The Third Sunday after Trinity - Luke 15:1-10.
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
The Third Sunday after Trinity, 2022
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
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The Hymn #575 Before the Lord We Bow - Francis Scott Key
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me:
for I am desolate and afflicted.
Look upon mine affliction and my pain:
and forgive all my sins.
Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul:
O my God, I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed.
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy that, Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
Cast thy burden upon the Lord:
and He shall sustain thee.
V. I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me:
He hath delivered my soul in peace.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. I will love Thee, O Lord my Strength:
the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Jesus Christ Does Not Shun
The Communion Hymn #310 Thy Table I Approach - Loy Translation
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #49 Almighty God Thy Word Is Cast
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #49 Almighty God Thy Word Is Cast
In Our Prayers
- Medical treatment - Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Kermit and Maria Way, Callie and Peggy, C., a pastor with diabetes and eye trouble.
- The video trials were not completed this week due to lack of energy.
- The Fourth of July is a major holiday for all patriots. God bless our native land.
KJV 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Third Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray, having suffered ourselves to be led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh: We beseech Thee graciously to forgive us all our sins for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; and quicken our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may abide in Thy word, and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in Thy Church unto the end, and obtain eternal salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end Amen.
Jesus Christ Does Not Shun
KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Introduction
This parable begins with shunning, because the works-saints do
not like Jesus welcoming sinners and even sitting down for a meal with them. They are offended because they always obey the Law of Moses, so they think, and they are far above the common people, especially the riff-raff, the tax collectors and open sinners. Everyone knew this, so it offended the haughty ones that a Teacher, a Rabbi fellowshiped with these people.
As Luther observed, the Scribes and Pharisees were outwardly righteous and followed the Law better than anyone, so people were impressed by them. This gave them the right to look down on the hated tax collectors and the open sinners.
The era of Pietism gave fresh energy to the righteousness of the Law. There were reasons because the state churches became rationalistic and against the traditional Biblical views. The Pietists sometimes became extremists, who made up their own rules. CFW Walther and his brother belonged to two such associations, the second one being Pastor (later Bishop) Martin Stephan. No wonder the LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC shun anyone who questions their Waltherian Objective Justification. They even expel those who teach Justification by Faith and call them "false teachers."
We are living in the New Pietism, which is a set of ever-changing laws on Wokeness. People have pointed and sneered at others for not wearing a useless mask. One woman loudly warned me about standing less than six feet from her, pointing to my proper place. But the next window made us a few feet away violating her rule.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
This parable is impossible to refute in its basic language. We have a natural love for our animals and want them healthy and safe. We often see videos of people taking risks to save a cat or dog. I searched and searched for our Sheltie, only to find her sound asleep on a pile of plastic. With Sassie I could tell to her find a lost buddy and she would follow the scent and end the caper just by being there (the truant looking deflated). The two little dogs had been mistreated, so they tended to wander, hide, and even jump back into the car for safety.
So the first sentence of the parable immediately makes us sympathetic about the lost sheep and identifying with the owner. People think, "Yes, I would do that, thinking about the sheep's fears and weaknesses."
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Finding the lost animal means rejoicing and carrying it home, just as the Savior rejoices and carries us in our weakened state.
In the past, many clergy have sought to emphasize the Law to make the Gospel more appealing, but they have short-changed the emphasis on God's grace for the repentant.
In many places in the Gospels alone (not to mention a thousand other places in the Bible), we can say "What would we do without this passage? This puts the right emphasis on forgiveness and God's attitude."
God rejoices in seeking us out, finding us, and taking us back into His fold. I think of the weight of a grown sheep - we are not informed how much this one weighs. However, that reminds us that it is no burden for God.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
God's Word is always ringing out to proclaim forgiveness through faith in Christ. It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit through the Word condemns us for not "believing on Me" in the words of Jesus. That is the foundational sin because not believing on Jesus means no grace. There all kinds of ways of wiggling around this and taking short-cut to the righteousness of the Law.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Jesus' ironic humor is so clear, and it is aimed at the works-saints and works-salesmen who want to make Moses their Savior and Jesus their Law-giver. They are twisted and wrong. Heaven rejoices more over one sinner repenting than 99 who are already perfect and need no repentance at all.
This also reminds us to look at the repentant with happiness rather than pounding the Law to increase the repentance. The word does not mean "change your ways," a falsehood sold by many a preacher with no Greek and little Gospel. It means sorrow for sins, which moves us to trust in forgiveness through faith in Jesus the Savior.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
I get teased often about forgetting and losing things. Often the loss is crucial for the moment, and panic follows, time is short.
This lost piece of silver is a large sum of money. Go back in time when a new Ford Model T car cost $800. The value of silver was high because its inherent value never goes down.
"Why are you wearing your reading glasses outdoors? Answer - "So I know where they are."
The first sentence leads everyone to think about lost, valuable objects and the need to find them. This is very good for those who take God's grace, love, and mercy for granted.
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
This makes me think of mothers who have grieved over their sons. Rather than be angry, they pray for resolution, whatever is needed. And when that happens, they rejoice and enjoy that wonderful rush that comes with repentance and forgiveness.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
There is a huge back-up team on our side - not only the Holy Trinity but also the angels who watch over us in heaven and also help us on earth. If we reflect on our lives, we can all count many examples of miraculous intervention, not only for us but also for loved ones. That is why I always write a prayer for those who are in need. Each night, I pray out loud for every member of our congregation.
Christina jumped on my bike at Augustana and rode down a steep driveway into heavy traffic. She did not know about hand brakes. I kept shouting, and at the last minute, she found them.
Divine intervention? I think so. I have a long list, but nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.
The miraculous is all around us, from the Means of Grace to our reception at the heavenly Gates, wearing the robes of righteousness, the righteousness of faith in the Son of God, Savior, our Good Shepherd.
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