A Shepherd's Story

St. Matthew, Apostle

Yesterday at Trinity we observed the minor festival named for the tax collector-turned apostle Matthew. Since it fell on a Sunday this year and since it is year A in the three year lectionary series (and I've been preaching on the gospels), it seemed good to take this opportunity. It was a little refreshing to switch to red paraments during this long green season. But it was especially interesting to think a little about Matthew's perspective in writing a Gospel account. We don't hear really anything else about Matthew except that he was a tax collector (something Matthew always makes sure to point out). In recent weeks we've seen God's generosity in the parable of the workers in the vineyard, God's complete forgiveness in the parable of the unforgiving servant, God's concern for any one sinner who goes astray in Mt 18. I think studying the call of Matthew helps explain why Matthew would write these things. Jesus had shown this same concern, forgiveness, and extreme generosity to Matthew. 

As a side note, I don't think I've ever been able to use the proper preface for "minor festivals" before. As we give thanks to God for the example of faith of believers from the past, it gives new meaning to the words "therefore with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven..."

The Word Became Flesh

The Gospel for Christmas Day is John 1:1–14. It ends, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

It's one of those texts that is so simple (grammatically), but could hardly be more profound and deep. One of my professors from college once remarked that sometimes a preacher might be tempted to just read the text and, because he couldn't possibly add anything to the text, simply tell the congregation, "Just sit there for 20 minutes and think about that." What it's describing is a miracle and a mystery that we will never fully grasp this side of heaven. This mystery is the message of Christmas Day. God became a true human being in the flesh in order to save us.

What really got me this year was the privilege we had to confess our faith in this truth and receive the benefits of it when we celebrated the Lord's Supper on Christmas morning. At Christmas, God stoops down into real, earthly life with real flesh and blood. When the shepherds came to see the Savior, there they saw a real baby that they could touch and see. Jesus really suffered in his body and really shed his blood. And Jesus really gives that same body and blood in the Supper.

So I'm not sure which truth assures us of which. Maybe the incarnation assures us of Jesus' real presence in the Sacrament (for if he did not take on flesh, how could his body be there?). Or maybe his promise to be really present in the Sacrament assures us that Jesus really did take on our flesh and blood. Maybe both. But either way, you can see that these two naturally belong together.

Many churches do not celebrate the Sacrament on high festivals like Christmas and Easter. I suspect that the two most common reasons are because of the large number of visitors who come on those days and because of the length it adds to the service. But I think another (unstated) reason is simply that sometimes we miss the deep connection between the truths of these  festivals and the truth of the Sacrament. In a way, the supper is like God's ultimate visual aid and illustration and application of the truths preached in the sermon. It's like God's way of saying, "Now, see, the things you just heard in the sermon are really true. It's so real you can taste and see the proof of it. And I've given it for you. It's true for everyone, but I want to make sure that you know that I did it for you."

I counted it as the highest privilege to receive and administer this greatest of gifts on this highest of days.

Come, Lord Jesus

This Advent our midweek services followed the theme, "Come, Lord Jesus." The point was that in Advent there are three ways in which we observe Jesus' coming to us. He came the first time in the flesh, as a descendant of the woman (Eve) as the fulfillment of God's promise. Now he comes to us regularly in his Word and Sacrament. But he has also promised to come again at the end of time.

I preached last Wednesday (was that really just a week ago?) for the final midweek service. I used Revelation 22, the last chapter in the Bible, for that service. I just love the way that chapter wraps up the Bible and sets the stage for life until Jesus comes. Our whole lives (not just during Advent) hinge on Jesus' words "Behold, I am coming soon." And so in a sense, our whole lives are one long Advent season, and our constant prayer during this time is "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." Our "Amen" is our confession of faith that we believe he is coming for us, just as he said.

Over the past several years I have come to enjoy Advent more and more each season. Like I've said before, it really heightens the celebration of Christmas when you've been waiting in Advent. It gets sort of challenging when you live in a world and society that can't wait for anything. But Christians are by definition "waiters". We have to, because Jesus said he is coming. And really, what greater joy can we have but to wait upon the sure promise of Jesus? Christmas proves he keeps his promises. His Word and Sacrament show him keeping his promises.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Waiting for Christmas

Over the past several years I have become more and more intent to wait through Advent. I have tried hard to wait for Christmas until Christmas. I separate the Advent music from Christmas music in my iTunes library. My family is gracious enough to indulge me and we wait until the last week before Christmas to put up our Christmas tree. I actually even try to avoid the actual Christmas account (unless I'm prepping for something). I want to wait. I want to celebrate Advent and watch and wait and prepare.

I sometimes have to explain or defend myself for this. I have to explain that I'm not some kind of Scrooge. I explain that what I've discovered is that when I celebrate Advent, then I can really celebrate Christmas. The longer I wait for Christmas, the richer the message of Christmas becomes, when it finally comes.

Several years ago, when Sara was teaching in Kewaskum and I was at the Seminary, I had the opportunity to sit right in the front during their children's Christmas Eve service (on Christmas Eve). We sat in the first row not occupied by the kids. This was one of the first years that I consciously "postponed" Christmas. So that year the first time I really paid attention to the Christmas story, especially those precious words in Luke chapter 2, it came from the mouths of children. There they were, just a few feet from me, and they recited their parts—parts that God first assigned to prophets and apostles and even angels. But here God has given this message also to children, ready and eager to proclaim it—to me. And it just about took my breath away. It's something so simple that a child could recite it. But at the same time it is something that no human can ever comprehend. In fact, the only way we can really grasp it is with the eyes of faith—as a child.

This morning our school kids rehearsed our own Christmas service parts all together for the first time. And even though our service is not on Christmas Eve (it's the day before), I already know that it will take my breath away. I'll do my best to wait for it, and when it finally comes, I'll be glad that the kids are saying it. Because I don't think I could make it through. The truth is, over the past several years I've found that I can hardly make it through the reading of the Christmas Eve Gospel. "Today...a Savior has been born to you." It's as though my heart can't quite take it all in. Really? For me? And I feel like I need to stop and breath and try to absorb it.

So the kids will say the words for us, so that the rest of us can just try to take it all in. I'm looking forward to that. Let me know in the comments what you appreciate or remember most about children's Christmas services.

St. Andrew Festival

November 30 is the minor festival of St. Andrew the Apostle. (It's also my sister-in-law Abby's birthday.) Our Andrew was very excited when it gave me the opportunity to remind him that there is an Andrew in the Bible. I guess that's really the value of all the festival days on the Christian calendar. They give the opportunity to turn to Scripture, see those characters that played their role in the story of salvation, but more importantly, to see ourselves there, too.

Andrew doesn't seem to play as large a role as his brother Peter, but it was Andrew who brought Peter to Jesus. And I love how automatic it seems for Andrew to do that. "The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus" (Jn 1:40-42). Perhaps we might also give thanks to God for those people who "brought us to Jesus" (perhaps they were named Andrew, too).

All praise, O Lord, for Andrew,
The first to welcome you,
Whose witness to his brother
Named you Messiah true.
May we with hearts kept open
To you throughout the year,
Confess to friend and neighbor
Your advent ever near.