The word Sabbath is rooted in God’s resting on the 7th day following the six days of creation. Genesis chapter 2 says: So, God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it, God rested from all His work that He had done in creation. Sabbath comes from the Hebrew verb “sabat”, meaning to stop, to cease, or to keep. On the Sabbath, then the Jews of the Old Testament were to stop their working and rest. However, the Sabbath is more than cessation or stoppage of labor. Resting in bed all day does not amount to a keeping of the Sabbath. According to Isaiah 58 the Sabbath is to be a delight and joy (Is. 58:13).

The Pharisees in much the same way as everything else, got hung up on the keeping the Sabbath. They were so focused on the rules against work, that they actually made, “resting” a work! They used the Sabbath to exalt themselves in their sense of righteousness. “See how much I am resting, I only took this many steps today, just enough to get to the synagogue and back”. They hired others to work for them and serve them, so they could rest while others worked around them. They forgot the whole purpose as to why God had given the Sabbath.

As the explanation to the third commandment points out: the Sabbath is not just about not working, but it is about worship: about resting in God: the God who does not rest! Receiving from God through the work of the priests and Levites on behalf of the people in the OT and through the Divine Service in the Word and Sacrament in the NT. In the Old Testament on the Sabbath, additional sacrifices were offered (Num 28:9-10) at the temple, and the special shewbread was to be set out “sabbath after sabbath” to signify Israel’s commitment to the covenant (Lev 24:8). There were morning and afternoon services at the synagogue, and in their homes, the Jews would recite scripture and benedictions, that is blessings from God. To help reflect the joyous character of the Sabbath there was a Jewish tradition of eating richly on the Sabbath, (Lev 23), and they were not to fast on that day, and it was forbidden to go about with outward expressions of grief and mourning.

The Sabbath was always a gift. As Jesus would say in the Gospel of Mark: “the Sabbath was made for mankind not mankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). In other words, God gave the Sabbath as a gift. His telling them to observe this is what we sometimes call a gospel mandate. This do for your good. Like eat this or drink this, it is good for you. The spirit not the letter. The Sabbath was an Old Testament means of grace a Sacramental giving from the Lord. It was not so much about physical rest as it was an opportunity to receive from Him, grace, mercy, and spiritual rest. Yet, humans seem to be wired to take the gifts of God and make them works. Even today, the Protestants or RC see Gospel Sacramental instruments as our works or evidence of our obedience. But the sacraments, the Word of God, the Sabbath are not objects or instruments of the Law, but instruments delivering God’s grace and mercy and rest from sin, sorrow, guilt, and trouble.

We saw and heard that difference in understanding in this morning’s Gospel. The Pharisees had invited Jesus to come and feast with them, but they were observing Him to see what He would do. It is possible that they arranged for this man who had this dropsy to make an appearance to test what Jesus would do. And what did he do? He showed mercy. This is the true meaning of God’s Sabbath. The keeping of the Sabbath is not about exalting oneself or being lazy or even using it as another work day, but it is a day specifically set aside to receive mercy from God and/or showing mercy to others who need help physically and spiritually. AS Jesus said elsewhere: “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath”. Just as naturally as one would rescue an ox or a child who has fallen into a well on the Sabbath, so too then Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath, and God in His Word and sacraments act with the interest of life and salvation, for us, and for all people.

This is so important, because we have sinned and cannot become righteous by our keeping of the Law. We dare not try to keep the Law and say that we are more righteous than others. At the same time, we should not abuse God’s gifts as we so often do. Even though the Sabbath is given by God to deliver His grace and Gospel, how often do we see it as a day where church is optional, where we can sleep in, or go do or watch sports? Maybe we see it as an opportunity to do make up work for ourselves that we didn’t get to during the week. But what is an hour or two out of your day to receive that which is needful?

No let us humble ourselves, let us call out from the wells and pits into which we have willfully stumbled and fallen into. Crying out for God’s help to rescue us from our sin, our pride, our messed up sense of priorities.

And Jesus does come to our aid. God sends Him to rescue us from the pit or well of spiritual death into which we have fallen by our sin. Jesus who was and is the exalted son of God, humbled Himself to be joined to human flesh, humbled Himself even further by becoming the servant of all, taking upon Himself all sin and sorrow taking it to the cross and dying to pay the price of your sin and win our forgiveness. The forgiveness of sins which is given here in His Word and His body and blood. This is what we need for our life now and forever in eternity. No other gift and rest will do. No other gifts grant mercy, healing, and forgiveness from God in Jesus Christ. God rested on the original Sabbath before the Fall and in a sense Jesus rested in the tomb on the Saturday after the crucifixion, but that was it! God works on the Sabbath, He works on the 8th day to redeem you by His death and resurrection!

Therefore, do not be like the Pharisees and exalt yourself because you are here and “putting in your obligation of time”. This does necessarily not mean that you are more holy simply because you woke up and made the effort to come here this day and are therefore a better person than those who are not here. Are you here for the right reasons? The best reason is because you know what is here for you. How desperately you need God’s mercy and forgiveness in order to be refreshed and strengthened spirit, mind, and body in Jesus Christ for the new week? If that is not your main reason, then humble yourselves in sincere repentance for your sin, knowing that this is why you need God’s Sabbath grace and rest in Him. This place of all places on earth, is where He promises to give us His true rest as He says, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” He gives you rest for the work that He has given you to do as His child to do it well and faithfully.

When God created all things and gave unto Adam and Eve the stewardship of creation on the 6th day, he did not put them to work immediately, instead, on the 7th day He gave them a day of rest, a day to be refreshed in His grace to have the right mindset and heart to do their duty well by faith. The Jews saw days beginning with rest at sunset and the mornings followed for the work to be accomplished after the night time rest. This is profound. People: “Rest first. Work after.” That is why even now Sunday is not the end of the weekend, but the beginning of the new week. Why you should every evening have devotions and prayers, remembering your baptism, then go to sleep and rest in Jesus to start your work in the morning refreshed in Him.

Let us see the importance of the rest which God has established for us here in His Word as He comes to serve you through Christ in the Sacraments. This is a privilege to have a place to come and be gathered and be served. This is why you should be concerned by those who are not here. They are not receiving. Without this receiving, their hearts and minds will wear down and their faith will be destroyed as it is exhausted and distracted by the things of this world. This is why you should do all that you can to support this congregation to continue this work of God among you, to rest in Him, and respond in merciful service by faith to your neighbor.

In the meantime, rest up here. Be strengthened. Do not come to church to go through the motions. Come to be healed and strengthened by Jesus and His Word. Desire the same for your neighbors, your fellow church members who are not here today. They need this too. Christ and His gifts are the most important rest, recreation, and gift that we need in answer to the troubles that surround us in this life. If you are or get ill or injured as sin’s curse continues to attack to wear you out, text or call me as your pastor to come visit you and bring you Christ’s gifts for bodily spiritual healing and strength.

So: stop, rest, and listen. Receive. Be forgiven. Eat, drink, and go forth having been exalted and served through Jesus Christ. Refreshed and renewed for the labors of the week, to serve each other in mercy and love, as the Lord serves us as we look forward to the fulfilling of that eternal Sabbath rest with our Savior in God’s heavenly kingdom for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Aaron Kangas

Today marks the 5th Sunday in a row where the effects of sin are placed in the front and center to observe. 4 weeks ago, there was a death and mute man, the next week was the man attacked on his way from Jerusalem in the “Good Samaritan parable”, next it was the 10 leprous men suffering shame, isolation and a deadly disease, last Sunday was Jesus preaching from the sermon on the mount, saying do not be anxious in the midst of all these things. Do not even be worried about what to eat, drink, or what clothing to put on, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. These sufferings and worries are all the effects of sin experienced and lived out in the flesh. Sin is the cause of sorts of suffering: physical limitations, anxiety, grief, pain, anguish, helplessness, vulnerability to those who would take advantage showing the evil intent of those around us, and yes, a whole host of other things. This all leads to today’s text which features the ultimate weapon in Satan’s arsenal against humanity: death.

Against death, humanity is helpless. When we experience any of the issues, illness, physical limitations, persecution, physical violence, disease, hunger, any of these, the problems are multiplied because we ask: “what will this lead to?” “Will I recover, how weak will this make me, will I die from this?” The reality is that no regular human can ever escape from death. Death can happen whether we are old or young. It could arrive from illness, cancer, a car crash, or anything, really. No one can know how or when death will come. Some may try to ignore this reality. For some, the fear of death controls almost every decision they make. Most people are somewhere in between. Regardless of where you or I land on this spectrum, it is human nature to fear it, when it is thought about.

Satan uses this unsureness, this fear, or it’s opposite: over-confidence in one’s health or youth. He will use either to his advantage. All these things, he uses to cause people to embrace and live to worship themselves and while doubting God and His promises. He uses these fears or seemingly random tragic events or the awful results of careless personal choices to cause people to accuse God of not caring, or being evil, unloving, or cruel.

In today’s Gospel and Old Testament lessons, we have the OT and Gospel accounts of young men who died, sons of their living mothers, both who were widows. Death is always tragic because of sin, but when it takes a young person, it always seems even worse. We are not told the how or why they died. The OT lesson gives us a bit more detail in saying that the son became ill. We have no detail for the Gospel. Both mothers were widows. You know that this meant that both women had suffered the loneliness and heart ache of their husband dying. Stung by the pain of death before, now their only sons being taken from them, they, grief stricken by the sting of death once more, cried out to the Lord, “Why?” The window of Zaraphath said to Elijah: “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” The widow of Nain is not recorded as saying such a thing, but surely the thought to ask the Lord, “Why?” had crossed her mind and perhaps her lips.

Perhaps you have said similarly to God when things have gone the wrong way, when all hellish temptation, worry, trouble, disappointments, suffering, pain, and the threat of death fall around us and upon us. “God what do you have against me? Do you hate me? Why did you allow this or these things to happen? Why, Lord?” Is it sinful to ask such questions to the Lord? I don’t think so. Because you are asking the Lord. You are going to Him and praying and pouring out your complaint before Him as a believer. This is why Job is not seen by the Lord as saying anything unworthy of forgiveness despite his laments and challenges of God in the book of the same name. He did not write God off in unbelief, but cried out to Him and complained in faith.

However, the Devil, as I said can use this impulse of complaint from grief and fear to lead us to answer our questions with an earth based, untrue, answer: yes, God does hate you. That is what the world would say. “If there is a god, he must hate you. What did you do to make him so angry with you? Don’t you look like a fool and feel like a fool for trusting in such garbage? You should trust only in yourself, or some other earth bound authority to provide and protect” That is what the world will do. That is how the world would advise us.

But they are wrong. And when we make our own conclusions and blame God and feed our anger and fear, we are sinning. We are failing the test and opportunity to grow. We could blame God for sin and death, but in reality, He and His angels keep back most everything that our sinful, ungrateful, untrusting bodies and souls deserve. The reality is that we don’t deserve any grace or mercy. We and all the world deserve a present and eternal punishment, an eternal torment in the fires of hell.

The Gospel and Old Testament lessons for today and the last weeks, all point to the reality of who God is, and what is doing and does for us and why. The reality is that God does love us. Within His Word, His Grace, and within His only begotten Son. There is the solution for all that troubles us, all that grieves and oppresses us. That last enemy which threatens us all, death? It is defeated by the giver of life.

On His way into the city, Jesus and His followers meet the funeral procession for the son of the widow. Behold the situation which has so much irony. The widow is hopeless in that moment for comfort, but they meet the hope for the world and the Great comforter. A young man and only son of his mother, meets the young man and only son of God His father. The one who lives, calls forth the one who has died, but the living one who calls forth the dead son must Himself die and lay down His life. Jesus came to meet death head on, to conquer it with His innocent suffering and death on the cross. He sacrificed His perfect flesh and life so that this momentary and temporary resurrection of the young man of Nain from the dead could become permanent. So that death could be overcome by His perfect sacrificial death. So that as the Father restores His beloved Son Jesus in His resurrection from the dead, your resurrection of the body and soul would be eternal. After Jesus called the young man to rise from the dead, he restored him to His mother. What do suppose that also points to? Because Jesus Christ has died upon the cross for you. Because He has risen from the dead for you. He restores you to your heavenly Father. Through Holy Baptism and His Word His Spirit has brought you into His death, resurrection and brought you already from death to life. By the faith given to you in opposition to the spiritual blindness of this world, you can open your eyes and behold and respond to your loving God.

From one who was dead in sin, you are now alive in Christ. You are now marked for eternal life. You have already been raised to breathe the fresh air of life and hope for now and forever. Your bodily suffering and anguish, your griefs all will have an end. Place your hope in Him and you will not be dismayed, nor lost.

Cry out to Him in faith. Stop trying to bear things alone. Know that He hurts when you hurt. He hears and comes to you. Come to where He is for you and be restored again and again, being strengthened with each reception.

Come and receive the eternal food which strengthens and nurtures your faith. It is this food that gives comfort and joy in the deep valleys of this dying world. Here is the crucified and raised body and blood of your Father’s beloved Divine son, so that you can eat and drink and be restored as His created son or daughter. This feast shows you and gives you and prepares you for the eternal restoration of life of body and soul and the last.

Christ suffered so that here your earthly sufferings may be blunted and lessened. He suffered and died so that your death would not be permanent. No longer suffer anguish, anxiety, fear. When any enemy to wrest you from the Lord, invoke His name, and wrap yourself in His grace and promises and trust in Him, He will deliver you for His name’s sake.

Let Him already now turn your sorrows into hope, your disappointments into opportunities for learning and growing, and rejoice in His deliverance. As the young man began speaking and the people began praising the Lord, let us do the same. Let us praise Him with all our life and breath here on earth knowing that He who has raised us from our sin and unbelief will raise us once and for all, in Jesus’ name. Amen

Pr. Aaron Kangas

The concept of faith is rather easy to understand. The simplicity of faith is summed up in the simple meaning to the First Commandment. “You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? You should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” Faith is simply defined as trust in God above all things. Hebrews 11 states it this way: “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is to truly hope and trust in God alone, that what He says and does is true and right for our good even if we do not see it immediately with our eyes. But … you and I both know that this is much easier in theory than it is in “real life.” Putting faith into actual practice is a different ballgame. 

In the Gospel for this 15th Sunday after Trinity, Jesus says more than once, “Do not be anxious” (Matt. 6:25, 31). And yet, hearing these words, we adults can’t help but laugh a little. “yeah right”. We live in anxious and uncertain times. In this media saturated world, we can’t ignore the reality of war, potential war, the growing violence in our cities and communities, even between people as they relate to one another with increasingly sensitive hair-triggers. Money is tight. Inflation and recession rage and rampage, the stock market seems volatile. Words such as “pandemic,” and “supply chain,” are now part of our everyday vocabulary.

And on top of this, there are the daily stresses of bills needing to be paid, deadlines on our calendar needing to be met, perhaps health related issues needing to be addressed with uncertain outcomes. The list of issues is almost endless.

“Do not be anxious? Sure. Nice ideal. How can we NOT grow anxious?”: we think. And yet, what is the root cause of this anxiety?… Where our faith truly lies.

Jesus stated this truth: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matt. 6:24). Literally, “You cannot serve God and mammon,” which is worldly things such as possessions, wealth, and success.

Like a slave who’s duty-bound to serve only one master, you can only serve one master – God or mammon. This brings us back to the first commandment. So, who do you fear, love, and trust above all things?

For us Christians, we want to say: “of course, God”, We’re to serve the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He’s the One who created you, the One who redeemed you with His holy and precious blood, the One who sanctifies you, you’re to fear and love and trust in Him above all things. You’re to look to Him as your greatest good, help, and comfort in life.

And yet, in practice, from day to day, week to week, when we are tempted to worry…Do we trust God and say, “God will provide. God will take care of us through cross or trial in this sin cursed world?” Again, easier said than done or believed.

Instead, in order to live and survive in this world, in order to feel safe and secure, we see how mammon meets those needs. We can physically see with our eyes the bank account or food on the table or the gas gauge in our car. So, we try to compromise. We say that we trust in God …and these hands, this money, that politician, whatever. Yet you cannot serve both God and mammon. You will end up loving and working for the one and hating the other. When we yoke ourselves to mammon, to this life, the inevitable slavery is to worry, to become anxious, to wonder: “whether or not there will be enough.”

Not only does mammon bring with it about anxiety and worry. It steals your heart, your peace, so that you don’t recognize the true God or look to Him as your greatest good, help, and comfort and source of hope in this life or the one to come. Yet He is where freedom and true life reside.

The words of Jesus “do not be anxious about your life,” and “your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Ring hollow to the world and our flesh. The devil tells us in our experience: “God’s a liar. He is just trying to sucker you. You still need to worry. He will let you down like He has before.” But like so much in this media saturated world, those words are a twisting and revision of history, a twisting of the truth of what God has done and provided and it is a falsehood regarding the source of the troubles of this world and what plagues us.

God is not the source of evil and trouble. He does not cause anxiety for believers. He is its answer. Sin and unbelief are the cause of anxiety, of the curse of trouble and toil. God is actually the refuge in the midst of a world suffering rightly under the curse for sin. He is the only true source of hope and comfort.

Look at the Old Testament for this morning and the lesson of God’s care in the midst of suffering. Elijah is directed by God in the midst of a great famine to go outside the kingdom of Israel to a widow who God said would feed him. He doesn’t argue with God but goes. Elijah speaks to the widow who is not yet a believer and she has given up hope. She figures that she is gathering wood to make one last bit of bread and then she and her son will die. Elijah gives a command and promise. Make the bread for me and God will provide for you and not let your oil and flour run out. This widow woman could have said, “yeah right!” yet instead she thought, “what do I have to lose anymore? Why not?” Being brought to desperation, she by the Holy Spirit is being opened to a new hope: a hope in God’s promise of His Word. So, she obeyed and God rewarded that faith, first in the earthly things, but then also in the heavenly things as we will hear next week as she comes to receive a right faith in God.

Fellow redeemed, repent of looking to mammon for help in your time of need and not to the true God. Repent of the times that you have tried to justify your mistrust and unbelief. Repent of your sin and direct your attention, not to the news, but to the Word of the Lord.

Follow the example of the widow of Zaraphath or the 10 lepers from last week’s lesson. Live by faith in His Words. Know that God is the cure, the answer, the hope, the solution to our troubles: first eternal, but also to our earthly physical needs. He does not lie. His words are truth. How often we forget all the good that He has provided for us throughout our lives. A good hymn that we are not singing this morning puts it well. It is from hymn number 737 “Rejoice my heart be glad and sing” It challenges us to think thusly: “Why spend the day in blank despair, In restless thought the night? On your creator cast your care; He makes your burdens light. Did not His love and truth and power Guard every childhood day? And did He not in threatening hour Turn dreaded ills away?” It’s so easy to forget those times when trouble rears its ugly head and instead fall into unbelief and worry.

Because of our sin and mistrust, we deserve death both of the body now and in eternity, yet He continues to have mercy and gives us undeserved grace. So, when the Lord says, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on” (Matt. 6:25), you can believe Him!

Jesus’ call, “Do not to be anxious,” isn’t a guarantee that you won’t face danger and extreme need and eventual earthly death. We live in a sinful, fallen world.

We sang “What God ordains is always good,” And it is true. Everything the Lord Jesus is giving to you, and allows for you, is for your ultimate benefit either to return you to Him for strength or to complete your joy in Him. All the joys and all the sufferings.

“Do not be anxious.” This fatherly divine goodness and mercy is shown to you and me for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ. This Son was given so that you may have a hope which the gentiles, the unbelievers do not: a hope for forgiveness of sins, a knowledge that God loves you now, but that He has defeated your death by Christ’s death upon the cross. By faith in Jesus Christ, you are saved from death, damnation, and despair now and for eternity. You know that through Christ, God loves you and will give you grace and mercy for every moment in this life. You have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection and so you have a hope and a joy established beyond yourself, your failings, your worries, and even the passing joys of this life. Christ took upon Himself all your sin and also the pain and suffering and death that comes with it, and nailed it to the cross and buried it in the tomb.

As a result, the absolute worst thing that could happen to you, is death; it has already happened to you in the waters of your baptism. “[You] were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, [you] too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).

In that resurrection, there simply is no reason left for you to live in worry and anxiety anymore. Christ has died for you on the cross. All things are yours in Him. There’s no need to fear, for the Son of God took on your flesh and died in your place. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Fellow redeemed, place your eyes toward the cross and the kingdom of God which comes to you in His Word and in His bread of life and cup of blessing in the Lord’s supper. Seek and receive. Rejoice and be renewed. See by faith how your Father loves you for Christ’s sake. He tends to you individually more than the grass of the field and the birds of the air. As St. Paul says in Romans 8:2 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” Remember that, rejoice, and rest, in Jesus Christ, Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

I am sure that you have all heard the phrase or at least something like: “life is a journey”. As you may already know, this is actually a biblical concept. And of course, the meaning of “life is a journey” in biblical thinking is much different than the world. Despite its ignorance and unbelief, the people of the world may observe from creation and understand there is a kind of movement, of journeying through time, and through life.

We are surrounded by movement and motion in this life. Even if a person stops to rest a while: time, animals, seasons, people continue to march and move around them. There is always a movement to something and away from something else. There is always a destination whether it is for a purpose or as a result: of our actions or someone else.
Think about this: Even if we are standing and sitting still it is because we are watching something or listening to something or someone, hopefully for learning and growing. Or we are still because we are waiting for something to come to us, like an opportunity, an idea, for our turn in order to conduct business, our meal, or we are resting there waiting for our energy to return.

People should be thinking of the movement of life itself in terms of goals, of growth. In each moment, we should ponder the reason we make the decisions that we do or do not make. Each decision, each movement, each moment ends up with its own destination or result. This is an important understanding. We may have a clear idea of our goals but we may forget that little decisions may distract and wind up directing us away from whatever goal it is. Or maybe we only have a hazy idea of where we would like to end up in the end, but by just going with the flow, we will definitely be guided in our decisions day to day, week to week by our selfish desires.

There is a definite spiritual and religious dimension to ALL of this, Because of sin, we don’t always make good decisions about where we want to end up or how we get there. Sometimes we think only in terms of the here and now. But spiritually and religiously speaking there are only two destinations and goals. As we live in this time on earth we are either being moved towards God by repentance and faith by His Holy Spirit to eternal life… or we are moving away from God by our rebellion, our ingratitude, our self-worship, apathy or worship of the things of this world. As we move away from God by our sin, to which destination are we headed? That’s right: eternal death and judgement.

That is partially why there is so much movement and action language in the Bible. Have you ever noticed how much movement there is?… in the Gospels, and really in the Bible in general? It is not the only concept nor even the chief concept, but there it is: Journey-ing. There is much talk of paths, roads, or the going by “the way” or along the way, (The early church and its beliefs were even referred to as “The way” in Acts 9). The Bible uses includes many details regarding feet and sandals, travel, walking and running. There are constant movements to or away. There is travel and there is standing still, but there is always a purpose or a result.

We heard this theme it in the Proverbs reading today.
“the way of wisdom;…the paths of uprightness.”
When you walk in the way of wisdom and righteousness, your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
The other path is this: …”the path of the wicked,
    do not walk in the way of the evil.
Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. The wicked and evil seek to cause you stumbling.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble.
My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
    For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their flesh.
Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

These are great words of advice from our Lord in Proverbs chapter 4. It describes the fact that really there are ultimately only the two paths going in directly opposite directions through the journey of earthy life. The way of life or the way of death. But who hasn’t stumbled and fallen at some point? Who hasn’t swerved to the right or left at least once, returning to the path of wickedness?

Well, that brings us to the Gospel lesson. Jesus knew where He was going and why. We need to remember that every time we hear anything regarding the life and ministry of Jesus, we should realize that there are definite answers to the questions: Why was He wherever He was or where He was going? Everything He did, He did with purpose. Why was He on earth to begin with? The purpose of that earthly ministry and life which seemed to be stopped at the cross outside Jerusalem, but arrived there and progressed from the cross of Golgotha for your salvation and the salvation of the world. So that you could be placed again and again upon the path of righteousness which leads to eternal life by the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus was not to be stopped by death, nor your sin and the sin of the world. The Son of God through His dying, destroyed death and the work of the evil and wicked plotters who still seek our stumbling. Christ Jesus has won. He lived, died, rose again, and ascended to send the Spirit for your healing and your salvation. So that you would no longer be spiritually cast away from Him but could be and would be returned to and brought back to Himself, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

At the moment of our Gospel lesson Jesus was on His journey through Samaria and Galilee to Jerusalem, to accomplish this work of Redemption. As He passed through there were 10 lepers standing and waiting for Him. In the midst of their death sentence outcast condition because of their leprosy, they retained hope. They hoped in this Jesus of Nazareth to come to them, to have mercy on them. They called him “epistates” which means overseer, not Master…the one who is the caretaker. They did all have faith or at least hope (which has faith within it). So they hoped in Him. He passed through that way, knowing this moment would come and Jesus told them literally to “journey” to the priests to show themselves. He didn’t say that they would be healed, but they were on their way. And one turned back from His journey. He returned to the healer. This Samaritan knew that Jesus was the Messiah, God Himself, for the Gospel says that He journeyed back praising God and completely prostrated Himself at the feet of Jesus in worship and thanksgiving. After speaking with Him, Jesus sent the man forth “on his way” reminding him that he was made well by faith.

This Gospel text teaches the importance of gratitude to be sure. But not only in times of being healed of diseases or in times of joy or great accomplishment… We are to live this life’s journey giving thanks because God has healed us of our death sentence and our outcast condition, by taking our sins upon the great high priest Jesus Christ. We have been baptized into His sacrifice which has paid for our sins and have been given the knowledge of the way of salvation.

How do we know the way? As the Proverb said: “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.”

So what is the path of your feet? Where are you to be gazing straight ahead toward? What about your loved ones? If the path is not lit by the light of Christ’s crucified and raised then it is going the wrong way. If you are not looking to Christ and meditating on how and where your feet are turning, then Return. Repent. Look to the cross of Jesus. Be led by Him and His Word which is the way of salvation and all your ways in the journey of this life will be sure. That doesn’t mean life will be predictable. That doesn’t mean that life here on earth will be easy or glorious or pain free. No. But your way will be sure. The sureness is referring to your destination. The destination that is yours because of faith in Jesus Christ your Savior, redeemer, the overseer of your soul and body: eternal life with Him.

Even now He encourages you on the way. Proverbs said that the evil eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But God through Jesus Christ gives the bread of life and righteousness in Christ’s body given for you. He gives the wine of peace and reconciliation in Christ’s blood.

The liturgy itself has movement mimicking the movement of Christ’s ministry and service. Entering, processing, standing, sitting, walking, kneeling, returning, recessing…The movement of God to us, gathering us to Him, and then Him sending us out along the journey and vocation to which we have been called, having confessed, been absolved, taught, encouraged, fed, and nourished. Leaving with His blessing and promises.

Keep your gaze, your eyes of faith straight toward the cross and your way and goal will be made sure. Glorify Him, give thanks to Him, go and journey along life’s path to life eternal with Jesus Christ forever in His grace and joy. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

The Gospel reading for today includes the parable of the “Good Samaritan” as most people call it. Most people just look at it as a morality tale told to say, “people should be compassionate and have mercy on those in need”. That’s it. And then they move on. There is much more to it than that.

I will make the case today, that this parable which has many things to teach us, also teaches us about desire. Yes, “Desire”. As in what do you desire? What would you like to have, to receive, to experience? What is it that you desire, that you “will” to do or have done for you in this life?

Suggestion is very powerful in directing our desires. A person may not desire to eat cookies until somebody says the words: “fresh baked chocolate chip cookies” and then suddenly you realize that you want some. Sorry about that if I made you hungry. You didn’t know that you were in the mood for cake until you saw it. You didn’t know that you wanted pizza until you smelled it.

For many people “desire” as a concept sounds like something carnal, that is of the flesh. And quite often it is. In many ways that is how the sin of coveting leads to a whole host of other sins. You may not even know that you want or desire something until you see somebody else enjoying it. You see what somebody else has and you “desire” it. You desire to claim it, consume it, master it, and make it yours. It could be wealth, specific possessions, status, or even people for friendship or 6th commandment breaking.

Desire can have a non-sinful spin. You desire to be helpful. You wish to be kind. You want to grow in your faith. If you ask a person if they want to go to heaven. They will say, of course! But how do you get to be saved? Can you do it on your own? Do you need help? Or are you helpless? How much do you desire it? It is funny how so often it takes failure or desperation to realize what we truly should need and truly desire.

A person thinks “I am going to build this new shed” and someone else asks: “Do you need help?” And they answer: ” No thanks, I’ve got it!” Fast forward a couple of hours when the walls are falling on top of that person, and suddenly, they realize, “I really want; I really need and desire some help now”. Or how about a student who thinks that they understand a subject, but then they take the test and looks nothing like what they thought it would be and they fail. Then they realize that they don’t have it together. You and I are so much like that. All humanity is at some time or another.

Sometimes it takes us to be brought down low to realize how much we need; to finally desire to receive that which is truly important which we cannot achieve ourselves: mercy, salvation, and rescue.
In today’s Gospel lesson an “expert in the Law” desired to put Jesus to the test regarding the way to achieve salvation. The word inherit is used, but when Jesus turns the question around on him, it is clear, that the expert in the Law thought salvation could be achieved by His own works. When Jesus told Him, “yes, do the Law and you will live”, the man desired to justify himself. Did you catch that? When people think that they can fulfill the Law they “desire to justify themselves”. When people are caught in a sin that they refuse to repent of, they “desire to justify themselves”. Two sides of the same coin. What the expert in the Law should have desired was what the ancients had desired. What is that?

Jesus turning to the disciples had said in verse 23-24, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

This expert in the Law, (the Word of the Old Testament) should have been looking for the blessed age and time of the Messiah! The “right then at that moment Messianic time”, the Messiah who was right in front of Him. This Jesus, the Christ, was the One promised to come to show mercy, to rescue, to bring salvation, forgiveness, and healing.

But this lawyer couldn’t and didn’t see his need for a Savior. The man in the parable didn’t know how much he should desire a savior until he needed one. He just took it for granted that he would be safe on his trip. He took it for granted that he could take care of himself. He could travel through life, offer up a few sacrifices and offerings to the Lord in Jerusalem and he would have a smooth life, an unchallenged life, and some day end up in heaven. He didn’t have any pressing desire for salvation until he needed it. He didn’t desire companionship or protection until he realized that he had none. When he realized what happens in this life if you have no spiritual protection against the evil that surrounds then it was too late to defend.

Then when that traveling man was waylaid and almost killed, he realized what he should have desired all along: a Savior. Suddenly he knew the vulnerability he had had. How trusting in himself, his pride, and his own strength was a great and terrible mistake. So there he lay, perhaps groaning and moaning, and two religious authorities passed by. Two experts in the Law, yet there was no help within them, because they wanted only to justify and protect themselves. If they paused to help, they might also be waylaid. These were men of duty to God, but faith was far from their hearts.

Finally, from the most unlikely, the least looked for place, a man of a despised background, came the much desired and needed salvation and rescue. This Samaritan stooped low to the ground, to bind the man’s wounds, anoint and cleanse them, then he lifted the mostly dead man onto his own beast of burden taking him to a place of constant attention and aid, paying for all his food, his shelter, the care of this man’s life until he would return.

This Samaritan is pointing to Jesus. The prophets, kings, and believers of the past who lived the Old Testament, who wrote the Old Testament longed for and yearned to see the day of Jesus. The day of His visitation. They had seen in their own lives how they had needed God for life, for hope, for forgiveness. They desired to see in life with their own eyes the Savior who would ultimately deliver them, but they did not.

The lawyer, did not yet desire what he needed to desire, though He saw the instrument of his salvation before him. So often people do not realize how much they have always needed God and the message of Jesus Christ until it is almost too late, but it is not too late as long as there is life and breath. There is time to see that we cannot justify our sin, and we cannot justify ourselves by our works. We are helpless and as dead men and women spiritually. The Law has shown us our sin, let us repent before the world, the devil, or our flesh bring us to the gates of eternal death.

Let us desire what we need: a Savior: Jesus Christ. Then let us see how much we need to hear His voice in His word and His absolution as often as we can. How much we long to hear the voice of Jesus who was considered low and rejected by so many. Jesus became as the Samaritan to take our sins and our burdens upon Himself. Lifting us onto Himself, and paying the cost for our life and our care by His blood shed upon the cross.

He has bound you up and brought you here this day to the inn. So that as His called and ordained innkeeper, I can wrap your wounds with the bandages of God’s Word, washing and changing your wounds and bandages, cleansing the infectious sin from week to week, and feeding you the food which Christ has paid for, so that you may live now and for eternity.

What a privilege. We are able to receive and see with our own eyes and hear the message which the ancients longed to see and hear: the time of promise fulfilled in Christ crucified and raised. Here He comes to us in bread and wine with His body and blood, His word of promise and mercy has been fulfilled. We should desire to be here and receive as often as we can. After receiving the gifts, we sing with Simeon, that our own eyes have beheld in this blessed meal, the salvation which God has prepared for all people. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of the people Israel.

Let us who admit that they are weak, weary, and heavy laden put our cares upon Christ crucified. Pray and know He hears and answers. As you desire His strength, power, and wisdom to live by faith, He fulfills those desires, and He promises to take care of your other needs too. See that the desire of God is for your salvation, for us to be free of our sin, and the empty desires of this world. He alone justifies you and declares you righteous for Christ’s sake. Receive His grace and rejoice in Him until He comes once more to bring us with Him to eternal life, In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

Touch can be a good thing. As physical, flesh and blood people, we need and long for “touch” especially from those whom we care about. We wish to be able to “touch” them in return. Studies have shown that if newborns do not receive physical touch and care, in addition to the basic necessities of feeding and changing, they will die.

Why is touch so necessary for humans? The sense of touch removes loneliness. Good touch creates and expresses bonds of intimacy and affirmation of that person. This kind of touch is seen when people shake hands as a greeting which expresses respect, a lack of fear and repulsion of the other person. Friends may hug in greeting, or in comfort or sharing in a happy moment. Parents hug and kiss their children, they hold their hands. Husbands and wives, kiss and cuddle.

Then there are times when touch is desperately needed: times of fear, worry, anxiety, grief. The human response at those times is to fling out arms and hands and clutch for something, somebody, to give reassurance by a comforting touch.

Hence the value of holding the hand, of reassuring those who are ill, helpless, near death: whether conscious or unconscious. This touch is of great comfort to both the bed-ridden and the care giver alike. The fact that so many of us in 2020 and 2021, had been forced apart, forced to forgo those tender, precious, and beneficial moments of touching or being touched especially during illness and recovery, or during the waning health leading to death of our loved ones, has been a bitter and tragic part of that Covid era, and we must not soon forget those enforced deprivations.

Without touch, we feel even more “fear” and loneliness, like people unclean and forgotten, forced to deal with everything alone, our minds quite often will wander into dark and scary thoughts. The desire and need for touch, for community are actually a longing for God’s perfect creation of mankind before the fall when perfect fear-less communication was the standard.

God created people for community. Think about that word: community. Do you see the word: unity in it? It’s there. God created us soul and body in unity to exist in communion that is, in community with Him. Even when God created Adam, He did so in a very personal and physical way: touching and gathering together the soil and dust of the ground, then breathing God’s own breath of life into man’s nostrils. To form Eve God did not say “Let there be”, but He used the physical means of touching and taking Adam’s rib, and formed from it, the first woman.

As Lutherans, we confess that the body is not bad in and of itself. However, our bodies have inherited the flaws and weaknesses of our parents going back to Adam and Eve’s curse. The weakness and fallenness of our bodies reveal what is going on spiritually. Since the fall into sin, every man, and woman has been conceived and born spiritually dead and separated from God. No longer set within the framework of living in community with God by faith and knowledge of Him, our bodies reflect the spiritual loneliness and longing that should find its answer and its fulfillment in God. We are conceived with a spirit no longer connected to and in unity with God, but a spirit that seeks its own way as St. Paul wrote in last week’s epistle text (Ephesians chapter 2): “you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Often the emptiness of people’s spirits without the Lord, is lived out in the sinful passions of the flesh. People seek to be satisfied in the touch of the things of this world. Grasping at lust, or wealth, health, honor, glory, popularity, possessions, even family, through them, they seek to comfort themselves from the loneliness and emptiness of the spiritual void which lingers within them, without God. Yet, they can find nothing to grasp and touch that does not shift or fade with the passage of time in this sin-plagued life. All things pass away: parents, children, health, fame, pleasure. None can help and comfort when sickness attacks the body and death beckons. We may cling to the hope of life extended from drugs, the work of doctors, but no matter what, death will come. Death is the great cleaving and tearing of soul from body. This is the terrible wage of sin. All must pass through this ordeal of death of the body. It seems to unbelieving eyes that everyone must pass through it alone. But that is not how it has to be.

This is the joy of the Gospel, the great and good news that God does not forsake the flesh of mankind nor see it as repulsive and unclean and unworthy of salvation. He desires to purify, rescue, and comfort us soul and body. To bring life to the body through the giving of His Spirit to bring faith in Himself. His will is to renew and reconcile the community that was ruined by the sin of Adam and Eve: to cover over every sin committed by every person since.

That is why the Son of God came into the world. God saw that this flesh is something that is still worthy of redemption and salvation along with the soul and person. He desires that you, and I and all those who would believe would be reconciled to Him in a restoration of the paradise that was lost. Despite the rebellion of humanity, He does not desire you nor I to receive the full measure that our sins deserve. So, the Father sent the Son to bring the flesh of humanity into community with His divinity in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus felt in the flesh everything that we feel: temptation, illness, suffering. He hungered; He grew tired. Though He did not sin, He took upon Himself the sins of the world. When He healed, He took the spiritual ailment of sin along with its symptom. That really is how we should look at illness, birth defects, mental disorders, accidents, cancers, sufferings of any kinds, yes even death. These bodily troubles are symptoms of the reality of sin. That is why we suffer in the body and in the spirit when these things come upon us.

So, we see in today’s Gospel text how God seeks to interact with humanity: to comfort and to rescue. That is why Jesus touches the man who was deaf and dumb. Jesus touches him to absorb the man’s sin and to pour forth His healing Divine Power. His action also show God’s pity and comfort in our suffering flesh. Very often when Jesus heals or raises from the dead, He touches. He wouldn’t need to. He could just say the words. He does that too. But often, He touches, He grasps a hand, He spits and places His fingers, He heals when others touch Him. This shows that there is healing and comfort in the touch and presence of Jesus Christ!!

As the crowd proclaimed “He does all things well” in today’s text, so He does. He accomplished our salvation by receiving all the bad touches that our sin deserved: the whips, the nails, the humiliation, God’s wrath, and an excruciating death under the weight of sin upon His body and His spirit. Jesus died on the cross so that your death in your body is temporary. So that you do not die as one who is “alone” when your last hour comes here on earth. Death has been defeated in Christ’s sacrifice. To prove that the division between soul and body, the division between God and Mankind is temporary and has been overcome, Jesus rose bodily from the dead! He showed that human flesh is indeed redeemable in Him.

Even as the devil, the world, and our flesh would try to make us despair in this life, God comes to you and desires for you to rejoice in Him today, to be comforted in Him, and to be established and renewed in faith by His Spirit. He gives us the good touch and reassurance of His presence in Jesus Christ today. He continues to descend to comfort us in His true presence through material and physical means.

In Holy baptism, He uses water with the Word to touch our skin and our soul to wash us, drowning our evil nature, and bringing our spirits from spiritual death through the cross to life in His resurrection.

He touches us on our hands and tongue when we receive Christ’s crucified and raised body and blood in the bread and the wine. This is His communion to those who come in repentance and faith. This is where He pours out His power to forgive and deliver true comfort and unity in that confession and His presence. This sacrament works forgiveness of sins, it renews our faith and the work of the Holy Spirit within us, and it comforts and strengthens these weak bodies by His victorious body. We are physically reminded that death is overcome and these bodies which received Him in bread and wine will at the last day be raised imperishable. And through Him we are gathered into this body of the church with one another, to care for, pray for, and communicate for each other as further proof that we are called into a holy and redeemed community in Christ.

That is how Christians can survive this world of loneliness: “with hope” even when apart. How they can face even death without the trembling of an unbeliever. We can grasp and hold onto something that cannot and will not pass away: the Word of God in Jesus Christ. God in Jesus Christ has come to us, and grasped us to Himself. He will hold our hand, and He will lead us through the gateway of death, unfearing, alone nevermore. To be taken to our eternal home to live forever in His presence, surrounded by His angels and saints, victorious and rejoicing because of God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

What was the difference between the pharisee and the Tax collector in today’s familiar parable? It wasn’t just their station in life; it was a matter of how they viewed themselves. Today’s parable shows the contrast between pride and humility and how God views either attitude.

The Pharisee saw nothing wrong with himself. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ I guess it was nice that he thanked God, but the reason why he thanked God was pretty messed up. Thank you that I am not like others who are sinners in various ways, and that I fast and I tithe. Is there anything wrong with tithing, that is giving 10 percent of all income back to the Lord? Of course not! In fact, it would be wonderful if everyone could or would give that much back unto the Lord in joy and gratitude. Was there anything wrong with fasting? (That is of course, going without food for a set time) No. Fasting is a way of disciplining the body and was commended in the Old and New Testaments as a good thing, in fact, so much the better if it is done as a personal sign of repentance. Was there repentance in the heart of the pharisee? No. The fasting and the tithing were signs of repentance and humility for the Pharisee, but a source of pride, a chance for him to show others how good he was. He did it for his credit, not as unto the Lord in thankfulness and mercy. He was thankful, but only in pride that he was better than others, including the tax collector. This man was not repentant, and he stood proudly before God, not even giving God credit for the good works done through him. No, he was a self made man of exceptional quality, nothing to repent of…that pride which shows itself in refusal to acknowledge sin is why he was not forgiven. His tithes, his fasts did him no spiritual good nor credit, because he did not do it in faith and humility.

Pride is dangerous. Of course, he was a sinner. His prayer even showed that. He was worshipping himself not the Lord. But he was too lost in his pride to see it. He was too convinced of his good spiritual health to see the horrible stench of spiritual death within himself.

We see the same kind of pride today. Although it is not always pride in churchly good works. We see people take pride in their sin and their shame. Yes, there are those church goers who take pride in the same way as the Pharisee who look at those who have sinned and say, “Look how good I am”, and “I don’t need to repent for I am so virtuous”. But the spirit of today actually calls sin and pride in it, “a virtue”, and the protection and promotion of those who do it is a new form of righteousness. It is terrible and destructive, but that is the nature of pride.

Are you and I immune from pride? Be honest. The answer is “no”. If you, or I, like the pharisee or the others I just mentioned try to minimize, excuse, justify, or qualify our sins of the heart, mind, and action…If we refuse to look in the mirror or attempt to cover our ears to the rebuke of God’s Law which is accurately accusing you through Scripture or the admonishment of a brother or sister in Christ, how are we any better than the Pharisee or the world in its pride?

Sin is serious business. It is actually a spiritual wound and separation from God. Pride in our sin or pride in our perceived righteousness and good works is not faith, but that which brings us under condemnation and separation from God.

What is it then that makes a man or woman justified before the Lord? Keeping the Law? Well, yes of course, if you can keep it in full. But who can? Nobody. Therefore, let us take a lesson from the tax collector in this morning’s Gospel. The only way to be justified before the Lord, is to be repentant, to be humble, to acknowledge our sin, to forsake our pride, and He will justify you in Christ. What is repentance? It is not “I am sorry I got caught,” it isn’t “I am sorry for that sin but look forward to doing it again.” It isn’t giving yourself over to your temptation and accepting it as just part of your identity.

Repentance is truly being sorry as in, “I don’t want to do this again. I was wrong, I am wrong. I do want to change. I don’t deserve mercy, but without mercy, without God’s power and strength, there is no hope for change or forgiveness for me, O Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

Jesus said: “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” That is the key. Humble yourself before the Lord in hope and repentance and He shall exalt you. He shall lift you up. That is what the tax collector did. When the tax collector went to the temple, what did do and say? Almost completely different from the Pharisee, he would not even lift his eyes to heaven but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

That prayer is our prayer, at least it needs to be. “God be merciful to me, a sinner. And for the sake of Jesus Christ by faith in Him, God is merciful. For the sake of mercy Jesus came, so that those who are led to see their sinful and spiritually dead condition may hope for forgiveness and change. Jesus was and is the perfect and righteous man, the Son of God, yet He died on the cross to take our unrighteousness upon Himself, so that we may be forgiven by faith in Him and His sacrifice.

Here’s a good question for us to ponder: Was the tax collector forgiven and then freed to go back to ripping people off and overcharging them in his vocation as tax collector? No. What does that mean for you and me?

We come here and we confess our sins, and we hear the announcement of absolution in Jesus Christ. We remember our baptisms, we hear God’s Word preached in our ears, we eat Christ’s crucified and raised body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, strengthening of faith, and preparation for life eternal, but are we thinking about the greatness of God’s mercy in that? The magnificent power that He shares with us by His Holy Spirit? Do we just go home justified only to look for ways to judge others or go back to our sin using God’s grace as an excuse to sin all the more? Heaven forbid!

St. Paul said in today’s epistle lesson: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

God saved us from death, by His grace and grants it through faith in Him. You and I are freed from the bondage of death and darkness, but not freed to go back to our sin. Here He works on our hearts and minds through His Word and Sacrament to bring repentance, but to then to also be re-created in Christ Jesus to do good works to His glory, by His power, to be as Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, were supposed to be.

This is not as difficult as it sounds. It just means live in humble joy in Christ. Jesus Christ has died on the cross for you, oh, sinner! So now live each day in His grace by faith, focus on the cross, keep remembering you have no good apart from Christ and live in constant amazement at His mercy. Eagerly come to church not because you have to, but because this is where He gives you His presence and His gifts. This is where He works on you to give you mercy and strength by the ongoing forgiveness of sins. Then you can care-fully speak to others as one forgiven, not as one who is better in their own holiness and “faith walk”, but as ones who are seeking and desiring the repentance and salvation of others so that they can share in God’s grace and salvation with us. You can and should then give offerings as you are able with joy in response to what God has given you in Jesus Christ.

Dear friends, you have been justified, forgiven for the sake of Jesus Christ! Live humbly, with pride only in the cross and God’s grace. Rejoice and live by God’s grace and faith until He brings us to rest with Him for eternal life. In Jesus Christ, Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

“Err on the side of the Gospel” is what we pastors are sometimes told. That doesn’t mean put the best construction on a person when rumors are heard or when trying to understand a person’s motivation. The phrase “To err on the side of the Gospel” is almost always said as a form of permissiveness. To give permission for wrong practice, sinful lifestyles, decisions, the casting away of Scriptural teaching, while claiming it is to be done “for the sake of the Gospel”; so that people are not turned off or turned away to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, supposedly.
Sometimes we get confused in today’s modern Christianity. A “Christianity” which seems to tend more towards excuses: almost an “anything goes” mentality. Whether we are talking morally, ethically, liturgically. We hear this: “Don’t be mean. Don’t be close minded. Don’t offend. Don’t judge.” “We are saved by grace through faith, right? Everybody sins, so why not just love people and let grace abound?”

The truth is: Grace is not permission to be sinful. A permission to indulge the flesh. It is not permission to make excuses and take the easy way out. God does not and did not redeem humanity through the precious life and death of Jesus Christ to give you, me, or anyone else permission to sin willfully, wantonly, and unashamedly.

Any pastor, any so-called teacher, who gives permission to relax the teachings/doctrines of Holy Scripture, the laws, rules, and recommendations of Scripture are to be judged. Not by me, but by the Words of Jesus Christ Himself in this morning’s Gospel: “whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Once again: Grace is not permission to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and then just expect to be given a pass by God.

However, this does mean that it is ok to add to the Law or to use it to build oneself up in pride. Do you remember the scribes and pharisees? They were the experts in the Law. The Pharisees not only tried to abide by the letter of the law in the 10 commandments, but they even added to those Laws in order to become righteous in the sight of God and their communities. “Righteous” means to be blameless in the eyes of the Law. Doing what is “right”. Jesus said: “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

How can our righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? Are we saved by the righteousness that comes from the works of the Law? The answer: yes. Yes, we are saved by the righteousness that come from the works of the Law. How is it possible to be saved by the works of the Law? We are born into original sin. Even if we try to follow the Law in every way, we all still daily sin much, not only that, but we often use “original sin” and the universality of sin as an excuse for adding to our debt, by breaking the Law of God willingly, proudly, in thought, word, and deed.

So how can you, me, or anybody else have a righteousness that exceeds the scribes and pharisees by the obedience to the Law? How are we saved by the works of the Law?

Through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one whose righteousness far surpasses the artificial and imperfect righteousness of the pharisees and scribes and ourselves. The sinless Son of God came and joined Himself to flesh and bone and loved God perfectly in our stead, He loved His neighbor perfectly, in our stead. He ministered and loved even those who seemed to be outcasts and the greatest sinners of society. Yes, He ate and drank with those who were prostitutes and tax collectors among others, but such is what they “were”: past tense. Jesus did not give them permission “to keep on sinning on”, for them to “you be you”, to “go back to that same old sin and way of life”. He did not give permission, but He did give forgiveness of sin, and a release from the bondage to temptation to pridefully sin, He took away the guilt of sin. He came to save you and me not so that we could sin boldly so that grace may abound, but that we could be freed from sin by Grace in order to be the people God originally created us to be: new and holy creations now in Jesus Christ.

In order to bring that righteousness to the unrighteous, Jesus also had to take the place of sinners in the judgement that sin deserved. A painful death, a rejection and judgement by God at Golgotha, to experience hell upon the cross. It was not the flood of Noah’s days, nor the fire and brimstone at Sodom and Gamorrah, where God’s terrifying presence and wrath upon the sin of the world was witnessed here on earth. It was here at the cross of Jesus. this has become the place of ultimate Sacrifice, Golgatha is the true mount Zion, the mountain of deliverance. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it, for you.

In the flood of Holy Baptism you have been brought into that sacrificial death, into Jesus Christ’s righteousness by the obedience of the Law. He has taken you into Himself, so that you and your sinful flesh would be crucified with Him, your sins buried in the tomb, and now you are and have been raised with Him in newness of life. You have died to sin, to be made alive by His grace, to believe in Him, and do the works of the Law in the righteousness of Christ by His Spirit even now in this life.

Do we cease from sinning here on earth? Can we become perfected in soul and mind here on earth? The heretical Nazarene church and others would say “yes”. The Bible says: No.

The progressive churches and false teachers would say to that, if you can’t be perfect, then sin all you want and do so with pride. No.

Neither is a correct reaction to God’s love, grace, nor the freeing power of Jesus Christ’s work of atonement for sin.
We cannot ourselves perfectly fulfill the demands of the Law as long as this stubborn fallen flesh clings to us. That does not mean we should give up and give ourselves permission to sin, nor does it mean that we should judge whether or not we are saved by the numbers of our good deeds or measure ourselves against others.

We should realize that we do not want to sin because it separates us from God and destroys our faith. Therefore, we should measure ourselves according to the Law in repentance, returning in hope again to the Gospel: to the cross of Jesus Christ. This is the only place where life changing, life giving, forgiving of sin is given. Returning to our baptisms, to the place where Jesus has placed His sign and seal of His Spirit upon us. We confess our sins in true contrition, being sorry, not wanting to return to sin, not excusing ourselves, not placing ourselves back in those situations where we are sure to fall again into temptation.

We are then made pure once more by the blood of Jesus. We are given the power of Christ’s forgiveness once more. We are freed to be His people. To live in humility, to be selfless, to be kind to one another, tender hearted, caring. To lift one another and encourage one another in our earthly journey and pilgrimage to the Promised land of God’s eternal heavenly glory.

God comes to us and gives us the wisdom of His Word, His sacraments, the liturgy, the teachings and doctrine through which the Holy Spirit feeds us and guides into all Truth as We live in Christ, having been anointed in God’s Triune name. To sustain us, and give us strength against temptation, He affirms His truth and His love and His bond to us by coming to us in Christ’s crucified and raised body and blood in the bread and wine. Here we are reminded that Jesus has overcome the world. He has overcome even our weakness and sin, and as we abide in Him, He will abide in us with His grace and power.

Dear friends, remember, to relax the Law and to give permission for willfully sinning is really to take away from the work of Christ. It is abusing God’s grace. It is saying “God, you are a sucker, we don’t appreciate you or Christ’s sacrifice. We don’t believe it. We only believe in ourselves.” Lord preserve us from this unbelief!
Let us, instead, stand firm in the freedom of the Law fulfilled, free to be Christian, His redeemed children. We have His righteousness which exceeds the pharisees and scribes, the righteousness of Christ Jesus who fulfilled the Law for you. We are a new creation because we have been brought into Christ and have His power. As God told us through St. Paul: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. So, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

In Jesus Christ, we will be kept in that baptismal grace for forgiveness and life, until we receive “in full” the resurrection of our bodies in Jesus Christ. Jesus, who shall come again to take us where we shall live forever with Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. This is most certainly true, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

How do we get somebody else to listen to us and what we have to say? In our culture today, it seems that people think they can only be heard if they scream, yell, and shout. Maybe they shout out a concern, then they yell insults, they scream in rage and threatening tone, or they constantly snipe and nag as they wail and screech at each other. Very few people ask honest questions, it seems, and even fewer people, it seems, are willing to listen. But it is hard to listen even as it is difficult to speak quietly because it almost seems like nobody is actually interested in conversation and listening to each other, but are only interested in being right or getting their way, and so they shout others down even if they are not threatened. Then the cycle continues and gets larger and worse as others pick up the habit, so that nobody believes that they can be heard or respected unless they are the loudest, the most visible, the most destructive. We as a nation have become like the worst of toddlers responding to one another in tantrums and violent outbursts.

When toddlers behave like that. When they start kicking things, throwing things around the house, punching walls, punching brothers, sisters, or even parents, what should be done? What do you think? Should they be given their way? Oh, ok little sunflower, I will give you what you want. Here you go. Is that the way to handle it. Well only if you want that child to think that it is good, acceptable, and profitable to be a violent shouting bully brat. What that child really needs is rebuke and punishment. “You cannot have a temper tantrum when you do not get your way.” You cannot fuss, cry, shriek, shout, threaten, and then abuse and destroy objects and property that is not your own or hurt or harm people verbally or physically just because you feel outraged until you get your way.” Such behavior of selfish rage is unacceptable. It is uncivil. It is certainly unchristian. It is and will be harmful to everyone, a recipe for raising violent, unhappy, and selfish people whose behavior will only worsen over time. Unchecked, our human selfish nature, which is so clearly exhibited by childish tantrums, will only grow worse, more evil and hurtful with age if the evil within us, begins to see that it gets rewarded and gets it way for misbehavior rather than begin restrained by receiving the punishment it deserves.

What are we to do? Theodore Roosevelt once said that the best foreign policy was “to speak softly but carry a big stick”. The big stick meant to be ready in case of war. To speak softly meant to be sincere and truthful, to seek justice, never bluff, but always show respect and be willing to allow the other person (or nation) to save face in defeat.

What does that mean for a Christian? Well, as good Lutheran Christians, we should examine ourselves. The stick that accompanies us, should not be our own power and might nd pride, but it is to be the power of God’s Word and His Spirit. Have we used God’s Word and are interested in Truth or only our own way and building ourselves up? Ask yourself: “Have I been guilty of abusing others, by talking over them, shouting them down, disrespecting and insulting them, or just not listening to them?” Have we been sincere and truthful, showing respect to others, and allowing them to save face if and when we need to rebuke someone in error using God’s Word in humility and love?

Or do we think that we have been a victim of unjust actions? At that time, you have two proper options, go to that person and express your concern in the most sincere way without anger or vengeance in your heart, without wanting to make someone feel bad but rather to enact forgiveness, or you can let it go and forgive, and hope that if there is a next time, you can think of a way to disarm that person in a spirit of respect even as you attempt to rebuke the manner of the other person.

If we are honest with ourselves, we see that we have failed in treating others the way we would wish to be treated. We have also gotten caught up in the evil and selfish spirit of our flesh and the world and the cycle of cruelty. This is a spiritual ill, a sin that has flooded the world and can only be checked and changed by another voice: A still small voice. The voice of God Himself.

God, of course, can speak in howling wind, rumbling earthquake, or blazing fire, and honestly because of our sin, we deserve to receive the deafening and deadening roar of God’s voice of condemnation and the heat of the flames of true justice. In many ways He does use events in our lives and around us whether it be a pandemic, uncertain financial markets, roving bands of protestors and rioters, gangs, or even scorching heat and drought or flood, or whatever discomfort it may be. God can and will use these conditions of our sinful world to turn us back to Him and to where He speaks most clearly and profoundly to us: in the still, peaceful, and comforting voice of the Word of Law and Gospel. The key to understanding God’s voice and His word is expressed in this passage from Hebrews: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but now in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

In our Gospel text Jesus spoke to Simon Peter in simple terms through simple words, to go out to sea, to drop his nets into the water, and in this simple command came the effect of God’s powerful Word, a great catch! Then Simon Peter reacted in the same way that Elijah did in our Old Testament lesson, he realized that God had revealed Himself, and was present with him in a supernatural way. He didn’t act disrespectful or casual or that it was no big deal or like “yeah, why wouldn’t God hang out with me?” Instead he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Simon knowing his sin, knew his unworthiness for the Lord to come to him, yet Jesus did and what was Jesus’ message: “Don’t be afraid.” This is the message that we need to hear when we realize the enormity of our sin, when we understand how we cannot put all our hopes in this life, in the governments of this world, the medical community, or anything or anyone else. We need to tune out those loud and screaming voices and the selfish voice within our own soul which crying out in pride. Instead, we need to return to the place of the crucifixion, to hear the voice in the midst of the shouts and insults of the cruel mockers speak in relative whisper, “Father forgive them” and “It is finished”. The cross of Jesus Christ does not even need to speak in order to convey the words of God’s Law and His Gospel for you and me. It is God’s justice and wrath that Jesus had to die for our sins, but we see and hear His love and mercy all wrapped up into one moment in history.

These words and this message may seem to be foolishness and stumbling blocks to unbelievers, but it is the message of salvation: of your salvation. This cross is God showing His love for humanity in His own humanity taking our sin away.

This is the stick from which we are able to speak softly to others. We speak Christ crucified to them, even as you and I were spoken to in God’s still small voice through Jesus Christ. For the Lord still speaks, not always in great oratory and speeches, but by His Holy Scriptures, through the pastors and teachers called to proclaim Him publicly. He speaks through the simple Words of Holy Baptism where He declares people to be His own and washes them in the blood of that cross of Jesus bringing them into the hope and promise of eternal life by faith in Him.

He speaks through the simple words of absolution in answer to our confession of unworthiness and for the sake of Christ, He proclaims that we are forgiven and renewed again.

He speaks life and comfort in the words of Institution and in the words, “Take eat, and take drink”. In this sacrament we are visited by God’s supernatural presence and it should be taken seriously, yet, in faith, fear Him not. He desires that you take this in faith in His own words for your benefit and good: for the forgiveness of sins. Doubt not. Do not believe those who teach otherwise.

And the Lord continues to speak through you who have now heard His Word and have been gathered to Him by faith. Now you through your words, your actions, and your vocations can speak to a world that no longer understands the simple dignity and respect that all men and women deserve who are born and yet unborn. You do not have to shout others down, nor do you have to fear if unbelievers try to shout you down. Speak softly and purely God’s Word. You have the hope and joy of forgiveness and God’s love for you in Jesus Christ. And you know what? He knows your voice. He hears you in your thoughts, your songs, your actions, your prayers, sorrows, and joys, and He is leading you onward, heavenward, giving you all that you need not only for your body, but your soul. Faith to be gathered to Him here, to listen to and know His voice, to follow His cross even unto eternal life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas

Today’s Gospel lesson contains a line that is one of the most misquoted, wrongly understood, and wrongly applied lines of Scripture. I know that sounds like a bit of an overstatement, but it’s not. The words and meaning of this text is butchered, time and time again. These words in particular from verse 37: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned.” These words are part of a much larger context; a lengthy discourse known as “the Sermon on the Plain.”

The 6 verses for today’s Gospel lesson are just a small portion of that great sermon. The danger of course, is that when you pluck a few words or a few phrases out of context, things go badly quickly. This is often the case with these particular words of Christ. In fact, we can get so tunnel-visioned in our reading/hearing of Scripture, that even in the case of these six verses, we only really tend to focus on the two words, “Judge not.” The whole world it seems and even we can quote those two words perfectly, especially when we’re feeling accused, challenged, oppressed, or demonized for our personal choices and behaviors. Everything else in the text remains a blur. It’s like the rest of the words aren’t even there. “Judge not.” That’s all our flesh wants to know. When we want to defend ourselves, that’s all we need to know. And during our self-defense, that’s all everyone else needs to know.

I know this may or may not surprise you, but those words don’t mean what everyone seems to think they do. Those words do not mean that Christians are prohibited from distinguishing /judging between what is good and what is evil; between goodness and sinfulness. So often today people say “You can’t judge me! You can’t tell me that my behavior is bad. How dare you! Judge not, lest ye be judged!” (It is amazing how EVERYONE can quote Scripture when it suits them, right?)

This is NOT the meaning of this text. It is neither a justification for sin, nor is it condemning a loving admonishing against sin. The Lord is preaching against a critical, unloving, unmerciful, puffing yourself up kind of attitude. An attitude that despises others, saying “I am holier than you. I am better than you. I am above you.” “I have no sin worthy of being judged.” That’s not an attitude of gracious forgiveness and mercy. That is not an attitude of concern and love. That’s an attitude of condemnation and self-righteousness. It is a pietistic, Pharisaical attitude that only seeks to condemn and lord over others. 

Jesus says these famous words as a warning against a self-righteous attitude that would write people off and condemn them wholesale: “For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
“Be merciful, just as as your Father is merciful.” How often we forget that. How often we don’t even hear that part…even though they’re the FIRST words of the text! Yet that’s the whole key to understanding and making sense of this text! Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. What does that mean except we are in need of mercy? All are in need of mercy, believers and non-believers alike. Sinners all have logs in their eyes. Blinded by our sin, our pride, our desire to justify ourselves in our sin or in our perceived “holiness”, we cannot lead anyone anywhere except into a pit and together be judged to eternal hell because of that condemning sin.

So, remove that log in your eye. But how? By admitting it. Measuring by God’s Law our own lack of worthiness and disobedience and allowing the Spirit to move us into “seeing” that by thought, word, and deed we have sinned against God and our neighbor, we repent to God. We actually are sorry that we sinned. We plead for mercy from the Father for the sake of the Son, Jesus Christ.

Mercy is what we need because our own sin has caused us to be separated from God. We need to be reconciled to Him. This is different than any reconciliation here on earth because there is no fault on God’s side. He has no sins to confess. The confessing is all one way, yet, God for the love of His fallen creation sent the Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth and take upon Himself our sin, dying on the cross in the place of sinners. All so that there can be hope. Hope for reconciliation for sinners to be given mercy and forgiveness because Jesus stands in the gap that our sins have made. For the sake of Jesus those who confess their sins and hope in Jesus by faith are declared absolved of their sins, forgiven for His sake. We are justified by His gracious act of salvation and the righteousness of Christ is imputed, that is, put upon us and our account as believers.

But those who show no mercy and those who justify their sin have declared that they don’t need mercy and so they receive no mercy because of their self-righteousness. This is sad and grieves us and all believers. That is why when those who have been locked in their sins or those who have always been self-righteous in their sin against us, come into our lives it is actually an opportunity to show them mercy. We try to love them and point them to Jesus Christ. We do not bear a grudge against them, but we pray for them, and show kindness to them. We desire that they be reconciled to God through Jesus and through Him and His love, they can also then become reconciled to us and then forgiveness can abound. Let us also seek this kind of reconciliation in all that we do, as we do it unto the Lord who has been so merciful and continues to be so merciful to each one of us.

St. Paul writes in Romans 12: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Joseph in our Old Testament lesson pointed to this Christlike love for his brothers; brothers who had sold him into slavery as an alternative to the original idea of killing him. Yet God upheld Joseph for the sake of the Israelites and for the sake of the repentance and reconciliation of those same brothers. Reconciliation not only to Joseph but also to God. Joseph did not repay their evil with evil but did what was honorable, charitable, and merciful. His own brothers who had declared him an enemy came to him hungry when he had the power of Egypt behind him, yet he fed them. He was not overcome by evil, but by God’s grace, evil was overcome by good. In this way, the brothers were finally brought to the point of confessing their sin, clearing their conscience, and were redeemed and forgiven by Joseph and by the Lord.

This steadfastness in love in mercy is not something that is natural to us. It is foreign to our flesh and the ability to do so comes only from the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God, He takes us who were His enemies and heaps the coals of God’s fiery Law and Gospel to cleanse us, and then puts out the flame which would destroy us by the waters of Holy Baptism, not only as we were once baptized but as we return to its power every time that we repent, confess, and are absolved in Jesus Christ. In Christ, then we are no longer enemies of God. We no longer try to defend our sin, nor put our trust in our own self-righteousness, but lean upon Christ and pray for His strength to be His worthy loving children because we have been freed to do so and we are glad to live under His grace and mercy.

Then as we struggle and strain under the weight of our flesh, the taunts of the world, and Satan which hates what is good, let us remember that the Lord invites us to return and live by His strength, quenching our spiritual thirst with His Word calming our hearts and minds by His wisdom. He feeds us Christ’s body and blood in the bread and wine and reconciles us once again to Himself and unites us with our brothers and sisters here in this place with whom we live in constant reconciliation. If we fail each other, He gives us the humility and love to confess and reconcile once more. Each day we are able learn in our lives and in His sacraments how great His mercy is for you and me in Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Savior, Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas