Greetings in the name of Jesus. This is Labor Day weekend. For many the holiday marks the end of summer. Unfortunately our temperatures are not agreeing with that designation. Labor might seem like a burden at times, rather than something to celebrate. Since the Fall of Adam and Eve, labor has been accompanied by struggle, sweat, and hazards. But we still have reason to give thanks to God for all the vocations He works through to provide us all we need for this body and soul. I encourage you to be in church Sunday to receive the gifts of forgiveness and comfort that God is distributing there.
On Sunday, September 6 we will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Seeting Three that begins on page 184 in the LSB hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are #820 My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker; #614 As Surely As I Live, God Said; # 634 The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord; and we will close with a few verses of #609 Jesus, Sinners Doth Receive.
Scripture lessons assigned to the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 18, are Psalm 32:1-7; Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:1-10; and Matthew 18:1-20.
The gospel lesson begins (Matthew 18:1) with a question the disciples ask of Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus gives one answer to that question in Chapter 20, “Whoever wants to be great among you shall be your servant”, serving others in a way that expresses the humble sacrificial life of Jesus who served by giving His life as a ransom for many. But here in Chapter 16, Jesus answers the question about greatness by using children as an object lesson. “Unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” This leads to a question, ‘what is it to be like a child?’ What characteristics of children are we supposed to imitate? Some would suggest it means to listen to authority, be obedient, and well-behaved. But this better describes what children should be, not what they actually are. In fact, children are not innocent in the sense of sinless; they can often be selfish tyrants concerned only for themselves. Rather, what children are is immature, lacking wisdom, unable to care for themselves, dependent on someone who is able to help. Jesus is encouraging His disciples to let go of any thoughts of self-sufficiency or worldly standards of power, and instead to recognize they have nothing of greatness to offer in heaven. The humble and poor in spirit, who recognize their dependence on Jesus, will be those who receive God’s eternal blessings. Jesus is redefining greatness. Jesus includes instruction for His disciples that they not cause others to sin, not despise others who are weak and needy, and to work toward forgiveness and reconciliation with those who offend. As we receive these needy, we are receiving Jesus.
Though in our sin we deserve to be “drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6), we have instead been drowned (“buried”) with Christ in Baptism and then raised to the new, humble life of a child of God. As we read in the Old Testamnet lesson, God sends watchman to warn us with a word from His mouth, calling us to repent in order that we may not die in our iniquity but be turned from our pride and selfishness to live (Ezek. 33:7–9). Thus, we live in humility and faith before God as well as in love for our neighbor, which “is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10). In the reverent fear of God, we do no harm to our neighbor, but we “pay to all what is owed to them” (Rom. 13:7) and we “owe no one anything, except to love each other” (Rom. 13:8).
COLLECT: O God, from whom all good proceeds, grant to us, Your humble servants, Your holy inspiration, that we may set our minds on the things that are right and, by Your merciful guiding, accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about the Scripture lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster
