The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2023
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me: O Thou, my God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee.
Be merciful to me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily.
Psalm. Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O Lord, we beseech Thee, let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without Thy help, preserve it evermore by Thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
Gradual
It is better to trust in the Lord:
than to put confidence in man.
V. It is better to trust in the Lord:
than to put confidence in princes.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 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
God or Greed
The Communion Hymn #467 Built on the Rock - Grundvig
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 #54 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
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 #54 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Announcements and Prayers
- Randy Anderson, Sarah Buck, Lori Howell, Kermit Way, Callie.
- Zach is back.
People ask about our Holy Communion.
Roman Catholics put an emphasis on the ordained priest. The presence of the priest validates the communion service. The forgiveness is partial; the elements become only the body and blood of Christ. The priest and his ordination make it effective.
Calvinists reject Baptism and Communion as sacraments. The elements remain bread and wine and do not convey forgiveness. Calvin mocked the Real Presence.
Lutheran Biblical teaching shows what 1 Corinthians 10:16 reveals. The Body of Christ is with the bread through the Consecrating Word; the Blood is with the wine through the consecrating Word. The Word is always effective.
Distance does not attenuate or weaken the power of the Word, which is always divine. When Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish through His Word, the 5,000 families were stretched across the grassy oasis. Nevertheless, these miracles showed Jesus could create this miracle for the entire crowd. If the liturgy, hymns, creed, readings, and sermon are effective, then how could the Words of Consecration be ineffective? Those who agree with the Augsburg Confession are one with us and are welcome to join the distribution - after God's Word has consecrated the elements for those who hear and believe.
KJV Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
KJV Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee for all Thy benefits: that Thou hast given us life and graciously sustained us unto this day: We beseech Thee, take not Thy blessing from us; preserve us from covetousness, that we may serve Thee only, love and abide in Thee, and not defile ourselves by idolatrous love of mammon, but hope and trust only in Thy grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
God or Greed
KJV Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
This passage from the Sermon on the Mount concerns mammon. It is not about money and not about riches. The best and clearest example is the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazareth, where the rich man exemplifies mammon (Luke 16). Several clues make the matter clear. He dined lavishly each day; we can assume that included his friends and those he wanted to impress. He was clothed in fine linen and purple. Today we can find many broadcasts where the concept of mammon is exemplified.
We have a lot of information about the Roman Empire at that time. Its wealth was based upon slavery, demonstrating all the extremes of wasting money to impress the others. The Republic lasted only 200 years and tyrants ruled during the Empire, their claims of power based upon family names.
Jesus' public ministry took place during those times. Israel was controlled by Rome, and Jewish leaders obeyed Rome rather than the Scriptures. The excuse for arresting Jesus was His power and popularity. Their folly led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the rapid spread of the Gospel by land and sea.
The greatness of early Christianity was not warfare or persecution but faith in Jesus Christ and the spread of the New Testament.
The question about God or mammon is not one of power but the proper use of power. Almost every day I hear people longing for mammon to solve their problems and soothe their nerves. The lotteries are the perfect example of mammon, because - even in their minds - mammon will solve all their woes and increase their friendships. People live by "if only I could..." Luther said that about Baby Jesus. He quoted people saying, "If only I could hold the Holy Child in my arms!" He said, "Why not hold your neighbor's baby and change his diapers? Jesus is your neighbor's baby."
Lazarus is the parable's example. He received no food or clothing, the stray dogs licking his wounds. He was lower than a dog, getting his only comfort from them. His faith was honored in that story while the anonymous rich man suffered eternal agonies.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Jesus teaches clearly that anxiety about the basics of life is sin, because God will always provide. Christianity in America is a prime example. When the pastors and leaders had faith, they built churches to hold the services and classes. Now there is no faith in Jesus Christ - only a burning lust to have impressive numbers. But lo, how the leaders reward themselves with enormous salaries and benefits. And they lord it over the others, promoting their relatives to cushy positions.
The LCMS-ELS-WELS have one thing in common. Now that Marvin Schwan's ice cream trucks are Yelloh! - the millions of dollars in grants seem rather weak. The seminary dorms and chapel are gilded but mostly empty. In a touch of irony - reminding us of the Reformation and Rome having people pay for sins, the synod leaders absolved Marvin Schwan of his sin because of the money he gave to honor his name and keep them happy.
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| Veterans Honor is the ultimate red rose. |
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
It is only fitting that Jesus, the Lord of Creation, has given us birds and flowers as examples to cure our anxieties! I took a vase of roses to the IV clinic, where various potions are dripped into one's body to prevent major infections and other maladies. The nurses got all excited about the splash of color at the desk - Enchanted Peace, Veterans Honor, Picote Crepe Myrtle, Alium, etc.
- Where did you get them? Your garden?
- You have a book about them?
- I want to start roses some day!
A lot of thoughts, essays, and books are based upon almost total ignorance of Creation. Nothing teaches better and faster than sitting or kneeling or standing on the soil and working a garden. Layers of soil and roots show up. Earthworms wonder who turned on all the lights as they dive back into their cool, dark soil.
Jesus Christ taught in clear, simple ways, and also gave us countless examples of Creation providing for us - food, restoration of the land, beauty, peace, fragrances, and the interplay of so many aspects of His work.
Luther called the birds professors, because they teach us by getting up for Matins and singing their hearts out, even though they have to look for food on an empty stomach and feed their noisy, famished young'uns. When the robins did not like their front door security light (warm but not hot) they moved to the backdoor one.
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
People can read this as harsh criticism or gentle irony. I think of it as irony because we all experience this anxiety. Doubtless we are far more secure than most generations, but the changes are demanding and instant. A trucking firm locally dissolved their company of 30,000 truckers all at once. A message was sent to me by R2 D2, "We are consolidating classes," which told me nothing. However, everything remained the same.
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness [the righteousness of faith in Him]; and all these things shall be added unto you.
History has shown that the Christian Faith is content with living frugally and working hard. There is no easier way to make plenty of money than by spending only when necessary. Work can be difficult and unrewarding but the same work over time can move mountains. Faith in Jesus Christ means that He will provide far more than we can imagine and in many ways we cannot foresee.
The Spirit is often used as a parallel with the Church, because the Gospel is conveyed to us through the visible and invisible Word. If people would only follow John 16, they would realize that the primary work of the Spirit is to condemn the world of sin, "because they do not believe on Me."
It is easy to spend a lot of effort on carnal sin, but Jesus Himself emphasized faith in Him. That is the source of grace (Romans 5). Secondly, faith in Jesus Christ means we have a friend, guide, and Good Shepherd who smites the wolves and nurtures the sheep and lambs.
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| Enchanted Peace is six or seven feet tall, encouraged by hard-working earthworms. |
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