Wednesday after the Epiphany - Video of Divine Service and Text of Sermon

Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer


Wednesday after the Epiphany  

1 Corinthians 1:10-18       Matthew 4:12-25

O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. 

When we step into the church to fellowship and worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is very difficult to turn off the ways of the world. Out in the world, we continue to see and hear about a divided America and a polarized people. Republicans and Democrats; For or against President Trump and his policies. For or against the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Convictions run deep. Feelings run high. Loyalties are declared. There is a lot of talking past one another. Disagreements become fixed positions, divisions are hardened. 

As we enter into the observance of our 250th anniversary as a nation, we will have ample opportunity to reflect on the difficulties of keeping the Republic united. It has never been easy in America. 

The reading from 1st Corinthians 1 comes from a letter written nearly two thousand years ago that addressed a congregation in the Ancient city of Corinth. The issues that the Apostle addresses in that troubled congregation bear no relation to contemporary American concerns. Yet, division is rife and tearing the fabric of the congregation apart. The issue here is personal loyalties. People are getting behind particular men in the congregation that disagree with one another. When we go further into the letter we learn that there is genuine disagreement about doctrine, how people ought to treat one another. There is confusion about baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar, sexual relationships within families, and how the rich are to treat the poor, to name only a few of the issues. 

Moved by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle urges unity. He appeals to Christ. You are brothers in Christ. Jesus Christ is the one figure that ties everyone in the church together. Jesus is who every man, woman, and child needs to be behind and loyal to. Jesus is the one they ought to emulate and imitate. Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for our salvation. Jesus, the eternal Son, set aside His rights, privileges, and powers, for our sakes, when He entered the state of humiliation. He who is the Word that creates and sustains the universe, dwelt under the law and suffered condemnation for our sins on our behalf.  He became the Suffering Servant so we can have peace with God and with each other through the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus is the exemplar of the love that Paul so memorably describes in chapter 13. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”  

As a worthy response to God’s grace toward us and for us, the Apostle urges the church to place their loyalty to Jesus. For Christ’s sake, be of one mind, agree, cast aside divisions based on human loyalties. Live together in the church with peace. Working together to be a people and have a place to worship, to hear and interact with God’s Word, and to have their minds renewed by grace and forgiveness. 

Christ emptied himself so that we may have life. In response to God’s gracious action to us and for us, Paul urges the church to set aside personal agendas and worldly loyalties and behaviors, in order to be Christ to one another, so that they may dwell together in love and good order. 

The world’s issues, while pressing and serious, will pass away. What remains for eternity is the Church, purchased by Christ’s blood on the cross for your redemption. Christ, the Church, our fellowship in life and death, this is what lasts forever. 

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

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