Trinity Sunday - 2013 - G - The Trini-what?

Trinity Sunday
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31              Acts 2:14a, 22-36        John 8:48-59

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson, especially these words, “Before Abraham was, I am.”  Thus far our text. 

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

(The Trinity is a difficult doctrine to put clearly and concisely.  This week’s sermon is an edited version of a sermon prepared by Rev. William Cwirla of Trinity Lutheran Church, Hacienda Heights, CA.  He has done a great job explaining the Trinity, clearly.)

“And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing eh persons nor dividing the substance.” Not three gods but one God in essence. And yet not one Person but three Persons. Tri-une. Three in One and One in Three. Got it?

It makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?  Or does it?  Well, today is Holy Trinity Sunday, the day we celebrate the central paradox of the Christian faith, namely, that God is both Three and One at the same time. Three Persons in One Divine Essence, one Divine Essence in three Persons. Strange? You bet it is. Irrational? Yes, though you can understand it well enough to repeat it. We do every week in the Creed as we just did in the words of the Athanasian Creed, which summarizes four hundred years of struggling to say it just the right way. And still the creeds are just hazy summaries of the Trinity. We can describe God using words like “person” and “being” and “essence” and “substance” but we can’t really explain God or get a bead on Him. How can something be both Three and One?

There are some failed attempts to makes analogies. A cube, for, has three distinct dimensions – height, width, depth, which together make a cube. Without all three, you don’t have a cube at all. You’d have a square or a line. But the problem is that each dimension is not a cube but only one side of a cube.

There is the hat analogy, that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are like someone wear three distinct hats, for example one man may be a father, a husband, and a son at the same time. So God has three hats – a Father hat, a Son hat, and a Holy Spirit hat. Clever, but again, it fails. When Jesus prays, He does not pray to Himself but to His Father. And Jesus didn’t send Himself to die, but the Father sent the Son with all authority in heaven and on earth.

The closest that anyone has come to a decent analogy is St. Augustine who used the analogy of love – the Father is the Lover, the Son the beloved, the Spirit love. And still that fails somehow. All we can do is distinguish the Persons – the Father is uncreated, unbegotten, unproceeding. The Son is begotten of the Father. And the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. That’s what distinguishes them. And yet there is but one God, and whenever God deals with us, all three Persons deal with us, each according to what is properly His.

The trick to all paradoxes is to stay on the road, confessing both but favoring neither. It’s not really that hard to say back, just impossible to rationalize. We worship three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one Being or Essence called “God.” It’s really as simple as that.

And the Trinity is literally all over the Scriptures. From the opening verses of Genesis in which the Father speaks the Word as the Spirit hovers over the waters of the deep to the Revelation, in which the Lamb who was slain but lives is enthroned at the right hand of the Father and the Spirit flows like a river of life from Father and Son.

In today’s OT reading from the Proverbs, the Son is personified as Wisdom, begotten from all eternity, from before the beginning of the earth. In his Gospel, John states it this way: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. With God and was God. Paradox. Two things held together at once.

You heard it in the epistle reading and Peter’s quoting of the psalm: “The Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Jesus confronted His detractors with that psalm and asked them, paradoxically, “How can David’s son be David’s Lord?” And how can “the Lord” and “my Lord” talk to each other and sit next to each other?

Finally, in today’s Gospel we have Jesus Himself being confronted with the paradox of who He is as the Son of God in the flesh. The religious types thought He was nuts. “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” That’s another way of saying, “You’re nuts.” And anyone who claims to be the Son of God in the flesh is nuts or delusional or demon possessed or at least a Samaritan heretic. It’s a crazy claim and worthy of all dismissal. If I made that claim to you, that God Himself is my Father, you’d have every right to ignore me and tell me to get some help. You can’t really blame the Jews for doubting Jesus. Here He was, a carpenter from Nazareth, claiming not simply to be the Messiah, the Christ. But also claiming that God Himself was His Father, that He was sent by the Father, that the Father glorifies Him with a glory not given to Abraham or to Moses or to any of the prophets.

Jesus even rubs it in a little bit by indicating that Father Abraham rejoiced by faith that he would see Jesus’ day. He acted as though He and Abraham were on a first name basis, which they were, and had seen each other, which they had. And then Jesus pushes the big button and flat out says it, “Before Abraham was, I am.” And this doesn’t simply mean that Jesus is chronologically older than Abraham, but that Jesus is the great I AM who Moses say in the burning bush, YHWH of the ineffable name, the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who keeps covenant and shows mercy.

They understood precisely what Jesus was saying. There was not mistake in hearing.  He claimed to be God in felsh.  They immediately took up stones to throw at Him.

The core truth of today is that the doctrine of the Trinity centers on Jesus. It’s really all about Jesus and His being sent to save the world, to save you. If the Son of God had not come in the flesh, there would be no need for all this triune paradox. We could all be unitarians and worship the Father or Jehovah or whatever we wanted to call Him or Her. But when the Son of God shows His face to the world and suffers, dies on a cross, and rises from the dead, when He reveals the Father to us, and sends the Spirit out as His breath, all religious bets concerning God are off.

Luther was fond of saying that he knew no other God than the one who nurses at the breast of His virgin mother and who hangs dead on the cross bearing the world’s sin. It’s very tempting to speculate about God and come up with clever analogies and theories and alternative theologies. But that is nothing more than subtle idolatry in the end, our fashioning gods for ourselves in our own image and likeness. God comes to His in the eternal Son. We know God in knowing Jesus. And we know no other God but this Jesus who suffers, dies, and rises, who sends His Spirit, who brings us to the Father.

The triune life of God is also our life in Holy Baptism. We are baptized into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We live, move, and have our being within this Triunity, worshipping the Father in the Spirit and in the Truth who is Jesus, having God as our Father, Jesus as our brother, and the Spirit as our Advocate and Guide. We are loved by the Father in the Beloved Son who bears our humanity and are drawn by the Spirit.

They wanted to take up stones and throw them at Jesus. They wanted to kill Him for saying He was the Son of God. They couldn’t bear the thought that the Word could become flesh and dwell among them. They wanted God “out there” in heaven somewhere, safely transcendent, big and mighty, powerful and remote. But that’s not a God who can save from sin and rescue from death. The God must draw near, empty Himself of HIs divine glory and take on our humanity, become one of us, and in our humanity humble Himself under His own Law in obedience to death. And being humbled in death, He must be raised to life again and glorified at the right hand of the Father, now bearing our humanity so that we too are glorified in Him.

“If I glorify myself,” Jesus said, “my glory is nothing.” Self-glory is vain glory, empty glory, narcissistic vanity. The Father glorifies the Son. And the Son glorifies us in His dying and rising by the Spirit whom He breathes out over us in our Baptism. And we, trusting that this mysterious Triune God is merciful and gracious to us for His Son’s sake worship the trinity in unity and the unity in trinity.

Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the Undivided Unity.
Blessed be God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God in three Persons, now and forever.

Amen

Earl Hartleben - 2013

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;^[a]
    his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul who seeks him.
²⁶ It is good that one should wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man that he bear
    the yoke in his youth.

²⁸ Let him sit alone in silence
    when it is laid on him;
²⁹ let him put his mouth in the dust—
    there may yet be hope;
³⁰ let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,
    and let him be filled with insults.

³¹ For the Lord will not
    cast off forever,
³² but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion
    according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
³³ for he does not afflict from his heart
    or grieve the children of men.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

²⁵ At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.^[a] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text for today is Earl’s confirmation verse, along with the words of our Gospel lesson, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ, especially friends of Earl, and especially you dear family members.  Almost 78 years ago, Earl William Hartleben was brought into this sanctuary, and baptized at this baptismal font.  On that day, Christ came to him, with promises of forgiveness of all sin, rescue from death and the devil, and eternal salvation.  63 years ago, Earl again came to this altar, and was confirmed in the faith, while receiving these words from St. Peter, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” 

Dear friends, family, and loved ones of Earl, it’s because of that grace and glory of Jesus that we are gathered here today.  A few days ago, Earl entered permanently into that glory of Christ.  A few days ago, God’s promises to him were brought to their final fulfillment.  A few days ago, Earl left his world of sin, suffering and sorrow behind for good, and entered God’s eternal rest.  And so today, as we mourn and hurt, we know with certainty, that because of Jesus, Earl is now God’s child forever more. 

And there is comfort in that, because in this world, especially these last few years, Earl struggled and suffered.  The last month especially, the cancer he has had for many years has taken its toll upon him.  He lost weight, as cancer ravaged his body.  He became weaker, unable even to stand on his own.  He became weary of the fight against the disease that ravaged his body.  He became weary of this world.  And at the end, he was ready to be with his Lord Jesus.  As I spoke with him just a few weeks ago, he was ready to finally be at peace. 

And so Christ called to him.  “You who are weary of this world, come to me, and I will give you rest.  Come to me, and be at peace.  Come to me and leave this world of sin behind.”  And as that call came to Earl, he entered God’s eternal kingdom by the working of His Lord. 

That’s the promise of Earl’s baptism.  That’s the promise of Earl’s confirmation.  That’s the promise to you as well.  It’s the promise earned by Jesus’ death on the cross, and sealed in the blood poured from his side.  The promise that God so loved the people of this world, you and me and Earl included, that He gave his only begotten son for this world.  That Christ loved Earl so much that he entered this world, and died for his sin.  Christ loved Earl so much that he made him an adopted Son of God in the baptism here. 

And so today, it’s we who mourn.  It’s we who are left here in this world of sin and sorrow.  Earl’s suffering is gone, but ours continues.  We will remember Earl, and weep for days to come.  We will remember Earl and hurt, in the years ahead.  We too will grow older and weaker.  We too will continue to be weary in this world of sin and sorry.  But we have the same promise that Earl had, a promise given to us in our baptism, through which Jesus calls to our weary hearts as well, “Come to me you weary ones.  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Come and find rest for your souls.”  Trust not in yourself, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day you enter eternity with him, and with Earl, and with all who have received Christ’s blessings. 

77 years ago, Earl was baptized.  63 years ago, Earl was confirmed.  And, because of Christ, 4 days ago, Earl entered his eternal rest.  He’s now at peace because God has taken him to be his own.  God has given him his eternal reward, all through Jesus.  To him alone be glory forever and ever.  Amen.  

The Feast of Pentecost - E - 2013 - Word and Spirit

The Feast of Pentecost

May 12, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Genesis 11:1-9            Acts 2:1-21     John 14:23-31

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today, for the Feast of Pentecost, is from the 2^nd reading, especially these words, “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them.”  Thus far our text.

Dear friends in Christ.  It started as a pretty average Pentecost day in Jerusalem.  The town was full with visitors to celebrate the annual harvest festival of Pentecost.  The feast not only was the celebration of a good harvest, but also the remembrance of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai.  The feast was a remembrance that you shall not murder.  That you shall not steal, commit adultery or bear false testimony.  It was the day they celebrated receiving God’s Holy Law, even as they failed to keep it. 

So the town was bristling with activity.  The people were buying their goods at the shops at the foot of the Temple Mount.  Others were taking their two loaves to into the temple to wave as an offering before the altar in the inner courts.  The daily sacrifices for sin rose up as smoke from before the temple itself.  It was by that animal’s death and burning that their sins were forgiven.  It was by Sacrifice and blood that those ancient Jews knew they were forgiven.  The day was going forward just as every Thanksgiving feast had before that day.  As the sun rose, the people went about their routines with a familiar sense of normalcy.

But then suddenly a great wind blew through town, to the upper room where those 12 followers of Jesus were staying.  A great noise arose, reminiscent of the great wind that came before God in Elijah’s day.  A wind, that blew as strong as the wind that split the Red Sea, as they escaped from Egypt, led by a pillar of cloud by day, and fire by night.  And now flames as red as our altar paraments again came to God’s people.  A fire from heaven came and landed on those 12 followers of the Resurrected one, and the Holy Spirit came to his people with His Word. 

Immediately the 12 went out into the temple mount, and began to preach, speaking in dozens of languages.  All that were gathered there for the feast could understand the words in their home land’s languages.  In Egyptian, in Parthian, in Cappadocian and Phrygian.  In all the languages, God’s Word came from the mouth of the 12.  And through those 12, The Holy Spirit began his work, of preaching a Word about Jesus.  About the true Sacrifice.  About the one who died on the cross, who shed his blood that all mankind may be forgiven. 

The people knew the story.  They had been there 50 days  earlier, when that Word Jesus had been crucified.  They had heard the rumors about his rising again, risen indeed.  But now those rumors were confirmed to them, not by miracles, not by magic shows, not by babbling and gobbledygook as in the Pentecostal churches.  But by a preaching of a sure and certain word.  By the work of the Holy Spirit, who works always through that word to point us to Jesus.  To meaningfully deliver the forgiveness of Jesus to us by Word and Sacrament.  The promise in the sermon of all 12, in all the languages, that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. 

Dear friends, our text today is a historically reality.  The Holy Spirit came truly through God’s Word to God’s people.  And dear friends it does the same for you today.  You too go about your daily lives, just as those in ancient Jerusalem did.  You go to the store, you visit friends, you plant your crops, and in a few months you too will harvest them. 

And just as those people, you deal with sin.  You deal with hurt, and pain and sorrow.  You are guilty, and you see others who are guilty.  For there is none innocent.  And because of your sin, you try all sorts of ways to sacrifice your time and efforts to God.  You try to make up for what you’ve done wrong, but deep down you know the truth, that you cannot by your own reason or strength earn forgiveness for your sins. 

So God comes to you as well.  He sends his Holy Spirit to you also.  No, not with wind, not with flames that land upon your forehead.  That only happened to the 12.  But God sends the Holy Spirit to you same way it came to those people 2000 years ago.  Through preaching. 

Through the proclamation of God’s Word to you in your own language, with a slight Nebraska accent, the Holy Spirit comes to you.  And so every week, we gather together and hear about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit says, “IN Him you are forgiven.”  We read God’s Word about Jesus together, we sing hymns with God’s Word about Jesus in their verses.  We come to this place to be inundated with the Holy Spirit in God’s Word pointing us to Jesus.  And by it, you are connected to Christ on the cross who died and rose for your forgiveness. 

And the Holy Spirit calls you as well to come to the font, and be washed in Christ’s blood.  To be marked as belonging to God.  The Holy Spirit calls you to the altar to eat of Christ’s body and blood for your forgiveness, for you life, and for your salvation.  He proclaims to you in his Word, that whoever calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. 

That’s what Pentecost is all about.  Hearing God’s Word through the work of the Holy Spirit.  To be forgiven by the Word of God.  To be pointed firmly and certainly to the cross, through the Word of God.  It happened 2000 years ago on an average day in Jerusalem, and it happens today, on an average day in Hankinson, ND.  The Holy Spirit comes. His Word is proclaimed, clearly.  And faith is created in our hearts. 

Come Holy Spirit, creator blessed.  And make our hearts your place of rest.  Come in your Word.  Come in your Sacrament.  Come and connect us forever more to the blessings of Jesus.  Amen.  

Easter 7 - E - 2013 - Come Lord Jesus

The Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 12, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Acts 1:12-26               Revelation 22:1-20                  John 17:20-26

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Epistle lesson just read, especially these words, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  The words of our text are the final words of scripture, the final words of revelation from a loving God to his chosen people.  And the words of this last chapter of the bible contain a warning for you and for me, as well as a promise for you and for me.  And so we are to hold sacred these final words of God, spoken by His very Son Jesus. 

Hear those words of Christ again.  “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city (of heaven) by the gates.  Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” 

In these words we see a beautiful picture of heaven, of peace, of comfort unending, where the blessed of God eat of the tree of life, and live forever without fear.  They are finally safe from the world.  They are defended from all evil.  They are richly and daily provided for.  They live in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, for they have come out of the great tribulation of our world. 

But not all deserve to make it into that heavenly realm.  Some have abandoned God.  Some are unclean dogs, full of the evils of sin.  Some are sorcerers, trusting in the outward appearances of things, and manipulating them.  Some are adulterers, delighting in any type of sex or living together that takes place outside of marriage.  Some are murderers, hating their neighbor, killing the unborn, and failing to help even their own friends in time of need.  Some are idolaters, loving money or possessions, or even their loved ones more than God.   Dear friends there are some who are just down right and plainly sinful. 

And our text tells us those who remain attached to their sin – the ones who take credit for it, who flaunt it around as if it really isn’t wrong, who are proud of their ability to decide for themselves what is right and wrong – those people will have no place in heaven.  And the terrifying thing is this, we are those sinners.  We are the ones with such self-pride as to ignore and flaunt our faults.  We are the ones who get mad when our own sin and guilt is pointed out to us.  We are the ones who say, “That’s not your business, back off.”  I’ve done it.  You’ve done it. And thus it would seem that according to our text today, we have no place in God’s everlasting kingdom of heaven. 

But the good news dear friends, is that your sin has been atoned for.  Blood has been shed for your forgiveness.  The Lamb has taken away your sin, by becoming a pleasing sacrifice to God for you.  You sin was washed from you, and placed upon him.  It happened in baptism.  There you were made a holy child of God, washed in water and the word.  There you were marked on your forehead with God’s own name, as the pastor poured life-giving water over you. 

And as you were washed, you were made a citizen of heaven.  God placed you, dear baptized ones, into heaven with the death and resurrection of Jesus.  He prepared heaven with you in mind.  You will see his face, and his name will be on your foreheads.  And in heaven night will be no more. You will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be your light, and you will reign with your God Jesus forever and ever.

These words are trustworthy and true.  Christ is coming soon, and very soon, to take you to heaven.  To give you your just reward, the reward not earned by your sinful actions, but by Jesus’ holy actions in your place.  Blessed are you whose robes are washed by Christ, so that you may have the right to the tree of life and that you may enter the city by the gates. And Jesus who testifies to these things says,  - his last words to us his holy people – words of promise, of forgiveness, and of life for us baptized and forgiven sinners.  “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!  Come quickly.  IN the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Spring Pastor's Conference Devotion

In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

²⁵ “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.^[a] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

²⁹ His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! ³⁰ Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” ³¹ Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³² Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed!  Alleluia.  Amen.  Dear friends in Christ.  In this world you will have tribulation.  Jesus word’s are plain enough in our text today, and as pastor’s serving His church, we know it well enough.  Day in and day out we see tribulation.  We “wade through it” if you will.  You see firsthand the terrible effects that sin has on this world. 

You've been there at the side of the woman whose husband was suddenly taken from her after 25 years of marriage by heart attack and stroke.  You've been there when the words “Cancer, or Alzheimer’s or There’s nothing left we can do,” were spoken.  You've talked with the families who wouldn't talk to each other because of foolish problems from years ago.  You've seen the alcoholics, the drug addicts, the adulterers and more.  Jesus word’s ring true for you, because you have seen directly the tribulation that sin, death and the devil has brought into God’s people in the town that you serve. 

And let’s be honest here.  The tribulation you've faced, isn't just something that the people of God around you have faced.  It’s in you, it infects you, it is your sinful nature that brings some of the tribulation in your life about. 

We pastors are not holier than any other.  Our sin stinks just as badly as anyone else’s.  We deserve the same condemnation as any one else.  We should suffer the same consequences.  We confess it every week.  I a poor miserable sinner.  Justly deserving your temporal and eternal punishment.  This sin has been by our fault, our own fault, our own most grievous fault. 

We've failed our people at times.  When the phone has rang at 3 in the morning, we've wanted to stay in bed.  We’d have preferred to not have the awkward conversations about sin with our member, perhaps we've purposely avoided it.  We've been so irritated at a member that we've written them off, rather than spend the time to get to the root cause.  We live in sin.  We live in tribulation.  We’re guilty as the next person.  As Christ says, “In this world… in our world, there will be tribulation. 

But, Christ goes on, dear brothers.  Take heart.  I have overcome the world.  Take heart, your sin is gone.  Take heart by Christ’s death and resurrection you are not guilty, but righteous before God.  You no longer face punishment, your brother Christ paid for it.  He knew your tribulation, so he went to the cross to die.  He knew your sorrow, so he suffered for you.  He called you by name in the waters of Holy Baptism, yes even you sinful pastors.  He washed you white as snow in his own blood.  He feeds you with His holy Sacraments.  He proclaims his victory to you in the word preached and proclaimed as well. 

And not only that he promises to you the same eternal promise he promises to all people.  An eternal home.  Apart from weeping and tears.  Apart from sorrow, pain and suffering.  An eternal home where you will stand in peace before Christ forever. 

In this world, you, dear pastors will face tribulation.  But take heart.  Christ has overcome the world, and you belong to him, even for all eternity.  IN the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Confirmation Sunday - G - 2013 - What Does This Mean?

Confirmation Sunday 2013

May 5, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Acts 16:9-15               Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27                  John 16:23-33

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Thus far our text.

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia.  Amen!  Dear friends in Christ, especially dear confirmands.  It’s finally confirmation.  It’s finally here!  Years of study.  Times of frustration both by you and by your confirmations teachers!  It’s all over!  You've passed, and this morning, you receive your confirmation certificate, your verse, and this morning you take your first communion!  Finally, you’re confirmation journey is complete!

But slow down there, as we do with so many other things, we must ask that good Lutheran question, What does this mean?  What does it mean that you are confirmed now?  What does it mean that you now can take the Lord’s Supper?  What does it mean that you are now a full fledged, confirmed member of this congregation and communion?

Dear friends, and I speak to all, not just our confirmands, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you exactly what this means.  I pray that you may not take these words lightly, for they are the truth as best as I can put it.  It means that the devil, the world, and your sinful nature from here forward in your lives, will be doing everything in their power to lead you away from the true faith.  It means from here on out, your faith will be under attack.  

Satan will be in your ear at all times, trying to make you doubt God’s promises, trying to get you to despise God’s word.  He will try to get you to break the 10 commandments as you have learned them.  He’ll start simply enough, trying to get you to despise preaching and the word.  To get you to zone out during church, and to speak the words of the service without thinking about what they really mean.  He’ll find ways for you to be too busy for Bible Study, or for LYF meetings, after all there are sports events and jobs and other things that are going on.  Your sinful nature will hear these words, and try to get you to act out upon them. 

After that, Satan will use worldly influence on you.  He’ll tempt you with adultery in all of its forms, and he’ll use the world’s attitude to tell you its ok.  He’ll want you to steal even something small and seemingly innocent at first.  He’ll make you to fight with you family, to hate you parents when they tell you no, or your future spouse, or your brothers or sisters.  He’ll make you gossip, lie, slander and cheat – and you’ll do it so often that it will become a habit. 

The world will begin to tell you lies, in your school classes, in your jobs, in your college courses.  Lies like this, “There is no God.  He didn’t create the world.  It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you make yourself happy.”  And worst of all, “Rely upon yourself to make it through the day.”  And your sinful self will hear these things and like it.  You’ll want to believe these words.  You’ll want to be self-sufficient, you’ll want to think you are the master of your life. 

And so you, like those who have gone before you will face a life time in a world that is chalk full of sin.  It’s a world that really wants you to die, and for that death to be forever.  It’s a world that does not want you to be Christian, or to be loved by Christ. A world that does not want you to serve the church, to listen to God’s word, or even to participate in anything Christian at all.  It’s a world that is dying, and wants to take you with it. 

That’s a big load to carry.  It’s a dreadful message for people so young, to hear that confirmation means that you as a young Christian are standing on the cusp of the valley of the shadow of death, about to be pushed in.  And Jesus knows exactly what you will face in this world.  He knows your coming struggles.  He knows about your sin.  He knows about Satan, and he knows about this world.  As he says, “In the world you will have tribulation.”  But Christ’s message goes on, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Take heart.  Have courage dear confirmands.  Christ has overcome the world.  He has defeated sin.  He has destroyed the power of Satan.  He, as you know, has purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood, innocent suffering and death, so that you, dear confirmands, may be His own, and live under him in his kingdom. 

That means Jesus went to the cross for you.  That means his suffering was with your lives in mind.  He knew what things you had to face, and so he came to this planet for the soul purpose of saving you, to be with you forever.  To make this world his footstool, subject not to death, but to Christ the lord of all the living. 

And now that you have been instructed in this faith, you are free to partake in all the gifts of Christ.  He today, for the first time for you three confirmands, gives you his own body to eat and blood to drink for forgiveness of your sins.  That connects you to the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Eating and Drinking Jesus feeds the faith that was born in you in the waters of holy baptism.  It gives you the Holy Spirit to continually point and direct you to Jesus as you live your life.  Dear friend, you are not a slave to sin.  You are not bound to die, instead you have been given life from your Lord Jesus, and it is a life that this world cannot take from you despite all the tricks of the destroyed Satan.

And not only has Christ overcome the world and its sin for you, but he gives it to you.  He promises that you will be able live with him in his kingdom, in righteousness, innocence and blessedness.  You are promised heaven, and given a picture of it in our epistle lesson today.  Twelve gates of pearl, where you will one day live as a baptized child of God.  Streets of Gold, in which you will one day walk forgiven in the blood of the lamb.  A city that has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb of God who takes away your sin. 

Dear confirmands, you face a difficult world, there is no doubt.  But take heart.  Christ has overcome the world, and promised you a world beyond imagining.  He has placed you today in the ark of his church.  He has made you a full member.  You may take refuge here within the church where the gifts of God are given.  I pray that you may long live within her walls, that you will serve this church with thanksgiving for the gifts you have received here.  I pray that you one day will be married here, have children here, and finally that you will receive Christian burial here – with the knowledge that Christ has brought you safely through this world of sin, to life everlasting. 

Today you are confirmed.  What does this mean?  It means the blessings of God on you life are just beginning, and that for many years ahead, he will continue to pour them out upon you, in the words preached in this place and in the sacraments received in this place.  God’s blessings to you, dear friends.  To him alone be all glory, in your lives, and in the lives of all.  Amen.  

Funeral - Allen Leon Coppin 1923-2013

Isaiah 54:10  

For the mountains may depart
    and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Revelation 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place^[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,^[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.^[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷ The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.^[a] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the our Old Testament lesson, Allen’s confirmation verse, “’For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord who has compassion on you.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends, especially Bev, Paul, Mark, and Carol:  It’s not very often that, as a pastor, I’ve walked into a room in a nursing home and been greeted with the words, “Good afternoon Pastor, would you like a beer?”  And yet that is exactly what happened several times with Allen after he had settled in to St. Gerard’s.  That’s the kind of guy that Allen was, very kind, very courteous, and very caring. 

And so today we gather together to mourn the loss of a very beloved member of our congregation, a Father, a grandfather, and above all to many people, a friend.  He’s a man who worked hard, who deeply cared for his children – he told me so – and who was much admired by many.  And today, he’s gone. After celebrating his 90^th birthday just a month ago, our dear friend has gone to be with his Savior.   He now lives in the New Jerusalem, prepared by Christ himself for all who trust in Him to live in forever in peace, comfort and joy.

This is a great blessing from God.  For in this world, we do not experience much peace, comfort and joy.  This world is very hard for us poor sinners who live here.  We feebly struggle with guilt and shame, with vice and error.  We must deal with pain and sorrow, and most of all we must face death. 

None of us are immune to it.  Even Allen faced the loss of loved ones.  He lost his first wife Lucille, to blood disease.  A few years ago, his much loved wife Greta passed away as well.  Throughout his 90 years he lost other friends and family members, he dealt with other pains and difficulties.  And finally, at the last, His Lord and Savior called him out of this vale of tears, along with all who are weary and heavy laden, and into his eternal rest. 

And so now it is us, you and me, who are left to hurt and mourn.  It is us who suffer and deal with pain.  It is us who will feel the sting of death, both today and in the days to come.  We will miss Allen.  We will be reminded of other loved ones who are now gone.  We will drive past the farmstead and remember Christmas and other holidays together, with Mom and Dad, Grandpa and grandma. 

And it is you and me that finally must come face to face with the reality of our own sin.  That one day we too will pass away.  That we are but mortal strangers here on this earth.  And that one day, we too will return to the dust from which God has called us. 

It’s not easy to think about.  It’s not easy to mourn and at the same time realize that our own lives have been infected by our own sin.  And yet we have a promise from God, a promise that we spoke of last night, “Let not your hearts be troubled – Christ has died for sin.”  And it’s a promise that we hear boldly proclaimed in Allen’s confirmation verse, where the God who has compassion on you, and on Allen says, “my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed.” 

This is the promise from a Lord who in his compassion entered our world of sin and death, suffered on the cross himself and even died to rescue you and me, and also our dear friend Allen.  He promised a love that would never depart.  And then he showed that love for us all, by giving up his life for us – his friends.  He promised a peace that would not be removed – a peace that surpasses all human understanding, a peace that this world could not give.  A peace that Allen now experiences in heaven, and that awaits us who are baptized and believe in his holy name. 

Dear friends, today we mourn – but we mourn with hope.  That even though the mountains give way, and the hills be ripped at the seams, that God’s love is with us.  It was with Allen his entire life, and dear friends that love is yours today.  It promises heaven to you, it promises a reunion with Allen, Greta, and all your loved ones.  It is a great gift that we cannot fathom – a God who has compassion on us, who promises us everlasting life.  In the name of Jesus Amen.