Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Video of Divine Service and Sermon Text
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:5a, 21-33
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
At the bottom of the hymns in our hymnal, the authors and composers of the hymn is cited. The explanation of who is the author of today’s Hymn of the Day (LSB 659 Lord of our Life) is misleading. According to Professor Robert Kolb, Matthaus Apelles von Lowenstern (1594-1648) wrote a hymn text that Philip Pusey (1799-1855), two hundred years later, very much liked. Pusey liked it so much that he translated it and re-wrote the hymn for his situation in England. Apparently, enough of the original hymn survives that it must ultimately be attributed to Lowenstern.
Both men, in different centuries, countries, cultures, and languages, found themselves in the midst of strife and threats from Satan and the world.
Lowenstern is from Silesia. He and his family are firmly in the reformation tradition. He served as an imperial counselor at the strongly Roman Catholic courts of Ferdinand II and III. “These emperors were determined to eradicate the Lutheran confession of faith.” (p845, LSB: Companion to the Hymns, vol 1) Lowenstern is serving during the 30 years war which expressed so much hate and violence. I do not doubt that Lowenstern strongly suspected that the excessive and pervasive expressions of hatred that was displayed were encouraged by the whisperings of Satan and his minions. Lowenstern prays that the church not be swept away by this hatred.
Pusey, the translator, is brother to one of the leaders in the Oxford movement within the Church of England and is an active layman. He is also a member of Parliament. Pusey is concerned about the welfare of the church in the midst of its internal battles as well as the secularizing tendencies in 19th century England. All of this is happening while the boom and turmoil of industrialization is reshaping England.
Any time we are in conflict, temptations of all kinds show themselves. One such temptation is to hold back, be paralyzed, by fear. Fear keeps one from speaking the truth. A person may be afraid of standing out and being seen, afraid to be counted. Yet, as the Hymn of the Day teaches, in such a moment, we pray: We ask that the Lord see us, see what assaults us, see what we are afraid to be, hear our prayers that He keep us steadfast in the faith. We pray because we trust that the Lord will preserve us.
The Hymn says, “Lord of our life and God of our salvation, Star of our night and hope of every nation: Hear and receive Your Church’s supplication, Lord God Almighty. See round Your ark the hungry billows curling; See how your foes their banners are unfurling And with great spite their fiery darks are hurling, O Lord, preserve us.”
Jesus instructs the disciples as they go forth into the lost house of Israel, to not be afraid. Yes, persecution may come. Family and society may very well become so twisted that family members turn their kin over to the authorities because of their faith in Jesus as their Savior. The disciples may very well encounter outright hatred when they share the good news that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and His name is Jesus. Hatred may indeed be expressed and the situation be dangerous, yet, despite the danger, Jesus says, “Do not fear.”
The Lord encourages us to hand over to Him the anxiety and fear that is natural to any human being in the midst of conflict. Jesus assures us that the Father sees all. Nothing is hidden from Him. He values us. He watches over us. You heard what Jesus says, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.” The Father sees us. The Son claims us. We belong to God.
When fear rises, we pray. The Hymn of the Day gives us words to pray, “Lord, be our light when worldly darkness veils us; Lord, be our shield when earthly armor fails us; and in the day when hell itself assails us, grant us your peace, Lord. Peace in our hearts, where sinful thoughts are raging, Peace in Your Church, our troubled souls assuaging, Peace when the world its endless war is waging, peace in your heaven.”
The Lord Jesus does give us peace. While we were yet sinners, He died for us. Through His sacrifice for us on the cross, we live under God’s grace. The Holy Spirit creates faith within us to trust the Christ who redeems us from sin, eternal death, and the lasting hold of the devil. In Christ’s name, we are bold to pray. We are convinced that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus calls us to trust in Him no matter what. Our life is in Him. He is our peace, our Shalom.
As fear rises, as anxiety tries to take hold, as sinful thoughts try to assert themselves, we fall back on Christ and His promises. Christ died for us. In Holy Baptism, we are made His forever. When the waters are placed upon us in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, we are forgiven of the sins of our corrupt nature and given hope by which to live. No matter what assails us, Christ is our peace. Do not be afraid.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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