The Eighth Sunday after Trinity 2018

We aren’t strangers to Luther’s Table of Duties from the Small Catechism.  We hear those verses of Scripture that speak to our responsibilities as Baptized Christians during our time in the Catechism before the Service starts.  And just a few weeks ago the section we read together was entitled, “What Hearers Owe Their Pastors.”  The best summary of Scripture’s list of what hearers owe their Pastors is listening ears and respect.  But I think Luther missed an opportunity to elaborate.  How is it that you hearers should listen to us Pastors?  You should listen with a discerning ear.  You should listen while your eyes study the Scriptures.  Your job as a hearer in this regard was summed up well by St. John in his first Epistle where he said: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1).  That’s not to say you should listen with suspicion.  My job isn’t to sprinkle in a heresy or two just to make sure you’re on your toes.  In fact, I made vows to do the exact opposite of that!  Instead, you should listen to make sure what I say is in accord with what God’s Word teaches and with the summary of the faith as found in the Small Catechism.  Sadly, not every Pastor is faithful to Scripture.  Just as God revealed through the Prophet Jeremiah in today’s Old Testament Reading, some people go out claiming to be from God and preach lies that are contrary to the Scriptures or claim to be sent by God when they go out only by their own dreams and imagination.  So, you as hearers owe it to your Pastors to be diligent studiers of the Scriptures so you can grow in faith and knowledge and encourage us to do the same.  But you don’t just owe that to us; you owe it to yourself to be a student of the Scriptures, to immerse yourself in the living and active Word by which the Holy Spirit increases your faith and prepares you for the life to come.  Immersing yourself in the Word will never, ever be a bad thing for you to do.

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