Sunday, October 31, 2010

Reformation


The reformations under Hezekiah and Josiah foretold Jesus' cleansing of the temple. Jesus' cleansing foretold his ultimate cleansing by his own death and resurrection. But the kingdom of heaven still finds itself situated in a fallen world, and so the encroachments of evil still require periodic reformations. The tumultuous fourth century's reformations gave us the Nicene Creed; the seven ecumenical councils each could be seen as a kind of spring cleaning.

The sixteenth century reformation was another, in a long string of them.

So the Lutherans who came to America to avoid a forced union and compromise under the Prussian king found themselves in the midst of another reformation.

And what of today? Churches that call themselves Lutheran are ordaining homosexuals. How in the world could we join with them?

And even among us: can we call ourselves churches of the reformation if we still have those among us who don't know what sits on the altar? The sacrament was at the heart of the teachings of our Lutheran fathers. And this is one reason we have a tabernacle built here: we want everyone to know what we believe. Or again, can we call ourselves children of the reformation if we have rock bands and entertainment going on in our places that are supposed to be holy? Or again, what are we to make of the fact that some 300 of our own churches are vacant, but not calling a pastor? The church needs another reformation.

But how to begin? Our newly elected Synodical president has pointed out that no great movement in the church has ever begun without repentance. We need the reformation to begin with ourselves, our hearts. Indeed the first of the 95 theses is this: When our Lord said 'repent', he meant that the entire life of the Christian must be one of repentance.

We must rededicate ourselves to turning from our own sins, to the Lord Jesus and his mercy, and to resolving that he is all we need: take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife; let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won; the kingdom ours remaineth.

Here's the audio of the sermon.

And here's the audio of our 25 minute radio program, on the reformation.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Two sermons on the Image of Caesar and the image of God

Two sermons this week, on St. Matthew 22:15-22, one from Sunday, and the other from Tuesday morning. (I never preach the same sermon twice. How could I? I don't write them down.)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Of Mary Was Our Lord and God

New hymn introduced at Oktoberfest Mass:

The audio is here.

The text is here:
Of Mary Was Our Lord and God

Stanzas 1-6 Burnell F Eckardt, 2010
Stanza 7 John A. L. Riley, 1906

1 Of Mary was our Lord and God
Conceived, from woman’s flesh and blood,
Who knew no man, a virgin pure:
The second Eve bears Eden’s Cure.

2 As woman once brought forth from man
Was first to sin, and so was banned,
Now Man is born from her, and He
Restores her lost integrity.

3 She cradles her beloved Son—
The Son of God, thrice holy One.
So small is He, so low His birth
Who cradles all in heav’n and earth.

4 Serene He lies at Mary’s breast.
Who is Himself eternal Rest
O holy blest nativity,
How wondrous is this mystery!

5 And in her motherhood we find
A pattern tranquil, meek, and kind
Reflected in her sorr’wing eyes,
The hope of heav’nly Paradise.

6 To woman now is giv’n a place
Of honor, dignity and grace
She bears the Lord, so shall she be
Blest lady for eternity.

7 O higher than the cherubim
More glorious than the seraphim
Thou bearer of th’eternal Word
Most gracious, magnify the Lord.

8 All glory to the Father be
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
Forever and forevermore. Amen.

Distribution chorale

This brief audio file is of the choir singing "Blessed Be That Maid Mary" during the distribution at Mass for Oktoberfest. You can hear the distribution going on while the choir sings, "born was he of her body . . ." Nice.

Dorcas, Lydia, and Phoebe

Here's another sermon, from Sunday night at Oktoberfest, on Dorcas, Lydia, and Phoebe.

The Image of God

Today's sermon, on St. Matthew 22:15-22 in which Jesus points out that the tribute money bears the image and superscription of Caesar, muses on the meaning of the superscription and image of God which Jesus restores to humanity. To listen, click here.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Scaer at Oktoberfest

Finally getting around to uploading some stuff from Oktoberfest. Here's the Gospel and Dr. David P. Scaer's sermon for the Motherhood B.V.M.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Friday, October 01, 2010

Michaelmas

The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels was Wednesday. The sermon.