A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith

"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Time in the Word - Pentecost 4- Proper 7

The Word of Christ Bestows Peace on His Creation through His Forgiveness of Sins

In his anguish and affliction, Job must be reminded that, as a finite creature, he is in no position to question the Maker of the heavens and the earth. Job’s “words without knowledge” are unable to penetrate the wisdom of the Lord (Job 38:1–2). For the Lord has “prescribed limits” and “set bars and doors,” so that “here shall your proud waves be stayed” (Job 38:9–11). That’s how He humbles us unto repentance. But also by His powerful Word He calms the “great windstorm” and the waves “breaking into the boat.” He does not permit the chaos of this fallen world to overwhelm us or bring us to despair. By the Word of His Gospel, He speaks “Peace” to us, which bestows the “great calm” of His New Creation (Mark 4:37–39). Therefore, do not be afraid, and do not receive this grace of God in vain. “Now is the favorable time,” and “now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:1–2).

Collect for Pentecost 4: Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for the Nativity of St John the Baptist (24June): Almighty God, through John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, You once proclaimed salvation. Now grant that we may know this salvation and serve You in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for Peace: O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; 

Prayer for Peace: Almighty and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by whose Spirit all things are governed, by whose providence all things are ordered, the God of peace and the author of all concord, grant us, we implore You, Your heavenly peace and concord that we may serve You in true fear, to the praise and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 

Prayer for one suffering from anxiety, apprehension, or fear: O most loving Father, You want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing You, and to lay all our cares on You, knowing that You care for us. Strengthen [name] in [his/her] faith in You. Grant that the fears and anxieties of this mortal life may not separate [him/her] from Your love shown to us in Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 

Prayer at the close of the day: Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. Abide with us and with Your whole Church. Abide with us at the end of the day, at the end of our life, at the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with Your holy Word ad Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair, the night when death draws near. Abide with us and with all the faithful, now and forever.

Monday, 18 June 2012—Psalm 107:29–32; Antiphon, Psalm 107:28—This psalm recounts many of the things that the LORD has done for His people, and exhorts them to praise Him for them. In the section appointed for Sunday’s Introit, the LORD is given praise for manifesting His might by delivering His people from the storms of nature. This sets the theme for the day, where all the readings point to the authority of the Creator over His creation, and His continuing governance.

Tuesday, 19 June 2012—Psalm 124—This Song of Ascents, that pilgrims sang on their way up to Jerusalem, praises the Lord for His deliverance of His people from catastrophes of nature. Twice, it is sung, If the Lord had not been on our side…Those who sing the psalm recognize that their only hope of salvation is in the Lord. We echo this in the daily offices, such as Matins and Vespers, and when we confess our sins in the Divine Service, when we repeat verse eight: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Wednesday, 20 June 2012—Job 38:1–11—At the end of the book of Job, God answers Job, who has demanded the opportunity to interrogate Him for the calamities which have befallen Job. God answers with an interrogation of His own: Who is Job to question the Creator of all things? The Lord, who laid the foundation of the earth and determined its measurements, who prescribed limits for the sea, knows what He is doing. How can the creature second-guess the Creator?

Thursday, 21 June 2012—2 Corinthians 6:1–13—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul speaks of his experiences as Christ’s Ambassador of Reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20). He tells of these things not to boast, but because what people see in the messenger affects the credibility of the message. In verse 6, he speaks of the reason he was able to withstand these hardships and still bring forth the fruits of righteousness: it is solely the work of God, especially the Holy Spirit. God, the Creator of all things, is also able to create the New Man, who lives before God in righteousness and purity,

Friday, 22 June 2012—Mark 4:35–41—Terrified by a storm which came upon them quickly on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were powerless to escape it or overcome it. Jesus, however, through whom all things were created (John 1:3), is able to calm the seas by the command of His voice. After all, He is God, who brought all things into existence by speaking, ‘Let there be…’ (Genesis 1)

Saturday, 23 June 2012—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (LSB 715), uses the imagery of a stormy sea to represent the trials and tribulations which are part of our lives as long as we live in this fallen, sinful world. But Jesus is able to still those seas, as He did the Sea of Galilee, and bring comfort to us. True comfort can come only through Jesus, for He is our Salvation.

The Revd Jeffrey M. Keuning, Pastor wrote this week’s “Time in the Word”. He serves St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Casey, and Zion Lutheran Church, Dexter, Iowa

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Artwork by Ed Riojas © WELS for personal and congregational use 

Lectionary summary on front page from the LCMS Commission on Worship

Pentecost 3 - Proper 6

June 17, 2012

Proper 6 –

Mark 4:26-34

Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark learn and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When there is life there is growth. Even after physical growth stops, human beings need to keep on growing intellectually and in other ways. Growth is necessary to experience life at its fullest. Growth is always a feature of God’s kingdom and specifically of the Word of the kingdom. The parables in Mark 4, beginning with the parable of the sower, focus on God’s Word. The text points out that the Word of God Grows.

I.             The Word grows gradually.

A.            As the seed is sown.

1.            Both pastors and lay Christians sow the seed of the Word.

2.            The sowing goes on wherever God’s Word is proclaimed, preached, taught and shared.  Gradual sowing is necessary for gradual growth.

B.            As the plant develops.

1.            We can prepare the ground and nurture the plant but the seed grows of itself, mysteriously.

2.            We may sometimes get discouraged because the growth is so gradual, but growth there will be present. Therefore, we can relax and let the Word work according to its own schedule.

Transition: While learning to be patient with growth that is gradual, we must also face up to the fact that.

II.            The Word grows inconspicuously.

A.            The Word is as inconspicuous as a mustard seed in the beginning stages of its growth.

1.            The great and the powerful in Christ’s day gave little notice to the Word growing in their midst.

2.            Those who wield power and influence in the world today are indifferent for the most part to the growth of the Word.

B.            So inconspicuous is the Word’s growth that we are often not aware of anything taking place.

1.            The sinners with whom Christ associated and the disciples whom He called often gave little evidence of spiritual growth.

2.            We cannot see faith, nor do we always see the various stages of growth. Conversions are not necessarily spectacular, nor do we always perceive growth in love and patience in ourselves and in others.

Transition: At the same time, there is evidence of rather impressive growth.

III.           The Word grows impressively.

A.            The Word that was sown in a little corner of the world has spread to many nations.

1.            The Word has produced a great bush with large branches in which all sorts of people find refuge and rest.

2.            The worldwide church attest to the growth power of the Word.

B.            The Word will continue to grow until it produces a harvest.

1.            We shall see this harvest on the Last Great Day.

2.            Then there will be a great gathering of ripened grain, of redeemed souls, for the heavenly garner.

We need never discount the power of God’s Word. The Word of God grows gradually and inconspicuously, but also impressively.

Artwork by Ed Riojas, © Higher Things

Wheat is ready for harvest pray for our farmers 

Time in the Word Pentecost 3 - Proper 6

The Cross of Christ Is the Tree of Life, Which Bears Abundant Fruit after Its Own Kind

The Parables of our Lord convey the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to those who are “able to hear it,” that is, “to His own disciples,” who are catechized to fear, love and trust in Him by faith (Mark 4:33–34). He “scatters seed on the ground,” which “sprouts and grows” unto life, even as “He sleeps and rises” (Mark 4:26–27). “On the mountain heights of Israel,” He plants a young and tender twig, and it becomes “a noble cedar.” Indeed, His own Cross becomes the Tree of Life, under which “every kind of bird” will dwell, and in which “birds of every sort will nest” (Ezek 17:22–25). His Cross is our resting place, even while now in mortal bodies, we “groan, being burdened” (2 Cor 5:1–4). Yet faith we live for God in Christ, who for our sake “died and was raised” (2 Cor 5:15). We know that, in His resurrected body, “we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor 5:1).

Collect for Pentecost 3: Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for the Church: Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; 

Prayer for the mission of the Church and her missionaries: Almighty and gracious God, You want all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Magnify the power of the Gospel in the hearts of Your faithful people that Your Church may spread the good news of salvation. Protect, encourage, and bless all missionaries who proclaim the saving cross that Christ, being lifted up, may draw all people to Himself, 

Prayer for those outside the Church: Almighty and everlasting God, You desire not the death of a sinner but that all would repent and live. Hear our prayers for those outside the Church. Take away their iniquity, and turn them from their false gods to You, the living and true God. Gather them into Your holy Church to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 

Prayer for persecuted Christians: Lord Jesus Christ, before whom all in heaven and earth shall bow, grant courage that Your children may confess Your saving name in the face of any opposition from a world hostile to the Gospel. Help them to remember Your faithful people who sacrificed much and even faced death rather than dishonor You when called upon to deny the faith. By Your Spirit, strengthen them to be faithful and to confess You boldly, knowing that You will confess Your own before the Father in heaven, with whom You and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 11 June 2012—Psalm 92:12–15; Antiphon, Psalm 92:1—This ‘Psalm for the Sabbath’ is a hymn of praise, in which the psalmist gives thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love and faithfulness. He declares us righteous and makes us flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. From ancient times, even until to-day, Lebanon has been known for its tall strong cedars: Cedars from Lebanon were used in constructing the temple, and the cedar appears on Lebanon’s national flag. We who are planted in the house of the LORD are strong in the LORD like these trees of renown.

Tuesday, 12 June 2012—Psalm 1—Luther wrote that the psalter is the Bible in miniature. If so, then the opening six verses are the portal leading into a treasure-house of communion with God. Who is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners . . . but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His Law he meditates day in night? First, it is Christ. Secondly, it is all of us who have been incorporated into Christ—the holy Christian Church. The new man, created by Baptism, that comes forth daily and arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Wednesday, 13 June 2012—Ezekiel 17:22–24—Things looked bleak when Jerusalem fell and King Zedekiah died in exile (Ezekiel 17:11-21). Through the prophet Ezekiel, the LORD proclaims that He will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and…I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. This tender sprig will never be uprooted, for it is the promised Messiah, Jesus, who will be given the throne of His father David, and whose Messianic kingdom will be established forever.

Thursday, 14 June 2012—2 Corinthians 5:1–10—In Sunday’s epistle reading, St Paul looks forward to eternal life in heaven, when we shall live forever in our glorified bodies, no longer made frail by the ravages of sin. Paul has supreme confidence in what is to come, for his confidence rests, not in the whims of man, but in the surety of God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. The Christian, who lives by faith in the promises of the Lord, rejoices at the thought of being at home with the Lord.

Friday, 15 June 2012—Mark 4:26–34—These parables serve as both warning and encouragement to us. We have a rôle to play in the furtherance of God’s kingdom on earth by sharing the Good News of the Gospel with those around us, but we must never think that the triumph of the Kingdom is our triumph, for it is the Lord and His Word alone which are effective. But neither should we despair if the growth of the Lord’s Kingdom seems somehow unspectacular in our eyes. He alone is the Lord of the harvest (Mark 9:38); thus, we never cease praying “Thy Kingdom come” with patience and confidence.

Saturday, 16 June 2012—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid (LSB 500), is an eighth-century hymn written in praise of the Holy Spirit and the gifts He bestows on the Church. It first proclaims the Spirit as participating in the creation of all things, then testifies that He creates Christians by His gifts to us. The final stanza is a doxology: a hymn of praise to our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Lectionary summary on front page from the LCMS Commission on Worship

The Revd Jeffrey M. Keuning has written this week’s Time in the Word

Pentecost 2 - Proper 5

Proper 5

10 June 2012

Mark 3:20-35

Let the Evidence Stand

The gospels are a record of Jesus’ instruction to His disciples. Just as Jesus taught His disciples about the Father, so in turn, the disciples teach us about Jesus. The purpose of the gospels are to tell us who Jesus is and what He does. In writing his Gospel, Mark introduces you to Jesus.

Many opinions concerning Jesus’ person are common. Some proclaim Him a prophet, others a moral guide and compass. Some contend that He was crazy, and if not insane, possibly a man possessed. Still others saw Him as a man set on mysterious mission. Mark will tell us more concerning Jesus. By viewing His words and actions, Mark will say to us, “Let the evidence concerning Jesus stand.”

1.            The evidence shows that Jesus has defeated sin and Satan.

A.            Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness. When, for 40 days and nights He was tempted by    the Devil.

1.            Satan used all his wiles to stop Jesus’ mission of grace. He failed!

2.            We are comforted to know the strength of our Lord Jesus when we are tempted and confronted by our sin. We will be constantly tempted by the devil, world and flesh. When those times come, we look to Jesus who overcame for us and is the author and finisher of our faith. Don’t trust in yourself to tackle temptation. You will fall to temptation. Trust not in princes, they are but mortal. Trust in the LORD with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6)

B.            Jesus’ exorcisms are evidence that Satan is defeated.

1.            They show that the stronger Jesus has bound Satan.

2.            They show that Satan’s kingdom is coming to a defeated end.

C.            Jesus glorious resurrection proves that the victory over Satan is His. 

1.            Jesus’ death on the cross at Calvary destroyed sin, death, and the power of Satan. This all happened when Jesus cried from the cross, “It is finished!”

2.            His descent into Hell was public proof and the announcement of this victory.

3.            His glorious resurrection is convincing proof that the victory is His.

The evidence concerning Jesus is that He has defeated Satan. Because of this fact alone, He has the power to forgive and save.

2              The unforgivable sin suppresses the evidence about Jesus.

A.            We are comforted that no sin is too great to be forgiven.  Each of us sins against God and our neighbor terribly. Can they be forgiven? Satan would what you to doubt this. This is how he operates. In the beginning, he tempts us to think that any sin is but a trifle. But once you fall into sin, then he tempts to think it can’t be forgiven.

1.            Jesus’ perfect death paid the penalty of every sin.

2.            We can never sink so low that God’s love can’t be deeper. The Lord can never abandon you. The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot protect you.

B.            But why, then is the unforgivable sin deemed “unforgivable”?

1.            It denies the clear evidence concerning Jesus. (As demonstrated by the scribes in our text.) They refused to let Jesus be Jesus.  His name means “Savior”. They denied He had any power to save. The unforgivable sin is simply that. It is a denial of Jesus. It’s the statement that Jesus is not God. It is a denial that Jesus did not come to seek and save the lost. It is unforgivable because it is a claim that Jesus can no longer help you.

2.            It resists and refuses the Holy Spirit who alone can bring man to repentance and faith.

3.            It refuses to accept the clear evidence concerning Christ and His work.

4.            Blaspheming the Holy Spirit removes the chance for forgiveness; it refuses to let God be God.

Jesus has the power to forgive and save. As a result, He gives an open invitation to become a part of His family – the church.

3              Jesus’ family is evidence by doing God’s will.

A.            Membership and inclusion into this family is open to all.

1.            It is universal “Whoever…” v. 35 “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

2.            There are no distinct physical marks of who is a member. Membership is known only to God. That’s why we must always remember – the church is invisible because only God knows who are His.

B.            However, there is nonetheless evidence of such membership – doing the Father’s will.

1.            The Father’s will for us is to believe in Jesus. (John 5:39) You study[a] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,

2.            The Father’s will is to bring others into the kingdom. (Matthew 28:19-20) Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

3.            The Father’s will shall be self-evident. (Matthew 5:16, James 2:17) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Let the evidence, concerning Jesus, stand. May it be evident in your life.

Artwork by Ed Riojas, © Higher Things

Time in the Word - Pentecost 2

Jesus Has Defeated the Devil and Released Us from the Bondage of Sin and Death

The devil deceived us, enticing us to disregard and disobey the Word of God, and driving us to hide “from the presence of the Lord God.” But the Lord in His mercy promised a Savior, who would set Himself against the devil on our behalf (Gen 3:8–15). The “stronger Man” come, the incarnate Son of God, conceived and born of the Woman. He “first binds the strong man,” Satan, by atoning for the sins of the world, thereby removing the condemnation of the Law and the fear of death (Mark 3:27). Now He plunders the devil’s house by calling all men to repent. Though He appears to be “out of His mind” (Mark 3:21), He fulfills the will of God and makes of us His own brothers and sisters. Therefore, “we do not lose heart,” despite the suffering, sin and death that we experience in this fallen world. “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus.” By His grace, we are “being renewed day by day.” For the Gospel is daily bringing us into His presence, not for punishment, but for “an eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:14–17).

Collect for Pentecost 2: Almighty and eternal God, Your Son Jesus triumphed over the prince of demons and freed us from bondage to sin. Help us to stand firm against every assault of Satan, and enable us always to do Your will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for deliverance from sin: We implore You, O Lord, in Your kindness to show us Your great mercy that we may be set free from our sins and rescued from the punishments that we rightfully deserve; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Prayer for pardon, growth in grace, and divine protection: O Lord, our God, we acknowledge Your great goodness toward us and praise You for the mercy and grace that our eyes have seen, our ears have heard, and our hearts have known. We sincerely repent of the sins of this day and those in the past. Pardon our offenses, correct and reform what is lacking in us, and help us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Inscribe Your law upon our hearts, and equip us to serve You with holy and blameless lives. May each day remind us of the coming of the night when no one can work. In the emptiness of this present age keep us united by a living faith through the power of Your Holy Spirit with Him who is the resurrection and the life, that we may escape the eternal bitter pains of condemnation.

By Your Holy Spirit bless the preaching of Your Word and the administration of Your Sacraments. Preserve these gifts to us and to all Christians. Guard and protect us from all dangers to body and soul. Grant that we may with faithful perseverance receive from You our sorrows as well as our joys, knowing that health and sickness, riches and poverty, and all things come by permission of Your fatherly hand. Keep us this day under Your protective care and preserve us, securely trusting in Your everlasting goodness and love, for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord,

Monday, 4 June 2012—Psalm 28:7–9; Antiphon: Psalm 28:6—Sunday’s Introit is a portion of a psalm by David, who, in the midst of adversity, realizes that he is unable to protect and preserve himself. His salvation is dependent on the Lord. Though we may not be facing the kind of earthly enemies which David did, as sinners, the preaching of the Law shows us that we are unable to save ourselves from our enemies: the devil, the world, and even our own flesh. With David, we exult in the Lord, who has brought us salvation from the consequences of our sin and continues to protect us from our enemies.

Tuesday, 5 June 2012—Psalm 130—Psalm is a well-known penitential psalm. The superscript reads A Song of Ascents; that is, it was sung by pilgrims as they went up to Jerusalem for a festival observance. By the singing of this psalm, they reminded each other that, with the Lord, there is forgiveness, and encouraging one another to hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption.

Wednesday, 6 June 2012—Genesis 3:8–15—When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, their relationship with God their Creator changed entirely. No longer did they wish to be in His presence; like disobedient children, they sought to be anywhere but. Nevertheless, the Lord sought them out. And when He cursed the serpent and the devil who spoke through the serpent, He made sure Adam and Eve also heard the blessing—the promise of a Deliverer, one who would redeem them from the consequence of their sin: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. This promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Savior, who defeated the devil by His death on the cross, and claims us as His own.

Thursday, 7 June 2012—2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1—For the next several weeks, our Epistle readings will be taken from St Paul’s second letter to the Church at Corinth. This was a congregation which was beset by many problems; among them were false teachers in the congregation who questioned Paul’s authority and used the preaching of the Gospel solely for their own monetary benefit. It seems that they pointed to Paul’s hardships and tribulations as indicating his lack of authority. Paul looks past the physical and points to the saving message of the Gospel. That is what is important: the message, not the man. Paul looks forward to eternity in heaven, even as he knows that the Gospel will continue to be proclaimed.

Friday, 8 June 2012—Mark 3:20–35—Jesus faces opposition from His family, who think that He is delusional, and also—especially—from the religious leaders of His day, who accuse Him of being possessed by the devil. Jesus shows the illogic of their accusation, and then turns the tables: it is not He that is under the dominion of Satan, but they, for they have rejected the Deliverer promised in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15). The Holy Spirit is sent forth into the world to proclaim the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ; those who reject Him blaspheme the Holy Spirit, and consign themselves to everlasting punishment.

Saturday, 9 June 2012—How are we to withstand the evil schemes of the devil? The hymn of the day, Rise! To Arms! With Prayers Employ You (LSB #668), gives the answer: Pray to the Lord that He would give us the strength to withstand Satan. And so He has: we have the Word of God, the weapon glorious. The Word of God arms us for spiritual battle, for it tells of Christ, who has already won the victory.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

The Revd Jeffrey M. Keuning, Pastor St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Csey IA and Zion Lutheran Church., Decter, IA

Artwork by Ed Riojas, ©Higher Things

Trinity

Deuteronomy6:4-5
How many Gods do you have?

Most people in our society today claim to be monotheists – professing to worship only one God. Is this so?  In many respects, people in our world are for the most part polytheists. They are content worshiping many gods. They are devoted to the persons in their lives and their things. 

In many areas of our society today, a person’s choice of God is much akin to Baskin Robins™ - with 31 flavors – one for each day of the month. Our Old Testament lesson declares that God is one, and that no other god has any reality. What would this say to our world today?

I.                      What makes a god?

A.      The one to whom you are totally devoted that is your god. Whatever that may be – that is your god. Where your heart is - there your treasure will be.

B.      What is your “passion” – this is your “god”

II.                  What “gods” are available in our time? This is indeed a timely discussion for us to have. Especially today, when seated before us are our high school seniors. Across our nation, our young graduates will be tempted to follow other gods. What gods are they?

A.      The god of success –

1.      The American Dream still lives, they will be told, “and       you should live it.” However, what does it mean to live that dream?

2.      The one with the most toys wins!

3.      Spend everything on self.

B.      The god of contentment –

1.      We have never had it so good

2.      What we consider necessities others regard as luxuries – e.g. the average “welfare” family often has – color televisions, air conditioning, two cars, DVD players, a VCR, etc.

True, we need money to live and thrive. We need careers, and good paying jobs, and an educational system that will train and educate our youth.  But what is adequate compensation? What is your net worth? Is it determined by how much we have saved in the bank? God has given each of us talents, abilities and gifts, which we can use to serve others. This is what molds us as persons. We are called to be productive yet we must remember our Creator who has endowed us with His gifts, which enable us to make an impact in our families, our community and our parish.

The issue is not money but the love of money, which attaches itself to pangs of lust, and greed, which forces us to turn, our energies inward rather than outward. Greed and covetousness is what turns us to selfishness and self-centeredness.

C.      The god of ease –

1.     The refrain, “I keep working for the week-end” was the mantra of our time twenty years ago, and remains so even to this day.  

2.      Retire early –

3.      Become completely focused on self.

D.              The result of basing our life on one pleasure stacked on another is that we run out of experiences or we exhaust ourselves and find ourselves still empty, still seeking contentment, still searching for peace.

E.      We need this balance in our lives for without it we will be seeking contentment by going from one pleasurable experience followed by another. Yet never understanding and experiencing the true joy which only comes with having a relationship with the one true God.  

III.           If God is your one God, you must love Him totally - God lays His command to love, “upon your heart” – v.6

A.      It is not enough to know you are to love God, nor to understand investigate, or discuss the command. God is not to be analyzed, scrutinized, or dissected. He is totally “other”. He is beyond comprehension.  

B.      It is to be a matter of the heart. It involves your feelings, your emotions, and your will.

C.      Our faith dare not be only cerebral, with a mere intellectual understanding of God. It must get deep into the psyche so that the whole person responds in obedience to God’s command. We are to love God with the whole heart, mind, and soul.

CONCLUSION: The words of our text for this morning make up the Shema, the chief and basic confession of the Old Testament – that there is one God and He is to be worshiped totally. Though God manifests Himself in three persons – He is one essence. To love and worship God calls for us to believe that God is one and He is to be loved with one’s total being.

Artwork by Ed Riojas, ©Higher Things