Video of Divine Service and Text of sermon for Wednesday of Pentecost 20

Video of Divine Service 

Wednesday of the 20^th Sunday after Pentecost

Collect of the Day: Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish whatever You would have us do; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Epistle on this 20^th Wednesday after Pentecost is from Ephesians, the 4^th chapter. (Ephesians 4:22-28)

²² to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. ²⁵ Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. This is the Word of the Lord.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 9^th chapter. (Matthew 9:1-8)

9 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. ² And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” ³ And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” ⁴ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” ⁷ And he rose and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Sermon: O Lord, your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. 

Jesus is a surprise. He acts in ways that are not expected. He gives what is needed. He often gives more than is hoped for. St. Matthew is ambiguous about who exactly has the faith in Jesus that Jesus recognized. Was it the paralytic? Was it the men who carried him? Was the whole mess of family and friends who accompanied them? We do not know. But I am confident that they were not expecting Jesus to pronounce absolution upon the paralytic. 

In pronouncing absolution, Jesus initiated a scandalous moment. Jesus is taking on a priestly role. If you want forgiveness, there is a temple for that. You make your offering to the Lord, then you receive forgiveness from the priest. The priest intercedes for you. The priest pronounces absolution. Jesus scandalously usurps the authority and power of the priesthood and the purpose of the Temple by announcing in affectionate terms: “Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven.” How does Jesus know that this is exactly what the paralytic needs to receive?

St. Matthew does not record a confession of sin on the part of the paralytic. I am certain that Jesus knows the man’s need for absolution in the same way that Jesus knows the faith or the scorn of those who look upon him. Jesus just knows. He is the Son of God. While his divinity is well cloaked by his humanity, he does not cease to be God and Man together in the one person of Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary. Jesus just knows. This is what the man needs. He needs to hear “Your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus also knows that what all the people around him need to know is that he has the authority of the heavenly Father to administer grace. Authority is not only announced but it is seen in action. People respond to authority. People respond to the authority invested in a badge and in a uniform. We listen to, we obey, those who act with authority. Hence, the paralytic’s broken body responds to Jesus. “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” He does. His heart is light from forgiveness. His legs are strengthened to carry him and his bed back home. 

The people who witnessed this double miracle were rightly afraid. Yet, their fear led them to glorify God. The people lifted up their hearts because Jesus gave more than hoped for. He gave that which was not expected. 

In the communion liturgy, we begin with the ancient dialogue: Lift up your hearts. We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise. As we approach the Altar, we offer our thanks and praise that Jesus sees our faith and grants us forgiveness and all that he promises. 

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