Real Substance

I have recently been thinking about the lack of substance in the last presidential debates. Most of the responses to the questions reminded me more of sales pitches than deep explanations of why one view was better than the other. Here is an excerpt from an article, "Doing better on 'hard cases'" in the January 26, 2013 issue of World Magazine, by Marvin and Susan Olasky, quoting Amherst College political science professor Hadley Arkes: "Arkes recommends that pro-lifers pursue 'a strategy Abraham Lincoln used when he asked slave owners, why are you justified in making a slave of the black men? Is it because he is less intelligent than you? Ah, beware! The next white man who comes along, more intelligent than you, might enslave you. Is it because he is darker? Ah, beware again. The next white man who comes along with a complexion even lighter than yours may enslave you.' "We're simply making the same kind of principled argument, so we say, why is that offspring in the womb anything less than human? It doesn't speak yet? Neither do deaf/mutes. It doesn't yet have arms and legs? Well, other people lose arms and legs in the course of their lives without losing anything necessary to their standing as human beings."

Eternal Comfort

The Catechism: the Sacrament of Holy Baptism—Part I and II What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word. Which is that word of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “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.” [Matt. 28:19] What benefits does Baptism give? It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. Which are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” [Mark 16:16]

Epiphany: More Than Just the Wise Men

As we enter the season of Epiphany, inevitably someone will ask “What is Epiphany really all about? Is it just about remembering the Wise Men when they visited the Christ Child?” While the visitation of the Magi from the East is certainly part of the answer, there is more that can be said that will hopefully enrich our understanding of Epiphany, and why it is still an important part of the Church Year. Epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphaneia , which means “appearance” or “manifestation”.
In a sense, Epiphany is the final crescendo or climax of the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Counting forward from December 25th, it is also referred to as the Twelfth Day of Christmas. It extends from the traditional date of January 6th until the beginning of Lent. Like Easter and Christmas, Epiphany is an occasion for feasting in some cultures. If you've ever lived in a French-American Roman Catholic community in the deep south you may be familiar with the custom of baking a special “King's Cake” as part of a family observance of Epiphany.
As the name implies, one of the overarching themes during this season is “appearances” or “manifestations”. In our Scripture readings, this theme of appearances is initiated with the familiar story of the Wise Men from the East (Matthew 2:1-12); the appearance of the star which leads them to the newborn King of the Jews – the manifestation of God made flesh. During this season, this theme continues with the Baptism of Jesus, which is marked with a glorious manifestation of each Person of the Holy Trinity. The subsequent readings during Epiphany will vary from year to year, but generally include familiar passages such as excerpts from the Sermon on the Mount, the Calling of the Twelve, and the Wedding at Cana. These passages have an underlying thread that illustrates God's faithfulness by His coming and appearing before us for the purpose of teaching, nurturing, and caring for His
people as He traverses ultimately to the cross that awaits Him. The Epiphany season concludes with a reading about another manifestation of God that rivals the glory and majesty of the Lord's Baptism, with striking parallels: Christ's Transfiguration, as recorded in Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9. Again, the God-Man is glorified before some onlookers and the voice of the Father is heard again saying: “This is My beloved Son...”.
Our hymnody during Epiphany reflects this as well. Yes, we do sing of the visitation of the Wise Men, such as in “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here”, but there are several that speak of directly of the glorious manifestations of the Lord's baptism and the grace and mercy He offers us:
This the baptism that our Savior greatly longed to undergo
This the crimson cleansing needed so the world God's love might know
This the mission of Messiah as He stepped from Jordan's stream
He, the chosen and anointed Son of God, sent to redeem.
Jesus, Once with Sinners Numbered (LSB 404)

During this time in our services, we reply back to God with humble thanks and praise, as so beautifully illustrated in the Gradual for Epiphany, taken from Psalms 117 and 96:
Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is His steadfast love toward us
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts!

Whose Resolution?

Joy, O joy, beyond all gladness, Christ has done away with sadness! Hence, all sorrow and repining, For the Sun of Grace is shining! Refrain, O Rejoice, Ye Christians, Loudly, LSB 897 Happy New Year! Instead of focusing on myself, this hymn points me to the one I will spend all eternity with. That is something to rejoice about in the new year. Today is also Epiphany, when we remember that Christ was revealed as Savior for ALL races and nations of people when the Magi came from afar to visit him, led by the star. Indeed, the "Sun of Grace" shines for all people, shown by His sinless life, His innocent suffering and death on the cross and by His resurrection. He resolved to die for you. This new year, "Let every heart prepare Him room," as the well-known song, Joy to the World, proclaims. "The Lord has come," and will come again. Hallelujah!

Christmas Offense

"Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me' (Matthew 11:6). "Yea, truly blessed! For tie King and His Word, in which men should find great joy, are a stumbling-block for all the world. The world takes offense and is provoked by the Gospel of Christ, because it will not trust in the grace of God, but rather in its own works and merits. And again the world takes offense at Christ because He is so utterly poor and wretched. And again, that, as He carries His cross and lets Himself be hanged upon it, He admonishes His followers to take their cross and to follow Him through all manner of temptations and afflictions. To this the world is especially hostile. Thus is our dear Lord Christ everywhere in the world an annoying preacher. The Gospel will never fare otherwise. It is and it will be a message at which offense is taken, not by the lowly, but by the most saintly and most pious, the wisest and the mightiest on earth, as experience teaches us. Blessed are those who know and trust that it is truly the Word of God, for they are healed, and they are comforted and fortified against all such offense." ~Martin Luther

Reason to Rejoice!

"Come from on high to me; I can not rise to Thee. Cheer my wearied spirit, O pure and holy Child; Through Thy grace and merit, Blest Jesus, Lord most mild, Draw me unto Thee! Draw me unto Thee! ~Now Sing We, Now, Rejoice, verse 2; German and Latin text, 14th cent., Lutheran Service Book #386 What a magnificent explanation of why we have reason to rejoice at Christmas. At first glance it may seem rather depressing: What? I can not rise up to God? I haven't been naughty this year! I've been nice! Well, let's be honest, friends. None of us have been good enough, if we are to be measured against God's standard of perfection. None of us have been perfectly patient, good, kind, forgiving, nor charitable in thought, word, and deed ("None is righteous, no not one; no one understand; no one seeks for God." Romans 3:10). As each year passes I become more painfully aware of my lousy motives, even in the *good* things that I do. Sin is a wearisome thing. Yet in the hymn we cry out to God to cheer us, through His good works, which are good enough! It is through His perfect life, sinless sacrifice on the cross, and continual coming to us through His Word, Holy Communion, and Holy Baptism, that we are forgiven. And by that forgiveness we are drawn to Him. Thanks be to God for the good news that He came to us that first Christmas, comes to us now by His Word and Sacraments, and will come again on the Last Day to draw His children to Himself for all eternity.

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

Advent is here! I am so glad to be in Advent services (and away from the December to-do list), which remind me of the longing the world had for its Savior to come the first time, and the longing that we now have for Him to come a second time and take us to Himself. He is coming!! We sang this Advent hymn this morning: Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates! Behold, the King of glory waits. The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here. Life and salvation He doth bring; Therefore rejoice and gladly sing. To God the Father raise, your joyful songs of praise. ~LSB 341. This hymn is by Georg Weissel, 1590-1635