Shout It from the Rooftops!

In Nomine Iesu
St. Matthew 10:21-33
June 22, 2008
Pentecost 6A-Proper 7

[Jesus said,] “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus~

When was the last time you were up on your rooftop? Hanging out on the rooftop isn’t something that most of us do very often. In fact, if you’re on your rooftop, it often means that something bad has happened: the roof is leaking, shingles have blown away, or the chimney is in danger of collapse. As for me, I’ve never once been on the parsonage roof. About as close as I get to the rooftop is the four or five times a year when I have to clean out the gutters because the Maple tree has decided to drop yet another round of seeds or leaves. And when I’m up there near the rooftop scooping muck out of the gutters, the only words I’m proclaiming are probably not all that suitable for others to hear.


We generally understand Jesus’ words about “proclaiming . . . from the rooftops” to be just a figure of speech, perhaps a bit of hyperbole—exaggerating to make a point. (Jesus doesn’t really want us shouting things from our rooftops!) But two thousand years ago, when Jesus first spoke these words, He was being quite literal. You see, in Jesus’ day, in Israel, people proclaimed things from the rooftops all the time—every day. First of all, you need to know that most of the rooftops were flat, which is still common today in the arid places of the world. Hence, rooftops weren’t nearly as dangerous. Second, at a time before there was air conditioning, the rooftop was a great place to hang out to catch a cool evening breeze when the house itself was uncomfortably warm. In this way, rooftops actually became a place of socialization where neighbors would converse and kibitz and pass along the latest news. Rooftops in Jesus’ day served a purpose much like the front porches of small town America back in the last century.

In Matthew chapter 10 it’s the Twelve Apostles that Jesus is directing up to the rooftops. He was sending out the Twelve on their first missionary journey. They were being sent only to the lost sheep of Israel—only to fellow Jews. (Gentiles would be targeted later.) Jesus sent them up to the rooftops so as to give maximum publicity to His teachings. What Jesus had taught them in private was now to be proclaimed and preached in public. They were to seek out those rooftops and venues which would afford the maximum exposure—much like our congregation is attempting to do by marching in the Whitefish Bay Fourth of July Parade. Our goal there is to be seen by as many as possible; the goal of the Apostles was to be heard by as many as possible.

But here’s the rub: What about when the message we’re given to shout from the rooftops is unpopular? What about when the message we shout means that we will be mocked or rejected or persecuted or worse? What about when the message we shout seems to drive away more people than it attracts?

These aren’t hypothetical questions. This is the exact thing Jesus warns the apostles about before sending them out. This is also the exact situation faced by the prophet Jeremiah in today’s OT reading. Jeremiah was called by God to preach an unpopular message of death and destruction, and doom and gloom, for God’s people in the land of Judah. Jeremiah had to preach a message of judgment and law. Meanwhile, there was a multitude of false prophets who were busy proclaiming that peace and prosperity were right around the corner—that God would never allow His chosen people to be chewed up and spit out by gentile armies. You won’t be surprised to know that the pews in Jeremiah’s church were empty most of the time.

What do you do? What do you do when God gives you an unpopular message to shout from the rooftops? Again, this isn’t hypothetical. In just this past week you may have seen or heard about the same-sex marriages being performed in California. It’s easy to say and do nothing. It’s easy to just go with the flow. It’s far more difficult to proclaim from the rooftops that the wages of sin is death—that same sex marriage is not marriage at all, but a sinful rejection of God’s gift of marriage. Or what about that heterosexual couple you know that’s living together, but doing so without the benefits and blessings of marriage? Or what about God’s gift of human life so constantly threatened by abortion? You will not win applause and standing ovations no matter how lovingly you speak the truth in these kinds of situations.

What do you personally do when God gives you a difficult message to speak—when as part of your vocation you are called to confront sin—to call someone to correction—to say the unpopular thing? By nature we have no desire to proclaim God’s Word from the rooftops—or anywhere else for that matter. Rather than heading up for the rooftops, we usually make a beeline for the basement—down to where it’s easy to stay silent, to be safe, to keep comfortable, to make no waves, to do what’s convenient and easy.

But even if you do decide to head up to the rooftop, Jesus doesn’t promise that it will be easy; nor does He promise that the words you speak will always achieve their intended purpose. But for those who dare to dash to the rooftop—to faithfully give witness to the teachings of Jesus—Jesus does say this: “Do not be afraid.” In fact, three times He says it: “Have no fear. Do not fear. Fear not.” The fear that controls us and keeps us quiet—Jesus says, “Leave it behind. Trust me. Follow me. What is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the rooftops.” Come hell or high water, your body and soul are in His holy care. The One who knows when a sparrow falls to the ground—the One who knows the number of hairs on your head—He knows just the help you need.

The wages of sin is death. It’s true. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. He was killed on Good Friday. But by that death He destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. He descended into hell, and on the third day He rose again from the dead. And what is true for the Master is also true for you, His servants. Imperfect though we are, sometimes hated and rejected—yet in Jesus we too will rise and live for all eternity. The forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting—that’s God’s free gift for you and for all people. But some people may only come to know and receive that gift because you cared enough to leave the basement behind and head up to rooftop and tell the truth in love. Christ Jesus died to save sinners, of whom we are the worst. We are not perfect, but we are forgiven in Jesus, and that makes all the difference. That’s the good news we are privileged to proclaim from the rooftops—to neighbors, to family, to co-workers and friends. God has reconciled the world to Himself in Jesus.

That’s what we call the gospel. God Himself has proclaimed it from the top of Mt. Calvary. God Himself has proclaimed it from the empty tomb of the resurrected Jesus. God Himself proclaims it still today from this pulpit, from that font and from this altar. His loving care for you reaches into eternity, for that’s what He Himself is proclaiming today, loud and clear, for all to hear. Amen.

A Father's Love

In Nomine Iesu
Romans 5:6-15
June 15, 2008
Pentecost 4A – Proper 5

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus~

[Picking daisy petals] He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me . . . .

Love can be a fickle thing, can’t it? It seems like people are falling in love all the time, and then falling out of love almost as often! Human love is fickle and unpredictable. It doesn’t conform to any rules or regulations. The people that I love, you might find to be completely repulsive. And the people that you love, I might find to be totally obnoxious. Love is, indeed, a fickle thing.

Everybody wants to be loved. But let’s face the facts—you and I aren’t the most lovable people in the world. In fact, let’s conduct a little experiment. Think for a moment about all the people that you love. And by that I mean, think about all the people to whom you can say, “I love you.” Now subtract your spouse. Subtract all other family members. Subtract anyone who already loves you. How many loved ones are left?

What this shows is that most of the time our love for other people is related to their love for us. As someone once put it, “It’s nice to be nice to the nice.” In other words, it’s relatively easy to love a loving person. After all, how many people do you love who don’t love you right back?

But in Romans chapter 5 today we learn that God’s love is radically different. God’s love is not fickle or uncertain. Nor does God only love those who are lovable. Nor does God only love those who love Him right back. In this chapter St. Paul was inspired to describe you and me in a variety of ways, and “lovable” isn’t one of the words he chose. Instead, God’s Word from Romans five says that we are powerless—says that we are so morally weak that we can’t earn God’s love no matter what we do—says that we are ungodly—sinners one and all—enemies of God according to our sinful nature.

The bottom line is—we are simply un-lovable. Even worse, there’s nothing we can do or say to make our heavenly Father love us. We are by nature ornery and disobedient and disrespectful children. And without God’s love we are eternally lost.

But this is the miracle of God’s love: even though we are sinful and unlovable, yet your heavenly Father loves you with an indescribable love. Through faith in Jesus, you are the apple of His eye. You are the love of His life. You are—quite literally—“to die for.” St. Paul puts it this way: “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man . . . or even for a good man. . . . But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were God’s unlovable, spiteful, sinful enemies—Christ died for us—for you. And that death on the cross for your sins is the unmistakable sign—the undeniable proof—the demonstration of God’s love for you.

But this love isn’t fickle. This love isn’t shaky or uncertain. This love of God for you is what the Bible terms "agape" love. What is agape love? This love—the kind of love God has for you—is not just a feeling or an emotion. Agape love is rooted in action—in doing—in works of service and sacrifice. What would you think if your spouse was telling you all the time, “I love you, honey,” but then never did anything to demonstrate that love? Talk, they say, is cheap.

But God’s love for you isn’t just talk. It is agape. It’s rooted in actions and deeds and service and sacrifice. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s the proof. That’s the demonstration. That’s the action. That’s the incontrovertible evidence which for all time points you to the fact that you are loved—that your sins are forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus, you are lovable. You are beautiful. You are His treasured possession for all eternity.

God the Father shows you His love by sending Jesus to be your Savior. And perhaps on this Father’s day it’s appropriate to consider a father’s love. I suspect that my own father was probably like a lot of other fathers. My dad didn’t tell me that he loved me every single day. The words, “I love you,” didn’t pass through his lips on a daily basis. But I never had any doubt about my father’s love. Why not? Because he demonstrated his love for me every day—going to work every day at a job he didn’t particularly like so that he could support our family—attending nearly every sporting event and musical and theatrical event I ever participated in. He helped me buy my first car and taught me how to change the oil. And most importantly, he brought me and my family to the Lord’s house every Sunday. And in these and other ways my father’s love was demonstrated. He proved it by his deeds and actions.

That’s how it is with the love of our heavenly Father. It’s both spoken and demonstrated for you. In fact, today’s text literally says, “God keeps on demonstrating His love for us . . .” God continually, in an ongoing way, demonstrates His love. God’s love demonstrated at the cross . . . is demonstrated yet today. Your baptism is an expression of that love. There at the font He adopted you to be His own child and washed away your sins. Into your life the Lord of the Harvest has also sent preachers. So that you wouldn’t be harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd, God has graciously sent His called and ordained servants to this flock called “Our Savior” for 75 years now. And these preachers, with all their faults and frailties, are a flesh-and-blood “demonstration” of God’s love for you.

Today God keeps on demonstrating His love for you by feeding you with the very body and blood of His Son. Here in this meal God takes the love He poured out on the cross and gives it to you personally. He forgives all the sins that make us so unlovable.

[picking daisy petals] He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves YOU, too! There’s no doubt about it. He’s serious about you. For richer for poorer, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, He takes you to be His own. His love is certain and absolute. It never ends. Still today, God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Amen.

Leaving the Booth Behind

In Nomine Iesu
St. Matthew 9:9-13

June 8, 2008
Pentecost 4A-Proper 5

Jesus . . . saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus~

As a pastor, I see people at their best . . . and I see people at their worst. On Sunday mornings, I see people at their best—nicely dressed, hair brushed, make up on, smiling, respectable. As a pastor, I have a front row seat to watch beautiful brides walk down the aisle and to see the tiniest, cutest babies washed clean and born again in the waters of Holy Baptism. As a pastor, I see people at their best—confessing the faith, kneeling for Communion, making the sign of the cross.

As a pastor, I also see people at their worst—tearful people, cancer ravaged, people in such excruciating pain that it causes them to vomit. I also see people whose pain is emotional—broken people, hard-hearted, unrepentant people, people so filled with pride that they look down on me with contempt, and people so filled with shame that they can’t even make eye contact with me. I see people at their best and I see people at their worst.

As a general rule, people prefer to be seen at their best—when they look respectable, when their actions are honorable, when their words are thoughtful and articulate. I suspect this was also true for Matthew the tax collector. I suspect that Matthew was more than a little uncomfortable when Jesus came calling. For Jesus didn’t come calling when Matthew was at his best—when Matthew was at home where he could put on the appearance of a respectable, honorable life. Jesus didn’t give Matthew the opportunity to clean up his act and distance himself from his dishonorable work as a tax collector. In fact, Jesus came calling at the very place—the exact spot—the precise location—where Matthew was at his worst. Jesus came calling at the tax collector’s booth.

Tax collectors, in those days, were considered the worst of the worst. They were notoriously dishonest and greedy; and there’s no reason to suspect that Matthew was any different. As a general rule, the salary of tax collectors was based upon the amount of tax they collected; so, of course, they always collected as much as they possibly could. Bribery, extortion, and money-laundering were all part and parcel of the tax collector’s trade. Corruption, dishonesty, and the love of money were the roots of all evil that permeated the life of most tax collectors. The Jews considered tax collectors to be unclean. And they were often forbidden even to enter the synagogue for worship. Tax collectors were not church-going folks, but despised outcasts—the worst of the worst.

Jesus, it seems, made a point to call Matthew while he was at his worst—while he was at the tax booth—while he was at the very place where his sin of greed and his love of money were on public display. Calling Matthew then and there, Jesus left no chance for Matthew to curb the corruption, or make a big donation to the United Way. There was no time to diminish the dishonesty or to distance himself from that which brought Matthew into disrepute. There was no chance for Matthew to clean up his act and make something respectable of himself before Jesus called him. No, all of a sudden, the Savior was there, seeing Matthew at his worst, and saying, “Follow me.” (You can get a sense for the scene on the cover of today’s bulletin—the Savior’s finger pointed at Matthew, and Matthew’s finger pointed at himself, dumbfounded in disbelief.)

Jesus invited Matthew to leave the tax booth behind—to walk away from the greed and corruption that seemed to have a stranglehold on him. There is, of course, something completely distinctive about the call of Matthew. He was called directly by Jesus Himself—called to be one of the Twelve Apostles. But there’s also something here for all of us. For we also have been called to follow Jesus in faith and discipleship.

We also have been called by Jesus to leave the booth behind—to walk away from whatever it is that hinders our faith and holds back our discipleship. Matthew’s place of sin and shame was the tax collector’s booth. And that’s the very place where Jesus came to call him. What is the place of your sin and shame? In what area of your life is Jesus calling you move on, and follow Him, and leave the sin behind you? At what time and place in your life would you be most shamed and shocked to have the Savior show up, pointing His finger at you, and saying, “Leave it all behind, and follow me?”

What part of your life is the Savior calling you to leave behind today? Perhaps for some of us, like Matthew, it’s the love of money and the security of money. If Jesus came calling today, would you gladly and willingly open your checkbook to show your stewardship of the treasure He has given you? Or would you like a little time to clean up your act beforehand? Perhaps for others of us there are sins of addiction from which the Savior is calling us. Alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling—there’s an endless list of possibilities—all of them idols to which we willingly sacrifice everything. What is the Savior calling you to leave behind? Perhaps it’s the anger that erupts so often, or the gossip you can’t get enough of, or the loveless way you treat your parents. Whenever and wherever you would least like to have the Savior show up—then and there is where Jesus is calling you to leave the booth behind—to sever the sin and follow Him.

And if there’s anyone here today who doesn’t think that Jesus is calling them to make any changes in their life—well, that kind of puts you in the same camp as the Pharisees. The Pharisees thought they were clean and respectable and honorable—thought they had no need to leave anything behind. They were pure and pious—models of spiritual health. But Jesus reminded them, “It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” It is to people sick with sin that Jesus comes calling. It is to dying sinners in a dying world that Jesus comes calling with forgiveness, life and salvation.

Beloved in the Lord, whatever your sin—whatever part of your life Jesus is calling you to leave behind this day—know that this can only happen on Jesus’ terms and by His power. When Jesus called Matthew to leave the tax booth behind and follow him, we hear nothing about any deliberation or decision-making on Matthew’s part. Sinful Matthew didn’t decide to follow Jesus. He couldn’t! If Matthew wanted us to think that there was some great virtue in him that led him to devote his life to Christ, he could have written that down for us right here in the pages of his gospel. But He didn’t. What he did record for us was the one thing that made everything possible: the all-powerful Word of the Lord: “Follow me.” Brothers and sisters, with those same powerful words Jesus is inviting you, today, to leave your sin behind and follow Him.

The truth of the matter is this: Matthew couldn’t clean up his act for Jesus if he wanted to. You and I can’t clean up our acts either. Only the one who says, “Follow me,” only He can clean us up and make us worthy to be called His disciples. Whether our sins are like Matthew’s sins—or whether our sins are like those of the proud and pious Pharisees—we believe and confess that Jesus was delivered over to death for those very sins, and was raised to life for our justification. Jesus Christ came to call sinners—“Jesus Sinners Doth Receive”—tax collectors, prostitutes, people just like you and me.

The good news of this day is that Jesus has come calling here today. Jesus still comes to call sinners. To all who answer to that name, Jesus offers His mercy and steadfast love. To all who see and confess just how sick they really are, Jesus gives divine healing and perfect forgiveness. Those are the gifts Jesus won for you on the cross. There at the cross it was Jesus who needed a physician. At the cross our sins took a sickening toll on His bruised and bloody body. At the cross Jesus was denied all mercy, and all compassion. Instead, the justice and judgment of a righteous and holy God was unleashed upon His thorn-crowned flesh.

But the one who became sick unto death with our sin now has the cure. Through faith in Him, even sinners like us are counted as righteous. In the miracle of your baptism Jesus has cleaned up your act and given you the gracious invitation: “Follow me.” Here in this place Jesus shares a meal with you, just as He did at Matthew’s house. Only here today Jesus provides the main entrée—His own body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Here today is power—the power of Jesus for you—to hear His call and leave your sin behind. Still today, Jesus eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners. And because of that, when Jesus looks at you today, Jesus sees you at your best, forgiven by Him, with faith in Him.

I told you earlier that as a pastor I get to see people at their worst and at their best. When I saw you confess your sins earlier today, I saw you at your best. When I see you receiving the body and blood of Jesus at this altar, I see you at your best. And when I see you in heaven, gathered around the throne of God, I will see you at your best for all eternity—not because I got you there by my words, but because of the words Jesus says to you: “Follow me.” Amen.

A (Concluding) Word to the Wise

In Nomine Iesu
St. Matthew 7:15-29
June 1, 2008
Pentecost 3A-Proper 4

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. . . . But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus~

These words of Jesus about the wise and foolish builders are really only last words—famous last words—the final few sentences of one of the most famous sermons Jesus ever preached. Today’s Holy Gospel is really just the conclusion—the finale—of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.”

Of course, when all you hear is the ending of a sermon, you’ve got a bit of a problem. You’re missing out. You’re somewhat clueless. For instance, if all you heard of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech was “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!” you wouldn’t really understand the sense in which those words were intended. You wouldn’t know that King was advocating for a world where a man isn’t judged by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.

So it is with the Sermon on the Mount. You can’t fully understand the conclusion without knowing what was said before. When Jesus says that those who hear His words and put them into practice are like the wise builder who built his house on the rock, it’s easy to say, “I can do that, no problem.” Sounds simple enough: hear the word and do the word—talk the talk and walk the walk. When all you’re hearing are the final sentences of the sermon it’s easy to shout out “amen.” It’s easy to see yourself as the wise guy who builds on the rock—who hears the words of Jesus and does them—to say to yourself, “I can do that!”

Something similar happens when you install new software on your computer, and that little window pops up with all the terms and conditions. If you’re like me, you get about three lines into those terms and conditions before your eyes glaze over, you scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the box that says you “agree” with these terms and conditions—not really knowing at all what you have just agreed to.

Brothers and sisters, if we’re going to be like the wise builder who built his house on the rock, then we ought to know the terms and conditions to which we are saying, “amen, I agree, I can do that.” We need to know what came before—what words preceded the conclusion.

There’s not enough time to cover the entire Sermon on the Mount, but here are some of the highlights. Last Sunday, you may recall, we heard Jesus’ invitation not to worry—to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field—to trust that our Father in heaven will provide us with everything we need. Many of you told me these words were just what you needed to hear. So how well did you do with putting those words of Jesus into practice during the past week? Was it a worry-free week? Was your anxiety absent? Or was it your trust in the Father’s care that was absent? After hearing those words about worry last week, how well did you put them into practice?

Another highlight of the Sermon on the Mount was when Jesus re-stated the fifth commandment: You shall not murder. Sounds easy enough. I can do that. But Jesus also said that anyone who harbors hatred or anger against another stands under the same condemnation as a murderer (5:21-22). In other words, it’s not just enough to refrain from actually murdering someone. You need to go and be reconciled to the one from whom you’re separated by anger or hatred. Can you do that?

Another highlight of the Sermon on the Mount was when Jesus re-stated the sixth commandment: You shall not commit adultery. Sounds easy enough. I can do that. But then Jesus went on to say that anyone who looks at another lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart. In other words, it’s not just about living a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, but also living a sexually pure and decent life in what we think. Sound easy to you? Can you do that?

Another highlight of the Sermon on the Mount is that part where Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Sounds easy enough. I can do that. But what about that “enemy” who’s a member of your own family? What about that enemy who’s stolen from you or lied about you? What about that enemy—the lazy one—who makes you do all the work and then blames you when things go wrong? Jesus says, “Love them. Pray for them.” Can you do that?

After hearing some of what Jesus preached before His conclusion, it kind of takes the wind out of my sails. I’m not feeling quite so wise anymore. Because if putting these teachings of Jesus into practice is what it will take to weather the storms of life, then maybe I should start praying for fair skies and storm-free weather.

In one sense, hearing the sermon on the mount reminds us of what St. Paul wrote in Romans chapter three: “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All have sinned. All of us rightly deserve to be condemned by God as murderers and adulterers who create far more enemies than we reconcile with. If the truly wise man builds his house on the rock by doing and keeping all of Jesus’ teachings, then we’re in trouble. We’re more foolish than wise—living in a trailer park and the storm sirens are sounding. We simply cannot weather the storm of God’s wrath against our sin.

But one man looked at our hopeless condition and our need for rescue and He said, “I can do that.” One man looked ahead and saw the sacrifice that would be needed to reconcile you to God—to atone for your sin—and He said, “I can do that.” That man was the God-man, Jesus Christ. He weathered the storm of God’s wrath for you and in your place. On Good Friday it was shouts and sneers and sarcasm that rained down upon Jesus. It was nails and thorns and spear that blasted His body in the stormy darkness of a Friday afternoon. It wasn’t just the wrath of soldiers and centurions that pounded and pummeled the body of Jesus that day. It wasn’t just a Roman tool of torture that took the Savior’s life. It was the wrath of God the Father poured out against your sin-bearing substitute.

What we deserve for our murder, our adultery, our hate, our worry and so much more—that’s what was doled out against Jesus, as Jesus faithfully followed His Father’s will. Jesus put the Words of His Father into practice. Jesus talked the talk and walked the walk and died the death we deserve. He gets what we deserve. You get what He deserves. His innocence, His righteousness, His holiness goes to you though faith. By His death and resurrection Jesus has become your sure and solid foundation. “On Christ, the solid rock, [we] stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

Now, here’s a concluding word to the wise: Building by faith on Jesus, you can live securely. Through faith in Jesus, you have an eternal house in heaven—a home unaffected by surging winds or flooding rains. In this earthly life—make no mistake—the winds will blow and the rains will fall. The flood will rage all around you. You will be no stranger to storms and struggles. But in the end you will stand—you will stand on the one foundation that will never give way. You will stand secure in Jesus. Amen.