Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: Luke 17,5-6. 15. Trinity

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Luke 17,5-6. 15. Trinity

Luke 17,5-6 4821

15. Trinitatis 060

Guido of Anderlecht, Brussels. ✠ 1012

12. September 2021

1. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, we thank You for all Your benefits: that Your have given us life and graciously sustained us unto this day: We beseech You, take not Your blessing from us; preserve us from covetousness, so that we may serve You only, love and abide in You, and not defile ourselves by idolatrous love of mammon, but hope and trust only in Your grace. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »The apostles said to the Lord: „Add to us faith!“ And the Lord said: „If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, then you could say to this mulberry tree: ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.“«

3. Mustard seeds are the small round seeds that are usually about 1 to 2 millimeters (0.039 to 0.079 in) in diameter and may be colored from yellowish white to black. They are an important spice in many regional foods and may come from one of three different plants: black mustard (Brassica nigra), brown Indian mustard (B. juncea), or white/yellow mustard (B. hirta/Sinapis alba). Mustard seeds generally take 8-10 days to germinate if placed under the proper conditions, which include a cold atmosphere and relatively moist soil. Mature mustard plants grow into shrubs.

4. Mulberry trees grow quickly when they are young, but they soon grow much more slowly so that they reach an average height between 33-49 feet tall. These trees look like oversized bushes, for their branches grow from their trunks very close to the ground. They produce red or black berries that are about an inch long.

5. The apostles had asked Jesus to add to them faith. At this point in Jesus’ ministry by chapter 17, no one, not the disciples nor the apostles, truly understands and comprehends Jesus and His ministry. Jesus foretells His death twice in Luke 9 and a third time in Luke 18. His disciples believe and know that He is the Messiah, a prophet and a miracle worker, but they don’t comprehend that this will culminate by His dying and rising again. Faith focused on the cross and the empty tomb was not given and received until after His resurrection.

6. The apostles’ request arises from their recognition that they are unable to do what Jesus has exhorted of them because they lack the necessary faith (Just 645). They are struggling to comprehend that as the Messiah Jesus must suffer and die. This went against everything they were taught by their rabbis and the Pharisees. The moral conduct Jesus exhorts from His disciples is more complex and weightier than what the Pharisees expected from their disciples. The apostles fear they are unable to attain the level of excellence Jesus asked from them. We are in the same situation as the apostles. We see the great expectations that God has for us, and we know how miserably we often disappoint God.

7. Jesus’ words to the apostles offer them encouragement (Just 645). „Even though the apostles do not realize it, they have enough faith to do miraculous things, even something as remarkable as transplanting a mulberry tree, with its deep root system, into the sea“ (Just 645). The apostles will see the risen Jesus and believe. They will be given the faith to preach the gospel, heal the sick and teach the faith (Just 645). Jesus will add to their faith so they can endure hardship, persecution and martyrdom for the glory of Jesus.

8. We also have such faith. We have heard the gospel proclaimed by the apostles and have received their teachings as recorded in the Holy Scriptures and passed down through the Church’s liturgy and tradition. Jesus adds to our faith so we can endure the tribulations of a fallen creation, suffer through 2 years of pandemic hardships and rejoice that Christ sees us through to the end. The words of the Apostle Paul are as inspiring and encouraging now as they were 2000 years ago: »For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord« (Romans 8,18.28-32.35.37-39).

9. In his Small Catechism Luther explains the 3. Article of the Apostles’ Creed, saying: „I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps her with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.“

10. The Holy Spirit adds to our faith. Though that faith be as small as a minuscule mustard seed, yet it blossoms into a strong and healthy mustard tree – a faith that weathers all the storms of this wicked world. We have this promise through Jesus, who Himself endured the worst the world can deliver, and He came through on the other side victorious. His righteousness is our righteousness, and His victory is our victory. In His death we have died to sin, and in His resurrection we rise to new life.

11. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

12. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, blessed is the one who takes refuge in You; help us to taste and see that You are good, so that our trust is always in You. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

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.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Luke 17,5-6. 15. Trinity

No comments:

Post a Comment