The Tenth Sunday after Trinity

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“From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.” Thus the Apostles’ Creed summarizes what God’s Word says about the end of the world, the Day of Judgment.

Be not deceived: The judgment of Jesus is coming. On that day, your thoughts will be revealed. The things done in darkness will be brought to light; there is nothing secret that will not be exposed.

As Jesus approaches Jerusalem in today’s Gospel, He anticipates the coming judgment on that city. In less than four decades, Jerusalem would be burned, her stones toppled, the temple looted and razed, blood running through the streets as water. Jesus’ prophecy came to pass in the year 70 when Titus conquered Jerusalem.

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St. James the Elder

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Ambition is a vice cloaked in virtue. At the core of ambition is pride. Our first father sought to be as God; we in turn seek to be regarded as gods among men. Politics, sports, music, movies, the market, the military – all elevate the ambitious, who cravenly connive for advancement.

Such is the case in the church as well. Connections are exploited, elections are partisan, the ambitious prosper. You can see this evil spirit right in today’s Gospel reading: “Teacher,” they say to Jesus, “we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want?” He replies. ”Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” Anticipating a political change, with Jesus enthroned as King, James and John request chief places in His administration.

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Second Sunday after Trinity

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Truly in our day the world has gone mad. Our culture no longer can see the difference between boys and girls, the new racists stir up strife from the boardroom to the classroom, the government spies and lies. But what is the cause of it? If Eusebius could hear our whispers and furtive texts, what would he say of us?

“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.” Do those words from today’s Epistle describe us?

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New Jersey District Convention Sermon

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“Repent!” That’s the first word John the Baptist preaches. It is also the first word when our Lord Jesus begins to preach. So it is to be with our own preaching.

But before we can preach, we must hear that word spoken to us. Repent!

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Exaudi 2021

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You need help. You probably know this already. You need spiritual help, because your mind and heart are not conformed to God’s will. You need bodily help, because you are dying. You need help.

Jesus ascended in order to send you the Helper. But pride says, “I need no help. I can do it on my own. I’ve compared myself to others, and I’m pretty good. My job gives me money, my doctor gives me pills, the black rectangle gives me entertainment. I don’t need help.” O foolish of heart and slow to believe! For you are a slave to your money, your doctor cannot avert your doom, and your black rectangle leaves you numb and empty.

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The Ascension of Our Lord

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“At what time of day do you think Jesus ascended?” That’s what a parishioner asked me earlier today. I’d never thought about the question before, but I quickly had a guess: 9am or 3pm. Those are the appointed times for the morning and evening sacrifices.

In the Ascension, Jesus performs a priestly act. Luke tells us that Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed them. Perhaps the sun illuminated the scars where the nails had pierced Him. What did Jesus say in His blessing?

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Cantate 2021

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The Church’s “new song” has nothing to do with musical style or instrumentation. We are a people who are liberated from the world’s “old song” of hatred, despair, and lust, the funeral dirges and anthems of kingdoms passing away. The new song is the song of the new kingdom that the LORD has inaugurated in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Church’s liturgy is the new song.

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Confidence in Confession

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Walking briskly through the hospital corridor, my thoughts were interrupted by the man calling out to me. “Father! Thank God you’re here. Right this way.” He told me they’d been waiting for hours for a priest to visit his dying wife. I explained that I’d be happy to visit, but he should know I’m a Lutheran pastor. “Just a minute,” he said, and disappeared into the room. After a hushed conversation, he came back out and said, “Close enough!”

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Here I Stand

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We’re not Lutherans because of Luther. We’re labeled that because it’s our stand too. Five centuries later we are still called to this confession: “I am bound by the Scriptures,” “My conscience is captive to the Word of God.”

Today we have to get ready to confess. Christians are now a minority in America. We are about to find out if we really believe the Creed we just said. Jesus warned in today’s Gospel that the wolf is coming. “The wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.”

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