98)

2. »Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! „What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. When you arrive to appear before Me, who has required of you this trampling of My courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will become like wool.“«

3. Lutheran hymnals have, for centuries, contain Propers for Buß- und Bettag (Day of Repentance and Supplication; also called Day of Humiliation and Prayer or Day of Supplication and Prayer). These Propers are also appointed for use on the Wednesday before the Last Sunday in the Church year (the upcoming Sunday would then be Eternity/Christ the King Sunday) or the Wednesday in the Last Week of the Church Year (which usually is the day before the American Thanksgiving Day). The services originated in Germany after the conclusion of the European Thirty Years War (1618-48) as a prayer service of confession, thanking God for His mercy and grace to His people. This service was used quite frequently in history. Dukes and rulers introduced them especially during times of tribulation (war, epidemic, etc.), and these days became rather popular. The historic setting of these services in the calendar year fits well with our American traditions too, as this puts it after our Election Tuesday and just before our Thanksgiving Day, and our American political landscape certainly groaned and shook this past Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning! The outcry from some continues to show that man’s political vitriolic against man will not soon abate.

4. Therefore, we pray for those who suffer loss from natural disasters, war and violence. We pray for our enemies, those who persecute us and for unbelievers to believe the gospel of Christ. We also pray for our elected leaders: that they would guide us peaceably and wisely, that God would bless our nation and that God would unite us together as a band of American brothers and sisters. The Psalmist reminds us: »Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God« (Psalm 146,3.5).

5. We also confess our sinfulness. No nation is perfect and no politician above reproach. Our nation commits wicked actions. The weakest and voiceless among us are murdered. Some are downtrodden and oppressed. Others are not treated fairly and equally. Our nation has lofty ideals enshrined in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but we do not perfectly live up to them. We are a politically divided nation, as we have always been, but we are quick to demonize those who vote differently form us, too eager to belittle someone with another opinion and too eager to slander both political leaders and even our very neighbor. We forget that, in general, we all have the same goal to help those in our nation, but we approach that goal from different perspectives and ways to best achieve it. For all that we repent, pray for God to help us be better Christians, better citizens, better neighbors and pray that God leads us a nation committed to morality and virtue.

6. We certainly are also living in a time of pandemic and hysteria, and more-so than before do we need a day of repentance as 2020 draws to a close in about 6 weeks. When the Covid pandemic became more prevalent in early March, we had prayed for repentance and providence that the Lord would watch over us and deliver us from plaque and pestilence. And today, as the Church year draws to an end this coming Sunday, we beseech the Lord for His favor and mercy as we still endure the global and national effects of this pandemic.

7. The Lord exhorted sinful Israel: »Come now, let us reason together: though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will become like wool.« The Lord also exhorts us to draw near to Him and be saved. Look to Christ; trust in Christ. Johann von Staupitz, Luther’s confessor, once told him: „Look at the wounds of Jesus Christ, to the blood that he has shed for you: it is there that the grace of God will appear to you. Instead of torturing yourself on account of your sins, throw yourself into the Redeemer’s arms. Trust in him — in the righteousness of his life — in the atonement of his death. Do not shrink back; God is not angry with you, it is you who are angry with God. Listen to the Son of God. He became man to give you the assurance of divine favor. He says to you, You are my sheep; you hear my voice; no man shall pluck you out of my hand.” (Staupitz).

8. Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive Absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven (Small Catechism). Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts (Small Catechism). Amen.

9. Let us pray. O Lord, Thou dost not forsake the penitent sinner; make haste to absolve our sin, so that we have a peaceful conscience and the certainty of salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

1. Thessalonians 5,1-11. Eternity Sunday

1. Thessalonians 5,1-11 6320

Ewigkeitssonntag 073 (27. Trinitatis)

22 Caecilia, Virgin Martyr in the first 3 centuries

22. November 2020

1. O Lord, Thou who dost deliver from affliction; redeem us according to Your mercy, so that we remain grounded upon Your providence and help. Amen. (Starck 183 ¶ 3)

2. »Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will arrive like a thief in the night. While people are saying: „There is peace and security,“ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers and sisters, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

3. On this past Wednesday, our Day of Repentance and Prayer, we heard the Prophet Isaiah tell Israel that though their sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Today we here Jesus exhort us to be ready like the 5 wise bridesmaids were ready for the advent of the groom.

4. Many first generation Christians believed Jesus would return in their lifetime. 20 years after His ascension Jesus had still not returned and the older Christians were starting to die from age or sickness. The Thessalonians misunderstood the apostolic teaching and thought it meant those deceased Christians would miss out on Christ’s return. Paul writes to them and says, to the contrary, those who have died will join Jesus when He descends from heaven (1. Thessalonians 4,14). Jesus taught this as well in today’s Gospel parable: the five faithful and believing bridesmaids who fell asleep were awoken and joined the groom in his procession.

5. Paul emphasizes another point Jesus makes in that parable: the advent of Jesus will be a surprise. We expect His arrival, but we do not know when it will occur. Jesus’ first advent unfolded the same way: there was an eager expectation, but no one realized how close it was. His immanence of His arrival came as a surprise to Elizabeth, Zechariah, Mary and Joseph when they were told: Messiah is arriving in just a few months.

6. The world fears the advent of Jesus and the end of all things. We have lived all of 2020 under the hysteria toked by the media and some leaders. COVID-19 has dominated the new cycle all year. The pandemic is serious and ought to be treated seriously, but how often have people been driven to despair, depression and fear because of fearful overhype. COVID-19 is not the end of the world. We will get through it just like we got through the Spanish Flu from 1918-20 and every other pandemic that has afflicted the world. God has, and will continue to, provide for us, be with us and comfort us. Indeed, the world will one day pass away, but we should not be dispassionate about it nor fear it (Bayer 331). Instead, we anticipate the last day by faith in Christ, who is the Lord over all things (Bayer 331).

7. The Apostle Paul comforts us with these words: »Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us« (Romans 8,35.37). No pandemic, not even COVID-19, will separate us from Christ.

8. God’s faithfulness is bound to His Word, and His Word is His promise. God promises to forgive your sin, and His Word does what it says. Yahweh said to the Prophet Isaiah: »My Word that goes out from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish that which I purpose, and will succeed in the thing for which I sent it« (Isaiah 55,11). God says to you, through His Word, in your Holy Baptism and in the Lord’s Supper: Ego te absolvo! I absolve you of your sins! These Divine words constitute a reality: God says you are forgiven, and thus you are forgiven (Bayer 53). These words of absolution are a Verbum efficax: an effective, accomplishing Word (Bayer 53). These Divine words are words of grace and promise as we live with the tribulation of a pandemic and as we await the second advent of Jesus. Next week we will hear about Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem during His first advent. Amen.

9. Let us pray. O Lord, Jesus Christ, Thou art the Way, the Truth and the Life; fill our lives with the presence of joy, so that we have the certainty of salvation to be with You and eternal fellowship. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Eternity Sunday Divine Service III

Eternity Sunday video

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Jude 11-12 Bible Study

part 1

part 2

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Luke 16,1-8. 2. Last Sunday

Luke 16,1-8 6120

Vorletzter. Sonntag des Kirchenjahres (26. Trinity) 071

Desiderius, Bishop of Cahors, France ✠ 654

Albertus Magnus, Bishop of Regensburg (1260-63), ✠ 1280

Johannes Kepler, Mathematician and Astronomer, ✠ 1630

15. November 2020

1. O Resurrected Jesus, who has overcome death; help us to rest confidently in Your promise that the one who conquers will be clothed in white garments, so that we faithfully look forward to our heavenly reward. Amen. (Starck 318 ¶ 1)

2. »Jesus also said to the disciples: „There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him: ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be steward.’ And the steward said to himself: ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first: ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said: ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him: ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another: ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said: ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him: ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.“«

3. Last week we heard Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (which occurred in ad 70); today we hear how all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ on the last day.

4. In Luke 16 Jesus tells a parable about a dishonest steward, and at the end He observes: »The sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of lights are.« The dishonest steward in Jesus’ parable is a son of this world: he will lie, cheat and steal to ensure he will have friends who owe him favors after he is dismissed as a steward. The sons of this world think nothing of this, for bribery and favors go hand-in-hand among businessmen, politicians and anyone else seeking a sympathizing heart and ready hand to pay back in kind when needed.

5. The sons of light agonize over these temptations. On 3. September 1518 Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, Luther’s temporal lord, received from Pope Leo X the golden rose to express his highest esteem for Frederick’s lordship, heroic loyalty and devotion to the Church with the intention to entice Frederick to hand Luther over to Rome. Sir Peter Ustinov brilliantly portrays Frederick the Wise’s lament and agony upon receiving this esteemed gift in the 2003 movie Luther. „When I was a child I thought like a child, I was a child, I played like a child. And now, thanks to the adults, I’ve had to join the world of adults. And I am appalled by how easy they thought it was to bribe me.“

6. Our sinful nature thinks it can bribe God just as it bribes everyone else. Our sinful flesh would devise all sorts of ways to appease God. The most common device is to offset our sins with our good works. This was the premise behind the Medieval doctrine of indulgences, and Luther rightly saw this. Good works do not free us from sinful penalties nor do they save (Thesis 21); the assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is in vain (Thesis 52); a papal pardon is not able to remove the guilt of any venial sins (Thesis 76).

7. What saves, forgives and pardons is Christ. It is His blood that forgives sins, His resurrection that raises all the dead; He speaks the words of absolution, grace and mercy. In Matthew 24, it is not the works that save those on the right but Christ who saves them. Those on Christ’s right are there because they believe, trust and love Him, and their works show that faith. Those on Christ’s left are there because they have rejected Christ, and their lack of works show that unbelief. Jesus explains that one of the points He makes in the parable of the dishonest steward is that those who are faithful in very little are also faithful in much (Luke 16,10).

8. And realistically, Jesus doesn’t ask very much of us. He simply wants us to put our faith in Him. He doesn’t ask us to bear the weight of all the world; He doesn’t ask us to justify ourselves with tedious works; He simply says: believe in Me; trust in Me; let me carry the burden of the world and your sin. Jesus is the one who merits our salvation. Saint Paul tells us: »And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith« (Galatians 6,9-10). »For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we should walk in them« (Ephesians 2,10).

9. Jesus exhorts us to be prudent like the dishonest steward in His parable, but to be prudent in righteousness. The steward is praised because when faced with a crisis of eschatological proportions, namely, his very survival in the imminent day of reckoning before his lord, he cleverly uses the resources available to him in a wicked world in the context of his trust that his lord will treat him with the same mercy that he had shown in the past (Just 616). We live in the eschatological last days, namely that our Lord Jesus Christ may return from heaven any day. And so we use the resources Jesus has given us for these days to be prepared and ready for His second advent, namely, the Word and the Sacraments, for in them we receive Christ’s mercy and grace for the forgiveness of all our sins so that when He does return and we stand before Him at His right hand with certainty and with faith knowing that we are righteous on account of Christ and that our sins are already forgiven and that His judgment upon us is not a judgment of punishment but a judgment of praise: well done, good and faithful servants, enter into your eternal rest. Next week we will hear Jesus exhort us to be like the five wise bridesmaids who were ready for the arrival of the groom. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Dear Father, our Judge; as the heavens declare Your righteousness exhort us join in their declaration of Your righteousness, so that we live each day ready to stand before You with Christ as our Advocate. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Friday, December 11, 2020

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Sunday, November 15, 2020