Vespers Service and Sermon Text - Second Wednesday in Advent

Video of Vespers - St. Luke, Rensselaer, IN 
 

Second Wednesday in Advent           

Ruth 1- 4         
Matthew 1:1-11

Matthew 1 and Luke 3 are the two genealogies that we have of Jesus’ human ancestors. Only Matthew includes women. The five women listed with their husbands have a story attached to them. Anyone expecting Jesus to come from a pure and holy, or even, a Jewish only pedigree will be sorely disappointed. While Jesus has no sin himself, he has several scandalous skeletons in his ancestral closet.  Last week, we focused on Tamar and her experiences of hardship, treachery, and deception as it is described in Genesis 38. Tonight, we focus on Ruth the Gentile. 

Naomi and her two daughters-in-law find themselves in a desperate situation. When Naomi’s husband died, she had the security of her two sons. Then they died. What can they do? Orpah did as Naomi insisted and returned to her father’s house. Ruth chose not to leave Naomi. Ruth’s love, devotion, and care for Naomi is inspirational. Out of love, she is willing to venture into the great unknown as she chooses to cling to Naomi. Ruth’s articulation of her commitment and devotion is one for the ages. “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 

Ruth’s beautiful, poetic words are followed up by action. She accompanies Naomi to Bethlehem. She embraces her mother-in-law’s faith and extended family. She works hard as a day laborer in the fields. She is a woman of courage. She puts herself at the mercy of strangers. And, she courageously enters into a marriage with Boaz. Her marriage to Boaz provided much needed stability for both her and Naomi. The LORD blessed Naomi and Ruth in unexpected ways because they were willing to go forth in faith, trusting in the Lord for their lives. 

In my mind, I see Ruth when I read this prayer that is found on page 311 in the Lutheran Service Book: “Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.” 

Yet, for all the courage, forthrightness, and trust that Ruth demonstrates, she too is a sinner. The Son of God becomes incarnate for her and all gentiles. Through Jesus and his cross, gentiles enjoy the same salvation promises as Jews. Before God, all people stand guilty of sin. Jesus’ death on the cross releases the everlasting grip of sin upon all of us. Through faith, we receive the Lord’s promise that we are forgiven. 

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Letter from LCMS President Harrison about Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and Recognized Service Organizations

  A Letter from LCMS President Harrison about LIRS and LCMS RSOs    FEB. 6, 2025 LCMS.ORG A letter from President Harrison about LIRS and LCMS RSOs Dear Saints of the LCMS, Grace and peace in Jesus! For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above ev...
Read more

Vigil of Easter

Image
The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour hosted the Vigil of Easter this year. We were joined by the congregations of St. John's, Rensselaer; St. Luke, Rensselaer; Trinity, Goodland; St. James, Reynolds; and St. James, Logansport. I was blessed to serve at the Altar with the pastors of these congregations. May the Lord continue to bless all of our ministries in the coming days and years! Here is my brief homily for the Vigil. Easter Vigil  O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.  Not long ago I read the Odyssey. Book 14 relays how, after many challenges and delays, Odysseus finally lands on his homeland of Ithaca. Aware that he has been gone a long time and that he is walking into circumstances that are not as he left Ithaca to fight the Trojans, he comes disguised. His first human encounter is with his loyal swineherd Eumaeus. Eumaeus does not recognize him. He says to Odysseus.  Come, old soldier, t...
Read more

2022-12-19 Vespers - Commemoration of Adam and Eve

 2022-12-19 Vespers - Commemoration of Adam and Eve - Isaiah 40:1-17 & Revelation 7:1-17 As we commemorate the first man and woman today, we recognize that Adam and Eve were endowed with great gifts from God. Adam is created in the image of God. And from Adam came Eve. Adam is given dominion over all the earth. A tremendous responsibility of stewardship is entrusted to him.  When they succumbed to the temptation to be like God, and fell into sin, their sin impacts us all to this day.  When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s command, they inaugurated a cycle of life and death that we have no choice but to participate in.   Creation is constantly changing. There is nothing steady.  The seasons come and go.  The sleep and inactivity of winter leads into the new birth of spring which is followed by a summer of growth which is then followed by a time of harvest and a slow dying as all of creation returns to its winter death waiting for the new life to ...
Read more