ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
Have respect, O Lord, unto Thy covenant:
oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed!
Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause:
and forget not the voice of Thine enemies.
Psalm. O God, why hast Thou cast us off forever?
Why doth Thine anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture?
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Have respect, O Lord, unto Thy covenant:
oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed!
V. Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause:
and forget not the voice of Thine enemies.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. O Lord God of my salvation:
I have cried day and night before Thee. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord! Praise be to Thee, O Christ! The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Preface p. 24 The Sanctus p. 26 The Lord's Prayer p. 27 The Words of Institution The Agnus Dei p. 28 The Nunc Dimittis p. 29 The Benediction p. 31 The Hymn #660 I'm But a Stranger Here
Prayers and Announcements
The flowers on the altar are for Andrea's birthday, coming up this week.
Medical care: Randy Anderson and Sarah Buck are being treated. Pastor Jim Shrader and his wife Chris; Dr. Kermit Way; Maria Way has good news. Lori Howell is being diagnosed. Ranger Bob should be finished with daily IV on September 19th.
Callie is back in college in spite of severe seizures.
KJV Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Part 1
KJV Luke 10:23-37 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Part 2
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Part 3
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 An by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we most heartily thank Thee that Thou hast granted us to live in this accepted time, when we may hear Thy holy gospel, know Thy fatherly will, and behold Thy Son, Jesus Christ! We pray Thee, most merciful Father: Let the light of Thy holy word remain with us, and so govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may never forsake Thy word, but remain steadfast in it, and finally obtain eternal salvation; through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Jesus Is the Good Samaritan
KJV Luke 10:23-37 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
The Good Samaritan Parable has drawn people into a spin of confusion, so it is good to use the setting and not jump right into error. That can wait, especially when so many clergy, fad salesmen, and social workers are keen on missing the actual message.
The opening is very clear and well worth considering. Jesus called the disciples together to teach them the unique blessings of the moment. The disciples have seen things which the great people of the world - prophets and kings - have longed to see what the disciples have witnessed with their own eyes and ears. To see and to hear - that is a great message by itself.
The Bible is a book of divine miracles, which encourages and strengthens believers, giving hope because those events have been witnessed from the beginning. The disciples saw and heard them. We get to see the results of those miracles, both in the growth of faith and also in repudiation of the truth.
It is good to remember - the miraculous growth of the Apostolic Church came from the Holy Spirit and the precise copying of the Apostolic texts. No other ancient book has been copied and translated so completely and accurately - at least not until the deceiving copies of "Sinaiticus" (Tischendorf) and "Vaticanus" (the Pope, turning the later Latin translation into a Greek one). The New Testament was also translated into many languages - rapidly. The early Church was built on the written and spoken Word, not the marketing wizardry of fad factories.
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
The lawyer may appear to be a smart-alec but that is a Jewish tradition - starting up a debate on a topic, asking and answering back and forth. Eternal life was a topic which came up more than once in Jesus' discussions.
"Love thy neighbor as thyself" led to "Who is my neighbor?" The social justice warriors say - I am not kidding - "Make the road to Jericho safe!"
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 An by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
A man was heading toward Jericho when he was stripped of his clothes, beaten, and left half dead. A priest came by, saw him, and went to the other side of the road. A Levite also looked at him and went to the other side. But a Samaritan came to where the man was - and had compassion. So many want to make this a story about the Law, but the men of the Law left the suffering man alone. The Samaritan:
Felt sorrow for the beaten man,
Went up to him rather than walking away,
Patched up his wounds,
Poured oil and wine on his wounds
Placed the man on his beast
Took him to an inn
And took care of him there.
On the next day,
The Samaritan left and gave the innkeeper 2 pence,
Promised to pay for the man's recovery,
Promised to pay for anything else needed.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
This is confusing to some because Jesus is both the victim and the generous healer. That is taught through the Matthew 25 passage in complete harmony with this beautiful parable.
KJV Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
The Good Samaritan is Jesus, and Jesus is also the victim, robbed, beaten, dying on the road, shunned.
I have a remarkable Good Samaritan story, true to life because someone I knew well was part of it. He said he wanted others to be as generous and gave his name.
His father was out of work and his mother could not make ends meet with her job and multiple children. Local mothers began collecting food and clothing without telling anyone. When my mother went through my clothes to give away, I asked. She offered 1 of the 2 reasons she gave for everything - "None of your business." The other was, "You're not old enough."
Someone got him a tennis racquet, which changed his life. He became a local and state-wide tennis champion, also a valedictorian for our high school.
He was accepted at Yale University with a full scholarship and chose singing (the Whiffenpoofs) and went to Yale Divinity.
Lawrence Eyre has been honored as a tennis coach nation-wide (Sports Illustrated honors) and has published several books of Haiku poetry. He published his story to let people know how much some generosity can do for others. Another Moliner began a no cost, no questions garage sale "business" which others have followed. My two high school friends (still are, more than 50 years later) inspired Christina and me to use both methods of distribution, giving away whatever was needed instead of bartering.
