By Pastor Beisel, on May 30th, 2008%
In the parable today about the Great Supper, Jesus says that the invited guests all began to make excuses when they were called. One had just bought some land and had to go see it. Another had just been married, and did not want his post-wedding activities to be interrupted, and another had just bought some cattle and had to inspect them. Everything else was more pressing, more urgent than the invitation to the Great Supper.
You really can’t blame the master of the house for being angry. This Great Supper likely had cost him a fortune. It undoubtedly took him a long time to prepare it, and to get everything ready. I doubt that there are too many of us who would not take at least a little offense if such a thing happened to us. One can only imagine the disappointment that the host of this Great Supper felt when all the invited guests failed to show up.
Continue reading Sermon for Trinity 2 – Luke 14:15-24
By pastorjuhl, on May 29th, 2008%
There’s lots of Luther in my sermon this weekend. He says it better than I could.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit
Every weekend our heavenly Father throws a great supper. We call it “church” or “Divine Service”. It is a great banquet which our heavenly Father and Master of the House has prepared, not just for one, or two, or three, but for the whole world. And were the whole world twice or many times as big, everyone could be nourished and satisfied, that is, be redeemed from sin, death, and the devil, and be saved. All that is necessary is to believe the Gospel and eat of this food (BML).
You would think no one would want to miss such an opulent feast. All a person needs to do is come, for all things are now ready. Seemingly everyone has an excuse. We pastors hear some lousy excuses why people don’t want to come to church. But the excuses in our Lord’s parable take the cake. Whoever heard of buying ground sight unseen? Sure, it’s been done. But it’s a lousy thing to do. People would think the man a laughingstock buying ground sight unseen then waiting until an invitation to a great supper comes to examine the land. Continue reading Trinity 2 – Luke 14:15-24
By pastorjuhl, on May 28th, 2008%
Blessed Martin Luther’s First Church Postil for Trinity 2 spends a bit of time unpacking the infinitives “compelle intrare”. He translates the words to mean “constrain (them) to enter”. The New King James Version translates the words to mean “compel (them) to enter”. There is more than one way to compel. Luther explains the Gospel way to compel over against the Law way to compel:
When the Law is preached and sin is unfolded or made manifest, that man comes to a knowledge of himself, so that compelling and constraining them to come in means, to force anew the sins into the conscience, that thereby man may acknowledge, that he is nothing, that all his works are sinful and damnable, and thus quickly receives a despairing conscience and a bashful and terrified heart, in which every refuge and help are taken from him and everywhere he is unable to find any comfort in them, and finally despairs of all help in himself.
When this now takes place, it is called “constraining,” for you should not delay his “coming in,” but help him out of his state of despair. But this takes place, when you comfort him with the Gospel and tell him how he may be delivered from his sin, and say to him: Believe in Christ, that he has freed you from sin, then your sins are forgiven you. That is what “constrain them to come in” (compelle intrare) means; and it does not mean outward compelling as they explain it, so that they drive rogues and wicked persons, as it were with police force, to this supper; for that accomplishes nothing, and it is not the sense of the Gospel. Therefore do the constraining energetically in the conscience only, and let it be an inner and spiritual constraining. (Vol. 2, Part 2, p. 37-38)
The way of the Law is to force or coerce someone to come to the Great Supper. The way of the Gospel is to proclaim first God’s Law, showing someone their sins, then proclaiming God’s Gospel, showing them their Savior and where their Savior is found (preaching and the Sacraments).
By pastorjuhl, on May 27th, 2008%
Just as a hen or anything else is not kept on the spit and roasted in order to remain there permanently, but upon being roasted is removed from the spit and placed on the table for people to eat and be nourished, have their hunger satisfied and become stronger, so Christ, having suffered with terrible pain on the cross, was afterwards removed from the spit of the cross, laid in the tomb, risen from the dead, and so on, in order that the whole world might have this food. For Christ was the world’s genuine Bread of Life, for Jews and Gentiles alike.
So now this heavenly food, so carefully prepared and subjected to the intense fire of the cross, is served up and offered to the whole world. Wherever Christians are gathered, there you find the table. The preaching of the gospel is the dish. The servers are the pastors. Christ is the food. Through the pastor’s mouth the food is laid on the table and served; for when the gospel is preached, this food is served up and offered. It is embraced solely in the Word and is heard by both young and old, learned and unlearned, rich and poor, and the like. Each person receives just as much as anyone else in the world if only he believes, for it is a food that fills and satisfies; yes, it is possible for the whole world to have their hunger sated by this food. All believers partake of Christ, and each receives him wholly, despite which Christ remains whole, something that does not occur when earthly food, whether a hen or capon.
This food is offered in the following way: the gospel is proclaimed, telling how Christ suffered, was crucified, and died for our sins. Everyone in the world is urged to come and not to stay away, to eat of this food, gladly hear the gospel of Christ, and believe what the gospel proclaims. For to the serving up belong three things: first, the dish, which is the Word of God; second, the waiter, that is the pastor’s mouth; and third, to believe it with all one’s heart. When these three things come together, man’s heart and soul begin to eat, saying, Here is a deliciously prepared hen or chicken; here Christ is proclaimed; I see and hear what this food is, the “roasted” Christ; I am to eat of this; hence, I must believe what is proclaimed and taught in the gospel. Whoever believes this with all his heart eats of this Christ.
—House Postils, Vol. 2, p. 243-244
By ToddPeperkorn, on May 27th, 2008%
In the Gospel, we are invited to a Supper; or rather, we are compelled, attracted and drawn by the merciful invitation of Our God to enter. But those who would not come make excuses. Yet let us not be too harsh with them, for they simply show us our true inner self—what little we think of this Supper even as we receive it. Nevertheless, we are invited and urged to taste Our Lord in His goodness. So let us feast on that which truly feeds and nourishes and strengthens our soul.
Which is better for you—things that excite and delight your body, or the Holy Things of God which delight your soul? The physical pleasures soon fade and need to be redone. But the Holy Things are repeated only so that our faith and hope in God is increased, and so we do not lose sight of our heavenly home. Be careful, then, not to be like those in today’s Gospel who, in pursuit for earthly treasures, make light of the Eucharistic Banquet around the Throne of God. For what you receive in the Holy Mass endures through this life into the life of the world to come.
Heavenly food, so carefully prepared and subjected to the intense fire of the cross, is served up and offered to the whole worlds. Wherever Christians are gathered, there you will find the table. The preaching of the gospel is the dish. The servers are the pastors. Christ is the food. Through the pastor’s mouth the food is laid on the table and served. For when the gospel is preached, this food is served up and offered. It is embraced solely in the Word and is heard by young and old, learned and unlearned, rich and poor. Each believer receives just as much as anyone else, for it is a food that fills and satisfies. (Blessed Martin Luther)
The Creator of the universe and the Father of glory made a great supper, a festival for the whole world, in honor of Christ. In the last times of the world and at our world’s setting (so to speak), the Son arose for us. At that time, He suffered death for our sakes and gave us to eat His flesh, the bread of heaven that gives life to the world. So with good reason, the invitation that is by Christ is called a supper. And what is that invitation? “Come, for behold, all things are ready.” For God the Father has prepared in Christ gifts for the inhabitants of the earth. Through Christ, He bestows the forgiveness of sins, cleansing away of all defilement, communion of the Holy Spirit, glorious adoption as children, and the kingdom of heaven. (St. Cyril of Alexandria)
Christ is being offered up, and the Supper is now ready—the Supper of the Lord which is commended to us, as the Apostles say, “Come to the supper!” Therefore, let us put aside all idle wicked excuses, and come to the Supper in which our souls are fed. Let no swelling of pride keep us back. And let nothing frighten us, or turn us away from God. Let not the delights of the senses keep us from the delights of the soul. Let us come, and let us feast. And especially, let the poor come. For He who invites us, though rich, became poor for our sakes that by His poverty we might be made rich. And let the feeble come, for not they that are healthy but they that are sick are in need of this Physician of the soul. (St Augustine)
In today’s Gospel, we hear that Our Lord gives a great dinner. He calls many, but few come, because sometimes those who are subject to Him by their faith impugn His meal by their evil lives. The time for the dinner is the end of the world. It is the period in which we now live, as St Paul long ago bore witness, when he spoke of us upon whom the end of the ages has come. So it is now the time for the dinner, and we are being called. As we see that the end of the age has come near, we have all the less reason to excuse ourselves from God’s meal. As we reflect that there is no time remaining, we must dread to lose the time of grace at hand. Because God’s eternal meal will be made ready for us at the very end, it is appropriate to call this not a lunch but a dinner. (St Gregory)
By pastorjuhl, on May 27th, 2008%
I found a study on Luke 16:19-31 prepared by Dr. Kenneth Bailey. Dr. Bailey earned the Th.D. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO in 1972. Concordia Publishing House has published one or two of Dr. Bailey’s works.
By pastorjuhl, on May 26th, 2008%
Epistle of Barnabas
And all the more attend to this, my brethren, when you reflect and behold, that after so great signs and wonders were wrought in Israel, they were thus abandoned. Let us beware lest we be found, as it is written, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Ante Nicene Fathers Vol. 1, p. 139)
Shepherd of Hermas
“They shall enter in,” he said, “if they put away the works of these women, and put on again the strength of the virgins, and walk in their works. For on this account was there a cessation in the building, in order that, if these repent, they may depart into the building of the tower. But if they do not repent, then others will come in their place, and these at the end will be cast out.” (ANF Vol. 2, p. 48)
Fred Lindemann, “The Sermon and the Propers”
All that the Church gives us, the fullness of salvation, the Means of Grace, the holy Sacraments, the whole kingdom of God, is a great banquet. The chief teaching of the day is the response we are to give to the love of God. (Vol. 3, p. 54)
Pius Parsch, “The Church’s Year of Grace”
“We should remember in a spirit of sincerest gratitude that we belong to the third group (those in the highways and hedges). We have been called from paganism to the banquet table of the Church; we are most fortunate to be sharers in the many means of sanctification. Regard yourself a guest of God; never consider it “a matter of course” that you have been baptized a Christian. (Vol. 4, p. 31)
The parable’s message becomes actuality in the Mass. We are in church, our heavenly Father’s home, His banquet hall. Here we truly are guests of God. A table is set for us; Christ Himself is our Host, and the victuals are His own Body sacrificed in death. See, the whole work of redemption is synthesized at the altar table of sacrifice! (Vol. 4, p. 32)
Both Parsch and Lindemann write about 3 groups of invited guests
Citizens = Jews, especially prominent Jews. They reject a Savior who is poor and offers only spiritual gifts.
Poor, Maimed, Lame, Blind = insignificant and poor Jews
Highways and Hedges = Gentiles
Luther’s House Postil focuses on the Father’s mercy in preparing the great banquet for we poor beggars to eat and drink His Son, Jesus Christ. Luther also focuses on the Father’s lament over those who search for other food, spurning His great banquet and having no desire to partake of the Gospel.
Blessed Martin Luther: House Postil
It is a great banquet which our heavenly Father and Master of the House has prepared, not just for one, or two, or three, but for the whole world. And were the whole world twice or many times as big, everyone could be nourished and sated, that is, be redeemed from sin, death, and the devil, and be saved; all that is necessary is to believe the gospel and eat of this food. That is how wonderful a banquet it is. (Vol. 2, p. 246)
St. John Chrysostom: Homily 69 in Matthew (Quoted by Gueranger in “The Liturgical Year”)
Before His crucifixion, Christ calls the Jews; He does the same after it, He goes on inviting them. Instead of crushing them with a terrible chastisement, as it seemed most just He should do, He invites them to a marriage; He loads them with honors. But they that have slain His prophets and murdered even Him – these same, invited so pressingly by such a Spouse, urged so lovingly to go to the wedding, and that by the very Victim of their own making – these same, I say, pay no regard to the invitation, and give as an excuse their yokes of oxen, and their wives, and their estates. (Vol. 10, p. 335-336)
Read Chrysostom’s Homily 69 in Matthew here.
Hymn Suggestions
Ralph Gehrke (“Planning the Service”) suggests The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) 494, “Awake, Thou Spirit, Who Didst Fire” for the Chief Hymn. Lutheran Service Book (LSB) does not have that hymn, so the hymn suggestion guide suggests either 510, “A Multitude Comes from the East and the West” or 622, “Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared” for the Chief Hymn. Another suggestion is TLH 276/LSB 684, “Come Unto Me, Ye Weary”.
Here is what I have selected from LSB: 680, “Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise”; 622, “Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared”; 684, “Come Unto Me, Ye Weary”; 523, “O Word of God, Incarnate”; 782, “Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings”.
By ToddPeperkorn, on May 25th, 2008%
Friends,
This is, in my humble opinion, a great site with a lot of potential. As we move from months into years, it is my hope that the resources can continue to build, so that this becomes a home for some of the very best preaching and insights on the historic lectionary of the Western Church.
But we need your help.
I would like to invite you to consider contributing. It can be exegetical work, citations from the fathers, liturgical observations, or sermons. I would especially like to see ongoing observations about the hymnody of the Church in connection with the lectionary.
If you would like to contribute to this site, please do the following:
1. Sign up with a userid.
2. Contact me (toddpeperkorn at mac dot com) and request to be added to the contributor list.
I will then set you up and you can start to figure it out!
Thank you for your consideration, and God bless your preaching.
P
By pastorjuhl, on May 22nd, 2008%
Also the Baptism of Samuel John Busse
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit
The rich man wore rich clothing and ate rich food every day. Lazarus begged for crumbs at the rich man’s gate and suffered the embarrassment of dogs licking his sores every day. When both men die, Lazarus is in Abraham’s bosom every day for eternity and the rich man suffers the torments of hell every day for eternity. Continue reading Trinity 1 – Luke 16:19-31
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Free preaching resource: Valerius Herberger, Magnalia Dei
With perhaps one exception, Valerius Herberger is my favorite preacher of the 16th century. And now you can see why. Volume one of the Magnalia Dei (“The Wonderful Works of God”) is available online. This volume is a Christ-centered homiletical commentary on Genesis–perfect for providing ideas for a midweek series or any other time the historic lectionary includes a reference to Genesis. Every title of every sermon here begins with the word “Jesus.” Warning: It’s written in German.