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Advent 2 Midweek
12.07.11
Malachi 4:1-6, Romans 15:4-13, St. Luke 21:25-36
Hymns 337, 510, & 511
Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus the Lord. Amen.
The sermon text is the Epistle appointed, St. Paul’s letter to the Church at Rome, chapter 15, with particular focus on these words:
For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
The text in part. Please be seated.
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Thanks be to God! As mentioned last Sunday, our beloved synod is experiencing a reformation of sorts. Left behind is the sadly law focused mission program, and since President Harrison has taken office an new emphasis for our Synod's restructure, and purpose has been initiated.
Witness, Mercy, and Life Together are that initiative’s three-fold emphasis. These are not new, or man-made, or law-based, but ancient, Scriptural, Gospel based, and joyfully Christ-centered.
Tonight's sermon then, is the second of three parts of our mid-week Advent sermon series. And so we consider,
As Christ comes to His Church she finds her new life's focus in Witness, Mercy, and Life Together.
As said in introduction, this is the second of three parts. This evening we look at DI/AK/ON/IA in the Greek, or mercy, as you know the word in the English. And yes, the words deacon and deaconess come from it. More on that will follow later.
St. Mark the Evangelist records Jesus' words to the Church, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45
CHRIST CAME TO SERVE, INDEED, CHRIST STILL COMES TO SERVE.
The prophet Malachi writes,
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Christians are concerned with the well being of others, or at least should be. But the world is far more selfish.
And so John the Baptist came preparing the way for the Lord. Asking men to repent their sins, and to be baptized. The Baptizer pointed to the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
The Baptizer knew the promised Messiah was finally come, and preached repentance to the people. Malachi from of old pointed to the coming of the messenger and the coming of the Messiah. And that prophet knew that in their coming the last days would also come soon there after.
This knowledge that the Lord could come at any time adds an urgency to the Christian life. The unbelieving world isn't able on their own to find God, their sins separate them from Him.
Knowing that you sin isn't so much or hard for man. Any quick assessment with your conscience, and the ten commandments makes the sins quite clear. The nagging quilt of the times that you have been angry, selfish, jealous, covetous, or just plain mean is enough to make you hang your head in shame.
For just as Malachi's words suggest fathers don't always treat their sons, let alone their neighbors well, and the sons in return don't either.
Sinful man is unequipped to deal with his sins. Yes you sin, so what can you do about it? And with this question posed, the sinful default kicks in.
- Try to do more good than bad.
- Compare yourselves to others
- and try to do better than them.
But the sad truth is “no one does good, no not one” (Ro 3:12). And wise King Solomon adds, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ec 7:20).
Such are we! And God's Law nails us for it. You can respond in one of two ways – either you simply despair of your ability to please God, or you hypocritically believe yourself to be pleasing to Him.
And then comes John. Repent and be baptized! Behold the Son of God that takes away the sins of the world.
Jesus did come to earth and become man, He lived, suffered, died, and rose again, all for the forgiveness of all your sins. And through hearing this marvelous News, the Holy Spirit can and does work faith in the hearts of men as it pleases Him.
But as Paul Harvey used to say, you need to hear the rest of the story.
Last Sunday you heard me say – forgiven, you now forgive, loved, you now love, and having had Christ shared with you, you now share Christ with others.
The Christian witness is a response in thanksgiving to God for sending His Son to save us from our sins. And just as forgiven Christians witness to a dying world, Christians also show mercy to a suffering world.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45
CHRIST CAME TO SERVE, INDEED, CHRIST STILL COMES TO SERVE.
Malachi words ring in our ears, “And [Lord] will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
And now Christ shows mercy to a suffering world through you. This is how the hearts of sons and fathers are turned again in mercy toward one another, through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now I suppose if witnessing about Christ is frightening to you then showing mercy might be as well. But you already do it as Baptized Christians.
St. Matthew records these words of Jesus that He says will be heard on the last day.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Mt 25:34-40).
When the hypocrite looks to his works to please God, he can remember every deed he did. But these works are not pleasing to the Father, for they then are trusting in their own works instead of Christ's.
When the Christian doesn't remember doing a good thing it is because daily the soul is driven to repentance, and reminded of the gracious Gospel gift of forgiveness. The Christian doesn't look to his deeds, he looks to Christ alone and what Christ does for sinners.
Because you examine yourselves with God's law you know that your deeds are all contaminated with your many sins. But because Christ forgives you all your sins, you get to serve the Father in thanksgiving by showing the Father' mercy to others.
So when you help others you don't do it because you need extra bonus grace points, but rather because Christ first helped you, and still helps you. This is how Christ helps the world now, through His Christians left on earth.
You give contributions to Zion and Zion then gives to Synod and District missions. You help with the poor – each other, Salvation Army collections, and other charities. You might visit the sick, encourage the down trodden, send greetings to the troops, there are a thousands ways to help.
Encourage,
“one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:19-21).
And in your submitting to one another also help them as they have need, for they too, help you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Church has always known to show mercy especially to those inside Christ's body, but she also shows mercy through food, drink, housing, medicine, sharing the Gospel, and so on to those in need around the world, and especially to those in need in the lives of each Christian.
Advent is all about preparing for Christ as He comes to His Church. The baptizer's advice is still good, repent and be baptized. You are Christ's baptized and you are, through your Baptisms, daily brought to contrition and faith.
Christ comes to you through His Word and His Sacraments. And He comes to your neighbors through you, His Christians, who have heard the Word, and received His body and blood. Christians don't selfishly keep Christ to themselves, but share Him through witness, and also through acts of mercy.
But even your witnessing and showing mercy is done through faith in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit enables and helps you to live as Christians in the Church and in the world. Christ now forgives, loves, witnesses, and shows mercy to the world through the Church and through you in the Church.
Yes, yes, I know, sometimes you don't help your neighbors as you should, sometimes you either wish them harm, or even cause them harm instead. Sometimes you refuse them the mercy that you have received in Christ Jesus.
But Christ is merciful. He came to serve and He serves you His mercy over and over again. Christ forgives your sinful neighborly neglect of your neighbor. Christ forgives your merciless treatment of your neighbors. Christ forgives His baptized over and over again.
When Jesus says, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful”(Lu 6:36), He uses a divine imperative, which gives what the Son of God speaks. It is Jesus' work in you that you are merciful to your neighbor.
The Church has always known this giving mercy to be important and divinely ordained. Stephan was appointed a deacon to show mercy and help feed the hungry, orphans, and widows. Our church trains and places deaconesses to show mercy where it is needed.
The names of these offices are derived DI/AK/ON/IA in the Greek, or mercy, as you know the word in the English. But these acts of showing mercy are not to be limited to only deacons and deaconesses. You do show mercy by supporting such offices, but you get to show mercy in your lives too.
St. Mark the Evangelist records Jesus' words to the Church, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45
CHRIST CAME TO SERVE, INDEED, CHRIST STILL COMES TO SERVE.
Christ comes to serve His Church through and in His institutions, Word – proclaimed, taught, and pronounced, and Sacraments – Baptism, and the Holy Communion.
And Christ comes through all of you to show mercy to thousands.
“For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.”
It is St. Paul's prayer for the Church that because you share Christ Jesus with those in your lives through witness and acts of mercy that they might see Christ, and be saved also by His mercy.
Let us pray, Instill in us all, dear Father, a desire to help our neighbors and enable us through your Word and Holy Spirit to show that mercy daily, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Go in peace dear ones, Christ has shown you great mercy – for you are forgiven, you are saved, and you have already begun to live forever (point to the font) for Jesus most Holy Passion's sake. Amen.
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Please stand.
The Peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.
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