Christmas 1 - G - 2014 - Names

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:22-40

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Our text today is from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  “What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose By any other name would still smell as sweet.”  We have all heard this line, spoken by Juliet to her star crossed lover Romeo, in that classic Shakespeare classic that so many of us had to read in our high school English classes.  Juliet speaks these words to Romeo to tell him that even though his last name is one which her family hates, that she will love him anyways, and even marry him.  For to her, the name doesn’t mean anything, it is the person who has the name that she loves.

So often in our world today, that is the way we view things.  Celebrities have named their kids ridiculous things – and yes these are real celebrity kids names.  Like Pilot Inspektor – with a k in Inspektor or Moon Unit Zappa, or even Moxy Crimefighter Gillette.  They have the idea that names don’t mean anything, so why not have some fun with them.  Anyways, their children can just change them later on in life to something more normal.  And so it seems that Shakespeare was write (ha ha ha) what is in a name?

But in our text today, we see the power of a name, the importance of a name in God’s eyes.  FOR TO GOD, NAMES REALLY MEAN SOMETHING.  When God gives a name, it is for a purpose, and He will see that name out. 

God uses names throughout the bible.  Adam was named after the dirt of the ground.  Abraham’s name means father of many peoples.  Israel’s name means struggles with God.  God changes people’s names left and right to tell us what they are going to do in their lives. That is why our text today is so important. 

We often read the words in all of the Gospels that say, “He was named Jesus” and don’t think about what that means.  But in ancient Israel, it was important.  And in our text today it is especially important, for the baby in the manger is named and circumcised all on the eighth day.  Three important things happening all in one sentence of scripture and all for your salvation. 

It is the eighth day, the day of eternity, the day of recreation.  The number eight stood for recreation for Ancient Israelites.  God created everything in seven days, and here on this day, the eighth day of his human life, God begins his work of recreating the world of sin. 

And how does God plan to recreate this world of sin?  We all know the answer, through the shedding of blood, by which he purchases and wins each of us from this world.  And so God made Flesh, Immanuel sheds his very first blood as he is circumcised.  Already, at only eight days old, the very blood of God is shed. 

It is only fitting then that he receives an important name.  He receives the name Jesus, the name that means, “The Lord Saves.”  For that is exactly what he is doing.  The Lord Saves his people.  And in our text today, we see a preview of why he has come, we see a beginning to the work for your salvation.  We see God’s plan.  We see your rescue. 

For you are in a difficult situation.  You are not able to save yourselves.  Scripture gives us horrible names that describe our sin.  God has his prophets give us the name “Lo Ammi” which means “not my people”, for we are not his people in our sin.  We receive the name “Lo Ruhamah, which means not pitied, for God has no sympathy for those in sin, they are sinners because of their fault, their own fault, their own most grevious fault.  Right after our Old Testament lesson today, we hear that because of our sin, we are called Desolate, and Deserted.  We are Foresaken.  We have these names and we deserve them because of our sin.  For we truly have sinned in throught word and deed. 

How good then, that God sends someone name, “The Lord Saves”  How wonderful that God sends Immaneul, God with us.  And that in our text today, he sheds his blood as he receives this name, all on the day of re-creation. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Jesus will save you.  He will give you a new name, a name that is not Desolate, for Jesus is come.  A name that is not Forsaken, for you have been saved.  A name that is not sinner, or pittied, or any other despicable thing.  But instead you have been renamed with a name that means something.  For Jesus has saved you from your sin.  He has shed his blood for you.  And he gives you a new name, Forgiven. 

He gave you that name, as you were baptized into the holy name of the Trinity, Father Son and Holy Spirit.  You received God’s name upon you, marking you as one belonging to him, as one receiving his benefits, as inseparable from him.  You receive God’s name and are rescued from you sin.  That is what our text is about a name that really means something.  The Lord Saves – Jesus – the name above all names.  The name of your savior, the name of your rescue from sin. 

Names mean something with God.  Jesus name means something, you are God’s now.  Amen. 

Advent 4 - O - 2014 - The Promise of a King

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16    Romans 16:25-27        Luke 1:26-38

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Old Testament Lesson just read, especially these words, “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.  Your throne shall be established forever.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Forever is a long time.  We have all made light of this fact by saying “that car ride took forever,” “it took forever for the sequel of my favorite movie to come out,” or even, as we may admit, “that sermon took forever in church!”  We doubt forever could happen, and we use it as an excuse when things seem to fall apart in our lives.  Forever is a long time, so long in fact that we often say, “nothing lasts forever.” 

And yet, in our text today, God promises David forever.  “Your throne, David, will be established forever.”  In other words, there will always be a Davidic king ruling.  One of David’s children or grandchildren will always be a king.  It will be that way forever.  God has said so, David, he has made you a promise. 

What is David to do?  Should he doubt God’s word, should he tell God, “Well Lord, nothing lasts forever, so your promise must not be true.”  Nothing lasts forever, so don’t you have a different promise for me?  Nothing lasts forever, so will my throne really be established. 

If you look at the history recorded in scripture, it would seem that should this have been David’s view, if he had been a cynic, he would be right.  During the reign of David’s grandson, the kingdom of Israel divided into two different kingdoms, that began warring with one another.  These kings, some of whom were descended from David, turned from God and turned from faith before finally the kingdom of David was destroyed and taken into captivity by the Babylonians.  After all nothing lasts forever, right? 

So often we too have that same view.  For we too have a promise of “forever” in our lives.  God has promised that he will be with us “forever”, never leaving nor forsaking us.  God has promised that we shall live with him “forever,” and yet we see loved ones passing away.  God will love us forever, and yet, sometimes we don’t feel like it do we?  He will forgive us forever, and yet sometimes we still feel guilty for things we have done wrong (sometimes rightly by the way.   Is God really keeping his promises to us, or is forever just too good to be true? Is it true that nothing really lasts forever?

Dear friends in Christ, when God says something is forever, he means it, even if we cannot understand how or why, or even see the way it will all work out.  God told David, “I will establish your house forever,” and He meant it.  Hear again our Gospel text for today, “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.  And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’”

Even for David, when it seems that forever is gone, that there is no hope of it being fulfilled, God keeps his promise of forever.  900 years after David dies, a descendant of his is born.  900 years later, in the city of David, good tidings of great joy occur.  For God keeps his promise, and a new king is born.  Jesus, whose first throne is but a manger in a stable.  He is the king  descended from David.  He is the one who will reign in David’s place forever.  A king is born, lowly in a manger.

And dear friends, he reigns for you as well, keeping God’s promises of forever for you.  For the same King Jesus, descendant of David, enthroned in a manger will also be enthroned in a much more painful place.  He will wear a crown of thorns and a robe stained in his own blood, until stripped naked he is enthroned upon a wooden cross for all the world to see.  It is that King, who is enthroned forever.  It is that King who is both our God and our Lord.  It is that King who will keep all of God’s promises to you. 

You are forgiven, FOREVER, for the sins of the whole world were placed on your king, as he died in your place.  You need not continue to feel guilty for them.  They are no longer yours, but his.  You are free and forgiven for ever.  God has promised that you will live forever, and you know this to be true, for death cannot destroy your King Jesus.  Even when he lied dead in a tomb for three days, he returned to life, and so will you.  Your King is the very Resurrection and the Life, FOREVER, and he gives that life to you in the very waters of life in baptism. 

You are loved FOREVER, for your God promises you heaven, a place where you may stand before him, not in shame, not in sorrow, but in peace.  God has promised that his own hand, with the hole from a nail still in it, will wipe away all the hurt and pain of this world. 

God keeps his promises to us, especially the promise of forever.  And if we doubt it at times, all we need do is look at the baby in the manger, the one whose birth we celebrate next week, the babe, the son of Mary.  David’s throne is established forever, and God lives and reigns today – over you, over me, and his reign shall have no end.  He is your God, your redeemer, your savior, and he will be FOREVER.  Amen.  

Advent 3 - G - 2014 - Who are you?

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11      1 Thess. 5:16-24          John 1:6-8, 19-28

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

Dear friends in Christ.  Who are you?  Such a foundational question for so many conversations and worldviews.  How would you describe yourself?  What words tell us what information we need to understand who you are as a person?  What is your identity? 

In our lesson for today, St. John the Baptist is preparing people for the coming of the Lord, and as he does so, Pharisees come to him and ask him that question.  “Who are you?”  They even give him some prompts, “Are you Elijah, or are you the Prophet?  Who are you?  We need to give answer to the ones who sent us.”  They even ask him, “Are you the Christ?”  And John does not hesitate in his answer and response.  Instead he gives a great confession.  “I am not Elijah or the Prophet, I am certainly not the Christ.”  And here’s where the words get interesting.  John goes on to say, “I’m not even worthy to untie the Christ’s sandals.” 

What bold words.  Yes, it is easy to say, “I’m not a prophet.”  Its even easier to say “I’m not the Christ.”  But those last words, “I’m not worthy of the Christ – not even to untie shoes from his dirty feet.”  John doesn’t even hesitate.  He stands before the crowds coming to him for baptism and boldly declares, I’m not worthy.  He tells the jewish officials, “I’m not worthy.” 

What words do you use about yourself.  Or even better what words do you think about yourself?  Smart?  Or not?  Successful?  Or not?  Pretty?  Handsome?  Rich?  Average?  Good?  Friendly?  Praiseworthy?  What title do you give yourself?  I’ll bet no matter what things you say about yourself, that the words, “Not worthy” aren’t used hardly at all. 

In fact, more often than not we think pretty highly of ourselves.  We praise ourselves more than we deserve.  We think other people owe us something, and even more so, that God owes us something.  That we are worthy of God.  That we’ve kept more of his rules than the people who are around us, and thus that we deserve something from him, that we ought to be rewarded.  You’ve thought that very thing, you’ve thought “Well if that person were more like me, they’d have known better.” 

Yet the reality is closer to what John says.  You aren’t worthy.  Unless you’ve kept every law that God ever put in place perfectly – you’re not worthy.  Unless you’ve never sinned, not once in your entire life – you’re not worthy.  Unless you’ve been perfect all the time and in all ways, you aren’t worthy. 

Its true.  Compare yourself to St. John the Baptist, cousin, and forerunner of Jesus who was sent by God himself to prepare the way of the Lord.  Are you more holy than he?  Are you more righteous?  Even than John, who was willing to be beheaded for confessing the truth of Jesus.  NO?  But even he claims to be unworthy!  And we who are no better than he, are unworthy as well. 

But dear friends, do you see the message of the unworthy John?  He prepares the way for the coming one.  The one who will be our savior.  The one who, while you were still unworthy and unclean and sinful, suffered, bled and died so that you might be forgiven.  He did not wait for you to become holy.  He didn’t wait for you to become righteous.  He took your unworthiness into his own hands, entered our world, to die on that old rugged cross. 

And so in Jesus you are worthy – because he is worthy.  He has made you worthy in your baptism.  There your sin was washed away with his blood.  There you are raised from unworthy relationship with God to a brotherly relationship with Jesus.  You are cleansed from all sin, from all guilt from all unworthiness and made holy in Jesus Christ, and in his great love and care.  

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Kyle Irvin Nelson Prayer Service and Funeral

Prayer Service Homily

Job 19:21-27

Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!  ²² Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?

²³ “Oh that my words were written!  Oh that they were inscribed in a book!  ²⁴ Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
²⁵ For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  ²⁶ And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in^[b] my flesh I shall see God, ²⁷ whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.  My heart faints within me!

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵ For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self^[a] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

Dear friends in Christ.  What words can we say on such a day as this?  What can still the tears?  What can stop the weeping?  What could possibly fill the hole that we feel here tonight, when such a terrible tragedy has struck, and we feel so much pain and loss?  For a dear child, friend, and co-worker has been taken from us so suddenly, and we hurt so much because of it. 

He had such a bright future, and was still just a young man.  He had a home ready.  He hoped to begin taking over the family farm next year.  He had a lovely girlfriend, a family who loved him and so much ahead of him. 

We don’t know why he was taken from us so early.  We don’t know why his life was so short.  We don’t know why he was pinned under the truck instead of off to the side.  And dear friends, we’ll never know the answers to these questions or any of the others that swirl around in our minds on this day. 

But there is one thing we know.  And that is the words of our first reading this evening.  We know that Kyle’s redeemer lives – that our redeemer lives.  And that right now Kyle’s spirit rests with Jesus, even as we care for his body.  He sees God, face to face right now. 

We can be certain – absolutely certain – where Kyle is right now because of the work of Jesus Christ.  Who endured the cross, bleeding, suffering, and dying for all sin, and for all sinners.  He died for you, for me, and for Kyle.  And as that car spun out of control, Jesus was there with Kyle, providing for him, and taking him by the hand into peace and comfort everlasting. 

No, in Jesus, death is not our end – it cannot conquer us, no matter how difficult the situation.  Jesus laid in the grave on three days, and still conquered, being raised into life eternal.  And because Jesus rose, so too will Kyle one day.  As St. Paul writes, “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us into his presence.”  That promise is Kyle’s in his baptism, that many years ago in water and the word he already inherited eternal life.  His body will be alive again on the last day of this world, and he shall forever be with Jesus. 

And so we don’t grow fainthearted.  We do not lose heart.  We endure, day by day, moment by moment, knowing that Kyle is in the care of God’s nail scarred hands.  And knowing, that Kyle’s redeemer is our redeemer as well.  And that in Christ, and in Christ alone, we too one day will be in the peace and joy that comes in his grace, mercy and forgiveness alone. 

Dear friends, we will never know why what happened has happened.  But we do not that because Jesus lives, so too will Kyle.  Because Jesus lives, so too will we.  And that promise gives us hope to face each and every day ahead. 

It will not be easy.  It will not be a quickly passing pain.  The hole will always be there in you lives.  The memories – both good and bad will always be there.  But so too is the promise of everlasting life in Jesus, and in Jesus alone. 

For our Redeemer lives, and in the last, we shall seem him with our own eyes, face to face, just as Kyle is now, and shall be forevermore. 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Funeral Service Sermon

Isaiah 25:6-9 - On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
    of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
⁷ And he will swallow up on this mountain
    the covering that is cast over all peoples,
    the veil that is spread over all nations.
⁸     He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
    and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
    for the Lord has spoken.
⁹ It will be said on that day,
    “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
    This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
    let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

I Corinthians 15:35-44, 51-57 - But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶ You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷ And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. ³⁹ For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰ There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

⁴² So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, andthe dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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. 

Dear friends in Christ, especially Yvonne, Jerry, Corey, April, friends, and family of Kyle.  I think I maybe met Kyle once or twice at most.  I never knew him as well as many of you here today.  So most of what I know about him I know from those of you with whom I’ve talked in the last few days.  And what I’ve heard is that Kyle was a young man who had a good sense of humor, knew where he wanted to go and what he wanted to do, and who loved farming. 

I’ve seen pictures of Kyle out on a combine bringing in the harvest.  I’ve seen his pictures of him sitting on tractors smiling, and wearing a greasy old Case IH hat.  I’ve heard the stories about how he was a farmer from day 1, and how he was planning to take over the family farm next year.  I imagine there was little that Kyle loved more in this world than running the chisel plow, breaking ground and planting and hoping for a good harvest that fall. 

That’s why its so hard today.  Kyle seemed to have so much going for him, and now he’s gone.  Death has taken a beloved person from us forever.  Now, we break ground to plant and bury the body of a beloved Son, brother, boyfriend, and friend.  And that’s the very imagery that St. Paul uses in our Epistle lesson for today.  He is talking about how we can be sure and certain of the resurrection of the dead because Jesus himself has been raised, and yes lives even to this day, sitting at the right hand of God the Father.  And since Jesus has been raised, so too will all of our loved ones who have died in the faith.  As Jesus himself says, “Whoever believes in me shall not die.” 

But there were some who doubted those words.  The loved ones they buried didn’t look alive.  They looked like they had left this world.  They no longer had hearts beating, or lungs breathing.  They no longer had the spark in their eyes.  They had died. 

And so St. Paul says, “Just as you plant the bare and dead looking kernel of corn or wheat, and up sprouts a living plant, that bears much fruit, so too is it with your loved ones.”  We bury them today, knowing that Jesus will raise them.  As St. Paul says “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is planted is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.

And so in just a little while, we will plant the body of a dear friend in a box made of reclaimed barn wood, knowing that one day, it will be raised in power, in an imperishable body, and that Kyle will bodily live again, even as he now spiritually lives with Jesus.  He will be raised, the resurrection is the truth and hope in which we trust and believe today. 

In fact, it is a complete certainty for us, even in the face of loss, and tragedy.  It is a certainty that Kyle will live forever, because the God in whom Kyle trusted lives forever as well.  Yes, Jesus too was planted in a tomb.  His body lay dead for three days, having been brutally killed and tortured on a wooden cross.  He died to pay the price for sin.  For Kyle’s sin.  For your sin.  And having done all that was necessary for sin to be paid for, God the Father resurrected Jesus on that first Easter morning, promising the same for all who believe and are baptized into his holy name. 

So the saying is true, “’Death is swallowed up in victory.’  ‘O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?’  And in fact, we have victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and through him alone. 

So what of us.  We know where Kyle is – with Jesus.  We know he will be bodily raised by Jesus on the last day.  But what of us, day in and day out as we miss the jokes, the tales about how “Times are hard” and the help out on the farm?  For us, Kyle’s confirmation verse has something to say.  Jesus calls to us who are weary in this world of sin, struggle and death, especially this family who has faced so many losses in the past year.  “Come to me, you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” 

Hear the call and word of Christ – a word that brings forgiveness, life and salvation to you.  Hear the word of Jesus that says your sins are forgiven as well.  Hear the word of Jesus that speaks the truth, “There is eternal life for you, just as there is for Kyle, and that you too one day will see God, face to face in the joys of paradise.”  Heed the call of Jesus, who on the cross, has swallowed up death forever. 

Dear friends, Jesus has given Kyle life eternal.  Today we plant his body, just as he planted many a field, knowing that because of Christ he will raise again imperishable.  Christ has promised it in his blood.  It’s a promise for you, for me, and for Kyle. 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Proper 28 - G - 2014 - Parable of God's Treasure

The 23rd Sunday After Pentecost

November 16, 2014- Pastor Adam Moline

Zephaniah 1:7-16        1 Thessalonians 5:1-11            Matthew 25:14-30

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today comes from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ, we are coming to the end of the church year, and as we get to the end of the church year we focus on the end of this world, and the promised second coming of Jesus.  And that’s what our text today is about as well – the coming of Jesus, and the judgment and reward he brings with him. 

And so today we focus on the parable of the talents.  Don’t think that the word talents here means “things you can do well,” such as “Gee, I can whistle real good.”  No the talents that our text mention are actually a unit of money which totaled approximately 130 lbs.  So if the talent of treasure was in gold, one talent would equal $2.2 million in today's money.  Imagine what you could do with that treasure, especially if you were the one receiving 10 talents.  $20 million!  How many times have you wanted such a glorious treasure in your bank account?  Oh that God would give you such a great treasure!

Well there’s the catch isn’t it?  You have a treasure even more valuable.  You have a gift even more blessed, one that does not rust or mildew, one that cannot be lost in the stock market or wasted away on foolish purchases.  You have the treasure of the kingdom of heaven.  Yes, It is the kingdom of heaven that is the treasure of talents in our parable.  It is more valuable than silver or gold.  It is the promise of forgiveness in the very holy precious blood, innocent suffering and death of Jesus Christ.  And it belongs to you in your baptism. 

The truth is God’s treasures in Jesus grow and grow because of God’s work, unless you neglect and bury it.  They are fed not by your works or prayers, but by the hearing of God’s Word, by the eating of Jesus’ body and blood.  The treasure God has given to you increases all the time through the precious means of grace. 

And that treasure is yours.  And the parable asks, what do you do with the gift God has given to you?  Do you cherish it, and love it, and use it to care for the people around you in a Christian fashion?  Or do you bury it?  Do you hide it away?  Do you complain about it?  Do you act like its not really that important? 

You know what I’m asking.  Do you go to bible study regularly?  Do you volunteer for church boards and activities that need help?  Do you do so without grumbling?  Do you attend church because you are excited about the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation? Or do you do so because your parents told you long ago that you have to.  Are you glad that Jesus has died for your sins, or are you fairly indifferent, because after all, you still have years to go before death looms?  What do you do with your treasure that god has given. 

The truth is, most of us are rather indifferent.  Most of us at work and school bury our faith.  In fact the real truth is, most of us, when we walk out the doors of this room, let alone the building, hide the Kingdom of Heaven within us away, for no one to ever see or to know.  That’s the way our sinful natures work, and its our fault this is the case.  And in that sin, on the last day, when Christ returns in judgment, he will say to us, “You wicked and lazy servant.” And we deserve to be cast into the outer darkness of hell as described in our text. 

Except that we do have the kingdom of heaven within us through our baptism.  God has given us a great treasure, and God feeds it with word and sacrament.  And all of these gifts connect us to Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, and dying for all sin, guilt and shame – even yours.  And being connected to Jesus our great Judge and Lord, we need not fear him.  You have the treasure of heaven, worth more than all the gold and silver this world has to offer. You have the gift of kingdom of God, which lasts forever and ever without end.  You have the promise of forgiveness of Jesus, because you are washed in his blood and death. 

And so when Jesus does return, he will say to you, “Well done good and faithful servant, come and share your master's happiness!”  Not because of anything you’ve done, or not done, but only because in Jesus you’ve been given the treasure of great talents, the forgiveness that comes only through Jesus Christ our Lord.  In his name.  Amen.  

All Saints Day 2014 - 1 - 2014 - The Blessed Dead Are With Jesus

All Saints Day (Observed)

November 2, 2014- Pastor Adam Moline

Revelation 7:2-17        1 John 3:1-3    Matthew 5:1-12

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is from the epistle lesson just read, especially these words, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Today we speak the names of our dead, those of our family and those of this parish who have died since last All Saints’ Day.  We name them here together before the Lord.  For some us there will be the names of people we knew but a little.  Or perhaps we will read the name of a person who was greatly loved and cared for by us.  There are names of people we remember in fondness, and others with dislike.  There are names that leave large holes in our hearts, even to this day.  Yes.  Today we remember the blessed dead, who have come out of the great tribulation of this sinful world. 

And as we read their name and remember them, we don’t do so in glowing and cleverly worded obituaries, or in eulogies that praise the virtue of the deceased.  We have no need to inflate the memories of our dead.  We won’t lie today saying, “So and so was always such a good person,” or “They were always so sweet.”  For the truth is, they weren’t always wonderful or perfect people.  They were in fact, poor miserable sinners, just like you and me.  And it is because of that sin that they are dead and gone from our world.  And be not fooled, dear friends, you have sinned as well, and it is because of your sin that you will one day join them as well. 

And as we read their names today, we don’t do so thinking that they are angels looking down on us now, for nowhere in scripture is that ridiculous idea found.  Our blessed dead members are still human in nature, even in death.  And we don’t read their names to ask them for special blessings, or to look down upon us, or to speak to God on our behalf.  They won’t hear our requests, or suffer to be bothered with them.  Truth be told this world is no longer their concern. 

The souls of the dead don’t hang around in our cemeteries, or in our homes haunting us.  They don’t need our garden lights or our offerings upon their graves.  And they won’t live on forever in our hearts either.  For if that were true, where would they live when our day of death comes? 

And our day is coming – every sinful moment of every sinful day brings our hearts ever closer to stopping, and our lungs closer to being stilled.  Yes, soon, much sooner than we care to imagine, we will die as well.  Our possessions will be passed on to our heirs, whether they will use them well or not.  Our stuff will become someone else’s to be used or thrown away until they too pass away.  Our bodies will decay, and memory of us will fade in this world. 

And yet today, we do read the names of dead.  And the reason we read these names is because they are just what scripture says, the blessed dead.  They have come out of the great tribulation, they have had their robes washed and made white in the blood of the lamb.  They are now before the throne of God, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.  And they await with Christ the last day, when they shall be bodily resurrected to live with Christ forever. 

This promise was made to the people whose names we read today in the waters of holy baptism.  There they were baptized into the death of Christ, so that their death was no longer their own but instead was Christ’s.  That meant their suffering was Christ’s suffering, their dying was Christ’s dying.  For they were connected directly the suffering and dying of Jesus, bloodied and naked upon the cross outside of Jerusalem.  And so now that they’ve died with Jesus, they will rise with Jesus.  Yes, as Christ rose, so too will every person whose name we read here today.  They are triumphant in the glorious resurrection of Jesus. 

And the promise is for you as well.  You wait to die – but when you die, you too will die with Jesus.  Yes, you may suffer for days, or weeks or years before that day comes, but as you wait and suffer, you do so with Jesus.  And when you die, you will die with Jesus.  And because you do so with Jesus in baptism, you will also rise with Jesus on the last day of this world.  And after you die, and leave this world behind, you will be in the heavenly Jerusalem awaiting that day of resurrection.  There will be no more hunger, or thirst, no more crying or pain, only the comfort that comes from being with God and in his love forever. 

This promise is for you, just as it is for those people whose names we read today.  Today we read the names of those who have already passed into life with Christ.  One day our name will be read.  Even so, we know on that one day we will all be in the church triumphant – alive forever because of the death and blood of Jesus.  Just as those are, whose name we read today. 

In the name Jesus.  

Proper 23 - G - 2014 - The Wedding Feast Invite

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

October 12, 2014- Pastor Adam Moline
Isaiah 25:6-9      Philippians 4:4-13    Matthew 22:1-14

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “Many are called, but few are elect.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  How many wedding invitations have you received this summer?  Each one promising a night of fun and partying, the best of foods that catering can offer, beer poured into you mug until the tap is dry, and dancing and partying until early in the morning.  In our Gospel lesson that’s what Jesus says the Kingdom of heaven is like.  God has invited you, called you, to attend the wedding feast of his Son Jesus and his bride the church.  The biggest shindig of all.  There, is promised the finest of all meats, the best of wines.  The fatted calf has been slaughtered, the dinner is set!  “Come to the wedding feast!”  Everything is ready!  Everything is done!  And your name is on the invitation list.  Jesus has invited you to the meal.  Come to the party!  Come, eat, drink and be merry. 

No?  No you say?  You refuse to come to the party.  You have work to do, farms to tend, businesses to take care of.  People to see and places to go.  Excuses, excuses, excuses.  Saying no to God?  Is that what you do?  I don’t want to be with you, I don’t care about you, I don’t want to go to the party.  I have no time for God. 

You’re just like the people in our parable today.  At times too many things that are more important than spending time in God’s presence – no matter what joy that presence might bring.  There’s football games to watch, fish to catch, malls to visit, friends to talk to, places and times to sleep in.  And most importantly, we have jobs and activities outside of the feast that are more important. 

So we throw away the invitation.  We reject it.  We count it as foolhardy and worthless.  Because of our sin it is easy to disregard the Lord’s invitation.  Truly it is very easy to disregard the invitation.  Don’t believe me?  Look at your own life.  How easy is it to find some other activity to do than bible study?  How easy is it to get bored in church, and to decide to sleep in instead.  How easy is it to find another place to spend your money or to give your time.  After all there are business and farms, football games and naps to take care of. 

Dear friends repent!  God will bring people into his wedding feast, he will bring people in both good and bad whether its you or not.  You have the call.  You have the invitation.  And you even have the right wedding outfit.  Its there in our text.  All the people at the wedding are wearing their very best wedding clothes.  And you have been given those clothes dear friends.

Where?  In the waters of holy baptism.  There your sin was washed away.  There you were clothed with a righteousness that is not from you, but instead is from Christ.  You’ve been washed white in the blood of the lamb, even though your sins were as scarlet.  You are dressed and ready for the wedding, because it is Christ that you wear. 

For you see, in the end, the wedding feast, the invitation, the whole kitten caboodle is really not about you, your acceptance, your works at all.  Its about Jesus.  It is his party.  It is his wedding.  It is the party to celebrate the victory over sin, death and the power of the grave that Jesus won on the cross for you, and for me. 

God sent his servants out into all the corners of the globe to bring you in to the feast.  He brought you in with the power of his Holy Precious Word, proclaimed and heard by your ears.  That word is that great invitation proclaimed by pastors all over the world, and recorded for us in Holy scripture.  It calls you, and the call itself makes you a part of the feast. 

And at the feast there is the best of meat – the very body of Jesus, and the finest of wines, the very blood of Jesus.  Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of all yours sins of doubt, of avoidance and boredom in the church.  It is that feast that will sustain you throughout all of eternity, without end.  Amen. 

Dear friends, the call has come – Come to the feast – it is ready and waiting for Jesus has died and risen again.  We have victory in his name.  In this feast the vale that covered all people will be taken away, and we will rejoice with our God, even forever more.  You have been brought in by God’s working, both in the Word proclaimed, and the Sacraments administered.  You are God’s child, clothed and ready, only through Jesus. 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

LWML Sunday - E - 2014 - Skubalon

LWML Sunday - Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

October 5, 2014- Pastor Adam Moline

Isaiah 5:1-7     Philippians 3:4b-14     Matthew 21:33-46

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today comes from the epistle lesson just read, especially these words, “I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ, St. Paul writes today in a similar way as we so often do in our obituaries, bragging himself up as he says with his own words, “confident in his own flesh.”  He is confident that if it is possible to please God by actions that he has achieved it.  He states he is the best of the best in terms of holiness.  He is the Jew of all Jews, “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless as blameless can be. 

And yet the very next words are quite striking.  “And yet all of my righteousness of works and holiness of living, I count it all as rubbish.”  The word he uses is skubalon.  That word very piously, but wrongly translate as rubbish.  The real meaning is stronger, because the rubbish of which this word speaks is the kind we so often flush down the toilet – yes, Paul crassly calls his holiness and works sewage in very plain terms.  Paul says that those good works are lost to him, and that they won’t benefit him in God’s eyes. 

Its not that the works are good in a worldly sense.  They are.  It’s not that they haven’t benefited himself or even others around him, they have.  Rather its that his sin is so large that no amount of civil righteousness or worldly holiness can make up for his sin.  Furthermore his worldly holiness gives only empty rewards of money, home, riches and other things that cannot be taken with him beyond the grave. 

Instead Paul trusts in something better than all the skubalon of our world.  He trusts in Christ, and in his promises.  He happily would have all the skubalon of the world taken from him so that he might gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of his own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that he  may know Jesus and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible he may attain the resurrection from the dead.

What about you?  The truth is often times we get distracted by the skubalon of the world.  We are proud of our works, we have pride that looks down on others.  We struggle to do what is right, but tell ourselves that our best effort is good enough.  We get angry at other people for things they do wrong, when we turn around and do the same things ourselves.  We slander and hurt other people’s reputations, and drag their names in the mud. 

And then we boldly declare ourselves righteous to the world.  We talk about the great things we’ve done.  We brag about how we spend our money.  We toot our trumpets to all who will listen about the amazing things that we have done. 

So often we call this Christianity as well.  We have all seen the what would Jesus do bracelets.  We’ve all heard the “Christians are supposed to be better than everyone else, we’re supposed to act better.”  And so often we tell people that we do!  We take pride in our faiths.  We tell others about how good our faith is – Even if it isn’t the truth. 

Dear friends, it is all skubalon.  It is sin.  It stinks.  It kills us.  Count it for what it is, flush it away as it ought to be flushed.  Repent.  Turn aside from you sin.  Trust in Christ, and in his mercy only.  For only in him is their forgiveness.  Become like him, in his death.  Put your sin to death in his body, in his blood and in his mercy and forgiveness. 

Why?  So that you might obtain eternal life.  So that you might reach the reward of heaven.  And dear friends the only way you can put your sin and pride to death is in Christ.  His death on a cross is for you and your forgiveness.  His blood poured out so that you might be forgiven.  You were baptized into that forgiving death.  You were washed in that blood.  You are holy, not by your own actions or works, or by your pride, or your selfishness.  You’re holy in Jesus, and in Jesus alone. 

And so that’s how we live.  That’s how LWML works, that’s how our missions work, we set ourselves aside in faith in Christ and serve our neighbors.  We don’t brag, except in Jesus.  We don’t trumpet ourselves, but we tell all we can about the good work Christ has done in us.  Because, dear friends, when we talk about Christ, we avoid the skubalon. 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Proper 21 - O - 2014 - The Sinner Shall Die

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 28, 2014- Pastor Adam Moline

Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32        Philippians 2:1-18             Matthew 21:23-32

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today comes from the Old Testament lesson just read, especially these words, “The soul who sins shall die.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ, It is a harsh reality that our Old Testament lesson puts forth today.  All souls who sin shall die.  Its not a “Maybe they’ll die,” its not a “Probably they’ll die.”  It is a clear cut, “If you sin, there is absolute certainty that you will die.”  Why?  Because God is just.  He cannot allow any sin to go unpunished.  He cant avoid reality about what we’ve done.  Because God is just, everything must be accounted for at the end – both good and evil. 

And so dear friends, we must die.  Its true.  When we look at all the things we’ve done in our lives, when we tally up the score we’ve managed, we’ll be found wanting.  We’ll be found guilty of disobedience to our just God.  We’ll be found guilty because of all the sins we’ve committed, whether it was us failing to do the right thing, or purposefully doing something evil.  Yes, dear friends, you’ve done both.  You’ve passed by the person in need, more concerned with your own self-preservation than with needs of someone else.  You’ve put yourself first when you’ve planned things or done things.  You spent your money for your desires rather than to care for your neighbor.  Dear friends in Christ, all of these things and more are your sin. 

When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die, so you, dear friends, shall die.  Don’t be mistaken, don’t think God enjoys killing sinners.  He grieves over the things you’ve done.  He is torn up by the way you’ve turned your back on him.  He weeps at every funeral that happens, more so even than we do.  He hates that his beloved creation has turned their back to him and written him off.  He has no pleasure in the death of anyone.

And so in His great mercy he calls out to you in the words of scripture, “Turn aside from your sin.  Leave it behind and do what is right.”  Have no other gods, do not commit adultery, love your neighbor and love your god.  Be holy as the Lord your God is holy.  Do this and you will live. 

But dear friends, despite your efforts, you will never succeed at this goal.  You will never be holy.  Even if you did not sin once the rest of your life – an impossible task – you could not make up for the sin you already have committed.  In fact, the very idea that you can stop sinning is nothing more than a pipe dream – one which condemns you all the more by showing your complete inability to do good in God’s eyes. 

And it is because of that, dear friends, that God did something amazing and wonderful to forgive your sin and stop your impending death.  He sent his son, Jesus Christ into our world, and placing your sin upon his shoulders in the waters of Holy Baptism, God killed Jesus in your place. 

Yes, your guilt, your shame, and your wrong doing was placed on Christ.  He became the greatest sinner the world has ever seen because he bore the sin you have committed.  It was a heavy burden, one of which he courageously bore to the cross outside of Jerusalem.  Carrying your sin, he had to die, as sinners must.  He had to suffer, as sinner must.  He had to bleed, and give up himself as sinners must.  And so he did. 

It’s what our epistle lesson today says.  Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,^[b] being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  He took on the form of the servant by bearing the sins of the servant.  And because Jesus died for and in the place of sinners, sinners are made righteous, and in the righteousness of Christ they can live.  Let me say that in regards to you, dear friends.  Because you wear the righteousness of Christ you can live.  Because he bore your sins, you’re forgiven.  God killed Jesus, his own son, so that you might be forgiven. 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

St. Matthew - 2014 - G - Jesus Comes Only For Sinners

The Festival of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist

September 21, 2014- Pastor Adam Moline

Ezekiel 2:8-3:11          Ephesians 4:7-16         Matthew 9:9-13

Hymns LSB 611, 518, 730   Communion Hymns LSB 743, 617, 596, 594
Sermon Audio Found Here

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Today is St. Matthew the apostle day, the day we remember that great tax collector turned saint.  And yet today, as we remember St. Matthew, we remember more the many great things that Jesus did for him than we do him at all.  We think of Jesus, not the sinner, not the martyr, not the tax collector at all.  Just Jesus. 

St. Matthew the Tax collector.  What do you think of when you hear the words, “Tax collector?”  I’m guessing that there are few words that you despise more, except maybe “Audit” and “IRS” and taxes due.  We do not love the taxman’s excessive need to take our money from us at ever increasing rates.  We are fine when someone else pays taxes, but we hate our own. 

The same thing was true back in Jesus day.  Tax collectors were thought of as thieves, as liars, and what’s worse, they worked for the occupying Roman army, sending their money on to the Caesar’s.  What’s more, these tax collectors made their living by collecting extra taxes which went right into their own pockets.  They were hated by the average person, thought of as “less than human” and more sinful than the average person. 

And so they were avoided by people.  They were treated badly.  They were sinners, and all knew it.  Tax collectors like Matthew had few friends, and were some of the outcasts of their time.  And it is to this tax collector Matthew that Jesus calls today, “Follow me.”  All the others in town ask questions?  How can Jesus eat with Sinners or tax collectors like Matthew?  How can Jesus interact with such a terrible person as Matthew, who betrayed his own people for a bit of money?

Dear friends, Jesus answers that question in our lesson.  He comes for sinners.  Jesus comes only for sinners, not for the healthy.  Just a doctor does, he comes only for those who are sick and weak and do what is wrong.  Not for those who are healthy. 

So dear friends, what are you?  What do you think about yourself?  Do you have everything together.  Do you always do what is right?  Are you a healthy normal, human being, or are you a sinner?  Are you upright, or are you down right sinful? 

Be honest, dear friends.  Look at your life, you are sinful.  There is no way around it.  You don’t do what’s right.  You sin in thought word and deed.  You hate, you murder, you lie.  You even sin the same way Matthew did.  In fact, we love money more than a tax collector, don’t we?  Which is why you are so afraid to give it up to taxes or to the offering plate, or to help a person on the street.  You love the power that we feel when we use money to benefit ourselves.  We love money itself – it becomes an idol for us. 

And what’s more, dear friend, we also are guilty in the same way as the Pharisees in our text.  We judge people as worse then us, as more sinful than us, as terrible horrible no good very bad people.  And we take great pride in these judgments, because they mean we can sleep a little easier at night knowing at least there’s someone sicker than us. 

Dear friends, repent of your sin.  Turn aside from you idolatry and your pride.  Admit how sick you are, sick enough that you will one day die from your sin.  And in your illness, heed the call of the great physician Jesus, just as Matthew did. 

Jesus came for the sick.  Jesus came for the weak.  So be weak, be sick, and receive his mercy and his care.  Jesus came for those who are dying, and in sin you are dying, so let him be your Hospice doctor, caring for you in your final days.  Because dear friends, as you die from sin, there is no better doctor than Jesus. 

For Jesus has already been through death.  Yes, all the way through, he suffered as we suffer, he bled, as we bleed, and he died, nailed to a cross, so that when we die, it shall not be our end.  For Jesus went through death, all the way through.  He rose again on the third day, promising eternal life to all those for whom he’d care.  He rose, promising to take with him, all who died with him.  That promise was made to all the sick, all the sinners, all the liars, the murderers and the cheat.  That promise was made, dear friends, even to you. 

Yes, your sin, your pride, your guilt and all the rest of your sickness is healed by Jesus crucified and risen.  Just as he saved poor sinful tax collector Matthew, so too will he save you.  It is his promise, it is the hope that we have in his name.  It is the truth in which we believe. 

Dear friends, Jesus came for the sick.  Admit your sin, admit the sickness is causes you, and be saved by the grace offered in his Holy and precious name.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Harold August Theodore Fenske Funeral

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Romans 8:26-32, 35-39 * Also at Paul’s Funeral

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because^[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,^[b] for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

God's Everlasting Love

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ 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.

John 14:1-6 * Also at Paul’s Prayer Service

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;^[a] believe also in me. ² In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?^[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to where I am going.”^[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Dear friends in Christ, especially Laurel, Family and Friends of Harold. 

Just a few days ago, as I stood at the edge of his death bed, I read to Harold the familiar words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  I told Harold, “There is our hope, as your life comes to its end, that because God gave Jesus into death on the cross for you, that you have the hope of eternal life.”  And as I finished saying those words, Harold looked up at me and quoting the small catechism he learned so many years ago said, “Amen, amen, means yes, yes it shall be so.  I don’t think we say those words enough.  Pastor, Jesus is going to take me home soon!” 

These were very near the last words Harold spoke to me.  What a bold confession of faith to make, especially as the end of life draws near!  And it’s a confession we can boldly echo today.  Amen!  Yes, Christ has taken Harold home to the place prepared for him.  Amen, Jesus has saved him, carrying him to be with the Father!  Amen!  Harold now rests from his labors in the loving arms of Jesus.  Amen!  Yes Harold no longer struggles with the toil and tribulation of this world.  Amen. Yes, yes it is so!  

It is a bold thing to say at a time like this, when we gather together in the church, with the body of our dear loved one laying before us.  And yet, it is the truth in which Harold believed, and for which he prayed throughout his life.  Harold was baptized “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen,” for forgiveness of all his sins!  Yes, yes it shall be so.  Harold was confirmed here, with the words of our first lesson for today, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” and at the end the pastor said, “He who has begun this good work in you, bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  Amen!”  It shall be so.

Every evening, Harold would call family and pray the Lord’s Prayer with them on the phone before bed, “give us this day our daily bread,” knowing that God would provide all that he needed to support his life?  Each time ending with “Amen.  Yes it shall be so.”  And Harold prayed, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,” knowing that in Christ and Christ alone there was forgiveness for all his sins. 

Yes, dear friends, Harold knew his sin.  He knew that in his many years there were many things he wished he’d have done differently.  He knew there were times where perhaps he hadn’t trusted in God the way that he ought.  He knew that he had done wrong in his thoughts and words and deeds.  And knowing that, he confessed his sins often, even just a few days ago, and each time I’d announce Christ’s forgiveness, and we’d speak together the word “Amen!  Yes, yes it is so.”  Knowing that because of Jesus those sins were forgiven. 

And so, dear friends, today we speak Amen as well.  And the Amen we speak is not a looming final “It is finished” sort of amen, but rather it is an Amen that acknowledges what God says.  “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.  Neither death, nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor power nor height nor anything in all creation can separate us from God’s love.”  And as we say those words, we know it is now true for Harold, that death has not taken him away from his Lord, but rather has become the gateway for him to be with him forever more.    Amen.  It shall be so. 

Today we speak an Amen to the words of our Gospel lesson, when Jesus says, “I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come back to take you to be there.  And where I am, you shall be also.”  And as we hear those words, dear friends, we know that’s where Harold is now.  He is with Christ, and shall be forever more.  The saving work of Jesus, crucified and risen to take away sin has been made complete in him.  He has inherited life in the death of Jesus, life to the full. 

And so we say Amen today, knowing that Harold lives because Jesus lives.  We say Amen knowing that in the bloody death and glorious resurrection of Jesus, Harold was saved.  We say Amen knowing that one day we too will die because of our sin, but in Christ’s forgiveness we will live forever.  We say “Amen, Yes, yes it shall be so,”  for Christ has said it on our behalf – “They shall be forgiven in my blood – it shall be so.” 

Dear friends, those words say it all, when they say it about what Christ does for us.  Harold was right, “We don’t really say those words enough, Amen, yes, yes it shall be so.” 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Lucia Ann (Hatton) Jording

Ruth 1:15-18 - ¹⁵ And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” ¹⁶ But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” ¹⁸ And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

Revelation 2:10 - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Luke 23:44-49; 24:1-6 - It was now about the sixth hour,^[a] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,^[b] 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands Icommit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. ⁴⁷ Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”⁴⁸ And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

Dear friends in Christ, especially Timothy, Dacia, family and friends of Lucia.  Ruth told her mother in law Naomi, “Where you go, I will go.  Your God, shall be my God.  Your faith, shall be my faith.  Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried.”  Those were bold words for her to speak.  Her husband had just died, a short time after her father-in-law had died.  Naomi would be soon heading back to Israel, her homeland, a foreign place for Ruth.  There were no guarantees of food or a roof over their head.  Ruth would be considered a foreigner, and Ruth’s own family would be far away.  And yet, she went where Naomi went, trusting that God would provide for her no matter what things happened because of it. 

The same could be said for Lucia as well.  Many years ago, in 1958, she married a newly ordained pastor, promising to go wherever God called him to serve God’s people.  She promised to him, essentially, that she would “Go where you go.”  And so they went.  From Illinois, to Wisconsin, to cold northern North Dakota, and finally here, to southern semi-tropical North Dakota. 

And throughout all the trip and travel, God did provide for her.  He was there when she lost loved ones and family members.  God was there when  things were challenging.  God was there when there were joys to celebrate.  God was there, almost two years ago, when her husband of 54 years passed away.  And now, dear friends, God was with her when her life came to its end just a few days ago. 

Where you go, I will go.  Dear friends, Jesus makes that very same promise to us.  Wherever we go in this world, Jesus will be there in His Word and Sacrament.  Wherever we go, Jesus is there with forgiveness for all our sin, he is there in all trials and tribulations.  And dear friends, Jesus also turns it around. 

“Where I go, you will go.”  Jesus says.  And Jesus went to suffer.  Jesus went to bleed.  Jesus went to die on the cross.  And we follow him.  We suffer and struggle in this world, just as Lucia did at times.  We hurt and weep, just as Jesus did.  And dear friends we even follow Jesus into death.  As we read earlier, “Did you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.” 

Lucia has followed Jesus.  But the good news about following Jesus into death is that Jesus didn’t stay dead.  Jesus rose.  Jesus did not stay dead.  And dear friends, because Jesus rose, so too will Lucia.  Where Jesus goes, so too will she, and so too will you. 

Yes, dear friends, you too will follow Jesus one day into death.  You will because of your sin.  You will age, you will weaken, and you will die.  But fear not, do not fear what you are about to suffer.  For you are following in the footsteps of Jesus, who promises, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of eternal life.”  You will leave this world, just as Christ did, but you shall follow him through death and into eternal life.  Your tomb will one day be empty.  Your grave will be opened, and Christ will give you eternal life, and will resurrect you with all the dead on that great and glorious day. 

Where Jesus goes, so too, dear friends, will you. 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.