Nehemiah 8:1-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:16-30

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There’s nothing more endearing to us than the thought of home. It’s the one place that we know is safe, comfortable, and welcoming. Home is meant to be the place where you will be welcomed all the time with open arms. We all look forward to going home to family and friends because we know we’ll have a friendly welcome, emotional support, and (if we need) even a shoulder to cry on. Yes, home is meant to be our safe space where we can go no matter whatever we do.

But there’s a weird paradox about home also, particularly about families. Those that know us the best can be either the most supportive or the most critical. When you know someone for a long time (particularly when it’s siblings), we know all the good and bad things together. This creates such situations where we only get the extremes. We can use all the bad things as ammunition, or we can look at all the good things so as to overlook the bad. 

In our Gospel lesson, Jesus returns home to see his family and goes to preach in the synagogue “as was his custom” (Luke 4:16). Jesus reads from the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,” Luke 4:18-19. This is the proclamation of the year of Jubilee. It was the restoration of all that people had lost. It was an incredible thing and reason for much rejoicing!

However, home and family can be a strange meeting. As he speaks before those who know him the best, he finds a not-so-warm welcome. “And they said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?” Luke 4:22. This boy that we’ve seen from birth, who does he think he is to say such a thing to us? Indeed, these people, this family who knew Jesus the best were the most blind to their own need. For Jesus fulfilled the words of Isaiah by preaching to them and to us. We’re the ones who are poor. We’re the ones who are captives and blind and oppressed.

God sent Jesus for this particular reason... “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,” Luke 4:19. Jesus was anointed at his baptism by the Spirit so that he may proclaim to all people the favor of God! This is God’s favor, to set free those who are bound to sin, to heal all those who are afflicted in body and soul, to give liberty to all those oppressed by even death! God’s favor is to give us Jesus who will go to the cross to die for us. “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself,’ Luke 4:23. So they did, with Jesus on the cross. They told him to heal himself of his wounds and come down. But it was the Lord’s favor and desire that Jesus should be crushed for us. Now, Jesus sends out others to proclaim this same message... the Lord’s favor for you. And this is God’s favor... to forgive you your sins and to grant you faith which leads to eternal life!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Everyone loves a good feast. It’s the joke that has much truth to it, “the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Put food in front of people and generally, people will have a good time. Food is like a universal language in that way. We all need to eat and it’s better to eat with others than alone. This is why celebrations are often centered around food also, particularly wedding receptions. The wedding feast is an integral part of the wedding day for most couples because it’s the couple’s time to spend with their guests.

The biggest thing, then, that ruins these feasts is a problem with the food and drink. It is hard to have a feast if there is no food or no drink. When we invite people to a feast, to a wedding reception, or other events centered around food, there is a social expectation concerning the food.

In our Gospel lesson, Jesus gets invited to a wedding feast. It was true in ancient Israel also that society had expectations for hospitality at a wedding feast. The couple was in charge of preparing the feast and making sure all the food and drink was provided. Yet, as Jesus joins the guests of this wedding, he’s told that there’s an issue. “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine,” John 2:3. No wine is a bigger issue than not having something to drink. No wine means the couple stands to be disgraced by the community. 

This is the reality of what we experience. Food and drink will eventually run out. Meals may end in disappointment. Hunger and thirst are a common experience because of this. For we may not say running out of food or wine at a feast is a big deal. Yet, it’s a sign of a larger issue. Sin has tainted our everyday experiences. It’s because of sin that food satisfies for but a moment. It’s because of sin that things go wrong. It’s because of sin that we suffer want and need... and even disgrace.

Return, though, to this special feast to which Jesus attends. It’s no small thing that Jesus’ first miracle is at a wedding. The holy union which God instituted in the garden is upheld by Jesus through his attendance. And Jesus doesn’t stop there. Even though he was just an attendee, he answers the request of his mother to provide for such a feast. Imagine the servants as they follow Jesus’ command and then hear from the master of the feast, “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,” John 2:10. By this miracle, Jesus offers a blessing over the holy union. But this also was a “sign” as John tells us. For this too points us to a greater reality. Jesus would host his own feast, one where food would be in abundance, and wine would never run dry. Yet, this feast demands a sacrifice... and it’s Jesus. Jesus who offers up himself on the cross to provide the meal. Jesus who sets the table before us with his own body and blood. Jesus who feeds us the food that shall satisfy both body and soul unto eternity!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayers:

Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 43:1-7; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 3:15-22

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Many people will act differently with different groups of people. For instance, we tend to have a different persona for when we are at work versus when we are at home. We act differently among friends than we do at church. Many of us, I would assume, do this because we all have a desire or urge to be accepted as part of a group. There’s nothing wrong with this as it’s natural that we relate to different people in a different way. 

However, sometimes we worry that with having so many different personas, that we’re not being truly authentic to ourselves. When who we are is dependent on who we are with, we can often face imposter syndrome. This happens when we worry about being “discovered” or “found out” as a fake or fraud. Our identity is bound up in fulfilling a set of expectations for a group of people.

As Christians, I think we can sometimes suffer from this same imposter syndrome. The world thinks of us as holy, perfect people when we know that we’re not. We often try to uphold this persona even when we know that we’ll never match it. Rather, we’re imposters. Sinful people claiming to be holy. 

But our Gospel lesson for this week shows us a different picture. Jesus comes to John to be baptized. While all the other gospels offer more words for such event, Luke remains brief. “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened…” Luke 3:21. Jesus’ baptism isn’t given many more words than “Jesus was baptized.” You see, in a way, Jesus was the true “imposter.” He came to be someone that he never was. John baptized people for repentance of their sins. But Jesus also was baptized. Why?

As Jesus comes to be baptized, it’s far more than a ceremonial event. It begins his ministry, yet, it’s much more than just the start of something new. Jesus is baptized so that he may become like us. “God made him to be sin who knew no sin.” Jesus is the true imposter… and that’s a good thing! In his baptism, Jesus partakes of our sins, becomes even the sin-bearer who will cleanse the people of their sins. Jesus becomes our imposter so that he may take our sins and death upon the cross. But there’s yet more. For once Jesus is baptized, the heavens are opened and God’s voice proclaims from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” Luke 3:22. Because of Jesus’ baptism, because he was made to be like us, God now makes us to be like him through baptism. When we are baptized, the heavens are opened and God speaks the same words over you, “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased!” Thus, we say, when you have doubts, when you feel like an imposter, look to your baptism and hear again God’s word over you. You are a beloved child of God!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I’ve never lived anywhere where there wasn’t light pollution. I’ve never really travelled either to gaze up at the stars though I’ve heard of many who have and say it’s an incredible experience. Now, we know that before the invention of the lightbulb, people regularly gazed at the night sky. Seafarers used the night sky to navigate, so too did those who traveled by land. 

While we may no longer use the stars for navigation, we understand their benefit to us. We count on our star, the sun, to give us light and warmth. The stars light up the night sky also. Without the stars and the moon, we wouldn’t be able to see at night. Rather, the darkness of the night would overwhelm us. 

This week, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. This is when the wise men travelled from afar, guided by a star. They come to Jerusalem and say, “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,” Matthew 2:2. The Magi, or wise men, were nobles of another country. They were likely also astronomers, paying attention to the stars in the night sky. Many believed that the stars offered special messages that needed to be heard. 

Consider the picture of Epiphany. All the world is shrouded in the darkness of night. And this darkness is a symbol of the darkness within each one of us who by sin have shrouded our eyes from the light of God. Like Herod, we look only to our own interests and holding onto our own power. In darkness, we become blind to the needs and cares of our neighbors. 

Into this darkness though, a new light has shown. A star has revealed a light that shines into the deepest darkness. This is what the wise men found. A star revealed to them that a new king had been born. Jesus was the one born King of the Jews. But he wasn’t born for only Jews, otherwise these Gentile wise men never would have come. “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh,” Matthew 2:11. The revelation of Epiphany is that Jesus is born, not just for Israel, but as King of the world! He’s the one who heaven declares by a star to be Lord over all. For Jesus comes to reign over his kingdom by the light of his glory. And this glory isn’t the glory of kings, but the glory of the cross! Jesus would show his true kingship by offering up his life for the life of the world so that his kingdom may come to us! Thus, as Jew and Gentile alike, let us come before him, offering our gifts at his feet, and worship the one born as our King!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It doesn’t matter how far advanced our technology becomes. Nothing will ever replace the gold standard of being able to talk with someone face to face. Don’t get me wrong, being able to pick up the phone and call anyone at anytime is helpful. Yet, there’s always something missing when we do. And don’t get me started at how much social media has created a vacuum of true friendships. When we gut relationships of the bonds that hold them together, all we have is a glass house, cracked and waiting to fall.

In the church, we often call this phenomenon the “ministry of presence”. Simply sitting in a room with someone can offer more consolation than words may ever give. Being present with someone who is hurting speaks volumes to one’s willingness to help and their care. Instead of just relying on these alternative communication methods, we take the time to go and be with someone, face to face. 

In this last week of Advent, this is the great message we have to proclaim. Our Lord comes! Jesus comes to be with us, face to face. As we read about Mary going to visit her relative, Elizabeth, our Lord’s ministry of presence can already be felt. “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb,” Luke 1:41. The child in Elizabeth’s womb is the first to react to our Lord’s presence. Our Lord has already become incarnate in the womb of Mary and this makes John leap for joy!

All Advent is about this moment. It’s about our Lord being our Immanuel, God with us. Jesus comes to minister to us with his presence because we struggle with the weight of sin in this world. We’re the ones who are hurting and needing comfort. We’re the ones suffering the evil that befalls us. No long-distance relationship will do now. This is why we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Come and help us. Come and be with us that you may lift the weight off our shoulders by your gracious visitation.

Nothing can compare with talking to someone face to face. This is why Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. Even as Elizabeth says, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:42-43. Elizabeth recognizes, through the child in her womb, that Mary’s child is the Lord. She recognizes this amazing fact that the Lord has come. He’s come to be with us, to grant us grace and mercy to strengthen us. Even as we celebrate this Christmas, our Lord takes upon himself our flesh to join us in this perilous journey. Yet, by his grace and mercy, our Lord comes to lift the weight of our sins from us by going to the cross. By Jesus’ birth, he ministers to us with his presence. By his death, he frees us from sin and death. And by his coming again, he promises to be our Immanuel both now and forevermore!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 7:18-28

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We all have expectations for how we think people should act. It’s not just normal everyday behavior, but expectations for those who take on very specific roles. For example, we expect firefighters to be fit and strong in order to put out fires and rescue people. We expect teachers to be kind and caring for the nurturing of children. We expect pastors to be honest and upright to fulfill the role given to them. Because of the nature of certain roles, we expect certain types of people to fill them.

However, people don’t always live up to our expectations. This isn’t always a bad thing. Perhaps, our expectations are unrealistic or completely misguided. Or maybe certain people have found a different way to accomplish the same task. Or there’s those cases where indeed, someone isn’t fit for the role they’re given and it causes a scandal. Scandals often happen when expectations and reality don’t match. 

In our Gospel lesson, John the Baptist has been imprisoned by Herod. He had been preaching for so long about the coming Messiah and even gets the opportunity to point people to him directly. But now, all the expectations he had for Jesus aren’t matching up with Jesus’ ministry... and he begins to doubt. “And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Luke 7:19. All Israel expected the Messiah to come in power and might. They expected Jesus to come with an army to set them free. However, Jesus isn’t doing that. So, they’re left wondering, is Jesus truly the promised Messiah, or have we been fooled again?

What do we expect from Jesus and God? It’s no secret that many people are offended by the Church and the teachings of Jesus. Many are offended that the church says marriage is between one man and one woman. Many are offended that we say babies shouldn’t be killed in the womb. Many are offended when we say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. No, we shouldn’t expect that God will give us a million dollars. We shouldn’t expect that God will empty our life of all pain and suffering now. We shouldn’t expect that Jesus will only say those things that we agree with. This is why Jesus says, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me,” Luke 7:23. 

But this is what we call the very scandal of the Gospel. Everyone expected a savior to be a military leader. They all expected triumph to look like a heavy-weight boxing match and the victor to be standing tall over his fallen opponent. People still expect that God will work through strength, wealth, and power to bring his kingdom into our world. Yet, the scandal is that he doesn’t. Rather, God chose to send Jesus in the weakness of the flesh. God sends Jesus to be born as a little babe. God sends Jesus to win the victory, not by slaying his opponent, but by dying on the cross. Jesus is the messiah who scandalizes us because he comes not with power and might, but in weakness and lowly ways. Let us then not be scandalized when God doesn’t heal us, but rather uses our weakness, illnesses, and lowliness to glorify his name! Blessed is the one who isn’t scandalized by Jesus, but sees in the weakness of the cross, the true victory over Satan, death, and the grave!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Malachi 3:1-7b; Philippians 1:2-11; Luke 3:1-20

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

How do you prepare... for company to visit? For a trip or vacation? For a test? Perhaps, you are one that waits until the last minute and then tosses everything together. Or maybe you like to methodically lay everything out, write a plan down, and start it weeks in advance. We learn from life that there’s a certain level of preparation needed for most things. We don’t (often) walk into a classroom on test day without having studied. We don’t wait until it’s time to leave to pack a suitcase for a trip. Many other things too take preparation.

In this season of Advent, we focus on our preparation for Christmas. We prepare for family to visit, getting what food we need for meals, making sure everyone has a bed to sleep on, and so on. But that’s not the only preparation we need. Advent teaches us that we must prepare to greet our newborn king. We must be prepared to celebrate Christmas rightly. 

This week, we hear about John the Baptist as he seeks to prepare the way. “Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me,” Malachi 3:1. John is charged with preparing the people for Jesus to come. What we often find confusing is how John prepares the people. “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Luke 3:7. John has some choice words for the people. But it’s all for the sake of preparing them.

The preparation which God desires is repentance. It was what John preached, a baptism of repentance. Sin must be addressed before the good news may come. God had to remove the roadblocks and barriers to his word before it may be spoken in its sweetness. Or like Malachi says, God must purify us like silver and gold. He must first remove the impurities from our lives. For so we must have those uncomfortable conversations. We must address sin lest it keep us from entering the kingdom of God. Thus, we’re called to repent and change our ways so we may be prepared to greet our Lord aright.

John warns us that God’s wrath is imminent. It’s coming upon all sin and unrighteousness. “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees,” Luke 3:9. God was getting ready to punish sins. He was getting ready to swing his axe at the tree... only to make the cross. God sent John to prepare people to repent, to place their sins upon Jesus so that God might bear his full wrath, not against you, but against his own Son. Jesus bore the full weight of our sin, the full wrath of God by dying on the cross. By Jesus death, God purifies us from all sin. He cleanses us of all unrighteousness. He forgives us our sins so that we might hear the full sweetness of the Gospel, that Jesus’ death has paid the price for all of your sins and that you are now holy in the sight of God!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!