Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: 2023

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

2. Corinthians 8,7-9. Christfest II

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Christfest II 8

Stephen, Deacon and Archmartyr. Martyr in Jerusalem 34/35

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

26. December 2023

1. ℣ Blessed is He who arrives in the Name of Yahweh:

℟ God is Yahweh which has showed us light (Psalm 118,26a.27a).

O Jesus, whom in spirit I see and behold in the manger, how lovely and kind You are! Grant me grace that I may never forget You, but that I may always have You in my heart, on my lips and before my eyes. [1] Amen. (Starck 481; 57 English).

2. »But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.«

3. In Jesus God becomes man. „The very Son of God, older than the ages, the Invisible, the Incomprehensible, the Incorporeal, the Beginning of beginning, the Light of light, the Fountain of life and immortality, the Image of the Archtype, the Immovable Seal, the perfect Likeness, the Definition and Word of the Father: He it is who arrives to His own Image and takes our nature for the good of our nature, and unites Himself to an intelligent soul for the good of my soul, to purify like by like. He takes to Himself all that is human, except for sin“ (Gregory of Nazianzus, Oratio 45,9,22.26.28).

4. Jesus’ incarnation is the starting point for mankind’s atonement (Irenaeus, Against the Heresies III.16.3; 17.1; 17.7; 19.1; etc.). At His incarnation, the Son of God humbles Himself by becoming human. He will eat, sleep and live as men and women live. He will be tempted, suffer trials and endure tribulations. Herod the Great wanted to kill Him.

5. Jesus was made man that we might be made God; and He manifested Himself by a body that we might receive the idea of the unseen Father; and He endured the insolence of men that we might inherit immortality (Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word 8,54). Athanasius is referring to the process of justification and sanctification whereby God restores the Image and Likeness of God that we have lost in the Fall.

6. This began with Jesus’ incarnation and birth. The Son of God has arrived to redeem and restore fallen men and women back to the Divine fellowship with the Triune God.

7. Jesus saves us from our sins; He is the Word of God made flesh who is rightly called Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1,21.23).

8. My heart for very joy must leap;

My lips no more can silence keep.

I, too, must sing with joyful tongue

That sweetest ancient cradlesong:

(From Heaven Above to Earth I Come lsb 358,14 2021 Martin Luther 1483-1546).

This is most certainly true.

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

10. Let us pray. O Lord, O God, to whom glory is sung in the highest while on earth peace is proclaimed to men of goodwill, grant that goodwill to us, Thy servants, cleanse us from all our sins and give perpetual peace to us, and to all people. Amen. (The Nativity of Our Lord, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)

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 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

[1] O Jesu, den ich im Geist in der Krippe erblicke und beschaue, wie lieblich bist du, wie freundlich bist du! Ach, verliehe mir Gnade, daß ich dein nimmermehr vergesse, sondern daß ich dich immer im Herzen, im Munde und der Augen habe.

Monday, December 25, 2023

Exodus 2,1-10. Christfest I

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Christfest I 5

Nativity of Jesus

25. December 2023

1. ℣ Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given:

℟ And the government shall be upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9,6).

O blessed Jesus! May You be eternally praised and thanked for Your incarnation and birth; You became a child of man so that we may become children of God. Now human nature is truly exalted; You have united it with Your Divinity. O love, O grace! As surely as human nature is united with Divine nature, so surely has eternal friendship, eternal reconciliation, eternal peace and eternal love been established between God and man. [1] Amen. (Starck 481; 57 English).

2. »Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”«

3. Moses was born into slavery. Egypt had enslaved the ancestors of Jacob for approximately 13 years under a new pharaoh, Ahmose (child of the moon), who ushered in the 18. Dynasty. [2] Israel would suffer and toil under Egyptian slavery and oppression for another 80 years until Yahweh lead them out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses (draw out).

4. Mankind had been enduring another slavery far longer than what Israel had experienced in Egypt. Since Adam’s Fall, men and women had been enslaved to original sin, the harsh taskmaster Satan and the curse upon sin. People are fettered by their passions and vices that often rule over their vices and desires to do good. »Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, then you will be free indeed« (John 8,34-36).

5. Moses lead the people of Israel for forty years. He guided them out of Egypt, gave them the Sinai covenant and brought them to the border of Canaan the Promised Land. Before they entered the land he told the people: »Yahweh your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers; it is to him you shall listen« (Deuteronomy 18,15). That Prophet was the Christ. »For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ« (John 1,17).

6. Pharaoh’s daughter named the baby Moses because she drew him out of the water. With His birth, Jesus draws us out of the turbulent waters of our sins, liberates mankind, sets us free from the Devil’s tyranny and saves us from our sin.

7. Moses and the Prophets pointed to Jesus, and at His birth He fulfilled the Scriptures. »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« (John 1,14).

8. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled,

A quiet chamber set apart

For You to dwell within my heart

(From Heaven Above to Earth I Come lsb 358,13 2021 Martin Luther 1483-1546).

This is most certainly true.

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

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

[1] O du holdseliger Jesu! Dir sey ewig Lob und Dank gesagt für deine Menschwerdung und Geburt; dur wirst ein Menschenkind, damit wir Gottes Kinder werden möchten. Nun ist die menschliche Natur recht erhöht; du hast sie mit deiner Gottheit vereinigt. O Liebe, o Gnade! So gewiß die menschliche Natur mit der göttlichen vereinigt ist, so gewiß ist zwischen Gott und den Menschen eine ewige Freundschaft, eine ewige Versöhnung, ein ewiger Friede und eine ewige Liebe gestiftet.

[2] The last king of the 17. Dynasty, Kamose (d. 1540 bc), drove out the last of the Hyksos who had invaded and ruled Lower Egypt as the 15. and 16. Dynasties. His brother, Ahmose (ruled 1539-15 bc), founded the 18. Dynasty and ushered in a new period of political stability in Egypt known as the New Kingdom period. Ahmose is probably the new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph. Moses was born in 1526 bc, 13 years into Ahmose’s reign (Andrew Steinmann From Abraham to Paul 81-82). Israel’s total time of slavery would be around 93 years.

Galatians 4,4-7. Christvesper

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Christvesper 5

Adam and Eve ✠ 930 years

Nativity of Jesus (lsb)

24. December 2023

1. ℣ Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given:

℟ And the government shall be upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9,6).

О Jesus, embrace us in Your love and preserve us in it, so that You we may have rest, peace, comfort, security and blessedness of soul. Now we are not lost because You were born a man. God is our Friend, for by faith we abide in You and You abide in us. Amen. (Starck 484).

2. »But when the right time had arrived, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, who redeemed those who were under the law, so that we received adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying: „Abba! Father!“ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.«

3. Yahweh had promised mankind a Savior. This promise was first given to Adam and Eve. Throughout the centuries, this promise was given to Israelite patriarchs, princes and prophets. Abraham, David and Isaiah were a few of the many who heard or wrote about the advent of the Savior. Even the Gentiles were given this promise. »It is too light a thing that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make You as a Light for the nations, so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth« (Isaiah 49,6). Yahweh is not slow to fulfill his promise, but is patient toward us (2. Peter 3,9a).

4. So when the time was exactly right and perfect, God sent His Son. God has a profound relationship with men and women. He created us in His image and likeness; no other creature on earth has this distinction. He also locates Himself in the presence of people. A Burning Bush to Moses, a Cloud that filled the holy of holies in the temple and a still small Voice to Elijah, but His first manifestation among humans occurred in the Garden of Eden where God walked in the cool of the day (Genesis 3,8). The text seems to imply that God took this walk in human form. There is no ambiguity when He appeared to Abraham: God stood before him as a man (Genesis 18,2).

5. Jesus is the fulfillment of God interacting with people in the appearance of a human being. The Athanasian Creed describes it this way: He is God and man … not by conversion of the Divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the humanity into God (32-33). The Creed is summarizing what Irenaeus wrote several centuries earlier: „God’s only-begotten Word, who is always present with the human race, united to and mingled with His own creation, according to the Father’s pleasure, and who became flesh, is Himself Jesus Christ our Lord, who did also suffer for us, and rose again on our behalf, and who will come again in the glory of His Father, to raise up all flesh, and for the manifestation of salvation, and to apply the rule of just judgment to all who were made by Him. There is therefore, as I have pointed out, one God the Father, and one Christ Jesus, who came by means of the whole dispensational arrangements [connected with Him], and gathered together all things in Himself. But in every respect, too, He is man, the formation of God; and thus He took up man into Himself, the invisible becoming visible, the incomprehensible being made comprehensible, the impassible becoming capable of suffering, and the Word being made man, thus summing up all things in Himself: so that as in super-celestial, spiritual, and invisible things, the Word of God is supreme, so also in things visible and corporeal He might possess the supremacy, and, taking to Himself the pre-eminence, as well as constituting Himself Head of the Church, He might draw all things to Himself at the proper time“ (Irenaeus Against Heresies 3,16,6).

6. Adam’s fall into sin had broken the communion between God and man; Jesus’ incarnation and birth has restored the communion between God and man. Athanasius once said: The Word of God manifested Himself by means of a body in order that we might perceive the Mind of the unseen Father. He endured shame from men that we might inherit immortality (Athanasius On the Incarnation of the Word 8,54).

7. Angels heralded the birth of the Son of G. Shepherds and Magi knelt before Him God in the flesh. Men and women acclaim Him tonight as Sleep in heavenly peace; Christ, the Savior is here; Christ, in Your birth (Stille Nacht lsb 363).

8. The venerable Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf describes the meaning of Christ’s Light and Glory this way:

Hail Morning Star, Brightest of angels Thou,

sent unto men upon this middle-earth,

Thou art the True Brilliance of the sun,

radiant above the stars, and from Thyself

illuminest forever all the tides of time!

And as Thou, God indeed begotten of God,

Thou Son of the True Father, wast from aye

without beginning in the heavens glory,

so now Thy handiwork in its sore need

prayeth Thee boldly, that Thou send to us

the Radiant Sun, and that Thou come Thyself

to enlighten those who for so long a time,

were wrapt around with darkness and here in gloom,

have sat the lifelong night; shrouded in sin

death’s dark shadow had they to endure.

Hopeful now we trust in the salvation

brought to the hosts of men through God’s own Word,

which was in the beginning co-eternal

with God, the Almighty Father and is now

flesh void of blemish, that the maiden bare

to help the wretched. God was seen ’mong us

in all His sinlessness; together they dwelt

the Creator’s Mighty Son and the Son of Man

in peace on earth wherefore as it is meet

we may well thank the Lord of Triumph aye,

that He vouchsafed to send to us Himself (Crist 104-129).

9. May Jesus Christ be with you always, pouring forth the Holy Spirit upon you, so that you believe the gospel that promises you that your sins are forgiven, you are an heir of God, His son or daughter and He is your Light of salvation, now and always.

10. Welcome to earth, oh noble Guest,

Through whom the sinful world is blest!

You came to share my misery

That you might share Your joy with me.

(From Heaven Above to Earth I Come lsb 358,8 2021 Martin Luther 1483-1546).

This is most certainly true.

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

12. Let us pray. O Lord, O God, to whom glory is sung in the highest while on earth peace is proclaimed to men of goodwill, grant that goodwill to us, Thy servants, cleanse us from all our sins and give perpetual peace to us, and to all people. Amen. (The Nativity of Our Lord, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Martens, Gottfried. A sermon preached on 8. December 2013 | Revelation 3,7-13 | Advent II. Copyright © 2013 St. Mary Church in Berlin-Zehlendorf (SELK). All rights reserved. The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind, Tr. © 2023.

Isaiah 62,1-5. Rorate Caeli. Advent IV

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Rorate Caeli 4

Adam and Eve ✠ 930 years

Nativity of Jesus (lsb)

24. December 2023

1. ℣ Drop down, ye heavens, from above:

℟ And let the skies pour down righteousness (Isaiah 45,8).

О Christ, Thou Son of God and Star of David, draw near to us and be in our midst , so that we behold Thy Light and Consolation; may You always shine forth from our hearts with joy. Amen. (Starck 478).

2. »For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of Yahweh will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.«

3. The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed that Yahweh will not keep silent, for He will show forth His righteousness and salvation for both Israel and the Gentiles. And, then, for 400 years Yahweh was silent. There were no prophets in Judah from Malachi until John the Baptizer arrived preaching a baptism of repentance.

4. Those 4 centuries may have been silent, but Yahweh was active; He worked among Judah and the Gentiles to put in place the final preparation for the advent of the Messiah. A chapter earlier Isaiah proclaimed: »The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor« (Isaiah 61,1a.2a). We heard in today’s Gospel pericope: »In the 6^th month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin, whose name was Mary: „Behold, you will conceive and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus“« (Luke 1,26.27.31).

5. The Messiah brings Yahweh’s favor. Gabriel proclaimed that the advent of this Messiah is at hand; yes, this Messiah is now in Mary’s womb! Yahweh’s silence is ended. His angel has spoken. Soon the Messiah will move and kick in Mary’s womb. After He is born He will cry and laugh. Then He’ll stand in the temple courtyard amazing the scribes, Pharisees and rabbis with His knowledge of the Scriptures. Finally, He will teach in the synagogues, the countryside and at the temple itself: I am fulfilling the Scriptures!

6. Some some heard the Messiah and believed Him. Others doubted and were not sure. Some rejected Him and sought to destroy Him. Nothing has changed in 2000 years. 2.38 billion people are Christians, but that leaves 6 billion unbelievers. Some have yet to have heard of Jesus, others don’t know what to make of Him and the rest are hostile towards Him – they think they are doing God’s will by opposing Jesus.

7. Let the advent of the Son of God be proclaimed; let the Church be not silent. The Messiah is the Glory of Israel and the Christ is the Light of the Gentiles. God the Father‘s righteousness will be in the midst of mankind to bring blessings to all men and women.

8. Christ Jesus proclaimed: »I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me, will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life« (John 8,12). »If you abide in My word, then you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free« (John 8,31-32). »If you keep My word, then you will never taste death« (John 8,52). Behold, we are hours away from celebrating once more the advent and arrival of Jesus our Messiah and Christ.

9. ℣ O Morning Star, Splendor of Eternal Light and Sun of Justice:

℟ Draw near, and give light to those who are seated in darkness, and the shadow of death.

10. He will soon be appearing

In His glory

And all your morning and weeping

Will be turned into joy.

The one who can help He is

Keep your lamps ready and trim

And always be on the lookout for Him

For already on His way He is

(Nun jauchzet, all ihr Frommen elkg 310,6 2021 Michael Schirmer 1640).

This is most certainly true.

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

12. Let us pray. O Lord, give us grace to walk before Thee all the days of this our pilgrimage with a good conscience and pure mind, that when Thou shalt appear to reward every one according to their deeds, we may rejoice and not be ashamed before Thee at Thy advent. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. (Advent IV, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

2. Corinthians 8,7-9. Christfest II

Monday, December 25, 2023

Exodus 2,1-10. Christfest I

Galatians 4,4-7. Christvesper

Isaiah 62,1-5. Rorate Caeli. Advent IV