Revelation 14:6-7; Romans 3:12-19; St Matthew 11:12-19
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Those who lived through the extreme poverty of the Great Depression; who won for us World War II, who came home and built homes, had families and anchored the post war society. We call them the “Greatest Generation.” Those among the many babies being born between 1946 and 1964 we’ve called them the “Baby Boom Generation.” Those born between 1965 and 1980 were deemed to be without identity and an uncertain future. So we call them “Gen X.” Those born after 1981 came of age at the turn of the century, so we simply call them “Millennials.” Now those born after 1997 are being called “Gen Z” or “Zoomers.”
Today, Jesus considers His generation. What should He name them? To what should He compare them? They were like fickle, impossible to please, determined to be difficult, children on the playground. One group calls out to them, “We’ll play a happy song on our flutes, will you dance with us?” But they refuse.
Another says, “Okay, just for you we’ll play a sad song, will you cry with us?” They refuse. They could’ve offered up all kinds of other songs, but it wouldn’t have mattered. Because He didn’t fit their narrative, didn’t march to the beat of their drum, they were determined in their contrary little hearts to oppose Jesus and His Gospel.
I suppose Jesus could've called His opponents the “Childish Generation.” But He waits to name them later. He calls their generation an evil and adulterous generation (Mt 16:4). A faithless and twisted generation (Mt 17:17). Perverse. Foolish.
Today we commemorate the Reformation of the Church and the event that started it all - the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in Wittenberg against the practice of indulgences. Luther’s generation in the 1500s was an evil one too. One where it was taught that one could purchase spiritual benefit rom the church. But whatever you might say about that generation, they weren’t like children. Not only Luther, but many others too, wrestled with serious, adult questions such as, “How can I ever meet God’s expectations of me?” “What do I do about God’s anger that I feel deep down in my bones?” “How can my family and I avoid eternal death?”
Our modern, or is it post-modern, generation isn’t like that. We don’t ponder such eternal questions. We don’t think critically about things like religion and politics and worldviews. Ours is a childish and fickle generation. Our religious questions are more self-centered. “God, why don’t I have everything I want?” “God, why don’t You realize that I deserve better?” “God, why are You allowing these things to happen to me?”
We are the Veruca Salt generation. She’s that difficult, self-centered, awful child in Willie Wonka. Remember? The one who barked at her Daddy, “I want an Oompa Loompa, now.” She’s also the same girl who later demanded the golden goose and it led to her demise. She ended up taking a plunge down the garbage chute.
But whether it’s Jesus’ generation, Luther’s generation, or our generation, one thing is for sure - every generation is an evil generation because it is made up of sinner with evil hearts. Hearts that are turned inward. Hearts turned against Jesus and His grace. Hearts that are not just fickle, but hearts that thoroughly reject Jesus and His gracious message and His gracious ways.
Now, you would never say that you oppose Jesus and His grace. But you know that saying, “Actions speak louder than words?” Yeah? So glance a critical eye at yourself. You expect grace from your spouse when it comes to your short comings, but you don’t give him any. You love to hear about how Jesus died for your sins and forgives you, but you are withholding forgiveness. You say things like, “He’ll pay for that.” Just how many grudges do you have going right now?
On the playground, with those petulant kids, at least its three strikes, you’re out. But with us, its often one strike and you’re out. Remember that reading from the Congregation at Prayer this past week? The one with Peter thinking that forgiveness seven times is merciful enough? Jesus had to correct him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven (Mt 18:22). Its not 490. Its not a math problem. Its a heart problem. Your own. It doesn’t matter if we’re Boomers, Zoomers, Gen Xers, or Millennials, its all the same. We put ourselves in opposition to Jesus. We’ve added to the evil of this generation. There is no distinction. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Our mouths are stopped.
Repentance is needed. Not just because its Reformation Day. Everyday. Stop talking about deserving better. What we all deserve is to go down the eternal garbage chute with Veruca Salt. We need to stop spending all this time complaining about what we deserve and thinking about what we need, and rejoice to see what God has provided right here in our generation. Jesus’ opponents didn’t know it, but they preached the Good News you truly need to hear.
Did you hear what they said? Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yep. And there’s the key. There’s the answer to the heart that rejects Jesus and His grace. Its the heart of the One who totally and completely accepts sinners who oppose Him.
“Look at Jesus!” That’s what John preached in his generation. That’s what Luther preached in his generation. That’s the only hope for sinners in this generation!
Look at Him! The God in the flesh who eats with sinners. Look at Him! Dos in the flesh who drinks with sinners. Look at Him! The One who is God’s grace in the flesh, the One who has befriended a human race of His enemies, by atoning for their sins and the sins of every generation.
Look at Him! The Kingdom of God enfleshed suffering violence at the hands of evil men for sins He didn’t commit. Look at Him! Being seized by force, condemned for the sins of the whole world, including our hypocrisy, our judgmentalism, our gossip and slander and lies.
Look at Him! Who set aside His power in order to be the lamb of God who bears away the sins of the whole world. Look at Him! Bleeding and dying for God-rejectors. Look at Him! The One that God put forth as the Mercy Seat Sacrifice in His Blood which turned away God’s hatred and anger toward every sinner. Look at Him! God’s Righteousness in the flesh, rising from the dead to cancel guilt and break the devil’ stronghold on men’s souls.
Look at Him! Look at Jesus! Look at Him in faith! For He is what God has provided to show forth His grace and righteousness to every generation. He is Just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. That means that in Jesus you are a loved generation. An accepted generation. A favored generation. Through Jesus, salvation unto this generation has come, by God’s free grace and favor.
He has gathered you here as His Church. His holy assembly. Claimed by Him you can call yourselves the “greatest generation.” Not because you made it through the poverty of the Great Depression, but because rich Jesus for your sake became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.
You are the greatest generation, not because you won the Big War against the Nazis, but because Jesus came into the world to win for you the Big One. The battle against Satan and his tyranny. You parade through life as victors, reaping His spoils of war and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.
This is how wisdom is justified by her deeds. That in Christ you walk to the beat of His drum. You love what He loves. Our generation may not wrestle with the same questions of Luther’s. But we need to wrestle with the Reformation questions of “Now what?” We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Amen and amen. Yes. How are we to now act and live? In the righteousness of Christ we are to act righteousness to our neighbors. We are to love our parents, our spouses, our children, our rulers, our pastors. We are to go to Church, hear God’s Word, receive the Sacrament, recall our Baptisms, receive Absolution, pray, praise and give thanks. We are to look to the Law, fulfilled for us in Christ, for all moral behavior.
This is what is looks like to be among the greatest generation. Not because you had many children, but because in Holy Baptism, God has adopted you as His children and gives you what you don’t deserve - a place in His eternal Kingdom. You are His own. And this is how His children believe and behave. For here you live under Him and serve Him by serving your neighbor in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. Just as He is risen from dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Those who lived through the extreme poverty of the Great Depression; who won for us World War II, who came home and built homes, had families and anchored the post war society. We call them the “Greatest Generation.” Those among the many babies being born between 1946 and 1964 we’ve called them the “Baby Boom Generation.” Those born between 1965 and 1980 were deemed to be without identity and an uncertain future. So we call them “Gen X.” Those born after 1981 came of age at the turn of the century, so we simply call them “Millennials.” Now those born after 1997 are being called “Gen Z” or “Zoomers.”
Today, Jesus considers His generation. What should He name them? To what should He compare them? They were like fickle, impossible to please, determined to be difficult, children on the playground. One group calls out to them, “We’ll play a happy song on our flutes, will you dance with us?” But they refuse.
Another says, “Okay, just for you we’ll play a sad song, will you cry with us?” They refuse. They could’ve offered up all kinds of other songs, but it wouldn’t have mattered. Because He didn’t fit their narrative, didn’t march to the beat of their drum, they were determined in their contrary little hearts to oppose Jesus and His Gospel.
I suppose Jesus could've called His opponents the “Childish Generation.” But He waits to name them later. He calls their generation an evil and adulterous generation (Mt 16:4). A faithless and twisted generation (Mt 17:17). Perverse. Foolish.
Today we commemorate the Reformation of the Church and the event that started it all - the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in Wittenberg against the practice of indulgences. Luther’s generation in the 1500s was an evil one too. One where it was taught that one could purchase spiritual benefit rom the church. But whatever you might say about that generation, they weren’t like children. Not only Luther, but many others too, wrestled with serious, adult questions such as, “How can I ever meet God’s expectations of me?” “What do I do about God’s anger that I feel deep down in my bones?” “How can my family and I avoid eternal death?”
Our modern, or is it post-modern, generation isn’t like that. We don’t ponder such eternal questions. We don’t think critically about things like religion and politics and worldviews. Ours is a childish and fickle generation. Our religious questions are more self-centered. “God, why don’t I have everything I want?” “God, why don’t You realize that I deserve better?” “God, why are You allowing these things to happen to me?”
We are the Veruca Salt generation. She’s that difficult, self-centered, awful child in Willie Wonka. Remember? The one who barked at her Daddy, “I want an Oompa Loompa, now.” She’s also the same girl who later demanded the golden goose and it led to her demise. She ended up taking a plunge down the garbage chute.
But whether it’s Jesus’ generation, Luther’s generation, or our generation, one thing is for sure - every generation is an evil generation because it is made up of sinner with evil hearts. Hearts that are turned inward. Hearts turned against Jesus and His grace. Hearts that are not just fickle, but hearts that thoroughly reject Jesus and His gracious message and His gracious ways.
Now, you would never say that you oppose Jesus and His grace. But you know that saying, “Actions speak louder than words?” Yeah? So glance a critical eye at yourself. You expect grace from your spouse when it comes to your short comings, but you don’t give him any. You love to hear about how Jesus died for your sins and forgives you, but you are withholding forgiveness. You say things like, “He’ll pay for that.” Just how many grudges do you have going right now?
On the playground, with those petulant kids, at least its three strikes, you’re out. But with us, its often one strike and you’re out. Remember that reading from the Congregation at Prayer this past week? The one with Peter thinking that forgiveness seven times is merciful enough? Jesus had to correct him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven (Mt 18:22). Its not 490. Its not a math problem. Its a heart problem. Your own. It doesn’t matter if we’re Boomers, Zoomers, Gen Xers, or Millennials, its all the same. We put ourselves in opposition to Jesus. We’ve added to the evil of this generation. There is no distinction. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Our mouths are stopped.
Repentance is needed. Not just because its Reformation Day. Everyday. Stop talking about deserving better. What we all deserve is to go down the eternal garbage chute with Veruca Salt. We need to stop spending all this time complaining about what we deserve and thinking about what we need, and rejoice to see what God has provided right here in our generation. Jesus’ opponents didn’t know it, but they preached the Good News you truly need to hear.
Did you hear what they said? Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yep. And there’s the key. There’s the answer to the heart that rejects Jesus and His grace. Its the heart of the One who totally and completely accepts sinners who oppose Him.
“Look at Jesus!” That’s what John preached in his generation. That’s what Luther preached in his generation. That’s the only hope for sinners in this generation!
Look at Him! The God in the flesh who eats with sinners. Look at Him! Dos in the flesh who drinks with sinners. Look at Him! The One who is God’s grace in the flesh, the One who has befriended a human race of His enemies, by atoning for their sins and the sins of every generation.
Look at Him! The Kingdom of God enfleshed suffering violence at the hands of evil men for sins He didn’t commit. Look at Him! Being seized by force, condemned for the sins of the whole world, including our hypocrisy, our judgmentalism, our gossip and slander and lies.
Look at Him! Who set aside His power in order to be the lamb of God who bears away the sins of the whole world. Look at Him! Bleeding and dying for God-rejectors. Look at Him! The One that God put forth as the Mercy Seat Sacrifice in His Blood which turned away God’s hatred and anger toward every sinner. Look at Him! God’s Righteousness in the flesh, rising from the dead to cancel guilt and break the devil’ stronghold on men’s souls.
Look at Him! Look at Jesus! Look at Him in faith! For He is what God has provided to show forth His grace and righteousness to every generation. He is Just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. That means that in Jesus you are a loved generation. An accepted generation. A favored generation. Through Jesus, salvation unto this generation has come, by God’s free grace and favor.
He has gathered you here as His Church. His holy assembly. Claimed by Him you can call yourselves the “greatest generation.” Not because you made it through the poverty of the Great Depression, but because rich Jesus for your sake became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.
You are the greatest generation, not because you won the Big War against the Nazis, but because Jesus came into the world to win for you the Big One. The battle against Satan and his tyranny. You parade through life as victors, reaping His spoils of war and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.
This is how wisdom is justified by her deeds. That in Christ you walk to the beat of His drum. You love what He loves. Our generation may not wrestle with the same questions of Luther’s. But we need to wrestle with the Reformation questions of “Now what?” We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Amen and amen. Yes. How are we to now act and live? In the righteousness of Christ we are to act righteousness to our neighbors. We are to love our parents, our spouses, our children, our rulers, our pastors. We are to go to Church, hear God’s Word, receive the Sacrament, recall our Baptisms, receive Absolution, pray, praise and give thanks. We are to look to the Law, fulfilled for us in Christ, for all moral behavior.
This is what is looks like to be among the greatest generation. Not because you had many children, but because in Holy Baptism, God has adopted you as His children and gives you what you don’t deserve - a place in His eternal Kingdom. You are His own. And this is how His children believe and behave. For here you live under Him and serve Him by serving your neighbor in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. Just as He is risen from dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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