• Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission and Core Values
    • Our Beliefs
    • Congregational Documents
    • Our History
    • Our Pastor
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Church Year Explanations
    • Sermons
    • Bulletins
    • The Singing Church
  • Resources
    • Summer 2025 Bible Reading Plan
    • Food Pantry
    • Related Sites
  • Give Online
  • Calendar
  • 90 Day Objective suggestions
Epiphany Lutheran Church | Dorr, Michigan
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission and Core Values
    • Our Beliefs
    • Congregational Documents
    • Our History
    • Our Pastor
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Church Year Explanations
    • Sermons
    • Bulletins
    • The Singing Church
  • Resources
    • Summer 2025 Bible Reading Plan
    • Food Pantry
    • Related Sites
  • Give Online
  • Calendar
  • 90 Day Objective suggestions

Trinity 2 2019

6/30/2019

0 Comments

 
The parable isn’t about a meal, not even a wedding feast for the king’s son, if you read St. Matthew’s account.  It’s not about a host upset by the bad manners of those who RSVPed and backed out at the last minute.  But as much as it’s not about those things, it’s also not about us sitting here confident and smug because we’re in church and all of those heathen are out walking the highway to hell.  It does not empower us to look down at those people out there who have rejected Jesus, who have ignored the Holy Spirit’s urging to hear the Word and feast on Christ in His Body and Blood.  It’s not about shaking your head at the people lining up for brunch, going for a run, or sleeping in at the lake whose church attendance has dropped off now that summer is officially in full swing.  Jesus’ Parable is, however, about what happens to anyone who decides that the things of the flesh are more entertaining, that God will totally understand why you chose material possessions over your faith.  He does not, and He will not on the Last Day.  This is a reminder that we are called to turn from the material world and its ways and to live in repentance, because we cannot reject God’s gracious invitation without consequence.
In its immediate context, Jesus told the Parable about the Pharisees and other Jews who, though they had been promised the Messiah, rejected Him when He came.  Jesus wasn’t the Messiah they wanted.  He didn’t promise earthly wealth or fame or power, so they rejected Him.  God was in their midst, but He didn’t perform in the ways they commanded Him to, so they went their own way.  So the invitation went out to everyone else—tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners of every variety, and even the Gentiles.  They accepted the invitation and found a place at the table. 
 
While we might be inclined to group ourselves with the people found in the streets and lanes, the highways and hedges, we shouldn’t place ourselves there first.  Rather, we have to consider that our place in this Parable is often among the ones who rejected the invitation.  Only later, by God’s grace, can we rejoice that we were found in the highways and hedges of sin and brought in with the rest of the people called.
 
So often we become preoccupied with the things of this day and this life that we lose sight of the joys of the age to come.  Even worse, when we prefer this life and think only about the here and now, we show that we have no real desire for heaven.  That’s what Jesus illustrated in the Parable by those who were more concerned about land and animals and earthly relationships.  Like those three, we have more important things going on than focusing on God and His Kingdom.  We all have things we know we put in front of spending time in the Word or in prayer or living life as a child of God, bought back from our former life.  It feels better to sleep a few more minutes than to get up and begin the day with a Psalm and a prayer.  It’s more fun to gossip with friends than to speak well of our neighbor and put everything in the kindest construction.  It’s more fun to let our eyes wander than to keep our lusts in check.  No matter what the things are that we choose over God, it’s all because the way of the world looks more fun than God’s way.  So we give our hearts over to these temporal things and neglect the eternal things.
 
But these premeditated sins—intentional sin, things we know that are evil but plan to repent of later—are the most dangerous to faith.  We delay our repentance in order to enjoy our sins and assume we can just come back to the banquet at any time.  It’s better to come late than not at all, right?  This is the way that leads to eternal death!  And we who know the grace of God, that He gladly and eagerly forgives sinners for the sake of Jesus’ death and resurrection, bear more guilt for our sins than those who have never heard the Word.  That is what Jesus means when He says it is more bearable on the Day of Judgment for Tyre and Sidon, who refused to repent, than for those that never heard His Word and didn’t know any better. 
 
Unless the Lord intervened, we would be destroyed.  He sends out His messengers in every age and every place to invite to the feast, to preach that, no matter what we’ve done, how hypocritical we’ve been, God still loves us and still wants us at His banquet.  By the suffering and death of Jesus in our place, God has reconciled us to Himself.  He has declared us righteous, fully forgiven for Jesus’ sake.  This gift He makes available, not only to us, but to all the world.  This call to the eternal Marriage Feast rings out to all unconditionally, no matter how vile they may be or undesirable they may feel.  And all who heed this invitation by faith, who believe the Gospel, find a welcome and a feast more lavish than anything they could imagine, desire, or deserve.
 
So what today’s Gospel has told us is not a story about others who have rejected the Gospel.  It is a warning to each of us against security in our sin.  Do not think you can delay repentance forever, or that sin has no risks, either in this life or in the life to come.  There is always repercussion for sin.  Do not mistake the Lord’s patience for approval.  Repent, before the time has come when repentance is no longer possible because the Gospel call is no longer extended.
 
But as much as the Parable warns, it also shows us that Jesus is reaching out.  There is still room.  It is not too late to repent and receive the gracious invitation.  The Lord is not angry or disgusted with you.  He wants you at His Marriage Feast, in His Kingdom for eternity.  His life, death, and resurrection are proof that He will give everything, even His very life, to save you, to give you a seat at His table.  No matter how defiled you are by sin, how mangled and broken the devil’s lies and alluring sins have left you, Jesus doesn’t care.  In Him is perfect healing.  He loves you more than you can ever know.  He is eager to receive you, to forgive you, to love you forever.
 
So in the Gospel, in the Sacraments, see that Jesus, Divine Wisdom, has prepared His house and His feast.  He cries out to you “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! … Come, eat of My Bread and drink of the Wine I have mixed.  Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.”  In that Feast you know love, because it is the Body and Blood Jesus laid down for you, to give you life.  In the Sacrament you see for what purpose God created you: to be in communion with Him, to live as His dear child and He as your dear Father.  And the more time you spend in communion with Him, receiving from Him at His Table, the more you realize that there is nothing on earth that can give you what God can.  Here is the love and joy and peace and forgiveness for which your soul longs.  So come to Jesus, kneel at His Table, for all things are now ready.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    1 Corinrghians 1:4-9
    1 Corinthians 11:23 32
    1 Corinthians 11:23-32
    1 John 3:1-3
    1 Kings 19:3-8
    1 Peter 1:3-9
    1 Timothy 5:3-10
    2 Corinthians 2:3-11
    2 Samuel 22
    Acts 1:1-11
    Ad Te Levavi
    Advent 1
    Advent 2
    Advent 3
    Advent 4
    Advent Midweek
    All Saints
    Annunciation
    Ascension
    Ash Wednesday
    Baptism Of Our Lord
    Cantate
    Christian Questions With Their Answers
    Christmas Day
    Christmas Eve
    Christmas Octave
    Commemoration
    Confirmation
    Daniel 7:9-18
    Deliverance From Pestilence
    Deuteronomy 10:12-22
    Easter
    Easter Sunrise
    Easter Vigil
    Ember Wednesday Lent
    Ephesians 4:1-6
    Ephesians 5:20-33
    Epiphany
    Epiphany 2
    Epiphany 3
    Epiphany 4
    Epiphany Octave
    Esther 13:9-18
    Exaudi
    Exodus 20:12-24
    Ezekiel 36:23-28
    Feast Day
    Funeral
    Gaudete
    Good Friday
    Good Samaritan
    Holy Monday
    Holy Tuesday
    Holy Wednesday
    Holy Week
    Hymn Festival
    Invocabit
    Isaiah 17:1-8
    Isaiah 62:11 63:7
    Isaiah 62:11 - 63:7
    Jeremiah 11:18-20
    Joel 2:12 19
    Joel 2:12-19
    John 10:11 16
    John 10:11-16
    John 10:22-38
    John 1:1 14
    John 1:1-14
    John 1:19 28
    John 1:19-28
    John 12:1-11
    John 12:1-36
    John 1:29 34
    John 1:29-34
    John 13:1-15
    John 1:35-42
    John 14:23 31
    John 14:23-31
    John 15:1-11
    John 15:26-16:4
    John 16:16 22
    John 16:16-22
    John 16:23-30
    John 16:23 33
    John 16:5 15
    John 16:5-15
    John 19:28
    John 20:1 18
    John 20:1-18
    John 20:19-31
    John 2:1 11
    John 2:1-11
    John 3:1-15
    John 3:1 17
    John 3:1-17
    John 4:46 54
    John 4:46-54
    John 5:24-29
    John 6:1 15
    John 6:1-15
    John 6:60-69
    John 8:42 59
    John 8:42-59
    John 8:46-59
    John 9
    Jubilate
    Judica
    Katharina Von Bora Luther
    Laetare
    Last Sunday
    Lent
    Lent Midweek
    Leviticus 19:1-19
    Luke 10:23 37
    Luke 10:23-37
    Luke 11:14 28
    Luke 11:14-28
    Luke 12:13 21
    Luke 12:13-21
    Luke 1:26-38
    Luke 1:39-56
    Luke 14:1 11
    Luke 14:1-11
    Luke 14:15 24
    Luke 14:15-24
    Luke 15
    Luke 15:1-10
    Luke 15:11-32
    Luke 1:57-80
    Luke 16:1 13
    Luke 16:1-13
    Luke 16:1-9
    Luke 16:19 31
    Luke 16:19-31
    Luke 17:11 19
    Luke 17:11-19
    Luke 18:31 43
    Luke 18:31-43
    Luke 18:9 14
    Luke 18:9-14
    Luke 19:41 48
    Luke 19:41-48
    Luke 2:1 20
    Luke 2:1-20
    Luke 21:25 33
    Luke 21:25-33
    Luke 21:25 36
    Luke 21:25-36
    Luke 2:21
    Luke 2:22-32
    Luke 2:22 40
    Luke 2:22-40
    Luke 2:41 52
    Luke 2:41-52
    Luke 5:1 11
    Luke 5:1-11
    Luke 6:36 42
    Luke 6:36-42
    Luke 7:11-17
    Luke 7:36-50
    Luke 8:4 15
    Luke 8:4-15
    Mark 10:17-22
    Mark 14:1-15:46
    Mark 16:1 8
    Mark 16:1-8
    Mark 7:31 37
    Mark 7:31-37
    Mark 8:1 9
    Mark 8:1-9
    Matthew 10:26-33
    Matthew 11:12 15
    Matthew 11:12-15
    Matthew 11:16-24
    Matthew 11:2 10
    Matthew 11:2-10
    Matthew 12:11-15
    Matthew 12:38-50
    Matthew 15:1-20
    Matthew 15:21 28
    Matthew 15:21-28
    Matthew 17:1 9
    Matthew 17:1-9
    Matthew 18:21 35
    Matthew 18:21-35
    Matthew 20:1 16
    Matthew 20:1-16
    Matthew 20:17-28
    Matthew 2:1 12
    Matthew 2:1-12
    Matthew 21:1 9
    Matthew 21:1-9
    Matthew 22:1 14
    Matthew 22:1-14
    Matthew 22:34-46
    Matthew 24:15 28
    Matthew 24:15-28
    Matthew 25:1 13
    Matthew 25:1-13
    Matthew 25:31 46
    Matthew 25:31-46
    Matthew 28:1 10
    Matthew 28:1-10
    Matthew 4:1 11
    Matthew 4:1-11
    Matthew 5:1 12
    Matthew 5:1-12
    Matthew 5:17 26
    Matthew 5:17-26
    Matthew 6:16-21
    Matthew 6:24 34
    Matthew 6:24-34
    Matthew 7:15 23
    Matthew 7:15-23
    Matthew 8:1-13
    Matthew 8:23-27
    Matthew 9:1 8
    Matthew 9:1-8
    Maundy Thursday
    Michaelmas 1
    Michaelmas 2
    Michaelmas 3
    Michaelmas 4
    Michaelmas 7
    Michaelmas 8
    Michaelmas 9
    Misericordia Domini
    Most Holy Name Of Jesus
    Nativity Of John The Baptist
    Oculi
    Palmarum
    Palm Sunday
    Passiontide
    Pentecost
    Pentecost 21B
    Pharisee And Tax Collector
    Philippians 2:5-11
    Populus Zion
    Presentation Of The Augsburg Confession
    Proverbs 25:6-14
    Psalm 103
    Psalm 118
    Psalm 119:73-80
    Psalm 50
    Psalm 91
    Purification BVM
    Quasi Modo Geniti
    Quinquagesima
    Reformation
    Reminiscere
    Revelation 12:7-12
    Revelation 7:9 17
    Revelation 7:9-17
    Rev. Jeffrey Miskus
    Rogate
    Romans 3:21-28
    Romans 5:6-11
    Rorate Coeli
    Second Last Sunday
    Second-Last Sunday
    Septuagesima
    Seven Last Words
    Sexagesima
    St. Andrew
    St James
    St. John Passion
    St. Mary Magdalene
    St. Matthew Passion
    St Michael And All Angels
    St Titus
    Tenebrae
    Thanksgiving
    Third Last Sunday
    Third-Last Sunday
    Titus 1:1-9
    Transfiguration
    Tre Ore
    Triduum
    Trinity
    Trinity 1
    Trinity 10
    Trinity 11
    Trinity 12
    Trinity 13
    Trinity 14
    Trinity 15
    Trinity 16
    Trinity 17
    Trinity 18
    Trinity 19
    Trinity 2
    Trinity 20
    Trinity 21
    Trinity 22
    Trinity 25
    Trinity 26
    Trinity 27
    Trinity 3
    Trinity 4
    Trinity 5
    Trinity 6
    Trinity 7
    Trinity 8
    Trinity 9
    Trintiy 7
    Vicar Burgdorf
    Visitation Of The BVM
    Wedding

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    June 2021
    April 2021
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission and Core Values
    • Our Beliefs
    • Congregational Documents
    • Our History
    • Our Pastor
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Church Year Explanations
    • Sermons
    • Bulletins
    • The Singing Church
  • Resources
    • Summer 2025 Bible Reading Plan
    • Food Pantry
    • Related Sites
  • Give Online
  • Calendar
  • 90 Day Objective suggestions