Sunday’s Message for the 14th Sunday After Pentecost (9/6/20)

Good Morning Children of God!My nearly nine years at St. Paul have been extremely rewarding to say the least and I thank God and our special congregation for the opportunity to serve as your Pastor.  Here is your Sunday Message.

September 6, 2020

14th Sunday after Pentecost

Prayer of the Day

O Lord God, enliven and preserve your church with your perpetual mercy.  Without your help, we mortals will fail; remove far from us everything that is harmful, and lead us toward all that gives life and salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

First Reading     Ezekiel 33:7-11

Psalm 119:33-40

Second Reading    Romans 13:8-14

Gospel       Matthew 18:15-20

Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.

As I write this message, I am wrapping up and reflecting upon the last twenty-four years of serving the Lord and his church pursuant to “a call.”  I have received and answered four calls within the ministry of word and sacrament.  The first, an “inner call” to become a pastor, was from the Holy Spirit.  The others were “outer calls” from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Springfield, Ohio, the Church Council of the ELCA, and St. Paul Lutheran Church – New Rome. 

A call to be a pastor is special but it comes with a great deal of responsibility which is weighty in nature.  Today’s first reading speaks to this joyous burden.  The prophet Ezekiel was a priest living among the Jewish exiles in Babylon in the late 6^th century B.C.  His call story can be found in the opening verses of the book that carries his name.  His name means “God strengthens.”  In Ezekiel 33:7-8, the Lord addresses the prophet’s responsibility: “whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.”  And then the burden, if “you do not speak … the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.”

When a person is ordained in the ELCA, they are asked four questions which address the responsibilities being undertaken.  The answer to each question is the same: “I will, and I ask God to help me.”  Consistently over the last 24 years I have remembered my ordination vows and constantly asked God for help.  The call to the ministry of word and sacrament cannot be carried out properly unless God strengthens the pastor. 

But, enough about me, let’s talk about you!  The opening lines of instruction for the service of ordination makes a very important point: “Because all of its baptized members share in Christ’s ministry of love and service, the church equips and supports them for their ministries in the world. Within this context of ministry, the church calls some of its baptized members for specific ministries.”  Each and every one of you has been called into the Lord’s ministry of love and service. This is where the bulk of the work of the church takes place.  And like a pastor’s call, your call and your responsibilities can only be properly carried out with the help of God.

Psalm 119:33-40 could be thought of as the Psalm of the called.  The author sets forth numerous ways to ask God for help.  “Teach me … lead me … incline my heart to your decrees … turn my eyes from beholding falsehood … give me life in your way … fulfill your promise … turn away the reproach that I dread … enliven me.”  These are prayers that God will answer affirmatively and powerfully.  By the strength of God, the children of God are equipped, empowered, and encouraged in Christ’s ministry of love and service.

St. Paul frequently addressed the responsibilities of Christians.  These expectations are summed up in the great commandment to love.  “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”  (Romans 13:8)   In loving, we “live honorably” and emulate Jesus, that is, we “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Romans 13:13-14)

Jesus is the supreme example to be followed as we strive to love and serve the neighbor and one another.  His “way” has been shared with us both in the things he said and did.  Since deeds speak more loudly than words, his sacrificial death on the cross is the gold standard for loving others.  It is beneath the cross of Jesus that we best experience the height, depth, and width of God’s love.  In the center of this love is the willingness of God to forgive sin and redeem the sinner.

Jesus both taught and showed us the power of forgiveness.  Today’s Gospel reading is one of many places where Jesus addressed the topic.  In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus is specifically addressing members of his church.  He is speaking to those who are called and engaged in his ministry of love and service.  He is speaking directly to you and advising you that the authority to forgive is the centerpiece of Christian love. 

When Jesus speaks about binding and loosing, in Matthew 18:18, he is talking about authority with respect to disciplinary matters in the church.  Immediately after this instruction, Peter asks, “’Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive?  As many as seven times?’  Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.’”  (Matthew 18:21-22)  Jesus taught that forgiveness within his church should be offered without limit just as God’s forgiveness of sinners is without limit.

The children of God who have been called into the Lord’s ministry of love and service have experienced the extravagant grace which defines our Lord Jesus.  And Jesus says to us, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:34-35)   Those who have been blessed with extravagant grace have the authority and responsibility of passing it on.

In my 24 years as a pastor I have not experienced one like this year.  I never dreamed that for a span of nearly six months my proclamation would be in the form of written messages to a church asked to be together even as we are apart.  The turbulence and disruption in daily living during this time of pandemic and protest has been unprecedented in our lifetimes.  Yet, you were made for a time such as this.  You have been called to a time such as this in order to do what the children of God do best; love and serve.

The pain being experienced in our country and around the world is palpable.  The political unrest has complicated a challenging time resulting from the pandemic and the protests.  It is in that milieu that the Lord Jesus has seen fit to ask you to love, serve, and forgive.

It has been such a great privilege to serve along side of you during this time God gave us to be a pastor and congregation together.  The Lord has helped us more than we will ever know and his assistance will never end.  Love and serve the Lord.  Love and serve one another.   Amen.

      Lift High the Cross     (George W. Kitchen, Rev. Michael R. Newbolt)

Refrain                                                                                                                                                          Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim                                                                                       till all the world adore his sacred name.

Come, Christians, follow where our captain trod,                                                                                      our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God.   Refrain

All newborn servants of the Crucified                                                                                                         bear on their brows the seal of him who died.    Refrain

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,                                                                                                                       as thou hast promised, draw us all to thee.    Refrain

So shall our song of triumph ever be:                                                                                               praise to the Crucified for victory!    Refrain

Peace, blessings, and love,

Pastor Bill