Everyday Lutherans

Today is Palm Sunday.  This is the start of Holy Week celebrations. We hear the story of Jesus coming, entering into Jerusalem, and being among the people.  The people shouting for joy and shouting their praise to this miracle worker, this messenger, and hopefully the Messiah.  The people were lining the streets hoping to see a glimpse of Jesus.  The man they had heard so much about. This man had performed miracles by curing people.  Jesus fed thousands with just a little bit of food. He had spoken and taught in such a way that people knew the message being taught. For those of you thinking, “Man, this sounds lame. It is so old. This would never happen in our modern times.” However, it happens all the time.  Jesus was walking through the town and people were lining up to watch, to cheer, and to get to wave at him.  In our own modern times, we usually toss out candy as well. There may be the local high school band marching. A business will decorate a fl...

The death of Jesus Christ is something that we as Christians often focus upon.  However, most people are fearful of death.  Now there are Christians who talk about Jesus being an example of how we should live.   Jesus’ teaching being a guideline for how we should live our life.  Why do we as Christians speak so openly, so often, and so emphatically about the death of our Savior and Lord?   It is through our Savior’s death that we are made right in our relationship with God.  It is through Jesus’ death and resurrection that Jesus does the work of our salvation.  Jesus’ death makes up for all the wrongdoing that we have done, should have done, and declares to us what God thinks of us.  For this very reason, we gather together at a funeral.  We gather together to share the memories of the loved one; we gather together to comfort one another; but more importantly, we remember and hear the declaration that Jesus Christ has done and overcome d...

Today, we are reminded of our ancient past. The past that still influences, shapes us,  and forms us every single day of our life. Yet we hear the one verse that so many know because our parents, grandparents, or the community around us has shared so often, that we know it well.  John 3:16 is for many the foundation of their faith because it is so well known. It is this one verse that summarizes the whole journey and relationship with God.  So let’s go on a journey, to be reminded of where our ancestors have been. We may learn from their mistakes to realize a truth that was standing right there before them.   Within the Gospel, Jesus takes us to the time in which Moses is given to the People of God to deliver them out of slavery and into the promised land.  Along with that, Moses is given the Ten Commandments. The Laws of Moses were used by the people to give them order and structure.  However, the relationship with God’s Chosen People did not begin with Mo...

Today, the gospel lesson can seem a little odd to us in our modern times.  To hear of animals being in church for a purpose and having people who would exchange money, this whole scene seems rather odd.  However, in this moment there are still lessons and a history from which we can learn.   The animals are there for a purpose.  The animals would be offered as a sacrifice to God within the Holy Temple. Whether it was a calf, lamb, goat, or dove, each of the animals was meant for a different sacrifice that a person would offer to God to either ask for forgiveness or blessing. The animal would be butchered with part of it going towards God on a fire and the rest would be used to feed the priests and the poor within the community.   Those animals were part of the relationship and worship experience which the people of the Old Testament maintained as tradition. The money changers were there in the Holy Temple had a purpose as well.  Many of the people ther...

I am so glad that today’s Scriptures are placed together in the lectionary. These two scriptures give us insight into the whole understanding of what Jesus is calling us to live out as disciples of Jesus Christ. First let’s talk about the passage from Mark of Jesus’ words to us.  He tells his own disciples that he is going to die.  His death will come soon, however it will not be the end.  Peter gives the reaction that we all have.  No, I do not want you to die.  I do not want you to be out of my sight. I want to protect you from all of that.    Jesus knows that he must face this death. Jesus’ death is for the reunion and atonement of the whole people to God.  Peter is speaking against God’s Work in the world. It is declared that it is the work of Satan.  Any time we are working against God, we are working for the one angel who rebelled against God.  Luther would often refer to this as we are the horse with a saddle on our back. It would...