Video of Divine Service and text of sermon for 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer


23rd Sunday after Pentecost  

Malachi 4:1-6 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-13 

Luke 21:5-36

 

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

 

Malachi was written in the 5th century BC during the same time as the books of Nehemiah and Ezra.  With only four chapters, it is a brief book. Malachi stands in contrast to other books of the prophets because all the other prophetic books contain poetry to convey God’s Word. Malachi has no poetry. Instead, Malachi uses a question-and-answer format to convey God’s message.  Six times in four chapters, a question is posed and then a brief explanation occurs.  

 

We are familiar with the Q & A format, aren’t we?  We have a question about something, and we are either given a piece of paper, or we are directed to a website page that has a listing of the most frequently asked questions and the answers to the questions.  In my experience of such things, there are usually a lot of questions. First, we must figure out if our question is in there somewhere.  Then, we must figure out whether their answer satisfies the specific reason why I am asking this question.  

 

People always have questions of one sort or another. As Malachi presents God’s Word to the people it appears to me that the unspoken big question that people are asking is “how much can I get away with?” “Will God notice if I don’t do exactly as He says?” Of course, everyone denies this is even a question.  But, based on what God is witnessing his people do, this is clearly a question.  As God comments on the faithless and cynical behavior of the people of God, it is clear as day that God sees all and is not fooled.  God may be filled with mercy, grace, and compassion, and be ever ready to forgive the repentant heart, God is not an idiot. He will not be mocked. He will render a righteous and fierce judgment upon the unrepentant.

 

There are three areas of sin that Malachi addresses during these six Q & A sessions.  

1.    Degeneracy and lassitude of the priesthood. 

2.    Intermarriage with pagan women along with heartless divorces of first wives when they are “trading” up for youth or social and economic prestige.

3.    Congregation’s failure to pay the sacred dues, what we call a tithe, to the detriment of the temple and the people who do God’s holy work. Connected with this is the offering of animals that are unfit for a true sacrifice. The individuals who offer animals for sacrifice that are blind or injured in some way are working in cahoots with the priests that enact the sacrifice. One ought to imagine a wink and a knowing nod being exchanged between worshiper and priest as that which is broken and disqualified is brought to the Lord’s Altar. 

 

If a person or the people are still listening to Malachi by the time they hear the end of chapter 3 and are still wondering if God will hold them accountable for their sins in thought, word, and deed, what they have done and left undone, then chapter 4 ought to remove any confusion. “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble.” Well, that’s clear. The Lord speaks plainly to us so that we recognize, admit, and confess our sins before Him and the congregation. The Lord wants us to give up the cynicism, the arrogance, God desires that all have faith in Him as our Savior. God desires all to be saved. God desires all to be wise and live by faith. God delights in true faith in Him. God saves the righteous for everlasting life.  “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing it is wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”

 

While God addresses through Malachi questions about faithful stewardship, worship, and living and the Lord’s coming judgment.  Jesus addresses the questions about future changes for the Temple, Jerusalem, and the world. 

 

Jesus’ first concern for the baptized is that we keep our faith firmly upon Jesus and His cross. Jesus alone is our redeemer. Do not be seduced by deceivers. Changes are indeed coming. Great turmoil will soon arise. In the midst of the chaos, hang on to Christ Jesus. He is the one part of our life that will not move, will not change, will not forsake us. 

 

While Jesus offers us no fixed dates, the first thing that will happen is that the temple will be destroyed.  When this occurs, all will have opportunity to perceive that the presence of God is no longer found in a building made with human hands. The presence of God among us is Jesus, the crucified and risen one.  Jesus is the presence of God amongst us.  The church experiences the presence of God whenever it gathers.  For Christ and his cross is the Gospel.  Christ Jesus is the Gospel in the Word and the Sacraments.  Wherever we have the Word and the Sacraments, there is Jesus Christ.    

 

In fact, the temple was dismantled in AD 70 during the Jewish revolt against the Roman occupiers AD 66-73.   

 

Jesus continues his answer by describing the signs that will appear: false prophets; wars; natural disasters; betrayal by those closest to us; oppressive governments. Every time, we learn of or experience false religious leaders, wars, disasters, betrayal, persecuting governments, we are reminded of Christ’s judgment, and the end is coming soon. The cataclysmic events present opportunities for the Holy Spirit to create faith in the hearts of all people. 

 

Another question being asked is what should we do while we wait for the end?  Apparently, some Christians in the community of Thessalonica thought that they should just do nothing and wait.  They thought that they should be fed and cared for each day by someone else.  God’s answer for the lazy is the same in every age: get to work and do your part!   We are never excused from being productive and good citizens in our communities. While we wait for the fulfillment of God’s time, we stay busy with prayer, scripture reading, worship, serving our neighbors in need, and earning our keep. 

 

Are you ready for God’s judgment?  Your answer is yours to make.  As we prepare our answers, we bear in mind that God is not fooled by anyone. What God desires from us is repentant hearts and a faith that seeks His forgiveness and grace.  

 

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

 

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