Sermon - Pentecost 2 - Matthew 10:5a, 21-33

"Sticks and stones may break my bones," the old saying goes, "but names will never hurt me."

I remember hearing it as a child.  Maybe you do too. But I found it to be hollow, when I was teased by other children. Names do hurt. The ridicule of man usually has an effect on man, or else the ridiculer wouldn't do it. 

Jeremiah knew it. He says he was a “laughingstock” and even his close friends denounced him. Christians know it today, too, as coworkers, acquaintances and even our own family members can mock us and our faith. Oh, you're not one of THOSE people, are you? 

And sometimes, verbal scorn can turn to action. Christians can bear the brunt of persecution that does bring sticks and stones, and breaks your bones. Jewish tradition has Jeremiah stoned to death in Egypt. We know for sure that the first Christian martyr, Stephen was stoned to death. And many Christians, to this day, would die for the faith. It seems we read more of it in the news every day. 

We ought to pray for the persecuted church, especially that they remain faithful unto death, and receive the promised crown of life. There but for the grace of God go you and I. Even when we are not persecuted to death, still, there are crosses to bear. Still, your faith doesn't solve all your problems, make your life easy and successful, or chase all the clouds away with bright shiny rainbows. You may well suffer for Christ, for your faith, for the truth – even if you don't suffer unto death. 

Do you think you are any better than Jesus? They called him the devil, Beelzebul. They mocked him and treated him shamefully. They stripped and whipped and beat and spit on him. They crowned him with thorns in a sham coronation. They gave him a scepter and royal robe to kneel down in false worship. Sticks and stones? They put him on two sticks to die, and he was buried behind a big stone. 

Truly, a servant is not greater than the master. The world hated him. The world hates you, too, Christian. What Jesus got, you will get too, somehow, some way, sooner or later. 

I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but this is the hard truth the word puts in front of us today. We preach what Luther called a “theology of the cross”, not a “theology of glory”. 

If you don’t like this, there are plenty of churches out there that will gladly preach to you a theology of glory. “God wants you to be successful, healthy, wealthy, happy. And if you believe rightly, and think rightly, you will have God's favor. And good things will happen to you. Nevermind the fact that every day faithful Christians are struck down by disaster and disease. Nevermind that the faithful are mocked and persecuted. Or that they die in anonymous poverty. Oh, but look at how successul we are!  Look at our big building and new facilities, see how God favors us! 

Are you better than Jesus? No. Far worse, in fact, for you are a sinner. The good news, sinners, is not that Jesus takes all the suffering away. The good news is that he has taken your sin away. The good news is not that Jesus makes your life better, or even good, now, by worldly estimation. The good news is that Jesus has swallowed up death in his victory, and brings abundant life. The gospel of Jesus Christ stands in the midst of all that is wrong and broken and perverted and dying in this world – and speaks a contrary word of hope. Even though you die, yet shall you live. “He who lives and believes in me will never die.” 

So fear not, he says.  Have no fear. No fear of the persecutor, the oppressor, the enemy. Even the one who can destroy your body. For the Lord knows his people, even the hairs on your head. He who knows every time a sparrow dies, knows and values you far more than a sparrow. He knows your suffering. Jesus knows all suffering. And he will not forsake you in it. 

Have no fear, for you already know what is out there: a world that hates Christians and a devil that would like nothing more than to devour us. To see us turn from God in despair, shake our fist at the heavens in anger, and join the true Beelzebul's company of misery. But have no fear, he can harm you none. He's judged, the deed is done. Christ has the victory, and that’s true even when it looks like we are defeated. 

And look at this promise: Jesus will confess you before his Father. He will say, “Father, this one belongs to me. And so this one belongs to you. I have shed my blood for this one. I have conquered death so this one might live. The world hates this one, but this one I love. The world has called this one all sorts of nasty names, but I have called this one by my name. This one is baptized in your name, Father, and mine, and the Spirit's. This one is ours forever.” 

No, you are not better than Jesus. But Jesus is far better than you and I, thanks be to God. And what is his, is ours. His suffering, yes, in which we participate. He had his cross, and we have our own little crosses as we follow him. But we share in his righteousness, his holiness, his resurrection and his victory. God will not abandon us any more than he would abandon his own Son. And that is true comfort, even in suffering and persecution. 

He is coming again, and until that time he has not left us forsaken. He remains among us by his word and Spirit, and in the blessings of his holy meal. His true body and blood are present for our forgiveness, and to strengthen us in all the trials and crosses we bear. 

And even by receiving this sacrament, we acknowledge him before men.  We proclaim him – and his death, until he comes. As we gather to receive him, we confess him. We say, “I, a sinner, am saved by the promise and gift of my Lord Jesus Christ. Who gave his very body and blood on the cross, even to death - and gives his very (resurrected) body and blood- for my salvation, even now. I confess with all these other sinners, that He is the only savior. The way, the truth, the life. That all his words are true. That all his promises are forever. And I look for the fulfillment of these, when this foretaste gives way to the eternal marriage feast of heaven”. 

So fear not.  The hairs of your head are numbered.  You are worth more than many sparrows. Confess Christ, for he will confess you.  Receive his gifts.  And look forward to that day in the when all that is hidden is revealed before the Father in heaven.  Fear not, Christian, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sermon - Pentecost 3 - Matthew 9:35-10:8

Today our Gospel reading from Matthew 9 and 10 records Jesus sending out his 12 Apostles on their first preaching mission – to the cities and villages of Judea.  It gives us an opportunity to consider the importance of the preaching office today, and to appreciate Christ’s teaching about those whom he sends to us, to preach the gospel of his Kingdom. 

If you were with us during the midweek Lenten services this year, you heard a little more in depth about each of the 12 Apostles Matthew lists here.  Each one of them a unique gift to the church, and from whom we learn about Christ, even today. 

First note, this was a preliminary mission.  It was preliminary, in that they were sent to the Jews but not yet the Gentiles.  That would come later, in the Book of Acts, and beyond.  But like Paul, who preached first to the Jew and then to the Gentile, Jesus orders his 12 to follow the same pattern.  The preaching of the Gospel is orderly, not chaotic.  And it is always to be done in accord with Christ’s sending and instruction. 

It is also preliminary in regard to the preaching office.  The Apostles were a special group, the first pastors, the first to hold the public preaching office in the church.  They alone were given the authority to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons as they preached. 

But they would not be the last pastors.  Later, they would direct their successors to see that others were trained and taught, so that in every place God’s people would have someone to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.   

And you might say it was preliminary in that it preached a simple message, “the kingdom of heaven is near”.  But later the apostles, and now all faithful pastors, are more specific about how that kingdom comes through the person and work of Jesus Christ, the one who lived and died and rose for you and for all. 

And so the Office of the Ministry is a gift Christ gives to his church.  That is to say, pastors are God’s gift, not in and of themselves, for we are poor sinners just like you are.  But to facilitate the hearing of his word, for the giving of his most precious gift, Christ gives another gift, an instrumental gift – the office of the pastor.   

It goes by many names in Scripture – Elder, Overseer, Bishop, Preacher, or Pastor (which means, Shepherd).  Jesus has compassion on people who are sheep without a shepherd, hearers without a preacher, recipients of the word without one to administer the word to them. 

Without the word, and without pastors to preach it, we are all like sheep without a shepherd.  We are harassed and helpless.  Harassed, assaulted by the temptations and troubles of the world.  Helpless against the temptations and schemes of the enemy.  Spiritual lost and wandering, were it not for our Savior Jesus Christ, and the word that proclaims him, and the ones he sends to proclaim that word. 

Now, some will say, that when Jesus mentions laborers, that he’s not only talking about pastors.  And we would grant that, too.  For there are many hands who push the plow in this vineyard.  Of course, we give thanks to God for all the workers he provides that his church may continue its work:  Pastors as well as teachers.  Church workers – deaconesses, directors of parish music, and so many others.  Laypeople, too, who each work according to the needs that are presented, and the gifts God has given each one.  

But in the church, the public preaching of the word is given to those who bear the office, and that’s the most pertinent kind of labor Jesus speaks of here.  Word and Sacrament ministry is essential to the church’s being and well-being, and it is the only office Christ has commanded the church simply must have.  All others, whether professional or volunteer, come and go as the church sees fit in her stewardship of the Gospel. 

Now, if you follow the discussion in our own church body, the LCMS, you may have heard much discussion lately about the pressing need for pastors or the pastoral shortage.  At the national convention next month, church leaders and delegates will be discussing the best ways to train pastors, the role of seminary education, and various attendant matters.  Messiah has participated in some of this, too, as we’ve had 2 vicars in recent years, men training for service as pastors – and also by supporting many others through their seminary years.  And all of those are good things.  But notice clearly what Jesus says is the solution to the pastoral shortage. 

Prayer.  The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  But he doesn’t say, “therefore establish an endowment fund for seminary education” or “design new programs to entice more men into the ministry”.  Not that those are bad things to do.  But that’s not Jesus’ solution. He simply urges us to pray.  Prayer that the Father would send more.  And isn’t that so like our Lord? 

For he urges us to pray for all good gifts:  Daily bread.  Forgiveness of sins.  Comfort and peace.  Health and healing.  Good government, peace, even seasonable weather.  So many of these good gifts he gives even without our prayer, and yet he urges us to pray for them.  Ask the Father, as dear children ask for everything they need. 

And what a good gift the preaching of the word is!  It is simply how God creates and sustains faith.  It is the law which convicts us of our sins, a constant reminder of our need for God’s grace.  And it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a message of pure and free forgiveness won by Christ at the cross, where he shed his holy, precious blood for you.  Where he took your place under God’s righteous wrath.  And what preaching is complete without the further proclamation of his victory over death and hell, also for you, for me, for all? 

That word is also preached to you through the sacraments.  There, in Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, Christ attaches his word of promise to a visible means.  And so it’s only natural that these means of grace, these good gifts, are given along with the word of the gospel – and administered by the preacher of the gospel. 

This preaching, this word, this Gospel, is also given freely.  This is not to say that we shouldn’t pay our pastors.  But the free preaching of God’s word is never transactional.  We preach to all who would hear.  We don’t play favorites or attach strings.  Pastors have received the word ourselves freely, and so we also freely give it, preach it, to any and all.   

I once heard a pastor say that when it comes to the church and his salary, he preaches for free, but gets paid to go to meetings.  There may be some truth in that.  But the point is, Christ gives us his grace and all blessings freely, so the preacher also freely sets that word before you. 

Thanks be to God the Father, who sends us his dear Son our Savior.  And thanks also for sending laborers into the harvest, that we might receive this Gospel of Jesus Christ with joy.  Let us continue to pray for such laborers, and for such a harvest of faith and salvation, in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.