From: Historic_Preaching@CAT41.org on behalf of Fr John W Fenton [frfenton@ziondetroit.org] Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 11:48 AM To: Historic Preaching Subject: HP: Church Father Excerpts for Lent INVOCAVIT, LENT I When the devil tempts me, my heart is comforted and my faith is strengthened, because I know Him who for my sake has overcome the devil, and that He comes to me to be my help and my comfort. Thus faith overcomes the devil. Therefore, first, God teaches me faith, that I may know that for my sake Christ has overcome the devil. Then, since, I now know that the devil has no power over me but is overcome by faith, I must be ready to be tempted. The purpose of this is that my faith may be strengthened, and that my neighbor may be given by example by my victory over temptation, and may be comforted. (Blessed Martin Luther) When is Jesus led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil? After the Descent of the Holy Spirit. After the Voice speaking from above had said: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Mt. Iii. 17). Since He did everything in order to teach us and suffered everything for the same reason, so He also willed to be led by the Spirit into the desert to meet the devil in combat. Therefore, no one should be shocked if He suffers even severer temptations, as though something strange had happened. Yet by His temptations, we learn to stand firm and endure with fortitude what happens according to the ordinary rule of our life. (St. John Chrysostom) Because of the evil will of the devil, we are caught in the snare of diabolical tyranny. In our misery, we dare not raise our eyes to heaven for mercy. Where is the way of salvation? What pardon is there for those who have broken the command of the Lord? There is only the clemency of God—His mercy and compassion. So He sent His Son as our Savior and Redeemer, who alone has power to free mankind from the grip of the devil. With infinite kindness and goodness, the Only Begotten Son of the Father took upon Himself our likeness and was made in all things as we are—except sin—so that through Himself He might redeem us all, and bring us to God the Father, freed from all defilement and stain. This is why He suffered hunger, and fasted. It was the beginning of our salvation. (St. Cyril of Alexandria) REMINISCERE, LENT II “Faith takes Christ captive in His Word, when He’s angriest, and makes out of His cruel words a comforting inversion. In today’s Gospel, the woman says to Jesus, ‘You say I am a dog. Then I ask for no more than a dog’s right. Let me, like a dog, pick up the crumbs under the table. Let me have what the children don’t need or even what they miss—the crumbs—and I will be content. ’ Do you see how the woman catches Christ the Lord in His own words and with that wins not only the right of a dog, but also that of the children? He let Himself be made captive, and must comply. Be sure of this—that’s what He most deeply desires.” (Bl. Martin Luther) The woman in today’s Gospel imagines the Lord will not fulfill what he has spoken, and will let his Word be false. So what does she do? She turns her eyes from all this unfriendly treatment of Christ. This does not lead her astray, neither does she take it to heart, but she continues immediately and firmly to cling in her confidence to the good news she had heard and embraced concerning him, and never gives up. We must also do the same and learn firmly to cling to the Word, even though God with all his creatures appears different than his Word teaches. May God help us in time of need of death to possess like courage and faith! (Blessed Martin Luther) Today we hear about the great faith, patience, constancy and humility of a woman. She had a great faith because she implored the Savior’s benevolence, saying, “Show me mercy, O Lord, son of David.” It is evident that she believed that He was true man and true God. Though she was asking on behalf of her daughter, she did not bring the girl along, and she did not entreat the Lord to come to her daughter. So it is clear that she trusted that Our Lord could give her daughter health by His word. After many tears, finally she prostrated herself and adored Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me’. This teaches us that she had no uncertainty concerning His divine majesty, since she said that his power was to be adorned as God’s. (St. Bede the Venerable) Today’s Gospel is written for our comfort and instruction. In it, we hear how deeply God conceals His grace, and that we should not estimate Him according to our feelings and thinking, but strictly according to His Word. Jesus appears to be hardhearted to the woman, and all his answers indeed sound like “no,” but they are not. We learn, then, that we must turn from our feelings and lay hold of and retain the deep spiritual “yes” under and above the “no” with a firm faith in God’s Word (as this woman does). Like the woman, we can say, “Lord it is true, I am a sinner and not worthy of Your grace. But You have promised sinners forgiveness, and You come not to call the righteous but to save sinners.” (Blessed Martin Luther) OCULI, LENT III “St. Matthew tells us that the demon-possessed man [in today’s Gospel] was not only mute but also blind. He was cured by Our Lord so that he could both speak and see. Simultaneously, then, three miracles are performed on this one man—he sees, he speaks, and he is delivered from the devil. These three miracles are daily repeated when a sinner repents. First, the devil is expelled; then the sinner sees the light of faith; and lastly, he opens his lips to praise God.” (St. Bede the Venerable) We need to know that Christ’s work of driving out the devil never ceases but continues to go on in the Christian world until the Last Day. For this task Christ left us designated instruments: Holy Baptism, the blessed Sacrament, the Word and Absolution, and whatever else belongs to the ministry of preaching, in order to enable us to destroy the devil’s kingdom, to take from him his captives and cast him out of people. The Holy Spirit accompanies the Word, to enlighten, kindle faith, cleanse, and free people from the devil’s power and rule. (Blessed Martin Luther) The concern of Jesus for the poor demon-possessed mute man is an incentive for us to turn to Our Lord in every need, expecting from Him all that is good. After experiencing good at His hands, we should follow Him in love and do good to others, as He has done good to us. Therefore, today’s Gospel, like all the Gospels, teaches us faith and love. For it holds up Christ before us as a Savior and Help in all needs. He does this out of His great love for us. Whoever believes this is saved. This, then, is the common and most delightful teaching of today’s Gospel, and of all the Gospels throughout the whole church year. (Blessed Martin Luther) In today’s Gospel, Our Lord Jesus says something like this: “The devil was strong; but I am stronger. I have entered his court. I have come into this world which he has held as though it were his own house; and the time draws near for the prince of this world to be cast forth. I have bound him. I have broken his armor. And the unhappy people he held captive I have delivered from his bondage. He is not therefore with Me; nor does he gather with Me; neither does he cast out devils together with Me; nor does he heal men, as I do; nor does he gather in the flocks, nor lead them to the living pastures, which I am doing. (St. Bruno) LAETARE, LENT IV “The wonder of the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000 surpasses human understanding.” (St. Hilary) What is most amazing, however, is what this miracle teaches us about the compassion and grace of God in Christ. Just as the loaves and fish never seem to end, so Our Lord’s mercy more than covers our need, more than comforts us in distress. God’s forgiveness more than exceeds whatever sin we may have done. God’s compassion is greater than our greatest tribulation. Our heart’s desire, the needs of our body and soul, our Jesus meets—and then some. Those who cling to Our Lord’s Word, He teaches how they ought to trust him. He doesn’t use many words, but rather by action and deed shows that He can create what we need to eat, so that we do not doubt or think that provision is up to us, but rather place our heart and trust in Him. Such faith will not be disappointed nor permit us to suffer want. He provides for all our needs and makes sure we are well fed in body and soul. (Blessed Martin Luther) In today’s Gospel, before Our Lord feeds the 5000, He tests Philip. He did this, not to learn something He did not know, but so that Philip might recognize the slowness of his faith. His Lord knew of this, but Philip did not. But after he is tested, Philip recognizes both the truth and the miracle, and so his faith is strengthened. (St. Bede the Venerable) For the same reason, Our Lord often tests our faith. His desire is not to embarrass us, but to urge us to remember that we can rely on Him in every need. We who live in Christ and receive His Eucharist—the food of salvation—ask for this bread to be given to us every day. For Christ says, “Anyone who eats My bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world.” So we receive life when we approach His body and share in the communion. For this reason we should be apprehensive and pray that no one has to abstain from this communion, lest they be separated from the body of Christ and be far from salvation. Christ has warned of this: “If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you will have no life in you.” We pray for our daily bread, Christ, to be given to us. With his help, we who live and abide in him will never be separated from his body and his grace. (St. Cyprian) JUDICA, PASSION SUNDAY Wherever the Gospel is proclaimed we find that those who do not wish to hear God’s Word follow the devil so persistently that he ultimately takes total possession of them; and the longer he holds onto them the more wicked they become. This is exactly what we see occurring in today’s Gospel. In their contempt for the Word, the Jews fall into the horrible sin of blaspheming God and His Word and in the end become raving mad. Thus you can see what it means not to be of God and to be of the devil, that is, not to hear God’s Word but to revile and blaspheme it. (Blessed Martin Luther) For the ungodly, life’s story is: I live, I know not how long; I die, I know not when I pass away, I know not whereto. They will not be able to outrun death but must forever remain in everlasting death, because they have disdained the wonderful, mighty medicine of God’s Word which makes death into everlasting life. For believing Christians, the song is: I live, I let God decide how long; I die, God wills when and what way; I pass away, I know where I am heading; I am mystified that I am still sorrowful. They will not see or experience death. Though death holds some dread for them, they will not come into eternal death nor will death’s sting pierce their heart, but they will fall asleep without angst or sorrow. (Blessed Martin Luther) Look with admiration at father Abraham. He does not wear gold and silk but is adorned, surrounded, crowned, and clothed with the divine light, the Word of God. We Christians are truly blessed if we recognize the benefits Our Lord has given us. In fact, just as we now praise Abraham because of the gift the Lord gave him, so Abraham praises us even more. For he saw the day of Christ. But he saw it only in faith and in the Spirit. We see this glory face to face. We hear God speaking with us and promising forgiveness of sins in Baptism, in the Supper of His Son, and in the true use of the keys. These Abraham did not have, for he saw in the spirit and believed. Therefore our glory is greater than his. (Blessed Martin Luther) PALMARUM, PALM SUNDAY The devil was tricked by his own wickedness. He inflicted a torment on the Son of God which was changed into a medicine for all the sons of men. He shed innocent Blood, which then became both the price and the drink which restored the world. He suffered upon Himself the impious hands of those who raged against Him, who while intent on their dreadful crime served the plan of the Redeemer. And such was the tenderness of His love, even for those who put Him to death. (St. Leo the Great) If we consider the Passion of Christ rightly, it immediately produces a feeling of deep shock and an uneasy conscience. Our Father will not release sinners to His only and dearly beloved Son unless this Son assumes a very heavy penalty on their behalf. He Himself tells us that this Son was “stricken for the transgression of my people.” What can ever befall the sinner after the most beloved Son has been smitten in this way? If you ponder the matter deeply enough, you will remember that it is God’s own Son, the eternal wisdom of the Father, who suffers for your sake. (Blessed Martin Luther) When humankind was estranged by disobedience, God our Savior made a plan for raising us from our fall and restoring us to friendship with himself. According to this plan Christ came in the flesh, he showed us the gospel way of life, he suffered, died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. He did this so that we could be saved by imitation of him, and recover our original status as children of God by adoption. (Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rev. Fr. John W. Fenton, S.T.M. Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Detroit 4305 N. Military Ave. Detroit, MI 48210-2451 Voice: 313.894.7450 Email: FrFenton@ZionDetroit.org ZIONNEWS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Web: www.ZionDetroit.org ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Historic Preaching + The Historic Preaching list is devoted to preaching on the Propers of the Historic Lectionary as found in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Service Book and Hymnal (SBH). Subscribe? Send ANY message to: Unsubscribe? Send ANY message to: Respond? 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