Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series III, Cycle A
The church year theological clue
Manifestation and ministry continue to be the dominant theological and liturgical themes for this Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, which provide the homiletical clue to the selection of readings and the sermon itself. The theological framework of the church year is quite "thin," almost indiscernible in the middle of Epiphany; actually, the beginning and ending of the season keep the manifestation/ministry themes in focus. The celebration of the Transfiguration on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, as it is built into the Common and Lutheran lectionaries and church years, strengthens the theological framework of the season. 1 Corinthians and Matthew continue to be read in semi-continuous manner throughout the season. The ministry of Jesus reveals who he is; it makes the incarnate Christ manifest to the world as the light for disciples to live by. The manifestation theme is clearly connected to the Christmas/incarnation theme and cycle.
The Prayer of the Day - This is a prayer that might be used on any Sunday or other worship occasion; it could be a post-confession prayer, because it acknowledges human frailty and vulnerability to sin, and prayers for strength "in body and spirit so that, with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sin has brought upon us." It has little to do with the Epiphany season or, specifically, with the Gospel for the Day.
The Psalm of the Day - Psalm 1 - As a responsory to the second reading, the Epistle to the Corinthians, and as an introduction, it works better than most of the ancient graduals did. The key verse is, "Their delight is in the law of the Lord," because it tells why the people of God are happy; they have heard and obeyed the Word of the Lord their God. Those who stay close to God, place their faith in him, and continually allow God to nurture their relationship with him through his Word and Spirit, are "like trees planted by streams of water." On the other hand, the psalm warns, the wicked are like "chaff which the wind blows away;" they are doomed before the judgment seat of God. God will bless the righteous, but the wicked are already condemned. The psalm accommodates, thematically, the second reading and the Gospel for the Day, as well.
The Psalm Prayer
Lord God, in your loving wisdom you have set us beside the fountain of life, like a tree planted by running streams. Grant that the cross of your Son may become our tree of life in the paradise of your saints, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The readings:
Micah 6:1-8 (Lutheran, Common)
This is another of those places where an earlier Old Testament reading (Zephaniah 2:3, 3:11-13) has been replaced because another text is believed to be in closer harmony with the other
lessons, especially with the Gospel. Micah portrays God as puzzled by Israel's ingratitude and unfaithfulness, in view of all that the Lord God has done for his people; God has been just and gracious in all of his dealing with Israel, but Israel has separated itself from him. The life-style - of nations or individuals - that is acceptable to God is one that is marked by doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. Sacrifices, even the sacrifice of one's first-born, cannot affect reconciliation between human beings and their God, except in the case of God's Son, who is obedient in doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with his God. The reading highlights the utter and abject spiritual poverty of people before God, because those who know themselves to be poverty-stricken before the Lord are the ones who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
1 Corinthians 1 :26-3 1
The first problem in the congregation at Corinth was their factionalism and divided loyalties toward the religious leaders who had delivered the gospel to them; the second difficulty was their spiritual pride. They thought themselves to be saved on their own account, because they knew themselves to be worthy of grace, which was not only deserved but largely won because they saw themselves to be superior in all things to other Christians. Therefore, Paul makes it clear to them - and parallels Micah 6 in this respect - that all people are poor before God; no one deserves the gift of grace God gives freely to the world in Jesus the Christ. People's spiritual confidence must be in God the Father and their Lord, Jesus Christ, not in themselves. Only when they know their poverty are they rich, when they know their foolishness are they wise, and when they know their weakness are they strong. God is really God and the only God, good and righteous, loving and gracious. "If you have to boast about something, boast in the Lord."
Matthew 5:1-12
This, of course, is the Gospel that is read annuallyon All Saints' Day, which tends to be celebrated on the first Sunday of November rather than on November 1. It poses some preaching problems for All Saints' Day, which preachers might carry over to the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany; it almost appears that this Gospel was intended to be read with brief comments made on each of the Beatitudes spelled out in the pericope; a full-blown running commentary sermon, or a "primitive" expository homily, for that matter, would be much too long for today's congregations to endure on either occasion. This gospel emphasizes the nature of the Christian life, according to Jesus' authoritative teachings; the "crowds" had followed Jesus, primarily because he had worked incredible healings, but instead of seeing him work more miracles, they, along with the disciples, discovered the power of his teaching. Jesus taught them - and us - about the dimensions of abject spiritual poverty, the spiritual conditions that are acceptable to God in those who know themselves to be unworthy of his grace and helpless to win their own salvation. (Note: This gospel is best "preached" in the form of a thematic sermon that spells out the basis for true happiness in life and after death through God's gifts of grace as they are spelled out in the Beatitudes.)
A sermon on the Gospel, Matthew 5:1-2 - "He Taught It On a Mountain."
In his book, Jesus the Magician, Morton Smith contends that there were many magicians roaming about the world in Jesus' day; some of them did astounding acts of magic, and they drew considerable crowds. There can be no doubt that many people in the crowd that followed Jesus and his disciples to the mountain did so in the hope of seeing even greater miracles than he had previously performed. They went there to see a show; instead, they were given a lesson. They were taught, or overheard, a lesson taught by a master teacher. They discovered that Jesus spoke with a level of authority unknown among the scribes and Pharisees of the day. What has happened to the authority of his teachings today?
1. Jesus' preaching and teaching are more important to us than are the miracles that seem to be promised in the New Testament. If miracles could be guaranteed, it is highly probable that many more people would be Christians; but they are not. A couple months ago, a young man and his wife were jogging fairly late at night; a pickup truck came along and hit him, throwing him forty feet and leaving him paralyzed. Just yesterday the headlines of a local newspaper read, "Hit-run victim's recovery 'remarkable.' " The accompanying story told how the man had two vertebrae damaged, but was only paralyzed for five weeks. He is still recovering from his injuries, but his wife says, "The doctors don't say (his recovery) is a miracle, but we think we've received a miracle. If they're (miracles) out there in the world, we've gotten one. The odds were against us." The people following Jesus not only wanted to see a magic show miracle; they wanted to see instantaneous healing actually occur; they witnessed a miraculous exhibition of another kind, Jesus' teaching, which is meant for us, too.
2. Repentance, which Jesus had been preaching, along with "the kingdom of heaven is near," calls for a radical change of life-style by those who respond to this demand. The true Christian is one who is aware of his/her poverty - spiritual poverty - in emotions, in attitude, in hunger and desires, in relationships, in intentions, in complete and utter devotion to God. This person knows the meaning of sin and repentance - and discipleship. Discipleship means living a subservient life, poor in spirit, not simply living in physical poverty, although there may be benefit in that, but of knowing one has no standing before God aside from the sacrifice of Christ. One has to know that to be a true follower and disciple of Jesus Christ.
3. True happiness comes to those who know they have no spiritual worth of their own, but who live the life of Christ instead in total dependance upon him, not to gain the rewards he has promised - the kingdom of heaven, inheriting the earth, being comforted and satisfied, seeing God, becoming children of God - but, at the same time, knowing that Christ has promised these things to the suffering faithful.
In my wife's home congregation, there was a woman who was everybody's "Aunt Lena." She was, economically, a poor woman, but she never knew it; she believed that she was a rich person through her faith in Jesus Christ, and indeed she was. She lived on a meager pension, but whenever she received any money, she filled her offering envelopes first; she gave away most of the rest. But she knew spiritual need, and was in church at least once every week. She was "mother" to many, comforter to the bereaved, counselor to countless children, and willing worker whenever anything had to be done in her neighborhood, her church, or her town. She was the sort of person about whom Jesus was talking in the Sermon on the Mount, a true believer and genuine disciple of the Lord.
4. Listen to, and live by, the Word of the Lord, as he first taught it on a mountain.
A Sermon on the First Lesson, Micah 6:1-8 - "Priorities for Godly Living."
Verse 8 of this text is so familiar to people.
He (God) has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
So the obvious sermon - even expected message - is textual in its shape and form as it deals with this particular verse.
1. Priority number one: not just the love of justice, but the active pursuit of justice for all people who are victims of any injustice. Christians have to be involved in setting things right in the world. It is the business of Christians to seek for others what they alone might have - security, freedom from fear, hunger, and poverty, equal rights in matters of race, economics, religion, and political significance. Justice for all is the active concern of God's people.
2. Priority number two: adopting a Christian life-style whose foundation is love for all people, as well as for God. The Jerusalem Bible translation of verse 8 is "to love tenderly." This is echoed in Jesus' command, "Love one another as I have loved you." Jesus expects his disciples to live this way; it was not simply a request on his part. Love is the basis for kindness to others, genuine concern for people which recognizes that one must live a "life of love" that reflects genuine affection for the Lord in one's life style. It is passing along to others the treatment one has received from God, love, mercy, kindness, as totally unmerited grace.
3. Priority number three: to respond to God's mercy with genuine humility, knowing that without the grace of God you have no hope. A Christian prays, because it is true, "God, have mercy upon me, a sinner." Such a person knows that God alone is the righteous one, and in Jesus he gives us forgiveness of our sins and the blessed hope of eternal life. Those who know their true spiritual condition apart from God, along with God's merciful deliverance in Jesus Christ, can do no other than to "walk humbly with (their) God." Not even the "best" of us can save ourselves from sin and death; only Christ can do that.
4. Consider these requirements of godly living in the light of the cross of Christ, and ask the Lord to make them priorities in your life.
A sermon on the Second Lesson, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - "The Call to be Christian."
1. We need to remember that people are called to the faith by Christ, and by him alone. Though baptism makes us children of God and members of his body, the church. Jesus has done the entire work of salvation for us. Our business is to know this and believe it.
2. Like the Corinthians, when given time we become impressed with our own importance to Christ and his church. This is one of the hazards in being members of Christian congregations which has to be avoided at any cost, or we lose all that has been given to us. Boasting is a manifestation of pride, our fiercest spiritual enemy. Repentance is a sign of faith received through grace.
3. Jesus is the source of true humility. All that is good and permanent in our lives - righteousness, sanctification, redemption, and the like - comes from him. Knowledge of what he has done for us, which we could not do for ourselves, makes us truly humble and contrite.
4. Christians praise the Lord - "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord," says Paul - and avoid self-praise. Not only is this pleasing to God, but it is effective evangelism - "This is what the Lord has done for me...." - know it and say it with boldness and confidence.
Manifestation and ministry continue to be the dominant theological and liturgical themes for this Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, which provide the homiletical clue to the selection of readings and the sermon itself. The theological framework of the church year is quite "thin," almost indiscernible in the middle of Epiphany; actually, the beginning and ending of the season keep the manifestation/ministry themes in focus. The celebration of the Transfiguration on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, as it is built into the Common and Lutheran lectionaries and church years, strengthens the theological framework of the season. 1 Corinthians and Matthew continue to be read in semi-continuous manner throughout the season. The ministry of Jesus reveals who he is; it makes the incarnate Christ manifest to the world as the light for disciples to live by. The manifestation theme is clearly connected to the Christmas/incarnation theme and cycle.
The Prayer of the Day - This is a prayer that might be used on any Sunday or other worship occasion; it could be a post-confession prayer, because it acknowledges human frailty and vulnerability to sin, and prayers for strength "in body and spirit so that, with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sin has brought upon us." It has little to do with the Epiphany season or, specifically, with the Gospel for the Day.
The Psalm of the Day - Psalm 1 - As a responsory to the second reading, the Epistle to the Corinthians, and as an introduction, it works better than most of the ancient graduals did. The key verse is, "Their delight is in the law of the Lord," because it tells why the people of God are happy; they have heard and obeyed the Word of the Lord their God. Those who stay close to God, place their faith in him, and continually allow God to nurture their relationship with him through his Word and Spirit, are "like trees planted by streams of water." On the other hand, the psalm warns, the wicked are like "chaff which the wind blows away;" they are doomed before the judgment seat of God. God will bless the righteous, but the wicked are already condemned. The psalm accommodates, thematically, the second reading and the Gospel for the Day, as well.
The Psalm Prayer
Lord God, in your loving wisdom you have set us beside the fountain of life, like a tree planted by running streams. Grant that the cross of your Son may become our tree of life in the paradise of your saints, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The readings:
Micah 6:1-8 (Lutheran, Common)
This is another of those places where an earlier Old Testament reading (Zephaniah 2:3, 3:11-13) has been replaced because another text is believed to be in closer harmony with the other
lessons, especially with the Gospel. Micah portrays God as puzzled by Israel's ingratitude and unfaithfulness, in view of all that the Lord God has done for his people; God has been just and gracious in all of his dealing with Israel, but Israel has separated itself from him. The life-style - of nations or individuals - that is acceptable to God is one that is marked by doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. Sacrifices, even the sacrifice of one's first-born, cannot affect reconciliation between human beings and their God, except in the case of God's Son, who is obedient in doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with his God. The reading highlights the utter and abject spiritual poverty of people before God, because those who know themselves to be poverty-stricken before the Lord are the ones who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
1 Corinthians 1 :26-3 1
The first problem in the congregation at Corinth was their factionalism and divided loyalties toward the religious leaders who had delivered the gospel to them; the second difficulty was their spiritual pride. They thought themselves to be saved on their own account, because they knew themselves to be worthy of grace, which was not only deserved but largely won because they saw themselves to be superior in all things to other Christians. Therefore, Paul makes it clear to them - and parallels Micah 6 in this respect - that all people are poor before God; no one deserves the gift of grace God gives freely to the world in Jesus the Christ. People's spiritual confidence must be in God the Father and their Lord, Jesus Christ, not in themselves. Only when they know their poverty are they rich, when they know their foolishness are they wise, and when they know their weakness are they strong. God is really God and the only God, good and righteous, loving and gracious. "If you have to boast about something, boast in the Lord."
Matthew 5:1-12
This, of course, is the Gospel that is read annuallyon All Saints' Day, which tends to be celebrated on the first Sunday of November rather than on November 1. It poses some preaching problems for All Saints' Day, which preachers might carry over to the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany; it almost appears that this Gospel was intended to be read with brief comments made on each of the Beatitudes spelled out in the pericope; a full-blown running commentary sermon, or a "primitive" expository homily, for that matter, would be much too long for today's congregations to endure on either occasion. This gospel emphasizes the nature of the Christian life, according to Jesus' authoritative teachings; the "crowds" had followed Jesus, primarily because he had worked incredible healings, but instead of seeing him work more miracles, they, along with the disciples, discovered the power of his teaching. Jesus taught them - and us - about the dimensions of abject spiritual poverty, the spiritual conditions that are acceptable to God in those who know themselves to be unworthy of his grace and helpless to win their own salvation. (Note: This gospel is best "preached" in the form of a thematic sermon that spells out the basis for true happiness in life and after death through God's gifts of grace as they are spelled out in the Beatitudes.)
A sermon on the Gospel, Matthew 5:1-2 - "He Taught It On a Mountain."
In his book, Jesus the Magician, Morton Smith contends that there were many magicians roaming about the world in Jesus' day; some of them did astounding acts of magic, and they drew considerable crowds. There can be no doubt that many people in the crowd that followed Jesus and his disciples to the mountain did so in the hope of seeing even greater miracles than he had previously performed. They went there to see a show; instead, they were given a lesson. They were taught, or overheard, a lesson taught by a master teacher. They discovered that Jesus spoke with a level of authority unknown among the scribes and Pharisees of the day. What has happened to the authority of his teachings today?
1. Jesus' preaching and teaching are more important to us than are the miracles that seem to be promised in the New Testament. If miracles could be guaranteed, it is highly probable that many more people would be Christians; but they are not. A couple months ago, a young man and his wife were jogging fairly late at night; a pickup truck came along and hit him, throwing him forty feet and leaving him paralyzed. Just yesterday the headlines of a local newspaper read, "Hit-run victim's recovery 'remarkable.' " The accompanying story told how the man had two vertebrae damaged, but was only paralyzed for five weeks. He is still recovering from his injuries, but his wife says, "The doctors don't say (his recovery) is a miracle, but we think we've received a miracle. If they're (miracles) out there in the world, we've gotten one. The odds were against us." The people following Jesus not only wanted to see a magic show miracle; they wanted to see instantaneous healing actually occur; they witnessed a miraculous exhibition of another kind, Jesus' teaching, which is meant for us, too.
2. Repentance, which Jesus had been preaching, along with "the kingdom of heaven is near," calls for a radical change of life-style by those who respond to this demand. The true Christian is one who is aware of his/her poverty - spiritual poverty - in emotions, in attitude, in hunger and desires, in relationships, in intentions, in complete and utter devotion to God. This person knows the meaning of sin and repentance - and discipleship. Discipleship means living a subservient life, poor in spirit, not simply living in physical poverty, although there may be benefit in that, but of knowing one has no standing before God aside from the sacrifice of Christ. One has to know that to be a true follower and disciple of Jesus Christ.
3. True happiness comes to those who know they have no spiritual worth of their own, but who live the life of Christ instead in total dependance upon him, not to gain the rewards he has promised - the kingdom of heaven, inheriting the earth, being comforted and satisfied, seeing God, becoming children of God - but, at the same time, knowing that Christ has promised these things to the suffering faithful.
In my wife's home congregation, there was a woman who was everybody's "Aunt Lena." She was, economically, a poor woman, but she never knew it; she believed that she was a rich person through her faith in Jesus Christ, and indeed she was. She lived on a meager pension, but whenever she received any money, she filled her offering envelopes first; she gave away most of the rest. But she knew spiritual need, and was in church at least once every week. She was "mother" to many, comforter to the bereaved, counselor to countless children, and willing worker whenever anything had to be done in her neighborhood, her church, or her town. She was the sort of person about whom Jesus was talking in the Sermon on the Mount, a true believer and genuine disciple of the Lord.
4. Listen to, and live by, the Word of the Lord, as he first taught it on a mountain.
A Sermon on the First Lesson, Micah 6:1-8 - "Priorities for Godly Living."
Verse 8 of this text is so familiar to people.
He (God) has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
So the obvious sermon - even expected message - is textual in its shape and form as it deals with this particular verse.
1. Priority number one: not just the love of justice, but the active pursuit of justice for all people who are victims of any injustice. Christians have to be involved in setting things right in the world. It is the business of Christians to seek for others what they alone might have - security, freedom from fear, hunger, and poverty, equal rights in matters of race, economics, religion, and political significance. Justice for all is the active concern of God's people.
2. Priority number two: adopting a Christian life-style whose foundation is love for all people, as well as for God. The Jerusalem Bible translation of verse 8 is "to love tenderly." This is echoed in Jesus' command, "Love one another as I have loved you." Jesus expects his disciples to live this way; it was not simply a request on his part. Love is the basis for kindness to others, genuine concern for people which recognizes that one must live a "life of love" that reflects genuine affection for the Lord in one's life style. It is passing along to others the treatment one has received from God, love, mercy, kindness, as totally unmerited grace.
3. Priority number three: to respond to God's mercy with genuine humility, knowing that without the grace of God you have no hope. A Christian prays, because it is true, "God, have mercy upon me, a sinner." Such a person knows that God alone is the righteous one, and in Jesus he gives us forgiveness of our sins and the blessed hope of eternal life. Those who know their true spiritual condition apart from God, along with God's merciful deliverance in Jesus Christ, can do no other than to "walk humbly with (their) God." Not even the "best" of us can save ourselves from sin and death; only Christ can do that.
4. Consider these requirements of godly living in the light of the cross of Christ, and ask the Lord to make them priorities in your life.
A sermon on the Second Lesson, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - "The Call to be Christian."
1. We need to remember that people are called to the faith by Christ, and by him alone. Though baptism makes us children of God and members of his body, the church. Jesus has done the entire work of salvation for us. Our business is to know this and believe it.
2. Like the Corinthians, when given time we become impressed with our own importance to Christ and his church. This is one of the hazards in being members of Christian congregations which has to be avoided at any cost, or we lose all that has been given to us. Boasting is a manifestation of pride, our fiercest spiritual enemy. Repentance is a sign of faith received through grace.
3. Jesus is the source of true humility. All that is good and permanent in our lives - righteousness, sanctification, redemption, and the like - comes from him. Knowledge of what he has done for us, which we could not do for ourselves, makes us truly humble and contrite.
4. Christians praise the Lord - "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord," says Paul - and avoid self-praise. Not only is this pleasing to God, but it is effective evangelism - "This is what the Lord has done for me...." - know it and say it with boldness and confidence.
