Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: March 2020

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Hebrews 13,12-14 2020

Judica 028

Eustace, Abbot of Luxeuil, France. Apostle to the Bavarians, ✠ 629

29. März 2020

1. O God, the Eternal Love, comfort us with Your presence during these final weeks of Lent, so that any oppressive fear we may have is driven away by Your omnipresent love. Amen. (VELKD Weekly Prayer for Judica 2020 § 1)

2. »Thus Jesus also suffered, so that He may simply sanctify the people through His own blood, outside the gate. Therefore may we continually go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace. For here we have no lasting dwelling, but we seek the city that is about to arrive.«

3. Last week we heard how Jesus is the Bread of life who provides for our physical and spiritual life (βίος and ζωη) in the feeding of the 5000 starting with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. In today’s Gospel pericope Jesus teaches that those who believe in Him like Abraham are truly the sons and daughters of Abraham.

4. We are now 5 weeks into Lent and our vindication is drawing now; the omission of the Gloria Patri in the Introit helps draw our attention to this reality. Jesus is about to defend us. The apostle speaks of this in the Epistle to the Hebrews: »Jesus suffered so that we may be sanctified through His blood.« He connects this to the gate, that is, the entrance to the temple mount. At the temple, the Levitical priest offered sacrifices to sanctify the people of Israel. Jesus will enter Jerusalem and teach in the temple courtyard next week in preparation to fulfill the temple’s chief role of absolving sinners.

5. The world commonly envisions such redemption in heroic actions, epitomized many times by the action hero that is famous in a number of movies: the hero successfully fights off overwhelming foes and emerges safe and sound. Not so Jesus. The Epistle to the Hebrew reminds us that Jesus redeemed us at a great cost: He was humbled, disgraced and executed. He is not the atypical Messiah. The Jews in Jesus’ day expected and desired an action hero Messiah: someone who would ride in and drive the Romans and the Greeks out; they wanted a true, Jewish monarchy with the Messiah akin to King David the conqueror. What God gave them, and us, was a Suffering Servant.

6. Jesus reminds us that the Christian life will also have its suffering. He tells us in the Beatitudes: »Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the reign of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the Prophets who were before you« (Matthew 5,10-12). The Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts us to bear Christ’s disgrace. Paul assures us that bearing Christ’s disgrace is meant to discipline us: »We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us« (Romans 5,3-5).

7. During Lent we follow Jesus up to the cross. It’s not always easy; it becomes tedious. Jesus was born to be the Suffering Servant on the cross, and that is where His journey took Him. The Old Testament patriarchs and matriarchs caught glimpses of the crucified Christ. Jesus told the Jews: »Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad« (John 8,56). Abraham had some sense that the Messiah who descended from him would fulfill the great task he and Isaac typified when God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son (Genesis 22,2). Abraham knew this would involve a sacrificial death and a restoration of life (Genesis 22,5). He knew the death and resurrection of the Messiah would redeem all the world from sin; he probably did not know all the particulars but he knew the foundation: Messiah will suffer, die and rise again. He rejoiced in that; but his physical Jewish heirs in Jesus’ day did not for they looked for a different Messiah.

8. Those who look to the Messiah who dies and rises have the same faith as Abraham and thus are his rightful heirs. Abraham knows God, and we know God; He is our God, the God of Abraham. We know God because we know Jesus who has revealed God to us. As we draw a week closer to Jesus’ Passion, like Abraham we rejoice in that day for it the day Jesus redeemed Abraham and all of us from our sin. We see it and we are glad. Amen.

9. Last week we heard how Jesus is the Bread of life who provides for our physical and spiritual life (βίος and ζωη) in the feeding of the 5000 starting with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Today we have heard Jesus teach that those who believe in Him like Abraham are truly the sons and daughters of Abraham. Next week we will hear again the crowd acclaim Jesus to be the Son of David, for the Messiah has entered Jerusalem. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Jesus, the Messiah, focus our hearts and minds on Your service to us; so that we trust in You who gave His life a ransom for all people. 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.

Judica Propers

Judica Sunday 29. March 2020

Introit (Psalm 43,2b.3-5; 43,1-2a)

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause!

For You are the God in whom I take refuge.

Why do I go about mourning

because of the oppression of the enemy?

Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me;

let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling!

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God my exceeding joy,

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I will again praise Him,

my salvation and my God.

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause!

For You are the God in whom I take refuge.

The Gloria Patri is omitted on Judica until the Easter Vigil. Judica begins the Passiontide.

Collect of the Day

O Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people so that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Genesis 22,1-14

¹After these things God tested Abraham and said to him: „Abraham!“ And he said: „Here am I.“ ²He said: „Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.“ ³So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. ⁵Then Abraham said to his young men: „Stay here with the donkey; I and the boywill go over there and worship and we will return to you.“ ⁶And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and placed it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. ⁷And Isaac said to his father Abraham: „My father!“ And he said: „Here am I, my son.“ He said: „Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?“ ⁸Abraham said: „God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.“ So they went both of them together.

⁹When they arrived at the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and placed the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. ¹¹But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said: „Abraham, Abraham!“ And he said: „Here am I.“ ¹²He said: „Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.“ ¹³And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴So Abraham called the name of that place: „The Lord will provide“;as it is said to this day: „On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.“

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gradual (Psalm 143,9a.10a; 18,48a.c)

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! You delivered me from my enemies; You rescued me from the man of violence.

Hebrews 9,11-15

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have arrived, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹²He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴then how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

¹⁵Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

John 8,46-59

⁴²Jesus said to the Jews: „Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? ⁴⁷Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.“

⁴⁸The Jews answered Him: „Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?“ ⁴⁹Jesus answered: „I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. ⁵⁰Yet I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge. ⁵¹Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.“ ⁵²The Jews said to Him: „Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say: ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death.’ ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?“ ⁵⁴Jesus answered: „If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say: ‘He is our God.’⁵⁵But you have not known Him. I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and I keep His word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.“ ⁵⁷So the Jews said to Him: „You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?“⁵⁸Jesus said to them: „Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.“ ⁵⁹So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The Annunciation

The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary

Gospel Lection

»In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.« (‭‭Luke‬ ‭1,26-38‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Homily

Nine months out, our thoughts are probably not on Christmas. We have other things on our mind: social distancing, shut down of many businesses and perhaps pandemic fear. God often works in our lives to refocus our attention, and He does so with the Annunciation. Our thoughts are diverted to Mary.

God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son. The Council of Ephesus in AD 431 decreed that Mary is the mother of God (Theotokos) because Jesus is both God and man: one person with two natures (Divine and human) united. The Son of God would enter this world, and the world would be changed forever.

Jesus arrived to forgive our sins. He also healed people who were sick, and the Gospels tell numerous stories of these miracles. Jesus treated the effects of the curse of sin. This brings comfort to us as we live through the most recent pandemic. God has not forgotten us; He has not forsaken us; He is in our midst comforting and consoling us.

We look ahead on 25. March to the joy and happiness of Christmas. But looming much closer is Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Here we see the culmination of Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. Jesus forgave our sin; He redeemed us back to God the Father; the curse of sin, death, has been overcome. More than ever we need to hear this gospel, believe it and rejoice over it. God is with us, and nothing is impossible with God.

Collect

O Lord, as we have known the incarnation of Your Son Jesus Christ by the message of the angel to the Virgin Mary, so by the message of His cross and passion bring us to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Treasury of Daily Prayer)

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Facebook account

You may also follow Grace Evangelical-Lutheran Church on Facebook; look for Grace Church, it has a picture of our church or altar.

Prayer during an epidemic

A portion of Starck’s prayer during times of an epidemic:

“Oh, grant us Your grace and life, for Jesus’ sake, our only mediator and advocate. Have mercy, have mercy upon us, O God of mercy! Be gracious to us; spare us, good Lord! Be gracious to us; help us, good Lord, our God! Have mercy on the poor and afflicted who have been seized with this violent pestilence, who must suffer hunger and grief, who are destitute of all nursing care, and forsaken by others. Lead them to the knowledge of Your grace in Christ, Your dear Son. Aid them with Your comfort and let Your Spirit witness to their spirit that they are God’s children, though they have to die of this plague. O Lord, hear our prayer! Protect our country, and we shall say: The Lord has done great things for us. Yes, You can deliver all who come to You. Amen.” (Starck’s Prayer Book 868)

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Laetare Divine Service III video

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=756900441511332&id=100015741488130&sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=i

Isaiah 66,10-14. Laetare

Isaiah 66,10-14 1920

Laetare 027 Decemgesima 19 days to Good Friday and 21 to Easter

Nicolaus of the Flüe, Patron of Switzerland, hermit in Unterwalden, Switzerland. † 1487.

22. März 2020

1. O Jesus, who suffered isolation in Your Passion, draw near unto us and send Your holy angels to minister to us, so that as we live isolated from others for a time we may be comforted with Your love and mercy. Amen. (VELKD Weekly Prayer for Laetare Sunday 2020, § 1)

2. »Be glad, all Jerusalem, and a symbol for a festival in her all those loving her and those dwelling in her rejoice in joy or as many as mourn for her so that you may nurse and be filled up from the breast of her comfort so that you may indulge at the introduction of her glory for thus says the Lord: Behold, I turn aside to them as a river of peace and as a rushing stream inundating the glory of the nations. Their children shall be carried upon shoulders and shall be comforted upon knees. As if any mother shall comfort, so also I shall comfort you and in Jerusalem you shall be comforted. And you will see and your heart will rejoice and your bones shall rise up as grazing food and the hand of the Lord shall be known to those fearing Him and He will forbid those disbelieving ones.«

3. Last week we heard how Jesus again exhibits His Divine authority over the demons by casting out a demon who had made a man mute. Today we have heard how Jesus fed 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. At the end of the meal more food was gathered than what they had started with.

4. In these days of a pandemic where public gathering has essentially ground to a halt, the words of the Prophet Isaiah bring comfort to our ears and souls: »Be glad and assemble for a festival; rejoice as many as mourn.« Judah faced their own social distancing. Many Jews were being deported to Babylon in Isaiah’s day, and more would be in the future. They were separated from the promised land and the temple. Soon the very temple at itself would be destroyed. All this resulted from Judah’s unrepentant idolatry. Our lives likewise have been disrupted; not as severely as those of Judah, but disrupted nonetheless. The world lurches from the burdens imposed upon it in response to an unseen virus. Plagues and illnesses are part and parcel of the curse the Lord has imposed upon man for Adam’s sin. Cursed is the ground, in pain we eat of it, until we die and return to the dust of the earth from which our human race was created (Genesis 3,17-19). Sickness and disease are agents that ultimately will send us back to the dust and dirt of the earth.

5. During these weeks of tribulation we might ponder our frailty and mortality. Earlier words from Isaiah perhaps come to mind: »The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass« (Isaiah 40,7). It is a rare occasion when the Lord works through His left hand to impose a global Lenten fast upon all of His creation, but He has done so in 2020. We now empathize a bit better with Job, who said a midst his tribulations: »The Lord gave, and the Lord removed, as it seemed good to the Lord; Blessed be the Name of the Lord« (Job 1,21).

6. The miraculous feeding of the 5000 that John tells us in his Gospel reminds us that God delights in providing for us. He gives food, clothing, shelter, doctors, hospitals, medicine, friends, family, neighbors and many other good things that are a blessing to be treasured. He exhorts us to show love and charity to our neighbors, pray for them and help where we are able.

7. Jesus supplies more than temporal bread; He gives us the eternal bread as well. The day after He fed the crowds, Jesus taught them and said: »The Bread of God is He who descends from heaven and gives life to the world. I am the Bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst. For this is the will of My Father, but everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise you up on the last day« (John 6,33.35.40).

8. The Holy Scriptures speak about 2 types of life: 1. βιος and 2. ζωή. βιος is physical life (hence the English word biology: the study of life), namely, God’s gift of life to all creation. Ζωή refers to both physical and spiritual life which always and only comes from and is sustained by God’s self-existent life. Moses tells us: »And God shaped the man taking dust from the earth and He breathed into his face breath of life (πνοην ζωής) and the man became a living soul (ψυχην ζωσαν) (Genesis 2,7). The life Jesus is talking about is ζωή: the ζωή-giving life, the bread of ζωή, the eternal life that is manifested in Jesus who is God incarnated as a man.

9. Isaiah is looking forward in chapter 66 to the time when this ζωή is manifested among the Jews and Gentiles; it will be a time of festivities and rejoicing. It is the day Lent ultimately leads us to: Easter and Jesus’s resurrection. But a time of Passion suffering and the cross looms ahead of Easter. But throughout Lent and the specter of death upon the cross there is a promise and hope of life: everlasting ζωή.

10. Last week we heard how Jesus exhibits His Divine authority over the demons who cause physical ailments. Today we have heard how Jesus provides for physical and spiritual life (βιος and ζωή) in the feeding of the 5000 starting with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Next week we will hear how those who believe in Jesus are the true sons of Abraham who receive Abraham’s blessing. Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Christ Jesus, the Bread of ζωή; like the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies then bears much fruit, so too did Your death bear much fruit, and we receive this eternal life You give with joy and thankfulness. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Laetare Propers

Laetare Sunday 22. March 2020

Introit (Psalm 84,5.6a.7.11; Isaiah 66,10.11)

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her;

rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;

so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast;

so that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.

Blessed are those whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs

They go from strength to strength;

each one appears before God in Zion.

For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her;

rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;

so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast;

so that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.

Collect of the Day

O Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 54,7-10

⁷„For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. ⁸In overflowing anger for a moment I hid My face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,“ says the Lord, your Redeemer. ⁹„This is like the days of Noah to Me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. ¹⁰For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My steadfast love will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed,“ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gradual (Psalm 122,1; 122,7)

I was glad when they said to me: „Let us go to the house of the Lord!“ Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!

Galatians 4,21-31

²¹Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. ²³But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷For it is written:

Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;

break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!

For the children of the desolate one will be more

than those of the one who has a husband [Isaiah 54,1].

²⁸Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. ³⁰But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman [Genesis 21,10]. ³¹So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

John 6,1-15

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. ²And a large crowd was following Him, because they saw the signs that He was doing on the sick. ³Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. ⁴Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. ⁵Lifting up His eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was approaching Him, Jesus said to Philip: „Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?“ ⁶He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. ⁷Philip answered Him: „Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.“ ⁸One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him: ⁹„There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?“ ¹⁰Jesus said: „Have the people sit down.“ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. ¹¹Jesus then took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. ¹²And when they had eaten their fill, He told His disciples: „Gather up the leftover fragments, so that nothing may be lost.“ ¹³So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. ¹⁴When the people saw the sign that He had done, they said: „This is indeed the Prophet who is to enter the world!“

¹⁵Perceiving then that they were about to draw near and take Him by force to make Him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Some consolation 3/21/20

During these times of self-quarantining and social distancing, some people adapt well to this while others do not. We haven't experienced anything of this nature as a nation since the Spanish Flu over 100 years ago. We will safely trudge through the limitations placed upon us by our government and local authorities, and hopefully in a few weeks or so we will begin to return to our daily routines and rejoice in the public gatherings we have temporarily put aside.

These particular verses from the Bible come to mind:

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31,6).

and

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all (Psalm 34,19).

A prayer from my friend, Pastor Bill Cwirla:

For those who are sheltering at home

Gracious Father in heaven, Your Son went the way of death, resurrection, and ascension in order to prepare for us a place in your eternal home. Our homes have now become a shelter in this viral storm, and yet they feel like a prison at times . Sanctify our homes, we pray, and all who dwell in them. Protect them from the snares and deceits of the evil one. Stir up in us a deeper affection for one another, and manifest in us the fruit of the Spirit who dwells among and within us - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-discipline. Make our homes dwelling places of your Word, little monasteries of devotion, prayer, and common life together. We thank you for the science and technology that have enabled us to talk to each other even as we shelter in place. The instruments that once threatened to drive us apart now enable us to reassure and comfort our friends, family, and neighbors. Remind us all that we are but pilgrims and travelers here, and that our true home and shelter is with You in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Hear us we pray, for His Name’s sake. Amen.

You are all in my daily prayers.

Pastor Peter

Friday, March 20, 2020

Temporary Suspension of Worship Services

Earlier this week, two confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported in Palisades Park. In response, our mayor issued a letter ordering churches to cease public worship services. We are complying with the mayor and are suspending all worship services for the time being.

I will record the service each week and hope to post it on the website or another site that it may be easily viewed. I will also post the readings, a prayer and a hymn each week along with the sermon.

Hopefully, we will be able to worship together in a few weeks. As always, everyone is in my prayers.

— Pastor Peter

Monday, March 16, 2020

Luke 11,14-28. Oculi

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

Luke 11,14-28 1820

Oculi 026 Vigintisexgesima 26 days to Good Friday

Longinus, the soldier who pierced the side of the Lord, Martyr 1^st cent.

15. März 2020

1. O Jesus Christ, God of life, remove the uncertainty and fear that we may have when You tell us to follow You, so that uncertainty yields to certainty and fear leads to trust, for You are trustworthy and true. Amen. (VELKD Weekly Prayer for Oculi 2020 § 1)

2. »Now Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said: „He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,“ while others, testing Him, were seeking from Him a sign from heaven. But He, having known their thoughts, said to them: „Every kingdom having been divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also was divided against himself, how will his kingdom be standing? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the reign of God has arrived upon you. When a strong man, having been armed, continually guards his own palace, his possessions are safe; but when one stronger than him having attacked him and simply conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he had trusted and divides his spoils. Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.“«

3. Last week we heard how Jesus continues to destroy the works of the Devil by healing a demon possessed Canaanite girl. In today’s Gospel pericope Jesus cast out another demon; this one had caused a man to become mute.

4. Twice now, our Lenten Gospels tell us about Jesus casting out demons. This sort of thing was unheard of in the Old Testament. King Saul was tormented by an evil spirit sent from God (1. Samuel 16,14); Satan was allowed to inflict Job with several severe trials (Job 1,12-19; 2,5-7). But in the Old Testament there is no demon possession like we find in the Gospels. This began to change about 100 years before Jesus was born. Jewish rabbinic literature during that time begins to mention demonic possession. Demonic activity now begins to take on cosmic dimensions: demons do not merely harass and trouble people, now they engage in a conflict that is waged between the Lord and Satan. Some theologians throughout the ages have pondered this increased manifestation as the Devil sensed that God was about to do something really game changing and so he upped his malevolence within the world. That game changing move was the arrival of the Son of God to redeem humanity from the clutches of Satan, hence the increased amount to get demonic activity that Jesus encountered and victoriously freed people from. Jesus shows and proves that He is stronger than the demons and their prince, the Devil.

5. These Gospel pericopes are read at an auspicious time for us. The world is gripped by the fear and panic over COVID-19. Go to the supermarket and you will be hard-pressed to find toilet paper and sanitizer; people are acting like it is the end of the world. WHO has declared this outbreak as a global health emergency and a pandemic. The president has declared a state of national emergency. The stock markets have plummeted, rise and fall and rise again each day, sporting events are being canceled and international travel is being limited or outright halted. The world has faced, endured and triumphed over such pandemics before. Martin Luther wrote an letter in 1527 concerning the Black Death (LW 43,119-38). He outlines a practical reflection on the Christians response to suffering and death. Ministers are to strengthen their parishioners with the Word and Sacraments. Mayors and public officials are to maintain civic order. Doctors and police officers must continue their duties and help the public. Luther does not encourage Christians to recklessly expose themselves to danger. He exhorts us to honor the sanctity of one’s own life, and to also honor the sanctity of those sick and in need. He exhorts us to follow the advice of our political leaders and doctors, such as hygiene, quarantines, making use of medicines, etc.

6. Luther reminds us that we put our trust in Christ who has the power and authority over demons, sickness and viruses. His ministry as the Christ was to show the world that the Son of God loves them, desires to help them and redeem them from their sins. The real fear is that viruses like COVID-19 have the power to kill; these viruses are part of the curse God has imposed upon the children of Adam for his sin. The soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18,20). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6,23).

7. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6,23). Jesus told the Jews who were skeptical of where He derives authority over the demons: »If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the reign of God has descended upon you.« The Devil is a strong man who guards his possessions, but Jesus is the Stronger Man who has attacked and conquered the Devil, has taken away his full armor and has plundered his spoils. In Luke 11 Jesus defeated the Devil’s minion, plundered his spoils and freedom a man from the possession of the Devil. The man now belongs to Christ.

8. Christ has done the same for each of us in our Baptism. Once we were thralls of the Devil, but now we are sons and daughters of Christ the King. Jesus has redeemed us through His death and resurrection; our Baptism unites us to Christ and His death and resurrection. We are His. Pandemics and viruses will continue to plague us until Jesus returns. Neither epidemics nor death shall separate us from the Lord and His love for us. He gives us wisdom, common sense, doctors and scientists who create medicines to cure and protect us; He will restore us; panic and financial disorder will yield to calm and order. In all this, we take up our cross and continue to follow Jesus to Calvary where He decisively triumphed over sin, death and the Devil.

9. Last week we heard how Jesus has power over the demons. Today He exhibits that authority again and does so with the authority that is His as the Son of God. Next week we will hear how Jesus fed thousands with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Trust in Him to provide for you, and receive the Sacrament with joy and peace for in it you receive the forgiveness of your sins. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, who set Your eyes upon Jerusalem and Your cross; give us strength to not look back at the tribulations and pandemics of this world where there is only fear, but set our eyes upon You, so that we call upon You who is the Giver of Life. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Luther, Martin. Luther’s Works, Vol. 43: Devotional Writings II. „Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague“. Martin O. Dietrich & Helmut. T. Lehmann, Ed. Copyright © 1968 Fortress Press: Philadelphia.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

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