St John 12:1-23/Isaiah 50:5-10
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Today is the Annunciation of our Lord. It is nine months until Christmas. Every so often the commemoration of the angel Gabriel’s announcement of Jesus’ conception within the womb of the Virgin Mary falls on Good Friday. When that happens it is not celebrated until after Easter. Good Friday takes precedent.
Yet they serve as a stark contrast to one another; and a fierce reminder that this is the reason for our Lord’s birth: His death for sinners. That He would die on the day of His conception has a poetic ring to it.
But the conception, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord are not poetry. That is to say, they are not fiction, or fantasy, or fable. They are real. They are historical events. You confess them as such in the Creed. Note all the verbs – Jesus Christ was conceived, born, lived, suffered, died, was buried, descended, rose, ascended, will come. These are action words – the live action of God become Man to redeem fallen men.
For fallen men are like Judas, ready and willing to betray our Lord Christ for whatever seems reasonable at the time. Our flesh is greedy for gain and covetous of the charity and piety of others. We care not for the poor. We merely want to appearance of piety and concern for others. The truth is that we do not love our neighbors as ourselves. We love ourselves.
Repent. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In mercy He comes for you, poor in spirit, broken and contrite in heart. He comes to be your King and raise you from your graves, from the depth of your sin, just as He did Lazarus.
The feet that Mary anointed are those that kicked and squirmed in the womb of Mary. They are the feet of God. He walked this dusty earth. It is written, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Is 52:7). And for you those anointed feet, those beautiful feet, the feet of God, were nailed to the Cross.
Upon the Cross, Christ was a fragrant offering and sacrifice before the Father on your behalf. He is the Atoning Sacrifice; the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. There He paid the penalty for Lazarus and Judas, for you and for me. He gave His back to those who strike, and His cheeks to those who pull out the beard; He hid not His face from disgrace and spitting, as the prophet Isaiah foretold.
Thus the Lord God helps Him. The name ‘Lazarus,’ means, “one who is helped by God.” Indeed Christ became Lazarus, that is, helped by God, vindicated by the Father by being raised from the dead. And our adversaries, sin and death, Satan and hell, have been trounced. Their power has been undone in the very destruction of the Son of God for you.
Behold the Cross of Jesus. There you may see the glory of God that does not destroy you; rather in its light is Life and Peace. In the very wounds of the God-Man, by His shed blood you are reconciled to the Father.
Do you wish to see Jesus? God in the flesh for you? Do not run to the manger, He is not there. Go not even to Golgotha, for He is not there, either. Look here, to His Body and Blood as they ride into this Jerusalem upon bread and wine, for you, for the forgiveness of your sins, for your life and salvation.
Come, you who have been anointed in Holy Baptism, recline at table with Jesus, and receive His very crucified and risen Body and Blood. The announcement of Gabriel is for you – Jesus has come to save you from your sins.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Today is the Annunciation of our Lord. It is nine months until Christmas. Every so often the commemoration of the angel Gabriel’s announcement of Jesus’ conception within the womb of the Virgin Mary falls on Good Friday. When that happens it is not celebrated until after Easter. Good Friday takes precedent.
Yet they serve as a stark contrast to one another; and a fierce reminder that this is the reason for our Lord’s birth: His death for sinners. That He would die on the day of His conception has a poetic ring to it.
But the conception, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord are not poetry. That is to say, they are not fiction, or fantasy, or fable. They are real. They are historical events. You confess them as such in the Creed. Note all the verbs – Jesus Christ was conceived, born, lived, suffered, died, was buried, descended, rose, ascended, will come. These are action words – the live action of God become Man to redeem fallen men.
For fallen men are like Judas, ready and willing to betray our Lord Christ for whatever seems reasonable at the time. Our flesh is greedy for gain and covetous of the charity and piety of others. We care not for the poor. We merely want to appearance of piety and concern for others. The truth is that we do not love our neighbors as ourselves. We love ourselves.
Repent. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In mercy He comes for you, poor in spirit, broken and contrite in heart. He comes to be your King and raise you from your graves, from the depth of your sin, just as He did Lazarus.
The feet that Mary anointed are those that kicked and squirmed in the womb of Mary. They are the feet of God. He walked this dusty earth. It is written, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Is 52:7). And for you those anointed feet, those beautiful feet, the feet of God, were nailed to the Cross.
Upon the Cross, Christ was a fragrant offering and sacrifice before the Father on your behalf. He is the Atoning Sacrifice; the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. There He paid the penalty for Lazarus and Judas, for you and for me. He gave His back to those who strike, and His cheeks to those who pull out the beard; He hid not His face from disgrace and spitting, as the prophet Isaiah foretold.
Thus the Lord God helps Him. The name ‘Lazarus,’ means, “one who is helped by God.” Indeed Christ became Lazarus, that is, helped by God, vindicated by the Father by being raised from the dead. And our adversaries, sin and death, Satan and hell, have been trounced. Their power has been undone in the very destruction of the Son of God for you.
Behold the Cross of Jesus. There you may see the glory of God that does not destroy you; rather in its light is Life and Peace. In the very wounds of the God-Man, by His shed blood you are reconciled to the Father.
Do you wish to see Jesus? God in the flesh for you? Do not run to the manger, He is not there. Go not even to Golgotha, for He is not there, either. Look here, to His Body and Blood as they ride into this Jerusalem upon bread and wine, for you, for the forgiveness of your sins, for your life and salvation.
Come, you who have been anointed in Holy Baptism, recline at table with Jesus, and receive His very crucified and risen Body and Blood. The announcement of Gabriel is for you – Jesus has come to save you from your sins.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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