February 5, 2022 – “Seven Year Itch” (Matthew 18:15-22)

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18”15-22

“Seven Year Itch”

The “seven-year itch” term originally referred to scabies, an itchy infection caused by mites burrowing underneath a person’s skin. Its “seven-year” moniker referred to how long the bugs could linger. Yuck.

Unlimited forgiveness. This is what Jesus was talking about. When he says “not only seven times, but I tell you seventy-seven times”, he means a never ending supply of forgiveness. This is what is demanded of us in our relationships with others.

So, how can we manage an unlimited and endless supply of forgiveness for all people? Well, without Jesus, it is not possible. We can only do the things that Jesus demands us to do with the help of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no other way. And even with Jesus this will not be an easy battle. It would be easier to endure the seven-year itch — but just as painful — because offering forgiveness to everyone, all the time, is painful. We like to hold on to the hurts that others bring to us. We like to point out the faults of our friends and family members. But, the Greek word for forgiveness actually describes “unclenching a fist” — or, in other words, letting go. Forgiveness is often not about the person we are forgiving; it is about our relationship with G-d. When we let go of earthly hurts, we can focus more on our relationship with G-d — which then helps us persist in our relationship with each other.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, we always like to hold on to the hurts and slights others have perpetrated against us. Give me the strength today to forgive and to let go. Amen.

Pastor Dave

February 4, 2022 – “Blood is thicker than Water” (1 John 5:1-8)

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: theSpirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” 1 John 5:1-8

“Blood is thicker than Water”

You probably think this means you should always put family ahead of friends. In fact, it originally may have meant the opposite. The full maxim was “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb,” with covenant referring to friendship. In other words, it was your friends—your blood brothers, if you will—who were with you through thick and thin.

When we think of blood covenants, we often think of the mafia. There is a code in the mafia where they were originally organized in “La Cosa Nostra” — “family” divisions and structure with enacted procedures for resolving disputes. In Italian, Kozaˈnostra means loosely “our thing”. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct. For the Mafia, the blood of family is thicker than the covenant of association, but their understanding of “family” goes beyond the general understanding of family.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on 1 John 5:8 says this:

“For our cleansing there is in and by Christ Jesus, the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Some think that the two sacraments are here meant: baptism with water, as the outward sign of regeneration, and purifying from the pollution of sin by the Holy Spirit; and the Lord’s supper, as the outward sign of the shedding Christ’s blood, and the receiving him by faith for pardon and justification. Both these ways of cleansing were represented in the old ceremonial sacrifices and cleansing. This water and blood include all that is necessary to our salvation.”

My friends, in the sacraments of baptism and holy communion, we believe and trust that through the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit, we receive the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. What is necessary is our trust that Christ does this for us. In other words, what makes it efficacious is our faith.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, it is through baptism and through holy communion that you become most tangible to us. Help me to remember my baptism every day, and to partake in holy communion as often as I can. Amen.

Pastor Dave