+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:6
Theme: Vibrant Life
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Ron, and especially you, Ruth, Joyleen, Rosalie, and Valerie, his daughters;
The place prepared for Ron Auricht- in heaven- is now occupied. He has been released from all care and anxiety of our fallen existence. He enjoys vibrant and abundant life. He has received his inheritance, one that can never perish, spoil, or fade. Thanks be to God that He has called His servant home! Ron is in the glorious presence of almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, saints and angels. It is our privilege to meditate on this truth.
Reflection on the death of a Christian brings into close proximity two realities that are otherwise so dissimilar they would never be faced at the same time. The pain of separation or loss. Death separates us from loved ones, so this is unavoidable. And the joy of knowing that person has been crowned with everlasting life. Death is the gateway to a vibrant and glorious existence. So, sorrow and joy are juxta positioned in a very unique way. But it is a biblical way.
The Holy Scriptures are full of accounts of how believers down through the ages dealt with dying; their customs, their practices, their struggles, their hopes. The Israelites grieved for Moses for 30 days1. When Jesus arrived at the deathbed of Jairus’s daughter professional mourners were already on the scene2. King David’s grief for Absalom was so incapacitating that He had to be rebuked by his high officials3. Customs and practices changed over time. But the fundamental belief did not change. The core conviction remained unaltered. The same hope endured and does to this day. The same God who grants life here in time promises to resurrect His people to eternal life. It’s not a simple formality that Christians confess (as we will in few moments) belief “in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting”4.
Of course, the need to cope with the trauma of death at all means the cause must be recognized. That cause is sin. Sin eventually brings decay and death to the body. If left unresolved it also brings death to the soul. Death is one of the consequences of punishment for rebellion against God. Many in our day deny there could be any such cause for concern, but the Bible speaks comprehensively about this truth. Mortality is something all people understand intuitively. But that doesn’t mean we’re keen to tackle it, just as sin is something we know intimately but are not capable of mastering. It is far too powerful and dangerous. Ron Auricht knew horses too. That was the way of farm life in his early years. But the things we know aren’t necessarily the things we can control. Fortunately, us mortals are not left to solve what only divine power manage.
Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God’s grace; the very substance of divine love. Everything stands or falls on the truth of Jesus’ sacrificial work for sinners- our salvation by grace, through faith. If grace in Christ is a fantasy, then existence itself comes unhinged. If divine love is a fallacy, then ultimate meaning is shattered. If God’s promises are hollow, then hope is finally lost. If the resurrection of Christ was only pious legend, then eternal death prevails. But, dear friends, Jesus Christ is indeed risen from the dead. The grave could not hold Him. Death could not bind Him. Hell could not subdue Him. Satan could not silence Him. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”5
When he was a young man Ron was inspired to become a missionary. But the expectation for the eldest son in those days was to stay and work the land. Ron accepted this reality. He was faithful in his vocation working the Mallee soil to provide for his family and beyond. Still, the interest in spreading God’s word remained with him right into his later years. Of course, not becoming a missionary didn’t mean that Ron wasn’t actively witnessing to his Christian faith. Ron and Glenda were not casual Christians. They were deeply involved in all the activities of the congregation, committed to supporting it, and faithful in their attendance in God’s house.
Ron’s talents and treasures were employed to the same end. He held most every position in the church at one time or another. Ron loved music. He was gifted with a powerful voice. He didn’t sing simply for personal satisfaction. Moments ago, we sang ‘Jesus Loves Me’ in tribute to the 40-some years Ron taught Sunday School. The words are just as true today as they were the first time he sang it with the young ones in his class. And that’s exactly the point. The love of God is unchanging. As we heard earlier, He has given His baptised an inheritance “that can never perish, spoil or fade.”6
Anyone who knew Ron well at all knew that his Christian faith wasn’t a private matter. He had a deep concern for the spiritual well-being of others. The love of the crucified and risen Saviour is offered to all people and Ron earnestly prayed that all would embrace it. Only the divine promise can give true peace to the soul. Reconciliation, forgiveness, freedom from guilt, liberation from shame, release from regret are achieved only through God’s bestowal of the merits of Christ to us frail humans. In Christ the roughest edges are made smooth, the deepest pains are relieved, the harshest offences are resolved. Anger gives way to peace. Fear is replaced by serenity. Sorrow transitions to joy. It seems impossible- given the experiences of life that jade us- that these things could really come true. But that is the reality of Christ’s redeeming power.
Dear friends, and especially you, Ron’s family, the scars of grief are not so shallow that they can be healed by a few cosmetic clichés. The complexity of grief is not easily simplified. Humans are complicated creatures. There aren’t any shortcuts. Yet the strength needed to manage it properly is never in doubt for Christians. The separation is only temporary. Christ spent only three days in the grave. If we cling only to memories of the deceased then that relationship is frozen in time, locked in the past. For believers, grieving is forward-looking. Our time on this earth is but a passing moment compared with eternity.
Ron is now in the timelessness of God’s presence. Ron received his wish in the end- a blessed wish- to close his eyes in sleep and open them effortlessly to behold the face of God. And so, the words of the apostle have come true for him that say, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”7 Except that Ron does see Him now and He will never be lost from his sight. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Ronald Victor Auricht
12 June 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 See Deuteronomy 34:8 2 See Matthew 9:23
3 See 2 Samuel 18:33, 19:5-7 4 The Apostles’ Creed
5 John 11:25-26 6 1 Peter 1:4
71 Peter 1:8-9
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Third Sunday After Pentecost (B) 2018
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Mark 3:20-27
Theme: The Intervening God.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Sanity is not a gift to be taken lightly. Cherish it. Apparently, some members of Jesus’ own family thought He was going crazy. Indeed, claims to the be the Messiah are always going to be provocative! Jesus was attracting huge crowds and His family was becoming concerned. So, they planned an intervention. Marks tells us, “When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.’”1 The religious authorities suggested He was possessed by Satan. Evidence was growing that He was more than just a religious zealot. A volatile situation was brewing. But performing an intervention on Jesus, even by those who thought they knew Him best, would be no easy feat. Perhaps you’ve asked yourself at one time or another “Am I the only one in this situation who isn’t crazy?” “Or, am I the only one that is?” Imagine, then, how Jesus felt! Only He had perfect knowledge of the truth.
The accusation that Jesus was an agent of the devil certainly raises the level of tension. Just imagine how differently the scene might be perceived today. Modern skeptics doubt or flatly deny the existence of Satan. They deem him to be a relic of the ancient or medieval past; a fabrication of religious superstition. They swiftly dismiss him along with his dominion called hell. It’s embarrassing for many, or at least, unfashionable, to engage in public discussion that recognizes his existence.
But it’s no use wringing our hands over such unbelief. The Holy Spirit must teach the truth about demonic spirits to unbelieving souls. Trying to offer tangible proofs will not be convincing. It’s worth considering, though, that as our society becomes more overtly secular, more people are trying to fill the emptiness in their lives through various ‘spiritual practices’. These range from palm reading to channeling of angels, fortune-telling to attempts at contacting the dead. Current trends say we should expect to see a growing interest in occult-related practices right across the board. In the expanding emptiness and uncertainty there will be many opportunities to convey the presence of the Messiah who is Immanuel- God with us.
Today Jesus makes it clear that denouncing the Spirit’s work is a serious matter. He could hardly say it more plainly, “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”2 It’s an understatement to say that this declaration is confronting. It’s like punch in the gut to all who think they might malign the work the Spirit with impunity. So, why does Jesus use words with such decisiveness and finality? The stakes are high because the consequences are ultimate. The Holy Spirit is the agent by which the human heart is convicted of sin and comforted with forgiveness. To allege that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan is a contradictory claim. Why would a servant of the devil be driving out demons? Jesus rebukes them forthrightly, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”3 Then He says, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and carry of his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man.”4
Christ was referring to Himself. Jesus carried off Satan’s possessions. That is, He redeemed sinners from the influence of the devil according to the apostolic description, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”5 The weapon of Satan’s defeat was the cross. Jesus did not conquer the devil in a physical confrontation. (Though his defeat has physical implications for believers) The victory was gained through Jesus’ perfect obedience and willing sacrifice. He did it for us and for our salvation. He was crucified. He rose. He lives.
Satan has been conquered. Jesus is restoring the fallen creation. Jesus did exactly what no one else could do. He bound Satan, the strongman, and plundered his house. The father of lies could not outwit the keeper of truth. The ancient dragon could not out-duel the immortal Son. The betrayer could not seduce the faithful one. Remember the time in the wilderness. “The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’”6 But Jesus did not yield. The devil could not push Jesus off the road to the cross. He could not lead Him on a wrong turn or blockade the road. At the crucial moment, when Jesus hung there with the fate of the world in the balance Satan made one last attempt, saying through his agents, “Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.”7 But all the devil’s attempts were in vain.
Still, Satan will ply his trade until the Second Coming of Christ. Many are willingly or unwittingly his followers. The Scripture says, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.”8 All are called on to renounce Satan’s works, something we first do in baptism. The same verse finishes saying, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”9 Jesus has done that by atoning for our guilt. He has done that by absorbing the wrath of the heavenly Father against sin.
Dear friends, you have God’s forgiveness in Christ freely and fully, here and now. You don’t have to wait until the day of judgment to find out if God will grant it to you. And this forgiveness is not limited by Satan’s accusations of “This person is not deserving look at all the terrible things he has done!” You need not worry about having some partial or conditional forgiveness. It’s a delight of the devil to limit the comfort of forgiveness and the peace of mind it brings. But Christ has come to destroy the devil’s works. You are God’s baptized child and Satan has no authority to challenge your claim in Christ’s inheritance. He has no authority to question why you are welcomed to dine at the Master’s table.
Our account began today with the family of Jesus attempting an intervention. They had no real hope, of course. Christ was actually the One doing the intervening. The Son of God was now present among the children of men. He was breaking into people’s dark and wayward lives with light and truth. He was halting illness. He was repairing brokenness. He was renewing what was decaying, reconditioning what was declining, reviving what was dying. He was restoring hope. He will continue to do these things. They are previews of eternity. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday After Pentecost
10 June 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Mark 3:21 2 Mark 3:28-29
3 Mark 3:23-25 4 Mark 3:27
5 Colossians 1:13-4 6 Matthew 4:3
7 Matthew 27:42 8, 9 1 John 3:8
Text: Mark 3:20-27
Theme: The Intervening God.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Sanity is not a gift to be taken lightly. Cherish it. Apparently, some members of Jesus’ own family thought He was going crazy. Indeed, claims to the be the Messiah are always going to be provocative! Jesus was attracting huge crowds and His family was becoming concerned. So, they planned an intervention. Marks tells us, “When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.’”1 The religious authorities suggested He was possessed by Satan. Evidence was growing that He was more than just a religious zealot. A volatile situation was brewing. But performing an intervention on Jesus, even by those who thought they knew Him best, would be no easy feat. Perhaps you’ve asked yourself at one time or another “Am I the only one in this situation who isn’t crazy?” “Or, am I the only one that is?” Imagine, then, how Jesus felt! Only He had perfect knowledge of the truth.
The accusation that Jesus was an agent of the devil certainly raises the level of tension. Just imagine how differently the scene might be perceived today. Modern skeptics doubt or flatly deny the existence of Satan. They deem him to be a relic of the ancient or medieval past; a fabrication of religious superstition. They swiftly dismiss him along with his dominion called hell. It’s embarrassing for many, or at least, unfashionable, to engage in public discussion that recognizes his existence.
But it’s no use wringing our hands over such unbelief. The Holy Spirit must teach the truth about demonic spirits to unbelieving souls. Trying to offer tangible proofs will not be convincing. It’s worth considering, though, that as our society becomes more overtly secular, more people are trying to fill the emptiness in their lives through various ‘spiritual practices’. These range from palm reading to channeling of angels, fortune-telling to attempts at contacting the dead. Current trends say we should expect to see a growing interest in occult-related practices right across the board. In the expanding emptiness and uncertainty there will be many opportunities to convey the presence of the Messiah who is Immanuel- God with us.
Today Jesus makes it clear that denouncing the Spirit’s work is a serious matter. He could hardly say it more plainly, “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”2 It’s an understatement to say that this declaration is confronting. It’s like punch in the gut to all who think they might malign the work the Spirit with impunity. So, why does Jesus use words with such decisiveness and finality? The stakes are high because the consequences are ultimate. The Holy Spirit is the agent by which the human heart is convicted of sin and comforted with forgiveness. To allege that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan is a contradictory claim. Why would a servant of the devil be driving out demons? Jesus rebukes them forthrightly, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”3 Then He says, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and carry of his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man.”4
Christ was referring to Himself. Jesus carried off Satan’s possessions. That is, He redeemed sinners from the influence of the devil according to the apostolic description, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”5 The weapon of Satan’s defeat was the cross. Jesus did not conquer the devil in a physical confrontation. (Though his defeat has physical implications for believers) The victory was gained through Jesus’ perfect obedience and willing sacrifice. He did it for us and for our salvation. He was crucified. He rose. He lives.
Satan has been conquered. Jesus is restoring the fallen creation. Jesus did exactly what no one else could do. He bound Satan, the strongman, and plundered his house. The father of lies could not outwit the keeper of truth. The ancient dragon could not out-duel the immortal Son. The betrayer could not seduce the faithful one. Remember the time in the wilderness. “The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’”6 But Jesus did not yield. The devil could not push Jesus off the road to the cross. He could not lead Him on a wrong turn or blockade the road. At the crucial moment, when Jesus hung there with the fate of the world in the balance Satan made one last attempt, saying through his agents, “Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.”7 But all the devil’s attempts were in vain.
Still, Satan will ply his trade until the Second Coming of Christ. Many are willingly or unwittingly his followers. The Scripture says, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.”8 All are called on to renounce Satan’s works, something we first do in baptism. The same verse finishes saying, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”9 Jesus has done that by atoning for our guilt. He has done that by absorbing the wrath of the heavenly Father against sin.
Dear friends, you have God’s forgiveness in Christ freely and fully, here and now. You don’t have to wait until the day of judgment to find out if God will grant it to you. And this forgiveness is not limited by Satan’s accusations of “This person is not deserving look at all the terrible things he has done!” You need not worry about having some partial or conditional forgiveness. It’s a delight of the devil to limit the comfort of forgiveness and the peace of mind it brings. But Christ has come to destroy the devil’s works. You are God’s baptized child and Satan has no authority to challenge your claim in Christ’s inheritance. He has no authority to question why you are welcomed to dine at the Master’s table.
Our account began today with the family of Jesus attempting an intervention. They had no real hope, of course. Christ was actually the One doing the intervening. The Son of God was now present among the children of men. He was breaking into people’s dark and wayward lives with light and truth. He was halting illness. He was repairing brokenness. He was renewing what was decaying, reconditioning what was declining, reviving what was dying. He was restoring hope. He will continue to do these things. They are previews of eternity. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday After Pentecost
10 June 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Mark 3:21 2 Mark 3:28-29
3 Mark 3:23-25 4 Mark 3:27
5 Colossians 1:13-4 6 Matthew 4:3
7 Matthew 27:42 8, 9 1 John 3:8
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