What Does This Mean?

St. Matthias

Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

When you confess your faith in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and when you confess that the Word of Scripture is God’s Word, do you realize you also then must confess the fact that Satan exists? That Hell and Evil exist?

They most assuredly do, otherwise why would have the Father sent the Son? Surely, the Son was sent for the purpose of saving you from the clutches of Satan, his evil devices, and Hell itself. That is what Scripture says after all. But do you really believe it, or are you one of those people like many people in American Christianity that speak of hell and Satan as imaginary. Or if its real, Hell is empty. It is much easier these days to talk about the presence of evil. But the source of that evil?

It was not hard for the apostles to speak about all of this. They saw evil up-close and personal. The story of Matthias is not necessarily a happy one. Matthias only becomes an apostle, because of the evil that Judas committed against the Lord Jesus Christ, betraying Him into the hands of sinners.

For St. Matthias Day, we find the eleven apostles along with other disciples in the upper room during the days between Christ’s ascension and the day of Pentecost. They were up there in the room awaiting the promise of Jesus, the power from on high, the Holy Spirit. But there’s a problem. There are only 11 apostles when there should be 12.

Evil is real, and the apostles knew it to be real. They had seen Satan and his evil plans go into action. Luke tells us on the night that Jesus was betrayed that Satan entered into Judas. And a little later Jesus was talking to the remaining disciples that Satan desired to sift them like wheat, of whom Peter would be the first. Peter would deny Christ three times that night. Satan would sift them all, as they ran away from Jesus when He was arrested.

And Peter, who was restored by the risen Christ, now stands up and speaks of the great evil deed of Judas. “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” Luke adds, “This man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.” This is not a pretty sight at all. Judas was so overcome by the evil that he committed that he had no hope of being forgiven, and he killed himself. Peter goes on interpreting the events in light of the Psalms of David, “May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it”; and “Let another take his office.”

Enter Matthias, a man who had accompanied Jesus and the other apostles during all the time that the Lord went in and out among them, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when He was taken up from them. There was another man also who fit this description, but the lot fell to Matthias. And He was numbered with the 11, making 12 apostles once again.

Satan and evil exist, this we know. And Matthias and the rest of the 11 now are to go out to preach the truth that evil has been overcome in the one Jesus Christ, who died and rose again from the dead, beating Satan at his own game. The apostles are to declare war on the old Satanic foe just like their Lord did when He came into hostile territory, becoming man, and then going out into the wilderness and ultimately all the way to the cross to defeat Satan for all humanity. Now Matthias and the apostles preach the victory of Christ over Satan and Evil. And one little word of Christ crucified makes Satan fall.

Matthias is barely mentioned (if ever) again in any of the books of the New Testament. The extra-biblical materials we have concerning Matthias are few, and what we do have are quite late. But isn’t that the way of many of the pastors placed into office of the Holy Ministry? Matthias was placed into the office not to make a name for himself but to proclaim Christ and Him crucified to the nations. He was placed into the Office to confront the very evil of Satan that he knew well with the triumphant word of Christ Jesus. That Christ Jesus has overcome Satan and thus has made us His own. That our own acts of evil have been forgiven for the sake of Christ Jesus. That Christ holds the keys of death and hades now and forevermore, and He gives eternal life to us.

Pastors now, are also called to confront the evils that are amongst us and even within us. They are called to preach the truth of God’s Word of the realities of hell and Satan, and evil. And they too are to confront evil with the truth of Christ Jesus. They are called to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins, that we be saved from everlasting death.

Jesus when teaching, called many people evil. He even called his disciples evil because of their sinful hearts. We too have sinful hearts. It’s our natural heart’s state, another way to say it is it’s the Old Adam in us. We are by nature sinful and unclean. Jesus confronts evil head on and deals with it in a way only He could. He destroys evil by his death on the cross, whereby He swallows up death, sin, and Satan, the source of evil forever, and rises victorious over it all. And He forgives. All the evil of your own heart, Christ has covered with His Blood.

And while Judas spilled his own guts over his evil and wicked deeds, your Lord pours out his blood for you in love that you might be forgiven and be at peace in the forgiveness of sins. In effect being changed from inside out, your heart of evil removed, and a living heart in its place. A new creation for the sake of Christ.

This is what those men placed into the Office of the Holy Ministry are called to confess and to preach, that you might be saved, and not be overcome by the Evil One. Satan and his evil devices are real as Scripture says, but so is their Conqueror, our Savior Jesus Christ. Trust him in just as Matthias did, that you be numbered in great multitude that no one can number singing the praise of the Lamb forever and ever. Amen.

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO

Not Battle Weary. Battle Tested.

Dear saints, on the sixth day, God creates man from the dust of the earth. Because there is no helper suitable for the man, he creates woman from the man’s side. They are joined together in the first marriage. They are given the directive to be fruitful and multiply, filling and subduing the earth. God looks at all He created over those six days and declares them very good.

But the next thing we hear in the Bible is how the devil, disguised as a snake, tempts Adam and Eve. The temptation is three-fold. They are tempted with gluttony, for the food they were not to have, as the fruit of the Forbidden Tree was delightful to the eyes. They are tempted with vain ambition, for the serpent promises that their eyes would be open and that they would know good from evil. They are tempted with avarice, a desire for or seeking out of a high place, for by eating the fruit they would be like God.

Even though Adam and Eve know what God has commanded them; even though they know they share a perfect union with Him and one another, Eve takes the fruit and eats it. She gives some to Adam, who was there during the entire event and did not intervene and protect his wife, and he eats with her.

It is then that their world crashes around them. Indeed, their eyes are opened. They know good from evil. They know that the promise of being like God was a lie. They know they are now unworthy to be seen by Him, let alone look upon Him. And so, in shame, they hide.

As you recall, The Fall brings upon creation curses. It is why we have famine. It is why the harvest sometimes fails. It is why childbirth is so painful and, tragically, sometimes deadly. It is why, no matter how long you live, you will die. But even more important is the promise made. Even as humanity falls into sin, God promises to save and redeem it. He promises to crush the head of the serpent and rescue His creation.

And as you know, our Lord Jesus Christ is the promised Offspring of the woman.

We encounter Jesus this morning immediately after His baptism. Immediately after the heavens open and the Spirit descends like a dove. Right after the Father speaks and says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The first act of the Spirit is to lead Jesus into the wilderness. Paired with the Old Testament lesson, you may see a parallel with Adam and Eve being removed from Eden and put into a type of wilderness. But you also may hear, especially when we consider our Lord’s forty-day and forty-night fast, the wilderness wanderings of Israel.

Adam and Eve enter a wilderness because of sin. Moses leads Israel into the wilderness, through the parted waters of the Red Sea (a picture and type of baptism), as the Lord saves them from their bondage in Egypt. While there, Israel fails to trust the Lord God and will spend forty years wandering. Our Lord is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

The temptations that Jesus faces are the same as those faced by Adam and Eve. At the end of His fast, He is hungry. And the devil tempts the Lord. I cannot tell you if the devil knows of what happened at the Jordan River as Jesus is baptized. But he does know who our Lord is. It is as if he says, “Prove that you are the Son of God. Satisfy your hunger. Use your power. Turn these stones into bread.” But Jesus has not come to show His power for His own sake. He will perform miracles, even miracles involving food. But these are for the benefit of others; not Himself. Tempted by gluttony, Jesus responds by trusting in His Father for what He needs. He looks to the Word of God.

The devil next leads Jesus…well, Jesus allows Himself to be led to Jerusalem. In his hubris, Satan thinks he is leading and directing the Christ. And taking Him to the pinnacle of the temple, the devil quotes Scripture. Again, it is as if he said, “Prove that you are the Son of God. Make a spectacle. Force the hand of God and push Your angels into action! Show these people who you really are.” Here our Lord is tempted with vain ambition. The devil pushes Him to show off, to prove that He is the Son of God. And He is to do this by leaping off the Temple and making God act. Instead of trusting that God is good; instead of trusting that the will of God will be done, the devil would have Jesus have a false trust that God would not let His foot strike the ground. In the midst of temptation, Jesus refuses to put God to the test.

Finally, the devil takes Jesus to a high mountain. In an instant, the kingdoms of the world are shown to the Lord. One final time, it is like the devil says, “You know your mission. You know that you came to save your creation. But you know what you must suffer to do it. Avoid it! I will give them to you right now. All you need to do is bow down before me. Worship me.” The temptation is one of avarice. A temptation for a shortcut.

It is a silly demand. Sure, he might control and, in a sense, rule the kingdoms of the world. But it is because he has claimed power and authority that is not his to have. What he is proposing is that he will give to Jesus what he does not own if Jesus, the God-Man, would worship one of His created angels as a God. So, Jesus responds, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Jesus is not allured for power through false worship.

At that, the devil leaves and begins to seek another time. Angels come to Jesus and minister to Him. And when He has recovered, He begins His earthly ministry.

Two men. Three temptations. The human, the first Adam, falls into sin, being tricked by the devil. Adam desires to fill his stomach, had the ambition of being like a god, and the avarice of having the same knowledge of God. The God-Man, the Second Adam, remains steadfast and pure. Facing the same temptations, He trusts the Word of God, He does not misplace His trust in His Father, and He is not tricked into false worship promising a shortcut and ease. Through the Temptation of Christ and the other times the devil sought to trick our Lord, we have a great high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

God led His people Israel through the Red Sea, through the wilderness, and brought them to the promised land. He did this even though they were sinful and stiff-necked. He disciplined them. He brought them to repentance. He gave them victory over their enemies. The Church is God’s Israel today. As the Israelites followed Christ in the pillar of cloud and fire, Christians follow Him as He speaks to us through Word and Sacrament. We follow Him through the wilderness of this world and toward the glory in the world to come, in our Promised Land. In a restored Eden.

Like Israel, we constantly sin. We fall into the silly and stupid temptations of the devil. We look to feed our bellies rather than seek what God would give us. We have our own ambitions that benefit the “me” and no one else. We desire the easy road. The path of least resistance and the one that does not cause any pain or difficulty. When we do this, we find that we do not fear, love, and trust God above all things. We find that we are putting our faith in ourselves and displacing God from His throne. May God grant us repentance for this grievous sin!

Let us, therefore, remember that we are like the first Adam. Foolish and easily tempted to sin. But also let us remember we have the Second Adam. God in the flesh and righteous. While He goes hungry, others are fed at His hands. He grows weary but offers others rest. He is the Messiah but pays the tribute, the tax to Caesar. He is called the devil but casts out demons. He is sold for thirty pieces of silver but pays the ransom for all. He dies the death of a sinner but saves His people from their sins. He will not turn bread into stones for Himself, but He gives His body and blood to nourish the souls of His people.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Amen.

Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD

Why are some Christians disquieted by a crucifix?

This question is similar to the one of iconoclasm. Iconoclasts reject any images of the Lord or His saints. But, folks who find the crucifix repellent tend to like other images of Jesus. At Christmas there’s little or resistance to baby Jesus in His manger. We’ll find paintings like the blonde haired, blue eyed Jesus peacefully praying in the garden. We see images of Jesus healing the blind. And, Jesus after the resurrection is featured, but usually without His wounds.

What we don’t see is significant. Him at His at crucifixion. For Jesus, for the evangelists, for Paul, and for the saints in heaven, His crucifixion is the center of his work. Here are a few of the places where we find discussions of Jesus’ work centering upon His death on the cross. These are taken from outside the passion narrative, both before and after.

“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Matthew 20:28 ESV] The giving up of His life on the cross buys you forgiveness.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” [John 3:14 ESV]. The lifting up is directly connected to the serpent on a pole. Jesus will also be lifted up in that same inglorious way. Yet, for us, it is Jesus’ glory.

“So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” [John 8:28–29 ESV] It’s also the Father’s desire that Jesus should die for us. Sin can only be atoned for by a perfect sacrifice, paying for the sin. It’s not a debt anything in creation can pay. But, Jesus did it on the cross for you.

“But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” [1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV] “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus’ Christ and him crucified.” [1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV] For St. Paul, everything we preach and everything we know revolves around Jesus’ crucifixion. It’s a stumbling block to the unbelief we constantly battle in our own hearts. The crucifix stands firm against our unbelief.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” [Galatians 2:20 ESV] Paul also indicates our living as gift from Christ’s death.

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” [John 20:27–28 ESV] Even in the resurrection, the glorified body of Jesus’ bears the marks of our salvation.

“And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” [Luke 9:30-31 ESV] The saints in heaven are steadily concerned with Jesus’ death on the cross.

“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’” [Revelation 5:11–12 ESV] This Lamb of God who was slain for our salvation is known to us only from His death.

We will sometimes hear folks say “we worship a risen savior.” This isn’t untrue. But, it conceals a weakness in our Christian armor. We don’t like to see the very act that saved us. That was Jesus’ focus. The Evangelists, St. Paul, the saints in heaven, all look to the crucifixion as the very glory of Jesus.

Make sure you have a crucifix among the crosses in your home. Without Jesus, it’s just an image of a method of death, like noose or an electric chair. But, with Jesus on it, the cross is an image of our salvation by Jesus’ death.

Blessèd be the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church & Preschool
La Grange, TX

A Man After God’s Own Heart

Encore Post: Dear saints, most, perhaps all of you know the sayings, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” or, “Looks can be deceiving.” We know that these sayings have merit. Simply look at the first two kings of Israel. After the people reject the Lord as their King, Samuel is sent to anoint a man named Saul. He had the look of a king. He was tall. He was handsome. And he began his reign well. But we know how it ended. He was rejected by God because of his continued sinful actions.

In his place was a man who no one would have expected. Samuel is sent by God to find a man named Jesse. He is to anoint one of Jessie’s sons as the new king of Israel. This is what we heard a few moments ago. When Samuel sees the eldest, he thinks to himself, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But this was not the case. God says, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Each of Jesse’s sons come before Samuel. But none of these sons is the man chosen to be king. Finally, the youngest, a shepherd, is summoned from the field. I do not mean to say that David did not have the ‘look’ of a king. But he is not the one anyone would have sought out. He was not even mentioned until all the other boys had been rejected. And yet he is exactly who God had chosen.

This Old Testament account is a good way to set up our Gospel lesson this morning. Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem because he knows the time of His glorification is near. He knows that it is time to die. Time to suffer on behalf of His creation. Time to redeem mankind from their sins. And so, he tells the Twelve for the third time that this was his mission and destiny.

Like David, Jesus is not the one the people would think is the Chosen One of God. The people think He was born in Nazareth. This would immediately disqualify Him from being the Messiah, for the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. Even more, Jesus says His mission is to die. But the expectation is that the Messiah will be a military leader. That he will reestablish the earthly throne of David in Israel. We see this in John 6 when our Lord feeds the five thousand: Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain my himself.

But the ways of God are not the ways of man. The wisdom of man stands woefully inadequate even compared to the foolishness of God. And soon, all that is written about the Son of Man will be accomplished. Better said, all will be completed. Finished.

We stand at the threshold of Lent. Our preparation for Lent is completed and we begin another Lenten journey with our Lord on Wednesday. All that Jesus says will happen to Him we will see in Passiontide. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. He will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog Him and kill Him. All the while, Jesus will not look like the Chosen One of Israel. He will not look like the world’s Savior. But that is the work He is doing. And on the third day, He will show that He is our Lord and Savior by rising from the dead.

As we journey toward the cross, we will see perfect, divine love shown to all people of all nations. We will see St. Paul’s words in the Epistle lived out perfectly by Jesus. The words of St. Paul are beautiful and pleasant to hear. They epitomize what we desire to be. But we also confess that we do not rise to the demands of what true love is. Even as we marvel and smile at the rhetoric, we are also crushed by the demands of this law of loving others. How easily do we lose our patience or speak an unkind word? How often do we envy the life or things of another? Boast of what we have or do? How easy it is to be arrogant or rude, especially to those who annoy us or that we deem deserving of it. When is the last time you insisted on your way? And how often, even when you know and want to do what is right, you choose to do evil?

Yes, we desire to love. We hope to fulfill the requirement. But we confess that we fail. And we believe; we trust and have faith in the Lord Christ that He loves us. That He sends the Spirit to sanctify us that we would begin to fulfill this law of love. Faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The Lord is our rock of refuge. He is our strong fortress. Christ Jesus is our refuge and our strength. Because all he speaks of in the Gospel lesson takes place as He said it would, we commit our own bodies and spirits into His hands. In our distress, He is gracious. He hears our prayers and answers them according to His will and our eternal good. Jesus is crucified for you. Your redemption is won. He gives you the strength and ability to love. He has set you free from the bonds of your sins. And He will deliver you from evil. Amen.

Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD

The Law is Eternal

The Law is God’s Word just as much as the Gospel is God’s Word. Both are eternal. And both are good. The Law of God is Good. God’s eternal law expresses His very being, and it is called “the unchanging will of God, according to which human beings are to conduct themselves in this life.” (Formula of Concord 6.15) In other words the Law of God is Good and Wise.

However, in our present sinful condition we always hear the Law’s accusations. We have not done good enough. We have failed to honor mother and father. We have not always helped someone when they were in bodily need. We have failed to tell people about Jesus. We have not always paid attention when in the Divine Service. The list goes on and on. Our confessions state, “The law always accuses” ( Lex Semper Accusat), but it does not only accuse. Think of the beginning. Adam knew God by the Law. It was only understood to be a good thing. Only when Adam transgressed did the accusations begin.

The same Law that now accuses continues to point us to the deeds which our Lord delights in. The Law shows us the way of righteousness. That is a good thing. While we are shown to fall short of God’s holiness due to our sins, God’s Law prepares us for the good news that Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Law for us, and by in Christ Jesus, we are able to do those which are deemed good and right. In Christ fulfilling the Law, the Law is returned to its original positive position.

Christ has fulfilled the Law. It is to Him that we flee for refuge because the Law still accuses as live this life. The threats of the Law still persist. But know the good news! Christ has set us free from the curse of the Law. By faith, we no longer see the Law in its accusatory function, but rather as it was in the beginning, leading us to live in righteousness. It is then a life that reflects the holiness of our Heavenly Father.

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO

A Man after God’s Own Heart

Dear saints, most, perhaps all of you know the sayings, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” or, “Looks can be deceiving.” We know that these sayings have merit. Simply look at the first two kings of Israel. After the people reject the Lord as their King, Samuel is sent to anoint a man named Saul. He had the look of a king. He was tall. He was handsome. And he began his reign well. But we know how it ended. He was rejected by God for his continued sinful actions.

In his place was a man who no one would have expected. Samuel is sent to Jesse to anoint one of his sons as the new king of Israel. This is what we heard a few moments ago. When Samuel sees the eldest, he thinks to himself, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But this was not the case. “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

As we journey toward the cross, we will see perfect, divine love shown to all people of all nations. We will see St. Paul’s words in the Epistle lived out perfectly by Jesus. The words of St. Paul are beautiful and pleasant to hear. They epitomize what we desire to be. But we also confess that we do not rise to the demands of what true love is. Even as we marvel and smile at the rhetoric, we are also crushed by the demands of this law of loving others. How easily do we lose our patience or speak an unkind word? How often do we envy the life or things of another? Boast of what we have or do? How easy it is to be arrogant or rude, especially to those who annoy us or ‘deserve’ it. When is the last time you insisted on your way? And how often, even when you know and want to do what is right, you choose to do evil?

Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD

What’s the deal with the new, multicolored banners lining the sanctuary of Mt. Calvary, LaGrange, Texas?

You may have also noticed our new banners from our friends at Ad Crucem. They are green, white, scarlet, violet, rose, blue, and black. Each banner features and orphrey braid design in a cross shape. The center of each cruciform has a quatrefoil with and image of a lamb in it. But, the lambs are not entirely alike.

An orphrey braid originated as a device for concealing seems. When cloth bolts weren’t big enough to make a garment or an altar parament, the braids were used to cover the joint between two pieces. These braids became so common and expected in paraments, that they remained as design feature long after the fabrics were available in adequate sizing.

A quatrefoil is four-sided figure with semicircular sides. The semicircular sides are of the same diameter and they bow outward. Quatrefoils will sometimes also be barbed. A barbed quatrefoil has externally protruding points at the intersections of the semicircular sides. Our funeral pall features a barbed quatrefoil.

The lambs in each quatrefoil are just as you might expect, symbols of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He bears a cross in His hoof and has the Christological aureole (halo) around His head. On both sides, the lamb is facing you in the congregation. The work of Jesus forgiving sin is properly directed towards you.

On the lectern side, we find the sacrificial Lamb of God. The blood flowing from His pierced side into a chalice. This is a depiction of the Son of God working out salvation for us; forgiving sins in the very way He said He would.

“Drink of it all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.” (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

On the pulpit side, we see the Triumphant Lamb of God in His kingdom. This lamb clutches a victorious banner standard. The war banner shows both the price paid for us to defeat sin, death, and the Devil, and the complete victory over them. Jesus won this victory for us. It’s ours through the faith given to us in baptism. That same faith which clings to the promised forgiveness in Jesus’ body and blood. The faith which hopes for the promised resurrection of all flesh.

Now, the colors of our banners are blue, white, green, scarlet, violet, black, and rose. The colors are assigned to help us identify the seasons and festivals of the church year. As we take our annual walk through the life of Christ on earth and the work of the Holy Spirit through the church, the colors serve as signposts along the way.

Blue symbolizes preparation, penitence, and hope. It is used for the season of Advent. The use of blue highlights the different character of Advent as opposed to Lent. While both are penitential seasons, Advent carries a strong current of hope in the salvation being born. The blue is also a royal color prefiguring the kingship of Jesus.

White symbolizes purity, glory, and joy. White is sometimes mingled with gold, symbolizing triumph and our precious gift of salvation. White is used for the festival seasons Christmas, Easter, and Feasts concerning events in the Life of Christ like the circumcision, epiphany, and baptism of our Lord.

Green symbolizes life and growth. It is used for the Sundays following Epiphany and Trinity/Pentecost. These non-festival times of the church year are also called “ordinary time.” They serve as celebrations of the life of the church within herself and within the world. Sundays following Pentecost/Trinity are particularly focused on the growth and expansion of the church through the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Scarlet symbolizes God’s love for us by the blood of Jesus. We use scarlet on the celebrations of Maundy Thursday, Reformation, and the celebration days of saints and martyrs of the church. These celebrations serve to point our understanding toward the once and prefect sacrifice of Jesus for our salvation from sin. Scarlet is also used for celebrating saints’ days. The scarlet there shows the dual purpose of the blood of the martyrs, which accomplishes nothing, pointing to the saving blood of Jesus.

Violet symbolizes preparation, penitence, and contrition. Violet is used for Lent and some churches use violet instead of blue for Advent. In the penitential season(s), we prepare our hearts for the coming sacrifice for our sin. The somber tone of these Sundays is also reflected in an austerity of liturgy. The gloria, the hymn of praise, and the alleluias are packed away for a time. Violet is also a royal color.

Black symbolizes our sin, which is laid upon Jesus. The use of black bookends the season of lent. It is only used for Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. On Ash Wednesday we ponder our sin as we begin the Lenten journey of contrition. On Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the black reminds us of the sin taken on by the spotless lamb of God. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Rose is not always used these days. It serves as an oasis in the deserts of the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent. Gaudete, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, and Laetare, the 4th Sunday of Lent, were sometimes dressed in rose or pink. The Rose is thought of as violet with the black removed. That’s not necessarily true in a sense of pigmentation. But, it serves as a fine mental image. Gaudete and Laetare are both Latin verbs respectively meaning rejoice and gladden.

On Sundays, we will now see a constant reminder of the whole of the church year. Each Sunday, the day’s color will be in the front most position.

Blessèd be the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church & Preschool
La Grange, TX

A Sermon for the Purification of Mary and Presentation of our Lord

Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, “If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed … And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove … and if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean. (Various verses from Leviticus 12)

These words come straight out of the Law of the Lord preached to the people of Israel by Moses. This is why we find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus at the temple forty days after our Lord’s birth. It was to be in accordance of the Law. Also, as part of this day Jesus was being presented back to the Lord as the Lord had spoken in Exodus 13 that every firstborn belongs to the Lord. Mary is following in the train of Hannah, giving back to God the gift He had given to her. While Mary might have been at the Temple for her own purification, the events surrounding Jesus take a bit more of a center stage. With this day we see the faithfulness of both the Lord and his people. The Lord was and remains faithful to His promise of sending the world’s redemption, and in thanksgiving His people happily keep the Law. And they rejoice over the redemption so given. And in the words of our Epistle lesson, we see Jesus begin His service as a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God by the act of Mary presenting Him to the Lord, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Being the firstborn son of Mary, he is holy to the Lord, and at the same time He is the only begotten Son of God ready to be the perfect and once for all sacrifice for the sins of the world, saving the offspring of Abraham from everlasting death.

No one is happier or more joyful to see His redemption face to face than Simeon who was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And He had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before He had seen the Lord’s Christ. This promise affirms the Incarnation of the Son of God. Salvation only comes from the Lord, and in Jesus, Simeon sees salvation in that little child. It’s Christmas all over again!

The very tangible peace of God is shown to Simeon. He sees Jesus and in Him He has peace, the very peace for all the earth which was proclaimed at Jesus birth is made Simeon’s. It was a promise worth waiting for, worth being in the temple, the very image which testifies to the greater reality that God would dwell in the midst of His people forever, only now the temple of God is the body of Jesus Christ, which is why Simeon takes the child into his own arms and probably didn’t take his eyes off of the child when he began blessing God singing his song. God was there as a Man, a 40 day old baby. Simeon saw his salvation with his own eyes. And in that child, the very Son of God in the flesh, he has his peace.

We should note that the mission of Jesus to be the redeemer of the world is not something placed upon him at his baptism or some other time. No, this mission of the Son of God to be the redeemer of the world was given to him from the very beginning. Jesus does not assume this position or take it up, but He always had it. The angels confess Jesus to be the Savior just minutes after his birth, and here Simeon confesses Him to be His redemption 40 days out of the womb.

Something else that we should praise God over is the fact that Simeon explicitly confesses the mystery that the gentiles also are made a part of God’s redemption. We are brought and welcomed to the table! God’s salvation will be made known to us Gentiles. For you and I have heard the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He came to save from sin, to bring consolation to us poor, miserable sinners who were sitting in the darkness of sin and death. He, himself likewise partook of the same things (flesh and blood), that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

So on the day of his mother’s own atonement offering, that she might be cleansed and re-enter the temple and join in the worship of the Lord God, Jesus is given back to God that he might enter into His Father’s service and be the atoning sacrifice for all the world. Jesus still is working in service to His Father for your salvation now. He has gone to the cross for you. He dies for your rebellion against the Laws of God. He consoles you with His words of forgiveness, speaking kindly to you in gentleness and love, showing his great mercy and love for you, calling you to believe in this Gospel. He has pulled you out of the great slavery, has cut the shackles of sin around your ankles and gives you freedom in Him. You are free from sin, rejoice and live in Christ Jesus. Be at peace in your salvation just as Simeon was.

May we be at peace even when temptations come because they will come as we still are in our sinful flesh and sinful world. May we not lose our heads and our way but call out to Him who is able to help us who are being tempted for He Himself suffered when tempted. Only when we are in Christ Jesus do we prevail over temptation, otherwise we will fall back into sinful shame, and vice. May our Lord keep us from entering back into the shackles he has broken us out of by his bitter sufferings and death! And if we have done just that, repent, confess your sins to God. For the Lord is gracious and merciful and does indeed forgive our sins for He has died for them and has atoned for them by his own blood.

Come. Hear, and see your salvation. See your Savior at the font where He made you God’s own. There He cleansed you with Water and His Word. And at the Altar he now feeds you His own body and blood. You see your salvation just as Simeon did. And that is why we sing His song right after the distribution of the Sacrament. We have beheld with our own eyes our salvation. We have received the very body and blood that paid our ransom at the cross into our very mouths that we might have the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. And where those things are there is peace for us. This is no peace which the world can give, but a peace which surpasses all understanding. A peace which only God can give. A peace which is confessed by the faithful: “Yes, Lord, I am ready to go. Ready to go and sleep unto the day of the resurrection knowing that I have seen your salvation, salvation which you have made mine for the sake your Son my brother, Jesus Christ, my faithful high priest.”

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO

Called into the Vineyard

Dear saints, the life of a day laborer is not one to envy. You go every morning to a place you know that work can be found. You wait for someone to come by looking for workers. You hope that the work is something you can perform. You hope that you are either chosen for the work or able to get to the vehicle faster than others vying for the job. Then, at the end of the day, you hope that the wages you receive are fair for the often back-breaking work you performed for hours on end. Even if that wage is barely, or even less than what the area lists as its minimum wage.

This is the modern-day setting for the parable Jesus tells his disciples in this morning’s lesson. It is a parable meant to shock the hearer, but I do not think it is all that shocking to us. Why is that? Because we are used to its themes. We confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We believe that our God becomes man to save us from our sin. We confess that we are not able to do good without the Holy Spirit. We believe that we cannot be saved by our works, but only on account of the work of Christ Jesus our Lord. As a result, we instantly view ourselves as those laborers who work only a part of the day.

But for a moment, let us look at the parable from the world’s viewpoint. People claim they want fairness. And what we hear in the parable does not seem fair at all. We do not see it as fair that someone working for an hour gets the same pay as one that works all day. No one would object at the same hourly rate, but the same net pay? Such a business owner is irresponsible and will not last long. He will not get people to work all day when they know they can relax most of the day and get a full day’s wage for working only in the easy part of the day. His work will in turn not be completed and his projects will not finish on time. He will not get more contracts for business, and his business will shut down.

Looking at the parable through worldly eyes, it simply does not make sense. It is no way to manage a successful business. And I cannot disagree. Therefore, we must look at what is being taught here by our Lord. As always, context is key.

Just before the parable, we have a rich young ruler come to Jesus. He asks what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. The man claims to do it, but still knows he lacks something. Jesus replies, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Upon hearing this, the man goes away sad because he had many possessions. And to the disciples Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

This perplexes the disciples, and they wonder who could ever be saved. The answer, of course, is, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Yet Peter, remembering his own call, points out that the Twelve left everything they had. What then shall they receive? “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Thus the stage is set for our lesson this morning.

I will not pretend to know the difficulties of harvesting a field. Especially when many of you do that for a living. I do know that it is not easy work, even if it is less difficult today than in the days before our advanced technology. I am glad that I do not have to lug a sack over my shoulder and handpick corn or cotton or grapes. Especially in the heat of the day. But that seems to be the type of work being done in the parable.

A vineyard owner goes to the market early in the morning and meets with day laborers. They negotiate a wage for working in the vineyard: a denarius. They go and begin the work. Later in the day, the owner goes to the market again. He finds more laborers and calls them into his vineyard. He says he will pay them whatever is right. This happens again two more times. Finally, as the day is nearly over, the owner goes to the market a final time. He finds even more standing and not working. Even these are called into the vineyard. But this time there is no promise of wage; they are only told to go.

At the end of the day, the workers are brought in to receive their wages. Those sent at the eleventh hour are paid first and receive a denarius. Though we do not hear it, the ninth-, sixth-, and third-hour workers receive the same. It is not surprising that those who worked the full twelve-hour shift thought they would receive more. But when they come to the foreman, they receive their denarius. The one they negotiated for and were promised. And for this, for the master keeping his word, they grumble. To one of them, the master says, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?”

As is often the case, if we were to take the time needed to talk about everything in this lesson, you would probably start grumbling that I was talking too long. Some of you might already have such thoughts in your heads. So, let me briefly talk about what we are taught, and perhaps in future years, we shall dig into specific parts and flesh these lessons out.

First, we see that the work given to these laborers is not one they applied for. There was no interview process. Instead, they were sought out and called. They did not get this work for their ability or expertise, but because the owner decided to send them.

The same is true for each of us. The vineyard in the parable is the church and its work. None of us are qualified to work there. There is no application process and there is no way we can choose to work there. This is because we are by nature sinful and unclean. Unless the master, that is, unless our Lord seeks us out and calls us into His vineyard, we will never step foot inside it.

But, dear Christian, you have been called into the vineyard. You have been chosen by God and made able to work in His vineyard. This is the grace that God. Those baptized and those who trust in Christ Jesus as their Redeemer and Savior have a place in the vineyard.

Second, all in the vineyard work. No matter what time the laborer is sent in, there is work to do. And the expectation is they accomplish as much as they can for the hours that they are there.

St. Paul describes this work in the Epistle as a race. There is a reason we are in the vineyard, and that is to work. We seek to keep God’s commandments. We desire that others would hear and, like you, be called into the vineyard. It requires commitment and dedication. It is often tough and grueling work. Especially in times and places where the Church is hated and opposed. But no matter the circumstances, you are called to work and support the Church in whatever situation you are in. In doing this, you earn nothing. But you do receive the mercy and benefits that your Heavenly Father promises you. You do not run aimlessly or box as one who beats the air. You do, however, discipline your body and keep it under control that you will receive the imperishable wreath of eternal life.

Third, the master is faithful and generous. He keeps his word and pays what is promised to the first he calls into his vineyard. He is also generous to those whom he calls later in the day and makes all of them equal in what they receive.

The Twelve left everything they had and followed our Lord. They are promised thrones from which they will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Abraham was promised that he would be the father of many nations but died without seeing the fruit of that promise. Moses led Israel out of Egypt and through the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. But he did not himself enter the Promised Land on earth. These and many other men (and women) labored long and hard for their Lord. And each of them, like the laborers who toiled the whole day in the scorching heat and sun, receive what was promised to them.

This reward is not based on their work, but the grace of God given to them. As Jesus tells the disciples when asked who can be saved, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Because God calls all His people into his vineyard, whether you work an hour or twelve hours, the denarius you receive is on account of God’s grace.

Finally, even when you receive exactly what you are supposed to, jealousy is a temptation. Coveting what someone else has and begrudging the master is something anyone can fall into. Even those who only worked half the day and received great mercy and a full denarius.

Far be it for you or me to think to ourselves that some terrible person who has a late-in-life conversion is undeserving and hold them in contempt. May we not think to ourselves that they do not deserve forgiveness. Or worse, that we somehow deserve more forgiveness or greater benefits than they. They receive grace and forgiveness for the same reason, and in the same amount, as you and me. They are sought out and called by Christ. They are made new in baptism by the work of God, not of man. They are saved not because of their work, great or small, but by grace.

When the vineyard owner responds to a grumbling worker, he says more than what I quoted before. He goes on to say, “Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.”

This is a terrible sentence to hear. He is given the wage he negotiated for and told to leave the vineyard. He has what is his. But where does one go who leaves the vineyard? Who leave what God has created and called them into? And yet this is also a wonderful sentence to hear. The implication is that those who were ‘overpaid’ and did not complain about the owner’s inequality of pay and generosity remain in the vineyard. These do not simply get a denarius and leave the vineyard. They remain there. They are not treated as mere workers but as sons.

Here we see the work God does in the Gospel. It is more than a simple cancellation of our debt of sin. God forgives the sin of Adam and Eve, but He does not allow them back into Eden. Instead, He becomes a man. And as a man, He buys us out of sin. He wins us and our salvation. We now belong to Him. Not as a cow or a plow belongs to a farmer, but as a member of His family. God unites Himself to us, makes us His bride. By grace, we are made bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. God calls us His friends, His brothers, His children, His bride. As a man, He gives us His Body and His Blood in Holy Communion. There we become one flesh with Him, joined together by God. There is a reason it is called “communion.”

The cords of Sheol entangled each of us. Death stared us in the face and looked to devour us. But the Lord is your rock and your fortress and your deliverer. He calls you into His vineyard by grace. The love He shows you is not earned. Unless it is a bad reality TV show, men do not hold auditions or give tests that a potential bride must pass. He is her husband and she his bride because he loves her. And so, we cheerfully receive His grace. We stay in His vineyard. For where else could we go? The vineyard is made for us and us for it. We are mercifully delivered by His goodness to the glory of His holy Name. Amen.

Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD

St. Titus: An Under-Shepherd and Baptized Child of God

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

On this day, the church celebrates and remembers another of St. Paul’s companions: St. Titus. As a matter of fact, had I been home we would have had 3 consecutive days of special services. The first would have been the commemoration of St. Timothy. But since I was away we will get to his day another time. But today we remember St. Titus.

Unlike some of the other saints associated with Paul, Titus is relatively unknown. His name does not appear in the pages of the book of Acts, but Paul must have met him along on his first missionary journeys before the council that we have recorded for us in Acts 15. For if you recall, that council had to answer the question: What do we do with Gentile believers? Must they become Jews via circumcision before they can become Christians? Titus was a test case. Titus came from a Gentile family, and was not circumcised. Paul would not circumcise him and the council of Acts 15 agreed that believers Jews and Greeks were not saved via works of the ceremonial law (circumcision) but were in fact saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And it is very likely that Titus journeyed with Paul from that time forth, or he was sent to one of the various seminaries being formed to educate the next generation of church leaders. We don’t know for sure as his name is not spoken of again until Paul’s crisis with the church at Corinth that occurred during Paul’s third missionary journey. The Corinthian church were bucking at Paul’s apostolic authority. After failed reconciliation attempts, Paul sent Titus there in person. Some time later, when Paul was in Macedonia Titus caught up to him and gave him the news that the Corinthian Church had changed their course, Paul sent Titus back with the letter we know as 2^nd Corinthians. He was also sent to complete the collection project for the poor Christians in Jerusalem.

After that we lose track of Titus. But under the assumption that Paul was released from prison after his first Roman imprisonment which we have recorded for us in the final chapters of Acts, it seems that Titus met up again with Paul to do a trip to Crete, which is what we hear about in Paul’s letter to Titus, leaving him there to serve as the overseer or Bishop of the Churches there and appointing elders/pastors of those Christians congregations, putting things into order.

This is where Acts 20 comes in because those words from St. Paul were not just for the men to serve the churches in Ephesus, but for all pastors and churches. Crete had wolves in their midst, and Gospel that had been preached by Paul and others had begun to be twisted in one way or another. Paul is not the only apostle to warn of such things happening. St. John and Peter in their own epistles also warn of such things. And Titus was now the man appointed to bring the churches of Crete into proper and good order, by teaching the doctrine of truth which is Christ. And it was Titus’ duty to teach and instruct now the new pastors that would lead these congregations. What had been entrusted to St. Paul, he was now entrusting to his other spiritual son Titus. And Titus entrusting to the men he was preparing. Handing down the goods of Christ. So, it is now in our day.

The Church has been entrusted with the Words of Christ, as preached, taught, and written down by the apostles. And it is the Church that now calls Pastors into the office of overseer, and gives them the call to publicly proclaim the Word of Truth. And it can be a daunting task as wolves are still around. There are many voices who call themselves teachers of the Word but are not properly called, nor do they speak the Word of God but rather twist it for their own shameful gain. Titus had the Judaizers to contend with and other factions attempting to subvert the sweetness of Christ’s Gospel. Today’s Church, well let’s just say there is nothing new under the sun. All the old heresies still show up from time to time.

Titus also was called to the Cretan people, who by their own prophet some time before called them liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. Paul exhorted him to rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. They were a people who professed to know God, but they denied him by their works. We still have those kinds of people around now. Sometimes even I can be called lazy. We all must confess that we have failed to live according to the life we have been given by Christ.

The pastor is to serve as Christ’s under shepherd. Pastors are called to serve in the stead of Christ to you the little lambs. And true under shepherds speak the Good Shepherd’s word and you, His lambs, hear his voice. The pastor is to speak in mercy, like Jesus did. Paul gives Titus and now us this advice in the 3^rd chapter. For he recognizes that he and Titus were both at one time on the outside. They received mercy from Christ, so it is only right that the pastor shows mercy of Christ to his flock. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly though Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” In other words, we were all in the darkness of our own sin. But by grace, God called us to faith in His Son. Even Pastors are sheep in need of being fed this blessed Gospel. It is the Gospel and not the law that motivates us to do good works and remain faithful to our callings. We are all called to follow the One Good Shepherd, who laid His life for His Sheep. And we all have a similar identity in Christ. We have been baptized into Christ. That is where we go back to. We remember our baptism and rejoice in that. Pastors and the faithful hearers rejoice in their baptisms and the forgiveness of sins Christ freely offers to them in the Divine Service.

The pastor is to emulate the Good Shepherd. He is to speak The Good Shepherd’s Word to the Sheep. It was to this Office that Titus was placed into, so also the pastors of the Church now. He was called to serve under the Good Shepherd, and Feed the Lord’s Sheep. And by that we are called to teach and preach the Word in season and out of season. We called to encourage, exhort, rebuke. We are to call to repentance, and forgive sins for the sake of Christ Jesus who died and rose again. We are to be stewards of the mysteries of God, the ones keeping watch over souls, and we pastors will give an account at the last. Pastors like, Titus, are called to teach what accords with sound doctrine. In other words, we are called to teach Christ’s Word. And in the midst of all this we are called to continually rejoice in the identity given to us by Christ in Holy Baptism. We are Christ’s and so are you!

And it is by Baptism and Christ’s Word that pastors are kept faithful not only in their vocation and office but in their own faith and life as Christians; they should be above reproach, hospitable, lovers of what is good and right and true. And it’s by this same Word that you also are kept in the one, true faith. Gladly hear and learn it do not despise it. By His Word and Sacraments, our Lord Jesus gives you everything that is His—His Father, Spirit, Resurrection, Name, Sonship, and Kingdom, together with St. Titus and all the saints. Amen.

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO