Septuagesima (28 Jan. 2018)

Its not fair!

All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.  Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?"  But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"  So Moses cried to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me."  And the LORD said to Moses, "Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.  Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.  And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"  Exodus 17:1-7

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.  The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!  For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.  Psalm 95:1-9

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.  Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.  After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.'  So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.  And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'  They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'  And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'  And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.  Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.  And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'  But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?'  So the last will be first, and the first last."  Matthew 20:1-16

Christ routinely taught in parables.  We often want to read ourselves into them, even though they are frequently about God's relationship with the people of Israel and their abandonment of the covenant.  The ones that are not are usually about all humanity abandoning God and needing redemption.

In the Gospel lesson, Christ depicts God the Father as an employer, and the believers as workers.  Some workers are hired right away, for an honest day's pay.  Some, though, are only hired at the last minute and paid fairly.  But apparently God didn't pay them fairly.

Which begs the question: Is God fair?

Not at all.

In the passage, the master of the house hired workers for a denarius, which is a day's wage of about $100 today.  Not bad at all.  He chose to pay all his workers the same wage.  Nothing compelled Him to, save His own gracious will.

Which is why, when those hired first grumble He doesn't increase their rate.  He promised to pay them a denarius.  If He wants to pay someone else the same amount, what's that to them?

Is that fair?  No.

The workers hired first through that, since those hired last were paid a denarius that they, who'd worked longer, should get more.  They were under the illusion that what they had been promised was no longer more than sufficient.  Did any of them deserve to be paid, or even hired?  No.

That's how grace works.  God freely gives what He will.  It is not based on any form of merit or work on our part.  How can it be when all our works are grumbling, complaining, and rebelling?  All we deserve is hell and death.

Thanks be to God that He is not fair, but through His grace has granted us salvation, not by our work and merit, but by Christ's death and resurrection.

The Transfiguration (21 January, 2018)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.  Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.  But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them.  Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai.  And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.  Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.  Exodus 34:29-35

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.  And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned."  When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."  Then He said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."  And He said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.  Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.  Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."  But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"  He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."  Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"  God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"  Exodus 3:1-14

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."  He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.  Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,  "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."  I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."  Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.  Psalm 2

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain.  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,  knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.  2 Peter 1:16-21

And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  And He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.  And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him.  And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."  He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him."  When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.  But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear."  And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.  And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."  Matthew 17:1-9

How do you unpack this one?

Jesus, standing on top of a mountain, and out of nowhere - POW!  Moses and Elijah are standing there.  Clouds surround the whole thing.  And then God switches on the "big voice" to shut Peter up.

Maybe Jesus should have warned Peter, James, and John to wear their brown tunics that day.

We don't believe in fanciful stories.  Spectacular, sure.  Miraculous, oh yeah.  Unexplainable, uh yep.  Mythical, nope.

These accounts, Moses talking with God and the Transfiguration, are some of the few times when God pulls back the curtain.

Remember the Wizard of Oz?  Dorthy and company are in the Wizard's throne room, cowering before a terrifying visage surrounded by fire and smoke.  Then that little dog pulls back the curtain just enough that they see... a regular man.  Don't look behind the curtain.

God has many times placed a curtain between us and Himself, both literally and metaphorically.  The curtain in the temple between the priest and the Ark of the Covenant is a great example.  It was there for the safety of the people.

Moses requested to see God, a thing which he was told would kill him.  A person in their sin cannot view God in all His Glory.  However, God, being gracious and loving, showed Himself to Moses in a way that would not kill the man.  Even with that veiled form, the Glory of God was so powerful, so intense, that Moses's very body was showing the effects of His presence.  The people understood that there was some unearthly power at play when the saw Moses's face.  So, to protect their consciouses, Moses wore a veil.

At Jesus's birth, God took on the ultimate veil: a human body.  So here He was, living in complete humility, keeping His Glory under covers until the time was right.

That trip up that mountain was but a peek behind the curtain.

Peter's babbling was understandable.  What do you say when your teacher and friend has a conversation with two of the greatest leaders in your people's history.  And not only that, but your teacher starts projecting light with such intensity that He outshone the sun.

Clearly this is a holy spot.  Can we stay here?

No.  We can't.  Christ's duty was not on the mountain top; at least not yet.  Until it was time to fully tear down that veil and reveal the Glory of God, Jesus kept His divine nature concealed.  Why?  Because it distracts us.  We look for the glory, the glamor, the glitter.  We want the revolution, the marching armies, the conquest.  But that is not the Glory of God.

We know where God appears in His full Glory when there are clouds.  That is God's veil.

Clouds show up on Sinai, and the mountain where the transfiguration happened, and most importantly this happened at the Crucifixion.  Great darkness and clouds.  Christ's death is where God's Glory is fully revealed.  That's why the veil in the temple is torn.  There is no need for the veil anymore.

We who are grafted into Christ can see the Father without fear of being destroyed.

Second Sunday after the Epiphany (14 January, 2018)

All In Due Time

Moses said to the LORD, "See, you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.'  Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people."  And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."  And he said to him, "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.  For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"  And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."  Moses said, "Please show me your glory."  And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.  But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live."  And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.  Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."  Exodus 33:12-23

(or)

"In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name," declares the LORD who does this.  "Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.  I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.  I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them," says the LORD your God.  Amos 9:11-15

(To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.)  May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.  Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!  Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah  Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!  The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.  God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!  Psalm 67

(or)

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.  Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.  Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.  He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.  He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.  He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.  The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.  He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!  Psalm 111

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.  "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."  This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.  Ephesians 5:22-33

(or)

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.  Romans 12:6-16

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."  And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."  His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."  Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.  Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.  And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it.  When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."  This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.  John 2:1-11

God has never been worried about doing things when, where, or how we want Him to.

Amos the prophet makes this clear, saying "behold, the days are coming."  What kind of days?  End days.  Days when the power and glory of the King of Kings will be undeniable.

It was this power and glory that Moses wished to see.  We all do, though none of us can.  God even had to put special precautions in place for Moses to even have a glance at the most lowly of His glory.

But in God's plan everything has its place, its purpose.  Our God is a God of order.  We see this order in how all of history plays out, in the relationship of husband and wife (and by extension all relationships), and in how He gifts His people to perform in vocations.

This order is what continues until that Day.  We would do good to not seek its rushed arrival.  Desiring God to rush is a foolish thing.

So then why does Jesus say His time has not yet come, yet He complies with what seems to be a foolish request?  Because what we thing is "His time" and what is "His time" are not the same thing.  It is fitting that the first miracle of our Lord is at a wedding.  After all, Christ is the Bridegroom.

Think ahead to the parable of the Ten Virgins.  There are many preparations before the wedding feast, and the bridegroom arrives with much pomp and circumstance.  These things must have a start.  The miracle John write about is that start.

Our Lord, the Son of the King, is coming to claim His bride.  The next three years of His life are that journey, from the gathering of the wine for the feast, to the gathering of His bride, the Church.

Now, we wait for His return, to take us, the Church, to our home He has prepared for us.

Baptism of our Lord (7 January, 2018)

Exodus

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.  He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.  He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.  Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.  Isaiah 42:1-7

(To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.)  LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.  You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah  You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.  Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!  Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?  Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?  Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.  Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.  Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.  Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.  Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.  Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.  Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.  Psalm 85:1-13

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.  And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."  1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"  But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."  Matthew 3:13-17

Repeat after me: Jesus is Israel reduced to one.

Think about it.  Israel was set apart to be a royal and holy nation whose task was to follow God's law and be the example to point to the Messiah.  Jesus was sent to be a royal and holy King who followed God's law and was the Messiah.

Like Israel, Jesus went to Egypt in search of a safe haven.  And like Israel, Jesus was baptized.

The people of Israel were "baptized" as they crossed through the waters of the parted Red Sea.  It was an act of redemption; saving them from the enemies that were set on killing them.  Later on the next generation was "baptized" as they crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land.  This "baptism" transformed them from nomads to heirs who would receive the land.

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River too, but not because He needed the cleansing.  Rather, His baptism was the first, much as how the Last Supper was the first Lord's Supper and His resurrection was the first resurrection from the dead.  This was the first instance of baptism, which now saves us.  How?

Because Jesus received it first.  The only way we pass through death to life is because Christ died and rose first.  By participating in it, by experiencing everything we can experience, He took the broken thing and remade it into something for our good.

Now, instead of drowning in the water and dying, our sinful nature is drowned and we rise from the water, given new life through Christ's death and life.

First Sunday after Epiphany (7 January, 2018)

Go home

Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.  For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.  And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day.  There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.  And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.  Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.  I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever."  1 Kings 8:6-13

(A Psalm of Asaph.) The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.  Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.  He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"  The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah  "Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.  Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.  I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.  For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.  I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.  "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.  Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?  Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."  Psalm 50:1-15

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  Romans 12:1-5

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.  And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.  After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress."  And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"  And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.  And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.  And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.  Luke 2:41-52

Think ahead in the church year, for a moment, to the Transfiguration.  Peter, James, and John were pants-wetting terrified to be on that mountain with the unharnessed holy Jesus Christ, the Law-giver, the Prophet, and the Voice of God.  Yet, they knew, deep down, that the best place to be was that mountain.  Because that's where the Temple was.

That's where people want to be: close to God.  We were created, originally, to walk with God, as our first parents did in the Garden.  Its why David wanted to build a permanent temple for God.  And most importantly, its why Jesus was in the temple, teaching the teachers.

In some ways its similar to when Jesus drove people out of the temple.  Only the teachers were receptive to Him and what He was saying.  And Jesus wasn't there to drive them out, but to bring them back.  He was teaching them.  That is what the temple was for.

God calls us to Himself.  That is why He sent His Son.  Without the Son, we wander about lost, attempting to build find God somewhere, anywhere.  We build temples of our own design in whatever high places we think are fit.

But with the coming of Christ, and His sacrifice, the permanent singular temple in Jerusalem was no longer the goal.  It was a type and shadow, meant to point us to Christ.  Now, we "temple" with Him wherever His word is preached, and His sacraments are administered.

Epiphany (6 January, 2018)

Seek Him

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.  Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.  Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.  A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.  Isaiah 60:1-6

(A Psalm of David.) The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.  Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.  He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah  Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!  Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah  Psalm 24:1-10

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles-- assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.  Ephesians 3:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"  Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."  After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.  And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.  Matthew 2:1-12

Where ever He was, Jesus drew people to Himself.  That was a part of the plan.  The people had been scattered after the Fall, and were lost without a shepherd.  He wasn't sent just to bring the people descended from Abraham back.  No, He was sent to call all people back.

Including a handful of shaman-ish researchers from somewhere east of the Roman Empire's frontiers.

We aren't told where they were from, or even who they were.  Just that they were wise men from "the east."  But they knew about the Messianic prophecies, so its extremely likely that they were from somewhere formerly Babylon or Persia.

Did they understand who the child was?  Probably not.  But these Gentile "witchdoctors" saw what the Jewish religious leadership either missed or ignored: the King promised to David was born.

Yet they knew He was someone worthy of their admiration.  Even and especially in a world dominated by the Romans.  And so they brought offerings to give as part of worship.  They may not have known Jesus was the Son of God, but they understood the idea that the King was divine.  And so they came, bearing gifts.  Gifts worthy of a King, the gold, and worthy of a priest, the frankincense.  But the myrrh?

Myrrh was used by the Jewish people in burials.  It is a resin, and the linen strips the body is wrapped in were soaked in this resin, creating a cast.  The wise men brought materials in preparation for Christ's ultimate purpose: to die as a sacrifice.  Perhaps they did know.

Like the meeting of Simeon, this epiphany is pointing us forward, to Jerusalem and the Cross.  Until then, we marvel at this moment, when even the Gentiles were led by light to the Light.

Some Ghosts Never Die (or) It Went Exactly As I Thought It Would

Finally, on the last day of 2017 I saw "The Last Jedi."

And I liked it.

Sure, there's stuff I didn't like about it, but, as "Part 2" of the Sequel Trilogy, and as part of Star Wars overall, I very much enjoyed it and thought it was quite good.

Why?

Because I remember.

• I remember when the newly victorious Rebel Alliance fought side-by-side with Imperial forces against an invading race of aliens from a star cluster just outside the galactic edge.

• I remember when Wedge Antilles reformed Rogue Squadron with the mission of, not only becoming the best fighter squadron in the galaxy, but retaking Coruscant.

• I remember when Han Solo kidnapped Princess Leia to convince her to marry him.

• I remember when Grand Admiral Thrawn nearly tore the New Republic apart with his most artistic campaign.

• I remember when Luke Skywalker founded the New Jedi Order on Yavin IV with a class of twelve students.

• I remember when Kyp Durron stole the Sun Crusher and destroyed an entire star system.

• I remember when a race of genocidal and racist aliens attacked the New Republic with a fleet led by a Super Star Destroyer.

• I remember when the Galactic Civil War ended with the surrender of the Imperial Remnant.

• I remember when the Yuuzhan Vong race invaded the galaxy, killing Chewbacca, destroying thousands of worlds, and terraforming Coruscant before being defeated.

I remember.

And that is why I liked "The Last Jedi."

I'll admit, I don't like DJ.  Not because he was a bad character, but because I don't think he was necessary.  There is a long history of smugglers, slicers, thieves, and other "scoundrels" in Star Wars, but the ones DJ is most like are not "good guys."

I don't like Holdo.  I don't like commanders who are too cheerful in the face of long odds, and who don't tell people the plan or part of the plan.  She's too much like a Bothan in that regard.  (Those of you familiar with the Thrawn Trilogy or Rogue Squadron know exactly what I mean.  And I'll leave it at that.)

And its true that there were visuals and film style choices that I disagree with.  They're not what I would have used if it was me.  A few didn't feel "Star Wars," in my opinion.  The scene where Holdo rams the Raddus into Snoke's ship is one of them.  Epic to watch, and kuddos, but it looked more like something out of a live-action "Big Hero 6."  Not bad, just not what I'd expected.

So, enough of why I didn't like it.  How about I explain why I liked it, since I doubt my list makes it clear, and there is apparently a lot of polarized viewpoints on this episode.

I'm going to start with a theory.  My theory, with my terms.

There are only three kinds of Star Wars fans:

• Those who are "minimalist" and only familiar with the movies and perhaps aware of the Expanded Universe;
• Those who are "Post-Prequel fans" that grew up with the Prequels as the most recent additions, are familiar with materials that cover events before Episode IV, and are sympathetic to the clones and the "old" Jedi Order;
• Those who are "Rebellion-Era fans" that grew up with the Original Trilogy and the Expanded Universe that only described events post-Endor, with the exception of a few bits of Old Republic history.

"Minimalists" are not going to care either way with this movie.  All they will think is "yay, more Star Wars."

"Post-Prequel fans," though, are going to be less than pleased with it.  The "old" Jedi Order is called out as all but a failure in this, and the First Order is just the Grand Army of the Republic and the Empire taken to logical conclusion, but unashamedly villains.  Its really hard to be sympathetic to the designated bad guys.  None of the "fan theories" (or, if you prefer "fan fiction") survived, and the fan fiction phenomenon is primarily a Post-Prequel thing (though there is some old EU stuff, all of which is superior.)  None of the "approved" Mary Sue style characters are there: such as expies of Anakin.  Most of all, "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi" are too much like the Original Trilogy and the old Rebellion era "Expanded Universe" for their comfort.  Its just not what they are used to.

"Rebellion-Era fans" should be happy with this film.  Why?  Consider:

We get to see an expy of Wedge get into the type of trouble expected of an ace snubfighter pilot, only he has to suffer the consequences that Wedge always seemed to avoid.

(Then again, we all knew he was the new Wedge when he had this bit of snark.)

We see an expy of Borsk Fey'lya in the guise of Vice Admiral Holdo.  Yes, I'll be so bold to say it.  Mostly because I didn't see her act as a military leader so much as a politician.  And its not because she was wrong.  Quite the opposite.  Her plan was the right one.  But she should have told her people what the plan was instead of a pretty "cheerleader" speech.  Maybe the comparison with Fey'lya isn't fair then, though she does go out in very similar fashion.  And I can respect that.  If only she'd been a leader, not a cheerleader.

(Arrogance, thy name is Borsk.)

We almost see Talon Karrde or Booster Terrik show up in the form of DJ, except he isn't as honest or skilled as either, and neither of them are slicers.  Niles Ferrier or Huff Darklighter would be the potential inspiration more than either of the former, but the former is incompetent, and the latter apathetic.  Even Dengar or Boba Fett would have been more upstanding that that.  And the best slicer in the galaxy, one Zakarisz Ghent, would never be so backstabbing (mostly 'cause he's naive).  Maybe DJ's actually Fey'lya's expy...

(For the record, our slicer Ghent is on the far right.  If you can't identify the rest, then go re-read the Thrawn Trilogy.)

(From left to right: Tycho Celchu, Winter, C-3PO, R2-D2, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Lando, Talon Karrde, Shada D'ukal, Mara Jade, Zakarisz Ghent)

Original here.

We get to see more types of starfighters instead of just the "same old stuff."  Now, before all you "Post-Prequel fans" get upset with me, I do recall and appreciate the grand variety of ships from Episodes 1-3.  And many of them were good.  But we've never had a "heavy" onscreen.  Sure, the Y-Wing was officially a bomber, but it was a very light one.  The bomber from "The Last Jedi" reminded me of the K-Wing.  The Star Wars universe has always had a bit of a gap when it comes to its light craft.  Having a bomber is a good thing.  (And, yes, for the record, I know the B-Wing should count, but we don't see them onscreen enough.)

(The BTL-S8 K-Wing - for when you really want that Star Destroyer to go away.)

But I can hear someone complaining already: "How'd the First Order build all those big ships?  Aren't they suppose to be a secret group out in the Unknown Regions?  Where'd they get the stuff to build that ludicrously large ship, let alone Starkiller Base?"  All good questions.

Who cares?

No, but seriously, we're talking about the remnants of the Empire, with a large portion of the old resources, running unchecked in a third of the galaxy likely filled with all sorts of resources, running arms deals and such.  Gaining capital and equipment to fund such projects isn't all that far fetched.  And besides, the Empire expended much more on much less.  (Torpedo spheres, anyone?)

Go ahead an check out the old Expanded Universe.  Back in the day portions of it were known as "The Super-weapon Of The Month Club" for good reason.  Sun Crusher, World Devastators, the Eye of Palpatine, the Darksaber, Eclipse-class dreadnoughts, and a few others.  All built by the Empire (except Darksaber, which was by the Hutts).  Building weapons is extremely lucrative business.

Remember, we're talking about a government in a universe known for building space stations the size of moons all for moving black holes from half-way across the galaxy.  (Seriously, that's what Centerpoint Station was built for.  Check it out sometime.)  Construction of this scale isn't that insane.  Wasteful and stupid, perhaps, but not insane.  Consider the planet-sprawling city of Coruscant.  Each of those buildings has to take a lot of time, effort, planing, money, and material to assemble.  And each one could have been used to build a ship the size of a Star Destroyer.  Remember, Coruscant has 5,000 levels.  That's a lot of metals and other material.

The only thing I'm left with that I don't get is "who's the villain now?"  The only reason I ask is the ending feels like a set-up for more than just a single movie.  The Resistance has to rebuild from the ground up.  Luke is dead, and Rey is minimally trained (though the latter may be a good thing).  Snoke is dead, though that doesn't mean he's gone (Force ghost?).  The First Order lost a lot of material, and Kylo Ren is in charge.  The war will continue, but its clear that Kylo isn't stable as a villain yet.  There's got to be more of a threat remaining to drive things.

Maybe Snoke's still influencing Kylo, or worse, ghosts from history (Palpatine?).

And what about Rey?  Luke said the Jedi would continue.  I'm glad to be right in my theory that we're resetting to a more Taoist than Buddhist style of Jedi.  Clearly the writers are familiar with the Unifying Force theory, the Living Force theory, and Luke's New Jedi Order.  And for all you "Post-Prequel fans" out there, no matter what you may think, Luke's Jedi are leaps and bounds better than the old Order.  Why?

Balance.

That was the goal.  And that's what Luke's Jedi were better at reaching.  But the EU writers gave Luke some really good students, and some good materials to work from, including artifacts from before the Ruusan reformation, which is what led to the "classic" Jedi Order of the Prequels.

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.  The trailer featured the voice of Bendu, a creature that existed "in the middle."  Listen carefully, right around the minute mark.

The original Jedi were supposed to balance the Force.  Its not good, or evil.  Just power, and choices have consequences either good or evil.  Its a philosophy that on one hand is right at home in today's society, while being completely foreign.

But I'm not here to discuss the nuances of a sci-fi series based worldview.  Maybe some other day.  No, I'm just giving everyone my reasons for why I liked Star Wars Episode VIII "The Last Jedi."

Can't wait for the next one.  But, until then, I'll reacquaint myself with the legendary Expanded Universe, filled with greats like Thrawn, Karrde, Horn, Kre'fey, Durron, Pellaeon, and so many others.  And perhaps, that's the most interesting thing I'm taking from this installment.

With "The Force Awakens" I felt a bit of loss as the old Expanded Universe was swept away.  That's where I grew up as a fan of Star Wars.  To have it be, essentially, erased was disappointing.  But its still there, much like how the old Greek myths are still there.  I can still read them even if they are relegated to dusty bookshelves.  This new Trilogy ushers in a new style, inspired by the old but uniquely its own.  I can have both and be happy with them for what they are.

So if you liked the movie, that's great.  And if you didn't, that's okay too.  But as for me, there was no doubt that it was the "right" movie, a Star Wars movie, when the opening crawl faded and the camera panned down to show the Resistance ships evacuating, just before the First Order arrived.

Now I've just got to wait and see if the Han Solo stand-alone is any good.

New Year's Eve (31 December, 2017)

Its Not Over Yet

[And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.  For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD; who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions,  leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel."  Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, "Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant; and its breaking is like that of a potter's vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern."]  For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling, and you said, "No! We will flee upon horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.  A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.  Isaiah 30:(8-14) 15-17

(A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.)  Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!"  For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.  You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.  For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.  You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.  For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.  The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.  Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:1-12

(What then shall we say to these things?) If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:31b-39

"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."  Luke 12:35-40

Its the end... of the year, that is.

In the Gospel lesson we are compelled to keep watch. That's what good servants do when their master is away.  They don't just sit around, being complacent.  They work.  They maintain the house.  They tend to the needs of their fellow servants and those outside.  They watch and wait for their master to return.

Because we know that our Lord is returning.  We don't know exactly when, though, and for people without a promise, that would be a cause of fear.  But St. Paul makes it clear we have nothing to fear.  Who can be against us?  Our God, who created the entirety of existence, came down to our miserable world as a man to save us.  Nothing can stand between us and our Lord Jesus Christ.

So we are to stand firm, steadfast, watching for His return, and calling those still lost to look for Him.  We were promised it would be soon.  Perhaps it will be in the upcoming year.  No mater what, remain faithful until He calls us Home.