Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B

I have a notecard in my collection that has a powerful painting on the front. It shows a man with his back turned toward us, his clothing ripped and dirty, leaning his forehead on Jesus’ shoulder. Jesus has his arms wrapped around this man and is crying. The caption is something like “Safely Home.” To me, it represents all those of us who have lost a loved one in combat, or who have been wounded by the vicissitudes of life. It is a word of comfort, a word of hope for each of us. This man has made it into the arms of his Lord and has no need to be afraid or keep watchful anymore.

The theme for this celebration of the Reformation is, appropriately enough, Freedom!

Psalm 46
This psalm is drawn from a Korah psalm (part of a collection of psalms likely collected by the Korahites, who were a group of Temple singers). The psalm (esp. v.1) inspired Martin Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It is a song of Zion celebrating God’s ultimate victory over the nations.

Psalm 46
This psalm was the basis for Martin Luther’s famed hymn, “A Mighty Fortress,” and so its phrases may provide some helpful illustrations. For Luther in this hymn and in other writings, the psalm was all about the Lord being our strength (Luther’s Works, Vol.11, p.364). Famed Puritan Jonathan Edwards helps us understand why God is our strength. In one sermon he claimed:

The sanctuary was built in 1830. Boulders had been rolled into place and tree trunks had been laid across them. Fast forward to the two thousand’s. Having a unique perspective from the chancel, not to mention the pulpit, I noticed the northeastern corner, back where Margaret Borden and her buddies sat, was lower than the north western corner, where a few of our newer members laid claim. I mentioned it to a couple of the folks who took care of the building. They warned me not to make any jokes to Margaret. She was a tough guy.

Contents
“In The Heart Of The Sea” by David O. Bales
“Remember Their Sin No More” by David O. Bales



In The Heart Of The Sea
by David O. Bales
Psalm 46

“...all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (v.14b)

Good morning girls and boys,

Thank you for joining me today for my children’s message.

Here’s a made-up story: Once upon a time after a soccer game, Big Duke bragged to his friends how good he was. Big Duke bragged how he was the strongest, fastest, and smartest player on coach Egger’s soccer team. Big Duke boasted about the time he kicked a score even though other team mates had done the same many times before.

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (v. 36)

Good morning lovely children,

Do I have something exciting to show you today? Are you ready? (children respond)

Look — what is it? (show bird cage) When we sin, we lose our freedom. Sinning makes us end up in a cage. (open cage door) Sin is doing wrong things. Sin is believing wrong things. Sin hates God. Sin puts us in jail. (put inflated balloon in the cage) (close and lock cage door)

"Stop that, it'll all end in tears!" my mother used to say when my brother and I were young and getting particularly excited or silly about something.

I used to think of that as just a ploy to stop us enjoying ourselves, for how could she possibly know how it would end? And why did she always assume the worst? But strangely, I discovered that she was nearly always right. Suddenly, from having a wonderful time, something would happen and one or both of us was plunged into despair with the accompanying tears.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
-- 2 Timothy 4:7