Ezekiel 36:22-28/1 Peter 4:7-14/St John 15:26-16:4
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
This Sunday is an in between day. For the disciples the moment of separation from their Lord was a few days back - Thursday. The promise of a new Comforter and Guide is still to be realized. The Lord has ascended, the Helper, whom He will send from the Father, has not yet descended. For the moment they are alone.
What happens when you are left alone? As children, when mom or dad stepped away for a few minutes, or turned theirs backs and we were alone, we immediately found all sorts of mischief to get into. As adults, not much has changed. When we are left alone, or more often, when we seek out isolation, it is typically to find mischief, to pursue our passions, indulge our sins.
St Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirt, exhorts us: be self-controlled and sober minded. That is, avoid willful sin. And he adds, for the sake of your prayers. For intentional, besetting sin impedes true faith and hinders worship. Against this St Peter says, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. This is opposition to lustful sin, which is self-serving and destructive.
Moreover, in times of loneliness, isolation, and temptation, we are given to pray the Psalms, to speak to God His own answer to our sins. Exaudi, hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud. Leave me not comfortless, orphaned, alone. Hide not Your face from me. Turn not Your servant away in anger, O You who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation (Ps 27:7, 9).
The Lord answered this ancient prayer for help by sending Jesus. He descended to the depths of our loneliness and willful isolation, all those dark moments of sin. And by His death, resurrection, and ascension He atoned for them. And this prayer was further answered when Christ, who ascended to the Father, sent the Spirit of truth, the Helper, from the Father. When Jesus says, I will send the Helper from the Father, we learn that no commandment, no preaching of ethics or morals, or commitment to personal improvement can help us. And none of that is the message of the Holy Spirit. None of that is authentic Christianity.
The message and testimony of Christianity is the message and testimony of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies, tells us about Jesus. That is His work. That is the message of Christianity, the proper proclamation of the Church. In other words, “without the Third Article of the Creed, our faith is not a true Christian faith. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Giertz, PFTWB, 67).
The consolation of the Holy Spirit is precisely in His testimony to you of Christ Jesus. He will not make your wallet fat, but He will declare to you the Father’s love to you in and through His Son, who redeemed you, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.
The Holy Spirit declares all this to you in and with His Church. He gathers you together, removing you from your isolation and loneliness, bringing you together in and with Christ your head. He continues to sanctify you, that is, He not only declares that you are holy by faith with the holiness of Christ before the Father; but the Holy Spirit also makes you holy by faith and the indwelling of Christ.
This is why Christ redeemed you: that you may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him. In love, then, you serve Christ by being turned away from yourself and turned toward your neighbor in need, as St Peter directed. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. That is, care not only for the fellow Christian, but even for the stranger and unbeliever. For the Spirit gives gifts to be used in service to one another. St Peter uses the word “stewardship” to describe this life of mercy. Usually in the church “stewardship” means money. But that’s not always, or usually, how Scripture speaks. It is the responsible use of the gifts God has given in our intellect and personality channeled in service to the neighbor.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. There is a variety of gifts that God has given: some have the gift of speaking and their speech should be announcing, and reflecting on, the oracles of God - His Word and deeds and promises. Others have the gift of service of various kinds: changing a diaper, changing a tire, changing a lightbulb; preparing a meal, preparing a budget; paying a bill, paying a visit; prayer for one another. The gifts God has given you are not to be used for yourself alone, but for your neighbors, for your church, for the world.
In all of these works of mercy, you will not receive due appreciation or the thanks you deserve. Even more, you will be persecuted, says Jesus. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. In the early Church the witness was the martyr, as St Peter attests. Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you.
For this is the nature of the confessing Church - she who witnesses for and in Christ will surely endure persecution for the name of Christ. Beloved, do not fear the one who can harm the body only. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. You may be tempted to turn back, to retreat to your isolation and pet sins, to qualify your confession or embrace the comfort the world will offer you.
But know this: the comfort the world offers is false and counterfeit. The disciple of Jesus does not find comfort there. Our comfort is in the Holy Spirit’s testimony of Jesus. The Holy pirit’s help and comfort is a comfort in the truth, reminding us that the suffering of this world and life endures but a short time. But the comfort of salvation and life in the kingdom of God will endure forever.
The remaining time of our life, the remaining time of the world is short. The Ascension reminds us that the end of all things is at hand. It is written, Brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water [of Baptism]. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb 10:19-25).
Even as we await the return of the Lord, eagerly and expectantly looking forward to the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, He comes to you now, with His Body and Blood to again forgive your sins, join you to Himself and one another. Here is His promise that He has not left you as orphans. You are not alone. Even so, “Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly.”
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
This Sunday is an in between day. For the disciples the moment of separation from their Lord was a few days back - Thursday. The promise of a new Comforter and Guide is still to be realized. The Lord has ascended, the Helper, whom He will send from the Father, has not yet descended. For the moment they are alone.
What happens when you are left alone? As children, when mom or dad stepped away for a few minutes, or turned theirs backs and we were alone, we immediately found all sorts of mischief to get into. As adults, not much has changed. When we are left alone, or more often, when we seek out isolation, it is typically to find mischief, to pursue our passions, indulge our sins.
St Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirt, exhorts us: be self-controlled and sober minded. That is, avoid willful sin. And he adds, for the sake of your prayers. For intentional, besetting sin impedes true faith and hinders worship. Against this St Peter says, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. This is opposition to lustful sin, which is self-serving and destructive.
Moreover, in times of loneliness, isolation, and temptation, we are given to pray the Psalms, to speak to God His own answer to our sins. Exaudi, hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud. Leave me not comfortless, orphaned, alone. Hide not Your face from me. Turn not Your servant away in anger, O You who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation (Ps 27:7, 9).
The Lord answered this ancient prayer for help by sending Jesus. He descended to the depths of our loneliness and willful isolation, all those dark moments of sin. And by His death, resurrection, and ascension He atoned for them. And this prayer was further answered when Christ, who ascended to the Father, sent the Spirit of truth, the Helper, from the Father. When Jesus says, I will send the Helper from the Father, we learn that no commandment, no preaching of ethics or morals, or commitment to personal improvement can help us. And none of that is the message of the Holy Spirit. None of that is authentic Christianity.
The message and testimony of Christianity is the message and testimony of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies, tells us about Jesus. That is His work. That is the message of Christianity, the proper proclamation of the Church. In other words, “without the Third Article of the Creed, our faith is not a true Christian faith. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Giertz, PFTWB, 67).
The consolation of the Holy Spirit is precisely in His testimony to you of Christ Jesus. He will not make your wallet fat, but He will declare to you the Father’s love to you in and through His Son, who redeemed you, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.
The Holy Spirit declares all this to you in and with His Church. He gathers you together, removing you from your isolation and loneliness, bringing you together in and with Christ your head. He continues to sanctify you, that is, He not only declares that you are holy by faith with the holiness of Christ before the Father; but the Holy Spirit also makes you holy by faith and the indwelling of Christ.
This is why Christ redeemed you: that you may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him. In love, then, you serve Christ by being turned away from yourself and turned toward your neighbor in need, as St Peter directed. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. That is, care not only for the fellow Christian, but even for the stranger and unbeliever. For the Spirit gives gifts to be used in service to one another. St Peter uses the word “stewardship” to describe this life of mercy. Usually in the church “stewardship” means money. But that’s not always, or usually, how Scripture speaks. It is the responsible use of the gifts God has given in our intellect and personality channeled in service to the neighbor.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. There is a variety of gifts that God has given: some have the gift of speaking and their speech should be announcing, and reflecting on, the oracles of God - His Word and deeds and promises. Others have the gift of service of various kinds: changing a diaper, changing a tire, changing a lightbulb; preparing a meal, preparing a budget; paying a bill, paying a visit; prayer for one another. The gifts God has given you are not to be used for yourself alone, but for your neighbors, for your church, for the world.
In all of these works of mercy, you will not receive due appreciation or the thanks you deserve. Even more, you will be persecuted, says Jesus. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. In the early Church the witness was the martyr, as St Peter attests. Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you.
For this is the nature of the confessing Church - she who witnesses for and in Christ will surely endure persecution for the name of Christ. Beloved, do not fear the one who can harm the body only. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. You may be tempted to turn back, to retreat to your isolation and pet sins, to qualify your confession or embrace the comfort the world will offer you.
But know this: the comfort the world offers is false and counterfeit. The disciple of Jesus does not find comfort there. Our comfort is in the Holy Spirit’s testimony of Jesus. The Holy pirit’s help and comfort is a comfort in the truth, reminding us that the suffering of this world and life endures but a short time. But the comfort of salvation and life in the kingdom of God will endure forever.
The remaining time of our life, the remaining time of the world is short. The Ascension reminds us that the end of all things is at hand. It is written, Brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water [of Baptism]. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb 10:19-25).
Even as we await the return of the Lord, eagerly and expectantly looking forward to the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, He comes to you now, with His Body and Blood to again forgive your sins, join you to Himself and one another. Here is His promise that He has not left you as orphans. You are not alone. Even so, “Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly.”
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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