Archive for 2011

Advent 4: Christ the Sacrifice

Posted on December 19th, 2011

Gospel: John 1.19-28. This is the last in a four-part Advent series on the Sunday gospels: Christ the King, Christ the Judge, Christ the Scandal, Christ the Sacrifice. A few years back a story began to make the rounds in Advent and Christmas sermons about a storefront window display in Japan of a crucified Santa. It turned out to be an urban legend, which should be a lesson to preachers not to steal illustrations from each other. But the point was supposed to be that the Japanese, being largely unfamiliar with Christianity, had juxtaposed the American Santa Claus with the Jesus who dies on the cross, thus unwittingly capturing more about Christianity than our own Christmas celebrations. Well, as you may be aware, a…

Categories: Sermons

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Christmas Proclamation

Posted on December 16th, 2011

For you pastors and church musicians: I’ve been using the Christmas Proclamation for the last few years. This year (as last) we will use it to begin the 11pm Divine Service on Christmas Eve. There are various versions of it floating around, but this is the one that I use.

Categories: Liturgy, Music

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Advent 3: Christ the Scandal

Posted on December 11th, 2011

Third in a four-part series: Christ the King, Christ the Judge, Christ the Scandal, Christ the Sacrifice Gospel for Advent 3: Matthew 11:2-11 Dearly beloved, today is called Gaudete, from a Latin call to rejoicing. But the church gives us a strange story for rejoicing: the imprisonment of John the Baptist. We know how things will end for him: Imprisoned for calling King Herod to repentance for taking his brother’s wife, John’s head will be lopped off when Herod could not say no to a dancing girl’s request. John is in prison, and the Baptist’s disciples come with a question for Jesus: Are you the Coming One, the promised Messiah, the Christ who will save His people? Someone doubts; either John in prison, or…

Categories: Sermons

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Advent reading, day 12: “Take up and read”

Posted on December 10th, 2011

Yesterday’s reading had Augustine struggling with his will. Today’s reading (schedule here) begins with Augustine reflecting on Continence, and the noble army of virgins. He comes to realize that it cannot be attained by the mere exertion of the will, but only through the grace of God. “Could any of them achieve it by their own strength, without the Lord their God?” Yet in anguish, he longed to be freed from his slavery. Going outside to weep alone, he throws himself beneath a fig tree (a reference to John 1?), and asks God how long He will be angry with him over his sins. He hears a child’s voice chanting repeatedly as in a game, “Take up and read, take up and read.” He…

Categories: Books, Theology

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Advent reading, day 11: Going mad for the sake of sanity

Posted on December 9th, 2011

Augustine begins today’s reading (schedule here) reflecting on the conversion of Victorinus and desiring it for himself. Yet he is hindered from following through on that desire because of a conflicting desire, rooted in the habit of fornication. “The truth is that disordered lust springs from a perverted will; when lust is pandered to, a habit is formed; when habit is not checked, it hardens into compulsion. These were like interlinking rings forming what I have described as a chain, and my harsh servitude used it to keep me under duress.” A major theme in today’s reading is the battle between wills within a person. “And so the two wills fought it out—the old and the new, the one carnal, the other spiritual—and in…

Categories: Books, Theology

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Advent reading, day 10: With a heart “besieged by [God] on every side,” Augustine sets aside his “hope of reputation and wealth”

Posted on December 8th, 2011

Today’s reading begins with Augustine ruminating on the Platonic philosophical works he had been imbibing, and concludes in the middle of his discussion with Simplicianus, spiritual father to Ambrose. For the full schedule, click here. As Augustine grows more knowledgeable about Platonism, and proofs for the catholic doctrine of God over against his previous delusion, he was still “far too weak to enjoy you. yet I readily chattered as though skilled in the subject…. I had already begun to covet a reputation for wisdom.” He now realizes what he lacked then: “Where was that charity which builds on the foundation of humility that is Christ Jesus?” What finally pushes him toward full conversion is a serious read of the Pauline epistles. “With intense eagerness…

Categories: Books, Theology

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Let us iPray

Posted on December 8th, 2011

Some of our congregation’s leaders routinely make fun of me for my iGadgets. Our president calls my iPad an “iFrisbee,” and I really think sometimes he’s tempted to throw it thus. When I converted to Apple, I went all the way. Now CPH has come out with an iPhone app for the Pastoral Care Companion, a book with occasional services in it (such as weddings and funerals), other rites (e.g., the blessing of a home) along with Bible passages, prayers, and other guidance for ministering the Word to people in various situations (sickness, grief, depression, etc.). It’s an important book for a pastor to have close at hand, because these situations tend to rise up unexpectedly; that is why I have two, one at…

Categories: Books, Theology

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