+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 28:19-20
Theme: His Ever-Present Love
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God is a compulsive lover. To say that God loves compulsively is to say that He is driven to do so as an expression of His true nature. Because God is giver; it is His nature to love. His nature and love are expressed in His activity towards us. God creates, sustains and redeems. He does these things according to His nature as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is nothing more relevant to all people than the intent and activity of God. It is His intent to love people until the end. Christ is the end; just as He is the beginning. The activity of Christ is the definitive expression of the love of the triune God.
God loves us concretely and not abstractly, so the expression of His love connotes His presence. God is present everywhere, but He desires to be present with human beings in a saving manner. When Christ said to His disciples, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age,”1 He didn’t mean He was merely with them in thought or in some abstract way. He meant He would still be with them in a definite manner with power to act. The specifics involve the Holy Spirit, the word and the sacraments. Through these means, and because of the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ, the fullness of God is communicated to believers.
From the original creation, through the believer’s spiritual resurrection in baptism, to the final establishment of the new heaven and earth, the Trinity shares His life with the world. It’s a life that’s often rejected as people prefer to make their own way in the world. The mind held captive by selfishness and unbelief will always do what the heart desires. The heart that is not regenerated, not enlightened by the gospel, will always desire to be sovereign. And that is the epitome of sinfulness; the arrogance that makes one’s self, one’s master. Now, that can be pursed in a most civil manner, mind you. The perpetration of evil against others is not necessarily the intent. Yet, self-autonomy always has as its consequence estrangement from God and lack of love for the neighbour. The Holy Spirit’s task is indeed a monumental one. He must not only bring life and light where there is spiritual death and darkness, but He must also continually sanctify and renew us believers who, nevertheless, remain sinners. He is up to the task.
There could hardly be a more fitting occasion than Trinity Sunday for a baptism. Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing then in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”2 In baptism, the Holy Spirit makes entry into the lives of those who were spiritually dead in sin. And He doesn’t just pass through. He accompanies God’s word at all times. He takes you again and again through the cleansing waters; each and every time your sins are laid at the feet of the Crucified and you receive His mercy. Your age or aptitude don’t matter. The promise of God’s grace is the same for the infant as it is for the mature person. Jesus was crucified and He rose again for all. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This same Saviour feeds us with holy food from His altar.
The blessings we participate in here should not be taken for granted. Christianity is quickly falling out of favour with the culture at large. Values that used to be shared are being abandoned or overturned. And these aren’t simply matters of politics or philosophy. Humility in the face of an Almighty Creator and Judge is thought by many to be a quaint vestige of a faith system that’s had its day. The orderliness that God instituted for the wellbeing of church, government, and community is being rejected in favour of the supreme right of the individual. Anarchy’s history is not pretty but the lesson must be learned again, and again.
Dear friends, we must understand, clearly, for example, what some in our society are advocating for in matters of sexuality and marriage. Our culture has long since given up the view of sanctity in marriage. Casual sexual relationships have been the norm for some time, even among Christians. And now the agenda is pushing right past the question of homosexual unions to question of gender identity. Should children not only be allowed, but even encouraged to choose their own gender! It will do no good to bury our heads in the sand. These matters affect us all. The truth of God’s created order is at stake and this pertains to the secular society as well as the church.
Satan cultivates the soil deeply, scatters the seed broadly, and waters the ground frequently. But we are wise to his intentions. He seeks to part us from the truth. Underlying these matters is the question of what is true and how value is assessed. Do humans at any place and time make a collective judgment, or is there an unalterable truth that transcends ages, epochs, and cultures? Does everything change of necessity, constantly morphing into something else? Or does the unchanging God restore to permanence and perfection that which had become corrupted? A collision of worldviews is in motion. The attendant circumstances are different, but the struggle is the same one that always confronts the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”3 The Bible promises the oppression of Christian truth, not acceptance. It speaks of persecution, not privilege. It calls for sacrifice, not selfishness. Only the narrow road reaches the destination. Living by God’s grace isn’t about popularity, but integrity.
But Christians aren’t defeatists. We know God is with us. How do you know that Christ is with you when the results come back from the doctor and the diagnosis is cancer? How do you know Christ is with you when the phone rings in the middle of the night because there’s been a tragedy? How do you know Christ is with you when your marriage seems to be falling apart? How do you know Christ is with you when you are depressed, or feel lost and despairing? How do you know Christ is with you when you are overcome with anxiety and uncertainty about the future? Jesus came in the flesh. He suffered, conquered death, and He will come again. He knows us intimately.
We so easily and sometimes eagerly draw false conclusions. Don’t conclude that because some crisis in your life didn’t work out to your satisfaction that God wasn’t with you. Don’t base your understanding on some apparent sign, perception, or feeling. Rely on what you know of the nature and will of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. We are all by doubters by nature. But God is trustworthy. Even His chastisement is for our good. He will not abandon you. He cherishes your very soul.
Not only is Christ with you, He is in you, and most importantly for you. He is “for you” on the altar of sacrifice. He is “for you” in the midst of Satan’s accusations. He is “for you” when you are drowning in your sins. He is “for you” in the face of death. He is “for you” before the judgment seat. The triune God is with us and that as a compulsive lover. Today is Trinity Sunday. Rejoice that you bear His name! “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”4
+ In nomine Jesu +
Holy Trinity
11 June 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 28:20
2 Matthew 28:19-20
3 John 18:36
4 2 Corinthians 13:14
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Monday, June 5, 2017
Day of Pentecost (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Acts 2:4
Theme: The Spirit’s Work
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God keeps His promises. If we don’t have that confidence as the core conviction of our faith, then we don’t have much that matters. God is faithful. The Scripture says, “No matter how many promises God has made they are “Yes” in Christ.”1 God is true to Himself and that means He is trustworthy in all circumstances. The Creator of the universe is not too busy to attend to your tiniest fear. He is competent to fulfill all His greatest promises. Nothing scares Him. Nothing baffles Him. Nothing discourages Him. Death cannot defeat Him.
Today is Pentecost. Today we reflect on the completion of another of Christ’s promises. The Holy Spirit was sent to the apostles and through His witness in them Christianity exploded onto the scene. More important than remembering, however, is our participation in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the church and in the world. There are no truly idle believers in the Christian Church because faith that is not active in love is not genuine faith. We, too, are witnesses, martyrs, as our Spirit-given faith becomes evident in deeds of love.
Today, though, is not the only day the Holy Spirit is honoured. The work of the triune God never lacks coordination. The Holy Spirit always works in concert with the Father and the Son. From the original creation, through the believer’s spiritual resurrection in baptism, to the final establishment of the new heaven and earth, the Trinity shares His life with the world. Today the reversal of the dispersion at Babel continues as the Holy Spirit gathers people from every language to Himself. At Babel God’s word of judgment brought separation. At Pentecost, His word of reconciliation brings reunion.
Reconciliation would not be needed if the relationship had not been severed. The Holy Spirit comes to sinners. Still, many do not receive Him. Rejecting His blessings, they choose their own gods. Arrogance or apathy leads the hardened heart to believe it is without sin, or not accountable for the same. That’s why the first activity of the Holy Spirit is always the working of repentance. Otherwise, the deception continues and there is no need for the gospel. Dear friends, when we lie to God we lie to the Holy Spirit. When we sin against our neighbour we sin against the Holy Spirit. When we defy our own conscience, we offend the Holy Spirit. Our sins are never simply horizontal in their complications. All sin is an offense to God first and foremost. But where the Holy spirit dwells reconciliation with God is achieved.
Perhaps you’ve wondered if the Holy Spirit is dwelling in you, if He’s working in your life? Perhaps you’ve worried about feeling His presence or sought ways to measure His activity. Don’t stress over evidence. Cling to His word. Remember, you are baptized. In that event the Holy Spirit made entry into your life. And He wasn’t just passing through. He accompanies God’s word at all times. He takes you again and again through the cleansing waters; each and every time your sins are laid at the feet of the Crucified and you receive His mercy. He continually refits and repairs your spiritual armor. He stands in front of you when Satan shoots his flaming arrows. He advocates for you when the devil makes his convincing accusations. He fortifies your conviction when Satan plants seeds of doubt into your mind. He brings joy to your heart every time you reflect upon the eternal inheritance you have been promised. For weary souls who can’t see beyond a dark tunnel of vision, the Holy Spirit beams a brilliant light upon the crucified Saviour and opens the scene to the horizon of the resurrection.
Living in this world, however, does not involve an unhindered contemplation of the heavenly future. We’re in the fray. In case you haven’t noticed, Christianity isn’t exactly in vogue at the moment. The pressures are mounting. Perhaps, in the past, it was viewed favourably to a large degree. It was seen, even by many unbelievers, as part of the moral foundation of society. Now the script is being flipped and some of those very same convictions are considered evil. For example, it’s not simply that the sanctity of marriage is being compromised because of lack of self-control- that will always be the case in this fallen world- the very definition of sexuality is being turned on its head. It’s not just the parameters for engaging in sexual activity that are being argued- whether within marriage, outside of marriage, between people of the same gender etc., - but the very identity of a person as male or female.
Christianity has no monopoly of understanding here. The biological laws of nature are fundamental to the discussion. At that level, it makes little difference if one believes, as Christianity teaches, that God created male and female, or if evolution (though a false premise) dominates one’s worldview on the matter. Either way, the complementarity of the sexes necessary for the propagation of the human race is self-evident. The case for any child having a mother and a father is deeply grounded biologically, domestically, and biblically.
Underlying these matters is the question of what is true and how value is assessed. Do humans at any place and time make a collective judgment, or is there an unalterable truth that transcends ages, epochs, and cultures? Does everything change of necessity, constantly morphing into something else? Or does the unchanging God restore to permanence and perfection that which had become corrupted? A collision of worldviews is in motion. The attendant circumstances are different, but the struggle is the same one that always confronts the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”2 The Bible promises the oppression of Christian truth, not acceptance. It speaks of persecution, not privilege. It calls for sacrifice, not selfishness. Only the narrow road reaches the destination. Living by God’s grace isn’t about popularity, but integrity. Christians aren’t defeatists, but realists.
The apostles were sent out into a world that wasn’t that different from ours. The standard of living may not have been comparable, but the moral fiber of society was. They might not have had mobile phones, but they had gossip chains. They might not have had reversible cameras for taking selfies, but they had narcissism nonetheless. They might not have had organized atheist societies or practitioners of Satanic worship in today’s sense, but they had plenty who lived in the dark about the true love of God revealed in Christ. The gospel of salvation which brings life to dying souls never becomes obsolete. The Holy Spirit doesn’t age and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.3
The Holy Spirit comes to sinners. And He brings us into contact with God’s Son through the means He has appointed. The Scripture says, “This is the One who came by water and blood- Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.”4 In the breaking of the bread the disciples’ eyes were opened. The Holy Spirit uses communion as a sacrament of revelation as well as a way to dispense forgiveness. The unified testimony of these means of grace is the same testimony given on Pentecost: Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. He was crucified for our sins. He lives, never to die again. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Day of Pentecost
4 June 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 2 Corinthians 1:20
2 John 18:36
3 See Hebrews 13:8
4 1 John 5:6-8
Text: Acts 2:4
Theme: The Spirit’s Work
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God keeps His promises. If we don’t have that confidence as the core conviction of our faith, then we don’t have much that matters. God is faithful. The Scripture says, “No matter how many promises God has made they are “Yes” in Christ.”1 God is true to Himself and that means He is trustworthy in all circumstances. The Creator of the universe is not too busy to attend to your tiniest fear. He is competent to fulfill all His greatest promises. Nothing scares Him. Nothing baffles Him. Nothing discourages Him. Death cannot defeat Him.
Today is Pentecost. Today we reflect on the completion of another of Christ’s promises. The Holy Spirit was sent to the apostles and through His witness in them Christianity exploded onto the scene. More important than remembering, however, is our participation in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the church and in the world. There are no truly idle believers in the Christian Church because faith that is not active in love is not genuine faith. We, too, are witnesses, martyrs, as our Spirit-given faith becomes evident in deeds of love.
Today, though, is not the only day the Holy Spirit is honoured. The work of the triune God never lacks coordination. The Holy Spirit always works in concert with the Father and the Son. From the original creation, through the believer’s spiritual resurrection in baptism, to the final establishment of the new heaven and earth, the Trinity shares His life with the world. Today the reversal of the dispersion at Babel continues as the Holy Spirit gathers people from every language to Himself. At Babel God’s word of judgment brought separation. At Pentecost, His word of reconciliation brings reunion.
Reconciliation would not be needed if the relationship had not been severed. The Holy Spirit comes to sinners. Still, many do not receive Him. Rejecting His blessings, they choose their own gods. Arrogance or apathy leads the hardened heart to believe it is without sin, or not accountable for the same. That’s why the first activity of the Holy Spirit is always the working of repentance. Otherwise, the deception continues and there is no need for the gospel. Dear friends, when we lie to God we lie to the Holy Spirit. When we sin against our neighbour we sin against the Holy Spirit. When we defy our own conscience, we offend the Holy Spirit. Our sins are never simply horizontal in their complications. All sin is an offense to God first and foremost. But where the Holy spirit dwells reconciliation with God is achieved.
Perhaps you’ve wondered if the Holy Spirit is dwelling in you, if He’s working in your life? Perhaps you’ve worried about feeling His presence or sought ways to measure His activity. Don’t stress over evidence. Cling to His word. Remember, you are baptized. In that event the Holy Spirit made entry into your life. And He wasn’t just passing through. He accompanies God’s word at all times. He takes you again and again through the cleansing waters; each and every time your sins are laid at the feet of the Crucified and you receive His mercy. He continually refits and repairs your spiritual armor. He stands in front of you when Satan shoots his flaming arrows. He advocates for you when the devil makes his convincing accusations. He fortifies your conviction when Satan plants seeds of doubt into your mind. He brings joy to your heart every time you reflect upon the eternal inheritance you have been promised. For weary souls who can’t see beyond a dark tunnel of vision, the Holy Spirit beams a brilliant light upon the crucified Saviour and opens the scene to the horizon of the resurrection.
Living in this world, however, does not involve an unhindered contemplation of the heavenly future. We’re in the fray. In case you haven’t noticed, Christianity isn’t exactly in vogue at the moment. The pressures are mounting. Perhaps, in the past, it was viewed favourably to a large degree. It was seen, even by many unbelievers, as part of the moral foundation of society. Now the script is being flipped and some of those very same convictions are considered evil. For example, it’s not simply that the sanctity of marriage is being compromised because of lack of self-control- that will always be the case in this fallen world- the very definition of sexuality is being turned on its head. It’s not just the parameters for engaging in sexual activity that are being argued- whether within marriage, outside of marriage, between people of the same gender etc., - but the very identity of a person as male or female.
Christianity has no monopoly of understanding here. The biological laws of nature are fundamental to the discussion. At that level, it makes little difference if one believes, as Christianity teaches, that God created male and female, or if evolution (though a false premise) dominates one’s worldview on the matter. Either way, the complementarity of the sexes necessary for the propagation of the human race is self-evident. The case for any child having a mother and a father is deeply grounded biologically, domestically, and biblically.
Underlying these matters is the question of what is true and how value is assessed. Do humans at any place and time make a collective judgment, or is there an unalterable truth that transcends ages, epochs, and cultures? Does everything change of necessity, constantly morphing into something else? Or does the unchanging God restore to permanence and perfection that which had become corrupted? A collision of worldviews is in motion. The attendant circumstances are different, but the struggle is the same one that always confronts the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”2 The Bible promises the oppression of Christian truth, not acceptance. It speaks of persecution, not privilege. It calls for sacrifice, not selfishness. Only the narrow road reaches the destination. Living by God’s grace isn’t about popularity, but integrity. Christians aren’t defeatists, but realists.
The apostles were sent out into a world that wasn’t that different from ours. The standard of living may not have been comparable, but the moral fiber of society was. They might not have had mobile phones, but they had gossip chains. They might not have had reversible cameras for taking selfies, but they had narcissism nonetheless. They might not have had organized atheist societies or practitioners of Satanic worship in today’s sense, but they had plenty who lived in the dark about the true love of God revealed in Christ. The gospel of salvation which brings life to dying souls never becomes obsolete. The Holy Spirit doesn’t age and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.3
The Holy Spirit comes to sinners. And He brings us into contact with God’s Son through the means He has appointed. The Scripture says, “This is the One who came by water and blood- Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.”4 In the breaking of the bread the disciples’ eyes were opened. The Holy Spirit uses communion as a sacrament of revelation as well as a way to dispense forgiveness. The unified testimony of these means of grace is the same testimony given on Pentecost: Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. He was crucified for our sins. He lives, never to die again. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Day of Pentecost
4 June 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 2 Corinthians 1:20
2 John 18:36
3 See Hebrews 13:8
4 1 John 5:6-8
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Seventh Sunday of Easter (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Acts 1:9
Theme: Jesus Ascended; Still Present.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Jesus ascended, but He’s still present. His bodily presence is veiled, but His grace and power remains among us. In the promise of forgiveness, in the body and blood of the sacrament, in the reviving waters of baptism; He is present. These means communicate His saving redemption. Yes, of course, God is the authority that keeps the governance of the cosmos in operation, from the rotation of the earth, to the sprouting of the seed, and the conception of new life. Immediate collapse would result if He withdrew. Yet, to you and me, mortal, sinners, generic providence is a fleeting blessing. We require access to immortality. Only Christ can grant it.
Today is the Sunday between Ascension and Pentecost. While praying to the Father, Jesus said of His disciples, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name.”1 It’s a powerful reminder of Christ’s ongoing work. Christ prays with us. You never pray alone; not even if you are the only one in the house, the only one in the room, or seem to be the only one in your headspace. Christ taught His followers to begin the Lord’s Prayer saying, “Our Father.”2 Also, the Holy Spirit intercedes with divine utterances. He knows what to pray for when we can’t find the thoughts or the words. He knows what to pray for when we are too weak, too angry, too lost.
So, gathered near Bethany with the Eleven, Jesus bodily ascended to the Father’s hand of power and commissioned the apostles to be His witnesses once the Holy Spirit was sent. The apostles were joined suddenly by two angels, who told them Jesus would come again in the same manner. Thus, as we reflect upon the 40 days Jesus remained on earth after His resurrection, our thoughts turn also to His imminent return in glory.
Much is made by some scholars about the expectation of the early Christians, and particularly of Paul, of the imminent return of Christ. Many, it is claimed, did not expect their children's lifespans to reach their maturity before Jesus’ Second Coming. There is solid biblical evidence to support this thesis. Christ and the apostles warn the faithful to be prepared for the end. Yet, it’s nearly 2000 years later…and the years roll on. Was there some misunderstanding? God is not limited by our understanding of time. Whether He returns tomorrow, in 100 years, or in 1000 years should make no difference to how we live in the present. The implications are very practical. God knows how we live. He knows how we allocate your resources. He knows what we hoard, what we waste, when we are generous and when we are stingy. He knows how we love or fail to love others. He knows what we put our trust in. Christ may come for any of us, individually, this very hour.
You may have seen a t-shirt with a message that says, "Look busy, Jesus is coming back!" It's a tongue-in-cheek take on a serious reality. But merely keeping up appearances will do no good. God reads the heart. He knows our words before we speak them and our thoughts before we think them. If our actions aren't a true reflection of our convictions we are shown to be hypocrites. God will not be deceived. We will have no leverage with which to convince Him otherwise. There will be no second chances upon His arrival. The time for repentance is always now, never later. Don’t spend any time on a strategy trying to justify your sins. Confess them. Don’t look for loopholes in the law or make comparisons with those you believe to be less godly. Neither evasion nor arrogance will accomplish anything. Look in the mirror and trust that the person you see there is the same one who will stand before the Judge.
But, dear friends, believers have nothing to fear when Christ returns. It will be an event of tremendous excitement and anticipation. We will suffer no angst or anxiety. Our judgment has already been rendered. Our sentence has already been served. Our debt has already been paid. God is not slack in His judgment. But He isn't stingy with His love either. His love is so magnanimous that He meets the requirements of His own justice. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed that we might be spared. He was condemned to be crucified. He was sentenced to death. He bore the weight of the world’s transgressions. He entered the darkness. He silenced Satan. He was raised. He is living. We are free. And we are free not to be independent, but to live in community. Christ reconstitutes the community of God, the “one, holy Christian and apostolic Church.”3 Jesus is the origin of all things. He is the centre. He is the destination. The Bible says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.”4
We’re not saying here that these truths are perceptible to our senses or emotions. Even at His ascension the disciples were asking if Jesus was about to establish an earthly kingdom. Why were they still asking that? Because that’s what was tangible to them. An earthly kingdom was perceptible, relatable. It’s the same challenge we have. So, there is always need for clarity and distinction. Nothing can be said so clearly that someone cannot misunderstand it. The Holy Spirit makes clear the truth in the hearts and minds of those who believe. He shows us the Son who brings with Him the presence and gifts of the Father. But we are always under temptation to waver. Satan knows the weak points. He knows what puffs us up with pride and he knows what tempts us to doubt and despair.
We cannot understand the communication of the Spirit except through faith. It’s not directly tangible to us. A child who has not yet acquired literacy can receive a copy of the parent's will, but still won’t know anything of the inheritance until the contents are communicated in a different manner. The words of Scripture can be studied or received by anyone who has the capacity, but they cannot be understood as to their spiritual meaning except through the Spirit. Spiritual literacy is not a matter of intellectual capacity, but of revelation made to the heart and communication made to the conscience. The Scriptures are written in human language but their effectiveness requires divine working.
Dear friends, when we are lacking conviction about whether God is present or working in our lives we are in good company. Early believers too, needed the constant reassurance of the gospel promises. What does Peter say today? “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”5 Now, care is a concept we can relate to. But, how understated it is in God’s case! He cared enough to sacrifice everything in service to us.
How will you meet the coming Christ? You may have anxiety when you try to picture it now in your mind’s eye. But when the trumpet sounds, the heaven is rent, and He appears with a retinue of angels, you will be astounded and filled with excitement and joy. We will be absorbed in jubilation far beyond what we can now begin to imagine. And it won’t matter if you are already dead. The dead will be raised, their bodies reunited with their souls and all believers will be transferred into glory. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday of Easter
28 May 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 17:11
2 Matthew 6:9
3 The Nicene Creed
4 Colossians 1:17-18
5 1 Peter 5:6-7
Text: Acts 1:9
Theme: Jesus Ascended; Still Present.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Jesus ascended, but He’s still present. His bodily presence is veiled, but His grace and power remains among us. In the promise of forgiveness, in the body and blood of the sacrament, in the reviving waters of baptism; He is present. These means communicate His saving redemption. Yes, of course, God is the authority that keeps the governance of the cosmos in operation, from the rotation of the earth, to the sprouting of the seed, and the conception of new life. Immediate collapse would result if He withdrew. Yet, to you and me, mortal, sinners, generic providence is a fleeting blessing. We require access to immortality. Only Christ can grant it.
Today is the Sunday between Ascension and Pentecost. While praying to the Father, Jesus said of His disciples, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name.”1 It’s a powerful reminder of Christ’s ongoing work. Christ prays with us. You never pray alone; not even if you are the only one in the house, the only one in the room, or seem to be the only one in your headspace. Christ taught His followers to begin the Lord’s Prayer saying, “Our Father.”2 Also, the Holy Spirit intercedes with divine utterances. He knows what to pray for when we can’t find the thoughts or the words. He knows what to pray for when we are too weak, too angry, too lost.
So, gathered near Bethany with the Eleven, Jesus bodily ascended to the Father’s hand of power and commissioned the apostles to be His witnesses once the Holy Spirit was sent. The apostles were joined suddenly by two angels, who told them Jesus would come again in the same manner. Thus, as we reflect upon the 40 days Jesus remained on earth after His resurrection, our thoughts turn also to His imminent return in glory.
Much is made by some scholars about the expectation of the early Christians, and particularly of Paul, of the imminent return of Christ. Many, it is claimed, did not expect their children's lifespans to reach their maturity before Jesus’ Second Coming. There is solid biblical evidence to support this thesis. Christ and the apostles warn the faithful to be prepared for the end. Yet, it’s nearly 2000 years later…and the years roll on. Was there some misunderstanding? God is not limited by our understanding of time. Whether He returns tomorrow, in 100 years, or in 1000 years should make no difference to how we live in the present. The implications are very practical. God knows how we live. He knows how we allocate your resources. He knows what we hoard, what we waste, when we are generous and when we are stingy. He knows how we love or fail to love others. He knows what we put our trust in. Christ may come for any of us, individually, this very hour.
You may have seen a t-shirt with a message that says, "Look busy, Jesus is coming back!" It's a tongue-in-cheek take on a serious reality. But merely keeping up appearances will do no good. God reads the heart. He knows our words before we speak them and our thoughts before we think them. If our actions aren't a true reflection of our convictions we are shown to be hypocrites. God will not be deceived. We will have no leverage with which to convince Him otherwise. There will be no second chances upon His arrival. The time for repentance is always now, never later. Don’t spend any time on a strategy trying to justify your sins. Confess them. Don’t look for loopholes in the law or make comparisons with those you believe to be less godly. Neither evasion nor arrogance will accomplish anything. Look in the mirror and trust that the person you see there is the same one who will stand before the Judge.
But, dear friends, believers have nothing to fear when Christ returns. It will be an event of tremendous excitement and anticipation. We will suffer no angst or anxiety. Our judgment has already been rendered. Our sentence has already been served. Our debt has already been paid. God is not slack in His judgment. But He isn't stingy with His love either. His love is so magnanimous that He meets the requirements of His own justice. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed that we might be spared. He was condemned to be crucified. He was sentenced to death. He bore the weight of the world’s transgressions. He entered the darkness. He silenced Satan. He was raised. He is living. We are free. And we are free not to be independent, but to live in community. Christ reconstitutes the community of God, the “one, holy Christian and apostolic Church.”3 Jesus is the origin of all things. He is the centre. He is the destination. The Bible says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.”4
We’re not saying here that these truths are perceptible to our senses or emotions. Even at His ascension the disciples were asking if Jesus was about to establish an earthly kingdom. Why were they still asking that? Because that’s what was tangible to them. An earthly kingdom was perceptible, relatable. It’s the same challenge we have. So, there is always need for clarity and distinction. Nothing can be said so clearly that someone cannot misunderstand it. The Holy Spirit makes clear the truth in the hearts and minds of those who believe. He shows us the Son who brings with Him the presence and gifts of the Father. But we are always under temptation to waver. Satan knows the weak points. He knows what puffs us up with pride and he knows what tempts us to doubt and despair.
We cannot understand the communication of the Spirit except through faith. It’s not directly tangible to us. A child who has not yet acquired literacy can receive a copy of the parent's will, but still won’t know anything of the inheritance until the contents are communicated in a different manner. The words of Scripture can be studied or received by anyone who has the capacity, but they cannot be understood as to their spiritual meaning except through the Spirit. Spiritual literacy is not a matter of intellectual capacity, but of revelation made to the heart and communication made to the conscience. The Scriptures are written in human language but their effectiveness requires divine working.
Dear friends, when we are lacking conviction about whether God is present or working in our lives we are in good company. Early believers too, needed the constant reassurance of the gospel promises. What does Peter say today? “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”5 Now, care is a concept we can relate to. But, how understated it is in God’s case! He cared enough to sacrifice everything in service to us.
How will you meet the coming Christ? You may have anxiety when you try to picture it now in your mind’s eye. But when the trumpet sounds, the heaven is rent, and He appears with a retinue of angels, you will be astounded and filled with excitement and joy. We will be absorbed in jubilation far beyond what we can now begin to imagine. And it won’t matter if you are already dead. The dead will be raised, their bodies reunited with their souls and all believers will be transferred into glory. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday of Easter
28 May 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 17:11
2 Matthew 6:9
3 The Nicene Creed
4 Colossians 1:17-18
5 1 Peter 5:6-7
Friday, May 26, 2017
Christian Burial of Tyler Shane Lange 26 May 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:1-6
Theme: Home
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Tyler, and especially you Deanne, Andrew, Ebony, Ashlee; and all of you gathered here in their support,
“In My Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.”1 That is the promise of the One who holds the keys to the house. Tyler is home. He has no worries, cares, or anxieties. He has no distresses, demands, or difficulties. He is not burdened with regret. We may be overwhelmed with remorse, and understandably so. We might even be resentful. Not Tyler! His soul has been received directly into the presence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The power of sin and all of its consequences has been broken for him- for all eternity. He is home.
Tyler no longer needs anything from us. This casket contains only his mortal frame; a frame destined to be raised again on the great day of the resurrection of the dead. No, Tyler needs nothing from us, yet he gives to us more than just memories of times past. The brevity of his life gives us opportunity to refocus our priorities and perspectives. Paying lip-service to our mortality is a dangerous business. Life-expectancy is a statistical calculation. It means nothing for individuals. The order in which things normally happen doesn’t always hold. When expectations are shattered, we can be devastated. Losing those who are young and vibrant challenges our guttural instinct. It raises questions of unfairness and injustice.
Grief has no rules. It only has victims. Shock, numbness, anger, guilt, regret, despair, hopelessness…these swirl around in a complex vortex of darkness and doubt. The heart becomes sick. Foundational convictions are challenged and reviewed in our minds. Can God really be trusted? Does life have purpose? What does it all mean? The details of our futures are not revealed to us. Such knowledge would often cripple our participation in the present. Tyler led a vibrant, active, genuine life. He was not restricted by fear. He lived in the present, valuing each day.
I had the privilege of spending a year with Tyler in 2009 during confirmation instruction. Students were given a 10-point quiz each week as we worked our way through the basic teachings of the Christian faith. It’s nearly impossible to get young, healthy kids to reflect on the frailty and preciousness of life. Life seems too certain, too much a given at that age. But it is possible to teach 13-year-olds that life has a source, a purpose, and a destiny. There’s more to existence than meets the eye. On this particular quiz, for which He received perfect marks, Tyler was answering a question about the very crux of the gospel. Why is the gospel truly good news? It is good news because it resolves the greatest crises of existence. Sin, death, and separation from God are defeated by the One who suffered to serve us. The One who was crucified.
Tyler did not go to a cross for punishment. That debt was already paid. The Substitute has already been sacrificed; for Tyler, for you, for me. Christ understands grief. He entered a darkness from which no human had returned. He entered the crucible of punishment for the collective sins of fallen humanity. He emerged victorious over death. Tyler’s confirmation verse was, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”2 Words spoken by Christ, they remind us tomorrow is not guaranteed, so we should hold tightly the promise of God’s grace. It is life to the soul.
We live in an increasingly volatile world. Terrorism, violence, addiction, and despair remind us of the fallenness of humanity. Collectively and individually, we are vulnerable. Life is precious. Every breath is a gift. Nothing temporal is certain. Eternal things, though, are otherwise. Salvation is by grace, through faith. There is no other way. Death wins lots of little victories. It cannot win the war. It causes a lot of pain, but it has no permanent authority over God’s people.
Life at any age involves a contest against the temptation to give up or give in, the struggle against serving ourselves, instead of others. Tyler knew how to compete. His passion involved the thrill of the chase and the determination needed to accomplish the goal. But there is only one race that needs to be completed. Tyler has crossed the finish line. He has done it earlier than most.
We still have valid questions. Why Tyler? Why now? Why in that way? But we won’t pretend to have answers. We won’t pretend to grasp reasons. We won’t offer shallow solutions. No one can know the mind of God? But we do know the work of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though He dies.”3Tyler is celebrating Easter: Life! Life with no encumbrances. Life as the unmediated enjoyment of God’s presence.
The One who holds the keys to the heavenly mansion says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”4 The place prepared for Tyler Lange is now occupied. Thanks be to God!
Deanne, Andrew, Ebony, Ashlee; may God Almighty wrap you in His strong but gentle love until the day of your reunion with Ty. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Tyler Shane Lange
26 May 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 14:2
2 Revelation 3:11
3 John 11:25
4 John 14:1-2
Text: John 14:1-6
Theme: Home
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Tyler, and especially you Deanne, Andrew, Ebony, Ashlee; and all of you gathered here in their support,
“In My Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.”1 That is the promise of the One who holds the keys to the house. Tyler is home. He has no worries, cares, or anxieties. He has no distresses, demands, or difficulties. He is not burdened with regret. We may be overwhelmed with remorse, and understandably so. We might even be resentful. Not Tyler! His soul has been received directly into the presence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The power of sin and all of its consequences has been broken for him- for all eternity. He is home.
Tyler no longer needs anything from us. This casket contains only his mortal frame; a frame destined to be raised again on the great day of the resurrection of the dead. No, Tyler needs nothing from us, yet he gives to us more than just memories of times past. The brevity of his life gives us opportunity to refocus our priorities and perspectives. Paying lip-service to our mortality is a dangerous business. Life-expectancy is a statistical calculation. It means nothing for individuals. The order in which things normally happen doesn’t always hold. When expectations are shattered, we can be devastated. Losing those who are young and vibrant challenges our guttural instinct. It raises questions of unfairness and injustice.
Grief has no rules. It only has victims. Shock, numbness, anger, guilt, regret, despair, hopelessness…these swirl around in a complex vortex of darkness and doubt. The heart becomes sick. Foundational convictions are challenged and reviewed in our minds. Can God really be trusted? Does life have purpose? What does it all mean? The details of our futures are not revealed to us. Such knowledge would often cripple our participation in the present. Tyler led a vibrant, active, genuine life. He was not restricted by fear. He lived in the present, valuing each day.
I had the privilege of spending a year with Tyler in 2009 during confirmation instruction. Students were given a 10-point quiz each week as we worked our way through the basic teachings of the Christian faith. It’s nearly impossible to get young, healthy kids to reflect on the frailty and preciousness of life. Life seems too certain, too much a given at that age. But it is possible to teach 13-year-olds that life has a source, a purpose, and a destiny. There’s more to existence than meets the eye. On this particular quiz, for which He received perfect marks, Tyler was answering a question about the very crux of the gospel. Why is the gospel truly good news? It is good news because it resolves the greatest crises of existence. Sin, death, and separation from God are defeated by the One who suffered to serve us. The One who was crucified.
Tyler did not go to a cross for punishment. That debt was already paid. The Substitute has already been sacrificed; for Tyler, for you, for me. Christ understands grief. He entered a darkness from which no human had returned. He entered the crucible of punishment for the collective sins of fallen humanity. He emerged victorious over death. Tyler’s confirmation verse was, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”2 Words spoken by Christ, they remind us tomorrow is not guaranteed, so we should hold tightly the promise of God’s grace. It is life to the soul.
We live in an increasingly volatile world. Terrorism, violence, addiction, and despair remind us of the fallenness of humanity. Collectively and individually, we are vulnerable. Life is precious. Every breath is a gift. Nothing temporal is certain. Eternal things, though, are otherwise. Salvation is by grace, through faith. There is no other way. Death wins lots of little victories. It cannot win the war. It causes a lot of pain, but it has no permanent authority over God’s people.
Life at any age involves a contest against the temptation to give up or give in, the struggle against serving ourselves, instead of others. Tyler knew how to compete. His passion involved the thrill of the chase and the determination needed to accomplish the goal. But there is only one race that needs to be completed. Tyler has crossed the finish line. He has done it earlier than most.
We still have valid questions. Why Tyler? Why now? Why in that way? But we won’t pretend to have answers. We won’t pretend to grasp reasons. We won’t offer shallow solutions. No one can know the mind of God? But we do know the work of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though He dies.”3Tyler is celebrating Easter: Life! Life with no encumbrances. Life as the unmediated enjoyment of God’s presence.
The One who holds the keys to the heavenly mansion says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”4 The place prepared for Tyler Lange is now occupied. Thanks be to God!
Deanne, Andrew, Ebony, Ashlee; may God Almighty wrap you in His strong but gentle love until the day of your reunion with Ty. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Tyler Shane Lange
26 May 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 14:2
2 Revelation 3:11
3 John 11:25
4 John 14:1-2
Monday, May 22, 2017
Sixth Sunday of Easter (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Acts 17:22-33
Theme: Mute Idols And the Speaking God
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
During his missionary ventures, St Paul visited Athens, Greece. It was still one of the world's intellectual centres at the time. Not coincidentally, he secured an audience with those who gathered at the Areopagus. It was the venue for philosophical discussion. The city, like most of the world in that era, was not short on religious devotees. Paul likely visited the Parthenon where the goddess Athena was worshipped, in addition to the temple of Rome and Augustus. Many at the time believed their fate was in the hands of the pagan gods, whom they needed to appease to gain their favour. The gods were perceived to be short-tempered, unpredictable, and often contradictory in their demands.
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”1 Paul's reference to the altar dedicated to an unknown god was his opening to introduce the identity of the true God: The Christ who came in flesh and blood. Paul was preaching to them about Jesus and the resurrection. To the Athenians, these were strange new teachings. It was certainly an affront to their idols.
Every age has its idols. Ours is no exception. Some idols are perennial favourites. Money is always near the top of the list. Greed is still a common vice. The Scripture says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”2 Jesus Himself said, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."3
Devotion to sports often gets top billing today. Good competition is healthy, and athletic pursuits of achievement are honourable. But think of the hope invested in victory and the anguish of defeat experienced by so many! Some struggle to find meaning and purpose in life if sporting heroes or dreams fail them. Responsibilities to family and society are pushed aside and God certainly doesn’t get a look in. Many other examples such as work, pleasure, or reputation, could be added to the list.
We won’t find public altars built to unknown idols among us today. But the idolatry enthroned within the heart is no different. The word of God speaks to us with the same message. Paul continued saying, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.”4 There is a reason the First Commandment has primacy. When it’s disregarded both the internal and external ordering of life breaks down. Civility can still hold sway, but only while people still find meaning in life. Otherwise, restraint is necessary. It’s little wonder so many in our society are caught in cycles of addiction, depression, and despair? It’s not just a matter of lack of self-control. A deeper crisis is evident. Missing hope for the future, needing inspiration for the present, lacking meaning for daily living, people turn to destructive behaviors that get them through the moment. The cost is high.
One of the great challenges of pagan idolatry was that you could seldom be certain where you stood with the gods. There was always a price to secure their favour. But the true God is not a selfish and heartless idol. We know where we stand with Him. God's grace in Christ comes with no strings attached. There are no prerequisites to qualify us for His mercy. The Father finds nothing desirable in us, but He finds His Son faithful. He is not drawn to our goodness, but He is accepting of Christ's righteousness. He's not impressed with our obedience, but He's glorified in Christ's sacrifice. He supplies all that we lack.
The love of God does not fade, it does not tire, it does not get bored. God's passion for us never loses its vibrancy. When we go astray He searches for us with the diligence of a shepherd looking for lost sheep. When spiritual sickness attacks our souls, He tends to us like a physician treating a dying patient. When we are under duress from Satan's temptations, He protects us like a soldier defending a helpless child. The pagan idols were believed to have done none of these things. Christ says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”5
Dear friends, the precious blood of Christ was spilled for you. The crown was fitted. The nails were driven. The cross was lifted…for YOU! He stayed only a Sabbath’s rest in the grave that you might have life in heaven for eternity. You don’t need to rely on any of your own holiness because His is more than enough. We are saved by grace, through faith. You are His baptized and you are fed with His heavenly mana. The apostle says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”6
Thursday marks the day of Christ’s bodily ascension to the Father’s right hand. Jesus said to His nervous disciples, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”7 What magnificent assurance! He speaks that to you in your time of need, your time of darkness, your time of doubt. You will not be orphaned. Tuck that away in your heart. Etch it on your mind. The problem with getting too comfortable with only our favourite verses of Scripture is that we can become complacent. But, you will inevitably find more fabulous expressions of God’s promises. Don’t jettison the old ones, just add more.
Take God at His word. He is trustworthy. Jesus is “the founder and perfecter of our faith.”8 Faith is not an inanimate object. Faith cannot exist without the operative power of the Holy Spirit. The believing person is the person within whom the Spirit is living. Christ lived among sinners and the Holy Spirit lives within them. He lives within believers as the bearer of truth. Christians do not have the Spirit as some generic "lifeforce". He makes known the Son so that we might know the Father as well. These are mind-blowing facts. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the first creation and gave you new life in the waters of baptism dwells in you now. The same Jesus who received Stephen at his stoning and the thief on the cross in his dying hour receives you. He will welcome you when mortality has run its course because He has already received you. He will raise you bodily from the grave, not as a new miracle, but as a continuation of His victory over death. The apostle’s good news for the people of Athens is good news for us too. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Sixth Sunday of Easter
21 May 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Acts 17:22-23
2 1 Timothy 6:10
3 Luke 12:15
4 Acts 17:30-31
5 Matthew 10:29-31
6 Romans 8:38-39
7 John 14:18
8 Hebrews 12:2
Text: Acts 17:22-33
Theme: Mute Idols And the Speaking God
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
During his missionary ventures, St Paul visited Athens, Greece. It was still one of the world's intellectual centres at the time. Not coincidentally, he secured an audience with those who gathered at the Areopagus. It was the venue for philosophical discussion. The city, like most of the world in that era, was not short on religious devotees. Paul likely visited the Parthenon where the goddess Athena was worshipped, in addition to the temple of Rome and Augustus. Many at the time believed their fate was in the hands of the pagan gods, whom they needed to appease to gain their favour. The gods were perceived to be short-tempered, unpredictable, and often contradictory in their demands.
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”1 Paul's reference to the altar dedicated to an unknown god was his opening to introduce the identity of the true God: The Christ who came in flesh and blood. Paul was preaching to them about Jesus and the resurrection. To the Athenians, these were strange new teachings. It was certainly an affront to their idols.
Every age has its idols. Ours is no exception. Some idols are perennial favourites. Money is always near the top of the list. Greed is still a common vice. The Scripture says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”2 Jesus Himself said, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."3
Devotion to sports often gets top billing today. Good competition is healthy, and athletic pursuits of achievement are honourable. But think of the hope invested in victory and the anguish of defeat experienced by so many! Some struggle to find meaning and purpose in life if sporting heroes or dreams fail them. Responsibilities to family and society are pushed aside and God certainly doesn’t get a look in. Many other examples such as work, pleasure, or reputation, could be added to the list.
We won’t find public altars built to unknown idols among us today. But the idolatry enthroned within the heart is no different. The word of God speaks to us with the same message. Paul continued saying, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.”4 There is a reason the First Commandment has primacy. When it’s disregarded both the internal and external ordering of life breaks down. Civility can still hold sway, but only while people still find meaning in life. Otherwise, restraint is necessary. It’s little wonder so many in our society are caught in cycles of addiction, depression, and despair? It’s not just a matter of lack of self-control. A deeper crisis is evident. Missing hope for the future, needing inspiration for the present, lacking meaning for daily living, people turn to destructive behaviors that get them through the moment. The cost is high.
One of the great challenges of pagan idolatry was that you could seldom be certain where you stood with the gods. There was always a price to secure their favour. But the true God is not a selfish and heartless idol. We know where we stand with Him. God's grace in Christ comes with no strings attached. There are no prerequisites to qualify us for His mercy. The Father finds nothing desirable in us, but He finds His Son faithful. He is not drawn to our goodness, but He is accepting of Christ's righteousness. He's not impressed with our obedience, but He's glorified in Christ's sacrifice. He supplies all that we lack.
The love of God does not fade, it does not tire, it does not get bored. God's passion for us never loses its vibrancy. When we go astray He searches for us with the diligence of a shepherd looking for lost sheep. When spiritual sickness attacks our souls, He tends to us like a physician treating a dying patient. When we are under duress from Satan's temptations, He protects us like a soldier defending a helpless child. The pagan idols were believed to have done none of these things. Christ says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”5
Dear friends, the precious blood of Christ was spilled for you. The crown was fitted. The nails were driven. The cross was lifted…for YOU! He stayed only a Sabbath’s rest in the grave that you might have life in heaven for eternity. You don’t need to rely on any of your own holiness because His is more than enough. We are saved by grace, through faith. You are His baptized and you are fed with His heavenly mana. The apostle says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”6
Thursday marks the day of Christ’s bodily ascension to the Father’s right hand. Jesus said to His nervous disciples, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”7 What magnificent assurance! He speaks that to you in your time of need, your time of darkness, your time of doubt. You will not be orphaned. Tuck that away in your heart. Etch it on your mind. The problem with getting too comfortable with only our favourite verses of Scripture is that we can become complacent. But, you will inevitably find more fabulous expressions of God’s promises. Don’t jettison the old ones, just add more.
Take God at His word. He is trustworthy. Jesus is “the founder and perfecter of our faith.”8 Faith is not an inanimate object. Faith cannot exist without the operative power of the Holy Spirit. The believing person is the person within whom the Spirit is living. Christ lived among sinners and the Holy Spirit lives within them. He lives within believers as the bearer of truth. Christians do not have the Spirit as some generic "lifeforce". He makes known the Son so that we might know the Father as well. These are mind-blowing facts. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the first creation and gave you new life in the waters of baptism dwells in you now. The same Jesus who received Stephen at his stoning and the thief on the cross in his dying hour receives you. He will welcome you when mortality has run its course because He has already received you. He will raise you bodily from the grave, not as a new miracle, but as a continuation of His victory over death. The apostle’s good news for the people of Athens is good news for us too. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Sixth Sunday of Easter
21 May 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Acts 17:22-23
2 1 Timothy 6:10
3 Luke 12:15
4 Acts 17:30-31
5 Matthew 10:29-31
6 Romans 8:38-39
7 John 14:18
8 Hebrews 12:2
Monday, May 15, 2017
Fifth Sunday of Easter (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:1-9
Theme: Source of Certainty
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Heaven is a present possession for believers. It’s true not because the soul magically exists in an eternal state. No, the soul has no independent life. Death is a certainty for all who remain estranged from God. We have no life in and of ourselves. The fantasy that all people, regardless of belief or conviction, will automatically transition to a future existence of peace and happiness is a mere illusion. And it’s a Satanic one at that. Were it true there would be no need to proclaim the gospel at all and no purpose for the sacrifice of Christ. Heaven is a present possession for believers because the gift of faith means they are already participating in the eternal life of God. The risen Christ secures immortality for all the faithful.
It was these vital truths that Jesus was discussing with His disciples today. He said to them, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”1 Then He said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”2 The reassurances were necessary because the disciples were still full of uncertainty. The time of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion was near. They were feeling vulnerable and afraid. They were soon to receive a reality check. They would be facing a foreboding world of darkness, but they would be bearing the blazing light of the gospel.
Reality checks are a helpful exercise in rebalancing our equilibrium. Commonly, a “reality check” refers to the experience of being pulled back into line, dragged back out of some private world that is more of an illusion than a reality. It presupposes a lack of perspective. Perhaps you’ve said it to or heard it from your spouse or your children. Normally it means the individual is re-familiarized with the worldview of the majority. But the concept can also work in reverse. And it can be applied spiritually.
Do you sometimes wonder if you are living in an alternative universe? If most others are out-of-sync with what you know to be plain common sense and clear and evident reason? The culture we’ve been accustomed to is quickly transforming. Biblical perspective is quickly being lost. Past standards of truth and certainty are being abandoned. More trust is being placed in intuitive human assessment and less in God’s revealed parameters. It’s happened before. The reading from Acts is a reminder of the violent opposition often faced by the early Christians. Stephen received a stunning reality check: The Jews would not receive him, but God did.
Dear friends, the truths of Christianity have stood the test of time. We must be wise to the charge that the Bible is out-of-date or out-of-touch. God’s law of love is not obsolete, and the good news of Christ’s saving work is never irrelevant. God’s truth does not consist of ancient, arbitrary rules set by a fickle divine being. Do we really think we are the first society to grapple with the parameters of sexual expression, fidelity in marriage, and the vulnerability of the unborn and the aged? Are we so arrogant as to think we have greater understanding of the meaning of human existence than those who lived much closer to the time of creation, or others who lived near to the time of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we think progress in technology equates to superiority in understanding the meaning of life? Or do we think accumulated wisdom translates to enlightenment of the soul?
People today are conceived as the same crass, selfish sinners as those of every generation. To be sure, we are born into different circumstances and different opportunities are open to us. We have privileges and material comforts that only the wealthiest enjoyed for most of the history of humanity. But, are we nearer to God than they were? Do we have easier access to divine things than they did? Do we understand God any better than others? We face the same foes they did and we’re no better equipped to deal with them. Sin is a clear and present danger. Hell is an eternal threat. Mortality is an insurmountable crisis.
Speaking into a climate of darkness and doubt, Christ gives light and conviction. Dear friends, faith is never strengthened by uncertainty. God does not want us to grasp at this, dabble in that, and fidget with every new idea and possibility that’s rolled out in hope of making someone rich or stroking another’s ego. “There is nothing new under the sun.”3 Today’s mantras of political correctness are just old ideas with new masks. Sin has no creative element, only the drive to express full independence from the Creator. For the unbeliever, sovereignty is the measure of success. Skepticism is the pinnacle of perfection.
True stability is found in dependency on the Saviour. Autonomy is the broad road that leads to destruction. All things must be measured by the plumb line of Scriptural truth. God has spoken. Hesitation, vagueness, and ambiguity are neither the methods nor the fruits of the Holy Spirit. See today, how the Lord Jesus Christ seeks to bolster the faith of the disciples with rock-solid confidence. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.”4 The Holy Spirit is not a skeptic. The Holy Spirit is the Counselor and the Comforter. We know we are in God’s good graces. “We believe, teach, and confess that our righteousness before God consists in this, that God forgives us our sins purely by His grace, without any preceding, present, or subsequent work, merit, or worthiness, and reckons to us the righteousness of Christ’s obedience…”5
What could give us greater confidence than the promise of Jesus that He prepares a place for believers in the home of the Father! These are not hollow words. They are not fictional wishes providing emotional crutches for those too weak to stand on their own. This is the rock-solid gospel pledge that gives perspective to all that we would call prosperity and adversity in this life. What good is all the temporal prosperity in the world if we are bereft of Christ when we draw our final breath? Conversely, what temporal adversity can overcome us knowing the eternal joy that awaits us?
The same promise is made to us in baptism. In this sacrament of water and word the Holy Spirit claims us for the Crucified One. The power of eternal death over us is made null and void because death’s strength has already been shattered by Christ’s resurrection. Having risen Himself, imagine what an easy thing it is for Him to raise us also! In baptism we are placed on the narrow road and the journey begins. The same promise is reinforced in Holy Communion; our food for the pilgrimage.
It’s a journey within the fellowship of the saints and among the sheep of His flock. The Scripture says, “But you are chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”6 Think of the opportunities you have to be salt and light! You know those who are caught in cycles of darkness. God is not asking us for miracles, He does those. He’s calling us to be faithful in our vocations. Mothers, today we recognize your vocation as one that serves the most fundamental purposes of God: The provision and protection of life. Yet, we shouldn’t really need a designated day as we already have a commandment to honour mothers and fathers every day.
Today Jesus gave His disciples a reality check. Their hope and future resided in the crucified, risen, and ascended Christ. It didn’t rest in His temporary accomplishments or theoretical ideas. The same is true for us. Christ is not the author of ideas; He is the determiner of outcomes. He does not pledge Himself to us in concepts, but in blood. He bears scars, not hypotheses. There is nothing unclear about His mission, His passion, His identity. His love is unexcelled. A life time of appreciation will never plumb its depths. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday of Easter
14 May, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 14:6
2 John 14:9
3 Ecclesiastes 1:9
4 John 14:1
5 FC, Epitome III
6 1 Peter 2:10
Text: John 14:1-9
Theme: Source of Certainty
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Heaven is a present possession for believers. It’s true not because the soul magically exists in an eternal state. No, the soul has no independent life. Death is a certainty for all who remain estranged from God. We have no life in and of ourselves. The fantasy that all people, regardless of belief or conviction, will automatically transition to a future existence of peace and happiness is a mere illusion. And it’s a Satanic one at that. Were it true there would be no need to proclaim the gospel at all and no purpose for the sacrifice of Christ. Heaven is a present possession for believers because the gift of faith means they are already participating in the eternal life of God. The risen Christ secures immortality for all the faithful.
It was these vital truths that Jesus was discussing with His disciples today. He said to them, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”1 Then He said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”2 The reassurances were necessary because the disciples were still full of uncertainty. The time of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion was near. They were feeling vulnerable and afraid. They were soon to receive a reality check. They would be facing a foreboding world of darkness, but they would be bearing the blazing light of the gospel.
Reality checks are a helpful exercise in rebalancing our equilibrium. Commonly, a “reality check” refers to the experience of being pulled back into line, dragged back out of some private world that is more of an illusion than a reality. It presupposes a lack of perspective. Perhaps you’ve said it to or heard it from your spouse or your children. Normally it means the individual is re-familiarized with the worldview of the majority. But the concept can also work in reverse. And it can be applied spiritually.
Do you sometimes wonder if you are living in an alternative universe? If most others are out-of-sync with what you know to be plain common sense and clear and evident reason? The culture we’ve been accustomed to is quickly transforming. Biblical perspective is quickly being lost. Past standards of truth and certainty are being abandoned. More trust is being placed in intuitive human assessment and less in God’s revealed parameters. It’s happened before. The reading from Acts is a reminder of the violent opposition often faced by the early Christians. Stephen received a stunning reality check: The Jews would not receive him, but God did.
Dear friends, the truths of Christianity have stood the test of time. We must be wise to the charge that the Bible is out-of-date or out-of-touch. God’s law of love is not obsolete, and the good news of Christ’s saving work is never irrelevant. God’s truth does not consist of ancient, arbitrary rules set by a fickle divine being. Do we really think we are the first society to grapple with the parameters of sexual expression, fidelity in marriage, and the vulnerability of the unborn and the aged? Are we so arrogant as to think we have greater understanding of the meaning of human existence than those who lived much closer to the time of creation, or others who lived near to the time of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we think progress in technology equates to superiority in understanding the meaning of life? Or do we think accumulated wisdom translates to enlightenment of the soul?
People today are conceived as the same crass, selfish sinners as those of every generation. To be sure, we are born into different circumstances and different opportunities are open to us. We have privileges and material comforts that only the wealthiest enjoyed for most of the history of humanity. But, are we nearer to God than they were? Do we have easier access to divine things than they did? Do we understand God any better than others? We face the same foes they did and we’re no better equipped to deal with them. Sin is a clear and present danger. Hell is an eternal threat. Mortality is an insurmountable crisis.
Speaking into a climate of darkness and doubt, Christ gives light and conviction. Dear friends, faith is never strengthened by uncertainty. God does not want us to grasp at this, dabble in that, and fidget with every new idea and possibility that’s rolled out in hope of making someone rich or stroking another’s ego. “There is nothing new under the sun.”3 Today’s mantras of political correctness are just old ideas with new masks. Sin has no creative element, only the drive to express full independence from the Creator. For the unbeliever, sovereignty is the measure of success. Skepticism is the pinnacle of perfection.
True stability is found in dependency on the Saviour. Autonomy is the broad road that leads to destruction. All things must be measured by the plumb line of Scriptural truth. God has spoken. Hesitation, vagueness, and ambiguity are neither the methods nor the fruits of the Holy Spirit. See today, how the Lord Jesus Christ seeks to bolster the faith of the disciples with rock-solid confidence. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.”4 The Holy Spirit is not a skeptic. The Holy Spirit is the Counselor and the Comforter. We know we are in God’s good graces. “We believe, teach, and confess that our righteousness before God consists in this, that God forgives us our sins purely by His grace, without any preceding, present, or subsequent work, merit, or worthiness, and reckons to us the righteousness of Christ’s obedience…”5
What could give us greater confidence than the promise of Jesus that He prepares a place for believers in the home of the Father! These are not hollow words. They are not fictional wishes providing emotional crutches for those too weak to stand on their own. This is the rock-solid gospel pledge that gives perspective to all that we would call prosperity and adversity in this life. What good is all the temporal prosperity in the world if we are bereft of Christ when we draw our final breath? Conversely, what temporal adversity can overcome us knowing the eternal joy that awaits us?
The same promise is made to us in baptism. In this sacrament of water and word the Holy Spirit claims us for the Crucified One. The power of eternal death over us is made null and void because death’s strength has already been shattered by Christ’s resurrection. Having risen Himself, imagine what an easy thing it is for Him to raise us also! In baptism we are placed on the narrow road and the journey begins. The same promise is reinforced in Holy Communion; our food for the pilgrimage.
It’s a journey within the fellowship of the saints and among the sheep of His flock. The Scripture says, “But you are chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”6 Think of the opportunities you have to be salt and light! You know those who are caught in cycles of darkness. God is not asking us for miracles, He does those. He’s calling us to be faithful in our vocations. Mothers, today we recognize your vocation as one that serves the most fundamental purposes of God: The provision and protection of life. Yet, we shouldn’t really need a designated day as we already have a commandment to honour mothers and fathers every day.
Today Jesus gave His disciples a reality check. Their hope and future resided in the crucified, risen, and ascended Christ. It didn’t rest in His temporary accomplishments or theoretical ideas. The same is true for us. Christ is not the author of ideas; He is the determiner of outcomes. He does not pledge Himself to us in concepts, but in blood. He bears scars, not hypotheses. There is nothing unclear about His mission, His passion, His identity. His love is unexcelled. A life time of appreciation will never plumb its depths. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday of Easter
14 May, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 14:6
2 John 14:9
3 Ecclesiastes 1:9
4 John 14:1
5 FC, Epitome III
6 1 Peter 2:10
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Easter (A) 2017
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 10:1-10
Theme: Shepherds and Sheep
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Christ is a humble shepherd. Jesus was never condescending. He never spoke down to people. Jesus came down to people, to be sure! He rent the heavens and condescended into our world of sin from the realms of holiness. We call this His humiliation. He was conceived and born in human likeness, thus lowering Himself to become part of our created sphere. He had existed purely in eternity. His humiliation reached its apex when He suffered and bore the cross to the point of death. It was all selfless sacrifice because it did not benefit Him. Yet, when He extends this profound love to us He is never patronizing. This fact is quite remarkable.
Why is this relevant to our Scripture today? The claim is often made that the discourses of Jesus are composed mostly of simple stories for simple people. The inference is drawn that Jesus often “dumbed it down” to make it accessible to His disciples. Extrapolation then gives rise to the idea that God only wants us to have a simplistic faith. But the entire New Testament tells a different story. The disciples are constantly vexed, dumbfounded, and confused. Today, for example, Jesus compares His work with that of a shepherd, a common occupation in Palestine. Still, we find this detail in verse 6 of John 10, “Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what He was telling them.”
They could not understand because they were not tuned into spiritual truths. Christ spoke clearly, though it was mysterious to those blinded by sin. Christ could be very sharp with His words. He could cut to the heart. He rebuked. He exhorted. He spoke the truth candidly and frankly, as well as compassionately. But He did not condescend and He never fostered naivety. He said, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”1 Certainly the Holy Scriptures are clear and there is no contradiction in them. And the message of the gospel is simple. But it still requires the Holy Spirit to understand it. And then the Holy Spirit continually teaches the believer so that faith becomes more vibrant and well-grounded. There is no graduation. There is no cessation of learning. The Holy Spirit teaches the mind and the heart, the will and the soul. It is the will of God that our faith be immovable.
God wills that we hear His voice and follow Him as our Shepherd. It’s worth reflecting on the nature and consequences of God’s will. If God does not permit something, then no plans we make will ever come to fruition. Think of Christ. Jesus was the target of homicide. Not all attempts were clandestine. More than once public stoning was initiated. All efforts were in vain. It wasn't His time. Human treachery is no match for divine purpose. We cannot bring to pass what God does not permit.
It does not mean we are puppets. You can pursue a career, change jobs, get married, have children, take a holiday, and embark upon a countless number of other things, all within the parameters God permits. And God tends to be quite magnanimous in this regard. God gives you the freedom to make such decisions. You can even express generosity and philanthropy. Yet He warns that at any moment plans can be thwarted and judgment rendered. James critiques an overly presumptuous mindset saying, “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”2 Still, daily decisions are a privilege from the Lord and He often gives us more than one godly option. Therefore, we need nor wring our hands in anxiety about making bad decisions regarding nonessentials. Christianity is not a religion of fatalism. This is how it is in external matters.
However, dear friends, you cannot have one single, holy, selfless, godly thought, let alone do righteous things, apart from the Holy Spirit. And neither can I. We can initiate nothing truly spiritual and godly under our own power. We can't even produce an inkling or a premonition. We are born spiritually blind and dead. But the risen Saviour raises us from spiritual death and gives us abundant baptismal life. He changes your will. He brings it in tune with His will. This miracle isn’t a one-off event, but the continuing dynamic of His presence. He shepherds us. “The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.”3 Trust in the true Shepherd is based on the proven reliability the sheep continually benefit from. The Good Shepherd looks after the sheep. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”4
The task of shepherding God’s people is charged to those called to the Office of the Holy Ministry. The Greek work for shepherd is the same as the word for pastor. St Paul gives this charge to pastors of the early church, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds (pastors) of the church of God which He bought with His own blood.”5 Pastors are under shepherds of Christ, the Chief Shepherd. Christ always remains the head of the church. He is the Groom. The church is the bride. Pastors are “friends of the Bridegroom”, tending to the Bride with His word and truth, dispensing the love and forgiveness which He procured. The pastoral ministry is a vocation of service.
A flock of sheep can appear very uniform to the outside observer. One sheep looks like another and their gregarious habits make them appear even more similar in their behavior. The specialist in sheep husbandry knows differently, however. Quirks and idiosyncrasies soon become evident. The analogy fits well for individuals in the body of Christ. We share a common humanity, a common burden of original sin, a common propensity to sin some more, and a common need for the gospel. But each of us is also idiosyncratic. Some of the temptations I am prone to may be very different from the ones that trouble you. The specific way I hear the gospel and receive comfort from it is also different than the way you hear it.
It is a blessing, indeed, that God has gifted us with this individuality. The Spirit uses these nuances to equip us to serve His church and His world.
Like sheep, it is good for us to be liturgically gregarious. We gather together around word and sacrament and together participate in divine things. The Christian assembly is the place of green pastures and still waters6. It is also important that we be vocationally gregarious. That is, as we live out our faith in our vocations we do so within community. No one can serve, worship, or love God in complete isolation. St. Paul says, simply, “Love one another with brotherly affection…rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another…Never be conceited.”7
We tend to associate being shepherded with that comfortable feeling of being watched over and provided for. But it involves so much more than sentimental consolation. Our Shepherd has borne the cross. He has defeated death. He has slain the dragon. He has poured out His blood which we receive in this sacramental meal. He lives never to die again. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fourth Sunday of Easter
7 May, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 10:16
2 James 4:13-16
3 John 10:3-4
4 John 10:11
5 Acts 20:28
6 See Psalm 23:2
7 Romans 12:10, 15-16
Text: John 10:1-10
Theme: Shepherds and Sheep
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Christ is a humble shepherd. Jesus was never condescending. He never spoke down to people. Jesus came down to people, to be sure! He rent the heavens and condescended into our world of sin from the realms of holiness. We call this His humiliation. He was conceived and born in human likeness, thus lowering Himself to become part of our created sphere. He had existed purely in eternity. His humiliation reached its apex when He suffered and bore the cross to the point of death. It was all selfless sacrifice because it did not benefit Him. Yet, when He extends this profound love to us He is never patronizing. This fact is quite remarkable.
Why is this relevant to our Scripture today? The claim is often made that the discourses of Jesus are composed mostly of simple stories for simple people. The inference is drawn that Jesus often “dumbed it down” to make it accessible to His disciples. Extrapolation then gives rise to the idea that God only wants us to have a simplistic faith. But the entire New Testament tells a different story. The disciples are constantly vexed, dumbfounded, and confused. Today, for example, Jesus compares His work with that of a shepherd, a common occupation in Palestine. Still, we find this detail in verse 6 of John 10, “Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what He was telling them.”
They could not understand because they were not tuned into spiritual truths. Christ spoke clearly, though it was mysterious to those blinded by sin. Christ could be very sharp with His words. He could cut to the heart. He rebuked. He exhorted. He spoke the truth candidly and frankly, as well as compassionately. But He did not condescend and He never fostered naivety. He said, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”1 Certainly the Holy Scriptures are clear and there is no contradiction in them. And the message of the gospel is simple. But it still requires the Holy Spirit to understand it. And then the Holy Spirit continually teaches the believer so that faith becomes more vibrant and well-grounded. There is no graduation. There is no cessation of learning. The Holy Spirit teaches the mind and the heart, the will and the soul. It is the will of God that our faith be immovable.
God wills that we hear His voice and follow Him as our Shepherd. It’s worth reflecting on the nature and consequences of God’s will. If God does not permit something, then no plans we make will ever come to fruition. Think of Christ. Jesus was the target of homicide. Not all attempts were clandestine. More than once public stoning was initiated. All efforts were in vain. It wasn't His time. Human treachery is no match for divine purpose. We cannot bring to pass what God does not permit.
It does not mean we are puppets. You can pursue a career, change jobs, get married, have children, take a holiday, and embark upon a countless number of other things, all within the parameters God permits. And God tends to be quite magnanimous in this regard. God gives you the freedom to make such decisions. You can even express generosity and philanthropy. Yet He warns that at any moment plans can be thwarted and judgment rendered. James critiques an overly presumptuous mindset saying, “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”2 Still, daily decisions are a privilege from the Lord and He often gives us more than one godly option. Therefore, we need nor wring our hands in anxiety about making bad decisions regarding nonessentials. Christianity is not a religion of fatalism. This is how it is in external matters.
However, dear friends, you cannot have one single, holy, selfless, godly thought, let alone do righteous things, apart from the Holy Spirit. And neither can I. We can initiate nothing truly spiritual and godly under our own power. We can't even produce an inkling or a premonition. We are born spiritually blind and dead. But the risen Saviour raises us from spiritual death and gives us abundant baptismal life. He changes your will. He brings it in tune with His will. This miracle isn’t a one-off event, but the continuing dynamic of His presence. He shepherds us. “The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.”3 Trust in the true Shepherd is based on the proven reliability the sheep continually benefit from. The Good Shepherd looks after the sheep. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”4
The task of shepherding God’s people is charged to those called to the Office of the Holy Ministry. The Greek work for shepherd is the same as the word for pastor. St Paul gives this charge to pastors of the early church, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds (pastors) of the church of God which He bought with His own blood.”5 Pastors are under shepherds of Christ, the Chief Shepherd. Christ always remains the head of the church. He is the Groom. The church is the bride. Pastors are “friends of the Bridegroom”, tending to the Bride with His word and truth, dispensing the love and forgiveness which He procured. The pastoral ministry is a vocation of service.
A flock of sheep can appear very uniform to the outside observer. One sheep looks like another and their gregarious habits make them appear even more similar in their behavior. The specialist in sheep husbandry knows differently, however. Quirks and idiosyncrasies soon become evident. The analogy fits well for individuals in the body of Christ. We share a common humanity, a common burden of original sin, a common propensity to sin some more, and a common need for the gospel. But each of us is also idiosyncratic. Some of the temptations I am prone to may be very different from the ones that trouble you. The specific way I hear the gospel and receive comfort from it is also different than the way you hear it.
It is a blessing, indeed, that God has gifted us with this individuality. The Spirit uses these nuances to equip us to serve His church and His world.
Like sheep, it is good for us to be liturgically gregarious. We gather together around word and sacrament and together participate in divine things. The Christian assembly is the place of green pastures and still waters6. It is also important that we be vocationally gregarious. That is, as we live out our faith in our vocations we do so within community. No one can serve, worship, or love God in complete isolation. St. Paul says, simply, “Love one another with brotherly affection…rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another…Never be conceited.”7
We tend to associate being shepherded with that comfortable feeling of being watched over and provided for. But it involves so much more than sentimental consolation. Our Shepherd has borne the cross. He has defeated death. He has slain the dragon. He has poured out His blood which we receive in this sacramental meal. He lives never to die again. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fourth Sunday of Easter
7 May, 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 10:16
2 James 4:13-16
3 John 10:3-4
4 John 10:11
5 Acts 20:28
6 See Psalm 23:2
7 Romans 12:10, 15-16
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