Reformation Sunday:

“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:31-36

“Jesus speaks to us today of truth. And of slavery to sin. And of his being our freedom as he both models and grants this unfathomable acceptance. And we know in our gut, don’t you think, as well as in our experience that truth sets us free? But first it has to be spoken, received, and embraced. Or so it seems to me. First we have to acknowledge our utter slavery to that which binds us up. And our need to be set free. And that we have nowhere to turn but to the only one who can bring this marvelous gift of freedom to us.

This is the wonder of Jesus’ words for us today and every day. It’s not up to me or you. Jesus came to set us free. We can’t do it. All we can do — all we have to do — is know our need and be grateful in the gift. All we have to do is cast aside the biggest lie of all: that we can do it all ourselves and that our value rests in that. It does not. And sometimes coming to that larger truth begins in simply speaking what truths we know here and now as best we can. Jesus says today that our freedom can only come from outside ourselves: that we have to be ‘set free’ by him. (The Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt, “On Truth and Freedom and the One Who Sets Us Free”, October 19, 2014, word.dancingwiththeword.com)

Thomas Merton, Catholic priest and mystic, a prolific writer wrote these words about society: “We are living in the greatest revolution – a profound spiritual crisis of the whole world, manifested largely in cynicism, violence, conflict, and ambivalence…we do not know if we are building a fabulously wonderful world or destroying all that we ever had, all that we have achieved.”

At the root of our faith, as Lutherans, is our relationship with G-d: “faith alone” (sola fide) and “Scripture alone” (sola scriptura), and “Grace alone” (sola gratia). We believe that we are justified with G-d through our faith, alone – because scripture tells us of the story of G-d’s greatest act of Grace: the cross of Jesus Christ. But that does not mean that we can go it alone. Justification means that we are made right in G-d’s eyes only through “faith” that comes to us when we hear, read, and live out G-d’s “Word”. That should not mean that we come to this congregation on Sunday to worship hoping that people will leave us alone. As Lutherans, we historically have focused too much on the word “alone” and the word “grace”, and not enough on the words “faith” and “Scripture”. In other words, instead of being comfortable with being “evangelists” and doing “evangelism”, we would rather have people leave us alone so we can live out our lives of faith. That used to work enough to sustain a faith community – at least up until the 1990’s. However, we no longer can think that just our presence (church building) in the community will attract people to our message and ministry. I ask you, for the near future and beyond, to return to the five pillars of Lutheranism: Word Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Christ’s love. Allow G-d’s Word to compel you to live “In Christ”, to live in G-d’s “Grace”, to strengthen your “Faith”, to give you the courage to get involved and to share G-d’s love every day, in every way, with everyone you meet.

Pastor Dave

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

“Big Wig”

A big wig is generally thought of nowadays to be a person of high repute, a wheeler and dealer, or someone who is a prominent leader. So, where did this phrase some from?

Back in the day, men and women used to only take baths twice a year (as bad as that sounds). Women would cover their hair so it didn’t get as dirty. Men would shave their heads and wear wigs. Their wigs were not washable, so they would hollow out a loaf of bread, place the wig inside and bake it. This would kill any lice or bugs in the wig. The wig would come out big and fluffy due to the moisture and heat inside the loaf of bread. This is how the term “big wig” came into existence. Also interesting side-note is that the term “to pull the wool over someone’s eyes”, which we know means trying to fool someone, came into existence because it was referencing pulling a man’s wig over his eyes, in effect, blinding him to what you did not want him to see.

The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is one of my favorites. It brings to light the difference of someone who lives with true humility and someone who lives within the height of hubris. Jesus says: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Why some people see themselves as more righteous, more faithful, and closer to G-d than others is part of the human existence. There will always be people who see themselves as “better”. Jesus asks us to humble ourselves, and to take the last seat rather than the seat of honor. We should live in a manner where Jesus will be the one to call us higher – not our own hubris. It is a different way of thinking, of living, and of being.

Pastor Dave