Wednesday prior to Easter 7

 

1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11 – Christians in the world share Christ’s sufferings. Christians are to rejoice over the privilege of sharing Christ’s suffering, and, after suffering, God will restore and strengthen them. The exhortations to the newly baptized are continued in this passage. They are warned of impending persecution for being Christians, for at this time it was a crime to be a Christian. They are not to be surprised when suffering comes, but to rejoice that they suffer as Jesus did. When suffering comes, the new Christians are to be humble, trust in God’s care, be on guard against temptation, and to remember that suffering is over and God will strengthen them. They are to take comfort in the fact that suffering is experienced by the whole church.

Ask 25 people what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, and you’ll get a wide range of answers, most of them-I’d guess-centering around some form of prayer, the attempt at keeping the Commandments, and living a “good” life.

The one word you won’t hear is “persecution,” because “persecution” means personal suffering, unpopularity, and no doubt being “un-friended” on social media, which I suppose is the modern-day equivalent of beheading.

No Christian wants to be persecuted, yet all Christians make the claim inherent in what they call themselves, to be followers of Jesus, and it is Jesus who makes no bones about telling his disciples, that is those who truly follow him, that persecution is a given. You see it in Sunday's Gospel and Epistle lessons: you’ll be out of the synagogue, people will kill you believing they are offering God a sacrifice.

In 1 Peter 4, we read that suffering as a Christian is something to be cherished, moreover, that in his/her suffering, he should glorify God! Earlier on in John’s Gospel he tells his disciples that the world hates you, because it hated Christ; it will persecute you, because it persecuted Christ. Expect to be crucified, because your master was crucified and a servant is not greater than his/her master.

You’ll notice that this Sunday doesn’t have the same musical/liturgical bounce in its step as other Sundays have had. There was hardly a trace of pain in the Sundays leading up to this day, there were no tears shed as Christ ascended into heaven, in fact we rejoiced that our human nature too ascended with him!

On Easter 7, known as "Exaudy Sunday," there’s no “Christ is risen” high-fiving going on, in fact if you look at the introit, verse and collect, in addition to the readings, you’ll see the voices raised are pleas for God “to listen,” hence the term ‘exaudio,’ the Latin name that lends its name to this Sunday.

Persecution? Not among us, save for what we often do to each other. None of this, not a single thing, bears even the slightest resemblance to anything scriptural, let alone St. Peter’s words in this Sunday’s Epistle, whose call to be “self-controlled and sober-minded” is met with drooping eyelids, a yawn, and the notion that surely St. Peter meant the person sitting beside you.

A prayer for steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in the faith to the end and finally come to love everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

From text notes in preparation for Easter 7

Image of Psalm 32, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Collect for steadfast faith, Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Tuesday prior to Easter 7

 Easter 7 strands as a bridge between the Ascension of our Lord – His return back to the Father’s right hand and the sending of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

Today’s reading comes from Acts 1:12—26 – Christians in the world pray for the Spirit. 

At His ascension, Jesus promised to send the Spirit to the disciples. The risen Lord meets with His eleven disciples a short distance from Jerusalem where before ascending to His Father, He promises them the Spirit who will give them power to witness throughout the world. Then they returned to an upper room in Jerusalem to pray. With the disciples are Jesus’ brothers and mother. This is Mary’s last appearance in the New Testament — she is seen among the first Christians praying and waiting for the Spirit.  

The apostolic witness of Jesus’ cross and resurrection gathers disciples together “with one accord” into the one Body of Christ; “Devoting themselves to prayer.” They wait upon the Lord in “the upper room” the very place of His Holy Supper.

Interesting, the last mention of Joseph (Jesus’ earthly guardian) we find in Scripture is in the temple when Jesus was twelve years old. The last reference concerning Mary is mentioned here. Both Joseph and his bride Mary find themselves engaged in worship. Both find themselves in a sacred space, worshipping together with fellow believers.

As the body of Christ we stand ready to serve. To that end spend each day with your Savior in prayer. Reach out to your sisters and brothers in Christ.  Attend to the needs of others as you are able. Assist as you can. Serve others as Christ has cared for you.

Merciful God, hear our fervent prayer for all who suffer from the corona-virus. May those who are infected receive the proper treatment and the comfort of Your healing presence. Look with compassion on all who suffer because of this pandemic; relieve the pain of the sick; give strength to those who care for them. May their caregivers, families and neighbors be shielded from the onslaught of this disease.

Give solace to those who grieve the loss of loved ones. Protect and guide those who strive to find a cure, that their work may conquer the disease and restore communities to wholeness and health. Help us to rise above fear. We ask all this through the merits and mercies of Christ our Savior.

Grant, Lord, that the course of this world may be so governed by Your direction that Your church may rejoice in serving You in godly peace and quietness;   

Image of The Sacrament of the Altar copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Monday prior to Easter 7

[1]

 

This coming week will be the last Sunday in Easter. Easter 7 serves as a bridge between Christ’s glorious Ascension and Pentecost. We look back to the Ascension or forward to Pentecost.

As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! – Psalm 68:2

Psalm 68:1-10 - This is the Psalm suggested for the last Sunday in Easter. It appears to be an order of service for procession to the temple in Jerusalem. The Lord has brought salvation to Israel; Vv. 1-6 in the Exodus, Vv. 7-10 and the wilderness wanderings. Vv.11-14 in conquest of the Promised Land.

Throughout their pilgrimage and sojourn the Lord was directing them. He continues to guide and lead you acting on behalf of His people.

As David reflects on the Lord’s past dealings with His people he reminds us that God has always been marching down the ages of time; progressing in a steady and unswerving stride toward His goal.

No power on earth can stop Him. We tend to stew and fret when things don’t go our way. In actuality God is in control and steering the course of time toward His ultimate fulfillment; the sure and certain return of Christ.

His enemies are like smoke driven by the wind, which in time will totally disappear. What chance does a puff of smoke have of establishing its presence before a driving wind? What chance does wax have of maintaining its shape before the flames of the furnace? What chance does Israel’s foes have before a God who is marching steadily to Zion?  In short, the Lord of the universe has promised to order your days and direct your path.

David praised God for His direction and His protection. As witness God’s hand of direction and protection in your life your response should be to praise Him.

A prayer for guidance in our calling: Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but on that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.[2]

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[1] Lift High the Cross, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] Collect for Guidance in our Calling, Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

Easter 7 Series A study notes

 

Acts 1:12–26

1 Peter 4:12–19; 5:6–11

John 17:1–11

Our Lord Jesus Is with Us in the Upper Room of His Church on Earth 

On the night when He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus prayed for His apostles and His Church on earth. “The hour” had come when the Father would glorify His Son by the cross (John 17:1). Through the shedding of His blood, He would bring forgiveness for the sins of the world, and in His resurrection and ascension He would unite all Christians with the Father “that they may be one” with God (John 17:11). He manifested His name to the apostles and gave them the words of the Father to speak in His name. The apostolic witness of His cross and resurrection (Acts 1:21–22) gathers disciples together “with one accord” into the one Body of Christ (Acts 1:14). “Devoting themselves to prayer,” they wait upon the Lord in “the upper room” (Acts 1:13–14), the place of His Holy Supper. Strengthened by the Gospel, Christians bear the cross of Christ in patience and peace, rejoicing to share in His suffering, in order that they “may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13).

Ask 25 people what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, and you’ll get a wide range of answers, most of them-I’d guess-centering around some form of prayer, the attempt at keeping the Commandments, and living a “good” life. 

The one word you won’t hear is “persecution,” because “persecution” means personal suffering, unpopularity, and no doubt being “un-friended” on social media, which I suppose is the modern-day equivalent of beheading.

No Christian wants to be persecuted, yet all Christians make the claim inherent in what they call themselves, to be followers of Jesus, and it is Jesus who makes no bones about telling his disciples, that is those who truly follow him, that persecution is a given. You see it in Sunday's Gospel and Epistle lessons: you’ll be out of the synagogue, people will kill you believing they are offering God a sacrifice.

In 1 Peter 4, we read that suffering as a Christian is something to be cherished, moreover, that in his/her suffering, he should glorify God! Earlier on in John’s Gospel he tells his disciples that the world hates you, because it hated Christ; it will persecute you, because it persecuted Christ. Expect to be crucified, because your master was crucified and a servant is not greater than his/her master.

You’ll notice that this Sunday doesn’t have the same musical/liturgical bounce in its step as other Sundays have had. There was hardly a trace of pain in the Sundays leading up to this day, there were no tears shed as Christ ascended into heaven, in fact we rejoiced that our human nature too ascended with him!

On Easter 7 "Exaudy Sunday" there’s no “Christ is risen” high-fiving going on, in fact if you look at the introit, verse and collect, in addition to the readings, you’ll see the voices raised are pleas for God “to listen,” exaudio, the Latin name that lends its name to this Sunday.

Persecution? Not among us, save for what we do to each other. None of this, not a single thing, bears even the slightest resemblance to anything scriptural, let alone St. Peter’s words in today’s Epistle, whose call to be “self-controlled and sober-minded” is met with drooping eyelids, a yawn, and the notion that surely St. Peter meant the person sitting beside you.

John 17:1-11

The High Priestly Prayer

John 17:1

Ταῦτα ἐλάλησεν Ἰησοῦς, καὶ ἐπάρας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶπεν· Πάτερ, ἐλήλυθεν ἡ ὥρα· δόξασόν σου τὸν υἱόν,  ἵνα ὁ υἱὸς δοξάσῃ σέ, 

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 

John17:2

καθὼς ἔδωκας αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν πάσης σαρκός, ἵνα πᾶν ὃ δέδωκας αὐτῷ [e]δώσῃ αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.

since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 

John 17:3 

αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ αἰώνιος ζωὴ ἵνα γινώσκωσι σὲ τὸν μόνον ἀληθινὸν θεὸν καὶ ὃν ἀπέστειλας Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  

John 17:4 

ἐγώ σε ἐδόξασα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τὸ ἔργον [f]τελειώσας ὃ δέδωκάς μοι ἵνα ποιήσω· 

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 

 John 17:5 

καὶ νῦν δόξασόν με σύ, πάτερ, παρὰ σεαυτῷ τῇ δόξῃ ᾗ εἶχον πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι παρὰ σοί.

And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:6

Ἐφανέρωσά σου τὸ ὄνομα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις οὓς [g]ἔδωκάς μοι ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου. σοὶ ἦσαν κἀμοὶ αὐτοὺς ἔδωκας, καὶ τὸν λόγον σου τετήρηκαν.

I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

John 17:7

νῦν ἔγνωκαν ὅτι πάντα ὅσα [i]δέδωκάς μοι παρὰ σοῦ εἰσιν·

Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 

John 17:8 

ὅτι τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἔδωκάς μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον καὶ ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς ὅτι παρὰ σοῦ ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας.

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 

John 17:9 

ἐγὼ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐρωτῶ· οὐ περὶ τοῦ κόσμου ἐρωτῶ ἀλλὰ περὶ ὧν δέδωκάς μοι, ὅτι σοί εἰσιν,

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 

John 17:10 

καὶ τὰ ἐμὰ πάντα σά ἐστιν καὶ τὰ σὰ ἐμά, καὶ δεδόξασμαι ἐν αὐτοῖς.

All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.  

John 17:11 

καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ [l]αὐτοὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ εἰσίν, κἀγὼ πρὸς σὲ ἔρχομαι. πάτερ ἅγιε, τήρησον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ᾧ δέδωκάς μοι, ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν καθὼς ἡμεῖς.

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

Looking forward to the book of Romans in the non-festival calendar of the Church-year.

1:1-7 Gospel greeting

1:8-15 Thanksgiving

1:16-17 Paul's theme: "The righteous person shall live by faith"

1:18-32 The unrighteous will die

Grothe -

1:1-7 prescription

1:8-17 Exordium

1:18-21 wrath on all, without excuse

Passages of note

Romans 1:26-17 - Theme or Thesis of Romans (Romans 1:19-20) - natural knowledge of God will not save; these attributes are not comforting.

Romans 1:26-27 - current debate concerning homosexuality. A repeat continuation of the OT, there is an argument from nature, the biological components fit. Notice the law component "God gave them up" is spoken three times in this section. 

Details of the text

:9 - oath and the "all"

"at every time of prayer" rather than "unceasingly" Paul was praying for them at a specific time (prayer office) of day. Corporate prayer in the Divine Service not individual devotional time. Not a newfound "individual time" with Jesus.

:10 - "if somehow" - "uncertainty and submissiveness to the Divine will" (Grothe, pg.30)

         "Succeed in coming to you" (ESV) Note word for "road"

Note the passive

Note Paul's desire to visit Rome recorded in Acts 19:21

:11 - "spiritual gift" No particular gift is mentioned. Only place in the NT where these two words appear together. Note list in 12:6-8

:12 - "This is" result rather than purpose. "Through the faith of one another" - not necessarily referring to "saving faith in the Gospel"

:13 - Paul's intention to visit in the middle voice. "Harvest" or "fruit" - as new covenant or growth of believers? (Grothe argues new converts.)

:14 -"sociological" rather than "ethnic"- differences class, education, status. Note obligation to connection to 1:2 "slave

:15 - "So" as "consequence" resulting from his charge as an apostle. "According to me" is this Paul's version of the gospel, or Paul's eagerness.

:16 - "Not Ashamed" counter to those who might think Paul hasn't come out of shame. "Gospel" refer to as "news of victory".

- Jew and Greek equality and priority.

:17 - "from faith to faith" "faith from start to finish" (Grothe pg. 33) "from the faithfulness of God" and into faith as the faith of the believer. (Grothe pg.34)

"Righteous by faith will live" or "righteous will live by faith."

-The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

-ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

-Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The Resurrection of our Lord’© WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

-LCMS Lectionary notes © 2018

-Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing

Saturday prior to Easter 6

[1]

The most enduring symbol of the Lutheran Reformation is the seal that Luther himself designed to represent his theology. By the early 1520s, this seal begins to appear on the title page of Luther’s works.

 

Here is how Luther himself explained its meaning:

 

First, there is a black cross in a heart that remains its natural color. This is to remind me that it is faith in the Crucified One that saves us. Anyone who believes from the heart will be justified (Romans 10:10). It is a black cross, which mortifies and causes pain, but it leaves the heart its natural color. It doesn’t destroy nature, that is to say, it does not kill us but keeps us alive, for the just shall live by faith in the Crucified One (Romans 1:17). The heart should stand in the middle of a white rose. This is to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace—it puts the believer into a white, joyous rose. Faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). This is why the rose must be white, not red. White is the color of the spirits and angels (cf. Matthew 28:3; John 20:12). This rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that a joyful spirit and faith is a beginning of heavenly, future joy, which begins now, but is grasped in hope, not yet fully revealed. Around the field of blue is a golden ring to symbolize that blessedness in heaven lasts forever and has no end. Heavenly blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and better than any possessions, just as gold is the most valuable and precious metal.

 

(From: Letter from Martin Luther to Lazarus Spengler, July 8, 1530 [WA Br 5:445]; tr. P. T. McCain)

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[1] Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things

Friday prior to Easter 6

[1]

Soli Deo Gloria – To God alone be the glory!

God’s glory alone – not your praise, your good intentions or your works.

At the center of this Christian faith is the understanding that a sinner is justified by grace alone (sola gratia) through faith alone (sola fide) for the sake of Christ alone (solus Christus), a truth revealed to us in Scripture alone (sola Scriptura).

Today we review a fifth and final key term – to the glory of God alone! Glory belongs to God. Alone! God’s glory is the central motivation for salvation, not improving the lives of people—though that is a wonderful by product. Jesus is not a means to an end—He is the means and our glorious end.

The goal of all of life is to give glory to God alone: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).  God only knows what we will meet in the next day, week, month or the next 365 days. But of this we can be certain the God who created this earth will continue to sustain it. What the Father did not create He could not save. And save us He has done. He sent forth Jesus our dear redeemer to pay our random and set us free. This story, this message, this proclamation is what has changed us. With the Lord begin your task. And in all things – to God be the glory!

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[1] Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Thing

 

Thursday prior to Easter 6

[1]

Solus Christus - Through Christ alone

There is no other mediator – The latest spiritual craze will be yesterday’s news! Of course, not until after they endorse your check for all the stuff you bought at the last well hyped, over-rated event someone promoted.

Today we focus on the centrality of Christ. In other words, at the center of all that we do is Jesus! Our focus is on Christ and Christ alone.

God has given the ultimate revelation of himself to us by sending Jesus Christ. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:15. Only through God’s gracious self-revelation in Jesus do we come to a saving and transforming knowledge of God. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.-1 Timothy 1:5.

Because God is holy and all humans are sinful and sinners, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- 1 John 1:1;

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” -Hebrews 7:25; “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” - Romans 8:34.

Neither religious rituals nor good works mediate between God and us. ”And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." -Acts 4:12 by which a person can be saved other than the name of Jesus. “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,” -Hebrews 7:23. Only Jesus’ sacrificial death alone can atone for sin. Christ is the center of our faith. - SOLUS CHRISTUS we are redeemed by Christ alone!

Amidst the brokenness of our lives. Amidst the power structures and manipulation. The violence. Racism. The hurt. Comes the Christ.  Who breaks in. Who shares our flesh. Who carries our burdens. Who bears our sins. Who will suffer the scars of evil. Who exchanges our shame for His glory.

And calls us to be the very light of the world.-A light that is not ours but His.  Gifted to us. For us to undermine the darkness. Which cannot stand against it.

St. Paul would remind us,” So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” –Galatians 6:10

________________

Did you know… that Time magazine once declared Henry Ford “the soybean’s best friend”? In the midst of the Great Depression when grain crops were failing, animal feeders discovered that livestock fed on an oil-rich soybean diet bulked up quickly. To Ford, it made perfect sense to subsidize research into the uses of farm products. Numerous auto parts were made from petroleum-based plastic, and of course, all of Ford’s engines ran on diesel and gasoline refined from petroleum crude. “If we want the farmer to be our customer,” he said, “we must find a way to be his customer.”

Ford authorized dramatically expanding the agricultural laboratory in Greenfield Village at Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. To encourage production, he made 400 Fordson tractors available for free use to Michigan farmers and offered gas and diesel at a penny per gallon – less than a quarter of what it cost at the pump. He bragged, “There is a bushel of soya beans in every Ford car,” in Fortune magazine.  Farmers put more than 35,000 acres of land into growing soybeans, and Ford bought their entire output as promised.

Ford even switched the company commissary over to baked goods made with soy flour and ice cream made with soy milk. In the spring of 1935, farmers planted soybeans in record numbers. In preparation for the coming harvest, Ford spent $5 million to construct his own soybean mill with solvent extraction at the Flagship River Rouge plant in Dearborn – and boasted that he had jumpstarted demand for soybeans nationwide.

That year roughly 70 million bushels would be harvested. In the absolute depths of the Great Depression, soybeans were hailed as a godsend. Cargill, which specialized in milling grains as feed for livestock producers eagerly built new soybean-producing plants, along the rivers and the Great Lakes from Minneapolis to Chicago, where the great stockyards were buying unprecedented quantities of soybean meal as animal feed.

 –Read this fascinating book, “This Blessed Earth” by Ted Genoways

 “A universal story of family farmers and all they’re up against.” – Willie Nelson

 

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[1] Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things