+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 10:3
Theme: Into the Fray
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
True joy is a gift. It cannot be purchased, manufactured, or even taught; at least not in this life. There is no blueprint, no program; no protocol. The wealthy are often more discontented than the poor. The comedian is often more unhappy than his audience. The politician is often more pessimistic than her electorate. The doctor is sometimes even more unhealthy than his patient. Joy can only be gifted and received for the gift that it is.
Christian joy has a direct and inverse relationship with sin. Sin stimulates our sinful natures but winds up leaving us hollow and empty. The forgiveness of sins acquires for us true joy. But it is not obtained without struggle. Repentance is the gift of cutting ties with our self-interests (our idols) and trusting in the one true God. Of course it’s not logical or natural for the unbelieving world to see it this way. So the Christian enlisted in the venture of the gospel is necessarily sent out into the fray. In the contest we receive battle scars. You know what yours are. But Christ says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”1
Today Jesus sends out the 72 on their mission saying, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” 2 What is the harvest potential today? Many need to hear the gospel but how receptive will they be? The era of Christianity being a dominant influence in our culture is quickly fading. We can no longer assume even a common basis of morality. Cultural tenets about sexuality and marriage, the sanctity of life, the care of the earth and even the existence of humanity are being profoundly impacted by philosophies that compete with or directly oppose Judeo-Christian truth. This is nothing new but it is an increasingly radical departure from the recent past. The 72 were sent out like lambs among wolves. Should we expect anything different?
When God’s word is proclaimed the Holy Spirit convicts people in their sin and unbelief. His truth will cause confrontation and even offence. Christ makes it clear that if the 72 were not welcomed they were to serve warning, “Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you.”3 He gave the same advice to the apostles. One commentator explains it this way, “The dust from any place that does not receive their preaching is profane, to be shaken off, lest it stain God’s people and be brought into God’s house as they enter the presence of the ‘new temple.’”4 Exactly such action had to be taken in Acts 135. It was a preview of Jesus’ strong words later, “The one who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”6
Until the law of God does its work there is no appetite for the gospel. Those who are not sinners don’t need a Saviour. The mission of the church is not to refine the masses so that the effects of unbelief are more palatable and civilized. Unbelief is finally a denial of the consequences of sin. God’s intent is to crucify the sinful nature with all its attendant ways and grant new life in Christ. This is not a one-off action but the continual work of the law and the gospel in the lives of believers. Your sin is no more, but no less condemning than it was the day you were baptized.
We must learn to be measured in our judgments and sensitive in our approach. St. Paul says, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.7 The goal of spiritual care is always to restore and nurture. Remember what the Lord says, “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”8
Joy always accompanies the true reception of the gospel but the challenges of investing in those opportunities can be significant. A missionary in Africa was once asked if he really liked what he was doing. His response seemed shocking. "Do I like this work?" he said. "No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonable refined sensibilities. We do not like crawling into vile huts through goat refuse...But is a man to do nothing for Christ he does not like? God pity him, if not. Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to 'Go,' and we go. Love constrains us." His response may be a little crass, but it brings across an important point. Life isn’t all about personal happiness. Christianity involves a commitment to a greater cause. It requires that we get down into the trenches. It entails getting entangled in the muck and mire of people’s lives. It means constantly assessing whether or not we are just living by our own benchmark or whether we are living in Christ.
What exactly this entails is different for each individual and each congregation. It may incur financial cost. It may involve emotional turmoil. It may require the sacrifice of our preferred priorities. It may involve surrender of our short-term goals and long-term dreams. It may end in a complete transformation of who we are and what we thought we were all about. Though uncertain of what it may cost there is no doubt what it promises. It always rests on the promise of the Word. It always holds to the hidden mystery of our baptismal inheritance. It always awaits the advent of the Saviour. It always yearns to be clothed with life immortal. It continually takes leave of the past and advances into the future.
Are we only looking for fleeting happiness when God offers us enduring joy? Paul said today, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and, and I to the world.”9 Christ died and rose again that we might have abundant life.
Here is joy- in the baptismal water that grafts one into a family where they will never be forgotten.
“Take they our life, Goods, fame, child, and wife;
though these all be gone, yet have our foes not won;
the kingdom ours remaineth.”10
Here is joy- in the absolution declared in the name of the triune God. The iniquities that haunt you and the failures that accuse you- they are wiped away, forgiven. You have a clean slate, here and now. Here is joy- in this morsel of bread and sip of wine that conveys to you the immortal body and blood of the crucified and risen Lord. All the riches in the world are not worth as much as these sacred delicacies. Drenched with the Spirit they convey to you the power and presence of the unremitting mercy of God.
Dear friends, believers now march into strong headwinds. But that means the opportunities are plentiful. You are Christ’s hands and feet to someone. All find their place under Christ the head. So, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”11 Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
7 July 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 5:11-12
2 Luke 10:2
3 Luke 10:11
4 Arthur Just, Concordia Commentary
5 See Acts 13:51
6 Luke 12:9
7 Galatians 6:1
8 Luke 15:10
9 Galatians 6:14
10 LW, 195
11 Hebrews 12:2
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 9:58
Theme: A Place for the Son of Man
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Christ wasn’t always well-received. There was too much at stake for Him to be universally amenable to all. Strongholds had to be contested. Agendas had to be disputed. Sin had to be confronted. Power had to be challenged. Truth had to be established. The Father did not send the Son on a mission of inquiry but of rescue. Christ was not a tourist, but a Saviour; not a sightseer, but a spectacle hung publicly on the cross. In this way God reclaims and redeems His insubordinate creation.
Christ set His face for Jerusalem and He met resistance. The Samaritans had a long and reciprocal relationship of in-hospitableness with the Jews. They did not welcome Jesus as He passed through their town. It was a deliberate transgression of the social standards of hospitality. “When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’”1 Quick to judge they not only overstepped their authority they also misjudged the nature of the Messiah’s mission.
Intimidation and fear are often the tactics of the self-righteous. They can be highly effective. During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. "You were one of Stalin's colleagues. Why didn't you stop him?" "Who said that?" roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, "Now you know why."
Satan seeks to immobilize us with fear- a particular kind of fear that casts a jaundiced eye towards God. Our impulse to secure our wants makes us easy targets. Does Satan not know how easily we are tempted to build our own kingdoms before God’s? King David built the royal palace first. He never received God’s blessings to build the temple. God had greater things to build- namely, the kingdom of His Son.
Christians must be mindful that the mission of Christ is still opposed today because it is perceived as a threat to the power structures of the unbelieving world. Luther teaches us accordingly. “The kingdom of grace is and remains a secret kingdom, concealed from this world, maintained in Word and faith until the time of its revelation. Consequently, the godless do not like or desire it…Why not? Because such a kingdom, as I said before, condemns and rejects all their outward works and ways in which they trust and asks them instead to trust in God’s grace, which is mysterious and concealed, being promised solely by His word and comprehended only by faith.”2
The greatest struggle of the believer is to always take God at His word; to trust Him in all circumstances. At the core of every consideration to act independently from God’s will is the question of God’s fidelity. Can we count on God or will He overlook our concerns? Belief in God is not a matter of holding to a prescribed set of philosophical descriptions of Him. We don’t construct a theoretical fact sheet about God’s attributes- His omnipotence, His holiness, His eternal existence, His essential grace, mercy, and benevolence- and then banter these about in conversation that neither informs nor impacts the real decisions and struggles we face each day. This is a danger for theologians and pietistic Christians. God becomes a subject of formal discussion but not a refuge for penitent sinners.
God has flesh and blood in the person of Jesus. He is not a coach on the sidelines. He is in the heat of the battle with you. “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin.”3 When temptation comes you are only fooling yourself if you say, “It’s easy for me to trust God completely, what’s difficult is not giving in or giving up.” The Christian tempted by greed may say to himself, “I believe God fully, but I can’t resist advancing my financial position at some else’s expense.” The believer attracted to a man that’s not her spouse may say to herself, “My faith in God is unwavering; it’s my fascination with this member of the opposite sex that is troubling me.” The teenager wanting to resist parental authority may say to him or herself, “I agree with all that I learned in confirmation about God and His commands it’s just my parents I have a problem with.”
And just like that struggle with temptation is separated from the plan of the Father, the promise of the Son, and the presence of the Spirit. You see, the core issue is that you really aren’t trusting God fully to provide or deliver. The avaricious person doesn’t trust God will provide enough financial security. The charmed person doesn’t trust God will provide for them through their spouse. The rebellious teenager doesn’t believe God has given them parents attentive to their particular needs. So whether we are grieving, doubting, hurting or battling we should not seek to distance ourselves as if we didn’t need Christ.
When we understand this more fully (and honestly) it gives a more biblical perspective and focus to our Christian journey. Bearing the cross, living the baptismal life is a pilgrimage of repentance that draws us closer to Christ. Often we don’t want God’s answers because we already know what His answer will be. The struggle is trusting that His will is always best even when we suffer hardship in the midst of it. God can take the best laid human plans and turn them into an unmitigated disaster. Conversely, He can bring good out of the bleakest situation. We are naïve, foolish or arrogant to think these things are ultimately in our control.
Dear friends, God is not inattentive. More importantly, Christ is never stingy. What does the Scripture say, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”4 You are baptized and that means something. God does not place His name on you lightly. Those who bear His name are never forsaken by Him. He has released you from the unbearable and impossible task of making amends for your sins. His forgiveness can then penetrate all of your relationships. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”5 If we look to Christianity as a guarantee of our earthly happiness then we fundamentally misunderstand who Christ is and what our purpose is in the world as His followers.
Jesus said today, “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”6 He did not come to indulge the pleasures of this existence. His place was on a cross so that ours might be in His royal presence. His head was not meant for a pillow but a crown of thorns. But crowned in disgrace He deposed Satan from his throne. Our place is with the Son of Man. His resurrection is the preview and promise of our resurrection. His Father is our Father. His inheritance is our inheritance. His kingdom is our kingdom. We are clothed with His righteousness and fed with His sacred food. We have much more than a place to lay our heads, we have an eternal home. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
30 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 9:54
2 Luther’s Works AE p. 30
3 Hebrews 4:15
4 1 John 3:1
5 Galatians 6:22-23
6 Luke 9:58
Text: Luke 9:58
Theme: A Place for the Son of Man
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Christ wasn’t always well-received. There was too much at stake for Him to be universally amenable to all. Strongholds had to be contested. Agendas had to be disputed. Sin had to be confronted. Power had to be challenged. Truth had to be established. The Father did not send the Son on a mission of inquiry but of rescue. Christ was not a tourist, but a Saviour; not a sightseer, but a spectacle hung publicly on the cross. In this way God reclaims and redeems His insubordinate creation.
Christ set His face for Jerusalem and He met resistance. The Samaritans had a long and reciprocal relationship of in-hospitableness with the Jews. They did not welcome Jesus as He passed through their town. It was a deliberate transgression of the social standards of hospitality. “When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’”1 Quick to judge they not only overstepped their authority they also misjudged the nature of the Messiah’s mission.
Intimidation and fear are often the tactics of the self-righteous. They can be highly effective. During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. "You were one of Stalin's colleagues. Why didn't you stop him?" "Who said that?" roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, "Now you know why."
Satan seeks to immobilize us with fear- a particular kind of fear that casts a jaundiced eye towards God. Our impulse to secure our wants makes us easy targets. Does Satan not know how easily we are tempted to build our own kingdoms before God’s? King David built the royal palace first. He never received God’s blessings to build the temple. God had greater things to build- namely, the kingdom of His Son.
Christians must be mindful that the mission of Christ is still opposed today because it is perceived as a threat to the power structures of the unbelieving world. Luther teaches us accordingly. “The kingdom of grace is and remains a secret kingdom, concealed from this world, maintained in Word and faith until the time of its revelation. Consequently, the godless do not like or desire it…Why not? Because such a kingdom, as I said before, condemns and rejects all their outward works and ways in which they trust and asks them instead to trust in God’s grace, which is mysterious and concealed, being promised solely by His word and comprehended only by faith.”2
The greatest struggle of the believer is to always take God at His word; to trust Him in all circumstances. At the core of every consideration to act independently from God’s will is the question of God’s fidelity. Can we count on God or will He overlook our concerns? Belief in God is not a matter of holding to a prescribed set of philosophical descriptions of Him. We don’t construct a theoretical fact sheet about God’s attributes- His omnipotence, His holiness, His eternal existence, His essential grace, mercy, and benevolence- and then banter these about in conversation that neither informs nor impacts the real decisions and struggles we face each day. This is a danger for theologians and pietistic Christians. God becomes a subject of formal discussion but not a refuge for penitent sinners.
God has flesh and blood in the person of Jesus. He is not a coach on the sidelines. He is in the heat of the battle with you. “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin.”3 When temptation comes you are only fooling yourself if you say, “It’s easy for me to trust God completely, what’s difficult is not giving in or giving up.” The Christian tempted by greed may say to himself, “I believe God fully, but I can’t resist advancing my financial position at some else’s expense.” The believer attracted to a man that’s not her spouse may say to herself, “My faith in God is unwavering; it’s my fascination with this member of the opposite sex that is troubling me.” The teenager wanting to resist parental authority may say to him or herself, “I agree with all that I learned in confirmation about God and His commands it’s just my parents I have a problem with.”
And just like that struggle with temptation is separated from the plan of the Father, the promise of the Son, and the presence of the Spirit. You see, the core issue is that you really aren’t trusting God fully to provide or deliver. The avaricious person doesn’t trust God will provide enough financial security. The charmed person doesn’t trust God will provide for them through their spouse. The rebellious teenager doesn’t believe God has given them parents attentive to their particular needs. So whether we are grieving, doubting, hurting or battling we should not seek to distance ourselves as if we didn’t need Christ.
When we understand this more fully (and honestly) it gives a more biblical perspective and focus to our Christian journey. Bearing the cross, living the baptismal life is a pilgrimage of repentance that draws us closer to Christ. Often we don’t want God’s answers because we already know what His answer will be. The struggle is trusting that His will is always best even when we suffer hardship in the midst of it. God can take the best laid human plans and turn them into an unmitigated disaster. Conversely, He can bring good out of the bleakest situation. We are naïve, foolish or arrogant to think these things are ultimately in our control.
Dear friends, God is not inattentive. More importantly, Christ is never stingy. What does the Scripture say, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”4 You are baptized and that means something. God does not place His name on you lightly. Those who bear His name are never forsaken by Him. He has released you from the unbearable and impossible task of making amends for your sins. His forgiveness can then penetrate all of your relationships. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”5 If we look to Christianity as a guarantee of our earthly happiness then we fundamentally misunderstand who Christ is and what our purpose is in the world as His followers.
Jesus said today, “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”6 He did not come to indulge the pleasures of this existence. His place was on a cross so that ours might be in His royal presence. His head was not meant for a pillow but a crown of thorns. But crowned in disgrace He deposed Satan from his throne. Our place is with the Son of Man. His resurrection is the preview and promise of our resurrection. His Father is our Father. His inheritance is our inheritance. His kingdom is our kingdom. We are clothed with His righteousness and fed with His sacred food. We have much more than a place to lay our heads, we have an eternal home. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
30 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 9:54
2 Luther’s Works AE p. 30
3 Hebrews 4:15
4 1 John 3:1
5 Galatians 6:22-23
6 Luke 9:58
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 8:35
Theme: Freed From Bondage
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Where Jesus walks the devil can have no peace. Divine light pierces his dark realm. Truth exposes his lies. Hope and peace are given to hearts Satan formerly ruled with despair and turmoil. Christ releases from bondage minds and wills the devil keeps captive. It is these things we pray for when we petition our heavenly Father in the Lord’s Prayer to deliver us from evil; particularly the schemes of the evil one.
We cannot ignore the large number of incidents recorded in the New Testament in which Jesus encounters demons or evil spirits. It would be easy to dismiss these encounters as historical relics of a by-gone era. In a culture that still lives off the capital of rationalism these incidents seem amusing but benign. Often such occurrences are simply equated with psychological or emotional problems. But this hardly does justice to the spiritual truths demanding to be recognized. Each encounter was a confrontation with Satan- a confrontation with evil.
Today’s incident between Jesus and spiritual evil bears the marks of a pattern we see developed throughout the narratives of the New Testament. Yet particular details are exceptional. The recognition by the evil spirits that Jesus was the Son of God is typical but telling. Demons recognize Christ but will not honour Him. Remarkable in this encounter is the magnitude of evil’s presence. “Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?”1 He replied that his name was Legion. A legion was a Roman military force consisting of between 4,000 and 6,000 soldiers. Extraordinary too, is the action of Jesus sending the demons into a herd of pigs.
It may seem challenging to relate this amazing account to current circumstances. The unchanged reality of evil may be a good starting point. Sin isn’t limited to ethical or moral failure as we commonly understand it. The foundation of sin is unbelief. Even with the best of intention any pursuit of life that proceeds in defiance of God’ truth is false, unrighteous, and evil by definition. Commenting on the original fall into sin, Luther said of Satan, “He led them from the external Word of God to spiritualizing and to their own imaginations, and he did this through other eternal words.”2 Adam and Eve reasoned that it wasn’t necessary to take God at His word. Faith must cling to God’s revealed word.
Faith dares to venture to places where human wisdom forbids us to go. Faith is always confronted by conventional prudence that advises against risk. Faith clings to God’s promises in Christ which often seem to amount to little in the eyes of the world. The world says, “Hastily avoid pain.” Faith says, “Wait for God’s deliverance.” The world says, “Please yourself!” Faith says, “Consider others.” The world says, “Justify and defend yourself.” Faith says, “Be willing to suffer wrong for others.” The world says, “Fear those who pose a physical threat.” The Saviour says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”3 The Holy Spirit must teach us godly fear.
Two explorers were on a jungle safari when suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them. "Keep calm" the first explorer whispered. "Remember what we read in that book on wild animals? If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run." "Sure," replied his companion. "You've read the book, and I've read the book. But has the lion read the book?" When our fear is the greatest, where do we turn for help? Has everyone read The Book? Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”4
How is this so? Not by show of pride but of humility. The Son of the Most High God5 was not too vain to take on human flesh and blood and walk the paths of sinners. He was not so self-involved that He saved His own skin first. He hungered. He thirsted. He had no place to lay His head. He was ridiculed, beaten, scourged, and mocked. All His companions abandoned Him. Most importantly He was crucified with criminals. Salvation could be accomplished in no other way. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of the Father, gave Himself over in sacrifice for our iniquities. And He lives! He is risen to give us life. His love is so gentle it will not harm a child prematurely born but so strong it cannot be destroyed by all the hatred Satan can muster. His life is yours; by grace, through faith.
What does the apostle say to believers? “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”6 He feeds you with His own body and blood, the antidote for evil. He casts your sins away as far as the east is from the west. Like the man in bondage today He releases you from sin’s grip.
We have freedom. We are free to love without restraint. We are liberated to serve those who are still bound. But we do not have license to act apart from God’s word. We do not have license to establish our own standard of morality. We do not have warrant to excuse our sins under the guise of freedom. We have a high calling to address in godly wisdom and truth the sufferings and hardships of others. We do not live as lone rangers. Christ’s goal for us is not to be independent, isolated, and self-reliant. We are members of His body and as such we compliment all the others.
It was Cain that first expressed the inclination of humanity to wash its hands of responsibility to care for others. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”7 It was a model for Pilate who washed his and declared himself innocent of the blood of Christ8. Such declarations, even by those in authority, have no standing before the Almighty. There is a difference between meddling in the affairs of others and coming to their aid in a time of need. Sins of omission are no less damning than sins of commission.
And we should never think that our responsibility concerns only the physical needs of others. Spiritual well-being is always the believer’s first concern. We should never neglect the greater concern at the expense of the lesser. Jesus chastised the Pharisees for this reason.9 The body can pass into eternity worn and frail but the soul cannot enter into heaven without Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
Dear friends, it is for our own well-being that we are not privy to all the mysteries of God’s actions. Sometimes God calms the storm. Other times He lets the storm rage and calms the child. Sometimes God heals the body. Other times he lets the sickness rage and heals the soul. Sometimes God silences Satan immediately. Other times He lets him speak so that we can learn to know the Master’s voice. Sometimes God answers prayer before it is even offered. Other times He forces the pray-er further to his or her knees. Sometimes God removes the stumbling block to faith before we even know it’s in our path. Other times He allows us to stumble so we see we’re on the wrong road.
All these things He does not impulsively but with divine foresight and compassion. He does not seek to toy with us but to ground us more firmly in His grace. The demons who were ‘Legion’ identified Him as the Son of God and cried out in fear. If such great powers were subdued by Him do you not think that this same Son of God cannot calm your every fear, address your every need, and fulfill your every hope? The Scripture says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”10
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
23 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 8:30
2 Smalcald Articles 312, 5
3 Matthew 10:28
4 John 16:33
5 See Luke 8:28
6 Galatians 3:26-27
7 Genesis 4:9
8 See Matthew 7:24
9 See Matthew 23:23
10 2 Corinthians 1:20
Text: Luke 8:35
Theme: Freed From Bondage
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Where Jesus walks the devil can have no peace. Divine light pierces his dark realm. Truth exposes his lies. Hope and peace are given to hearts Satan formerly ruled with despair and turmoil. Christ releases from bondage minds and wills the devil keeps captive. It is these things we pray for when we petition our heavenly Father in the Lord’s Prayer to deliver us from evil; particularly the schemes of the evil one.
We cannot ignore the large number of incidents recorded in the New Testament in which Jesus encounters demons or evil spirits. It would be easy to dismiss these encounters as historical relics of a by-gone era. In a culture that still lives off the capital of rationalism these incidents seem amusing but benign. Often such occurrences are simply equated with psychological or emotional problems. But this hardly does justice to the spiritual truths demanding to be recognized. Each encounter was a confrontation with Satan- a confrontation with evil.
Today’s incident between Jesus and spiritual evil bears the marks of a pattern we see developed throughout the narratives of the New Testament. Yet particular details are exceptional. The recognition by the evil spirits that Jesus was the Son of God is typical but telling. Demons recognize Christ but will not honour Him. Remarkable in this encounter is the magnitude of evil’s presence. “Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?”1 He replied that his name was Legion. A legion was a Roman military force consisting of between 4,000 and 6,000 soldiers. Extraordinary too, is the action of Jesus sending the demons into a herd of pigs.
It may seem challenging to relate this amazing account to current circumstances. The unchanged reality of evil may be a good starting point. Sin isn’t limited to ethical or moral failure as we commonly understand it. The foundation of sin is unbelief. Even with the best of intention any pursuit of life that proceeds in defiance of God’ truth is false, unrighteous, and evil by definition. Commenting on the original fall into sin, Luther said of Satan, “He led them from the external Word of God to spiritualizing and to their own imaginations, and he did this through other eternal words.”2 Adam and Eve reasoned that it wasn’t necessary to take God at His word. Faith must cling to God’s revealed word.
Faith dares to venture to places where human wisdom forbids us to go. Faith is always confronted by conventional prudence that advises against risk. Faith clings to God’s promises in Christ which often seem to amount to little in the eyes of the world. The world says, “Hastily avoid pain.” Faith says, “Wait for God’s deliverance.” The world says, “Please yourself!” Faith says, “Consider others.” The world says, “Justify and defend yourself.” Faith says, “Be willing to suffer wrong for others.” The world says, “Fear those who pose a physical threat.” The Saviour says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”3 The Holy Spirit must teach us godly fear.
Two explorers were on a jungle safari when suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them. "Keep calm" the first explorer whispered. "Remember what we read in that book on wild animals? If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run." "Sure," replied his companion. "You've read the book, and I've read the book. But has the lion read the book?" When our fear is the greatest, where do we turn for help? Has everyone read The Book? Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”4
How is this so? Not by show of pride but of humility. The Son of the Most High God5 was not too vain to take on human flesh and blood and walk the paths of sinners. He was not so self-involved that He saved His own skin first. He hungered. He thirsted. He had no place to lay His head. He was ridiculed, beaten, scourged, and mocked. All His companions abandoned Him. Most importantly He was crucified with criminals. Salvation could be accomplished in no other way. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of the Father, gave Himself over in sacrifice for our iniquities. And He lives! He is risen to give us life. His love is so gentle it will not harm a child prematurely born but so strong it cannot be destroyed by all the hatred Satan can muster. His life is yours; by grace, through faith.
What does the apostle say to believers? “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”6 He feeds you with His own body and blood, the antidote for evil. He casts your sins away as far as the east is from the west. Like the man in bondage today He releases you from sin’s grip.
We have freedom. We are free to love without restraint. We are liberated to serve those who are still bound. But we do not have license to act apart from God’s word. We do not have license to establish our own standard of morality. We do not have warrant to excuse our sins under the guise of freedom. We have a high calling to address in godly wisdom and truth the sufferings and hardships of others. We do not live as lone rangers. Christ’s goal for us is not to be independent, isolated, and self-reliant. We are members of His body and as such we compliment all the others.
It was Cain that first expressed the inclination of humanity to wash its hands of responsibility to care for others. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”7 It was a model for Pilate who washed his and declared himself innocent of the blood of Christ8. Such declarations, even by those in authority, have no standing before the Almighty. There is a difference between meddling in the affairs of others and coming to their aid in a time of need. Sins of omission are no less damning than sins of commission.
And we should never think that our responsibility concerns only the physical needs of others. Spiritual well-being is always the believer’s first concern. We should never neglect the greater concern at the expense of the lesser. Jesus chastised the Pharisees for this reason.9 The body can pass into eternity worn and frail but the soul cannot enter into heaven without Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
Dear friends, it is for our own well-being that we are not privy to all the mysteries of God’s actions. Sometimes God calms the storm. Other times He lets the storm rage and calms the child. Sometimes God heals the body. Other times he lets the sickness rage and heals the soul. Sometimes God silences Satan immediately. Other times He lets him speak so that we can learn to know the Master’s voice. Sometimes God answers prayer before it is even offered. Other times He forces the pray-er further to his or her knees. Sometimes God removes the stumbling block to faith before we even know it’s in our path. Other times He allows us to stumble so we see we’re on the wrong road.
All these things He does not impulsively but with divine foresight and compassion. He does not seek to toy with us but to ground us more firmly in His grace. The demons who were ‘Legion’ identified Him as the Son of God and cried out in fear. If such great powers were subdued by Him do you not think that this same Son of God cannot calm your every fear, address your every need, and fulfill your every hope? The Scripture says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”10
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
23 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 8:30
2 Smalcald Articles 312, 5
3 Matthew 10:28
4 John 16:33
5 See Luke 8:28
6 Galatians 3:26-27
7 Genesis 4:9
8 See Matthew 7:24
9 See Matthew 23:23
10 2 Corinthians 1:20
Friday, June 14, 2013
Christian Burial of Colin Lloyd 14 June 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 11:25
Theme: Life In Christ
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Colin, Cindy, Tanya, Cory, and especially you, Janet,
Words are sometimes hollow substitutes for expressions that require something more substantial. A sympathetic embrace can render words insignificant. Grieving is a holistic enterprise. It engages us; mind, body, soul and spirit. It occupies our thoughts, seizes our emotions, and even affects us physically. It is proper that it should be this way because when we grieve we confront ultimate things. Death is not a fictitious problem. It is the very epitome of reality beyond our control.
Yet there are appropriate words to be said because there is One who says them with authority. Christ was no stranger to death. But death could not hold Him and it is His words that matter. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”1 He said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”2 Colin is now embraced with divine love. Thanks be to God!
Colin was a man of few words. But that didn’t mean he had little to say. He had his ways to speak clearly. Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs fit Colin well. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”3 “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”4 Colin certainly used words with restraint and he was even-tempered.
Colin was a devoted husband and father. He was loved by his family and loved them immensely. He was respected in the community. He was loyal to his church. He was found regularly in God’s house hearing His word, taking communion and receiving forgiveness. All these things he did with integrity still knowing he required God’s mercy.
Colin was saved by grace just like every sinner. He was the beneficiary of the boundless mercy of God shown in Jesus Christ. He was baptized into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit into whose presence he has now been received. Colin no longer suffers silently. His burdens have been lifted. He cares and concerns have dissolved. He has received the reward of faith. He is at peace.
But we continue on with our journey here, temporary as it is. Mortality is no laughing matter. There is no opting out of the discussion. Each day is a gift, not an entitlement. The widely held opinion that we should all die at a ripe old age is merely a human construct. To fall short of this gives no one the right to cry unfair. No mortal can stand on their own justified before the Almighty. Only Christ’s sacrifice on the cross counts. There the price for sin is paid. Only His resurrection offers true and eternal life. Christians should not live life seeking to avoid the topic of death as long as possible. Rather, we cherish every day of life we are granted on this journey to a much greater existence.
Colin was never one to have a fuss made over him. He wasn’t really one for fanfare. He loved the quiet of the river and the opportunity for reflection that it offered. Words weren’t really required. But Colin did have to tolerate some fanfare and some important words when he was received into his heavenly home; as the Scripture says, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”5
These were Christ’s words to Colin. He was blessed richly in His life and He was a rich blessing to others. Jan, your comfort is in the words of the Apostle Paul who said, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”6 These are His words of promise. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial for Colin David Lloyd
14 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 11:25
2 Revelation 1:17-18
3 Proverbs 10:19
4 Proverbs 17:27
5 Matthew 25:34
6 Romans 8:37-39
Text: John 11:25
Theme: Life In Christ
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Colin, Cindy, Tanya, Cory, and especially you, Janet,
Words are sometimes hollow substitutes for expressions that require something more substantial. A sympathetic embrace can render words insignificant. Grieving is a holistic enterprise. It engages us; mind, body, soul and spirit. It occupies our thoughts, seizes our emotions, and even affects us physically. It is proper that it should be this way because when we grieve we confront ultimate things. Death is not a fictitious problem. It is the very epitome of reality beyond our control.
Yet there are appropriate words to be said because there is One who says them with authority. Christ was no stranger to death. But death could not hold Him and it is His words that matter. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”1 He said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”2 Colin is now embraced with divine love. Thanks be to God!
Colin was a man of few words. But that didn’t mean he had little to say. He had his ways to speak clearly. Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs fit Colin well. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”3 “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”4 Colin certainly used words with restraint and he was even-tempered.
Colin was a devoted husband and father. He was loved by his family and loved them immensely. He was respected in the community. He was loyal to his church. He was found regularly in God’s house hearing His word, taking communion and receiving forgiveness. All these things he did with integrity still knowing he required God’s mercy.
Colin was saved by grace just like every sinner. He was the beneficiary of the boundless mercy of God shown in Jesus Christ. He was baptized into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit into whose presence he has now been received. Colin no longer suffers silently. His burdens have been lifted. He cares and concerns have dissolved. He has received the reward of faith. He is at peace.
But we continue on with our journey here, temporary as it is. Mortality is no laughing matter. There is no opting out of the discussion. Each day is a gift, not an entitlement. The widely held opinion that we should all die at a ripe old age is merely a human construct. To fall short of this gives no one the right to cry unfair. No mortal can stand on their own justified before the Almighty. Only Christ’s sacrifice on the cross counts. There the price for sin is paid. Only His resurrection offers true and eternal life. Christians should not live life seeking to avoid the topic of death as long as possible. Rather, we cherish every day of life we are granted on this journey to a much greater existence.
Colin was never one to have a fuss made over him. He wasn’t really one for fanfare. He loved the quiet of the river and the opportunity for reflection that it offered. Words weren’t really required. But Colin did have to tolerate some fanfare and some important words when he was received into his heavenly home; as the Scripture says, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”5
These were Christ’s words to Colin. He was blessed richly in His life and He was a rich blessing to others. Jan, your comfort is in the words of the Apostle Paul who said, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”6 These are His words of promise. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial for Colin David Lloyd
14 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 11:25
2 Revelation 1:17-18
3 Proverbs 10:19
4 Proverbs 17:27
5 Matthew 25:34
6 Romans 8:37-39
Monday, June 10, 2013
Third Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 7:13
Theme: “He Had Compassion”
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Hope has a broad horizon. It sees past the tumult, the chaos and the clamor of this ephemeral existence to the place where mortality intersects with eternity. Hope germinates in the treasures of Christ’s conquests. All other optimism is not really biblical hope, but mere humanistic deception. Just as peace flows from the knowledge that Christ was crucified for sinners, so too, hope exists only in the Christ that lives.
Today a widow without hope met the living Christ. The Scripture communicates the situation candidly. “As He drew near the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”1
It was an unexpected and gripping scene. The little Greek word translated as ‘behold’ isn’t always found in English versions. It draws attention to something remarkable that is about to be witnessed. The grief of this widow was clearly palpable. Jesus is not remiss in His response. Immediately He bids her to cease her weeping. Imagine having the boldness to tell a mother overcome by sorrow not to cry. Yet Jesus’ boldness is driven by more than compassion. His life-changing intervention is about to ensue. “Young man, I say to you, ‘arise.’”2
Every attempt to deny or “explain away” the miraculous facets of Christianity is at the same time an attempt to relieve Christ of His divine power. He is the God who raises the dead. This truth can never sit comfortably with human reason. Rationalists may claim that Christians suspend clear logic and reason when they believe in the miraculous. Yet believers can say confidently that God Himself is the creator of human intellect, human reason, and, for that matter, everything that exists. But this is not some trump card that simply ends the argument.
There can be no compatibility between a pure materialism that leaves everything to chance (think here of the dogmatism of Darwinian evolution) and the purposeful intention of a compassionate God who sent His Son for the sake of the world. The apostle Paul warns, “What fellowship can light have with darkness?”3 Is it more foolish to believe that God created humans and redeems them through Christ; or that this point in humanity’s existence has been reached through a chaotic, improbable, impersonal, and valueless force which we now seek to invest with meaning?
At stake here is not some abstract theory that concerns only philosophers, scientists, and theologians. We are talking here of different worldviews that comprise our understanding of existence, the place of humanity, and the very reality of God Himself. If you think you can go your merry way happily unaffected by this clash of creeds- stay tuned!
Dear friends, life is more tenuous than we often are willing to admit. And we do not seek provisional solace to get us through the day. We seek truth; truth grounded in the accomplished work of Him who was crucified and now intercedes before the Father’s throne.
Yes, we seek daily bread, but we look for much more. Jesus deals with the ultimate cause of terror. St Paul calls death the “last enemy” 4. Dying is a process we are all subject to from the time of birth. But we have the Word and Bread of Life (Jesus). He has already thrown us a life-line in His word and sacraments. Dying is a process of change but life in Christ is a splendid, unchanging existence.
We are already heirs to this incorruptible life. Yet how do we carry on now in this journey often beset with frailty and hardship. Christ places us in the cradle of the church. The church is a hospital for the treatment of sinners. It treats sinners afflicted and emaciated by the disease and decay of sin. You are one such sinner, and so am I. The church draws her strength and life from the promise of complete and irreversible healing. She boldly confesses the resurrection. And she does so in the face of formidable opposition.
Satan is adept at running concurrently two contrasting programs aimed to achieve the same goal. The one is a program of starvation. He seeks a famine of God’s word. He hopes to prevent every contact, every hearing, every study, every prayer, every opportunity, every communication between the sinner and the word of Christ. And when this cannot be averted he looks to poison the hearing of the word and make it ineffective. The other is a program of gluttony. He promotes a veritable feast, a binge of activities, addictions, and obsessions that fully occupy the capacity, energy, and interests of the sinner. Completely satiated and even bloated on the philosophies, ideals, and indulgences of the world he hopes people will have no appetite for God’s word. His methods are as ancient as the first question he posed to Eve; but they are always being tweaked. Apart from God’s forgiveness we wither and die.
Christ’s promise is not a politician’s pledge. Your time in the church is a life-long convalescence. But you will be healed. It may be in rehabilitation. It may be through surgical procedure. It may be through extensive medical treatment. It may be a life-long process. It may involve learning to live with an incurable disease. But you will be healed. It will certainly come to pass through Christ’s work of resurrection. The Bible says that He is the one, “who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”5
Meanwhile, what confidence do we have that He will continue to attend to us? Consider these words of Luther, “Until the last Day, the Holy Spirit remains with the holy community of Christendom, through which He heals us and which He uses to proclaim and propagate His Word, whereby He initiates and increases sanctification so that we grow daily and become strong in faith and in its fruits, which He creates.”6 Yes, even in the midst of dying we become strong and flourish. He enlists us in the cause of His name. What opportunities do you have to contribute to the work of His kingdom? You don’t have to go overseas to foreign tongues and foreign lands. Your vocations, personal and professional, provide ample opportunity to witness to the redeeming love of God in Christ.
What we witness here informs, orders, and inspires our witness to the world. We are His baptized; the cherished bride of the Bridegroom. These are not human constructs but divine accomplishments. The gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism does not happen magically. The Spirit attends the word of God and works life in the soul that receives that word. Charli Isabelle is not the subject of a hollow religious ritual. She is the beneficiary of sacred promises. As such she has more than the blessing of this congregation or the church at large. She is the object of divine love. A love expressed in sacrifice. A love tested by the cross. A love victorious over the grave. Hear the Scripture’s promise, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”7 Hope has a broad horizon; exactly as broad as the outstretched arms of the crucified Lord; as broad as the brimming light of the resurrection. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday After Pentecost
9 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 7:12-13
2 Luke 7:14
3 Corinthians 6:14
4 See 1 Corinthians 15:26
5 Philippians 3:21
6 Large Catechism
7 Titus 2:5-6
Text: Luke 7:13
Theme: “He Had Compassion”
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Hope has a broad horizon. It sees past the tumult, the chaos and the clamor of this ephemeral existence to the place where mortality intersects with eternity. Hope germinates in the treasures of Christ’s conquests. All other optimism is not really biblical hope, but mere humanistic deception. Just as peace flows from the knowledge that Christ was crucified for sinners, so too, hope exists only in the Christ that lives.
Today a widow without hope met the living Christ. The Scripture communicates the situation candidly. “As He drew near the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”1
It was an unexpected and gripping scene. The little Greek word translated as ‘behold’ isn’t always found in English versions. It draws attention to something remarkable that is about to be witnessed. The grief of this widow was clearly palpable. Jesus is not remiss in His response. Immediately He bids her to cease her weeping. Imagine having the boldness to tell a mother overcome by sorrow not to cry. Yet Jesus’ boldness is driven by more than compassion. His life-changing intervention is about to ensue. “Young man, I say to you, ‘arise.’”2
Every attempt to deny or “explain away” the miraculous facets of Christianity is at the same time an attempt to relieve Christ of His divine power. He is the God who raises the dead. This truth can never sit comfortably with human reason. Rationalists may claim that Christians suspend clear logic and reason when they believe in the miraculous. Yet believers can say confidently that God Himself is the creator of human intellect, human reason, and, for that matter, everything that exists. But this is not some trump card that simply ends the argument.
There can be no compatibility between a pure materialism that leaves everything to chance (think here of the dogmatism of Darwinian evolution) and the purposeful intention of a compassionate God who sent His Son for the sake of the world. The apostle Paul warns, “What fellowship can light have with darkness?”3 Is it more foolish to believe that God created humans and redeems them through Christ; or that this point in humanity’s existence has been reached through a chaotic, improbable, impersonal, and valueless force which we now seek to invest with meaning?
At stake here is not some abstract theory that concerns only philosophers, scientists, and theologians. We are talking here of different worldviews that comprise our understanding of existence, the place of humanity, and the very reality of God Himself. If you think you can go your merry way happily unaffected by this clash of creeds- stay tuned!
Dear friends, life is more tenuous than we often are willing to admit. And we do not seek provisional solace to get us through the day. We seek truth; truth grounded in the accomplished work of Him who was crucified and now intercedes before the Father’s throne.
Yes, we seek daily bread, but we look for much more. Jesus deals with the ultimate cause of terror. St Paul calls death the “last enemy” 4. Dying is a process we are all subject to from the time of birth. But we have the Word and Bread of Life (Jesus). He has already thrown us a life-line in His word and sacraments. Dying is a process of change but life in Christ is a splendid, unchanging existence.
We are already heirs to this incorruptible life. Yet how do we carry on now in this journey often beset with frailty and hardship. Christ places us in the cradle of the church. The church is a hospital for the treatment of sinners. It treats sinners afflicted and emaciated by the disease and decay of sin. You are one such sinner, and so am I. The church draws her strength and life from the promise of complete and irreversible healing. She boldly confesses the resurrection. And she does so in the face of formidable opposition.
Satan is adept at running concurrently two contrasting programs aimed to achieve the same goal. The one is a program of starvation. He seeks a famine of God’s word. He hopes to prevent every contact, every hearing, every study, every prayer, every opportunity, every communication between the sinner and the word of Christ. And when this cannot be averted he looks to poison the hearing of the word and make it ineffective. The other is a program of gluttony. He promotes a veritable feast, a binge of activities, addictions, and obsessions that fully occupy the capacity, energy, and interests of the sinner. Completely satiated and even bloated on the philosophies, ideals, and indulgences of the world he hopes people will have no appetite for God’s word. His methods are as ancient as the first question he posed to Eve; but they are always being tweaked. Apart from God’s forgiveness we wither and die.
Christ’s promise is not a politician’s pledge. Your time in the church is a life-long convalescence. But you will be healed. It may be in rehabilitation. It may be through surgical procedure. It may be through extensive medical treatment. It may be a life-long process. It may involve learning to live with an incurable disease. But you will be healed. It will certainly come to pass through Christ’s work of resurrection. The Bible says that He is the one, “who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”5
Meanwhile, what confidence do we have that He will continue to attend to us? Consider these words of Luther, “Until the last Day, the Holy Spirit remains with the holy community of Christendom, through which He heals us and which He uses to proclaim and propagate His Word, whereby He initiates and increases sanctification so that we grow daily and become strong in faith and in its fruits, which He creates.”6 Yes, even in the midst of dying we become strong and flourish. He enlists us in the cause of His name. What opportunities do you have to contribute to the work of His kingdom? You don’t have to go overseas to foreign tongues and foreign lands. Your vocations, personal and professional, provide ample opportunity to witness to the redeeming love of God in Christ.
What we witness here informs, orders, and inspires our witness to the world. We are His baptized; the cherished bride of the Bridegroom. These are not human constructs but divine accomplishments. The gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism does not happen magically. The Spirit attends the word of God and works life in the soul that receives that word. Charli Isabelle is not the subject of a hollow religious ritual. She is the beneficiary of sacred promises. As such she has more than the blessing of this congregation or the church at large. She is the object of divine love. A love expressed in sacrifice. A love tested by the cross. A love victorious over the grave. Hear the Scripture’s promise, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”7 Hope has a broad horizon; exactly as broad as the outstretched arms of the crucified Lord; as broad as the brimming light of the resurrection. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday After Pentecost
9 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 7:12-13
2 Luke 7:14
3 Corinthians 6:14
4 See 1 Corinthians 15:26
5 Philippians 3:21
6 Large Catechism
7 Titus 2:5-6
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Second Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 7:2
Theme: No Anonymity in Christ.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
There is no anonymity in Christ. The unrepentant sinner cannot disappear into the woodwork. But the children of God need never think they are forsaken or forgotten. Our status before Him is never a matter of achievement but of grace; not of merit, but of mercy. We never presume upon God, but we do expect great things from Him. Christ never meets the expectations of the egotistical, but always of the humble.
Today’s account from Luke is a great illustration. Today Jesus was ‘summoned’ to the aid of the slave of a Roman centurion. Who or what has the authority to summon Christ? Only humility. We are told the man was precious in His master’s eyes. The seriousness of the man’s condition (he was dying) required urgency. Yet the centurion himself, a Gentile (but a God-fearer), didn’t think he was worthy to trouble Jesus. Here is what the centurion said, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under My roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to You. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.”1 It is just this type of humility that God commends.
Say the word. Centurions were accustomed to having their word obeyed. A centurion had charge over a hundred Roman soldiers. It was an immense responsibility and with it came respect and status in society. Other centurions played important parts in New Testament history. The centurion who stood guard at the foot of the cross and witnessed the death of Christ is understandably the most notable. He confessed Jesus as the Son of God. Cornelius was a centurion who, at the Spirit’s direction, invited Simon Peter into his home. And a centurion name Julius was a key figure associated with Paul’s shipwreck. Jesus commends the faith of this centurion as exceeding anything He had found in Israel! No pretense! No intent of negotiation or manipulation! No attempt at interrogation! It stands as a lesson for all who approach God with an agenda.
Humans are very crafty in their ability to rationalize matters about which God has clearly spoken. We do this quite “naturally” to excuse our failings and pacify our consciences. One of our most common techniques involves ambiguity. We claim we’re not exactly certain what God means and whether it is applicable to us. Generalized love cannot replace the specificities of the Ten Commandments. The intent to love without concrete parameters can easily decay into nothing more than good intentions. When God says, for instance, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour,”2 He means something more exact and comprehensive than above-average intent to tell the truth. When God says, “You shall not covet,”3 He means something more specific than enough self-control not to be constantly ruled by jealously. He is condemning that juicy bit of gossip you’d like to help spread or that specific envy of your neighbour that keeps getting the best of you.
What we ultimately hope to excuse ourselves from is the need for forgiveness. If belief about original sin- and here we mean not the theory of its existence but the power it still wields in our lives- is compromised, the need for forgiveness will soon become discretionary and the sacraments optional. We can witness this reality both through personal encounters with those who seek to tap into their inner goodness or beauty, and in the official teaching of churches and denominations that give much more credit to the inherent goodness in people than the Bible allows. Finding ways to tap into that apparent goodness leads to far different approaches to spiritual well-being than looking to put to death the sinful nature because there is no good worth salvaging.
The search for ‘goodness’ that is useful as a means to an end is the methodology of all the ideologies of the world. On one level it is the simple application of logic. Spiritually, it is the method of the law. The law is not unintelligible to the unbelieving world. That doesn’t mean it won’t be challenged, denied, circumvented, or rejected. The unconverted will operates between the polarities of fear and reward. Decisions are made based on what one can get away with or what benefit stands to be gained. The function of the law is innately familiar. Its dynamic is the way of the world; risk-reward, investment-return, obedience-praise, restraint-protection, and an eye for an eye. This is how we function in the social and civil sphere.
The gospel, however, is another matter altogether. Here the world is baffled and/or offended. The Christian’s life is overlain by the grace and forgiveness of Christ. The gospel counter-balances the work of the law in the lives of Christians. But not in such a way that the two are kept in equilibrium. The truth of Christ- His humbling Himself to be born of a virgin, His suffering, His crucifixion, His triumph over hell and Satan, His resurrection and ascension, all for you and for your salvation-this life-giving truth frees us from the condemnation of the law, from guilt, and from serving the world’s agenda, and finally, from doubt and despair.
Every human being craves certainty. We crave certainty in respect to our greatest needs and our strongest fears. Without certainty there is not stability. And without stability humans are prone to anxiety spanning the scale from slight to severe. God’s word is a fortress of indestructibility. Say the word, Lord! We can hardly do better than to ask to have the faith of this centurion. By Christ’s word sins are forgiven, the sick are healed, the dead are raised, the earth is renewed. Say the word Lord and calm our anxieties, restore our relationships, temper our grief, cure our diseases. What made the faith of the centurion so exemplary? His was a humility that did not presume upon God. His was a faith that looked only to Christ and found its rest in Him.
The centurion’s was not a self-reflective, navel-gazing faith. Our assurance of salvation can never be based on introspection. You can try to reconstruct a memory of your faith at the time you were confirmed. You can reflect on your faith at times of crisis and times of happiness. You can try to take a reading of your faith every day or every hour for the next month or year. And what will you find? You will find that your faith is like the weather. It may have long stretches of sunshine but also dark and stormy episodes. It may become cold like the frost or tossed about by the wind. Your faith may wilt as in the heat of summer or shimmer like a brilliant autumn day. But you can NEVER be certain what it will be tomorrow. Your faith can never be a barometer by which you know the certainty of God’s love!
If only I could be more devoted! If only I could repent more sincerely! If only I hadn’t committed such and such sin! If only I could change the past! Then, I could be certain that my faith is good enough for God. Dear friends, Christ was good enough. He is good enough. He paid the price for you sin. He lives that you may have life. And He doesn’t extend His blessing to you generically. The Holy Spirit names you in baptism. He designates you as God’s child, freed and forgiven. There is no anonymity in Christ. When you kneel at His altar He knows your name. His blood isn’t given to the unidentified but to those who bear His name. We were never told the centurion’s name. Christ knew. And through him Christ was made known. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Second Sunday After Pentecost
2 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 7:6-7
2 Exodus 20:16
3 Exodus 20:17
4 1 Corinthians 10:2-4
5 Romans 6:3-4
6 2 Corinthians 4:17
Text: Luke 7:2
Theme: No Anonymity in Christ.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
There is no anonymity in Christ. The unrepentant sinner cannot disappear into the woodwork. But the children of God need never think they are forsaken or forgotten. Our status before Him is never a matter of achievement but of grace; not of merit, but of mercy. We never presume upon God, but we do expect great things from Him. Christ never meets the expectations of the egotistical, but always of the humble.
Today’s account from Luke is a great illustration. Today Jesus was ‘summoned’ to the aid of the slave of a Roman centurion. Who or what has the authority to summon Christ? Only humility. We are told the man was precious in His master’s eyes. The seriousness of the man’s condition (he was dying) required urgency. Yet the centurion himself, a Gentile (but a God-fearer), didn’t think he was worthy to trouble Jesus. Here is what the centurion said, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under My roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to You. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.”1 It is just this type of humility that God commends.
Say the word. Centurions were accustomed to having their word obeyed. A centurion had charge over a hundred Roman soldiers. It was an immense responsibility and with it came respect and status in society. Other centurions played important parts in New Testament history. The centurion who stood guard at the foot of the cross and witnessed the death of Christ is understandably the most notable. He confessed Jesus as the Son of God. Cornelius was a centurion who, at the Spirit’s direction, invited Simon Peter into his home. And a centurion name Julius was a key figure associated with Paul’s shipwreck. Jesus commends the faith of this centurion as exceeding anything He had found in Israel! No pretense! No intent of negotiation or manipulation! No attempt at interrogation! It stands as a lesson for all who approach God with an agenda.
Humans are very crafty in their ability to rationalize matters about which God has clearly spoken. We do this quite “naturally” to excuse our failings and pacify our consciences. One of our most common techniques involves ambiguity. We claim we’re not exactly certain what God means and whether it is applicable to us. Generalized love cannot replace the specificities of the Ten Commandments. The intent to love without concrete parameters can easily decay into nothing more than good intentions. When God says, for instance, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour,”2 He means something more exact and comprehensive than above-average intent to tell the truth. When God says, “You shall not covet,”3 He means something more specific than enough self-control not to be constantly ruled by jealously. He is condemning that juicy bit of gossip you’d like to help spread or that specific envy of your neighbour that keeps getting the best of you.
What we ultimately hope to excuse ourselves from is the need for forgiveness. If belief about original sin- and here we mean not the theory of its existence but the power it still wields in our lives- is compromised, the need for forgiveness will soon become discretionary and the sacraments optional. We can witness this reality both through personal encounters with those who seek to tap into their inner goodness or beauty, and in the official teaching of churches and denominations that give much more credit to the inherent goodness in people than the Bible allows. Finding ways to tap into that apparent goodness leads to far different approaches to spiritual well-being than looking to put to death the sinful nature because there is no good worth salvaging.
The search for ‘goodness’ that is useful as a means to an end is the methodology of all the ideologies of the world. On one level it is the simple application of logic. Spiritually, it is the method of the law. The law is not unintelligible to the unbelieving world. That doesn’t mean it won’t be challenged, denied, circumvented, or rejected. The unconverted will operates between the polarities of fear and reward. Decisions are made based on what one can get away with or what benefit stands to be gained. The function of the law is innately familiar. Its dynamic is the way of the world; risk-reward, investment-return, obedience-praise, restraint-protection, and an eye for an eye. This is how we function in the social and civil sphere.
The gospel, however, is another matter altogether. Here the world is baffled and/or offended. The Christian’s life is overlain by the grace and forgiveness of Christ. The gospel counter-balances the work of the law in the lives of Christians. But not in such a way that the two are kept in equilibrium. The truth of Christ- His humbling Himself to be born of a virgin, His suffering, His crucifixion, His triumph over hell and Satan, His resurrection and ascension, all for you and for your salvation-this life-giving truth frees us from the condemnation of the law, from guilt, and from serving the world’s agenda, and finally, from doubt and despair.
Every human being craves certainty. We crave certainty in respect to our greatest needs and our strongest fears. Without certainty there is not stability. And without stability humans are prone to anxiety spanning the scale from slight to severe. God’s word is a fortress of indestructibility. Say the word, Lord! We can hardly do better than to ask to have the faith of this centurion. By Christ’s word sins are forgiven, the sick are healed, the dead are raised, the earth is renewed. Say the word Lord and calm our anxieties, restore our relationships, temper our grief, cure our diseases. What made the faith of the centurion so exemplary? His was a humility that did not presume upon God. His was a faith that looked only to Christ and found its rest in Him.
The centurion’s was not a self-reflective, navel-gazing faith. Our assurance of salvation can never be based on introspection. You can try to reconstruct a memory of your faith at the time you were confirmed. You can reflect on your faith at times of crisis and times of happiness. You can try to take a reading of your faith every day or every hour for the next month or year. And what will you find? You will find that your faith is like the weather. It may have long stretches of sunshine but also dark and stormy episodes. It may become cold like the frost or tossed about by the wind. Your faith may wilt as in the heat of summer or shimmer like a brilliant autumn day. But you can NEVER be certain what it will be tomorrow. Your faith can never be a barometer by which you know the certainty of God’s love!
If only I could be more devoted! If only I could repent more sincerely! If only I hadn’t committed such and such sin! If only I could change the past! Then, I could be certain that my faith is good enough for God. Dear friends, Christ was good enough. He is good enough. He paid the price for you sin. He lives that you may have life. And He doesn’t extend His blessing to you generically. The Holy Spirit names you in baptism. He designates you as God’s child, freed and forgiven. There is no anonymity in Christ. When you kneel at His altar He knows your name. His blood isn’t given to the unidentified but to those who bear His name. We were never told the centurion’s name. Christ knew. And through him Christ was made known. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Second Sunday After Pentecost
2 June 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 7:6-7
2 Exodus 20:16
3 Exodus 20:17
4 1 Corinthians 10:2-4
5 Romans 6:3-4
6 2 Corinthians 4:17
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Sunday of Holy Trinity (C) 2013
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 16:15
Theme: The Father’s Patrimony
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The believer is tied directly to the mystery of the Trinity through baptism. The mystery of God’s being is that He is one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”1 What a comforting thought to know that the Holy Spirit makes the grace of Christ known to us, and that Christ’s grace is the avenue to the Father. Baptism brings you into fellowship with the Trinity and allows you to share in all the blessings of His life. These gifts can only be appreciated through the insight of the Holy Spirit.
You’ve probably heard people say that religion is not for them; they’re not cut out for it. They may have in mind the caricature of tee-totaling, mindless moralist who mostly misses out on the pleasurable side of life. Sometimes it used be said, “Such and such person was born religious.” But, in fact, NO ONE is cut out for it. No one is naturally fitted for life in God’s kingdom. That is precisely the point. The truth of fallen humanity is that all are estranged from God from the time of conception. Original sin has consequences. Adam and Eve were banned from Eden. The wicked all perished in Noah’s flood. A generation of Israelites died before crossing the Jordan. The 21st Century person has no fewer consequences of sin to deal with. Temptations bombard us from all sides.
The likelihood of succumbing to some temptations changes with maturity. Some tendencies diminish. Other proclivities become more resistant to resolution. The rebellious child may come to appreciate the value of respecting proper authority later in life. The temptation to revolt may relax as the individual finds himself or herself in a position of responsibility and authority. Teenagers that were critical of their parents often find themselves imitating them once they have their own children. On the other hand, the self-centred person may be just as self-absorbed at the age of 70 as they were at 20. Greed isn’t cured by acquiring great fortunes. Long established habits are always more difficult to change. Much depends upon what informs our worldview.
Our society cries out for recognition. “Look at Me!” “Take notice of what I have done!” We are taught to scrape and claw, scream and fight for our place. In this way people hope to find meaning, value, purpose and fulfillment in life. But what is the edifice- the composition of things that value and define us- built on? If our true worth (call it self-worth if you like) doesn’t rest in Christ then we have an unstable foundation. We cannot indefinitely live in a building prone to collapse at the slightest tremor. The ageing process exempts no one.
It all comes to head with an honest reflection on mortality. Movie buffs and gamers are familiar with heroes that encounter fatality and yet emerge with all their former vibrancy; or the contestants who are endlessly reincarnated to fight again. Reality is something very different. We can sojourn in a fantasy world perhaps the better part of our temporal lives. But it doesn’t prepare us for the genuine crisis we must face. Christian maturity requires we recognize the limits of escapism.
But Christ has no limits. You need not stand at the graveside and ask, “Is this where it all ends?” “Is this the conclusion to a few short years on earth?” Christ has been to death and back. He speaks of what He knows. He doesn’t offer us a sympathetic hug as we draw our last breath but then leave us to face a future of despair. Instead He transports us through the dark evil of death unharmed. The Scripture says, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”2
Already, through forgiveness first granted in our baptism, we participate in that resurrection spiritually. Spiritually, but not theoretically. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”3 Forgiveness is more than an act of will on God’s part. It is even more that a movement of the heart. It is an expression of His very nature. The crucifixion was a tearing open of the inner mystery of God. It was a rending of God’s holiness. Like a tsunami His compassion swept over a humanity suffocating in sin and self-centredness. Christ died and rose again not as an act of heroism but as the means to reconcile all humanity to the Father. We’re all in this together.
Your baptism identified you in Christ in relation to a local community of faith and the universal church. Remember Christianity from the time of Pentecost was designed to be a global faith. Christians who insulate themselves in parochial enclaves fail to appreciate the nature of God’s seeking and expansive love. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep. Life in community, not as individuals is how God intends it. The Spirit inducts us into this community through baptism where Christ continues to feed us with His word and His body and blood. Here we are also united in an unbroken succession with those saints who went before us. The apostle writes, “I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers…were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”4
Sadly, not all are interested in what Christ has to offer. It cramps their style. Those who follow religions of the law and atheist have something important in common. They both take matters into their own hands. They are self-reliant. The religious legalist seeks recognition from God- idolatry of self. The atheist must flatly deny God and recognize himself or herself- also the trappings of idolatry. In the end everyone comes down on one side of the equation or the other. There is no neutral ground between reverence for the true God and idolatry. There is no middle ground. In a wider sense this is what makes Christian truth so unbearable for some. You cannot flee to a ‘spiritual Switzerland’ and take up permanent residency there. You must cope with a clearly defined external existence; heaven or hell.
Your baptism is a mighty fortress. Satan cannot dismantle, demolish, or destroy the foundation upon which it is built. Hear what the Scripture says, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”5
This newness of life has authenticity and permanency. We live the baptismal life, bearing our crosses, sacrificing our extravagances, serving in humility, trusting that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”6 The biblical witness suggests that this real life is often much more engaging and enthralling than what the world has on offer. The parameters are not dependent on artificial schemes and structures. The rules of engagement aren’t always changing. The source of security is never unreliable. The future is never uncertain. God grant that our baptism is never a distant memory but a constant source of strength and life. It is not a matter of our aptitude but of His promise. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Holy Trinity
26 May 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 16:15
2 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
3 Romans 5:1-2
4 1 Corinthians 10:2-4
5 Romans 6:3-4
6 2 Corinthians 4:17
Text: John 16:15
Theme: The Father’s Patrimony
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The believer is tied directly to the mystery of the Trinity through baptism. The mystery of God’s being is that He is one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”1 What a comforting thought to know that the Holy Spirit makes the grace of Christ known to us, and that Christ’s grace is the avenue to the Father. Baptism brings you into fellowship with the Trinity and allows you to share in all the blessings of His life. These gifts can only be appreciated through the insight of the Holy Spirit.
You’ve probably heard people say that religion is not for them; they’re not cut out for it. They may have in mind the caricature of tee-totaling, mindless moralist who mostly misses out on the pleasurable side of life. Sometimes it used be said, “Such and such person was born religious.” But, in fact, NO ONE is cut out for it. No one is naturally fitted for life in God’s kingdom. That is precisely the point. The truth of fallen humanity is that all are estranged from God from the time of conception. Original sin has consequences. Adam and Eve were banned from Eden. The wicked all perished in Noah’s flood. A generation of Israelites died before crossing the Jordan. The 21st Century person has no fewer consequences of sin to deal with. Temptations bombard us from all sides.
The likelihood of succumbing to some temptations changes with maturity. Some tendencies diminish. Other proclivities become more resistant to resolution. The rebellious child may come to appreciate the value of respecting proper authority later in life. The temptation to revolt may relax as the individual finds himself or herself in a position of responsibility and authority. Teenagers that were critical of their parents often find themselves imitating them once they have their own children. On the other hand, the self-centred person may be just as self-absorbed at the age of 70 as they were at 20. Greed isn’t cured by acquiring great fortunes. Long established habits are always more difficult to change. Much depends upon what informs our worldview.
Our society cries out for recognition. “Look at Me!” “Take notice of what I have done!” We are taught to scrape and claw, scream and fight for our place. In this way people hope to find meaning, value, purpose and fulfillment in life. But what is the edifice- the composition of things that value and define us- built on? If our true worth (call it self-worth if you like) doesn’t rest in Christ then we have an unstable foundation. We cannot indefinitely live in a building prone to collapse at the slightest tremor. The ageing process exempts no one.
It all comes to head with an honest reflection on mortality. Movie buffs and gamers are familiar with heroes that encounter fatality and yet emerge with all their former vibrancy; or the contestants who are endlessly reincarnated to fight again. Reality is something very different. We can sojourn in a fantasy world perhaps the better part of our temporal lives. But it doesn’t prepare us for the genuine crisis we must face. Christian maturity requires we recognize the limits of escapism.
But Christ has no limits. You need not stand at the graveside and ask, “Is this where it all ends?” “Is this the conclusion to a few short years on earth?” Christ has been to death and back. He speaks of what He knows. He doesn’t offer us a sympathetic hug as we draw our last breath but then leave us to face a future of despair. Instead He transports us through the dark evil of death unharmed. The Scripture says, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”2
Already, through forgiveness first granted in our baptism, we participate in that resurrection spiritually. Spiritually, but not theoretically. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”3 Forgiveness is more than an act of will on God’s part. It is even more that a movement of the heart. It is an expression of His very nature. The crucifixion was a tearing open of the inner mystery of God. It was a rending of God’s holiness. Like a tsunami His compassion swept over a humanity suffocating in sin and self-centredness. Christ died and rose again not as an act of heroism but as the means to reconcile all humanity to the Father. We’re all in this together.
Your baptism identified you in Christ in relation to a local community of faith and the universal church. Remember Christianity from the time of Pentecost was designed to be a global faith. Christians who insulate themselves in parochial enclaves fail to appreciate the nature of God’s seeking and expansive love. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep. Life in community, not as individuals is how God intends it. The Spirit inducts us into this community through baptism where Christ continues to feed us with His word and His body and blood. Here we are also united in an unbroken succession with those saints who went before us. The apostle writes, “I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers…were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”4
Sadly, not all are interested in what Christ has to offer. It cramps their style. Those who follow religions of the law and atheist have something important in common. They both take matters into their own hands. They are self-reliant. The religious legalist seeks recognition from God- idolatry of self. The atheist must flatly deny God and recognize himself or herself- also the trappings of idolatry. In the end everyone comes down on one side of the equation or the other. There is no neutral ground between reverence for the true God and idolatry. There is no middle ground. In a wider sense this is what makes Christian truth so unbearable for some. You cannot flee to a ‘spiritual Switzerland’ and take up permanent residency there. You must cope with a clearly defined external existence; heaven or hell.
Your baptism is a mighty fortress. Satan cannot dismantle, demolish, or destroy the foundation upon which it is built. Hear what the Scripture says, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”5
This newness of life has authenticity and permanency. We live the baptismal life, bearing our crosses, sacrificing our extravagances, serving in humility, trusting that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”6 The biblical witness suggests that this real life is often much more engaging and enthralling than what the world has on offer. The parameters are not dependent on artificial schemes and structures. The rules of engagement aren’t always changing. The source of security is never unreliable. The future is never uncertain. God grant that our baptism is never a distant memory but a constant source of strength and life. It is not a matter of our aptitude but of His promise. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
The Holy Trinity
26 May 2013
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 16:15
2 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
3 Romans 5:1-2
4 1 Corinthians 10:2-4
5 Romans 6:3-4
6 2 Corinthians 4:17
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