From: "Fr John W Fenton (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Sermon for Day of Penitence and Prayer Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 12:56 PM A Day of Penitence and Prayer St. Matthew 24.3-13 In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Dearly Beloved: This past week we have witnessed not the horrors of fanatical faith, but the horrors of unbelief. For it is not religious fundamentalism or religious zealotry or religious fervency that creates terrorism and leads to acts of such unspeakable violence. As St. James reminds us, Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. In other words, true religion lives not in the fear of what man might do to me, or in the hatred of how I might destroy whomever I identify as my enemy. Rather, true religion is lived in the faith that the Lord’s will is done—especially when it doesn’t seem like it, even when it feels as if the Lord has forgotten us, even when it looks like the devil has had his day. And true religion is faith in God’s mercy lived in us by undying love toward all our neighbors—even those who breathe out violence. Unbelief, however, lives for itself, lives against others, and seeks to terrify with violence and threats of violence. What horrifying unbelief can do has been seared into our minds with the images we saw on television. And as we continue to see those images, our disbelief in God’s protection and our despair of God’s mercy might increase. And then the devil, by unbelief, has gained a foothold. But to prevent this, we must know and understand that what the television and newspapers show us is not the worst that unbelief can do. The worst of what unbelief has done we see when we look to the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Unbelief puts to death, not simply thousands of people, but the God Himself in our flesh. Unbelief causes the Son of God to become our unbelief and then be executed by His Father. Unbelief causes Our heavenly Father to visit us with His fiercest wrath and anger, concentrated on His only-begotten Son. And unbelief ushers Our Lord Jesus to the depths of hell. Yet faith in this crucified Son of God looks beyond the horrors of the cross, and the horrors that we’ve seen in New York and Washington D.C. Faith in Jesus says, “I know that my Redeemer lives”—and then receives as precious and fruitful nourishment the Body and Blood of the Christ that unbelief thought it had killed. And faith in the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ leads us to pray both “Thy will be done” and “deliver us from evil.” Deliverance by the hand of God and the destruction of the evils of unbelief is what the Christian Church prays for continually. We pray, “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old; Let not my enemies triumph over me: redeem us, O God, out of all our troubles!” Without ceasing, we beg the Lord to use His chosen ministers to deliver us from every evil past, present and to come. And continually we implore Our Lord God to direct the hearts of all rulers that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of God’s true religion and virtue. And against unbelief, we have faith that God will defend us not only from terrorists and enemies, but even from ourselves. Yet, even as you pray for God’s deliverance from the evils you have seen, you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. But see that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. And even as you put your faith in God’s mercy and hope for His aid for all those who suffer the ravages of evil, you know that nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified. Men’s hearts will fail them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth. And false prophets will rise up and deceive many, speaking of peace, where there is no peace; and urging you to believe that your help comes in your own name and by your own might. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Now when these things begin to happen, do not be terrified and do not be afraid. Unbelief will not prevail. For the Lord God has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” And He has said, “I am with you, to save you and deliver you; and I will show you mercy.” And so, with true faith in the God of all mercy and deliverance, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. And sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. That hope that is in you is the hope you have received from the Lord in the waters of Holy Baptism. That hope gives you the courage to stand against whatever evils you may see or feel, and to have faith in the Lord Jesus regardless of what may come tomorrow, next week or in the months ahead. Yet in hope alone we do not stand. Our Lord Jesus knows that He must constantly feed and strengthen our hope in Him. And so He lovingly and graciously and daily provides us with the Supper of His broken Body and shed Blood—the very flesh and blood that the devil and unbelief tried to kill, but that raised itself from the grave and now is given to be your strength and nourishment against every assault of the devil, the world and your own sinful flesh. Come, then, and receive the redemption that Our Lord offers, gives and provides in His Holy Sacrament. It will steel you against the wiles of the Evil One. It will give you courage to face the days ahead in a holy and certain hope. It will sustain you in the darkest times. And it will cause you to endure with patience and trust. And he who endures to the end shall be saved. In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. 16 September 2001 Rev. Fr. John W. 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