Moving First Communion

I arrived at my current Call in October 2023. Coming from a congregation where First Communion and Confirmation were separated, some of my children had begun receiving the Lord’s Supper at a younger age. This raised some questions at my new congregation: “Can we work towards receiving the younger children to the altar here?”

While this was a surprise to me, I was also ecstatic. Now, to be clear, we are not doing infant communion. Instead, children need to be able to recite the Ten Commandments, the Apostles Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer without help. Their families must be in the Divine Service at least 75% of the time, attending Sunday School and growing in the faith. Then, they can be admitted to the First Communion Class in 3rd grade.

The First Communion Class follows the rite of First Communion for the most part. However, we also study the Ten Commandments and the Small Catechism regarding the Lord’s Supper. Children need to be able to express their understanding of having faith in the words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” They also need to be able to articulate how one examine themselves before receiving the Sacrament of the Altar. My experience has shown that these children are often better at examining themselves than adults. This class typically lasts approximately ten weeks.

In the process, we’ve also adapted the entirety of our Confirmation program to begin sooner, with boys starting to serve as acolytes and girls serving as junior Altar Guild members in 2nd grade. Then comes First Communion, followed by in-depth studies of the Small Catechism between the 4th and 7th grades.

The goal is to stretch out our Confirmation program so it doesn’t seem like a box to check. We want families to grow in their faith beyond the younger years, have joy in learning God’s Word, and be with Jesus eternally.

If you are curious about the resources I used to teach the congregation, you can access them here.

You’ll notice that I found papers written by Pastor Todd Pepperkorn and Pastor Rick Stuckwisch to be incredibly helpful.

Writings by Re. Dr. Todd Pepperkorn regarding First Communion can be found here.

Writings by Rev. Dr. Rick Stuckwisch regarding First Communion can be found here.

Lent 4 + Laetare

***On this day we celebrated nine young people of the congregation receiving their First Communion. Communing children prior to Confirmation is a new practice at my congregation and for this reason, the sermon took on more of a teaching theme.***

Text: John 6:1-15

What makes you worthy to approach this altar and receive the blessed flesh and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins?

This is an important question, but regrettably, it often slips our minds, even on a Sunday morning.

As the Small Catechism asks,

Who receives this sacrament worthily?

The Catechism goes on to say,

Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.

When we think of worthiness, we think in earthly ways; we view it as being a good person or as deserving. But we know none of us are worthy in the sight of God based upon the thoughts of our hearts, the words of our lips, or the deeds of our bodies.

So again, how can we be worthy of receiving this meal?

It begins with faith and trust in the words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

Worthiness begins and ends with believing that Jesus’ words actually mean what they say—it starts with faith.

That present in this little piece of bread and in the smallest drops of wine from this chalice - one receives forgiveness.

But if one can worthily approach this altar, they may also be able to approach it unworthily.

And here is a good time to reflect on the words of St. Paul written to the Corinthians; he says,

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:27-28)

Unworthiness occurs when a person does not believe Jesus’ words that the forgiveness of sin is present in this bread and wine.

And so, the text says, we must examine ourselves.

The examination can begin simply enough, do you have faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins?”

But then the examination expands and forces the Christians to ask themselves, “Am I truly sorry for my sins?

Well, how do you know whether you have sinned?

The first place I would point you for self-examination is the Ten Commandments: ask yourself…

“Do you have only one God?”

“Do you keep His name holy or attend the Divine Service regularly?”

“Do you or have you honored your parents?”

“Have you murdered with your thoughts and words?”

“Is your marriage bed and sexual life holy?”

“Have you taken or stolen what isn’t yours?”

“Do your lips drip with betrayal?”

“Do you covet what God has not given you?”

If you are honest, and if God is truly the all-powerful, all-knowing God we confess Him to be, then these are really tough questions.

But are these questions only accessible to adults? Or children of a specific age?

I’d argue that while many adults forget these questions in time, the child truly knows them best. It’s the child having them drilled into their minds through the repetition of catechesis; it’s the child being questioned by the parent whether they have done as they (the parent) have instructed. It’s the child being told to watch their words. It’s the child being called to confess their sin aloud, to apologize for their misdeeds, so that forgiveness may be pronounced upon them.

It's quite something, isn’t it? Why do we, as adults, struggle with God’s Word so mightily? Why do we scoff or fight to confess our sins aloud?

In a wonderfully peculiar way, it’s the child who can often become God’s teacher.

As Jesus said in the Gospel of Mark, words that we hear in the Baptismal rite, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14b, NKJV)

This continues today as we welcome some of the children of this congregation and confession of faith to the Lord’s Supper. In this way, the children of God continue to be led from the waters of Baptism to where His kingdom is present for them, now in the flesh and blood of Jesus.

Because, like you, those receiving their First Communion today are God’s children, living the Baptismal life.

But why would we begin to commune the younger children among us?

Now, Martin Luther was also asked why the Church might commune the disabled and the young, and here is what he said,

Therefore if they are rational and can show by [unquestionable] signs that they desire [the sacrament] in true Christian devotion, as I have often seen, we should leave to the Holy Spirit what is his work and not refuse him what he demands. It may be that inwardly they have a better understanding and faith than we; and this no one should maliciously oppose. Do we not read of St. Cyprian, the holy martyr, that in Carthage where he was bishop he even had both elements given to the children.[1]

Luther raises the point that the disabled and the child alike can display not only a desire but, in many instances, an even better understanding of the faith than many of us. Further, he reveals that this was also the practice of the early Church at a time to commune the children, too.

But most of all, Luther's words support the understanding that it’s not a person’s age or intellect that makes them worthy to receive the Supper; it’s faith in these words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” along with the ability to examine oneself.

Now, how do we guard against falling away from faith or knowing how to examine ourselves? You keep coming to the Divine Service and continue taking advantage of opportunities to learn God’s Word.

As the children will be asked in a moment,

“Do you intend to continue to hear and receive the instruction of your Lord, confess your sins, and receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully throughout your life?

Their response, “Yes, with the help of God.”

Listen to these words again, “With the help of God.”

As we heard in the Gospel today, the crowds followed Jesus because of the miracles and signs He was doing for the afflicted and sick—He was healing them. But the people also followed Jesus so far that there was no food for them to eat. They were in a wilderness of sorts. They had been captivated by His Words, the Words of eternal life.

All the five thousand men, plus women and children, could do here was depend upon the great teacher to help them and care for them. So, while the disciples of Jesus are of no help at this moment, there is a boy, a small child, as the Greek says, who had five barley loaves and two fish. (John 6:9)

The Gospel proceeds, “Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.” (John 6:11)

How wonderful is it that God uses the smallest among us as a means to care for His creation, and in doing so, Jesus conducts another miracle and sign before the people and His disciples in the feeding of the five thousand.

You see, to be a disciple is to be a student. Like the disciples and these crowds in the Gospel, we are to follow Jesus too; we are to depend on Him for help, to sit at His feet as they did, and to hear and learn His Word without regard for the world around us. We are to be led from the waters of Holy Baptism to this altar, where Jesus continues the great miracle of His supper and comes with the whole company of heaven every time we gather to grant us His forgiveness and a little foretaste of the life to come.

And in this way, the altar now is the enduring sign of His love for you, and it points all of us to look beyond this life and to the wonderful day when He will return to gather us into the eternal feast that has no end.   

But until that day, we must continue to journey in this wilderness, to traverse the life of a baptized child of God, to be led by the cross of Christ from the font to this altar each and every week, examining ourselves along the way, demonstrating faith and dependence on God to care not only for our mortal bodies but to be our great help in times of need, to be our forgiveness and life.

So, as these children of Good Shepherd are now received to the Altar, let us all be like them; let us be as disciples and students of Jesus, eager to follow Him, hungry for His Word, and ever thirsting for His forgiveness. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

[1] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 35: Word and Sacrament I, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann, vol. 35 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999), 110–111.

Lent 3 - Midweek

Text: Psalm 74

Our psalm this evening was originally prayed in the aftermath of the temple of Jerusalem being destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.

The Psalmist began by inviting God to come and see the destruction of His sanctuary as it was written, “Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!” (Psalm 74:3)

Of course, this wasn’t the only time the temple of God was destroyed; it occurred again around 70 A.D.

In one sense, in battle, if you attempt to destroy a person’s faith, you may be able to destroy them.

Of course, you may look around today and like to think the world has progressed beyond such horror. Still, even in the past year, Christian churches have been destroyed by military might in Myanmar (or Burma) because Christianity is not the faith of those leading the military coup.

In such instances, can you blame a person for praying and asking God to come and see the ruins? Can you blame one for lamenting and calling out to God to remember them as the events make it appear He is nowhere to be found?

I mean, it’s not the people’s sanctuary that was destroyed; it was God’s.

In reality, it’s also not the name of the people being reviled by the pillagers; it’s God’s name.

The enemies, these are God’s enemies, those who revile Him.

But also, while the Psalmist today has experienced this great destruction and horror, his lament and prayer are done to hand things over to God, placing his needs and the needs of the Church into the Lord’s care.

We call this trust. We call it faith.

The third portion of the Psalm begins with this theme as the Psalmist writes,

“Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” (Psalm 74:12)

These words are so wonderful that even amid destruction, the Psalmist confesses his unwavering faith that God continues to work salvation through these dark days.

This is why he hands the church’s needs over to God. He trusts that God will intervene to work salvation in the midst of His creation.

The challenge here is that we humans do not possess patience. The salvation God brings to His Church on earth would not occur in the Psalmist’s lifetime. Instead, this destruction of the temple in Jerusalem is foreshadowing another destruction, the death of God’s very own Son, Jesus.

At the beginning of John’s gospel, Jesus now foretells His death as He drives out the money changers, traders, and those conducting everyday business from His Father’s temple. He told those gathered there, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” (John 2:16)

But the Jews now challenge Jesus to show them evidence that He is the Son of God. They said to Jesus,

“What sign do you show us for doing these things?” but Jesus responds, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:18-19)

Of course, the Jews do not understand or grasp these words of Jesus, that He is speaking of His body. But this is what occurred at the incarnation of Jesus, God took on human flesh and began dwelling or tabernacling among us. In a very literal sense, God pitched His tent and began to live among man, among us – to redeem us and bring salvation to His Father’s Church.

The Psalmist’s prayer for God to come and visit the perpetual ruins of His creation is realized in Jesus. Remember these words of the Psalmist, “Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! (Psalm 74:3)

In a way, as Jesus hung upon the cross, that first Good Friday, it appeared that the great enemies of God had destroyed everything, even the temple of the Lord, now realized in the flesh of Jesus.

What did the disciples of Jesus do as He hung and died? They scattered and abandoned Him.

Isn’t that what we do when calamities come to us? When destruction comes to the church?

Maybe it’s a fire or vandalism. Perhaps a dreadful day will arise when governments rise and come to destroy this building down to its foundation. Or worse, what if the devil sowed seeds of distrust among us, tearing us apart from the inside out? 

What would today’s Psalm lead us to do in such sad and dreadful situations?

Place your laments in the hands of God and remember that this is not our church, but it is God’s. It’s His.

No, we do not understand why various trials are permitted to occur. Still, in all of the tribulations of the Church, they are opportunities to grow in faith, and this is a great joy for you and me because, like the disciples of Jesus, we know how the story ends. Jesus did not only die, but He rose again, and as He ascended to His Father’s right hand, He said, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

And how is Jesus with us now?

In His Word as it is read, preached, and proclaimed. He is at the font of Holy Baptism as our lives are joined to His, and here at this altar, we receive His flesh and blood to forgive all our sins.

The Church today is the gathering of God’s children and saints around Word and Sacrament – gathered around Jesus.

My friends, if destruction and calamity should come to us as a church or gathering of God’s children, let us cling to Him, remembering that those who assault us are truly assaulting God. So let us learn to pray and entrust the needs of God’s Church to Him because our salvation is already secured in Jesus! +INJ+

Lent 3 + Oculi

Text: Luke 11:14-28

I’m not sure we fully grasp what is occurring at the beginning of today’s Gospel.

“Now [Jesus] was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled.” (Luke 11:14)

What does it mean to “cast out a demon?”

This wasn’t the first time Jesus had done this; as Jesus began His ministry in the Gospel of Mark, it’s recorded that He was preaching throughout all of Galilee in the synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:39)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus encounters two demon-possessed men who “cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, O Son of God?’” (Matthew 8:29) Per the demon’s request, Jesus cast them out and expelled them into a herd of pigs, which then rushed over a steep bank and drowned in water.

A little earlier in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus had come down from the Mountain of Transfiguration to encounter a great crowd, and a man cried out to Jesus, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. Behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him.”

Jesus had compassion upon the boy; He cast out the demon that was convulsing him and returned the boy to his father.

But again, what does it mean to “cast out a demon?”

The Greek word for “cast out” is ἐκβάλλω (ekballo), and this is where the Church gets the word “Exorcism” from.

Now, the idea of an exorcism might make you feel uncomfortable. It may make you think, “That’s nothing we do today.” Or that’s the stuff of movies!

But that’s not true.

In fact, Martin Luther retained what is known as an exorcism in the Baptismal rite of the Church.

It reads, “Therefore, depart, you unclean spirit, and make room for the Holy Spirit in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

These words do not presuppose that the prince of darkness bodily possesses the baptismal candidate. Instead, they testify to the biblical truth that the candidate is a victim of the usurper and of [Original] sin. (Companion to the Lutheran Service Book, page 768)

Remember the words we heard from Luther a couple of weeks ago? He wrote concerning Holy Baptism,

It is no joke to take sides against the devil and not only to drive him away from the little child, but to burden the child with such a mighty and lifelong enemy. Remember too that it is very necessary to aid the poor child with all your heart and strong faith, earnestly to intercede for him/her that God, in accordance with this prayer, would not only free him from the power of the devil, but also strengthen him, so that he may nobly resist the devil in life and death.

And this leads us back to our Gospel today. Having cast out the demon from the mute man, the people marveled, while some accused Jesus of casting out demons by the hand of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. But Jesus responds to these individuals by saying,

“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul…

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

As Lutheran Theologian Dr. Arthur Just writes, “The choice here is clearly between Satan and God. Jesus challenges his accusers to think about their own relationship to the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God.”[1]

This is also true of us; we must also hear Jesus’ words, keep them, and reflect on our relationship with Satan’s kingdom and God’s kingdom.

Whose kingdom do you belong to?

What are the things of life that lead you away from Jesus?

This morning’s epistle from Ephesians raises a few of these issues that you, too, may struggle with. Paul encouraged the Ephesians to avoid sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, foolish talk, and crude joking. When you permit these things to take root in your heart, you become sons of disobedience, children of darkness.  

But as Paul concludes the epistle, he writes, Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).

So, how do you now walk as children of light? Go back to where this battle of light and darkness began and continues today, go back to your Baptism.

It’s at the font by daily contrition and repentance that the darkness of all sins and evil desires are drowned so a new man may arise to live and walk as a child of light. 

To return to your Baptism and live the Baptismal life means to exercise a life of constant confession—a confession of sin, a confession of Jesus, the stronger Man, who went to the cross for you to free you from the chains of sin and evil that possess you.

For this reason, one exercises faith in Christ Jesus through confession.

You see, the word exorcism is derived from the word you know as exercise.

To confess your sins before God is to exercise your faith now so that the sins and demons that possess you might be expelled and cast out from your heart so that the Holy Spirit might take His rightful place. You are brought back from the darknesses of this life and led into the kingdom of light, the kingdom of God.

As we travel deeper into this Lententide and wrestle with the powers of darkness, cling to your Baptism, exercise your faith in Christ Jesus, and call out to Him to cast out the demons of your life so that you might walk as children of the light. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI

[1] Arthur A. Just Jr., Luke 9:51–24:53, Concordia Commentary (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1997), 478.

Lent 2 + Midweek

Text: Psalm 44

The past two Psalms we’ve mediated upon, Psalm 51 and Psalm 6, are individual Psalms of Lament. However, tonight, we shift to a congregational or communal Psalm of Lament—one prayed by a church or possibly a nation.

Psalm 44 is prayed by the people of Israel. The reason for their lament is due to their bewilderment with God; they have been dealt a crushing defeat and carried off into captivity.

The first verse reveals why Israel is bewildered with God; they prayed,

            O God, we have heard with our ears,

                        our fathers have told us,

             what deeds you performed in their days,

                        in the days of old…

The stories of God’s care and providence for them were well-known among the people. They were the story of Salvation, repeatedly told throughout generations as they gathered to hear and learn about God's wondrous deeds.

 The first portion of the Psalm says…

            “You with your own hand drove out the nations…but them you set free.” (Psalm 44:1,2b) It was not human might but the hand of God that removed Israel’s enemies.

            “For not by their own sword did they win the land,

                        nor did their own arm save them,

             but your right hand and your arm.” (Psalm 44:3)

God is described in human terms; His hand and arm care for them.

And this is why the first section ends with Israel saying,

But you have saved us from our foes

                        and have put to shame those who hate us.

            In God we have boasted continually,

                        and we will give thanks to your name forever. (Psalm 44:7-8)

What great words and testaments to God’s providence and care! Even as trial and tribulation came, they did not boast in themselves; instead, they boasted and glorified their heavenly Father.

But how quickly does the tone of this Psalm change? No longer are they praising their God for His wonderful deeds of salvation, but now all of their uses of “YOU” are accusative.

“You have rejected us…”

“You made us turn back…”

“You have made us like sheep for the slaughter…”

“You have sold your people for a trifle…”

“You have made us the taunt of our neighbors…”

“You have made us a byword among the nations…”

It’s all in the negative. All of the accusations cast blame on God rather than man. You can hear Adam and Eve in the background here, can’t you? As they had partook of the forbidden fruit, God addressed them and asked,

“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:11-13)

Nothing is ever our fault, is it? Whether our lives are a mess, the nation, or even the church, it’s not our fault.

In fact, we are rejected because of Christ. This is why we often feel like sheep being scattered or how we’ve become the target of our neighbors' taunts.

How is it fair that we, as Christians, suffer for the name of Jesus?

As the middle portion of the Psalm closes,

            All day long my disgrace is before me,

                        and shame has covered my face

at the sound of the taunter and reviler,

                        at the sight of the enemy and the avenger. (Psalm 44:15-16)

A key to understanding the Psalms is how Jesus is the thread woven and unites all of Scripture. Meaning He is present, even in these Psalms of Lament, and as we hear these words of shame, taunting, and revilers, the image of Christ upon His cross should appear in our minds as it is written,

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. (Matthew 27:29-44)

Do you see the connection between our Psalm of meditation and Jesus? It’s easy to feel pity for ourselves and forget how Christ Jesus was rejected and reviled for us. 

Now, this doesn't mean there aren’t times when we, as a gathered people, may feel abandoned and helpless as the world attacks our faith in Christ, or doubts creep into our faith, and we find ourselves wavering. But in these times, we are to learn to be all the more persistent in our prayers and petitions for help.

Psalm 44 gives us a voice to these pleas as we pray with Israel,          

Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?

                        Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!

And know that you are in good company if you should call out to God and plead with Him to awaken Himself. This is the prayer of Jesus’ disciples as He had fallen asleep, and a great storm arose, tossing them to and fro in the waters. As they came to believe they would perish, they called out to the sleeping Jesus, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (Matthew 8:25b)

And how does He respond? By asking, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26a)

Why are you afraid, dear children of God?

As the Apostle Paul writes,

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

             “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

                        we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)

And this is the truth: nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Sure, there will be tribulations and instances when following Jesus brings distress, or you might even feel abandoned. 

But look to His cross and see all He has done for you. He died for your doubt. He slept in your tomb. And He was aroused from your death for you.

So, when the times arrive, and we feel abandoned, turn, pray, and give voice to our faith in the God of heaven and earth; see how He not only arose and came to your help but came to redeem you for the sake of His steadfast love. (Psalm 44:26) +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI

Lent 2 + Reminiscere

Text: Matthew 15:21-28

Every so often, The Pew Research Organization performs a Religious Landscape Study. The data collected reveals whether Christianity is decreasing, plateauing, or increasing. How many individuals within the United States identify as Christians or another faith, how many actually attend services regularly, or how many individuals exercise their faith regularly through the daily reading of God’s Word and of prayer?

The study results are fascinating; you should read them if you have time.

Something that caught my eye is how the study says there is no longer a decline in Christianity; instead, those who identify as Christian have stabilized or plateaued. This was a change dating back to 2007, when the numbers had been in a downward spiral.

However, Americans reported being less likely to attend church regularly, if at all today, than in the past, and less than fifty percent of Christians read the Bible or pray daily.

To summarize, identifying as a Christian is steady, but exercising the actual faith of a Christian is down.

In some ways, I wonder if this is an appropriate image of the Church, visible and invisible. The visible church is the physical gathering of God’s people each Sunday as we are now. But the invisible church is only known to God, for only He knows man's faith and true heart. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)

I believe the Gospel today also presents an aspect of the visible and invisible church. However, to gain context, you need to go back to the beginning of Matthew 15. There, we learn that the Pharisees and Scribes went out from Jerusalem to speak with Jesus.

They wanted to know this: "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

You have to listen carefully here. They are questioning why Jesus’ disciples do not keep their traditions, the traditions of the world.

Jesus responded to them by asking, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?”

You see, the Pharisees and Scribes had been placing their traditions before and above the commandments of God. They were putting the needs of this world above the will of God.

As Jesus says to them,

          These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

            And honor Me with their lips,

            But their heart is far from Me.

            And in vain they worship Me,

            Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:8-9)

The Pharisees and Scribes were visible members of Israel, but their hearts did not lead them to be God’s children through faith.

So, fast-forward to today’s Gospel reading. Jesus left those “great” teachers of Israel and withdrew from the confrontation to the gentile region of Tyre and Sidon, a land of unbelievers.

But something happens as Jesus enters the region: a Canaanite woman, a descendent of pagan idol worshippers, sought Jesus and began to cry out, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

The Greek tells us that this woman would continue to cry out, too; she would not relent in calling out to Jesus in her time of great need.

And this is where things appear to get a little weird, right?

Jesus’ demeanor and continence don’t even acknowledge this Canaanite. Instead, as Luther remarks, Jesus is “as silent as a stump.” (Martin Luther, AE 76, Page 379)

Think about this for a moment. The Pharisees and Scribes, who are supposed to be God’s children, will not acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and their Savior, but here is a woman who left behind everything in life on behalf of her possessed daughter to seek out this Jesus.

As an aside, how far are you willing to go for those you love? How persistent are you willing to be for the mercy of God, not only for you but for a son, daughter, or even a friend?

Your heart will reveal the truth, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, [and] blasphemies.”

The heart reveals what truly possesses you throughout this life and where you turn for help in difficult times.

The Pharisees and Scribes were unwilling to humble themselves before Jesus and, for that matter, the Word and will of His Father.

I wonder if part of our problem today is that our unwillingness to humble ourselves before one another now prohibits us from humbling ourselves and confessing our sin before God. This, too, is taught from a parent to a child. Yet, how does one teach a child to pray, humble themselves before God, and sing the Kyrie or Agnus Dei unless they are also willing to get on their knees and open the door of their lips themselves both in and out of the Divine Service?

You see, humility places us in submission to God, and this is precisely what the Pharisees and Scribes were unwilling to do.

However, this is exactly what faith calls us to do: recognize our inability to fulfill God's will, consistently submit to Him, and cry out to Him as the only One who can grant us relief from the many things that possess our family and us throughout this life.

Now, you may sympathize with the Canaanite's repeated requests of Jesus as you have also experienced times when it appeared your prayers were met with deaf ears.

But we must also remember to seek God where He has promised to be, where He continues to speak to us and reveal His will for us—in His Word.

As we heard in last week’s Gospel, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

Or as Peter responded to Jesus in the Gospel of John, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68a)

Where else is one to go for eternal life, then Jesus? Where is one to turn for the forgiveness of sin or to be freed from the torments and possessions of life?

Jesus is the object of the Canaanite Woman’s prayers, as she calls out to Him, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” She recognizes Him to be the promised Messiah, born of Mary, born of man.

Do you recognize Jesus as your Messiah and Savior with the same persistence?

Meaning, do you keep His Word ever before you, within your heart and upon your lips?

Or, again, the Apostle Paul wrote,

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart; because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10:8-10)

As we journey through Lent, it would be appropriate to examine how persistent we are in reading God’s Word and praying. When we do not exercise our faith daily, we become weakened and susceptible to the cares of this life, in fact, they can even possess us.

As we look at today’s Gospel, we see that the Pharisees and Scribes were visible members of God’s chosen Israel, but they lacked the faith to be His children. In contrast, the Canaanite, the outsider, the new kid on the block, not only possessed true faith but exercised it with great vigor. This faith not only saved her, but it also freed her daughter from the very demons of life. 

My friends, do not put off God’s Word or your prayers to the Son of David; it’s not only a matter of being part of the true Church on earth; it’s a matter of forgiveness, being made free from the things that possess your life, and everlasting life for you and your family. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

Lent 1 Midweek

Our Lenten theme midweek services are the Psalms of Lament.

Text: Psalm 6

During Lent, we will examine the Psalms of Lament. As we discussed last week, a lament is addressing God in deep despair, expressing grief, sorrow, and regret, acknowledging or confessing sin, and expressing your dire need for the help that can only come from God—the forgiveness of sin.

You could hear David's deep despair as we read through Psalm 6 this evening. Some scholars believe this Psalm responds to the many happenings in David’s life, primarily when his son, Adonijah, seeks his throne. He is actively plotting and working to keep his brother Solomon from receiving it. The turmoil is deep within these family roots.

Have you experienced such a deep familial pain that it leaves you feeling hopeless, defeated, and physically and emotionally paralyzed?

What is your prayer and lament in times such as this?

Psalm 6 began,

            O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,

                        nor discipline me in your wrath.

            Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;

                        heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

            My soul also is greatly troubled.

                        But you, O LORD—how long? (Psalm 6:1-3)

This is the initial lament of David. It is a prayer for mercy and grace. David understands God’s wrath, as we heard last week how he lost the child conceived in sin with Bathsheba.

But did you notice how he speaks of his pain? He says, “For my bones are troubled.” This speaks to the deep hurt inside David, and his desire for healing goes beyond the physical; it also speaks to internal, emotional, and spiritual healing.

David says,

            Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;

                        save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

            For in death there is no remembrance of you;

                        in Sheol who will give you praise? (Psalm 6:4-5)

Here, David is implying that God has turned away from him. But is it God who turns from us, or is it we who turn away from God?

As we learned last week, to sin is to miss the mark. Another way of understanding sin is as a turning away from God, His word, and His will. In simple terms, this is done when children do not obey or honor their parents, when couples break their wedding vows, violate the marriage bed, or speak ill of one another.

To reconcile these sins, we repent, and repentance is seen as a turning back to God.

So listen to these words of the church father, John Chrysostom,

[When the psalmist says] “for in death there is no one to remember you,” [he is] not implying that our existence lasts only as far as the present life: perish the thought! After all, he is aware of the doctrine of resurrection. Rather, it is that after our departure from here there would be no time for repentance. For the rich man praised God and repented, but in view of its lateness it did him no good. The virgins wanted to get some oil, but no one gave any to them. So this is what this man requests, too, for his sins to be washed away in this life so as to enjoy confidence at the tribunal of the fearsome judge.

In other words, there is no time to waste. We must learn to lament our sins now, not later. Look to the cross and see the Son's steadfast love. He is your deliverer, so pray to Him.

As the Psalm goes on, the verses reveal the raw anguish of David’s lamenting.

            I am weary with my moaning;

                        every night I flood my bed with tears;

                        I drench my couch with my weeping.

            My eye wastes away because of grief;

                        it grows weak because of all my foes. (Psalm 6:6-7)

David’s exhausted. He cannot help himself; he’s beyond that. The grief he feels, the sadness, anger, and guilt are unbearable. You, too, have felt this grief, have you not? Maybe it was the physical death of someone you loved, but perhaps it was the betrayal of a friend or family member, much like David experiences with his son. An instance where the fracturing of the relationship still felt as if someone died because the relationship had become shattered. You don’t even speak anymore.

These tears and yoke of grief constantly abide with you, as you awake each morning and as you attempt to sleep each night.

It’s for this reason that the bed is where the sick and feeble mind resides. The mind that stirs without ceasing and loses sleep over the matters of this life. It’s a dreadful lot in life as one lays awake and counts each tick of the clock as morning never seems near.

But then David concludes the Psalm by saying,

            Depart from me, all you workers of evil,

                        for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

            The LORD has heard my plea;

                        the LORD accepts my prayer.

            All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;

                        they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. (Psalm 6:8-10)

The ninth verse is key to this section: “The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.”

Lamenting entrusts God with the griefs and tears of sin and life. It says, “God, I cannot help myself, I need you, O Lord, to help me.”

How often do we try to “fix” family turmoil rather than entrust it to God’s care? This doesn’t mean the hurt is not real; it is, as David’s lament attests.

However, the proper way of dealing with such hurt is not to become vengeful but to earnestly lament it, confess the sins that led to it, and trust in the forgiveness Jesus won for you upon the cross. And if doubts still arise if God has heard your prayer, look to the cross; he hears your prayer; that’s why Jesus was nailed to it, and He’s the reason your prayers are accepted.

So let His forgiveness be the peace that not only abides within your homes and families but permit it to be the peace within your heart, even as you lay your fragile bodies to rest this night. +INJ+

Lent 1

Matthew 4:1-11

Today's Gospel began: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

While it may appear innocent, the first word of this sentence, “Then,” is significant. It reveals a time-based transition, meaning what occurs in today’s Gospel is part of a more extensive sequence of events. So, what just happened before the Gospel today?

St. Matthew wrote, 

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

All right, so now we have some context for today’s events. Jesus was baptized, and “Then” He was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Not exactly what one might expect to occur immediately following baptism, is it? Wilderness, temptation, and the devil.

However, this context also reveals how we must examine the chapters and verses before and after a reading to get the full context of what often occurs in a reading.

But first, for today, who leads Jesus into the wilderness? It’s the Holy Spirit who descended upon Jesus from above. 

Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the Wilderness?

Well, there is a parallel in the Old Testament to what is occurring here today. Reflect on when God brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt; where were the people led? Into the wilderness. These Israelites struggle mightily, though. They grumbled for food; they often lacked trust and faith in God. They even chased after other gods.

So here we are; Jesus has been led into a similar wilderness.

What is a wilderness?

A wilderness is often seen as an uninhabited region or locality, desert, grassland, or wilderness. But for the individual who resides in one of these regions, let’s face it, a wilderness is a place of isolation.

Isolation is, of course, the action of being disconnected and cut off from others. It’s the feeling of loneliness. Isolation is a bad place for man; heart disease and stroke increase, immune systems are weakened, and there’s immense cognitive decline, which increases the risk of depression and anxiety. All of these factors lead to reduced life expectancy, too.

But are you indeed ever alone in the wildernesses of life? Jesus wasn’t, the Devil, or as the Greek translates his name, διαβολος, was there too.

Now, διαβολος, or the Devil, engages in slander and makes false statements with the intent to lead the hearer away from the truth. He desires to use temptation to entice and deceive man.

He did this in the Garden of Eden as he led Adam and Eve into temptation, ate from the forbidden tree, and sinned. We read in Genesis,

Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:13)

Did you catch that? Eve said the Devil “Deceived” her.

Deception is the act of seducing, deluding what one knows to be morally right, to lead them away from the truth. This is who the Devil is and who Jesus is now led to engage in the wilderness and do battle. 

This is why “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil,” for Israel and for you.

As Jesus said to Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

Yes, the Devil will twist and misuse God’s Word with every temptation, but with every engagement with Jesus, He does what Adam, Eve, Israel, and you do not – He clings to His Father’s Word.

As Jesus says regarding the Devil in the Gospel of John, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

But the Father’s Word is truth. (John 17:17)

At its core, the Gospel today is about truth. While the Devil tempts, seduces, and lies, by the words and actions of Jesus, He is the truth that sets man free. (John 8:32)

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians,

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

Ultimately, the cross is where Jesus would ultimately be led, abandoned, and left alone. But His death is the final word of victory and deliverance against Satan’s temptations.

You see, there is a pattern of the Christian life present for us today. Jesus was baptized, His Father speaks, and He is then led into a wilderness of temptation for you.

While God does not tempt you, your Baptism into Christ does lead the Devil to assault you. As Martin Luther wrote regarding Baptism,

Remember, then, that it is no joke to take sides against the devil and not only to drive him away from the little child, but to burden the child with such a mighty and lifelong enemy. Remember too that it is very necessary to aid the poor child with all your heart and strong faith, earnestly to intercede for him/her that God, in accordance with this prayer, would not only free him from the power of the devil, but also strengthen him, so that he may nobly resist the devil in life and death.

In short, if you were not baptized, the Devil would not need to assault, deceive, and attempt to lure you away from Christ. But also, do you see how your life follows the pattern of Jesus’?

You, too, were baptized; your Father in heaven speaks over you, and in many ways, as you depart this church, you too are led into wildernesses, but not by the Spirit of God.

What is your wilderness? Where are you most isolated from the world and God?

This past week, we at Good Shepherd have discussed technology quite a bit, for good reason. Smartphones, tablets, and computers are excellent gifts to the world. They even give us the idea of community. However, they often isolate us from the people and world around us.

Just look at the family or couple out to eat. Are they conversing with one another, or are their eyes glued to a screen?

But man was created from the beginning to be in fellowship, to dwell, communicate, and live with one another, just as Christ became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

Sadly, research has revealed the isolation we are experiencing in the palms of our hands today also brings a reality of loneliness; it affects our overall health as we are not as active as we ought to be, and our cognitive abilities are not increasing but decreasing. Depression and anxiety are skyrocketing too, and if that’s not enough, it’s not just our physical life expectancy that’s shortening; it’s your spiritual life that is suffering due to the ease of online gambling and the seduction of pornography.

Today, we invite the tempter and his deceptions into our lives and homes.

But how can you defeat such a powerful enemy and addiction?

You can’t.

That’s why Jesus came in the first place. To be your victor.

Today’s Gospel is a reminder that temptation will come in this life and does. It’s not a moral example of how we are to defeat the Devil; that victory belongs to Christ. But we are given and instructed to hold onto God’s Word firmly, for it’s His Word that delivers us from temptation and ultimately leads us through the valleys of this pilgrimage to everlasting life.

The season of Lent is often a time of deep spiritual conflict—or at least it should be if you’re doing it right. In the days to come, examine where the Devil is tempting you. Where is he leading you into a wilderness of isolation and sin?

Is it found in the use of some form of technology? Are you gaming too much? Are you gambling not only your income but your relationships away? Is pornography seducing you and wrecking your marriage and family?

Or do you speak with one another as you used to? Do you pray as you ought? Do you read the mighty weapon of God’s strong and powerful word?

If not, return and be led by the Holy Spirit to your Baptism, confess and drown these sins, so that a new man may arise this Lententide—a forgiven man whose very life is found and united in Christ Jesus. 

Because only as we live in Christ and hear His word can we begin to be brought out of our wildernesses and united, brothers and sisters living and dwelling among one another as God ordained it.

Ash Wednesday

Text: Psalm 51

As you entered the sanctuary this evening, you had the opportunity to receive ashes. This tradition of placing ashes on the forehead began around the 11th century. But why would we do this?

The first reason we place ashes on our forehead goes back to the first sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. After their sin, God said to Adam and Eve, because of your disobedience, you and all your offspring will return to the ground from which you were created, “for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19b)

In other words, because of your sin, you will die and return to the earth. For this reason, the use of ashes throughout Scripture has been associated with sin and death. They are a sign of mourning and sadness.

Now, what does it mean to sin?

To sin means to miss the mark. Think of an archer shooting an arrow; when they miss the target, they miss the mark.

How do you miss the mark? How do you sin?

The Ten Commandments provide a mirror for Christians to look into and examine their lives and where they have transgressed and fallen short.

The season of Lent is a time when the Christian is invited and expected to examine their lives and where they have missed the mark or sinned.

For instance, do you have other gods outside your heavenly Father? Do your words confess Jesus as your Savior, or is his name a means of expressing anger and displeasure? What about attending church? Is it a priority for you and your family? Have you loved your parents as you ought? Has the anger of your heart burned hot, murdering your neighbor with your thoughts and words? Or has your love been reserved for the wife or husband God entrusted you?

This last one was challenging for King David, the writer of Psalm 51. As he lay with Bathsheba, he broke the Sixth Commandment, among other things.

The whole situation became a snowballing of sin…

First, David saw Bathsheba bathing on the roof, and rather than turning away, he grew with desire for her. Then, to cover up his infidelity with Bathsheba and her pregnancy, David had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, brought back from battle so that he, too, might lay with his wife. However, Uriah was a loyal soldier who could not do such a thing while his fellow soldiers remained in the thick of battle. So what would David do? He’d have Uriah sent to the frontlines, where his death would be all but certain.

David’s sin was great. He attempted to fix what he could not. The consequence of his sin was the death of the child he and Bathsheba conceived.

What does a person do when such situations arise? When you cannot fix what has been broken?

You learn the art of lamenting.

To lament is the action of addressing God in your deep despair, expressing your grief, sorrow, and regret, and acknowledging or confessing your sin and your dire need for the help that can only come from God – the forgiveness of sin.

This is what David did after Nathan, the prophet, came and rebuked him for his sin with Bathsheba and the trail of destruction it left. David learned to lament, and the familiar words of Psalm 51 are the voice of his confession for the sins committed against Bathsheba, Uriah, and God as he stood convicted by the words of the prophet Nathan. 

David began by saying,

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgression” (Psalm 51:1).

David begins by rightly confessing only God can reconcile sin. Only He can make right what was wrong. Only He can blot out the transgressions and evils of man’s heart.

David went on to say,

            For I know my transgressions,
                        and my sin is ever before me. (Psalm 51:3)

In other words, I can’t outrun these transgressions of my heart.

In fact,
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
                        and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5)

I have been a sinner from the moment of conception.

 But in light of this, my confession of sin,
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
                        and renew a right spirit within me.
            Cast me not away from your presence,
                        and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
            Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
                        and uphold me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:10-12)

This prayer of David can only be made and acceptable to God with “a broken and contrite heart.” (Psalm 51:17b)

And this is what is at the core of lamenting, “a broken and contrite heart.” (Psalm 51:17b)

Throughout this season of Lent, we will examine similar Psalms of lament so that we might rightly learn to examine the sins of our hearts and confess them to God. 

When we do not know how to confess our sins, the Psalms give voice to our pleas for mercy and forgiveness; they become our teacher.

Let us mourn and lament the sins of our hearts with David; let us call out with him from our pits of shame and despair, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgression” (Psalm 51:1).

And then know that He does. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into your flesh to bear your sins and transgressions upon the cross, to die in your place. This is love, and this is mercy.

So, look to the ashes upon your forehead in the mirror this night, rightly mourn your transgressions, but then look to the cross of Jesus, confess with your lips, and see how He has blotted and erased your every sin. +INJ+

Quinquagesima

Luke 18:31-43

Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus speaking to His disciples. What is He saying? He’s giving them the plan; He’s telling them what will happen next; in a way, He’s giving the blueprint of what must happen for the house to stand and the people of God to live in harmony and peace once again. Hearing this Gospel, you, too, hear the blueprint. You know when Ash Wednesday begins and where the season of Lent is taking you.  But how many of you won’t listen? How many of you won’t understand or comprehend what Jesus has said? How many of you won’t believe these words of Jesus?

Until now, Jesus had already warned the disciples of His pending death. This is the third time Jesus foretold the events ahead for Him. But the disciples do not comprehend what He says. You see, it’s like children growing up; they have a limited ability to understand and are limited by the world, their experiences, and the events around them. The disciples had been told the cross was coming, three times to be exact, but they didn’t listen or comprehend.

Why don’t they comprehend? Because they think as mere humans. They have heard the preaching of Jesus day in and day out; they’ve witnessed the lame walk, and demons cast out of humans, but they still struggle and fail to distinguish between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of Christ. The disciples think in the ways of children; they believe and comprehend through the lens of this world, by their previous experiences, and the events that have shaped their lives. So, for them and often for you, when a kingdom is established, you will see it as you see temporal governments today: government emblems adorn official buildings, their armies display power and majesty, and their coins reflect images of rulers present and past.

But the kingdom Jesus speaks of can only be grasped by faith. It’s for this reason Jesus lays it all out to the disciples. Jesus instructs the disciples that He will be delivered into the hands of enemies first. Then He will suffer. He will die. In an almost matter-of-fact way, Jesus instructs and provides the details and blueprint of the days ahead for His disciples. They, too, will have to travel with Him to His cross; they, too, will suffer in this life. But His Words should also give them hope; His Words should provide them with faith. Because on the third day, He will rise from the dead.

But the disciples find themselves sitting at Jesus' feet, blind to the teachings they have heard and the miracles they have witnessed: the calming of the storm on the sea, the healing of Jairus’s daughter, and the cleansing of the Lepers.

But then comes the second part of today’s reading, the part when a blind man sees, comprehends, and believes that Jesus is the Christ, the one who is called Savior. The part where none of the disciples who follow Jesus comprehend His words, yet this man, this blind man, sees. How does he see? By listening and hearing. He listens and hears the Word that has gone out among the people regarding Jesus; by this Word, he hears, understands, comprehends, and believes what the disciples don’t. That Jesus is the Christ, and in Him is the blind man, this beggar has mercy, forgiveness, and healing. In Jesus, the Kingdom of heaven is already present for him.

Now, the blind man is in a different place from the disciples, in the darkest corner of life. The only thing this man can do is sit along the side of the road and beg. Begging wasn’t such a faux pas in ancient times; it was commonplace for villagers and those in greatest need to line the streets as dignitaries arrived and cry out for food, lower taxes, gifts, and, most importantly, peace and mercy from their government.

But we are much more civilized. We often see ourselves above asking for help. In fact, we’ve become so hardened that campaigns have been launched to break down barriers when it comes to mental illness, addictions, and the darkest corners of our hearts and minds. We sit comfortably in the shadows of despair, the shadows of our sin; we allow them to become who we are, and we sometimes choose not to seek help; we choose not to beg for mercy and relief from the despairs and sins of this life. We’re too proud. Begging reveals you can’t do something on your own, strips you of personal victories, and reveals a heart in need. But when you are in the darkness of this life, what else is there to do?

The blind man in today’s Gospel provides us with an example of the Christian faith and life. He shows us again that we are not above begging or asking for God’s help. But instead, we need it. Kyrie Eleison is the beggar’s plea, it’s our plea, it’s our prayer: “Lord, have mercy.”

This is what faith looks like: complete reliance on God—trusting not in your own abilities, your mental toughness, or false confidence but in complete and utter dependence on God. 

What does God do when He comes upon this blind man? He stops. That’s right; He stops. This is important because Jesus has a date with the cross. He’s on His way to somewhere important, but He stops and grants mercy to this man; he calls the blind man out of darkness and gives him his sight.

What saved the man? Why did Jesus restore the blind man’s sight? Because of His faith. Jesus says, “Your faith has made you well.” Faith is the key; faith receives, faith carries you through the valleys, and remains through the joys of this life. Faith hears the Word of God and believes. Faith makes the Christian; it comes from outside of you; as Paul writes, “Faith comes by hearing.” (Romans 10:17) The beggar heard God’s Word and believed. He was healed.

So, after being healed by Jesus, this man follows him. He goes where Jesus goes, and Jesus is going to Jerusalem. He is going to the cross, and we must also go now.

There are crosses, times of darkness, sadness, and times of lacking understanding or comprehension in everyone's life. But today, you are invited to listen to the Words of Jesus as the blind man on the side of the road. Jesus comes, and He hears your pleas for mercy, your prayers of great need in this life, and bears them on the cross. He does this out of his immeasurable love for you.

In a way, today’s Gospel lays out the blueprint for the season of Lent that we embark on this Wednesday. It also reveals the blueprint of the Christian life. It’s a pattern of bearing crosses, following Jesus to Jerusalem, dying with Christ, and arising anew. It’s the life of a baptized child of God—a life that cries out for mercy and puts faith solely in Jesus.

The past three weeks have served as preparation for Lent, the journey, battle, and the ups and downs that it can be. These past weeks teach us to despair of ourselves, and these Sundays, known as the Gesimas, highlight our Lutheran heritage and theology: the Solas of Grace Alone, Scripture Alone, and Faith Alone. In these three, we are continually invited to look to Jesus Alone, for in Him, your pleas for mercy are always heard. So, cry out as the blind man, begging for the mercy of Jesus, trusting He has won the victory, He has loved you to the end, and He will surely give His mercy to you, both, in His Word, and now in the Sacrament. +INJ+  

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

Sexagesima + Second Sunday Before Lent

Luke 8:4-15

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

The topic recently arose in our home about planting tomato seeds for a bountiful harvest this summer. The snow and cold made us question if it’s too soon, yet sowing seeds must begin early and in a controlled environment. The plant must take in the good nutrients only good soil may provide; the seed must sprout forth into a strong and fortified plant that will be able to sustain life outside the controlled climate of the home. Once outside, the plant will often appear helpless against the birds of the air or the squirrels that constantly patrol the parameter. It will be a battle for life and death.

The Gospel we heard today is another parable meant to reveal the profound truths of the faith using analogies that should be familiar to the disciples. Yet, even they asked Jesus, “What does this parable mean?”

Many today probably join the disciples in asking, “What does Jesus mean?”

Why? Because many of us no longer sow seeds or farm as the generations of our families before us did. These once necessary and challenging tasks for survival are simply lost on many of us.

Just as the Landowner last week was God, the Sower is Christ Himself, and the seed is the Word He preaches. The parable provides an image of the Church and how the preached Gospel is received in various ways, yet it brings forth the fruit of faith in very few hearts.

Thus, Jesus presents a parable with four types of soil and four types of reception of the seed, which, as mentioned previously, is the Word of God.

The first type of soil is the bare road; seeds sowed or tossed freely upon this road fall and yield no reward. In fact, they do not even have the opportunity to implant themselves. Instead, the birds of the air come down as seagulls looking to feast upon breadcrumbs scattered along a body of water. They are little devils who swoop down to snatch the Word of God that has entered your ears before it will ever even reach your heart.

How so, the Christian asks? This endeavor of these devils does not even wait for you to depart these doors either. Instead, the temptations already exist that would prevent the seed from penetrating your ears. There can be a temptation to converse with your neighbor during the Divine Service if a thought occurs; it’s not just children who chatter in church. Even the bulletin and its announcements can keep you from hearing the sermon if tempted. There are plenty of ways for the little devils of the world to snatch away the Word God is trying to sow into your ears.

Well, at least with the rocks, the seed has a chance, right? Some individuals hear the Word of God and receive it with great eagerness and joy. But with just the right balance of carelessness and temptation, the seeds never take root—the rocky soil leads to a quick death.

This is a scary situation. How many congregations have young people brought up in the Church but no longer possess faith? The seed was planted in a safe environment, in the Church, but they fell away when temptation approached outside the home.

As noted above, life is not a question of “if” temptation comes but when it comes. Before His arrest on the Mount of Olives, Jesus said to His disciples, “Pray not to come into temptation " (Luke 22:46). Yet, we all succumb to temptation, just as the disciples fell asleep while the Lord prayed.

For some, the temptations of life lie in the people they associate with, their friends and co-workers, or the doctrines of false churches that allure them. What lacks for seed sowed upon the rocks is proper and sustaining nutrients for man's life - what is required and needed is the water of life found in the daily drowning and rising of Holy Baptism.

But the person who has entered temptation has turned away from this life-giving water; they are like Judas, who believed for a little while but fell away and succumbed to the temptations of the world.

Judas is a good segue to the third type of soil, the soil of thorns. Judas believed for a little while before turning to his heart's desires; one of the causes of his fall and death was his desire for riches and pleasure.

You see, the soil of rock is of no benefit, as is the soil of thorns. We learn in verse twelve of our Gospel that seeds sown in either of these settings will survive “for a time,” but death is inevitable apart from good soil.

Over time, the thorns will literally suffocate and impede any plant growth you wish to grow.

Here is an image of competing worldviews. Children are prepared throughout their youth, but as they depart home and enter the uncontrolled environment of the world or a college campus, the cares and pleasures of this world and the desire for riches lead them astray and choke the very life of God from their veins.

Saint John wrote in his first epistle, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)

This is not easy though, is it? You, too, come to church but once a week and then depart into the world and are expected not to be conformed by your surroundings.

For this, I believe it is essential to go back to the conclusion of the first section of the Gospel when Jesus says, “‘But other [seed] fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.’ When He had said these things He cried, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear!’”

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

To be one who “hears” is to be a catechumen - the word catechumen derives from the Greek as “one under instruction” and often refers to a young person or adult participating in the ongoing instruction of the Christian faith. Paul writes in Romans, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

Therefore, the process of tending to the soil of one’s heart, to be confirmed in the Christian faith, and being brought into eternal life begins and ends with the intentional and continual hearing of God’s Word, the seed of the Sower.

And yet, as we learn from the Gospel, not everyone who receives the seed will remain in the Sower. This is often a mystery to us, but it also reveals why the Sower sows indiscriminately; He casts His net wide. His aim is for His seed to reach every highway, every crevice, every thorn-infested portion of the earth, and every tilled acre of soil prepared for the spring season of planting - His aim is for His seed to take root and to grow, sometimes in the most mysterious of ways.

When Jesus called His first disciples, He did not tell them to lower their nets into the best-known fishing holes but to go to the deep waters, the most unlikely of places. That is where you will catch men, and you will catch them alive. Dear brothers and sisters that is what this Word does: it rescues, nourishes, conforms you, forgives, and provides the nutrients for life.

Throughout the sermon today, I’ve referenced children often, and for good reason…

My children often remind me, “Daddy, you are a child too!” This is followed up with, “You are a child of God.” Yes, I am, and that is the correct way to view our relationship with God; we are all His children. As His children, we are hearers of His Word; we are catechumens, and our time hearing and learning the Word stretches beyond being a newborn, infant, or adolescent. It includes all of you.

My friends, the season of Lent is upon us, and with it will come the rigors of the penitential season. Much like life, the season will expose you to the elements of the world. You will be faced with the aspects of life that assault your faith, that lead you into temptation, tribulation, and despair. Still, ultimately, you are invited back into the house of God where the Sower awaits with His seed - tilling the soil of your hearts and preparing you for the harvest to come in the resurrection of life everlasting. +INJ+

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

Septuagesima

Text: Matthew 20:1-16

Certainly, the words have flowed off your lips, “It’s not fair.”

What’s interesting about these words is that human nature seldom wants life to be fair. We want more than we’re entitled to and desire to win at all costs—just look at your last argument. We want the people we don’t like to lose.

Even the American idea of fairness implies we are born with the same walk of life, potential, and capabilities.

Yet, we know that this isn’t true. But it doesn’t keep us from wanting it…

There is a romanticism with the idea of fairness, isn’t there?

One may look to their neighbor and see their wealth as you scrounge for pennies and say, “It’s not fair.”

Maybe you see a child born with disabilities and say, “It’s just not fair.”  Yet, their enduring childlike faith in Jesus often becomes a teacher and example to the rest of us.

Still, another sees a favorite teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer, and they respond, “It’s not fair.”

Or is it fair that a child loses a parent at a young age or that a parent must bury a child?

No, life is not fair.

And if it were, we’d all be in a great deal of trouble because it would end for all of us in the grave and the judgment of eternal death, not only for the sin of our first parents that ushered into this world all those ailments and calamities mentioned above but the sin we continue to commit today as we grumble among one another regarding the fairness of life.

So yes, as counterintuitive as it is, life is not fair.

But look to the cross. Does that look fair?

No, of course not. But do you know what you see on the cross? It’s love. Love for a fallen creation, love for mankind, love for you.

Upon the cross, Jesus took your place so that you might receive the forgiveness of sin and eternal life by grace.

And this gets to the heart of the Gospel reading today: grace.

Grace is a gift; it’s not earned; it’s given out of love, and that is the struggle for the laborers in the vineyard; because of how long they’ve toiled under the heat of the day, they now expect more than was promised to them as the Gospel says,

And on receiving [a denarius] they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. (Matthew 20:11-16)

It's not fair, is it?

But the love of the master is good, gracious, and kind.

And if you’re being honest, praise be to God that His love is not dependent upon how long you’ve been in the vineyard of His Church or walked in the way of the Baptismal life or even the works that you have done inside or out of the church.

No, instead, this parable gives us hope, not only for the times when our hearts have been hardened towards the Lord but also for our family and friends who have not yet entered the vineyard of God’s Church through the waters of Holy Baptism.

Truly, which of you would not desire a loved one to share in the confession of the thief upon the cross, the one who looks and says to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

There is no greater image of grace than this: even as the thief is breathing his final breaths of life, he confesses Jesus and receives the same gift of eternal life as you and I look forward to. 

So, what does this mean for us today? What does this mean for you, Max, as you are confirmed today?

If you are hearing the voice of your Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, do not harden your hearts toward Him for His generosity, love, and kindness to others. (Hebrews 7:7-8)

Instead, rejoice that He would choose to give the same wage and gift of forgiveness and eternal life to you as your neighbor. And He does this out of grace and love for you.

So, as you look around and see your place and lot in life, no matter how good or bad it may appear at this moment, realize that no, life is not fair; some of us are born with disabilities, and others will be diagnosed with ailments, while others still experience an untimely death and loss, but God gives all of us more than we could ever deserve, He gives us His life and salvation. And this is all by grace.

Think about that now, Max, as you will soon confess your faith.

Your salvation, the forgiveness of your sin, and eternal life are given to you, not because of your work in Confirmation class, but as you will say, “By the grace of God.”

It’s the gift all believers in Christ Jesus receive. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

February 9, 2025

Text: Matthew 17:1-9

If we were all honest with ourselves, we’d all like to be there with Peter, James, and John. Why? Because we want the mountaintop experience, they just had in the Gospel. After all, it’s experiences like these that bring clarity to life, right? Yet, from Peter's bumbling words in our Gospel today, I don’t believe they’re any closer to understanding who Jesus is now and why He has come into this world than they were a week prior.

However, the words of Jesus just six days before today and immediately before our Gospel reading are incredibly important in understanding today’s text and having a proper lens through which to view today’s events.

Jesus said to His disciples,

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:24b-28)

With this lens, one can see that the entire purpose of the transfiguration of Jesus is not only to confirm the identity of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. But that He is the Christ, and His entire life leads to His glorification upon the cross.

Still, the disciples are a little slow on the uptick, and they do not comprehend Jesus’ words. One can see this in the Gospel today, too: Peter cannot keep silent. The great mountaintop experience is in full force; Moses and Elijah have appeared, and they are conversing with Jesus, and Peter breaks in (or interrupts like a child), “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” It’s a bold move, but not one I’d make, interrupting the God of heaven and earth, or insulting Him by offering to honor Moses and Elijah as an equal to Jesus with three tents.

It's as if Peter hasn’t been listening to Jesus’ teaching; He is the One who has come to fulfill all righteousness; He is the One who comes to fulfill the words of Moses and Elijah.

In an interesting turn, God the Father follows up these words of Peter by speaking from the heavens, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

It appears God has gotten their attention now as they are filled with fear and have dug their faces into the dirt and rock of the mountain.

But again, God said to everyone on top of the mountain, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

These words of the Father are in the imperative; they are an order. “Listen to Him.”

But that’s exactly what they haven’t done; they have not listened to His Words announcing His cross and death, they have not taken them to heart, nor permitted them to lead the way.

But isn’t this what it’s all about, our way versus God’s way?

Like the disciples, there is no desire in our hearts to pick up the cross and follow Jesus. Instead, we prefer that Jesus conform to us. We desire power and success. Put us in charge, and we’ll get things right; we’ll get things done. We do this in our homes, our cities, and, yes, even the church.

It’s good to have ambition, but ambition can also destroy unity in Christ if we’re not listening to His voice – just look at Peter; his ambition was silenced by the very voice of God.

Because our ways are not His…

As the prophet Isaiah wrote,

            “Seek the LORD while he may be found;

                        call upon him while he is near;

            let the wicked forsake his way,

                        and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

             let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,

                        and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

            For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

                        neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

            For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

                        so are my ways higher than your ways

                        and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9)

The way of Jesus is humility, submission, and obedience to His Father. Jesus teaches this throughout His earthly life, beginning with His birth, as He was born of the Virgin Mary. Or as He was tempted by the Devil and remained obedient to God’s Word, or as He prayed on the night of His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42)

But that is the hardest prayer to make, isn’t it? To pray with Jesus, the third petition of the prayer He taught us, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Why, you might ask… because it entrusts your entire life into His care; it places all of your dependence on Him. And this is difficult for us to comprehend as we live and dwell in a world consumed with itself and the idea that we are all little saviors unto ourselves.

Yet, what darkness have you ever led yourself out of?

And this is where the Gospel is leading us today, to journey with Jesus into the darkness; whether it be loneliness, the brokenness of a home, persistent grief, or even the nearness of the grave, today is a rallying cry to take up the crosses of life and follow Jesus into the darkness of His cross that first Good Friday.

And for this reason, the time is here for us to learn again to follow the words of our Heavenly Father and “Listen to His beloved Son.”

With the feast of Transfiguration, we now know the season of Lent is near. It’s a difficult season because it often brings us face to face with the deep darknesses of life. However, it also leads and teaches us to grow in our dependence on Jesus.

So, let it be time for us to learn the way of the cross.

Let it be time for us to follow Jesus with His disciples down this great mount of Transfiguration and to the mount of Calvary, where He is crowned in glory.

Let it be time, as our closing hymn will say, for the tears over sin and darkness to flow.

Let it be time for us to confess our need for Jesus to save us according to His Father's good and faithful will.

Because even as this journey to the cross is arduous and difficult, Jesus continues to come into these darknesses of your life with His Word and forgiveness.

He comes to this rail and says to you, “Rise, and have no fear.”

Meaning, rise and go in His peace, trusting that He will come again with His angels on the last day to bring you and all the faithful into the eternal glory of His presence. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

The Third Sunday After Epiphany

Text: Romans 12:16-21

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

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

What do you desire in life? What do you desire within your home? Or what do you desire within this congregation? 

These questions all appear innocent and honest, but they have one common flaw: they begin with you.

If we are honest, our desires throughout life often proceed out of personal distress, the need for control, or the unwavering belief we possess all the answers to the problems of life, the difficulties of our homes, or the issues of the church.

When we believe we have all the answers, we are led to become haughty and conceited, as the Epistle warns against. (Romans 12:16) We are led into arrogance and becoming excessively prideful.

Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” (Proverb 3:7) Still, the inborn sin of your first parents continues to tug at your heart, whispering into your ears - speak up, chart a bold path forward, you know the way to go… don’t give in to others.

This subjective and self-absorbed confidence you demonstrate is precisely what the Proverbs warn against – it is the turning away from the objective Word of God, your Creator, and Redeemer. It is the way of sin.

Sin separates man from God, resulting from Adam and Eve’s disobedience that ended with expulsion from the Garden. Sin also separates men from one another, which causes strife and division.

Sadly, none of us must look far for strife and division. For whom did you see as you approached or entered the church today and said, ugh, I see they’re here. Which family member do you silence the ringer for when they call, avoiding the conversation of reconciliation that must one day occur? Or what secret addiction drives you into isolation, pulling you away from earthly responsibility?

Yet, the Apostle Paul urges the reader in Romans to “Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:16a) Or, as one translator renders this verse, “Have the same mindset toward one another.”

These words call us away from our own desires and the course or path we have plotted, orienting and uniting us toward a single goal—peace.

However, while not always possible, the Apostle Paul goes on to urge the Christian and the Church: “So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18)

Walther, the first president of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, wrote, “A Christian must value peace and harmony so highly that he will suffer considerable harm if he can thereby purchase peace and harmony.” (Walther, 159)

But what is the cost of peace? 

Truthfully, apart from Christ Jesus, there is no amount of labor, means, or intellect you could ever possess to attain peace for the church, your home, or your life. No, the cost of peace hangs upon the cross – it is the only begotten Son of the Father.

Still, those He came to redeem treated Him shamefully as He was whipped and spat upon, His own disciples denied Him, and the government arrayed Him with a crown of thorns. No one was innocent, not even you.

But the passion of our Lord not only shows us how to suffer in this brief life but also teaches us to “repay no one with evil.”

This is a challenge, is it not? Unfortunately, the accessibility of retribution is not far from us. It resides within our hearts. Our lips simply give voice to our anger, becoming the very gates of hell as we issue vain threats and warnings to one another, and our silent quest for vengeance becomes a reality.

My friends, this struggle is not unique to you; I, too, share in this struggle of the heart. My faith continues to require a regular trip to my Baptism. In fact, each day I walk past that font, I must again remember that I have been marked, redeemed, and made a child of God.

All this to say, I, like you, must constantly turn my heart and direct my faith to where forgiveness and peace reside – to Christ Jesus.

This is something our Gospel reveals today about the leper and the centurion; their faith was unwavering.

The leper approached Jesus and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And what did Jesus do? He put out His hand and touched the unclean leper, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed,” which means to be forgiven.  

The centurion comes running to Jesus, pleading with him to heal his servant. Jesus says to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion responds, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”

What trust and faith this leper and centurion have in Jesus. Are you so bold?

Are you so bold to look solely to Jesus for the peace and forgiveness you need? Are you so willing to sacrifice yourself, setting aside your positions or ambitions in life for the good of your neighbor as the centurion?

None of this is easy, but we are called to set aside our desires and wills and look to the cross with unwavering faith.

It began for each of us at the font with water and the Word. It continued today as we joined our voices in confession and absolution. And soon the flesh and blood of Christ Jesus will again cleanse each of you with the forgiveness of sin, uniting us as the body of Christ Jesus, that we may “Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:16a) That we would “Have the same mindset toward one another.”

Look, there will be days in our lives when our desires are not met. Beginning with ourselves as it is written, “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15) But, we must realize this same struggle resides in all who dwell within our homes and within this congregation.

So, while it sounds more frightening than it is, we are all called to “heap burning coals on the heads of our neighbors.” (Romans 12:17)

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” 

In other words, be good to those who persecute you and extend your hand as Jesus has extended His to you with His forgiveness. 

This is what it means to “heap burning coals on the heads of [your] neighbors.” (Romans 12:17)

Do this joyfully, turning and uniting your hearts in Christ Jesus - overwhelming your brothers and sisters with charity and the forgiveness of sin-loving your neighbors as Christ loves you and leads you into the way of harmony and peace. +INJ+ 

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

The Second Sunday After Epiphany

Text: John 2:1-11 & Ephesians 5:22-33

The entirety of Scripture is one big wedding. It began in the Garden of Eden as God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

And so, God did; He formed Eve from the side of Adam

Then [Adam] said,
             “This at last is bone of my bones
                        and flesh of my flesh;
             she shall be called Woman,
                        because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23)

Scripture goes on to say,

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

These profound words of God reveal that husband and wife are no longer autonomous beings dwelling near one another but have their lives intimately interwoven.

For this reason, marriage is to be seen as a gift, just as Eve was to be a blessing unto Adam; every husband and wife is a gift unto one another.

However, marriage also gives many the gift of a community. God said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…” (Genesis 1:28a) In other words, have babies as God wills it.

Community comes from this relationship between a man and a woman instituted and established by God, their children, and their children’s children. For this reason, the wedding of a man and woman is seen throughout the Scriptures as a family and community event. It was and still is an image of God’s love for His people.

Marriage celebrates God’s love and faithfulness to man, even as man does not honor marriage.

And if you were to examine the Old Testament, you’d see how Israel is often depicted as a faithless bride who departs from the commands and will of God. Still, as a husband, God did not forsake them; instead, as the Epistle says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

God the Father sends His only begotten Son to redeem His bride, the Church, by dying on the cross. For this reason, He says that all husbands today should demonstrate the same sacrificial love for their brides as Paul wrote,

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. (Ephesians 5:28-30)

So, again, marriage is an image and icon of the Church and God’s sacrificial love for her.

But we don’t like to sacrifice in this life, partly out of fear. For this reason, the percentage of adults of any age getting married continues to decrease over time.

A statistical and researched reason for this decrease in marriage is the number of couples cohabiting and living together before or in place of marriage. In many ways, this places man’s objectives above God and rejects not only the gift of marriage as it was established in the Garden of Eden but also the Giver of the gift.

Naturally, many see cohabitation as a good test run, have financial interests at stake, fear commitment, or are concerned about other worldly matters. Yet, again, our Epistle says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

To understand marriage is to look to the cross.

Marriage was never meant to be easy (or convenient). Instead, it’s a proving ground for a man and a woman, who sacrifice themselves in every worldly and spiritual way for one another and for their family—the community God has placed them into.

Now, sadly, this community is shattered all too often. The research conducted year after year reveals that cohabitation actually increases the rate of divorce over time. I believe there is something to this, and we can look to the marriage rite to understand it.

Near the end of the rite, the pastor says, “What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.” In other words, what God joins together, let man not separate. Or remember that passage from Genesis, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

The community and fellowship of marriage always begin with God. Apart from Him, it’s not only our relationships but our faith that is in danger. Because when we sin, when we put our own desires before God’s will, we are separated from God and the community of believers He has placed us into.

For this reason, we as a community must also hold marriage as the great blessing it is with our words, our actions, and our faith so that those in our midst, especially the young, will desire it.

Because it is, after all, an image of God’s love for you, His bride, the Church.

As I said at the beginning of today’s sermon, Scripture is one big wedding: from the creation of Adam and Eve to their fall into sin, Israel’s rebellious nature, and the coming of Jesus.

It was and is always about Jesus, after all, the Bridegroom, coming to redeem His bride.

And this is where our Gospel points us today.

As Jesus attends the wedding at Cana, that festive family event, they run out of wine: an earthly problem, no doubt. But Mary knows who her Son is and that He can help with the situation; however, Jesus responds to her petition, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

Jesus looked past the benefit of that moment and cast our gaze to another moment in time: the “hour” of His sacrificial death upon the cross, the consummation of the heavenly wedding banquet that unites heaven and earth in the forgiveness of sin.

A forgiveness that remains present for you today as we continue to participate in this ongoing wedding feast of the Lamb and His Kingdom.

For this reason, we need to examine ourselves and our lives to ensure we have not begun to cohabitate in the house of the Lord. Meaning that we have not started to come to the Lord’s house out of habit, for worldly gain, or an outward appearance of community and fellowship – a relationship with God.

Instead, we are to come here as a bride who draws near to receive her bridegroom who sacrificed even His life for her. We come to receive the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation won for us upon the cross that He gives, because this act of grace is now interwoven and flows into our lives, relationships, and homes – the community in which God has placed each of us.

In fact, this icon of grace is now the image of our marriages and relationships with one another.

It’s a sacrificial gift anchored in the love and cross of Jesus Christ.

So let us see the great blessing of marriage and look forward to the day the Bridegroom gathers us for the eternal wedding feast of His heavenly banquet. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI

The Baptism of Our Lord

Text: Matthew 3:15-22

In light of having a baptism last week and our observance of the Baptism of our Lord today, it might be a good time for us to examine, review, and ask again “what is baptism?” Especially as we live not only in a time of confusion but a period when Christian ideals are rejected by the world and society around us.

To begin, the word “baptism” comes from the Greek βαπτίζω, meaning to wash. As mentioned last week, there is a shared understanding between the New Testament action of baptism and the Old Testament work of consecrating oneself.

Throughout the book of Leviticus, Moses records for us,

For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44-45)

A few chapters later, Moses writes again, “Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” (Leviticus 20:7-8)

This consecration is a ritual of washing and cleansing of the unholy so that one might be made holy. If a person were to touch or consume an unclean animal, there would be a need to cleanse oneself. This included the need for a mother to be cleansed seven days after giving birth or for the sins of sexual immorality.

Yet there is a more clearly stated foreshadowing of Baptism as we know it today in the book of Ezekiel as the prophet writes,

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

Just as Ezekiel is pointing God’s people forward to Holy Baptism, you can begin to also hear the words of John the Baptist just prior to our Gospel this morning as John says,

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

So now there is a fork in the road: the one who rejects baptism or fails to live a life of repentance will experience the fire of eternal damnation. However, the one who lives a life of repentance receives the forgiveness of sin.

This is, after all, why we need baptism; we are sinners in need of Jesus. As Paul writes in Romans, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

And here is that gift language. Baptism delivers the gift of God’s name and forgiveness.

As Peter preached in the Book of Acts,

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. (Acts 2:38-39)

And this gift was revealed in this way, “[That] God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

This is why Jesus came to the Jordan River; He entered the filthy waters to be baptized by John the Baptist in order to take upon Himself the filth of your sin, to bear it upon the cross and become your substitute – that you might now receive His forgiveness and faith.

That’s a pretty good gift, isn’t it?

And Peter says, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:39)

Isn’t this comforting? The gift of Holy Baptism is to be received by everyone, regardless of age, even nursing infants.

Still, some will ask why a baby needs to be baptized.

Well, the Psalmist wrote one of the clearest answers to this objection as he said, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)

While babies are cute, from the moment of conception, their mother and father’s sin pumps through the veins of their bodies and the chambers of their hearts. We call this Original Sin.

Yet, the Holy Spirit is at work in that little heart within their chest to create faith as the Psalmist confesses, “Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.” (Psalm 22:9)

Not only does this passage confess the incredible faith of the youngest among us, but it also reveals who the real actor in creating and sustaining this faith is: God the Holy Spirit.

A glorious comfort for us is that baptism and the faith received are not dependent upon a person’s intellect, nor their age. It’s a gift given through the work of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus even says that to inherit the kingdom of heaven, we must all become like children.

He said in the Gospel of Matthew,

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven…

Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:3-6)

How comforting are these words for us?

So, what does Baptism do?

Well, we’ve discussed this already, but in the words of Paul, Baptism leads us,

“To put off your old self, which…is corrupt.” (Ephesians 4:22) Your self-centeredness, your irritability and childish behaviors, your despair and sadness.

Instead, Paul says, “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

What is the “New self?”

It’s the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-24)

What a gift God has given you!

A gift present for you today because Jesus entered the waters of the Jordan River, took upon Himself the filth of your sin, and bore it upon the cross.

So be encouraged to remember the Lord’s Baptism as you remember yours, because in these waters you were “buried with him into [His] death, in order that, just as [He] was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, [you] too might walk in newness of life.

Walk in this newness of life today, and learn again to demonstrate “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” among one another and a world that awaits you outside these doors.

Then rejoice even if this world rejects you as it rejected Jesus because the waters of Holy Baptism have made you God’s Own Child. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Sheperd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

Epiphany of our Lord (Observed)

Text: 2:1-12

When I was younger, I loved to hear all the stories of Christmas. The manger, the shepherds, the wise men, and the star that hung so brightly in the sky. I loved hearing and singing about the star so much that I would often look on my way to church on Christmas Eve for the Christmas star.

We’ve always bunched the wise men together with the Christmas story that we hear on Christmas Eve, but the truth is that the wise men would not have arrived so quickly. It would have taken them a year or two to travel to Bethlehem because they probably came from Persia, Babylon, or Arabia. The distance of their travels also means that the baby Jesus probably wasn’t a baby anymore; he was probably around the age of some of the children who roam our pews and fill our sanctuary with joy, around the age of two.

But who were the wise men?

Well, it might be better to call these men the Magi. Magi are “scientists, seers, wise and without a doubt learned men and scholars in the natural sciences, the movement of stars and planets.”

So, naturally, God speaks to them in a manner they will understand; God gives them a star to guide them on their way. And the star eventually guides the Magi to Bethlehem.

Now, think about this: what would you do if all you had was a star to guide you across the United States of America? Do you believe we could do this? Do you believe you could navigate the highways and byways by a star? I think it would be a challenge, don’t you?

Besides the challenge of staying on course, there are times when you might run into obstacles like lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!). Okay, maybe not lions, tigers, and bears, but a journey on foot of this magnitude without the technology we have today would be both challenging and dangerous.

But, something interesting happens during the journey of the Magi: they are led first to Jerusalem. Remember, this is where Jesus will die upon the cross for the sins of the world, for you.

But then the Magi also ask King Herod where the new king and Savior would be born, and Herod summons the Scribes and Chief Priests. These are the men seen as wise in the Scriptures, and they read to Herod and the Magi what the prophet Micah says: the new King would come to Bethlehem.

And so, the journey goes on, and the star reappears and leads the Magi to Jesus and His mother, Mary, and his earthly father, Joseph.

Now, here is what I want you to remember this evening: the star and all its glory led the Magi. There are many beliefs on how the star appeared and what the star was made of and so on (like it was the planets Jupiter and Saturn coming together), but what’s important is that we remember the star led the Magi to Jerusalem where they heard the Word of God read aloud.

What does this mean? The Word of God told them to go to Bethlehem, where they would find Jesus, the Word of God in the flesh!

There are many miraculous ways God spoke to His people throughout the Bible. But now, we are told that God speaks to us in His Word, through the Words written in Holy Scripture. 

You may often feel like you are on a journey throughout life, lost and overwhelmed by the tasks and events of the day, but you no longer need to search for Jesus. He is right where He says He will be for you. So, pay attention when you gather in this sanctuary, listen to God’s Word as it is read and proclaimed, and read it with your families and within your homes because where the Word of God is read, that is where Jesus is for you!

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

Christmas 2

Matthew 2:13-23 & 1 Peter 4:12-19

One commentary I read in preparation for today titled our Gospel reading, “The Greatest Christmas Program Never.”

This Gospel reads more like an action movie or a thriller. But this part of the Christmas story is seldom told or heard.

It’s had me wondering, what if we included all of today’s Gospel in the Christmas pageants of old? Would it have prepared the children of the church more fully for life? Wouldn’t it be more authentic?

I’ll tell you one thing: the church's young men surely would have been more attentive, right? I mean, the angel is coming by night in the dream, the flight and escape into Egypt, and then there’s the horrible and tragic murdering of the young boys by a ruthless Herod before the safe return of the Christ child so the prophecy could be fulfilled, that the Savior of the World would come from Nazareth.

But this side of the story doesn’t warm the heart as much as the image of a sleeping child in a manger does. It’s way too earthy and realistic, and the children—oh, the children—certainly aren’t ready for it.

But this raises another question: How are children not only prepared to hear this side of the Christmas story but also prepared to live on this side of the Christmas story?

Our epistle reading said,

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

What Peter is saying here is that the life of the Christian will be full of trials and difficulties. The term “Fiery trials” describes a time of severe testing of one’s faith.

But Peter also adds, “But rejoice insofar as you share [in] Christ’s sufferings.”

If you share in the suffering of Christ, where were you joined to His life and death? Where were you joined to this suffering?

At the font.

It’s at the font this life of trial and testing begins.

Martin Luther emphasized the seriousness of Holy Baptism when he said, “Remember, therefore, that it is no joke to take sides against the devil and not only to drive him away from the little child, but to burden the child with such a mighty and lifelong enemy.” (LW 53:102)

The devil only attacks what is not his. And when a child like Helen is brought to the font, it must be done with great care and seriousness because now the child is united with Christ.

Therefore, trials and testing shall come.

So, how can Helen or any child be led safely through this life? In other words, how can any of them or us remain safely in the Christian faith?

Think back again to the Gospel this morning, it said,

Now when [Joseph, Mary, and Jesus] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” (Matthew 2:13)

Listen to that language: Herod wants to “Destroy” the newborn Jesus, the one in the Christmas pageant that was all snug in the manger; Herod wants to kill Him.

But a little later on in the Gospel, we learned,

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” (Matthew 2:19-20)

Throughout all of this, God the Father protected His only begotten Son by using Jesus’ earthly adopted father, Joseph.

Joseph was responsible for guarding and protecting the child and mother from all the trials and assaults of evil in this world. God would use Joseph to guard the infant Jesus against the assaults and attacks of Satan.

In Joseph, we are reminded not only how vital fathers are but also how paramount parents are to their children’s faith. God provides for the young, parents to guard, protect, and lead them in the Christian faith.

This remains true today, as children are susceptible to many attacks from Satan, this world, and even the flesh that clothes them.

Reflect on how much time a family spends in the church each week or in the Scriptures and prayer at home. Then, ponder how much time a child spends at school, on television, or online.

It’s staggering, really.

The statistics say that a child spends approximately 6 hours per day at school and another 3 hours on some screen, whether television, tablets, or video games.

Sadly, this research results in children and parents spending an average of only 60-90 minutes a day together.

At the end of the day, how does a parent then know how to protect their child from the dangers of this life? Where is the time to discuss the matters of faith?

Now, school and education are good things. Historically, churches were some of the first and most prolific sources of education and schools.

But as Mary and Joseph were entrusted with the care and protection of the infant Jesus, so mothers and fathers today have been entrusted to protect and lead their children faithfully through a world just as dangerous as the one into which Jesus was born.

In some ways, the technology and lack of time we have today as families have made this world more dangerous because danger no longer needs to pursue a child, but we now invite many evils into our homes.

So then, let us ponder the well-known Proverb,

Train up a child in the way he should go;

                        even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

As we’ve discussed before, the words “Train up” here means to initiate, dedicate, set aside, or consecrate.

From this, one can see the font where Helen and all children of God are set aside in the waters of Holy Baptism.

“The way” a child is to go is the Christian faith so that even as they age, grow, and mature, they won’t depart from it but can be counted among the faithful on the last day.

Sadly, too many parents today have seen Confirmation as some form of graduation rather than the public confession of faith and affirmation of Baptism it is meant to be. And with this lens, the result is that our children become led not by faith, the Church, or their parents, but by this world.  

We want children to grow, mature, and make wise decisions. However, for children to learn and continue to make wise decisions, we cannot be so eager to hand them over to the world while saying they aren’t ready for this side of the Christmas story.

As it is written in Genesis, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

Not until marriage does a child see their priorities and the natural order of their families change.

This means that parents are completely and utterly responsible for their children’s lives and faith throughout all stages of adolescence.

I mean, according to God’s gracious will, your Father in heaven gave them to you. You begot them, bore them, and now provide them a home.

All of this leads us back to the font.

The faith a child is given at the font is nurtured in the home and sustained at this altar.

As parents and as a Church, we serve the young of this congregation first by praying for their faith, then by ensuring they are present and equipped with God’s Word so that they are ready to engage the world and this life, and finally, that when danger arises, they know the way they are to go, that they know how to return to their Baptism, where God’s comfort and protection remain for them.

So, let us embrace the work God has given us. Let us prepare the church’s children to live on this side of the Christmas story; let us prepare them for the darkness that surrounds them. Most of all, let us pray for them – that they, as we, would be led by their Savior who, as a child, followed the will of His Heavenly Father, even suffering the fiery trials and tribulations of the cross, to redeem you and them, that all of us might be led to the only thing that truly matters, eternal life. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI

Christmas 1

Text: Luke 2:33-40

As a child, I would marvel at Christmas lights. The whole season was full of mystery, anticipation, and joy. Watching my own children, I also see how they are filled with wonder and amazement as Advent builds towards and culminates on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Just think back to the first time you held a candle on Christmas Eve and sang Silent Night with your family as the sanctuary became dark.

Where does this childlike sense of wonder go?

The gifts have been exchanged; sadly, some have already lost their amusement. Toys have been broken, and new sweaters have holes in them. The “what were you thinking gifts” have been returned. The new books have either been read or have become the latest paperweights for your desk.

But Christmas goes on.

As we’ve discussed over the past weeks, our Christmas joy does not entirely halt on December 25th; it is just beginning, and the Twelve Days of Christmas continue through Epiphany.

These days help us understand that the Church’s calendar differs from the world's. It does not proceed as the world does and is not arranged according to college football bowl games. This is evident by the feasts and festivals on the Church calendar this past week.

The first observance the Church has is the martyrdom of St. Stephen on December 26th, quickly followed by the feast of Holy Innocents when King Herod brutally murdered all male children under the age of two.

After the gift-giving, is this what you thought the Christmas season would be filled with? The birth of the Savior, immediately followed by martyrs and stories of death? 

But Simeon is prepared for this in our Gospel reading – his own death - now that he has seen the Lord.

This Gospel reading cannot be heard without the echoes of Simeon’s song that immediately precedes it, the Nunc Dimittis. Simeon begins the familiar hymn we sing each Sunday, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace.” (Luke 2:29) The time has come; Simeon is recorded as waiting for the consolation of Israel and now his time of waiting for consolation is here, he can rest from this tiring world and meet his death in the peace of God. Simeon has such confidence in this truth because the consolation, that is, the world's salvation, is now seen with his eyes and lies within his arms in the baby Jesus.

In addition to these great words of Simeon, the earthly family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph have had some pretty amazing things occur already, too, like angels appearing and announcing the birth of Jesus to Mary, a virgin. Then, the shepherds arrived and traveled to Bethlehem to see this new family and child who would bring peace to earth. Mary and Joseph could have taken life at face value and said, this is simply a newborn child, no different from those that grow and roam these pews (What a blessing they are, too!). But these words of Simeon continue to bring Mary and Joseph to marvel and wonder.

Luther writes, “They disregarded what they see and cling to the words of Simeon with a firm faith, and therefore they marvel at what he says.” (AE 75, pg. 399) The words of Simeon are precious Gospel to the ears that will hear and believe in them because they announce redemption’s arrival on earth. 

But Simeon also has another proclamation in today’s Gospel, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, for a sign that is opposed.” (Luke 2:34) Here, the shadows of the cross are already present as Simeon announces to Mary and Joseph, your child will fall, He will die. He will cause His own people, the people of Israel, to curse Him, to hate Him, to spit on Him. They will condemn his very words, his works, and his ways. His own people will do this. The people Jesus came to save. (Spangenberg, 43)

What is so hard is hearing these words today because those whom Jesus came to save continue to condemn his words, his works, and his death, even those who have been baptized into and bear the precious name of Jesus Christ. 

I pray your Christmas was pleasant and without disturbance, but we all know that a family get-together can be challenging. Sometimes, we can say they even lack peace. Maybe it’s politics that arise, or maybe there is a sad divide over doctrine and faith in your family. Sadly, more and more families no longer see Christmas as a festival of Christ’s birth. Instead, the day is one for family reunions and the like.

Talk of the child in the manger is not conducted in the fear of offense to avoid disturbing our Christmas harmony. For many, our families have drifted apart so much that the only thing we marvel at is that we still get together. Christ has become a stumbling block for them and, in this way, for us. It’s not that I don’t desire family peace; I do, but peace on earth is only brought through the peace the angels and Simeon announce with Christ Jesus.

The prophet Isaiah wrote regarding the coming of Christ, “He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel.” (Isaiah 8:14) The sanctuary or temple was often seen as a place of safety. The entering of the infant Jesus into the temple in today’s Gospel also reveals that Jesus is the new temple. The presence of God dwells within Him. Therefore, those who reject Christ are those who stumble in this life; they are those outside the temple, outside the sanctuary of Christ’s protection from Satan and this world.

But for those who struggle and who return to Christ, they have sanctuary, forgiveness, and a hope that surpasses all human understanding. (Philippians 4:7) 

While Simeon proclaimed and prophesied regarding the infant Jesus in the temple, the prophetess, Anna, also couldn’t help but hear his words. Anna was a virgin until marriage; she was a devout wife, and when her husband died, as a widow, she spent her days in the temple, praying and fasting. Anna, like Simeon, was waiting for this time to arrive when the Savior would come, and when it did, they rejoiced! 

Anna reminds us that to be in the temple of God, to have His sanctuary, is to be in the Word of God. Throughout Anna’s life, she fulfilled her vocation at every stage, and now, as a widow, Anna’s one thing in life to be concerned with was to be in the courts of the Lord. 

We all have many vocations in this life. For some of us, it is given to be a parent; to others, we remain sons and daughters, yet others are siblings or friends. Like Anna, our vocations begin with the Temple of God, with the Word incarnate, with Jesus who dwells on earth, our redeemer and Savior. Then, when we confess our faith throughout our vocations, it is exercised through forgiveness and the faith that Jesus alone is our Savior. This is the beginning of true wisdom. 

The proverb states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...” (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of God begins with confession. Confession prepares the heart for forgiveness, like a farmer tending to the soil in the spring, preparing his fields for planting. Confession and faith are the actions of the heart that begin to reveal the true wisdom of God, realized and understood only in the crucifixion and resurrection of the Son. 

This is what Simeon and Anna prophesied today, that this child was appointed for the rise and fall of many. Their faith gave them the patience to endure the tribulations of life and the patience to wait for the Advent of Jesus.

Now He’s here. 

Let us cling to this mystery with Mary and Joseph; let us take up the Christ child in our ears and upon our lips, departing with a firm faith, singing for joy with Simeon and all the saints a song of thanksgiving. This song prepares your heart for eternal peace and sustains your faith throughout this life, “Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace, according to your word.” +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI

Christmas Day

John 1:1-14

It was the night of Christmas 1776. George Washington was readying his soldiers for a daring nighttime attack amid great secrecy.

The British troops would not suspect this Christmas surprise; they wouldn’t see the approaching Continental Army in the shadows of the icy Delaware River.

While this attack was a small victory for the Continental Army in a greater war, it has been celebrated and remembered throughout history.

It makes you wonder how seemingly unnoticed events or minor battles in life affect human history, your story, and your life.

Reflect on last evening as the service ended; the Savior’s lullaby brought peace to your hearts.

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
    Sleep in heavenly peace,
    Sleep in heavenly peace.

Even the Nativity scene outside the church serves as a reminder of the blessed joy as these lyrics echoed in your hearts and accompanied your minds as you returned to your homes, calling out Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight as you lay down your heads all snug in your beds.

It was a good night, and I pray it was also a peaceful night amid the battles and strife of life.

However, while we get caught up in the joy and beauty of a birth, the birth and incarnation of your Savior was the beginning of God bringing peace to earth, and for this to happen, something unpleasant had to first occur: war.

And if you think more deeply regarding Christmas, this is one of the reasons that causes heaven and earth to resound.

The birth of the Christ child was a declaration of war upon the devil, the evil of this world, and the sin of man.

Even in the shadows of the nativity, the enemy lurks.

You see it as Herod will be filled with jealousy.

You see it as this jealousy fills Herod’s heart to murder all the male children under the age of two in that little town of Bethlehem.

As the Scriptures record,
A voice was heard in Ramah,
                        weeping and loud lamentation,
             Rachel weeping for her children;
                        she refused to be comforted, because they are no more. (Matthew 2:18)

You see the enemy lurking as the world had drifted into a darkness of unbelief.

Yet in this darkness, John writes, The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

The world did not want to know Him.

And dare I say, too often, you don’t want to know Him.

Why?

Because the light of His Word illuminates your sin, it reveals how you are very similar to Herod, how you are filled with jealousy, to even murder your brother, sister, or neighbor in your thoughts and words as you fight and war with one another.

His presence and Word create a battle within your heart.

But in some ways, Christmas has become a truce for the battles of life, a time when we fake it to make it. Make grandma and grandpa happy, right?

Yet, in these shadows, the battle does remain for you and one another.

I mean, why do you argue with one another? Why is there no lasting peace in your homes?

What’s really at the core of every battle you find yourselves in is the same as Herod: the desire for power, control, and lordship over one another.

And it all reveals how the darkness of this life has taken up residence within your heart.

However, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.”

How are we to take part?

By exercising our faith this Christmas, by confessing our sins before God and one another.

The sin of hatred and jealousy over our neighbors.

Our closest neighbors, our family, and friends.

Just as the manger and nativity of the Christ child served as a fortress and refuge of protection, so His cross is your refuge and strength today.

Through His birth, He came to vanquish this evil of the heart, to scatter your darkness, and to defeat death.

As one theologian writes, “All of this serves as a reminder that Christ was born into a violent, godless world – a world in which kings clung to power with clenched fists.” (Whiteaker, 49)

But for you, He is the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

We don’t like to think of our lives being that dark and violent, but if they weren’t, would there have been a need for the Savior’s birth that first Christmas?

Would there have been a need for such a violent death as His upon the cross that first Good Friday?

This Child born of Mary does not grow weak; he is not intimidated by the enemy but faithfully follows His Father’s orders into the darkness, enters the fray, and goes uncomplaining forth from His manger to the cross for you.

And in this small way, His birth is the beginning attack in a greater war.

In fact, the battle was necessary to win the war.

And He did this for you.

So, are we to go on warring against one another?

Heavens no; instead, the battle cry of His Word calls us to gather here and to receive the tokens of His victory – the flesh and blood of His infant and crucified body for the forgiveness of our sins.

Because where there is forgiveness, there is no war, but only peace.

Ultimately, your whole lives lead to this: so that you might sleep in heavenly peace with the Savior who laid aside His throne and fought the darkness for you.

Merry Christmas!

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI