Midweek Lenten Service - Tonight at 7 PM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn #142          A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth   

                              
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody               Psalm 23
The Lection                            The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn #153       Stricken, Smitten                   

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Form of God

This is one of the most concise, brief, packed messages in the New Testament. The mind of Jesus is to be our minds as well. Has anyone heard this, perhaps after attending an auction and showing something off - "What were you thinking!?" That is plain old language and thought, just as true then as it is now - not complex at all - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

I was thinking about how people address issues with the Gospel, with the faith of Jesus, and contrariwise - with the weapons of the Law. Jesus only told the truth about His opponents and gave them plenty of wisdom about His ministry of grace. Jesus gave them lots of warning but also urged them to accept the truth.

So the issue is how to let the thinking, attitude, and actions be dominated by the Savior. The Law itself can only point out our faults or others - but the Gospel message of the Good Shepherd protects, nourishes, and heals us. Being on a trip with strangers, it is easy to discern. A farmer along the highway - from Italy - answered my questions with, "You need to leave. A truck is coming to deliver rocks." Other strangers were jolly and provided information. 

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

This is an age where the divinity of Jesus is ignored and rejected, so it is not surprising that people disdain the divine Name, abuse it, and see no value in it. The wonder of the Two Natures - divine and human - is the reflection of both - God and man. People look at heroes and leaders, who have their flaws. But Jesus gives us the kindness and forgiveness that no one else can, both divine and dying for our sins. He is the Example and the Lamb of God at the same time.

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The cross tells us - Look at the Man, who suffered every kind of abuse and torture, and yet He said, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." The jeering continued but it also spread the Gospel Word, not enormous buildings of glory (the Temple was pulled apart to look for gold). The more the pagans persecuted, the more the Gospel spread, so the pagans became strong Christians, strong in the Faith, strong enough to face the false teachers and soldiers.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1. If you disagree with verses 9-11 (we have an extensive audience), just try this exercise and see what happens in a few days, a few weeks, and soon...constantly. 
2. The idea is to speak out loud about forgiveness through Christ 
3. and thankfulness to Him for every single way we can give thanks. 
4. To see if the Word really has power, list out loud every single difficult or threatening thing, painful, sorrowful, etc. 
5. That may be small at first, but the blessings will increase.
6. Take note of the lack becoming more than we can imagine - not the Lottery bankruptcy design but overflowing blessings, often for others.

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #562            Round Me Falls the Night

Daffodil Distribution Days Deliver an Early Spring

 

As everyone knows, daffodils are ugly bulbs that get buried in autumn by tired rose gardeners in their hopes for early spring. The flower is almost completely formed underground and grows more bulbs from the original one.

With the bulb cost buried already, months ago, optimistic gardeners can plan areas for roses.

My first crop of daffodils came up, knowing as they do, that cutting the flowers will make the bulbs stronger for the future. I counted the blooms, filled some of my party cups, and made each one a cheerful and inexpensive gift for cul de sac neighbors. Charlie Sue refused to go along because she wanted to stay near her dog friends along the fence.

One helper said, last fall, "Do we NEED this many daffodils?!" Digging in dry clay soil does put a damper on such projects. Soon I will plant more roses. I promised to reduce the greedy height and width of Joe Pye Weed and even the spread of Clethra (the Cinnabon tree).

Easy Does It Rose

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Reminiscere - "Is not that a masterly stroke as a reply? She catches Christ with his own words. He compares her to a dog, she concedes it, and asks nothing more than that he let her be a dog, as he himself judged her to be. Where will Christ now take refuge? He is caught. Truly, people let the dog have the crumbs under the table; it is entitled to that. Therefore Christ now completely opens his heart to her and yields to her will, so that she is now no dog, but even a child of Israel."

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 15:21-28.
Reminiscere. Second Sunday in Lent.

REMINISCERE. SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

7. But what does the poor woman do? She does not give up, she clings to the Word although it be torn out of her heart by force, is not turned away by this stern answer, still firmly believes his goodness is yet concealed in that answer, and still she will not pass judgment that Christ is or may be ungracious. That is persevering steadfastness.

8. Thirdly, she follows Christ into the house, as Mark 7:24-25 informs us, perseveres, falls down at his feet, and says: “Lord, help me!” There she received her last mortal blow, in that Christ said in her face, as the words tell, that she was a dog, and not worthy to partake of the children’s bread.

What will she say to this! Here he presents her in a bad light, she is a condemned and an outcast person, who is not to be reckoned among God’s chosen ones.

9. That is an eternally unanswerable reply, to which no one can give a satisfactory answer. Yet she does not despair, but agrees with his judgment and concedes she is a dog, and desires also no more than a dog is entitled to, namely, that she may eat the crumbs that fall from the table of the Lord.

Is not that a masterly stroke as a reply? She catches Christ with his own words. He compares her to a dog, she concedes it, and asks nothing more than that he let her be a dog, as he himself judged her to be. Where will Christ now take refuge? He is caught. Truly, people let the dog have the crumbs under the table; it is entitled to that. Therefore Christ now completely opens his heart to her and yields to her will, so that she is now no dog, but even a child of Israel.

10. All this, however, is written for our comfort and instruction, that we may know how deeply God conceals his grace before our face, and that we may not estimate him according to our feelings and thinking, but strictly according to his Word. For here you see, though Christ appears to be even hardhearted, yet he gives no final decision by saying “No.” All his answers indeed sound like no, but they are not no, they remain undecided and pending. For he does not say: I will not hear thee; but is silent and passive, and says neither yes nor no. In like manner he does not say she is not of the house of Israel; but he is sent only to the house of Israel; he leaves it undecided and pending between yes and no. So he does not say, Thou art a dog, one should not give thee of the children’s bread; but it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs; leaving it undecided whether she is a dog or not. Yet all those trials of her faith sounded more like no than yes; but there was more yea in them than nay; ay, there is only yes in them, but it is very deep and very concealed, while there appears to be nothing but no.

11. By this is set forth the condition of our heart in times of temptation; Christ here represents how it feels. It thinks there is nothing but no and yet that is not true.