From: "Chad L Bird (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Trinity IV Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 1:02 PM Trinity IV Reflections 1) The Creation groans and labors with birth pangs, and unhappy is her travail, for her pregnancy is like that of a woman impregnated by rape. Unwillingly was she subjected to the bondage of corruption, enslaved by the passions of fallen man. She who was "very good" must now endure the sentence "vanity of vanities." She must provide sunshine for those who walk in the darkness of unbelief, water for those who have abandoned the fount of living waters, food for those who hunger not for righteousness. In short, she must endure fallen man, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever (Epistle). 2) And we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. And what shall we do as we eagerly wait? How shall we live in a world subjected to futility? We shall pray that "the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Thy governance that Thy Church may joyfully serve Thee in all godly quietness," (Collect). And how may the Church so joyfully serve? She may so serve for the Lord is her light and her salvation; whom shall she fear? The Lord is the strength of her life; of whom shall she be afraid? (Introit) And she knows that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Epistle). 3) What are the sufferings of this present time? Among other things, that the "wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes," (Introit). How do they eat up my flesh? They use words that devour (Ps 52:4), slanders so sharp they leave the listening ear bloody. How shall the sons of God suffer such things? With great long-suffering, for they must be merciful, just as their Father also is merciful. Mercifully the Father provides sunshine, even for the murderer; mercifully He provides rain, even for the thief; mercifully He provides a body and soul, eyes, ears, and all bodily members for those who employ those members in the service of unrighteousness. And ó more than that ó mercifully He demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He loved His enemies; did good to those who hated Him; offered both cheek to the fists of those who struck Him; gave away His coat, His tunic, even His skin. And in all this, we see how He is the Son of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men; like Father, like Son (St. Luke 6:27-35). 4) How then are the sons of the Most High to be merciful? First, by judging not and condemning not, lest we be as blind men leading blind men, or as those who look at the speck in our brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in our own eye. Instead of being a Ham, and slandering the nakedness of our father, let us be Shem and Japheth and cover his offenses with the garment of mercy. For to what shall we compare a self-appointed judge? Is he not like one who takes in hand the dung of my error, and holds it under everyone's nose, saying, "Smell what he did!" Oh, yes, how terrible it is, a gross error, indeed so terrible and gross that you, O Slanderer, should have sense to bury it! Second, by forgiving the sins committed against us. And how shall we forgive? By granting our neighbor a glassful of absolution from the ocean of forgiveness which our Lord has poured into us. And let us not just forgive, but also gladly do good to those who sin against us; let us not only forgive Malchus, but re-attach his ear, that he may both hear and see that we forgive him. Third, by giving to those in need, whether friend or foe, worthy or unworthy. Our Lord says to us, "Take, eat, this is My body," and "Drink of it, all of you, this is My blood," and we receive Him by FAITH. We then turn to our neighbor in LOVE and say, "Take, eat, this is my body," and "drink of it, all of you, this is my blood." That is how we are Christ to the neighbor, in mercifully giving all of ourselves (our body and blood) to him. Thus the root and fruit of the Sacrament is love, God pouring His love into us through His Son's Body and Blood, and then pouring us by love into our neighbor through our body and blood. 5) A disciple who is merciful is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. Are we not the disciples and our Lord the teacher? And we are like Him for He is like us. Indeed, He became what we are in order to make us what He is ó a Son of the Most High. And all the mercy-commandments of our Teacher are kept by us, His disciples, when what is not kept is forgiven (Augustine). The commandments are fulfilled in the fulness of the Absolution, for He who commands us to be merciful is merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. He judges not, condemns not, forgives and gives, for the sake of the Blessed One who became the Cursed One for us. Pr. Chad L. Bird St. Paul, Wellston, OK + 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? Click 'Reply' or write to For further information about this list, contact the list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski or visit our website: + + + + + +