Numbers 6:22-27.       God's blessing on another New  Year!!  31/12/12

 

²² The Lord said to Moses, ²³ “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

 

Here we are again at the end another year and the beginning of a new one. It seems that the years are coming and going all too frequently: and as they come and go so rapidly, it seems that about the only thing that changes, is the fact that we getting older rather quickly.

 

But as we reflect back over the year gone by there has been great deal happen in most of our lives: A good many joys and up-lifting events as well as those that we have had to struggle and grapple with. There has been a great deal to be thankful for; much of which we are often unaware of. As well there have been those things that have dragged us down and have happened that we wonder what on earth that was all about and whether there was any good in it at all.

           

Then as we think of the year ahead, we wonder what has it in store for us. The world financial crisis is still very much on the agenda, as is global warming. There are political elections taking place that will have a bearing on the future. Here in the church we wonder if we are going to get by financially this year, or can we gain a few more members or not.

 

In our own personal lives, we wonder what will happen to us health-wise; or how relationships in our extended families will go, for better or for worse; or will our grandchildren have any more contact with church; and the list could go on. The reality of life in a sinful world will continue to take its toll in the lives of many people.

                       

So as we look ahead we could very easily be rather apprehensive and even be a little negative and despondent. At first glance it may seem that we have every right to feel this way, for these realities are ever before us.

                       

But it is here into this situation that our text this evening speaks; and it turns this whole thinking upside down.

Here we have some great words from God himself, for us and our concerns. Here we have something which gives us great hope and expectation as we face the year ahead. And it is the same word that has proved to be beneficial to God's people down through the years: In fact ever since the time of Moses.

 

So what is that word again. The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

 

The first thing that strikes us about these words is, of course, the fact that they are the same words as we use in our Benediction every Sunday at the conclusion of our worship time. In fact it is the same blessing that has been used by God's people ever since the time of Moses. It has been used by God's appointed leaders to pronounce and place God's blessing on his people, to assure them that they have nothing to fear as they continue on their way as his people.

 

The reason it is used, and used in this way, is because as we see in this text, it is command of God's.        'The Lord said to Moses, this is how you are to bless the people'. God wants his people to use it: He wants it to be an important part of our life. He wants to work in this way for us. In our use of this blessing God has promised to act; so they are not just idle words and wishes that are spoken to us. As God's representative pronounces that blessing, it is passed on to you and God actually works what is spoken. What is said really comes to be: it happens for you just as it spoken.

 

This, God spells out quite clearly in the last verse: 'So they will put my name on the people and I will bless them. Now this is quite a startling thought: every time I speak this blessing to you I am actually putting God's name on you; and as you may well know, where God's name is there God is present and at work. So in the blessing I am actually placing God on you; covering you over with God: God himself wrapping around you, so to speak, so that as you go from here there God goes also with you into every aspect of your lives. He is there not just as a protective garment, but as that which brings blessing. He is there to be of benefit, help, assurance, forgiveness, friendship; everything.

 

This will all happen for you because God has promised that it will be so. He says: 'I will bless them.' Not perhaps, or maybe, or if we are good enough - but will: God will bless his people.

 

So God will bless us in the New Year. We can believe this. We can trust this to be so; because it is God who says so. We can know that he will take care of us no matter what the situation may look like on the surface. Now of course we can turn our back on it, ignore and even reject what he has to give us: we can focus on the bad and then blame God - even though it is often our own stupid fault - then naturally we will not see all the many blessings that God has for us: But that it what he wants for you and me and is prepared to do for us.

 

Now might think where and how is God going do all this. So often in the past we haven't always seen God's blessing: instead of blessing the situation appears as a tragedy. Here let us remember this was also the case for the Israelites. On their march to the Promised Land they faced difficulties, failures and even disasters. But how often wasn't this their own fault. They had forgotten that God was present with them; and had forgotten that he had the power to do the impossible. They all too often  forgot  that has the overall vision to know what is best.  How often wasn’t it the case that they thought they could do their own thing and get away with it: that they could live free and easy and wouldn't be held responsible for their actions?

 

But all the while did God forget them or leave them? Did he fail to see that they had enough food, water and shelter? Did he fail to get them to the Promised Land and make them a great nation? No, despite the failures of the people, God still went with them and blessed them.

 

So we too can go forward with confidence into 2013, knowing that God's name has been placed on us and that he has promised to bless us. We can be sure that he is true to his word, even if troubles and hardships should come our way because of our failures or as a result of the sinful world around us. Even if the world should be turned upside down by the stupidity of mankind we can still trust that through it all our Lord will stick by us and bring blessing to us and all people. After all he is a loving God who wants only what is good for us: he is a God who wants to bless his people and who has promised to bless his own.

 

We can see this very clearly as a result of Jesus Christ coming into our world as a human being and then dying on the cross so that we might be forgiven and assured of salvation and eternal life: His resurrection being his assurance to us that this is all for real. So God does love us, care about us and want what is good for us. And he is prepared to come right down into our little messed up worlds to do what is necessary for us to gain eternal life with him in heaven.

 

So through this blessing today as we are about start another new year and throughout the coming year let us remember that God's name has been placed on us and he has promised to bless us. Remember that through this blessing he is forgiving, preparing, protecting, helping, befriending us and much more as we move on our way through this life toward our heavenly home.

 

So this coming year promises to be a good one and an exciting one, whatever happens: For our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and his blessing goes with us. To him be all glory and honour, now and always.  AMEN.

 

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Colossians 3:12-17.     The results of Christmas??         30/12/12

 {12}  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. {13} Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. {14} And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. {15} Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. {16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. {17} And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 For many, Christmas is all over for another year. However, here we as Christians are reminded that in many ways Christmas is only just beginning. The gifts we received as a result of Christmas will be of lasting value for us: they will give us something to light up every day of the rest of our life. The batteries don’t run out on this one. Their usefulness is there all the time for us and truly gives us those things that make our lives infinitely richer and better.

 As you listened to that reading I am sure you would have thought that  those qualities and gifts mentioned there are what would make for a far better life for our lives and our world. They are what would make things far better for us and our relationships with those around us. If only we could be like that every day then Christmas would go on for us.

 Well today we are reminded here that these are all things that are freely available to every one of us. As a result of Christmas, each one of us can have all of this, all of the time. We all can make use of these gifts every day of our life and so have a whole new attitude and outlook on life. We can have that which will give our lives that something truly special that will enlighten and liven up our lives in ways that are good and helpful. We can have a joy and peace in our lives that surpasses all understanding.

 The problem of course is that all too often we leave these gifts under the tree. We get on with our life and slip back to our old selfish ways instead of keeping these gifts very much in the forefront of our thinking. We fail to use these gifts that have been made available to us all. Then off course the spirit of Christmas quickly evaporates from our lives and we are left to struggle with the difficulties of our lives on an ongoing basis.

 When we focus on the earthly gifts and the things that our world places as important, we find the spirit of Christmas is quickly gone: the batteries go flat and the promised happiness from the latest fad quickly fades. So we put those things on the shelf to gather dust and then once again go looking for the next possibility that might give us what we long for. But it will never work: we will never find that which we hope might be out there for us.

Yet, it is always there, waiting and available. Because Christ is now with us, we have the gift of those things that will now help us through life in the best way possible. Because as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved we are able to have all these things. Because Jesus has come to help us out of the mess we have made for ourselves, because he loves us dearly, this is all possible. He came to die on the cross so that now can be declared holy. God can now make available to us all that we need for life.

 God tells us therefore all we need to do is clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We can put on those things that will enable us to be infinitely better people. They are his gift to us to make the most of. So put them on and use them and we will be surprised at the change that they will make in our relationships with others.

 But there is even more: Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. There we have the gift that will help in our relationships even further. In fact it is probably one of the most important aspects for us to have in our relationships with others. With Christ and his gift we can bear one another’s faults and failings, recognising that we all have our weaknesses and failures. That doesn’t mean that we condone bad behaviour, but we bear with each other, recognising that it is part of our sinful human nature.

 Forgiveness then is a vital aspect in these relationships, because we do fail constantly to do the right thing. So we readily recognise our failures and say sorry for them and forgive them. Again, because of Christmas: Christ come to be with us and die on the cross for us so that we might be forgiven, we now readily forgive one another. Jesus died for us even though we sin much, and now enables us to do the same in our relationships.

 Overarching all of this is the ability to now, over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Now instead of being selfish and self-centred we can be outward focussed: we can put the welfare of the other above our own interests. We can do so because, of Christ coming to be with us, we now know that we are guaranteed eternal life in heaven where we will have the very best of everything good. So we can give of ourselves for the benefit of others knowing that we will not go short ourselves.

 The flow on of that is that the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we were called to peace. What another wonderful gift to be able to have as a result of Christmas. Because we are now one body with Christ and our fellow believers we are at peace with God and that then flows on to our relationships with one another. As we allow his peace to rule in our lives we can have that peace in the rest of our lives.

 And be thankful. With the gift of Christ and all that he brings we have every reason to be ever so grateful. Even in the face of the realities of life: difficulties, troubles, sickness and death, we still have every reason to be thankful. We now know that everything works for the good of those who love the Lord. Yes life in this world will always be tainted by the consequences of sin, but now we know that this is not the end of the story. In Christ we have the certainty of eternal life with our Lord in heaven.

 But as I have already said, this is not always easy to live this way. We still have our sinful, selfish nature and the realities of living in a sinful world, and so we will not readily see this new and wonderful life. The difficulties and tragedies of life will threaten to drag us down and drive us to despair. We will be distracted by the glitz and ‘glamour’ of the world around us, so that no longer look to this wonderful gift that is now ours. But that is where his next words are so important for us.

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. We need to very much keep close to God’s Word, his Divine Services, and our fellowship with fellow Christians in order to keep our focus on the things that are important. It is through the Word and Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion that we receive the help and strength to do all that is needed for us maintain these gifts in our daily life. So also is the support and encouragement we give and receive from our fellow believers important for us in keeping these good things of Christmas very much a part of our daily lives.

 Then to conclude we are told that: whatever we do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. As I have often said, we need to continually keep our focus on Jesus Christ and the cross, and we will not go far wrong. After all he has done for us by coming into our world, that first Christmas, and through his death on the cross so that we might be forgiven, we have every good reason to hold Jesus Christ ever before us as the one who is all important in life.

 So may we all go from here and continually live in light of and with the gifts of Christmas: and may our ‘spiritual batteries’ never go flat, so that these gifts can continue to enliven and strengthen every day of the rest of lives. Then through our enriched lives may even greater glory and honour go to him who has made it all possible, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. After all to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always.  AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Luke 2:8-20.                Good News of great joy!!                   25/12/12

 (8)  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. {9} An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. {10} But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. {11} Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. {12} This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." {13} Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, {14} "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

 This Christmas we again have that most startling message of the angels; "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Yes today we have again been brought good news of great joy: News that surely turns our world upside down.

 Yet as I stand up here and look at your faces, one really has to wonder. Good news! What good news? Where’s the good news of great joy? Did you only get a pair of socks for Christmas or a cheap set of kitchen scales? No; that is most unfair of me! You are here, which does mean that there is something very special about the message of Christmas. You could be home sleeping in, or enjoying the gifts you have received, or preparing the special lunch that you have in mind. But no you are here, and so you do recognise that there is much more to Christmas than those things; as good as they might be. You have come to receive more of and to be reassured again of this good news of great joy and in turn give glory to God in the highest.

 This then though, had me to thinking, why is it that we are not over the moon at this good news of great joy? But then, as I thought about this, this is just the way it is. Let me explain. If as you entered church here this morning each of you were given a million dollars, I can imagine the atmosphere and happiness that would be evident. But then what about 12 months time when we all gathered back here again. Certainly there would not be the same euphoria and happiness. However the impact of that good fortune would have changed your lives and given you much deeper sense of happiness and wellbeing that is not so upfront and  out-there, but nevertheless ingrained into the character and life of each of you. As well, each of you would express that underlying happiness and security in different ways depending on your individual circumstances, health, family situations and the like. The appreciation, however, for what you had receive would still be there, as would the underlying security, and the changed lifestyle.

 Now I know that illustration has its shortfalls and limitations, because the gift itself is not all encompassing. The same could be said if we used the illustration of say a cancer patient who has been told his sickness is terminal, but then out of the blue he is given the news that he is completely and guaranteed clear. The same joy would be there initially, but it would shift to a different level as time goes by. That too does not mean that this person is any less happy for his changed circumstances, and it does not lessen the change of his life’s situation or necessarily his appreciation of it. No doubt he would be ever so thankful and have a whole different outlook on life.

 Now when we go back to thinking of our spiritual lives, no doubt the situation is the same. The angel’s message of; "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord’: has impacted our lives greatly and continues to do so day by day, year by year. Sure the way we express that joy as each day goes by may be different, but the reality and depth of it may, and in most people, is nevertheless just as great. Here again we need to remember that first and foremost it is who God is and what he has done and continues to do that is of paramount importance. So the gift and the Good News are there no matter who we are and how great our joy is or is not.

 The good news of great joy that is proclaimed is the news of God’s activity in our world. This good news of what HE has and is doing, is what makes it truly good news of great joy.  For when God Almighty himself does something, he does it properly. It is something that is truly good, right and it truly is a reality. When he says it is; it is. When he says it is for all people: it is for all people. [ Of course, many people have chosen not to receive it. They don’t want it. But he has made it available to all.]

Then, what is this good news of great joy that will be for all the people?

What is it that will make us truly joyous in the midst of the aches, pains and troubles of this world? What is it that would make us infinitely happier than a million dollars or healing from a terminal illness? What is there that will remove the guilt that lies deep within us as a result of our selfishness and rebellion? What will take away the terror of death and the facing of a holy and just God?  The angel says; Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

 There is the answer to all our hopes and all our fears. There in Jesus, we find the great joy that our hearts and lives yearn for. In Jesus, God came to be with us: God with us, not to condemn and destroy. Nor to simply show us how to live as God expects us to, and to tell us to ‘lift our game’ if we want to be with God in heaven. Nor did he come to be with us, simply to say, she’ll be right mate, it doesn’t matter what you think, say or do.

 No Jesus, came to be with us to take on himself our sin and the punishment that was meant to come our way because we have chosen to go against God and what he has to say to us, and because we have placed ourselves and what we think, say, and do as of utmost importance. So Jesus came into our world to die in our place, so that we might be forgiven and assured of God’s acceptance despite who we are and what we have done. God came to be with us that we might be with him in eternity.

 Again, this is not some fanciful thinking, made up be some wise guy, years ago. This is not some fairy story or myth from years long gone. No, this is God’s good news to you and me. This is what the God who created the world and keeps it going, says. This is the one who said way back in Old Testament times that he would send his Messiah to be born in Bethlehem, and who would die on the cross and rise again three days later. This is the God who has given and fulfilled many promises that he had made down through the ages. Here now, this God tells us that he has this, good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. So if he says so; it is so. There is forgiveness of sins, life and salvation for all in Christ Jesus.

 Now that truly is Good News! That is Good News of the greatest joy. There we have that which now truly does change things for us, and which turns our world upside down. Now we too can join with the angels in praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.

 That again is the reason we gather here together week after week and year after year. This Good News of great joy, brings us back again and again with an underlying joy, peace and hope which is beyond understanding. Yes, we know deep down that this is the greatest thing that has ever and will ever happen in our lives. We have been rescued from hell here and in eternity and brought into the wonderful world that God has always intended for his people.

 At the same time as having this Good News of great joy there in our lives, we also know that we are for a short while called on to live on in this world with all its troubles and hardships. We are here now to be and to share the good news of ‘God with us’ with the people around about us in our daily lives so that they too can know of this Good News of great joy. That, today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to them; he is Christ the Lord.

 So to live on here with that as our task, means that life will not always be easy. The shine will be taken off of our great joy. We will not always have the new enthusiasm and joy that comes initially; but deep down it is still there and under girds all that we say and do. But that is a part of why we gather together week after week, so that we can again be strengthened and encouraged in this regard, and that we might also give glory to God in the highest for great things he has indeed done.

 So as a result of all of this: "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests." AMEN

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

 

 

Hebrews 10:5-10.        The great Christmas Gift!                   23/12/12

 ⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; ⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”
⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 Today in this reading we are reminded again of what Christmas is all about. And here we are again reminded of how Jesus Christ turns our common views completely upside down. We can see this very clearly at this time of the year: Christmas.

 As we listen to the many different messages as to the meaning of Christmas that are presented both in the community and in many churches, we very rarely hear what God’s view of Christmas is really all about.

 For many today, it is simply another holiday and not much more, except for the fact that society has made it a commercial holiday were we are to spend up big, so that the economy can continue to grow and the fat-cats can get even richer.

 But by en large the message that we hear most of all is that Christmas is a time for family togetherness and goodwill: A time of loving and sharing. Mostly, there is not even a reference to Jesus and his birth: although when pushed they may scratch back and remember that Jesus has got something to do with it. But even then it is really all about what we make of it and how we are to be more this, that and the other.

 But probably that saddest of all is the message that too often comes out from the churches themselves. The main focus is taken from Jesus and placed in the same places that our selfish society places them. It is still a message of giving and sharing; loving and the like: the emphasis is on us and what we must make of Christmas. The emphasis is on us doing ‘stuff’ in order to overcome the evils that are around us and on our giving in order to make up for what is lacking in our lives and our relationships.

 Is it any wonder that Christmas is hard work and a difficult time for many, emotionally, relationally and spiritually? If our giving and receiving, our gatherings, and having a happy and clear head in the midst of all of this thinking is up to us getting it all together; then we will find Christmas to be a real struggle. The pressure in on us to get it ‘all right’ or we will not find the peace, joy and goodwill; and we will be left guilty and depressed when it doesn’t always work out as we are promised that it should. Is it any wonder that Christmas is seen by many to be spiritually empty and dead?

 Even, and probably especially, in the whole gift-giving aspect of Christmas this is born out most clearly and destructively. In our giving, the pressure is on us to find that gift that they do not have and will appreciate; the cost of which is a huge burden for most families. Then because we are giving to others who normally have too much as it is, they will play with it today and tomorrow it will left on the shelf to gather dust. So we have to get it right, no matter the cost, or else we will be breaking the Christmas spirit. The emphasis is on the gift given and not the reason for the gift.

  Then in our receiving of the gifts that come our way, we look forward expectantly to the gift hoping for something really good; but often receive something that is, yes nice, but not all that earth-shattering. We are expected to put on a happy grateful face, even though it is another packet of chocolates or nuts or something that will clutter up our cupboard with more stuff that we will only use occasionally. In the end the gift is nice, but it is not life-changing and giving us a joy and hope for the future. The message and the spirit of Christmas is shallow and rather empty. Again the gift is the focus and not the reason for the giving.

 So the message and the reality of Christmas, though it promises much, leaves people short-changed: the true meaning of Christmas is all too often left out and so the secondary message of Christmas takes over and leaves people under pressure and let- down. The secondary message, instead of being the results of the true message of Christmas, now becomes what we have to do in order for Christmas to be something special.

 Here we need to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Christmas is all about Christ – Christ come to be with us to get us out of the mess that we have made for ourselves. Jesus is God’s gift to us so that we can have peace and goodwill, instead of hassles, pressure and broken relationships.

 It is only because of and in connection with Jesus that we can have that which is truly Christmas. He alone can give us that which makes Christmas, truly Christmas. It is only with his love for us that we can truly love others and be in a truly good relationship with those around us. It is only with the peace that he has made possible that we are able to be at peace with those that we find difficult to cope with. It is only with his blessing and joy that we can bring joy and blessing into the lives of ourselves and others.

 You see, it is not what we do, that will enable everything to be good and rosy for us. He tells us that he is not pleased with Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings. It is not what we do, that will make everything right for us. That is impossible for us and also it makes us the centre of the issue again.  The selfish, sinful nature that is within us will never be able to achieve what we know should be there for us.

 When the emphasis is on us and what we have to do, it will never work. That is why everything goes so wrong in our world and our lives: that is why everything is hard work and often so fruitless and difficult. That is why this life, without Christ, is so full of trouble hardship and finally death.

 However that is the very reason for Christmas. God’s very own Son came into our world as a human being to do the will of God for us. He came right into our messed up world to do what was necessary for us to have all that is good. He came for the very purpose of dying on the cross so that we might have, freely available to us, forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. That is God’s great gift to us this Christmas; Jesus coming to die so that we can have all that is good and right, even though we do not deserve or can do anything to attain it.

 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 That is God’s amazing gift to us. That is what turns our lives around completely. With Jesus Christ and his presence and forgiveness with us we can now have peace and goodwill; hope and joy in our lives. It is not something we have to do and manufacture in our lives; it is freely given to us in our connection with him.

 So this Christmas we don’t have to strive to have the true Christmas spirit. It is not up to us to have the right gifts, attitudes and all the rest. With Christ there as God’s gift to us, all the other gifts; no matter how good or crappy, can now be given and received in light of God’s gift to us. We can now give and receive our gifts as reminders to others of God’s gift to us. Just as God came to us in a very humble manger for a bed and a stable for his birthing suite, so does he come to us in the very ordinary gifts that we give and receive.

 In the same way he comes to us in our less than perfect homes, hearts and relationships. He is there whether we have the huge feast or the humble Cole’s brand necessities, to bring his blessing to us all. He is there in our gatherings whether loved ones are missing or relationships are in tatters.  He is there with his love and forgiveness so that we too can have that same attitude as best we can, with one another. In the midst of our far from perfect little Christmas he is there with his forgiveness, peace and sure hope so that all will be well for us.

 So with that greatest gift, Jesus Christ in our Christmas we have his peace, love and all the rest. His coming, life, death and resurrection, enables Christmas to be truly Christmas. He there enables us to have that true Christmas spirit in the midst of our less than ideal Christmas’s, So may your Christmas be filled God’s great gift to us, his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour, to whom belongs all glory and honour, now and always. Amen.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Luke 3:7-18.                Hopes rising???                                               16/12/12

  (7)  John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? {8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. {9} The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." {10} "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. {11} John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." {12} Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" {13} "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. {14} Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." {15} The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. {16} John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. {17} His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." {18} And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.

 Our reading this morning speaks of hope – of hopes being crushed - of hopes rising - of hopes misplaced - of hopes being redirected. For all people, hope is a very important ingredient of life. We all need something to look forward to and to work towards. But again it is important, what and where we place our hopes. Surely to have a hope that is going to count in life, it needs to be based on something secure and certain. But in our world today; is there such a thing?

 Because for many today, what hope is there for us in the future. Yes we have everything: technology, money, the lot. But deep in side we know that this in itself  is all empty and meaningless. So, is it right for us to think and speak of hope?

As we look around we see that below the surface things are far from good and promising. We are in the midst of financial uncertainties. Global warming – we are told – is going to make the future far from certain.

In another area, we see corruption and violence abounding as we see a growing inequity between rich and poor - between the haves and the have-nots. We are living at a time when bureaucracies are becoming more and more ineffectual and corrupt.

On top of all of this we have a growing individualistic approach to life that is breaking down relationships at an epidemic rate: Which only adds to the growing loneliness and emptiness in life. And I could add more.

 But we can see, in many ways that things do not look all that hopeful. There are a great number in our community that are down in the mouth; and there is a growing number who are really struggling to get a handle on life and who are merely existing from day to day.

 On the other hand, there are many around about us who are putting on a brave face - pretending that there is nothing seriously wrong. They are either burying their heads in the sand, or their selfish pride won't let them be honest. There seems be this innate idea, that we have to be positive, so we can't really tell it as it is for fear of being ridiculed or some such thing. We have to pretend that we have got it all together.

Then there are others again, whose hope seems to be in ripping other people off in order to get ahead themselves. It seems that many today will do anything in order to get on. They will lie, cheat and defame, in order to have the biggest and the best, and to be ‘one up’ on those around them. They pride themselves in having more and being better than the next person. But again deep down they know that it is not right and good. This too is a false hope.

     
It is into this hopeless kind of situation that John the Baptist came preached his message. Preparing the way for the Lord – the only source of real hope - he began by laying down the law to them and to us. He saw in the people of his day, much same as what is happening today. There was still this glimmer of hope placed in all kinds of other things, rather than Jesus and his death on the cross. Here John seeks to get rid of those false hopes.

 In the midst of all of the problems and hopelessness people were looking to the wrong things for their hope. They were looking to be able to do a few external things, thinking then all will be well. They were placing their hope in there traditions and church connections, but still wanted to be free to live and do as they please. There was no thought of sharing with one another, if one was a little better than the other. Those in positions of authority were abusing their position and using it for personal gain. At the same time thinking that as long as they had their church connection and went through the ritual of repentance and forgiveness - as long as they were being a reasonably good person - then all would be well.

 To this, John here, calls them a brood of vipers - snakes .

But what of us today? Isn’t there also a similar attitude in our community? Would his message be any different to us? Surely here again God dashes any hope we might have simply in our church membership and the maintaining of outward appearances. Surely here he cuts away those false hopes we might have in the areas that the rest of the world looks. God's axe is at work getting rid of hope and pride that is placed on self and what can be seen - on outward appearances. Here again he seeks to cut from under us all misplaced hopes that we might have; so that there is seemingly nothing left - so that there is nothing here on a human level that we can have as a crutch - as hope for the future - nothing for us hang on to from a worldly perspective.

 But there is still one thing left to hope in. There is still the promises of Scripture. The promises of a Saviour. So back then they began to look to the man John the Baptist, thinking that perhaps here then is the one thing they could put their hope in. Today perhaps it is in our pastor or the latest ‘Ten Steps to a Positive Christian Experience’ that we might find one who is able to lead us through the troubles and difficulties that we face and get us to eternity with God.

 But no, here again this is not the answer. This too is not something that we can place our hope in. John and I are only here to prepare and point you to the one single hope that there is for mankind: Jesus Christ alone. Nothing and no-one else can attain for us and do what is necessary for us, to get us through this life and into eternity in heaven. Jesus is the only ray of hope for us all: and it is through him alone that everything gains meaning, purpose, life and hope.

 With this one hope we can now look forward – we can now look up and be truly positive about the future. Once all the rest has been cut away: Once all our false hopes are dashed: Then we can find him who truly gives hope – real, lasting and living hope. And this one that we point to, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. There is the answer that is needed - in him and in him alone.

 John then reminds us what it is that makes him so special. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Here remember that it is he who has baptized you. And this is not the baptism of John, which was a baptism of repentance - an outward sign of a person’s conviction to live as God would have them - which is by the way, really the baptism of the Pentecostals, Baptists and the like. No here in our baptism, God does the work - the baptism. Here he comes and does what is necessary for us. He connects us to his very own death and resurrection. He does the joining of us to himself - he does the cleansing.

 At your baptism and every day since God came to you in the form of the Holy Spirit. He continually reminds us that it is because of Jesus’ death and resurrection that all barriers were removed between us and God. When we were baptized, his Spirit came to us to help us to know, believe and live in light of what Jesus has done for us. His Spirit reminds us over and over again that God loves us and accepts as his very own family because of Jesus Christ. His Spirit helps us to believe - enables us to believe - to trust that yes Jesus is my Lord and Saviour - my only real hope. His Spirit goes on to assist us to live and act in light of and in accord with this one hope that we have. So now we have every reason to live in hope, because all of this is ours guaranteed.

 But this baptism is not just a baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is also a baptism of fire: and fire cleanses – it burns – it removes and gets rid of the garbage so that which is no good and useless is removed. That also is now guaranteed for us through our baptism. All that guilt and the results of evil that have happened to us, Jesus has made sure of its removal from our lives. So now we can live knowing that no matter what it is that has been a part of our lives that has hurt, broken and weighed us down; that all does not have the last say anymore. We can stand tall now - even though at the moment we may have to    live with it's consequences for while. We can be sure that through faith in Jesus Christ it will not be permanent. So again we have something sure to look forward to. We have hope rising within us - knowing that all this rot that we see around us and that affects us personally, as well as that which we inflict on others: we now know that it is not permanent - it will pass away; leaving us to live in peace and harmony forever.

   
So we have every reason to have hope rising up within us at this time: Hope that will not let us down or fail us. In the Lord Jesus Christ and the baptism that he performs in our lives we can face up to life in our world today, knowing that, yes it will not be a bed of roses; but that we are now joined to him who has seen to our great needs. He has cleansed us with fire and guaranteed our being a part of his family forever. That is our sure and certain hope. This Advent season we are again reminded that his next coming will be the fulfilment, in every way, of all that he has promised.

So may this hope rise up within you and give you a renewed zeal to face up to life: To hold your heads up with confidence: and to seek to live and act in accord with this certain great future. In Christ Jesus we have it all: to him be all glory and honour, now and always.   AMEN

        
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Luke 3:1-6. Preparing for CHRISTmas – clean up the mess!!  9/12/12

 (1)                In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene-- {2} during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. {3} He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. {4} As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. {5} Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. {6} And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"

 John the Baptist comes to us with a very important message, this morning. A message that we dare not ignore, even though it goes against the grain of what our societies thinking is today. For here we have a stressing of the importance of our preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. He points out the need for a straightening out of our lives.

 Now, of course, that is something that most of us skip over rather lightly. We tend to think that he was only talking to the people way back then. But it is not the same for us today. We like to think that we can have all the benefits and the presence of Jesus Christ without any preparation at all. Or at least it is something that happened way back in our Sunday School and confirmation days. But that sort of thinking is a bit like saying we cleaned up the house and the yard last year, and so we don’t have to think about it again.

 But look, if you found out that you were going to have a very important guest join you for your Christmas festivities this year: say the queen or the Prime Minister, what would one of the first things be that would race through your mind? The place is in a mess, we are going to have to have a really big clean-up; and you would begin to think of all the preparations that you would need to make. From now till their arrival there would be a great deal of nervous energy go into making sure all is right for the occasion.

 Not only would there be a cleaning up of the house and the yard, but I am sure we would also try to clean up our act as well: making sure that our bad habits would not come to light. We would want to make sure that we would live and act in a way that is appropriate for such a visitor.

 All these preparations both outwardly and inwardly we would see as being absolutely necessary. There is no way that we would want our guest to step into an utter mess, or worse still to see such a mess and turn around and leave. So every effort would be made to have a real clean up in order to prepare for such a visitor.

 Now this is very interesting to note that this is the way we think when it comes to the worldly aspect of our lives. When it comes to something important in our everyday life we know the importance of preparation and cleanliness.

 Now with that in mind, listen again to what John says here in this reading: all mankind will see God's salvation. All of us, whether we acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or not, we all will come face to face with him. God himself is coming to visit each and every one of us. Nothing is surer. He has and will continue to come as Saviour. Also elsewhere we are reminded that he will come as King and Judge. There will be no way of avoiding him or going to heaven behind his back.

 That is why John here makes the point that we had better start being prepared. We had better see to it that the road to our heart has been straightened out and our lives cleaned up. When he comes; gone will be the days when we can say; ‘She’ll be right mate.’ And go on living as we please. It is our Lord God Almighty who is coming to visit us all, and there will be no ‘I beg your pardons’ then.

 So each of us needs to take a good long look at ourselves and see how crooked and rough our lives really are. All of us have deviated from the ways that God would have us tread, and instead preferred to live and do as we please. Most of the time we think we are the centre of our world, instead of God. In fact our lives are so rough and hacked about, that if we were roads in our Council area, we would have been closed long ago. Our lives are in a real mess, when it comes to us standing before our God. And it is not until we are prepared to admit that, that we will have any hope at all. We are doomed to rejection if we think we can stand before God in our sinful human state.

 But it is also not just a matter of recognising that our lives are in a mess: we at the same time need to be deeply sorry about all that is wrong in our lives. It should upset us greatly that our lives are not what they should be. When our Lord comes, gone will be the days when we will be able to sit back and say; ‘She’ll be right. It doesn’t really matter. I’ve tried my best.’ It does matter. And it matters that our very best is not good enough. It is not right that we think we can stand in God’s presence far from perfect.

 There needs to be within us a deep desire to ensure that our lives are what God intends them to be. There needs to be a wanting to rid ourselves of all that is rotten and bad within; despising all hurts and harms and that which does not focus on our Lord and his greatness. Wanting forgiveness of all our sins, and for God’s help to make all things right.

 It is only when we get to that point that we clearly hear that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has come, and has done all that is necessary for the forgiveness of our sins. It is there that we begin to comprehend , the wonderful good news that Jesus, knows the mess that we experience and have made for ourselves. He steps in a does what is necessary for us to be acceptable in God’s sight. He dies on the cross, taking the punishment that we deserve, on himself, so that we might be forgiven. Then he was raised to life again three days later, so that we can be absolutely sure that all of this is for real.

 Knowing this Good News, we are then led by God’s Spirit to repentance: acknowledging our sinfulness and turning to the Lord Jesus, trusting in the forgiveness that he extends to us. We are then constantly made aware of our sinfulness, and are turned to the coming of God again into our lives, to clean us up and help us again to live focussed on him and how he would have us live and act. 

 That is why we week by week gather together here in his house so that he can come to us again and again to give us all this that we need. Here we come to hear him speak his word of forgiveness into our messed up lives. Through his Word, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, he assures us over and over again, of the salvation that has been won for us.

Through his Word that we have in the Bible, he helps us to constantly see and remember the mess that we are in and have made for ourselves by looking and focussing on ourselves, instead of on him. There he also points us to the way out that he has provided for us; constantly pointing us to Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

 Through our Baptism and our daily return to it, we are assured that we are washed clean from all sin, and that we have been joined into his family. The Holy Spirit enters our lives and fills us with his gifts and helps us on our way.

 At the Lord’s Table Jesus Christ gives us his very body and blood which he shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, so that we can again be reassured that he has taken care of the mess that we are in. There he again strengthens and preserves us so that we can constantly look to him, trust him, and go forward to live under him in his kingdom.

 So through Word and Sacrament we are again and again brought to the joy of knowing that God has come to be with us and to share with us the joy of our salvation. He has cleaned up our lives so that we can live with him now and forever. Now we can live in our cleaned up lives, seeking to live and act in accord with the presence of him who is our Lord and saviour.

 That being the case, let us again this Advent season, as we are reminded of Jesus’ coming into our world, heed what he has to say to us here: , 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.  And all mankind will see God's salvation.'

CHRISTmas. Christ with us, is fast approaching. Let us prepare once again to give him all glory as he comes to us as a human being to be our Lord and Saviour: For to him alone belongs all glory and honour, both here and now, as well as in eternity. AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish