Once more we have knocked on the door of the Divine. Once more we have confessed our sin. Once more we have received His forgiveness. Once more the door has been opened to us. Just now we have, once more, sung the song of the angels for as God once came to be with us, we have now come to be with God.
We have come to this hour of worship; we have entered into the house of the Divine to visit with God. But what shall we talk about? Why did you come here? Did you come to pick a fight? Did you come to let God know how unhappy you are with Him, how unsatisfied you are with the way he rules the heavens and the earth, but most importantly to complain about how he has mistreated you? Why did you come here? Did you come to solve a problem? Are you seeking a strategy for your failing investments, a recipe for improved health and a long life, or a weapon that can be used against frustrating family members, belligerent bosses, and pugnacious politicians? Why did you come here? Did you come to make a deal? Are you hoping that in exchange for your service and sacrifice God will buy you a bigger house, newer car, and fancier clothes? Why did you come here? Did you come to be entertained? Why did you come here? We have entered the house of the Divine for a visit with God. But what shall we talk about?
Before the agenda for your visit with God overflows with egocentric criticisms and complaints, the butler greets you with the following salutation.
The Lord Be with you
Think not of these words as a pious wish or an empty hope. I am not wishing you “good luck” now that you have come into the presence of The Divine. Rather, I am announcing His presence to you, introducing Him if you will. Not in a way that should fill you with fear for you have already confessed your sins; you have already received His forgiveness. Remember it is by the blood of Jesus that you passed through the door of the Divine. It is by the blood of Jesus that you are now able to visit with The Lord. Think of these words as a gentle reminder that we have not come to visit with some common fellow, peer, or underling. We have come to visit the one who describes himself with these words from Revelation 1:8, ““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”” Even the most arrogant among us must agree that perhaps we should allow the Almighty to set the agenda for our visit? Having understood the value of the butler’s gentle reminder, you return the favor and say.
And also with you
Those words, though spoken with gentleness and dare I say a bit of affection, weigh heavy upon my heart. I am reminded of the words written by the prophet Jeremiah 23:31-32, ““Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD.” Your words are a gentle reminder that neither do I set the agenda for our visit with The Lord. There is no place for a bully pulpit or soapbox here. You have gently reminded me that I am simply the butler who serves this holy house. The Alpha and Omega, the Almighty will set our agenda, He will decide what it is we should talk about.
With our egocentric agendas set aside, the butler invites you to seek The Lord’s blessing for your visit, to ask that He would make you, as it says in the book of James, “quick to listen and slow to speak”[1], that though you may be worried and upset by many things you be more Mary than Martha[2]. The butler invites…
Let us pray: Grant, O merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
This prayer of the day that I have spoken on your behalf is the first part of our worship that varies from Sunday to Sunday. Some of these prayers are ancient and have been spoken in the church since the 13th century. They are short and to the point. They match the theme of the readings that are coming. In a way this prayer is the agenda for our visit with The Lord. If we paid better attention to this prayer we would know already what it is the Lord is going to talk with us about today. For example, on the agenda for our visit with the Lord this week is an encouragement to value service to our Savior over the accumulation of silver for self. By speaking the Amen as you have done, you have acknowledged your agreement and acceptance of this agenda.
The agenda has been set and a blessing has been sought for our visit with The Lord. Now at last we have come to the part of the service we have eagerly been waiting for, God speaks to us. The butler moves to the lectern, or in our case the ambo, to read the Words that are described in Hebrews 4:12 as, “living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” that is Words that will expose our sin. But they are also the Words that Saint Paul called “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes”[3] that is -Words that will show us our Savior.
We quickly notice that the Word of God is going to come to us from multiple readings. This practice is as old as Christian worship. In the synagogues they read from the Law and the Prophets. In the days of the Apostolic Fathers, readings were arranged from the writings of the apostles and from the gospels. Since about the 4th century the church has had three readings on any given Sunday. They are selected from a lectionary or pericopy that rotates on a three-year cycle[4]. Each cycle follows the seasons of the church year. Those seasons are divided into a festival and non-festival half of the year. Such structure reflects God’s desire that things be done in a “fitting and orderly way”[5], but more than that, they ensure consistent and reliable variety. The kind of variety Jesus spoke about when He commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations by “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”[6]
Whether or not the lesson being read is the one chosen for the sermon text, we will want to pay it close attention. As I have already mentioned it is in some way connected to the other readings that were summarized in the prayer of the day but also be it Old Testament lesson or Psalm, or New Testament Gospel or Epistle, it is the Word of The Lord. As Saint Paul reminds young Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”[7] Saint John points out that these lessons are of personal importance to us when he reminds us that the first lesson, the psalm, the second lesson, and the gospel are “written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” We will want to pay attention to all of these readings because year after year, season after season, week after week, eternal life is what The Lord has on His agenda. Your personal salvation is what He wants to talk to you about.
The first lesson printed on page 5 in our bulletins is sometimes called the Old Testament lesson because normally the reading is from the Old Testament. However, during the Sundays of Easter the first lessons are from the Book of Acts. Sometimes it is not as easy to see the connection this reading has to the others but at other times it is easy and exciting to see these lessons foreshadowing an event that is expounded on in the gospel. Equally as edifying are the times these lessons are quoted by Jesus and others in the New Testament.
Our first lesson for the 21st Sunday in Pentecost is from Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
In response to the first lesson the congregation sings a psalm. Although it is acceptable to read the psalm, the singing of the psalm is reflective of the Old Testament Custom. When sung responsively God’s people are invited to participate in a volley of praise to their Lord. The concluding verses attached to the end of each psalm unite the Old Testament with the New. Glory is sung to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Our Psalm for today, Psalm 90, is printed on page 6 in our bulletins. We will sing it responsively.
The second lesson that is read is an explanation of who Jesus is, what He has done, and what it means for us. The second lesson stresses Christian faith and Christian living in response to the Grace of God. The second lesson has sometimes been referred to as the epistle reading because it is an epistle or letter that was written by an apostle to an individual or group. For example, today’s second lesson found on the top of page 7 in our bulletins is from an unknown author to an unidentified group of Christians.
Our second lesson is Hebrews 3:1-6
Historically our next reading, known to us as the Gospel reading, was surrounded with much ceremony. In the past candles were lit and incense was burned, soldiers put down their arms and kings removed their crowns when the gospel was read as a sign of respect and reverent awe. We still have echoes of that respect and reverence as we stand for the reading of our Gospel lesson and cradle it in proclamations of praise. With the reading of the gospel lesson, it is as if our Heavenly Host has stepped into the room. The butler bids you to mind your manners as he invites you to
please stand for the reading of our Gospel lesson.
Our first proclamation of praise, which contains a verse of the day that is framed with Alleluias, is called the Gospel Acclamation. Ideally the Gospel Acclamation is sung responsively by cantor or choir and congregation. The cantor or choir sing the verse that is a familiar or significant Scripture text. Often it is taken from one of the Gospels, sometimes even from the Gospel lesson for the same day. It supports the theme introduced in the prayer of the day and expounded in the lessons and prepares the worshiper for the hearing of the gospel. The congregation is invited to join the choir by singing the alleluias. The alleluias are a joyful Hebrew expression of praise to the LORD.
Let us sing our gospel acclamation.
At long last our heavenly Host speaks to us. Yes, He spoke to us in our first two readings and psalm but there He spoke through prophets, apostles, and poets. Here He speaks to us directly with words that came from the lips of one who is both Son of God and Son of man. In the Gospels we have recorded the life and times of Jesus our Savior. Through the Gospels we are witness to His miraculous birth, powerful miracles, and authoritative teaching. We watch as He is tempted in every way just as we are and yet is without sin. We watch as he is abandoned and betrayed, beaten and crucified as punishment for our sins. We behold him bursting forth from the grave, appearing to his disciples, and ascending into heaven.
Our Gospel lesson for today printed on page 9 in our bulletins is Mark 10:17-27
What follows next is a very Lutheran thing. We sing not only because Lutherans like to sing but also because the Hymn of the day serves as a melodic reminder of the theme of the day. It prepares us for the explanation of the Word of God we have just heard.
Today’s Hymn of the Day is hymn 280 thy Strong Word
As you finish singing the last verse of the hymn you notice that the butler has returned to the ambo. His head is bowed in prayer. He knows that the privilege of proclamation is also burden of responsibility that he must bear. These are God’s people, His “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation”.[8] These are the people that God demonstrated His love for them in this: “while we [they] were still sinners Christ died for us [them].”[9] These are special people that deserve his very best effort and so very often the words of Psalm 19:14 is his prayer, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
As the butler concludes his explanation and application of the Word of the Lord, he invites the people of God to stand. He does not leave them trembling in fear. They are not uncertain of salvation and forgiveness. They have visited with The Lord. He has spoken to them of their personal salvation. They are at peace with God. And so, the butler places upon them a blessing. He speaks the words of Philippians 4:6, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Amen
Having heard what it is the Lord has to say to us, the worshiper responds with a confession of faith; a faith that is formed and fashioned by the word just heard; a faith that unites us one to the other. Whatever Creed is used be it the Apostle’s Creed that reminds us of our Baptism or the Nicene Creed that celebrates the person of Christ as co-eternal God with Father and Holy Spirit, whatever Creed is spoken we are saying one to the other, “No, you are not crazy and you are not alone! This is what I believe too. And not only you and I but countless Christians in the church universal for the past 2000 years have believed the same!”
We confess our common faith using the words of the Apostles Creed printed for us on page 10 in our bulletins.
[1]James 1:19
[2] Luke 10:38-42
[3] Romans 1:16
[4] Pages 163-166 in the front of your hymnal identify what specific readings are assigned to each specific Sunday.
[5] 1 Corinthians 14:33,40
[6] Matthew 28:20
[7] 2 Timothy 3:16-17
[8] 1 Peter 2:9
[9] Romans 5:8