Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS), Sheridan, Wyoming

Sermon for 27 November 2011, Advent 1B

2011-11-29T11:50:00.001-07:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Mark 11:1-10

Save Us Now, Lord Jesus

First Sunday in Advent, 27November 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 Immanuelthis morning? The blue paraments and bulletin cover to match? Maybe you werepreoccupied with your own life. That’s a lot to hold together in your mind. Theappointed Holy Gospel for this day ties everything together. Blessed is He whocomes in the name of the Lord! Save Us Now, Lord Jesus! Hosanna in the highest!

1Nowwhen they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount ofOlives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Gointo the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will finda colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of itand will send it back here immediately.’” 4And they wentaway and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.5Andsome of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying thecolt?” 6Andthey told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7Andthey brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8Andmany spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches thatthey had cut from the fields. 9And those who wentbefore and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comesin the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the comingkingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

Yes, this is the Palm Sunday account according to St. Markthe Evangelist. The Gospel lessons we will hear for the next year will beprimarily from the Gospel according to St. Mark. That is the blessing of theThree-Year lectionary. Each year focuses upon Matthew, Mark, or Luke, withJohn’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 asa short story. You will find that the first ten chapters prepare you for HolyWeek and the Resurrection in the last six chapters. You may be surprised tofind nothing of the Christmas story in Mark. You’ll have to go to Matthew andLuke for that. Mark begins with John the Baptizer preparing the way of theLord, 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 thanwith a reading about Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, His coming as theKing of the Jews, heir of King David?

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

(Lutheran Worship:History and Practice states,) “The liturgical colors are both a teachingdevice and a way of marking days and seasons. They [developed] among Christianswithout conscious planning and have existed since the middle ages. Some colorswere adjusted in the revised Church Year. Most notably, there is a new optionfor Advent: blue—to distinguish Advent from Lent…Blue represents hope,anticipation… [Blue comes] From a Swedish Lutheran tradition and from theancient Mozarabic (Spanish) liturgy…” (164) Blue was also used for Advent inEngland in the diocese of Bath and Wells.

Advent remains a season of preparation, repentance, andhope. We prepare to celebrate Christ’s first advent (coming) on Christmas, HisSecond 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. Blueteaches us about the little baby Boy who is coming, He who comes to us in HisBody and Blood for our forgiveness, and He who will return at the end of time.

The Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem announces why Jesuscame in the first place. He came to die. Jesus came to Jerusalem for acoronation, but His crown would be one of thorns, not gold. His throne wouldnot be one of polished wood and precious metal, but one of heavy, rough woodand 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 toproclaim in writing above Jesus’ head: “The King of the Jews.”

What a strange coming! What a strange first Advent! The babywrapped 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 thechurch year. As we approached the Last Sunday in the Church year last week, wewere reminded to be watchful, prayerful, and repentant because Jesus couldreturn at any time. The Second Coming could also be called the Second Advent.We carry with us that repentant, prayerful, watchfulness into this season ofAdvent and add to it hopeful joy as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, Jesus’First Advent.

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

Please turn with me to p. 208 in the front of LSB. Each Divine Service we sing theSanctus. Sanctus simply means “Holy,” the first word of this angel song from Isaiah6: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth adored; Heav’n and earth with full acclaimshout the glory of Your Name.”

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

We sing with them: “Sing hosanna in the highest, singhosanna 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, OGod, 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 fromeverything that plagues us within.. You are the only one who can save us fromsin, death, and the power of the devil. We pray. And then we pray as He taughtus: “Our Father who art in heaven…Thy kingdom come…” For Thine is the kingdomand 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 weconfess that He who came on Christmas, He who triumphantly came into Jerusalemas King David’s heir, and He who will come again with glory to judge both theliving and the dead is He who comes to us in His Body and Blood in theSacrament of the Altar. Jesus came, comes, and is coming for your benefit. Hisfirst 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 thesalvation 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 youthat will be brought to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, HisSecond Advent.

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

CPHBulletin Cover: We don’t like to wait. Patience is hard for us. Christians havebeen waiting for the joy of the Lord’s revelation for nearly two thousandyears. 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 thedead to destroy our death. He will keep His promise to return. Hosanna!

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

1Nowwhen they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount ofOlives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2andsaid to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as youenter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it andbring it. 3 If anyone saysto you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will sendit back here immediately.’” 4Andthey went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and theyuntied it. 5And some ofthose standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they told them whatJesus had said, and they let them go. 7Andthey brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8And many spread theircloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from thefields. 9And those whowent before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he whocomes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessedis 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

2011-11-29T11:47:00.003-07:00

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’tfind it in Matthew, Mark, or John. While this teaching is revealed elsewhere inthe New Testament, this narrative presents it in a unique way. We know Jesuscan heal. We know Jews and Samaritans did not get along. Jesus provides us foodfor thought as we observe a national day of thanksgiving tomorrow. He wants youto think about the relationship between faith and giving thanks. He also wantsyou to think about the One.

On the way to Jerusalem he [Jesus] was passing along betweenSamaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, whostood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, havemercy on us." 14When he sawthem 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 asa category and called lepers. The Lord gave Moses specific directions so thatHis people would be set apart as holy to the Lord. They also preserved thepeople from devastating communicable diseases. After a period of observation, aperson believed to have recovered was to show himself to the priests. Theywould certify that the person was now clean, remove the quarantine, and welcomethe person back into the community.

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

14When he saw them he [Jesus] said to them, "Go and showyourselves 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 Onesaw something more. Faith saw God Himself. Jesus’ Word directed them to thepriests to keep the law of old. The healing was done to create faith in theseten.

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

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

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

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

The way of salvation is narrow—as narrow as Jesus’ crossalone. Yet, salvation is as wide as Jesus’ arms spread out on the cross forthose 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 ofwhat Jesus gives: forgiveness, life, and salvation. There is no salvation apartfrom Christ. That angers people today, even some who consider themselvesChristians. We should remember the point of that exclusivity: God has provideda way of salvation, salvation itself as an unearned, undeserved gift in Christ!

17Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are thenine? 18Wasno 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 Godthanks that the one returned. We should thank the Lord for those with faith whodo give thanks. That’s important for us to remember as a congregation. I thankthe Lord for you. I thank the Lord that you regularly receive the means ofgrace where God has promised to be. We go to church because this is where theLord delivers the forgiveness Jesus won on the cross. Thank the Lord for oneanother. Show that thankfulness in words, loving actions, and encouragement.The Lord has gathered to Himself a people with faith in Him. He has gatheredyou together in this place around His gifts.

Where are the nine? Elsewhere Jesus speaks of a shepherd whotemporarily 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 cancover a lot more territory and reach many more people if pastor andcongregation work together to reach those who are lost. We are given to sharethe healing forgiveness of Jesus with them. He Himself is the Good Shepherd ofEzekiel 34. He gathers His scattered, hurting people to Himself.

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

19And he [Jesus] said to [the Samaritan], "Rise and go yourway; 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 lovethat “risks betrayal.” (Quoted in Franzman’s NT Commentary) Jesus allowsHimself to be rejected for the sake of those who believe, those who have faithand trust in Christ Jesus rather than themselves. He gives daily bread toeveryone, even evil people. We pray that the Lord would lead us to realize thatHe is the giver of daily bread and to receive it from the Lord withthanksgiving.

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

Often, the good gifts the Lord gives us are twisted by thedevil, the world, and our own sinful flesh so that the gifts wrongly become moreimportant than the Giver, God. A better understanding of the relationshipbetween God and His Gifts is expressed in this hymn to the Lord: (Caedmon’sCall “You Created”) “You created nothing That gives me more pleasure than You AndYou 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 diedand rose to give you all that you need to support your life, and also the giftof 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

2011-11-29T11:47:00.001-07:00

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 ourLord 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. TheJudge’s entry at just that time was a surprise to the defendants. This is theend. This is the day of the final verdict. There is no appeal. This is the lasttrial that will ever take place on the face of the earth.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all theangels 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 sheepfrom the goats. And he will place thesheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

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

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

And things get interesting. He will separate people one fromanother as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, butthe goats on the left. This King is theJudge. And He is also the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep. And He knows thosewho are not His sheep. He knows. There are no witnesses, no evidence enteredinto the record of the court reporter—at least not yet. (Lenski, p. 988): This division and thisplacing are already a judgment and a verdict. What follows only justifies theact.

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

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you whoare blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from thefoundation of the world. For I washungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was astranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick andyou visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

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

Think about the kind of service for which Jesus commends thesaints. 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 thenaked, and visit the sick and those in prison. Such words give us pause tothink about how we care for our family, our neighbors, our community. And howdo we treat the visitor to the Divine Service, the prodigal returning forChristmas, the person fumbling around in the bulletin or hymnal—or how we treatone another in this congregation?

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

Love sacrifices self. As she was growing up a young girloften saw her mother’s hands, which were badly marred with ugly scars. When shewas 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 andtold the story. “When you were a little child, sleeping in your crib, we had asudden fire in the house. I went to your room, and the flames were all aroundyour crib. I grabbed you and wrapped you in your blanket, but the flames hadalready reached the outside of the blanket, and my hands, as you can see, werebadly burned. So, darling, that is why my hands are scarred and not lovely andsmooth as the hands of other mothers are.” There was a pause, and then thegirl’s face lit up. She reached down, picked up her mother’s hands, and pressedthem tightly to her face. “Oh, Mommy, I love these hands.” Love sacrificesself.

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

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

'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least ofthese my brothers, you did it to me.' At first, “the least of these mybrothers” referred to his twelve disciples. Christians cared for them in theGospel accounts, the Book of Acts and beyond for the sake of the message. Wehonor the Lord by receiving His gifts. We honor His Word by making it apriority and by hearing and doing it. We show we are forgiven by quickly andgladly forgiving others. For the sake of the Lord’s Gospel, Christians care forthe Lord’s messengers, whether they be seminarians, parish pastors,missionaries, chaplains, professors, or servants at District or Synod. When wecare 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 ofthese my brothers, you did it to me.' If you’re willing to give food and drinkto even the most insignificant person in the eyes of the world, welcome thegrubbiest 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 forthe Gospel, even if they don’t know it yet.

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

"Then he willsay to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fireprepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave meno drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did notclothe 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 inprison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did notdo it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternalpunishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

The verdict on the goats is, “cursed,” far, far worse than amere “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’sprison. Hellfire was not originally designed for humankind, but only for thedevil and his evil angels as a result of their apostasy. It will be the eternaldestination for those who reject Christ and follow the devil’s ways.

One of those devilish ways is resisting the Holy Spirit. Thesin against the Holy Spirit is continually resisting His work through God’sWord. Resisting the Spirit leads to the sin against the Holy Spirit, the onlyunforgivable sin, incurable apostasy. Why is it not forgivable? The Holy Spiritdelivers God’s forgiveness. If you resist Him, you resist that delivery, andhence, 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 comesat any hour. Which side will you be on? Which side will your spouse be on? Yourfriends? Neighbors? Family members? Share the Word of God. The Spirit workswith that Word where and when He wills to create faith. Pray that those whohear will not resist. Invite them to Bible study or church. There is still timewhile the Lord delays His coming, but do not doubt that the time is short, andthe arrival, unexpected.

When we confess our sins, we should confess that we have sinned against God by what we have doneand that we have also sinned by what we have left undone. We tend to focus alot of time and energy on that first group—sins of commission, sins we do, sinswe 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 todo something good that God has commanded. We ought to remember that sins ofomission are still sins and can sometimes have lasting effects.

A couple of scenes from a blockbuster movie illustrate theconsequences of sins of omission. Peter had just won a contest. When he went topick up the prize money, the man in charge said that Peter didn’t qualify forthe big money because of a technicality. Peter was upset. He was given only acouple 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 themoney, the thief ran right past Peter, who could have stopped him. After thethief’s escape, the man in charge asked Peter why he didn’t do anything. Hetold the man, “Hey, it’s not my problem.” As Peter left the building, he lookedaround for his uncle who was coming to pick him up. All he saw was a crowdhuddled around a body. It was his uncle, shot to death by the thief he couldhave stopped. Sins of omission have consequences. It was his problem. We are to be our brother’s keeper, even if you areSpiderman.

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

The sheep and the goats are separated before theiractions and inactions are mentioned. Salvation is not the reward for goodworks. Something precedes these good works—Christ’s gift of faith and His Holyand Pure wool of righteousness that makes you His sheep. Sheep, by faith dowhat 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 selflessact of giving, a brave rescue, a sacrifice of self for someone else. Such deedsare commendable, and certainly give us good role models and heroes. Such adefinition may suffice for the world.

In God’s dictionary, good works can only be done by thosewith 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, isthe work of God?

Our Lord says in John 6:29, “This is the work of God, thatyou 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 thebelieving is God’s work in you. Some will resist the Holy Spirit. I pray thatyou will not.

Let us pray for the coming of the Kingdom, soon, when theKing 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 wasthirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I wasnaked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison andyou came to me.' …[Enter] … intoeternal 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

2011-11-29T11:42:00.001-07:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Matthew 25:14-30

WellDone, 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 theHoly Spirit. Amen.

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

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

The Kingdom of Heaven is like this: The man went away on ajourney. 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 talentsare given to three servants according to their ability.

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

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

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

We hear of the faithful work of the first two servants andthe fruit because of their hard work. And then we hear of something elseentirely. This third servant is different than the other two. He hid his lampunder a bushel basket. He buried his treasure in the field. He sat on hishands. He did nothing.

We are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone. Faithacts. 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 arebought because of the treasure discovered and dug up from them. A flame under abushel will go out. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Faith cannot keep thegood news of the kingdom of heaven to itself. It must tell the good news.

Now after a long time the master ofthose servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received thefive talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, youdelivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His mastersaid to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful overa 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 givean account after a long, indeterminate time. The first faithful servantreceived what the master delivered. And it was put to work in his service. Welldone!

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 beenfaithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of yourmaster.’

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

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

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

Some see the Lord not as gracious and merciful as He is inChrist, but as a hard, unknowable God who takes our loved ones away and makesus live according to his whims. In short, they see Him not as a God who isprimarily Gospel, but one who is only law. We know the law can lead to severalreactions. 1. The law is ignored. I can’t keep the law and be perfect, so whytry? I’ll just do whatever I please. 2. Hypocritical self-righteousness. No, I can’t keep the law, but I do betterthan 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. Judaslost 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 hidyour talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his masteranswered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where Ihave not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to haveinvested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have receivedwhat was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to himwho has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and hewill have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will betaken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outerdarkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

There is judgment for the unfaithful, for those who havebeen 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 congregationjust as surely as if they dug a hole and buried it all.

It gives me no pleasure to speak of judgment and hellfire asa consequence of unfaith. Rejecting Christ, His servant, and His people,ignoring the Word, neglecting the Sacrament of the Altar—all these are sinfulrejection of the work of the Holy Spirit. Others say, “Sorry, Pastor. I’ve beenlazy.” I appreciate that kind of honesty. That’s certainly different fromunfaith, 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 andcan lead to the sin against the Holy Spirit. If one rejects the way forgivenessis delivered, can they receive forgiveness? No.

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

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

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

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

The Gospel shows yourSavior and forgives all your sins. Think about it! The solution to the guiltfor 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. Wedon’t know when He will return, but the day is surely drawing near. It willhappen. We don’t know when. Therefore, we are always prepared because He hasgiven us forgiveness, life, salvation, and our daily bread. We watch and prayin repentant faith. And we serve as stewards of the good gifts He has entrustedto us, both physical and spiritual.

This Sunday, the third servant is a warning to us, so thatwe do not take the Lord’s gifts for granted or ignore or despise them. He is acounterexample. We are given to eagerly receive the good gifts our Masterdelivers. Only after that can we put them to work in His service. We cannotfeed others with the Word until we have been fed first. We remember how graciousand loving our Lord is in Christ. He has not promised an easy life free from pain,one where He answers our every whim. He haspromised 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 eagerlyawait the Last Day, for Christ, the Judge, is already at work in us. You willsay, ‘Master, you delivered to me these talents; here I have made as manytalents more.’ The Master will say to you, ‘Well done, good and faithfulservant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enterinto the joy of your master.’ Amen.

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

Sermon for All Saints' Sunday, Proper 27A Gospel

2011-11-29T11:41:00.001-07:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Matthew 25:1-13

Five Were Wise

Proper 27A, 06 November 2011

All Saints’ Sunday

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

“You know neither the day nor the hour.” In these words ourLord Jesus tells us the easiest way to identify a false teacher. He or she willpick a day and time for the end of the world. When you hear of such a thing,run away as fast as you can and never go back. That is what the wise ones do. InMatthew 24 and 25 Jesus is answering a two-part question asked by Hisdisciples: When will the Temple in Jerusalem be destroyed and “what will be thesign of your coming and of the close of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

The first question was answered in 70 A.D. The second isanswered by “You know neither the day nor the hour.” Therefore, we should beprepared for His coming and the end at any time. That is the message taught in Jesus’parable at the beginning of Matthew 25:

¹“Thenthe kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went tomeet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³Forwhen the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴but thewise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, they allbecame drowsy and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here isthe bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷Then all those virgins rose and trimmedtheir lamps. ⁸And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some ofyour oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹But the wise answered, saying, ‘Sincethere will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buyfor yourselves.’ ¹⁰And while they were going to buy, the bridegroomcame, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and thedoor was shut. ¹¹Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹²But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, Ido not know you.’ ¹³Watch therefore, for you know neither the day northe hour.

Who is the Bridegroom? Jesus, of course. As in thebeginning, “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to hiswife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:23). The Bridegroom, on theLast Day, will celebrate with His Bride, the Church, the one, holy, Christian,and apostolic Church. This All Saint’s Sunday, we heard how the Saints of Godare called Blessed in the Beatitude beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.This parable reminds us of one we heard in early October about the weddingfeast and wedding garments.

In the ancient world, it was common to have a few peopleleave the wedding hall and go outside to wait for the bridegroom to come. Thatsets our scene. And what should happen when he comes? Would these greeters stayoutside? No. That would be silly. Those who celebrate the marriage feast withbride and groom would obviously go inside once the bridegroom arrives. Theyknow him and he knows them. And they celebrate together.

Jesus speaks of ten virgins. This speaks of the purity ofChristians who wait for Jesus’ Second Coming. Ten is a number of completenessin Scripture. And God hadn’t invented flashlights yet. No Coleman lanterns,either. Metal or pottery lamps with a wick similar in principle to kerosenelamps were filled with olive oil. That’s what we usually mean when the word“lamp” is used. But small clay lamps were usually used only indoors. Outdoors,long poles were wrapped with oil-soaked rags. More oil needed to be poured onevery fifteen minutes. That was work! It took a lot of attention to detail.

There were ten virgins keeping the lamps lit. Waiting.Waiting. Waiting. And five were wise. They planned ahead. This wasn’t theirfirst wedding. They had plenty of oil—even after they had fallen asleep on duty. Five were foolish. TheBridegroom had been spotted in the distance and they had to go to the store formore oil. They were not recognized as true wedding guests and were lockedoutside. “Watch therefore, for youknow neither the day nor the hour.”

Jesus is very clear in verse 13. We know He is the Bridegroomand that the wise virgins were Christians ready and waiting with trimmedtorches on the Last Day. We know we shouldn’t be like the foolish five. Butwhat is the oil?

There have been many ideas over 2000 years. Some, like St.Augustine, had three different ideas all by himself. In our LutheranConfessions, two brief quotes lead me to believe that faith is the oil in thelamps of the five who were wise.

St. Hilary is quoted in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession. In response to the question ofwhy the five wise didn’t share their oil he says, “In other words, no one canbe aided by the works and merits of another, because it is necessary foreveryone to buy oil for his own lamp” (Concordia,206).

The Formula of Concordshares Luther’s definition of faith from his commentary on Romans: “Faith,however, is a divine work in us that changes us and makes us to be born anew ofGod, John 1[:12–13]. It kills the old Adam and makes us altogether differentmen, in heart and spirit and mind and powers; it brings with it the HolySpirit. O, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith. It isimpossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly. ¹¹It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question isasked, it has already done them, and is constantly doing them. Whoever does notdo such works, however, is an unbeliever. He gropes and looks around for faithand good works, but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Yet hetalks and talks, with many words, about faith and good works.

Luther continues,“¹² Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’sgrace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake his life on it athousand times. This knowledge of and confidence in God’s grace makes men gladand bold and happy in dealing with God and all creatures. And this is the workthat the Holy Spirit performs in faith. Because of it, without compulsion, aperson is ready and glad to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffereverything, out of love and praise to God, who has shown him this grace. Thusit is impossible to separate works from faith, quite as impossible as to separateheat and light from fire [LW 35:370–71]” (Concordia, 548).

Because of faith, Luther said, “a person is ready” like thewise five. Faith is God’s gift to you in Christ Jesus. God gives you His HolySpirit when you are baptized, when you hear His Word. He gives you the oil inyour lamps and torches so that you are ready on the Last Day, even if you fallasleep in death before He comes again. That is why we rejoice in this parable.

We rejoice in the midst of cold weather with crops still inthe field, financial uncertainty, a presidential election cycle, pressure atwork, stress at school, maybe even tension at home. We mourn for lost dreams orfor those who have died in Christ. We live in the valley of the shadow anddread the doctor’s phone calls. In the midst of all of the trouble in the wholeworld, Christ stands with you. He has comfort for you. He has given youChristian family here at Immanuel to be with you and support you. He gives youHis gifts.

The Divine Service is where we usually go to find God’sgifts for us. Pastor is there in special times of need. In between Sundays, weprioritize individual and family devotions throughout the week, work diligentlyat our vocations for our families and the Lord, and then are joyfully gatheredby Him around the gifts of Word and Sacrament. We rejoice at every Baptism andremember that we have been baptized. We celebrate each confirmation of HolyBaptism, when a person confesses the faith for himself or herself. The HolySpirit gives individuals faith where and when He wills, working with God’s ownWord. We taste and see that the Lord is good at His table spread for us, aforetaste of the heavenly wedding feast to come. Here we find Jesus ourBridegroom. He sustained the five who were wise. And He strengthens andpreserves you also. Blessed are you. Wise men once sought the One who was bornKing of the Jews. Wise men and women today still seek Him. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for Reformation Sunday, 30 October 2011, using 26A

2011-11-01T10:41:00.000-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Matthew 23:1-12

Christian Education

Proper 26A, 30 October 2011

Reformation Sunday

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

As Reformation Day nears on the calendar, my heart and mindturn to reform in the Church. We are Lutheran Christians, spiritual heirs ofthe 16^th Century Reformation of the Christian Church. Christians arealways in need of repentance. The Church, from a local congregation, to aregional group of congregations, a church body or denomination, or Christianityas a whole, is always in need of reform.

I don’t mean “social justice.” There are always wrongs to berighted and ample reason for righteous anger to be channeled as passion forhelping the aged, unborn, poor, and oppressed, but God’s justice is discoveredin what Scripture says, not a sinful heart, a social fad, or what some groupdetermines to be popular or “politically correct.”

Psalm 51 shows humble submission to God’s Word, heartfeltand mindful repentance and amendment of life, and faith in the only One who canor could have mercy, blot out transgressions, wash from iniquity, and cleansefrom sin: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit withinme. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”(Psalm 51:10-12 ESV)

The Church of Christ Jesus always has need of the same kindof humble submission to Holy Scripture, repentant and honest scholarship, andwillingness to admit and correct false teaching and sin. This is done for thesake of the Gospel of Christ, He who creates in us that clean heart, rightspirit, salvation, and eternal joy through His sacrificial Calvary death andvictorious Resurrection.

Where do today’s Christians, congregations, anddenominations need reform? I would suggest that we look to the past foranswers. No, no one really sees a modern problem with “selling forgiveness,”but some media ministries get very close. One of the historic errors withinChristendom was reliance on human wisdom, power, authority, or “doctrine” overand against what the Bible says. Every sermon, Bible study, devotion, book,show, movie, or website that claims to be Christian should be subject torigorous Biblical scrutiny by Christians before it is shared with the world atlarge. Teachers and teachings that contradict the clear and in-context text ofScripture should be admonished and corrected for the sake of the Gospel.

One good occasion for repentance is listening to Jesus’teaching about teachers in Matthew 23:

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²“The scribes and thePharisees sit on Moses’ seat, ³sodo and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For theypreach, but do not practice. ⁴Theytie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, butthey themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. ⁵They do all theirdeeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and theirfringes long, ⁶andthey love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues ⁷and greetings in themarketplaces and being called rabbi by others. ⁸But you are not to be called rabbi, for you haveone teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹Andcall no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. ¹⁰Neither be calledinstructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. ¹¹The greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹²Whoever exaltshimself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Heed Christ’s call to following what God’s Word says, topracticing what we preach. He calls for Biblically-informed, passionate, andfaith-filled teaching and practice at home, church, and school.

Christian Education has always been important to LutheranChristians.

Immanuel had a school before! In the 1920’s, Pastor Her,(1919-1927) taught Christian day school classes in the upstairs of theparsonage on Park Street.
In the history of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, therewere more schools than congregations in our church body from the 1870s throughthe early 1900’s.
When the LCMS was first founded in 1847, there were sixteenoriginal Lutheran congregations and fourteen original Lutheran schools.
Why did the Saxon Lutherans leave Germany? We know thereproblems with unionism and syncretism, but recent scholarship shows that theywere more concerned with the sad state of German schools than even thetheological problems of the state church. In particular, they were troubled bythe fact that what was taught in the state schools contradicted the Christianfaith that was taught at home and at Church.
Lutherans like Johann Sturm, Phillip Melanchthon, and MartinLuther revived classical education in their day, founding a proper education onChrist and His Gospel, but also advocating for education for all, includinggirls and peasants, and a free public Christian education paid for by thestate, especially if the head of state was a Christian prince.
The Jesuits, formed by the Roman Church as a response to theReformation, famous yet today for their rigorous quality educationinstitutions, patterned their schools and curricula after Lutheran models.
Today, the LCMS is blessed with two seminaries, ten universitiesand colleges, more than 2,300 early childhood centers and preschools operatedby congregations and Christian day schools within The Lutheran Church—MissouriSynod. More than 129,000 children, ranging in age from infant/toddler tofive years of age, are involved in these programs. Additionally, ourcongregations operate 945 elementary schools which serve 107,000 students.
Martin Luther Grammar School was accredited this summer byThe Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education. Both Mount Hope, Casper,and Trinity, Riverton, will have accreditation visits next week. Three otherschools are in the CCLE accreditation process, accreditation soon to berecognized as exemplary by the Synod.

Christian education is important to Lutherans. And it all beginswith the Fourth Commandment.

The editors of the new reader’s edition of the Book ofConcord, Concordia; The LutheranConfessions, provide a very helpful introduction to the Fourth Commandmentin Luther’s Large Catechism:

Commandments four through ten describe relationships withour fellow humans. Here Luther’s understanding of “vocation” is apparent.Vocation comes from the Latin vocare,meaning “to call.” God calls everyone to certain roles, or stations, in life.In this commandment, Luther describes our duty before God to honor father andmother, that is, to respect authority. God instituted all forms of authority asan extension of parental authority, for our good. There are various parentalauthorities, or “fathers,” in our lives, including pastors, teachers, andgovernment officials. Another insight by Luther is about the life of good worksto which Christians are called. We should not regard “Church work” as more holythan the other things in life that we routinely do. Rather, all callings and stationsin life serve God and are opportunities for us to obey God’s commandments andto serve our neighbor. The key observation Luther offers is this: faith is whatmakes a person holy. Faith alone. Good works serve God by serving other people.^{^[1]}End quote.

As a congregation that sponsors a Christian school,sometimes we need to state and restate the obvious: parents are given to be thefirst teachers of their own children. Parents are to have primary authority andchoice over the raising of their own children, not the state. Yes, parents aregiven to feed, clothe, shelter, and educate their children, but the mostimportant education a parent can give is the discipline and instruction of theLord.

Paul teaches this in Ephesians 6: 1-4: Children, obey your parentsin the Lord, for this is right. ²“Honoryour father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³“that it may go wellwith you and that you may live long in the land.” ⁴Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

This is an important and divine responsibility. Education inthis life prepares one for family, work, and leisure. Christian education is apreparation for this life AND the life to come. As you consider the educationof your children or grandchildren, or if you are still thinking about your owneducation, ask yourself this about any educational opportunity or choice: “Willthis school, teacher, or career encourage my faith in Christ, or destroy ordiscourage my faith in Christ?”

Luther’s day had problems much like our own. He says as muchin this paragraph from the Fourth Commandment in his Large Catechism:

¹⁷⁰Here again the sad plight arises that no one sees or hears this truth. All liveon as though God gave us children for our pleasure or amusement and servants sothat we could use them like a cow or [a donkey], only for work. Or they live asthough we were only to gratify our lewd behavior with our subjects, ignoringthem, as though we have no concern for what they learn or how they live. ¹⁷¹ No one is willing to seethat this is the command of the Supreme Majesty, who will most strictly call usto account and punish us for it. Nor does anyone see that there is so much needto be seriously concerned about the young. ¹⁷²For if we wish to have excellent and able persons both for civil and Churchleadership, we must spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and educatingour children, so that they may serve God and the world. ¹⁷³ We must not think only about how we may amass moneyand possessions for them. God can indeed support and make them rich without us,as He daily does. But for this purpose He has given us children and issued thiscommand: we should train and govern them according to His will. Otherwise, Hewould have no purpose for a father and a mother. ¹⁷⁴ Therefore, let everyone know that it is his duty, onperil of losing the divine favor, to bring up his children in the fear andknowledge of God above all things [Proverbs 1:7]. And if the children aretalented, have them learn and study something. Then they may be hired forwhatever need there is.^{^[2]}End quote.

What did Luther say before? “….we must spare no diligence,time, or cost in teaching and educating our children, so that they may serveGod and the world.” Amen. God strengthen our courage us to that end.

We have need in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the United States forfaithful Lutheran Christians in every godly vocation, from husbands and wivesas parents, to laborers, educators, and public servants. There will always be aneed for faithful men to heed the call to the Office of the Holy Ministry.

CPH: The everlasting Gospel proclaims to us God as ourrefuge, our mighty fortress. The alternative is to try to make yourself afortress—not a smart idea. We are safe inside the righteousness of Christ;neither Satan nor sin will be able to conquer us or do us harm. Thisrighteousness is a sheer gift, bestowed on us by Him whose Word of truth freesus from all attempts to justify ourselves.

Dealing with sin is not a matter of training, discipline, oreducation. If you train a sinner, you get a trained sinner. Discipline a sinnerand the result is a disciplined sinner. Educate a sinner, and you get aneducated sinner. A sinner forgiven in Christ is still a sinner, but that sinneris now also a saint. Training, discipline, and education cannot accomplishthat! Only Jesus’ love can! Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgivingone another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Reformation Day is a time to mourn the sad divisions withinChristendom, caused by sinful rejections of God’s Word. Yet, we also rejoicethat the Lord still today preserves a faithful remnant, no matter how much thedevil, the world, and even our own sinful flesh would oppose the true preachingand teaching of God’s Word.

While it is true that Jesus prays “that they all [allChristians] may be one” (John 17:21a), it is just as true that Jesus asserts inthe same prayer, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).This is the same plea St. Paul makes in 1 Corinthians: “I appeal to you,brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and thatthere be no divisions among you, but that united in the same mind and the samejudgment.” (1:10)

That, too, is my prayer. I don’t want to “agree to disagree”or paper over or ignore doctrinal differences between Christian traditions.Let’s honestly talk about them and then measure all teaching by the standard ofHoly Scripture. Can we reject mere “people pleasing” (Galatians 1) and standfor the content of the Christian faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3)?Are we doomed to fall away from what God’s Word actually says and follow falseteachers who tell us “what it really means”?

Instead, let us honor Luther and Walther and our spiritualfathers and mothers in the faith across all time and space by submitting, inhumble faith, to our One true Rabbi, Teacher, and Instructor, Jesus, theChrist, and the Eternal Word of Our Father who art in Heaven. Happy ReformationSunday. Amen.

In the Name ofJesus. Amen.

^{^[1]}Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions.2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (370). St. Louis, MO: Concordia PublishingHouse.

^{^[2]}Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions.2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (378). St. Louis, MO: Concordia PublishingHouse.

Sermon for 23 October 2011, Proper 25A

2011-10-31T18:52:00.001-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Matthew 22:34-36

TheGreatest Commandment

LSB Proper [25] A,23 October 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

When will the Pharisees tire of trying to trip up Jesus withtheir questions? Last week it was, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, ornot?” Jesus answered, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. Andwe also marvel at His wisdom. That divine wisdom is shown again in our text, anotherportion of Matthew Chapter 22.

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced theSadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him aquestion to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Andhe said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with allyour heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great andfirst commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor asyourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Wow. That makes these two commandments sound important!

We’re used to hearing about Ten Commandments, not two. TheSynodical Explanation of Luther’s Small Catechism makes the connection. “Youshall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul andwith all your mind,” the great and first commandment, summarizes the FirstTable of the Law, Commandments One through Three. Having no other gods, nottaking His name in vain, and remembering the Sabbath day by keeping it holy arehow God’s people love Him with heart, soul, and mind.

Do people show God love when they call the true God by thename of a false god or try to combine the two? Do some Christians show love ofGod when they call Him by names He has not given in the word such as, “OurFather-Mother who art in heaven”? Do we show love of God when we ignore theLord’s Word and Gifts in His house on His day, or only go reluctantly? Do weshow love of God if we refuse to “walk together” in unity with His Word as anyBiblical Synod should? Do we show love of God if we are reluctant to give orserve as He has need of us? Do we love God if we doubt His promises?

No, of course not. And we have a problem. The Law of God asthe full Ten Commandments or summarized into two great commandments is a mirrorthat shows us what we don’t want to see: how we have failed to keep thecommandments by what we have done and by what we have left undone.

The same goes for the second Great Commandment: “You shalllove your neighbor as yourself.” This summarizes the whole of the SecondTablet, commandments Four through Ten, covering everything from obedience toparents, murder, and sexual immorality, to theft, lying, and coveting. If wetruly loved our neighbor, we would love and honor them, help them in any waypossible, and put the best construction on anything. What happens instead? Weare hammered by the law because of our sinful actions and our failure to do thegood God desires. Disrespect. Disobedience. Name-calling. Failing to begenerous to those less fortunate than ourselves. Allowing filth to enter ourhomes. Little white lies. Gossip. Lust for who or what we don’t have. All of usshould be squirming by now. The law will not allow any of us to remaincomfortable in sin.

Why do we feel this way? What goes so horribly wrong? Oneword. One word summarizes all of the Ten Commandments, both of Jesus’ GreatCommandments: love.

And you thought love was a good thing! You’re not completelywrong. Even hearing the word “love” is a command to every listener. Commandsare law. And the law is a mirror that shows how we fail daily by thought, word,deed, and by what we leave undone. Where have you failed in the past? “Love ispatient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. Itdoes not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does notrejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things,believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

So, then, this beautiful text from 1 Corinthians 13 is onlylaw? No. God is love, but only in Christ Jesus. Now listen again in the lightof Christ’s love for you.

Jesus is patient and kind; Jesus does not envy or boast; Heis not arrogant or rude. He does not insist on His own way, because He followedHis Father’s way; Jesus is not irritable or resentful; Jesus does not rejoiceat wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. He is truth. Jesus bears allthings, including your sin and that of the whole world, believes all things,hopes all things, endures all things, even the cross and grave. Jesus neverends. He is the eternal Son of God begotten of His Father from eternity, andalso true man, born of the virgin Mary, who died and was raised for you and foryour salvation. All because of God’s love. God’s love for you in Jesus neverends.

If it were up to each of us to love the Lord our God withall our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and love our neighboras ourselves, what would that mean for the Law and the Prophets? We fail. Youremember what goes on inside of you when the Law beats you up. We need Someonewho can fulfill the Ten Commandments summarized in Jesus’ Great Commandments.And that person is Jesus. His work, His love for God and neighbor is just whatyou need. Jesus as Savior, loving God first and loving each one of you as Hisneighbor fulfills the Law and the Prophets, the whole of Old Testamentprophecy. The Hebrew Scriptures truly make sense only in Christ Jesus, thepromised Messiah of old.

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus askedthem a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then thatDavid, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sitat my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet’? “If then Davidcalls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word,nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

CPR: The point Jesus is making with His question cannot begrasped without an understanding of His application of Psalm 110:1. The heareris confronted, rapid fire, with five persons: Jesus (first), recounting thewords of (second) David, inspired by (third) the Spirit, recounting the wordsof (fourth) “the Lord” to (fifth)his “Lord.” Think of a TV reporter standing before the camera, giving a reportof statements made by people in the news. In Psalm 110:1, the reporter is David.He’s reporting what God the Father, (the Lord)said to the Messiah (my Lord). The Holy Spirit, by the way, is the news chiefback at the office who dispatched the reporter, and Jesus, who is the Messiahthe Father was talking about, we see in Matthew 22 discussing the report withviewers who watched it when it aired.

We have a great example of love in action in the person andwork of Jesus Christ. Yet, we are different people and have differentvocations. Jesus’ vocation was Messiah. Day to day, we are given to love Godand show love for neighbor in our congregations, homes, workplaces, schools,and communities. This isn’t rocket science. Christianity is pretty simple. Youare a sinner. Jesus died for sinners. You are also a saint in Christ. Love yourneighbor as yourself according to your vocations. Confess your sins. Regularlyreceive God’s forgiveness. Invite someone to come with you.

We are right to be amazed at the wisdom in Jesus’ answers.In another way, we should not be surprised. Jesus simply shows His knowledge ofthe liturgy of the synagogue. The service began with the confession of faithfrom Deuteronomy 6 which said, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul andwith all your might…”

These words would be complemented by Jesus’ quotation of Leviticus19: “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

The creed in the Synagogue liturgy was followed by a prayerof intercession, three readings, a sermon, and the blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you andbe gracious to you; the Lord turnHis face toward you and give you peace.”

Does any of this sound familiar? It should. Lutherans prayon Sunday mornings the way we do because we follow the pattern of the historicwestern Divine Service. The Divine Service is patterned after the way of Jewishprayer in the synagogues at the time of Christ plus the Lord’s Supper, Jesus’ remodelingof the ancient Jewish Passover meal.

Ad Fontes: In the Christian Divine Service, the backgroundof the worship of the synagogue ought not to be overlooked. We have theconfession of faith; we have the intercessory prayer; we have the reading ofthe Scriptures, and we have the blessing. We have more, however, much more: wehave the Sacrament of the altar, and bound together with it the ceremonialliturgy. We have Holy Baptism as well and the hymn of the Church, which lastlystands in the tradition of the Psalter. The Psalms were already the spiritualsongs of the Old Testament congregation.

Nagel: OurLord speaks and we listen. His Word bestows what it says. Faith that is bornfrom what is heard acknowledges the gifts received with eager thankfulness andpraise. Music is drawn into this thankfulness and praise, enlarging andelevating the adoration of our gracious giver God.

Sayingback to him what he has said to us, we repeat what is most true and sure. Mosttrue and sure is his name, which he put upon us with the water of our Baptism.We are his. This we acknowledge at the beginning of the Divine Service. Wherehis name is, there is he. Before him we acknowledge that we are sinners, and weplead for forgiveness. His forgiveness is given us, and we, freed and forgiven,acclaim him as our great and gracious God as we apply to ourselves the words hehas used to make himself known to us.

The rhythmof our worship is from him to us, and then from us back to him. He gives hisgifts, and together we receive and extol them. We build on another up as wespeak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Our Lord gives ushis body to eat and his blood to drink. Finally his blessing moves us out intoour calling, where his gifts have their fruition.

How bestto do this we may learn from his Word and from the way his Word has promptedhis worship throughout the centuries. We are heirs of an astonishingly richtradition. Each generation receives from those who went before and, in makingthat tradition of the Divine Service its own, adds what best may serve in itsown day--the living heritage and something new. (Lutheran Worship, p. 6 Nagel)

The Greatest Commandment is Love. We love God with heart,soul and mind, when we receive His good gifts. You are a sinner. Jesus died forsinners. You are also a saint in Christ. Love your neighbor as yourself accordingto your vocations. Confess your sins. Regularly receive God’s forgiveness. TheLord’s blessing moves us outinto our calling, where his gifts have their fruition. Jesus theMessiah’s love for God and for you fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Memorial Sermon for Velma Miles

2011-10-31T10:37:00.002-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain

Matthew 10:28-33

Fear Not

Memorial Sermon for Velma Miles

Saturday of Pentecost 19, 29 October 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church/Kane Funeral Home, Sheridan, WY

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

“Do not fear,” says our Lord. Later in today’s Gospel textHe says, “Fear not.” These are words of comfort we hear elsewhere in Scripture.

The Christmas angels say “Fear not” to shepherds watchingtheir flocks by night. In Old Testament times the Lord comforts both Abrahamand Isaac with these words on separate occasions. We hear them from Godspeaking through Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Joel, Zephaniah, Haggai, andZechariah. And our Lord Jesus speaks them Himself in Revelation Chapter One.

There are many things to fear in life. One of them is deathor fearing the loss of a loved one, a mother, to death.

Mere months before her own death, a dear aunt told me, “Imay fear dying, but I need not fear death.” Such is the confidence of faith.Velma Miles shared this confession of hope and trust in Christ her Lord.

Velma was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church at itsformer Park street location in 1938. She and her fellow students of Luther’s Small Catechism made up a class ofeight. These were days when services and classes were held both in German andin English.

Usually, memory work and teaching begin with the FirstCommandment. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. You shall have no othergods. Then the question is asked: “What does this mean?” or the German: “Wasist das?” “What is this?” The answer? We should fear, love and trust in Godabove all things.

“Fear not” is spoken by the Lord and His servants to put anend to the “being afraid” kind of fear. The Lord and Dr. Luther call us to the“reverent awe” kind of fear, repentant faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus says: And do not fear those who kill the body but cannotkill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Our old evil foe is not in charge of outer darkness. He is aprisoner there in the place where there is gnashing of teeth. The Lord is theone in charge. There are worse things than death. Hell is one of them.

The Lord cares for us. He loves us in Christ. He loved allof us so that He sent His only Son to be born, live, serve, teach, and sufferand die in our place. And to rise to life again so that we would rise again.And be with Him in Heaven.

Jesus continues: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Andnot one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even thehairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more valuethan many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also willacknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me beforemen, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

“Do not fear,” says our Lord. Later He also says, “Fearnot.” The Lord and Dr. Luther call us to the “reverent awe” kind of fear,repentant faith in Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him before God and man. Velmadid this.

Velma remained a Christian all her life. She heard theproclamation of Christ’s birth given by those Christmas angels. She heard otherangels proclaim, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who wascrucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said” (Matthew 28). And shewas received back at Immanuel as a sister in Christ by affirmation of faith in2000.

We now look forward to the Resurrection of the dead on theLast Day, Judgment Day, the day no one can predict but Our Father in Heaven. Healone knows the day and the hour. On that day, our bodies will be resurrectedand reunited with our souls. We will be whole again. And better yet, we will behealed, renewed, and perfected, having glorious bodies like Jesus’ own onEaster morn.

In her earthly life, Velma loved her farm and her time athome. She loved her children dearly. And she had a special appreciation for allof God’s creatures, especially dogs, and most recently her dog Bridget.

Velma’s faith in Christ yearned for the day when death wouldbe no more and she would have back her departed loved ones who died in theChristian faith. Such is our hope in the communion of saints, the forgivenessof sins, and the resurrection of the body—all because of Christ.

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than manysparrows. So everyone who acknowledges Christ before men,He also willacknowledge before our Father who is in heaven. Our Lord acknowledges Hisservant, Velma. He also promises to acknowledge you. Amen.

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

Sermon for 16 October 2011, Proper 24A

2011-10-19T10:55:00.001-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Matthew 22:15-22

Godand Caesar

LSB Proper [24] A,16 October 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

The American saying is: “In polite company one shouldn’tdiscuss politics or religion.” Why? Discussion of either topic will likely leadto disagreement. Americans don’t like conflict. Today’s sermon title is “Godand Caesar.” This morning we will discuss both politics and religion on thebasis of a question asked of our Lord Jesus: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesaror not?

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him inhis talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians,saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of Godtruthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayedby appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes toCaesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to thetest, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him adenarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Thereforerender to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that areGod’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

The Pharisees were out to trap Jesus in his words. If Hisanswer came down on God’s side, they would turn him over to the government. IfJesus’ answer would have only affirmed the Roman government, the people wouldhave turned on Him to the delight of the Pharisees. Jesus didn’t give either ofthe anticipated answers, A or B. Jesus gave answer C, something unexpected.“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the thingsthat are God’s.”

At Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, as well as ConcordiaTheological Seminary Fort Wayne, theological studies are divided into fourdepartments. Exegetical theology deals with learning how to read the OldTestament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. Systematic theology dealswith the Bible topic by topic. Historical theology shows how the churchpreserved the Biblical text and true Biblical theology throughout history. Italso showed how heresy misused, misinterpreted, and twisted the Word of God andhow the Church responded. Practical theology teaches a seminarian how to applythe other three areas in preaching, teaching, leading worship, and pastoralcare.

This morning’s sermon is both a topical sermon on God andCaesar, as well as an exercise in historical theology. How have Jesus’ wordsfrom our Gospel reading influenced Western Civilization?

Dr. Alvin Schmidt, in his book The Great Divide, shows the influence of our Gospel text from thetime of the Roman Caesars to the American Founding Fathers:

Does the concept of separation of church and state reflect aChristian influence? When one listens to the secular media today, especially inthe United States, the impression is given that the separation of church andstate is a phenomenon totally divorced from any Christian influence. This doesnot reflect the facts of history. Here the words of Bernard Lewis, an expert inIslamic studies, are instructive. In speaking about the separation of churchand state vis-à-vis Islam’s concept of the state and religion, he said: “Thenotion of the church and state as distinct institutions, each with its laws,hierarchy, and jurisdiction, is characteristically Christian with its originsin Christian scripture and history. It is alien to Islam.”

Contrary to the current faulty perception, there isconsiderable evidence that the separation of church and state has substantialChristian roots harking back to the response Jesus gave to the Pharisees. Theytried to entrap him by asking whether it was lawful to give tax money to theRoman Caesar, whom they despised. Jesus asked them to show a Roman coin. “Whoselikeness and inscription is this?” he asked. “Caesar’s,” they replied. ThenJesus responded: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are to Caesar’s, andto God the things that are God’s”.

Three hundred years after Jesus made this statement, Hosius,bishop of Cordoba, Spain, from 353-356, reprimanded [the Roman emperor](Emperor Constantius II for meddling in ecclesiastical [church] matters bytrying to condemn Athanasius for opposing (the Arian) heresy. So Hosius said:“Intrude not yourself into ecclesiastical affairs … God has put into your handsthe [secular] kingdom; to us [bishops] He has entrusted the affairs of HisChurch.” In support of his reprimand, he cited the example set by Jesus thatwas discussed above.

During their first 300 years of bloody persecutions, theearly Christians neither sought nor expected the government to support them intheir religious activities. Their religious activities where divorced from anyties to the government of Rome. They differed remarkably from the pagan Romansfor whom religious activities were linked to a particular city or the state.The Latin word religare (from whichwe get the word religion) meant that there was a bond between the Roman peopleand the state. The Christian idea of “an association of people bound togetherby a religious allegiance with its own traditions and beliefs, its own history,and its own way for life independent on a particular city or nation was foreignto the ancients.”

The fact that Christian religious practices were not linkedto a city or state was one of the things that irritated Celsus, asecond-century pagan critic of Christianity. He saw Christians as separatistsor sectarians. But after Constantine the Great legalized Christianity in 313and soon involved himself in many of the church’s affairs, the separation ofchurch and state among Christians slowly began to blur, and for more than athousand years after Constantine the church and state were often intertwined.

When Bishop Hosius chided the emperor, it was the governmentthat was attempting to make ecclesiastical decisions. But by the early MiddleAges the situation had reversed itself. Now the church increasingly intruded inthe affairs of secular government. This fusion of church and state, forexample, was one of the things that angered Martin Luther in the 16^thcentury. He especially criticized the pope for involving himself in seculargovernment, which he saw as a violation of what he called the concept of twokingdoms (realms). It was the church’s task solely to preach and teach thegospel of Jesus Christ. This he called the spiritual kingdom or realm. Thegovernment’s task was to keep peace and order in society by restraining andpunishing the unlawful. This he called the worldly kingdom or realm. Thesecular government could only compel people to behave outwardly; it could nevermake a person’s heart spiritually righteous. Only the preaching of theChristian gospel (an activity of the spiritual realm) could do that. In thespiritual realm the Christian operates as a disciple of Christ; in the secularrealm he functions as a citizen of his country. Although the two realms areseparate, the Christian as an individual is active in both because God isactive in both. In the spiritual realm he is active in proclaiming the gospel,whereas in the secular kingdom he supports government’s use of the law andsword without injecting elements of the gospel. In order to buttress his conceptof the two realms (kingdoms), Luther cites Jesus’ statement about giving toCaesar what is his and to God what belongs to him. Briefly put, the two realms(church and state) have separate functions and are not to be merged orcommingled.

When America’s Founding Fathers in 1791 wrote the FirstAmendment to the Constitution—“Congress shall make no law respecting anestablishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”—they notonly intended to provide freedom of religion for the individual, but in effectalso said the two realms or kingdoms, to use Luther’s terminology, were to bekept separate even though the words “separation of church and state” are not inthe First Amendment.

The words “separation of church and state” (which in many yearshave become a national preoccupation with many secular Americans) are theresult of an inference made from a letter Thomas Jefferson sent to the DanburyConnecticut Baptist Association on January 1, 1802. In that letter he used thephrase “building a wall of separation between church and state.” When he usedthese words, he had no intention of curtailing religious practices. Neither henor the drafters of the First Amendment had even the remotest thought ofoutlawing governmental support for religion. He, like Luther, merely wanted tokeep the government from making religious decisions or the church from makinggovernmental decisions. This is evident from some of the acts he performed whenhe was president of the United States. For instance, he used federal money tobuild churches and establish missions for the purpose of bringing the gospel toAmerican Indians. In short, “What the federal government was prohibited fromdoing, in Jefferson’s view, was prescribing a particular set of religious ritesor promoting a particular sect [denomination] at the expense of the others.” Jeffersonalso sent a treaty to the Congress that provided a “Catholic church building”for the Kaskaskia Indians in 1803. Not that this was after his “wall ofseparation” letter in Connecticut.

America’s Founding Fathers, including Jefferson, wanted thenation to have freedom of religion,not freedom from religion. The latteris currently being promoted by groups such as the American Civil LibertiesUnion and its anti-Christian allies. In order to achieve freedom from religion,secularists have been using the state, with the help of the United StatesSupreme Court, to “free” the people fromreligion. Outlawing (Christmas crèches) [nativity scenes], banning prayers inpublic schools, and removing the Ten Commandments from tax-supported buildingsare three present-day American examples. When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees heonly indicated that the two realms were separate, not that Caesar (thegovernment) and religion were in conflict or that religion or God had to bejettisoned from public life.

So, returning to the question asked earlier, does thedoctrine of separation of church and state reflect the influence ofChristianity? The answer is a definite yes, especially in light of the Americanexperience. The American Founding Fathers—all well-read individuals—werefamiliar with the teachings of Jesus Christ. They knew about Jesus’ statementabout Caesar and God, about the church-state conflicts in history, and aboutthe monopoly state churches had in Europe. Moreover, as is well known, theywere also conversant with John Locke’s writings, which reflected much Christianthinking. In light of Locke’s scholarly bent, it is quite likely that he also wasfamiliar with Luther’s doctrine of the two realms [kingdoms]. This latter pointis not mere speculation, for in A LetterConcerning Toleration, Locke wrote: “All power of civil government relatesonly to men’s civil interests, is confined to the care of things of this world,and hath nothing to do with the world to come.” These words sound remarkablysimilar to Luther’s two-realms doctrine. So it is quite plausible that theFounding Fathers, via this Luther-like statement by Locke, together withChrist’s Caesar-and-God teaching, imported this Christian understanding of theseparation of church and state as they hammered out the First Amendment’sfreedom-of-religion clause. (202-207)

“…Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar,or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test,you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said,“Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things thatare Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, theymarveled. And they left him and went away.

“Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Most of uswould rather not. J Still, we comply, both because of Jesus’ teachingand the threat of punishment. No one wants to be audited by the IRS or hauledaway by the FBI. J

It is said that it is impolite to speak about politics orreligion. That is tragic. If by politics you mean looking out for the commongood and caring for your fellow man here in time, why wouldn’t we want todiscuss that? And if we feel pressured to keep silent about the most importantmessage in all of eternity—the good news of the complete forgiveness of sins inJesus alone—then that is even more heartbreaking. Are we really that afraid? Isit rude to speak about politics when abuse and poverty and human suffering are thenallowed to go on? Would we rather be polite and not speak about Jesus’forgiveness, while so many are going straight to hell?

We should not miss the point of Jesus’ words. The questionwas asked of Him in order to silence Him one way or another. Christians aroundthe world face a similar threat. The voice of the Church and of individualChristians deserves to be heard in the public square, as Christians serve as publicofficials, and as Christians live God’s Word at the ballot box.

At the same time, we cannot forget to give to God whatbelongs to Him. We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Weshould call upon Him in any trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. We shouldhold His Word sacred and gladly hear and learn it. We should honor our parentsand other authorities, serve and obey them, love and cherish them. We shouldhelp and support our neighbor in every physical need. We should lead a sexuallypure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife should loveand honor each other. We should help our neighbor to improve and protect hispossessions and income. We should defend our neighbor, speak well of him andexplain everything in the kindest way. We should help and be of service to our neighborin keeping his inheritance and house and urge our neighbor’s spouse, workers,and animals to stay and do their duty.

Most importantly we are to believe in the One God has sent,our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords who sits atthe right hand of God and will come on the Last Day to judge the living and thedead. We are given to render unto Caesar as Jesus said in our text and as St.Paul affirms in Romans 13, yet we are to obey God rather than men when the twocome in conflict, as Acts 5 teaches.

Christians live under God as He rules both kingdoms, seculargovernment and the Church. Government gives us security from external threatsand also roads, mail, and other infrastructure so that we as Christians canlive peaceable lives where we can be gathered by the Lord to receive His giftsand tell others the Good News about Jesus without interference. Your lovingLord cares for you as a dear father when the civil government properly servesin an extension of the fourth commandment’s work of father and mother. And, thesame Lord makes you citizens of heaven by Baptism, forgiveness, and HolyCommunion, the meal that is a foretaste of the feast to come in the kingdom ofChrist which has no end. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 09 October 2011, Proper 23A

2011-10-19T10:45:00.002-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

St. Matthew 22:1-14

The Wedding Feast Is Ready

Proper 23 A, 09 October 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Consumer Reports publishes a little booklet entitled “How toClean Practically Everything.” It tells you what solvent to use for aparticular stain. Glycerin will remove the stain from a ballpoint pen. Boilingwater will remove berry stains. Vinegar will remove crayon. Ammonia will removebloodstains. Alcohol will remove grass stains. Hydrogen peroxide is good forpermanent marker stains. Use bleach on mildew. Lemon juice works well on rust.But the book lists nothing for sin stains. Nothing can wash away the stain ofsin, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Try as they might,those outside of Christianity scrub away at sin in vain. Prayers to anunhearing idol do nothing. Prayers to anybody other than the Lord are useless.Prayers apart from the name of Jesus are to no avail. Shedding your own bloodor giving away billions is all meaningless apart from Christ. In order to be atthe Wedding Feast of Jesus the Bridegroom and the Bride, His Church, one needsthe wedding garment of Christ, His righteousness, as Revelation 7 says, “Theseare the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robesand made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” That robe is not bought, orearned, or deserved. It’s given to you by Christ, by grace, through faith.

There has been a lot of talk about the end of the world inour Scripture lessons this month. There is much more of that to come,especially as we approach all Saints’ Day and the Sundays at the end of theChurch Year in November. The Lord’s Supper is sometimes called “a foretaste ofthe feast to come.” Matthew 22 gives a picture of this feast to come as Jesustells His parable:

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, "Thekingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for hisson, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast,but they would not come.

The trick to understanding a parable is to see the point ofcontact—and then not push the details too far. What can be understood so far?The King is God the Father. Jesus is His Son. His servants here are not unlikethe servants He sent to the vineyard last week, the prophets, apostles, andpastors.

“But they wouldnot come.” Who’s “they?” For those listening to Jesus the first time, it wasthe faithless descendants of Israel who refused to listen to the Word of God,to attend Synagogue, to make the appointed sacrifices, and have the right heartwithin.

Today? Here is where it hurts. Today it is our brothers andsisters in Christ who are not with us. There are many of our congregation’s 300family units missing this morning out of the 800+ baptized members of Immanuel.God has gathered you here today around His Word. And the rest? The text says,“but they would not come.” I warned you that it hurts!

Again he [the King] sent other servants, saying, 'Tell thosewho are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves havebeen slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.' But they paid no attention and went off, oneto his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants,treated them shamefully, and killed them.

It is an encouragement to pastors when bulletins fromfar-flung sister congregations of the LCMS show up on their desks or undertheir study doors. That means when you traveled, you remembered that the Lorddidn’t take a vacation from saving you. You prioritized the time to spend withGod’s people and His Word. Keep that up! And feel free to ask for suggestionsof where to worship when you travel. I’ll help you by contacting thecongregation’s pastor ahead of time.

On the other hand, let’s be honest. Seasons of the year may becomean idol to many of us. Summer or Fall come around and attendance may drop for church,Bible Classes, and Sunday School. Why is that? “But they paid no attention andwent off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized hisservants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.” It’s not as if they hadn’tbeen told. They were told about the banquet TWICE!

Pastors hear a lot of lame excuses for not being in church.Consider this one: “Sorry, we couldn’t make it. I had to chop wood.” That’s anactual excuse. Why is that funny, you may ask? In one of the original editionsof Luther’s Small Catechism, therewas a picture, a woodcut, above the Third Commandment. Remember the Sabbathday by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love Godso that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladlyhear and learn it. The picture above the commandment is of people whom theLord has gathered around Word and Sacrament, listening to the preacher. What’sgoing on outside? Looking out the church window, you can see a man choppingwood.

Now can you better identify with the King and Hisfrustration, His righteous anger?

The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyedthose murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but thoseinvited were not worthy. Go therefore tothe main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the roadsand gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall wasfilled with guests.

The text teaches us that there will be a judgment. Thekingdom will be judged on the Last Day. That’s the bad news. We have thewarning of the counter-example of many Jewish people in the time of Jesus.

Some Jewish peopledid come into the wedding banquet and gladly wore Jesus’ wedding garment. Allof the first Christians were Jewish. All the disciples were Jewish. All of theauthors of the New Testament with the possible exception of Dr. Luke wereJewish. Church historians tell us that one million Jews were Christian by theend of the first century. Not every Jewish person rejected the wedding feast.

Even so, as a nation, Israel rejected Jesus. But they paidno attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while therest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

The elders, chief priests, scribes, and teachers of the lawalong with temple employees and some average people put Jesus to death. Andthis was under the eye of the Gentile Roman Government. And our sins put Himthere, too! Anti-Semitism is therefore just as inappropriate as blaming today’sItalians for the actions of Pontius Pilate.

We Christians, that is, Jewish believers in Jesus andGentile believers together, are the new Israel, the Holy Christian Church, newguests in the wedding hall. And there still is room!

That is the central good news of the Gospel lesson today.Others rejected Jesus and they were rejected. That made room for you. You wereinvited by the Word, by Holy Baptism. By faith you are in the wedding hall,wearing white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. It can’t get any betterthan this! You are forgiven! You are free of your sins. You are free ofconcerns about this life. This world and everything in it will pass away. Whathappens here is for eternity!

The Lord has your homes and businesses, and yourrelationships and problems in His hands. Of them you need not worry. “See, I haveprepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, andeverything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” Enjoy the banquet of theLord’s forgiveness.

But there are others among us. This is another difficultpart of the text.

"But when theking came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no weddinggarment. And he said to him, 'Friend,how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bindhim hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place therewill be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

Unthinkable. Someoneis at the wedding feast without a wedding garment. In the ancient world, if youcame to a wedding without suitable clothing for the occasion, you were providedwith them. In this case, someone rejected that gift. Unthinkable! Someoneinside has taken off the robe of Christ’s righteousness. “I don’t need it,” heor she may have said. “That Jesus stuff is only for kids. I’m a good enoughperson. I’m no Hitler or Bin Laden. And I show up quite regular, too.” Don’tlet the King hear such words from your lips or your heart. Then the king saidto the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outerdarkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen.

You may haveconsidered yourself a Christian all your life, even showing up every Easter andChristmas. Has it sunk in that you don’t get to heaven by being good? Or do youplay the hypocrite today and tomorrow do whatever feels good to you? Has itsunk in? It hadn’t for the man I’ll tell you about next.

A British periodical once published this provocative letter:Dear Sir: It seems ministers feel their sermons are very important and spend agreat deal of time preparing them. I have been attending church quite regularlyfor thirty years, and I have probably heard 3,000 of them. To my consternation,I discovered I cannot remember a single sermon. I wonder if a minister’s timemight be more profitably spent on something else?

For weeks a storm of editorial responses ensued…finallyended by this [responding] letter: Dear Sir: I have been married for thirtyyears. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals—mostly my wife’s cooking.Suddenly I have discovered I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. Andyet…I have the distinct impression that without them, I would have starved todeath years ago.

There is a lot of profitable work to be done—both for apastor and for the congregation. Part of a pastor’s time is spent in the Word,preparing sermons, the Divine Service, Bible Studies and the like.

Part of his time is spent out in the community, visitingshut-ins, doing emergency pastoral care, visiting you in your homes. Sometimeshis time is occupied caring for the grieving, the hurting, those in crisis.Putting out fires takes a lot of time, as does visiting the households of thecongregation. One quickly sees how far off the joke is that pastors only workone hour a week. J

Should it take a crisis to come up for you to invite pastorinto your home? Sometimes a pastor may feel uncomfortable just inviting himselfover. Please pray for pastors, especially Pastor Rupert, encourage them, andmost importantly, don’t be afraid to give your pastor a call when you need him,even just to talk. That’s what I have been called to do here. And the best careI can give is when I preach and teach the Word—all of it—not just the things youlike—and administering the sacraments according to Jesus’ instructions.

We see several things clearly in the Gospel lesson thelectionary chose for this Sunday. The parable is about the kingdom and God isthe King, Jesus, His Son. Some on the original guest list, some of God’sancient people, didn’t want to come, didn’t want to RSVP. Don’t be like them.You saw what was dished out to them. That wouldn’t be pleasant. Outer darknessis hell. Literally.

Focus instead upon the Gospel, the Good News that you havebeen invited to the ultimate wedding reception, the feast of Christ and you,His Bride. Wedding feasts are the best kind of parties. And God’s will be thebest ever. Not only that, He’s picking up the tab. He’s given you the weddinggarment of forgiveness, the spotless white wool of the Lamb of God who takesaway the sin of the world—including all of yours.

Others rejected Jesus and they were rejected. That made roomfor you. You were invited by the Word, by Holy Baptism. By faith, you are inthe wedding hall, wearing white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb, robesgiven to you. It can’t get any better than this! You are forgiven! You are freeof your sins. You are free of concerns about this life. The Lord has your homesand businesses, your relationships and problems in His hands. Of them you neednot worry. “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have beenslaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” Enjoy thebanquet of the Lord’s forgiveness.

There is still time for more, for the Judgment hasn’thappened just yet. There is room for more. Invite them. Invite your unbelievingspouse, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, family, neighbors,classmates, and coworkers. You don’t have to knock on doors. Invite the peopleyou already know and love. They know you. They respect you. They might evenactually hear what you have to say. [The King] said to his servants, 'Thewedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to themain roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the roadsand gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall wasfilled with guests. Wouldn’t that be a nice problem to have? Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 02 October 2011, Proper 22A

2011-10-05T14:31:00.002-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

St. Matthew 21:33-43

The Vineyard, Servants, & the Heir

Proper 22 A, 02 October 2011, LWML Sunday

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

"Hear anotherparable…But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is theheir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and threw him out of thevineyard and killed him. When thereforethe owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put thosewretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants whowill give him the fruits in their seasons."

This is the Gospel of the Lord? Well, yes.Earlier this morning when I spoke those words, the word “Gospel” refers toGospel in the sense of coming from the whole of the teaching of our Lord. TheMaster of the House showed remarkable patience and longsuffering to thetenants, but in the end no Gospel in the narrow sense—meaning the forgivenessof sins—to the persistently wicked tenants.

As always, ourLord’s Words to us each Lord’s Day are food for thought, Bread of Life, whichrenews our minds. I didn’t appoint this text to be read this day. That was donefor me by the lectionary. But what food for thought it is!

Jesus’ parable isone calling for repentance. Who would want the punishment given at the end?"He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyardto other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Theparable warns us that this is the punishment for those who act as did the firsttenants. We Christians can learn much from…

The First Tenants…

…the house ofIsrael, the men of Judah—Jesus’ people, the Jews. This is not the first timethat the Lord has spoken of a vineyard. He blessed the people of Israel so thatthey would be a blessing. Israel was His lovingly prepared vineyard and ityielded only wild grapes. The vineyard of Israel was spoiled by the people,just like Eden was ruined by Adam’s sin.

With that context, doyou remember Isaiah 5, the Old Testament reading this morning? The Lordpresents His case against Israel as if in a court of law. What more was thereto do for my vineyard…? Judge for yourselves, He says. That means the answer isobvious. The Lord is loving, but He is also just. Trespasses against Hisrighteousness must be dealt with. There must be justice in addition to Hislove.

So we have Jesustell the parable. Can you picture in your mind how the faithful Old Testamentprophets of the Lord were ignored and abused? And the tenants took his servantsand beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than thefirst. And they did the same to them.

God blessed Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob, and by the time of Moses, their descendants had forgottenabout how the Lord had blessed their vineyard. Their grumbling against theLord’s servant, Moses, was to the point that a whole generation would pass awaybefore the people entered the promised land. Judges weren’t good enough forthem. They wanted a king. And kings were given them. They sinned. First Saul,then David’s adultery and murder, and Solomon’s sin of going after false Gods.King after king in the then divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah sinned,worshiped false gods, wrongly combined the worship of those false gods withthat of the True God, or ignored the True God altogether. Wicked rulerspersecuted prophets with words of warning and worse. Eventually, the northernkingdom fell and the south was taken into captivity. The Lord sent Hisservants, but they were ignored, but not by all individuals. But as a people,the kingdom was taken away from them. And still the Lord preserved a faithfulremnant.

Pastors are Servants

Pastors are literally shepherds. The Latin, German, and Englishwords spelled p-a-s-t-o-r each mean the same thing—shepherd. Shepherds carry acrook—the staff end to pull sheep out of danger, the rod end to beat awaywolves. Pastors are never to beat the sheep with the rod. Pastors are notkings. They’re not CEOs either. They are not to lust after power. They are servants—servantswith authority. They first serve the Lord by being servants of His Word, andthat is how a pastor best renders service to the place the Lord calls him. Theauthority is only the Word of God. The Lord has use of the ones He has placedinto the office of the Holy Ministry.

Christians hear thehorror stories of pastors abusing their office and of congregations abusingtheir pastors. The burnout rate among Christian clergy is rather high. Even thejoke about pastors only having to work one hour a week fits into this.

When a pastor isinstalled, the congregation he is given to serve is asked a few questions:“Will you receive him, show him that love, honor, and obedience in the Lordthat you owe to the shepherd and teacher placed over you by your Lord JesusChrist, and will you support him with your gifts and pray for him always thatin his labors he may retain a cheerful spirit and that his ministry among youmay be abundantly blessed?” The people respond: “We will, with the help ofGod.”

“Will you honor anduphold your pastor as he serves Christ in all his God-pleasingresponsibilities? Will you aid him as he cares for his family? Will you bediligent to ‘put the best construction on everything,’ recognizing that ‘lovecovers up a multitude of sins?’ Once again the people respond: “We will, withthe help of God.” (LSB Agenda, 180)

It has been two anda half years since we heard those paragraphs in this room. I pray we maycontinue to serve together for many more! And, hear them again as our AssistantPastor is installed soon!

Remember, yourpastor is human, too. He is a servant with authority in the office of the HolyMinistry, not Superman, not Mr. Holy. He is a sinner in need of forgiveness justlike you are. Do not despise preaching and God’s Word, but hold it sacred andgladly hear and learn it! That is the best thing you can do to support any faithfulpastor.

The Tenants’Counter-Example

We can learn muchfrom the counter-example of Israel, the tenants, who despised the preaching ofGod’s holy prophets and ignored God’s Word to them. And then, Jesus came. Finallyhe sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they saidto themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have hisinheritance.' And they took him andthrew him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to thosetenants?" They said to him,"He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyardto other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons."

All of the firstChristians were Jewish. All the disciples were Jewish. All of the authors ofthe New Testament with the possible exception of Dr. Luke were Jewish. Churchhistorians tell us that one million Jews were Christian by the end of the firstcentury. Not every Jewish person was a wicked tenant.

Even so, as anation, Israel rejected Jesus. The elders, chief priests, scribes, and teachersof the law along with temple employees and average people put Jesus to deathbecause He threatened their future in the vineyard. We Christians, i.e., Jewishbelievers in Jesus and Gentile believers together, are the new Israel, the HolyChristian Church, the new tenants.

It Is Marvelous inOur Eyes

It is marvelous inour eyes to behold the salvation of our Lord. All has been planned in advance.Nothing is left to chance. The Lord sent His Son, identified later by theprophet Isaiah as the Suffering Servant. This servant is Jesus, the Heir to theVineyard, the heir to David’s throne.

Remember the timingof Jesus’ words, His parable. Jesus has entered Jerusalem on a donkey andhailed as the Son of David. He has just cleansed the Temple and cursed the fig tree.The chief priests and elders have challenged His authority. And they arelistening. And they will be plotting to kill Him. Our Lord knows this. He evenforetells His death in the parable: Finally he sent his son to them, saying,'They will respect my son.' But when thetenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let uskill him and have his inheritance.' Andthey took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

The past tense verbsof the parable are future tense from Jesus’ own perspective then. He knew theywould come to pass. He knew they would reject Him. He knew that the Lord wouldreject them so that all nations might become new tenants.

Jesus said to them,"Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone that thebuilders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and itis marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore Itell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a peopleproducing its fruits.

These are the fruitsof faith born of the Word and the working of the Holy Spirit. The classicLutheran confession, the Augsburg Confession, says this about the Office ofPreaching: (AC V, German, Kolb ed.) To obtain such faith God instituted theoffice of preaching, giving the gospel and the sacraments. Through these, asthrough means, he gives the Holy Spirit who produces faith, where and when hewills, in those who hear the gospel. It teaches that we have a gracious God,not through our merit but through Christ’s merit, when we so believe.

Pastors are theLord’s instruments. Pastors are servants with authority. The Lord has His useof such a one when His gospel is preached harmoniously according to a pureunderstanding and His sacraments are administered in conformity with the divineWord.

See all theblessings He has laid out before you, a planted vineyard with a protectivefence, a winepress and tower and generous lease. Remember the counter-exampleof the previous tenants and repent lest we become like them. Remember that yourpastor is the Lord’s servant who will serve best when he and his family arecared for, in contrast to those who mistreated the Owner’s servants. Above all,cherish Christ your cornerstone, upon whom your salvation is built by theLord’s doing. The Lord creates, gathers, and sustains you, His Christians, thenew tenants of the vineyard, building His kingdom upon the cornerstone ofChrist. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Call Extended

2011-10-05T14:29:00.001-06:00

At a special Voters' Meeting

on 25 September 2011,

Immanuel extended a Divine Call

The Rev. Lee E. Rupert

(currently serving St. Luke's, Worland)

to be our part-time Assistant Pastor

Sermon for 25 September 2011, Proper 21A

2011-10-05T14:27:00.001-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Matthew 21:23-32

TheWill of His Father

LSB Proper [21] A,25 September 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went tothe first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterwardhe changed his mind and went. And hewent to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but didnot go. Which of the two did the will ofhis father?"

You know the answer. It’s a rhetorical question. The firstrepented of his earlier sin. He changed in a good way. The second was ahypocrite and hardened his heart. His words were not followed by deeds. Hechanged in a bad way.

Jesus told this parable to specific hearers. You’ve met thembefore in the New Testament. And, you know people just like them alive today.

And when he [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priestsand the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said,"By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you thisauthority?"

Jesus has been a threat to the chief priests and elders ofthe people all through the Gospel according to St. Matthew. As the last verseof Matthew seven says, Jesus was teaching them as one who had authority, andnot as their scribes.

Authority and power are different. Power, in politics or inthe church is assumed, taken, sought after. Authority is bestowed, given, andentrusted to a person. Jesus spoke about this “given to” authority in the lastchapter of Matthew. “All authority on heaven and on earth has been given toMe.”

Authority is only as good as the author behind it.Theologians in the Jewish tradition appeal to famous scholars and rabbis. In 1Corinthians, St. Paul does them one better. He appealed to Jesus and HisWords—God Himself and the very Words of God instituting the Lord’s Supper. WhenGod is the author, what He gives packs a lot of punch. That’s authority. Jesusspoke what the Father gave Him to say. No less. No more. But some would nothear it. Some would not accept Jesus for who He really was. They rejected Hisauthority and in so doing, rejected Him and the kingdom of God he came tobring. So, they played politics.

"By what authority are you doing these things, and whogave you this authority?" Jesusanswered them, "I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me theanswer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come?From heaven or from man?"

Jesus Christ was born a Jew. He Himself was not a Christian,because He was the Christ, the Messiah promised of old, anointed to save Hispeople from their sins. The Gospel text presents a very Jewish conversation:answering a question with a question.

“…The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heavenor from man?" And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "If wesay, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid ofthe crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet."

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day could have studied theHoly Scriptures to find an answer. They didn’t. They could have actuallylistened to the preaching of John the Baptizer. Instead, they were offended byhim for calling a spade a spade, or rather calling a brood of vipers a brood ofvipers. They could have listened to Jesus’ preaching. In place of faith, theydoubted. They could have been churchmen, but come off as politicians saying,“No comment.”

So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And hesaid to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do thesethings.

If they didn’t believe after reading Moses and the prophets,would they have believed Jesus? Jesus uses the opportunity to teach about Hisauthority by teaching with divine authority. He faces them up to their Lord,their Father in heaven, the author behind Jesus’ authority.

"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went tothe first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterwardhe changed his mind and went.

You probably can identify with this situation because ofyour teenagers or your own teenage years. Can you imagine a first-centuryJewish teenager doing this? He resisted. Then, he changed. He repented. He didthe will of his father.

And he [the father] went to the other son and said the same.'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but didnot go.

Did this son do the will of his father? Not hardly. Ahypocrite says, “Do what I say and not what I do.” When a person lives byfaith, deeds follow words. They are consistent. The second son shows adisconnect. Doctrine and life were not connected for him.

We Christians have a problem when there’s a trade deficit inour lives. Is your life merely a news report or truly a show and tell? Has theGospel of the Lord had its way with us if we talk the talk but don’t walk thewalk?

In Matthew 7, Jesus put it this way. "Not everyone whosays to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one whodoes the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21. "Everyone then who hears these words of mineand does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24.

In a virtual commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, Jamesfurther explains: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceivingyourselves. James 1:22. What goodis it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Canthat faith save him? James 2:14. Soalso faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17.

A so-called “faith” that just sits around doing nothing is afake “faith.” It is “faith” pretended, a play act. A “faith” that does notbreathe by doing works of service to the neighbor is dead. ESV: Many haveclaimed that James and the apostle Paul differed on the question of faithversus works, but in reality the spiritual fruit that James talks about—thepicture of what faith looks like practically—demonstrates the true faith ofwhich Paul wrote. Their writings are complementary rather than contradictory.

Which of the two did the will of his father?" Theysaid, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, thetax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way ofrighteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and theprostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward changeyour minds and believe him.

Hearing a parable like this is law. Jesus would have yourepent of when there has been a gap between His Word and your life in the past.The kingdom of God is open to you in Jesus, just as it was open to the othersinners before you who believed Him in repentant trust. All of the earliestChristians were Jewish, the New Testament says. Eventually, some of the Jewishpriests believed, we are told in Acts. Many rejected Jesus then. Many still dotoday. Don’t be one of them! Jesus opened the kingdom of God to all nations bymeans of baptizing and teaching all that He had given us.

CPR: Jesus once spoke of a man taking a plow and not lookingback…you know what Jesus was talking about. If you take a plow and startwalking forward, you’ll dig a nice, straight trench perfect for planting. Butif you begin to change your mind about what you are doing and look around andbehind you, the trench will go in all different ways. It would be like drivinga car forward while trying to steer while only looking in your rearview mirror.You may keep moving forward, but eventually you’ll move all around the road andeventually hit something. Either decide to look forward or decide to look back.A person can’t keep changing his mind about which direction he’s going.

Jesus knew all about the danger of changing His mind infollowing directions. When it came time for Him to die on the cross, theScriptures say He set His eyes toward Jerusalem. Jesus didn’t look around Himor behind Him. Jesus kept His gaze straight ahead at what He was doing. Hedidn’t change His mind at all. He kept His mind geared right toward what He wasgoing to do. Jesus’ resoluteness took Him to His death, which cleared our wayto heaven. Knowing that heaven lies straight ahead for us enables us also toresolve to go forward—straight forward—where God points us, rather than to turnthis way and that as we so naturally do.

The best kind of change in Church and for Christians isrepentance. Which of the two did the will of his father? The first. Repent.Learn from the mistake of the chief priests and the elders of the people. Changeyour minds and believe in Jesus, the Son of God, who for your sake always did thewill of His Father. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Mission Festival

2011-10-05T14:26:00.001-06:00

On Sunday, September 18, Immanuel held a Mission Festival Sunday with The Rev. Dr. Steven Hein.

Learn more about the Concordia Institute for Christian Studies and mission work training pastors in Sierra Leone

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64976396146&v=wall

Sermon for 11 September 2011, Proper 19A/18A

2011-10-05T10:58:00.001-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain

St. Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 13, et al

Reflecting on 9/11

Proper 19, 11 September 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father andour Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it forgood, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they aretoday.” Joseph’s brothers asked him for forgiveness after all that they did tohim.

It can be hard at times to reconcile two very differentthings when seen or heard together. You might see your teacher out-of-context atthe grocery store. Recently I had a conversation with other Classical Lutheranschool Headmasters about why “mandatory volunteering” doesn’t work. And thenthere’s today, the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11. The Bible readings from Genesis,the Psalm, and the reading from St. Matthew speak overwhelmingly offorgiveness. And the message of Matthew 18 is hard to hold together with theharsh reality of a post-9/11 world.

²¹ThenPeter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me,and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²²Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seventimes, but seventy times seven.

²³“Thereforethe kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accountswith his servants.⁸ ²⁴When he began tosettle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.⁹ ²⁵And since he could not pay, his master orderedhim to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment tobe made. ²⁶So theservant¹⁰ fell on hisknees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷And out of pity forhim, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But when that sameservant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundreddenarii,¹¹ and seizinghim, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded withhim, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰He refused and went and put him in prison untilhe should pay the debt. ³¹Whenhis fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, andthey went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³²Then his mastersummoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debtbecause you pleaded with me. ³³Andshould not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴And in anger hismaster delivered him to the jailers,¹²until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵Soalso my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive yourbrother from your heart.”

For Christians, no matter what befalls us as citizens, be itPearl Harbor or September 11^th, no matter what we endure asindividuals, personal or family tragedy, persecution, hardship, or just a badhair day, nothing can overshadow Good Friday or Easter Sunday because of theforgiveness of sins. The centrality of Christ’s death and Resurrectionovercomes all the shadows of this world. Look at our calendar. B.C. and A.D. oreven the secular B.C.E. and C.E. still center our history on Jesus’ story.

The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments centerupon Christ and Him crucified, offering comfort and hope and forgiveness tohurting and anxious people today. That Gospel, Good News, should be the commonthread running through any pastors’ sermon, whenever he takes the pulpit.Sometimes, other concerns seem to overshadow the Gospel message we have beengiven to proclaim.

Much has been said about patriotism in the last ten years.Also, much has been shown. In the days after 9/11, some flag burners havebecome flag wavers. For all of its diversity, America stood united againstterrorism. For all of its power, patriotism cannot save. Even the mostpatriotic American in the Twin Towers, aboard Flight 93, or working in thewrong part of Ring E of the Pentagon was not spared in the terrorist attacks.There are times, like then and now, when patriotism is not enough. Eternalsecurity and eternal citizenship are our real needs.

Surely, the Scriptures commend good Christian citizenship asan extension of the Fourth Commandment’s teaching to honor father and mother.But there is more. Citizen and government each have responsibility to oneanother.

Last week’s epistle, Romans 13:1-10 (ESV) teachesthis: Let every person be subject to thegoverning authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and thosethat exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists theauthorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incurjudgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would youhave no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you willreceive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you dowrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servantof God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not onlyto avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reasonyou also pay taxes, for the authorities are (ministers) [servants] of God, attendingto this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes areowed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honorto whom honor is owed.

Owe no one anything,except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder,You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, aresummed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor asyourself." Love does no wrong to aneighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

We honor God by being subject to and obeying the governmentauthorities. Government serves as God’s “avenger” in the here-and-now until theLast Day when the Lord fulfills “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says theLord.” Romans 12:19.

“But what about men like Hitler? What if I lived inAfghanistan under the Taliban?” Well, Acts 5:29 (ESV) makes it clearthat "We must obey God rather than men.” We are not to be subservientrobots. We honor and respect the government as an agent of the Lord, placedthere by Him, but we are free to disobey if it commands things contrary to theLord’s Word.

The government has responsibility for its citizens. It takesup the sword, according to the Lord’s Word. This may be for capital punishment,or a “just war.”

(Veith, Terrorism, pp. 119-121) Gene Edward Veith explainsthe concept well: According to Augustine, there are five criteria for a “justwar.” First, the cause must be just. Wars are justified in cases ofself-defense and should not be waged for conquest, plunder, or [for the purposeof] political oppression. Second, a just war must be initiated by a properauthority. Nations with lawful governments, legitimate leadership, and dulyorganized and disciplined militaries have the authority to wage war. Irregularbands of fighters and unorganized mobs, bent only on plunder and mayhem, arenot fighting a just war. They lack the vocation for it. Third, a just war mustbe fought with the right intention. That is, the purpose of the war should bepeace. Waging war out of bad intentions—to slaughter the innocent, to scapegoatan enemy as a political distraction, to seek power for its own sake—is immoral.Fourth, a just war must have a reasonable chance of success. Hopeless causesmake people kill and die in vain. A tiny army against the Roman Empire,Augustine would say, would do best to surrender and accept terms rather thanfight to the death. Even a powerful army, for various reasons such as politicallimitations, may not enjoy a reasonable chance of success—think of the VietnamWar. Fifth, a just war must use means proportional to the end. Slaughtering awhole population because of a trade dispute is wildly out of proportion. If theend, the purpose of the war, is to liberate an oppressed people, it makes nosense to bring them under further subjugation…

By these criteria, it is evident that the terrorists of 9-11were not waging a just war. Conversely, each of the requirements for just waris met in the American response…

(Veith, Terrorism, p.129) Veith continues: Implicit in whatDr. [Martin] Luther says [about war, according to Paul Althaus] is that herecognizes only a defensive war which is forced upon us by an aggressor. War isright only when it is “our only miserable way of defending ourselves.” Lutherknows that most wars are waged for [a] quite different reason: selfish motivesof princes and lords, lust for the property and possessions of others, desirefor glory, the feeling that our honor has been insulted, wrath, and the desirefor revenge. However, a Christian prince is forbidden to wage war for suchreasons. The one and only purpose of a war must be to protect his subjectsagainst attack. In this sense, the decision to go to war and the decisionsabout how war is to be waged must be quite “simple” [by comparison.]

To summarize, lawfully instituted government authoritiesrule as God’s instrument. Our Lutheran Confessions (AC XVI) say: “Christiansowe obedience to their magistrates and laws except when commanded to sin. Forthen they owe greater obedience to God than to human beings.”

The common thread? God. The authority of all governmentcomes from God. The authority to wage a just war comes from God. Christiansobey government in obedience to God. Ultimately, we must trust Him, especially ifgovernment seems to fail us, or allows things contrary to His commands.

The abuse of even constitutional freedoms, especiallyfreedom to worship, is contrary to God’s will. The Bill of Rights guaranteesfreedom of religion. Our Lord, however, does not. Such freedom is abused, usedin vain in God’s eyes, if the government-allowed freedom to worship is not usedto believe, follow and worship the one true God who has revealed Himself in theBible. Just because a government allows something does not necessarily make itright in the Lord’s eyes.

Our Lord calls for repentance from sin and habits of sin,for believing the Gospel, the Good News that Jesus forgives us for past sin,removes the punishment hanging over our heads, and enables us to resist furthersin and to trust in the Lord.

Sometimes, patriotism is not enough. Patriotism has its owngood purposes. We can show solidarity against a moral evil. We can show supportfor our Presidents—past, present, and future—and the armed forces. We can showa united front against terror and for truth, justice, and political freedom.But patriotism has its limitations. It cannot forgive sin. Patriotism cannotguarantee homeland security. It cannot guarantee eternal security. Sometimespatriotism is not enough.

A Canadian-born pastor writes: In the process of becoming anAmerican citizen I learned that, since the mid-1970s, Canada has recognized thecitizenship of a Canadian who has taken out citizenship in another country. Iam technically the citizen of two countries [he says]—the United States andCanada. It’s called dual citizenship.

Jesus described His followers as being part of two kingdomsor two worlds [in] (John 17). Physically, they were a part of this presentworld and therefore under the rule of human kingdoms. Spiritually, they werealso part of a heavenly kingdom, representing a greater allegiance…

“By virtue of natural birth, I am a Canadian citizen,” hecontinued. “To become a citizen of the United States…I needed to benaturalized.”

Christians have been “naturalized” into citizenship in thekingdom of heaven by the Holy Spirit. Holy Baptism is a washing of rebirth,regeneration, and forgiveness where disciples are made, in conjunction withinstruction in all that Jesus has given us. The Holy Spirit uses that Word ofGod in and with the water of Baptism to bring an unbeliever to faith, and givesthe gifts of new life, forgiveness, and the promise of resurrection and eternalcitizenship in heaven.

This is taught Biblically in Philippians 3:17-21.Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk accordingto the example you have in us. 18Formany, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk asenemies of the cross of Christ. 19Theirend is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame,with minds set on earthly things. 20Butour citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord JesusChrist, 21who will transform our lowlybody to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even tosubject all things to himself.

Our eternal Christian citizenship is in heaven!

It has been interesting to see what has gone on today andleading up to this tenth anniversary of 9/11. There has been, I believe, a gooddeal of emotionally charged "hype" as we have drawn closer to thisday, but not as much as the first anniversary had. Not everything promoted inthe public square has been helpful. Much has been opportunistic. Our emphasis todayis as it has been, "Is not even this in God's hands? Remember yourBaptism! You are a child of the heavenly Father! Our Lord will neither leavenor forsake you!"

Our Lord, however, is an ever-present help in trouble andprosperity. For all the overuse and “corniness” of the poem “Footprints in theSand,” it expresses the Lord’s care for you every step of your life. In fact,His concern for those and for that which He has created is all that keeps thisworld going. The Lord is the only true security anyone can have. That is whyChristian congregations like this exist. That is why Christian pastors preach.Our message is Gospel, literally, Good News. The Lord is the only true securityanyone can have.

Today’s psalm, Psalm103:1–12, says,

¹ Bless the Lord,O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

² Bless the Lord,O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

³ who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

⁴ who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

⁵ who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lordworks righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,

his acts to the people of Israel.

⁸ The Lord ismerciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

⁹ He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

¹² as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Those outside of Christ will face judgment according totheir own deeds. Those in Christ have as Judge their own defense attorney.Christians are judged according to Christ’s work. In an age of terrorism,patriotism is not enough. We need something more than a secure homeland forthis life. We need an eternal home, for a Christian’s eternal citizenship is inheaven. The Lord is the only true security anyone can have.

I would like to share with you this morning a few paragraphsthat look at the "big picture" in which we live today, in an age ofterrorism, and all the issues that have arisen in light of the 9/11 attacks. Athoughtful reflection from a gifted writer, I highly commend the entire workand these thoughts to you.

I am struck by how appropriate and wonderfully author GeneEdward Veith is, providing statementthat captures the essential realities of the times in which we live. It isprecisely this clarity of confession and this genuine witness to the Gospelthat the world needs to hear. Nothing can be more loving than to speak thisvery truth, in love, in gentleness and with respect for all. This is from the bookChristianity In An Age of Terrorism

“The United States, its citizens targeted in an unprovokedattack, is waging a war of necessity, indeed, a just war. And yet, we have muchto repent for. Every kind of catastrophe, every horrible accident and crime,reminds us of the fragility of our lives, taking away our security by which wedeny the certain prospect of death. Facing death and the ever presentpossibility of death speaks to us of Law, the inescapable reality of sin, andthe wages of sin.

“The uneasy climate of the age of terrorism, the realizationthat an attack or a bombing or a biological weapon could be imminent at any time,makes it less easy to enjoy complacency, that great obstacle to the faith. Livingin the knowledge of death and the knowledge of sin in the world, including ourown, can drive people to the grace of God in Christ.

“Christianity has to do with the Gospel, and Christians mustbeware of lurching from complacent immorality to the other extreme of a newself-righteous legalism. We are not saved by our good works, and those whothink they are—such is the power of sin—tend to actually perform bad works.Thus, the terrorists claim allegiance to the most moralistic of religions,which they use as a pretext to commit the most brutal atrocities. Christiansmust not play that game.

“Some think today that all religions of the world are thesame; that is to say, equally good. Others agree that they are the same, butconclude that they are equally bad. Perhaps Christians, who believe in theGospel, should agree with the secularists [on this one point]: The world’sreligions are all wrong, insofar as they result in self-righteousness,self-divinization, and a seared conscience that justifies wickedness in thename of its false gods.

“The Gospel, in contrast, puts its trust in God’s action,not our own, trading sin for forgiveness, hate for love, and glory for the cross.In an age of terrorism, Jesus Christ is the only security anyone can have.”

Let us forgive as we have been forgiven in Christ. Even onthis tenth anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 we can pray for our enemies andfor an end to endless war. And let us conclude our meditation by hearing aportion of today’s epistle, Romans 14, perfect for today.

⁵Oneperson esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all daysalike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶The one who observes the day, observes it inhonor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he givesthanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord andgives thanks to God. ⁷Fornone of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. ⁸For if we live, welive to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we liveor whether we die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹Forto this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the deadand of the living. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep yourhearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Funeral Sermon for Virginia Burgess

2011-10-05T10:50:00.001-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain

John 14: 2

My Mansion in the Sky

Saturday of Pentecost XII, 10 September 2011

Funeral Sermon for Virginia Burgess

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sin, sickness, disease and death were not the Lord’s originalplan. They are the result of the Fall because of Adam and Eve’ sin. Because ofsin we stand before the Lord without one plea, but that Jesus’ blood was shedfor us and that the very Lamb of God invites us to come back to Him that wemight be welcomed, pardoned, cleansed, and relieved.

We mourn the loss of Virginia Burgess. Now, she is withChrist, her Lord and ours, He who died and rose to reconcile us to the Father,a beginning of the restoration of creation to God’s original plan.

Virginia helped plan today’s service herself. She chose theopening and closing hymns, the psalm, and another song I’ll refer to in today’ssermon. Virginia minded her own business, yet spoke her mind when she did speak. We wanted to honor herrequests as a final expression of her confession of faith to her family andfriends of God’s Amazing Grace in Christ.

¹[Jesus said:] “Let not your hearts be troubled.Believe in God; believe also in me.

Virginia believed in Christ as her Savior from sin, death,and the power of the devil. I got to know her about 2 ½ years ago and visitedher every 4-6 weeks. She always made room for me and God’s Word and Sacramentwhen I brought Church to her. The family and I are also thankful for thepastoral care given by Pr. Holthus and Pr. Garwood since she moved to Casper in2009.

Jesus said: ²Inmy Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you thatI go to prepare a place for you?

It would be fair to say that John 14:2 was one of herfavorite Bible passages, for it was the source of one of her favorite songs,written and sung by Jimmie Davis:

My journeywith Jesus will end my sorrow

Heal myaffliction no more I’ll cry

I’ll berejoicing while I’m going

To mymansion in the sky

²In myFather’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that Igo to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a placefor you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you maybe also. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.” ⁵Thomassaid to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know theway?” ⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and thelife. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you hadknown me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him andhave seen him.”

We know where Virginia is. When you first heard that she haddied to this life, you may have thought, “It can’t be. I’m not ready yet. Shecan’t go now” Remember the blessing that she was to you in her earthly life.Thank God for many stories of the cabin, Elk, and riding horses. Thank Him forthe meals you had at the Palace or the Edgeton Café. Her family told me shewanted to be a nurse. She couldn’t pursue that goal, but she poured her heartand soul and service into her seven kids, reading medical journals along theway, and wearing those trademark moccasins for shoes (and for discipline).Jesusgives us the peace that surpasses all understanding so that we can say, “I cando this now in Christ.”

⁸Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father,and it is enough for us.” ⁹Jesus said to him, “Have I been with youso long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen theFather. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰Do you not believethat I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you Ido not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does hisworks. ¹¹Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,or else believe on account of the works themselves.

We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. AnyChristian that knows their Bible also knows that works do not earn salvation.They are not a “Please” before the Lord, but a “Thank You” to Him for the giftof salvation in Christ. Earlier, you heard a reading from the book of Titus.That very reading was the Epistle on the day Virginia was baptized atImmanuel’s preaching station in Ranchester on Christmas Day 1927.

¹²“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believesin me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will hedo, because I am going to the Father. ¹³Whatever you ask in my name,this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴Ifyou ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Christ ascended to the Father, preparing the way for all whodie in Christ. He is the source of our confidence and trust as He was forVirginia. By all means recall her life’s passions from the garden, carnations,reading, doing puzzles, embroidering, and the fact that she never did likecolor TV, but remember first that through the good and the bad, the joys andthe sorrows, she held on to Jesus because He held on to her.

¹⁵[Jesus said:] “If you love me, you will keep mycommandments.

¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give youanother Helper, to be with you forever, ¹⁷even the Spirit of truth,whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. Youknow him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

¹⁸“I will not leave you as orphans; I will cometo you. ¹⁹Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, butyou will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰In that dayyou will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. ²¹Whoeverhas my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves mewill be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Jesus’ words here echo those of Virginia’s ConfirmationVerse, Luke 11:28. Jesus said, “Blessedrather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” She heard it from herpastors over the decades with joy. She saw to the Christian education of herchildren. Now she awaits the Day of Resurrection with her Lord.

Now don’tyou be grieving cause I’m leaving

Don’t crywhen I say goodbye

There’ll beno weeping where I’m going

To mymansion in the sky

We weep because we mourn. We mourn because we have lostthose we love due to death. On the Last Day our bodies will be resurrected andwill be reunited with our eternal souls. The Lord Himself will heal us of allour afflictions—polio, cerebral palsy, dementia, and all our other crosses—andwipe every tear from our eyes. Those who believe in Christ will join Him ineternal glory in the heavenly mansions.

Jesus says, In myFather’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that Igo to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, Iwill come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also [,My Mansion in the Sky]. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 04 September 2011, Proper 18A

2011-10-05T10:48:00.001-06:00

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

St. Matthew 18:15-20

Reconciliation

Proper 18, 04 September 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father andour Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

In aninterview, best-selling novelist John Grisham recalls:

One of mybest friends in college died when he was 25, just a few years after we hadfinished Mississippi State University. I was in law school, and he called meone day and wanted to get together. So we had lunch, and he told me he hadterminal cancer.

I couldn’tbelieve it. I asked him, “What do you do when you realize you are about todie?”

He said,“It’s real simple. You get things right with God, and you spend as much timewith those you love as you can. Then you settle up with everybody else.” Thenhe said, “You know, really, you ought to live every day like you have only afew more days to live.”

Mr. Grishamconcluded, “That left an impression on me.”

Few thingsimpart more wisdom than to face up to the fact that we will all die sooner orlater. For many Americans, the reality fragility of life and the uncertaintywhen it will end, was driven home ten years ago on September 11^th.For others of us, personal sadness and tragedy teach us the same thing.

Next Sunday, we will pause to continue to pray for ourleaders, our nation, and our world.

When death looks us in the eyes, things get very simple.Grisham’s friend said, “You get things right with God,” and he’s off to a goodstart. The way we get right with God is through Jesus. God has made thingsright between Himself and us. Our relationship is restored to how God intendedin Eden, a preview of what awaits us in the New Heaven and Earth.

Jesus takesreconciliation a step further. Since we have been reconciled with God, Heprepares us to reconcile with one another.

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault,between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained yourbrother.

How manypeople are involved? Two. You and the person who sinned against you. You arenot to gossip about the matter. You aren’t to decry them around their backs.This also rules out nasty phone calls where your derision and disdain for thempours forth. You aren’t to hold a grudge for 20 years. You are to go to them,one on one and discuss the matter. Be patient. Be tactful. Be considerate.Share the truth in love, and confront them with the law and the reality oftheir sin. But don’t be surprised if they don’t take your word for it.

But if he does not listen, take one or two others along withyou, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or threewitnesses.

Now andonly now, after you’ve tried clearing it up just between the two of you,do you involve other people. Ask some Christian friends to go with you. Askthem to pray for the situation—that you will have the right words, that theywill come to repentance, and that the issue will be resolved quickly. But thatdoesn’t always happen.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. Andif he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile anda tax collector.

Matthew 18outlines what is known as church discipline, culminating in excommunication.

A pastor(Tony Evans) once wrote about the time his younger brother rebelled againsttheir father.

He didn’tlike my father’s rules…Now little brother was the Maryland state wrestlingchampion in the unlimited weight class. At 250 pounds, he was big and strong…

My fathertold him to do something. I don’t remember what it was, but my brother didn’tthink he should have to do it. So he frowned, shook his head, and said, “No!”

Dad said,“Oh yes!”

Littlebrother said, “No!”

Myfather…took him upstairs, and helped him pack his suitcase. My brother jumped[up] and said, “Yeah, I’m leaving. I don’t have to take this!”

And hewalked out of the house. But he forgot a few things. He forgot that he didn’thave a job. He forgot that it was snowing outside. He forgot he didn’t have acar…

So twentyminutes later…knock, knock! Brother was at the door wanting him to come home.My father delivered him to the elements that he might be taught respect…

So it is with those who come under church discipline. Likethe little brother, a person coming under church discipline may be big andpowerful in their own eyes, or even in the eyes of the congregation—activelyinvolved, regularly serving, perhaps even in a position of leadership orresponsibility. The most important thing they have in common with the youngerbrother is the word, “No.” Our Heavenly Father has laid down his rules for Hishousehold. When a person says, “No,” it is up to a congregation and pastor tobe faithful, even if it means excommunication.

Church discipline is not a pleasant business. Nor is it funfor the person being disciplined or the congregation and pastor forced toimpose the discipline. It is simply being faithful to the Word of God and thespecific Gospel appointed for today.

Sometimes we’re afraid of following Matthew 18, of using thelaw, church discipline, even excommunication. “Isn’t it unloving? Isn’t itinsensitive? It certainly isn’t Christian!” some say. Such statements have apoint if the motivation is wrong. If the motivation is just to get what isconsidered “dead wood” off the rolls, then it would be unloving andinsensitive. If the motivation is ultimate restoration, as our Lord intends,and as the father in the story intended, then comments about church disciplinebeing supposedly unchristian are naive, misplaced, and ignorant of this Scriptureand Jesus’ use of the law.

What is the purpose of the law? It is to show our sin.Consider the Ten Commandments. They are excellent to help you prepare forconfession. Sex, power, money, popularity, and false idols can be “gods” inplace of the true God. Using God’s name as a curse word or to lie under oathbreak the second commandment. Claiming that you are too tired to get up onSunday or that your kid didn’t want to come to Sunday School or that you weretoo busy all show, bottom line, that you despise the Word of God and the Lord’sDay. God is not mocked. Think about the other seven commandments. They hit uswhere it hurts. Do they not clearly show you your sin? Do they not condemnyouth disrespecting parents?

Think about all that the law reveals as sin: lying,stealing, premarital, homosexual, or extramarital sex, holding grudges,speaking poorly of your neighbor, living together outside of marriage, hatingsomeone else, coveting, telling white lies or half-truths, coveting,disrespecting the government, verbal, physical, or psychological abuse, etc.

Sin is ugly. It needs to be exposed to the light. God’s lawaccomplishes that. The law exposes sin so that it can be dealt with. Sins needto be confessed. There is only one solution—the Gospel, the forgiveness ofsins, reconciliation with God, and then with one another. The whole purpose ofMatthew 18, of the law, of church discipline is to bring the person to therealization of the seriousness of the situation so that they will confess andbe forgiven.

As Jesus told the woman caught in the very act of adultery,whom He had forgiven, “Go and sin no more.” Sinful habits must end. Sinfulsituations must be abandoned. Go and sin no more. Reconciliation is the goal.Reconciliation is the goal, the ultimate purpose of excommunication. One isdriven away to that their faith may be reawakened, that they come to theirsenses and be restored to the fellowship, to the body of Christ.

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall bebound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed inheaven. Again I say to you, if two ofyou agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by myFather in heaven. For where two or threeare gathered in my name, there am I among them."

This sectionrefers again to the office of the keys, which we heard about two weeks ago.Christ gives the authority to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but towithhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent. Thisis not something to be doubted, but according to Christ’s promise, that by thepastor’s words, sins are forgiven (or bound) before God in heaven.

Considerthe rest of this section of Matthew 18. “Again I say to you, if two of youagree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Fatherin heaven.”

Of course, a standard Biblical understanding of prayer isassumed here. We can ask for nothing contrary to the Word, contrary to God’swill. And we pray according to God’s will, not our own.

Consider the implications for what came before here inMatthew 18. Let us pray for those estranged from the Church, especially thosehurt by the action or inaction of the congregation or any pastor. Do we nothave God’s promise to hear us and answer our prayer? Let us, as more than two or three, pray for ourprodigals, for our inactive members, for those in our fellowship who are hurt,for those in our fellowship who have hurt others, for those in our community,our country, our world who need to hear the message of reconciliation in ChristJesus and His good news.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am Iamong them.” We have our Lord’s promise. He is with us. He is with you whenyou’ve been sinned against. He is with you, reading wand willing to forgive whenyou have sinned against Him and your neighbor. He is with us to bless us.

The Lord, who has blessed you with reconciliation with Godby His sacrificial death and Resurrection, enable you to live by His Word,according to your public pledge, to actively and regularly reconcile with oneanother. Amen.

The peaceof God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in ChristJesus. Amen.