Sermon for 27 November 2011, Advent 1B

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Mark 11:1-10

Save Us Now, Lord Jesus

First Sunday in Advent, 27 November 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

For a Lay Reader

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

What caught your attention first when you arrived at Immanuel this morning? The blue paraments and bulletin cover to match? Maybe you were preoccupied with your own life. That’s a lot to hold together in your mind. The appointed Holy Gospel for this day ties everything together. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Save Us Now, Lord Jesus! Hosanna in the highest!

1Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

Yes, this is the Palm Sunday account according to St. Mark the Evangelist. The Gospel lessons we will hear for the next year will be primarily from the Gospel according to St. Mark. That is the blessing of the Three-Year lectionary. Each year focuses upon Matthew, Mark, or Luke, with John’s Gospel account to supplement every Easter season and St. Mark’s year, since his account is shorter.

This week, please read the whole Gospel according to Mark as a short story. You will find that the first ten chapters prepare you for Holy Week and the Resurrection in the last six chapters. You may be surprised to find nothing of the Christmas story in Mark. You’ll have to go to Matthew and Luke for that. Mark begins with John the Baptizer preparing the way of the Lord, the way that leads Him to Jerusalem and the cross.

Why a Palm Sunday reading on Advent One? As you may know, Advent means coming. What better way to start out another Advent season than with a reading about Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, His coming as the King of the Jews, heir of King David?

Why blue? Blue is a royal color, like purple. We celebrate the coming of He who is the heir to King David: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

(Lutheran Worship: History and Practice states,) “The liturgical colors are both a teaching device and a way of marking days and seasons. They [developed] among Christians without conscious planning and have existed since the middle ages. Some colors were adjusted in the revised Church Year. Most notably, there is a new option for Advent: blue—to distinguish Advent from Lent…Blue represents hope, anticipation… [Blue comes] From a Swedish Lutheran tradition and from the ancient Mozarabic (Spanish) liturgy…” (164) Blue was also used for Advent in England in the diocese of Bath and Wells.

Advent remains a season of preparation, repentance, and hope. We prepare to celebrate Christ’s first advent (coming) on Christmas, His Second Coming on the Last Day, and as He comes to us in His Body and Blood in, with, and under the bread and wine for the forgiveness of our sins. Blue teaches us about the little baby Boy who is coming, He who comes to us in His Body and Blood for our forgiveness, and He who will return at the end of time.

The Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem announces why Jesus came in the first place. He came to die. Jesus came to Jerusalem for a coronation, but His crown would be one of thorns, not gold. His throne would not be one of polished wood and precious metal, but one of heavy, rough wood and iron nails. No herald would publicly announce: “His Majesty, the King.” No, soldiers and the masses would mock him. Only Pontius Pilate would be left to proclaim in writing above Jesus’ head: “The King of the Jews.”

What a strange coming! What a strange first Advent! The baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, was born to die in your place.

The Advent season has much in common with the end of the church year. As we approached the Last Sunday in the Church year last week, we were reminded to be watchful, prayerful, and repentant because Jesus could return at any time. The Second Coming could also be called the Second Advent. We carry with us that repentant, prayerful, watchfulness into this season of Advent and add to it hopeful joy as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, Jesus’ First Advent.

Each week, Christians recognize another coming, another Advent of our Lord in Word and Sacrament. Jesus says that He is present where two or three are gathered in His name. He is also present for our good in His Holy Supper.

Please turn with me to p. 208 in the front of LSB. Each Divine Service we sing the Sanctus. Sanctus simply means “Holy,” the first word of this angel song from Isaiah 6: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth adored; Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your Name.”

This Sanctus also includes a portion of Psalm 118. What does this have to do with today? Psalm 118:25-26 are the words the people shout at the end of our Gospel reading as they wave their palms.

We sing with them: “Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord; Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

What does this mean? Save us now. Hosanna. Save us now, O God, You who are in the highest heaven, You who come in the name of the Lord. Save us, Jesus, from our worries, fears, frustrations, troubles, and from everything that plagues us within.. You are the only one who can save us from sin, death, and the power of the devil. We pray. And then we pray as He taught us: “Our Father who art in heaven…Thy kingdom come…” For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Again, we hear Jesus’ words: “This is My Body…This cup is the New Testament in My blood. “

What is going on here next Sunday? In the Divine Service we confess that He who came on Christmas, He who triumphantly came into Jerusalem as King David’s heir, and He who will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead is He who comes to us in His Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Altar. Jesus came, comes, and is coming for your benefit. His first Advent was so that He could be born in the flesh in order to suffer, die, and rise again for you. His advent in the Supper He instituted delivers to you the salvation won on the cross for you. No wonder we cry out, Hosanna. Save us now! We need it! And the salvation His Spirit delivers has begun a good work in you that will be brought to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Second Advent.

Jesus comes to His people in Word and Sacrament. We celebrate His advent every week of the year, wherever the Lord gathers His people to receive His gifts from His servant.

CPH Bulletin Cover: We don’t like to wait. Patience is hard for us. Christians have been waiting for the joy of the Lord’s revelation for nearly two thousand years. We wait in certain hope, though, for we know that He keeps His promises. He kept His promise to die for our sin. He kept His promise to rise from the dead to destroy our death. He will keep His promise to return. Hosanna!

“Save Us Now, Lord Jesus,” is also our prayer. Please come each Wednesday until Christmas at 7pm for Evening Prayer.

1Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

Save Us Now, Lord Jesus. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 22 November 2011, Thanksgiving Eve

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Luke 17:11-19

The One

Thanksgiving Eve, 22 November 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This story is unique to Luke’s Gospel account. You can’t find it in Matthew, Mark, or John. While this teaching is revealed elsewhere in the New Testament, this narrative presents it in a unique way. We know Jesus can heal. We know Jews and Samaritans did not get along. Jesus provides us food for thought as we observe a national day of thanksgiving tomorrow. He wants you to think about the relationship between faith and giving thanks. He also wants you to think about the One.

On the way to Jerusalem he [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."  14When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests."

Skin diseases were serious business in ancient Israel. Leprosy was among the worst, so those so afflicted were all lumped together as a category and called lepers. The Lord gave Moses specific directions so that His people would be set apart as holy to the Lord. They also preserved the people from devastating communicable diseases. After a period of observation, a person believed to have recovered was to show himself to the priests. They would certify that the person was now clean, remove the quarantine, and welcome the person back into the community.

This is a wonderful way to describe our forgiveness in Christ. Our sinful human nature and the sins we commit ourselves exclude us from God’s community. Jesus comes to each of us, cleanses away the leprosy of sin with His blood, and welcomes us home. As with the healing of the paralyzed man lowered through a roof by his friends, these physical healings show that Jesus has authority to forgive sins.

14When he saw them he [Jesus] said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed.

Jesus never does a healing miracle isolated from teaching. These Ten Lepers recognized Him as a teacher, a rabbi, even a healer. But One saw something more. Faith saw God Himself. Jesus’ Word directed them to the priests to keep the law of old. The healing was done to create faith in these ten.

15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

How many were healed? Ten. How many returned and gave thanks? One. And he was a Samaritan. We’ve gotten used to Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan. It doesn’t have the same impact it once did. In brief, the Samaritans and Jews were bitter enemies. One helping or even talking to another was unheard of. The Samaritan returned to give thanks to God. This one man praised God in Jesus. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, a worshipful position of humility.

Faith united this Samaritan to Jesus. Everything else in history and culture separated them. Faith unites us to Jesus. Jesus created that faith within you through His Word and Holy Baptism. He sustains that faith through His Word and the Sacrament of the Altar.

Those who do not believe and give thanks are excluded. Many in our culture consider thto emselves religious or even spiritual, but not Christian. They want some connection God, but not in Jesus. By His Word and the Holy Spirit, the Lord would love to create faith in all who hear. But He does not force Himself upon people. He allows Himself to be rejected. All Ten were healed. How many respond in faith and thankfulness?

The way of salvation is narrow—as narrow as Jesus’ cross alone. Yet, salvation is as wide as Jesus’ arms spread out on the cross for those who have faith in Christ alone. Ethnicity, gender, language, nationality, and age do not matter! All are equally sinners and all are equally in need of what Jesus gives: forgiveness, life, and salvation. There is no salvation apart from Christ. That angers people today, even some who consider themselves Christians. We should remember the point of that exclusivity: God has provided a way of salvation, salvation itself as an unearned, undeserved gift in Christ!

17Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"

One returned to give thanks. Not ten, five, or even two. One. He thanked God, specifically located in Christ Jesus. We should give God thanks that the one returned. We should thank the Lord for those with faith who do give thanks. That’s important for us to remember as a congregation. I thank the Lord for you. I thank the Lord that you regularly receive the means of grace where God has promised to be. We go to church because this is where the Lord delivers the forgiveness Jesus won on the cross. Thank the Lord for one another. Show that thankfulness in words, loving actions, and encouragement. The Lord has gathered to Himself a people with faith in Him. He has gathered you together in this place around His gifts.

Where are the nine? Elsewhere Jesus speaks of a shepherd who temporarily leaves the ninety-nine as he searches for the one missing sheep. That is my call as your pastor, and your call as a baptized Christian. We can cover a lot more territory and reach many more people if pastor and congregation work together to reach those who are lost. We are given to share the healing forgiveness of Jesus with them. He Himself is the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel 34. He gathers His scattered, hurting people to Himself.

You know who they are. You may know their hurts better than I do in many cases. Christmas is only a month away from Friday. Invite your fellow congregation members, your family members, your neighbors, classmates, and coworkers home for Christmas. Bring someone with you to Bible class for the first time, or prioritize coming for the first time yourself. The Lord has good Gifts for you. We dare not anger Him by rejecting His Gifts in Christ.

19And he [Jesus] said to [the Samaritan], "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

Luther says, “He [Jesus] does not remove the gift of healing [from the other nine because of their lack of faith]. His is the divine love that “risks betrayal.” (Quoted in Franzman’s NT Commentary) Jesus allows Himself to be rejected for the sake of those who believe, those who have faith and trust in Christ Jesus rather than themselves. He gives daily bread to everyone, even evil people. We pray that the Lord would lead us to realize that He is the giver of daily bread and to receive it from the Lord with thanksgiving.

Jesus is the One we are to think about. We thank God for the godly example of the Samaritan who, by faith, returned thanks to the Lord for His healing.

Often, the good gifts the Lord gives us are twisted by the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh so that the gifts wrongly become more important than the Giver, God. A better understanding of the relationship between God and His Gifts is expressed in this hymn to the Lord: (Caedmon’s Call “You Created”) “You created nothing That gives me more pleasure than You And You won't give me something That gives me more pleasure than You.”

This Thanksgiving, thank the Lord for your daily bread, daily turkey, and almost daily football, but remember Jesus, the One who died and rose to give you all that you need to support your life, and also the gift of eternal life. Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sermon for 20 November 2011, Proper 29A

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

St. Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep & the Goats

Proper [29] 20 November 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The courtroom is prepared. The defendants are all in place. And the bailiff bellows the familiar, “All please rise for the Honorable Judge. This court is now in session.” The Judge makes His way to the bench. The Judge’s entry at just that time was a surprise to the defendants. This is the end. This is the day of the final verdict. There is no appeal. This is the last trial that will ever take place on the face of the earth.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 

This parable pictures the Last Day. The Son of Man is there in His glory, the glory you can read about in Revelation 1 and Daniel. All the angels are there. All. And He sits on His throne, His glory-throne, in judgment, as did Solomon of old, but in a way Solomon could never imagine.

All nations are gathered before Him. All. Note the continuing occurrence of the word, “all.” That means no one is left out. All nations refers not merely to just the nations of the gentiles, but all Jews and all gentiles, all of the people who have ever lived—every single one. You will be there, too.

And things get interesting. He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  This King is the Judge. And He is also the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep. And He knows those who are not His sheep. He knows. There are no witnesses, no evidence entered into the record of the court reporter—at least not yet.  (Lenski, p. 988): This division and this placing are already a judgment and a verdict. What follows only justifies the act.

Keep in mind this very important idea: The sheep and the goats are separated before their actions and inactions are mentioned. This is incredibly significant. This teaches us that salvation is not the reward for good works. Something precedes these good works—Christ’s gift of faith and His Holy and Pure wool of righteousness that makes us His sheep. Sheep, by faith do what Jesus will describe. Goats do not and cannot.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 

Those on the right have been blessed by the Father, as have you. They have received His gifts and those gifts have come to fruition in service. Now such ones inherit the kingdom, as will you Christians who remain faithful to the end. Revelation says of these that they will wear crowns. Only royalty wears crowns. We will reign as kings with Christ, He who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are to be the lowercase kings and lords mentioned in those titles.

Think about the kind of service for which Jesus commends the saints. Each is a humble work, perhaps considered by some to be beneath them. Blessed are you who give food and drink, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison. Such words give us pause to think about how we care for our family, our neighbors, our community. And how do we treat the visitor to the Divine Service, the prodigal returning for Christmas, the person fumbling around in the bulletin or hymnal—or how we treat one another in this congregation?

Humble work for Christians means that we follow in the steps of our humble servant-king, Jesus, who lived a life of love, sacrificing Himself for you.

Love sacrifices self. As she was growing up a young girl often saw her mother’s hands, which were badly marred with ugly scars. When she was old enough to compare the hands of other mothers, she asked one day, “Mother, why do you have such ugly hands?” Her mother quietly sat her town and told the story. “When you were a little child, sleeping in your crib, we had a sudden fire in the house. I went to your room, and the flames were all around your crib. I grabbed you and wrapped you in your blanket, but the flames had already reached the outside of the blanket, and my hands, as you can see, were badly burned. So, darling, that is why my hands are scarred and not lovely and smooth as the hands of other mothers are.” There was a pause, and then the girl’s face lit up. She reached down, picked up her mother’s hands, and pressed them tightly to her face. “Oh, Mommy, I love these hands.” Love sacrifices self.

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

How are the righteous made righteous? Jesus’ hands. Justification by grace through faith and not by works is summed up in that one word, “righteous.” Jesus’ gift of righteousness doesn’t carry with it moral perfection. O, that it did! We Christians are righteous in God’s eyes. He sees us through Jesus-colored glasses. And it doesn’t hurt that the Judge is also your defense attorney! The righteous are made righteous by Jesus calling us righteous. That is the verdict we have, hold onto, and await to be announced publicly on the last day.

'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' At first, “the least of these my brothers” referred to his twelve disciples. Christians cared for them in the Gospel accounts, the Book of Acts and beyond for the sake of the message. We honor the Lord by receiving His gifts. We honor His Word by making it a priority and by hearing and doing it. We show we are forgiven by quickly and gladly forgiving others. For the sake of the Lord’s Gospel, Christians care for the Lord’s messengers, whether they be seminarians, parish pastors, missionaries, chaplains, professors, or servants at District or Synod. When we care for Jesus’ servants, we show our love and care for Jesus.

'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' If you’re willing to give food and drink to even the most insignificant person in the eyes of the world, welcome the grubbiest stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison, Jesus says, you would do such things for anyone—even Him. In this way, “least” includes all. For the sake of the Gospel, we are also to feed those hungry for the Gospel, even if they don’t know it yet.

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' This is a phrase in common to both the sheep and the goats. Now to the other side.

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'  Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'  Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

The verdict on the goats is, “cursed,” far, far worse than a mere “guilty.” Remember, there’s no appeal. The sentence is the second death, the lake of fire, truly capital punishment, an eternal life sentence in hell’s prison. Hellfire was not originally designed for humankind, but only for the devil and his evil angels as a result of their apostasy. It will be the eternal destination for those who reject Christ and follow the devil’s ways.

One of those devilish ways is resisting the Holy Spirit. The sin against the Holy Spirit is continually resisting His work through God’s Word. Resisting the Spirit leads to the sin against the Holy Spirit, the only unforgivable sin, incurable apostasy. Why is it not forgivable? The Holy Spirit delivers God’s forgiveness. If you resist Him, you resist that delivery, and hence, cannot get God’s forgiveness.

Therefore, do not take worship lightly. Do not think of “getting your life in order” as something that can be put off. The Judge comes at any hour. Which side will you be on? Which side will your spouse be on? Your friends? Neighbors? Family members? Share the Word of God. The Spirit works with that Word where and when He wills to create faith. Pray that those who hear will not resist. Invite them to Bible study or church. There is still time while the Lord delays His coming, but do not doubt that the time is short, and the arrival, unexpected.

When we confess our sins, we should confess that we have sinned against God by what we have done and that we have also sinned by what we have left undone. We tend to focus a lot of time and energy on that first group—sins of commission, sins we do, sins we commit as crimes against God. We often ignore “what we have left undone.” Those are sins of omission. We tend to forget that it is sin when we omitted to do something good that God has commanded. We ought to remember that sins of omission are still sins and can sometimes have lasting effects.

A couple of scenes from a blockbuster movie illustrate the consequences of sins of omission. Peter had just won a contest. When he went to pick up the prize money, the man in charge said that Peter didn’t qualify for the big money because of a technicality. Peter was upset. He was given only a couple hundred dollars and was told, “Hey, it’s not my problem.” Minutes later, the man in charge of the contest was held up at gunpoint. Running off with the money, the thief ran right past Peter, who could have stopped him. After the thief’s escape, the man in charge asked Peter why he didn’t do anything. He told the man, “Hey, it’s not my problem.” As Peter left the building, he looked around for his uncle who was coming to pick him up. All he saw was a crowd huddled around a body. It was his uncle, shot to death by the thief he could have stopped. Sins of omission have consequences. It was his problem. We are to be our brother’s keeper, even if you are Spiderman.

Sin is a problem. It leads to hell. Ultimately, it is unbelief that damns. Unbelief refuses to act. Faith does those things. Faith sees Christ in all His humble glory, enthroned as the King of the Jews upon the throne of the Cross. Unbelief does not see Christ in humble situations like the cross, church, water, bread and wine, words, the Lord’s human servants, or the hungry, thirsty, the naked, the stranger, the sick, or those in prison. While they’re out looking for glorious manifestations of the divine, God Himself is hidden, right before their eyes in their daily lives.

The sheep and the goats are separated before their actions and inactions are mentioned. Salvation is not the reward for good works. Something precedes these good works—Christ’s gift of faith and His Holy and Pure wool of righteousness that makes you His sheep. Sheep, by faith do what Jesus describes. Goats do not and cannot.

There is a big distinction between a human definition of “good works” and God’s definition. The world’s definition is pretty broad. People call something good if garners a lot of attention. It may be a selfless act of giving, a brave rescue, a sacrifice of self for someone else. Such deeds are commendable, and certainly give us good role models and heroes. Such a definition may suffice for the world.

In God’s dictionary, good works can only be done by those with faith. An unbeliever cannot please God—even if He finds a cure for cancer, donates a billion dollars to the needy, or lays on a landmine to save a buddy. In God’s dictionary, even such selfless acts are not good works. What then, is the work of God?

Our Lord says in John 6:29, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” God desires to keep us all out of hell. Therefore, He sends the Spirit to use the Word to give you faith—even the believing is God’s work in you. Some will resist the Holy Spirit. I pray that you will not.

Let us pray for the coming of the Kingdom, soon, when the King will say (to those on his right,) 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' …[Enter] … into eternal life. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 13 November 2011, Proper 28A

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Matthew 25:14-30

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

LSB Proper [28], 13 November 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This is the Gospel of the Lord? Yes, for Judgment Day is a good thing for the Christian. Only one outside of Christ truly has something to fear. In this week’s parable, Jesus gives important insight into the Kingdom of God. Although there is heavy Law here that we need to talk about, the primary message is one of Gospel, good news.

 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like this: The man went away on a journey. We are given no indication when he will return. Daily life must go on. He has assets that need managing. We are told nothing about livestock, crops, other servants, or even the man’s family. We are simply told that eight talents are given to three servants according to their ability.

Our use of the word talent as the ability or gift of an individual is derived from this parable. But in the parable, the word talent has a more tangible meaning. A talent was a coin, a very valuable coin. In the parable of the unmerciful servant, we heard about a denarius being a common wage for a day-laborer. A talent is a year’s salary.

He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

How long did these events take? We are not specifically told. The only measurement of time we hear is that of the first servant. The one with five talents went at once. No hesitation. He got to work. He wasted no time. He doubled the money entrusted to him. Not bad! And the second servant doubled his two talents. We are prepared to expect the third servant would double his one talent. Nope. He went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Why?

We hear of the faithful work of the first two servants and the fruit because of their hard work. And then we hear of something else entirely. This third servant is different than the other two. He hid his lamp under a bushel basket. He buried his treasure in the field. He sat on his hands. He did nothing.

We are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone. Faith acts. It receives the Lord’s good gifts and serves Him by serving the neighbor. The hands of the faithful get dirty—literally and figuratively. Fields are bought because of the treasure discovered and dug up from them. A flame under a bushel will go out. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Faith cannot keep the good news of the kingdom of heaven to itself. It must tell the good news.

Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

It is time for the audit. The three servants are called to give an account after a long, indeterminate time. The first faithful servant received what the master delivered. And it was put to work in his service. Well done!

And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

The second faithful servant received what the master delivered. And it was put to work in his service. Well done!

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’

The third servant was not faithful. He had a different attitude entirely. It was based upon what he thought of his master. The first two faithful servants knew they had a gracious master who took joy in their faithful service. This servant saw his master as a hard man.

The third servant served not in reverent awe, but was fearful. There’s a difference. His own words show his unfaithfulness. If he knew that his master reaped where he did not sow seed, did he really think the master would be satisfied with no return on his investment?

Some see the Lord not as gracious and merciful as He is in Christ, but as a hard, unknowable God who takes our loved ones away and makes us live according to his whims. In short, they see Him not as a God who is primarily Gospel, but one who is only law. We know the law can lead to several reactions. 1. The law is ignored. I can’t keep the law and be perfect, so why try? I’ll just do whatever I please. 2. Hypocritical self-righteousness.  No, I can’t keep the law, but I do better than those other people. God will accept me. Look at all the good I do. 3. Despair. This is common among perfectionists. Such a person may lose all hope.

Judas betrayed our Lord. Peter denied Him three times. Judas lost all hope (and went and hung himself). Peter remembered the Lord’s words. The Gospel made all the difference in the world. Peter was restored, forgiven. You are restored, forgiven in Christ.

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

There is judgment for the unfaithful, for those who have been given the Lord’s gifts and do nothing with them because their faith died. They ignored God’s Word, Holy Communion, their pastor, and their congregation just as surely as if they dug a hole and buried it all.

It gives me no pleasure to speak of judgment and hellfire as a consequence of unfaith. Rejecting Christ, His servant, and His people, ignoring the Word, neglecting the Sacrament of the Altar—all these are sinful rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit. Others say, “Sorry, Pastor. I’ve been lazy.” I appreciate that kind of honesty. That’s certainly different from unfaith, but it has problems of its own. In medieval times, laziness, sloth, was called one of the seven deadly sins. All these sins are deadly serious and can lead to the sin against the Holy Spirit. If one rejects the way forgiveness is delivered, can they receive forgiveness? No.

The Lord has entrusted His gifts to us. They remain His, yet they are here for your benefit. The law questions would be, “What have you been doing with them? What have you failed to do with them?” The questions condemn and convict us. They measure, evaluate, and judge.

Remember how the hymn goes? “We give Thee but Thine own.” We are stewards of all that we have. The state of Wyoming may recognize us as rightful owners, but the Christian knows that the owner and giver of all things is the Lord. Now let’s ask the vocation questions. What gifts has the Lord given you? How has the Lord given you to use these gifts to serve Him by serving those entrusted to your care?

What gifts has the Lord given you? Health. Wealth. One Another. Skill. Training. Family. Faith. Time. The Gospel. Daily Bread. All you need to support this body and life. Do you lack anything you really need? Usually we just complain that we don’t have all we want.

How has the Lord given you to use these gifts to serve Him by serving those entrusted to your care? He richly and daily provides all we need to support ourselves, our families, and our congregation. (If attendance is down, financial needs remain, congregational offices remain unfilled, and if there are empty chairs at Bible classes, the fault is not with the Lord.) He richly and daily provides all we need to support ourselves, our families, and our congregation. The law shows your sin.

 The Gospel shows your Savior and forgives all your sins. Think about it! The solution to the guilt for not being here is the forgiveness delivered to you when you are here, gathered by the Lord around His gifts for you.

Jesus ascended into heaven. He went away on a journey. We don’t know when He will return, but the day is surely drawing near. It will happen. We don’t know when. Therefore, we are always prepared because He has given us forgiveness, life, salvation, and our daily bread. We watch and pray in repentant faith. And we serve as stewards of the good gifts He has entrusted to us, both physical and spiritual.

This Sunday, the third servant is a warning to us, so that we do not take the Lord’s gifts for granted or ignore or despise them. He is a counterexample. We are given to eagerly receive the good gifts our Master delivers. Only after that can we put them to work in His service. We cannot feed others with the Word until we have been fed first. We remember how gracious and loving our Lord is in Christ. He has not promised an easy life free from pain, one where He answers our every whim. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He has given us forgiveness, life, and salvation. And because of Christ, we will enter into the joy of our Master.

As Christians, we eagerly await the Last Day, for Christ, the Judge, is already at work in us. You will say, ‘Master, you delivered to me these talents; here I have made as many talents more.’ The Master will say to you, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.