Sermon - 2016-07-24
Today we bear witness to one of the most important days of anyone’s life, our Baptismal day. This is the day that we are called, claimed, and declared a child of God. Just as the disciples were called by name, so are we. It is from this day and forward that we are on our journey of life and faith It is also from this day, that we begin with the question, ok, now how am I supposed to live differently? I still need to eat, sleep, have a job, and so much else so truly what is different about me and how I shall be living my life?
Now growing up, we learn from others what is right and what has worked for them. It is Jesus himself who takes the disciples with him to show them and teach them. Today, within our gospel, we hear of the way that Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray. This has become known as the Lord’s Prayer. Yet we often speak the words, but we should also be reminded of what those words really mean for each and every one of us that say them.
Martin Luther emphasized and made clear the meaning in the Small Catechism. He did this so that everyone could realize how close God was to them and also what it is that we can truly ask of God for. When we speak the prayer and call God, Our Father, we are realizing that God is so close to us, just as our own father is. Ironically, Luther’s own father was not exactly a loving father. Luther’s father wanted what was best for him and for the family. However, Luther followed the way that God was calling him to live out his life. To become a monk.
As we look at the requests within the prayer, we see something that is actually unique. Typically when a person would ask God for something that they do not have, they ask a question. Or for the English teacher here, they would use an Interrogative. However, within the prayer, Jesus uses not a question but a demand. Give us this day our daily bread. We can demand and know that God shall provide this as a need because God gives out an abundance. God gives us what we need, but it is not always what we want or had planned for ourselves.
This realization is something that drives us directly to what it means to be disciples. This is what it means for us to be different, to live differently, and to above all, love differently. As we bear witness to Nolan’s (I will omit the name online) Baptism, we should also be reminded of our Baptism and our call to discipleship. May the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you, may you grow in faith and love as God loves you, today and every day. Amen.
Now growing up, we learn from others what is right and what has worked for them. It is Jesus himself who takes the disciples with him to show them and teach them. Today, within our gospel, we hear of the way that Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray. This has become known as the Lord’s Prayer. Yet we often speak the words, but we should also be reminded of what those words really mean for each and every one of us that say them.
Martin Luther emphasized and made clear the meaning in the Small Catechism. He did this so that everyone could realize how close God was to them and also what it is that we can truly ask of God for. When we speak the prayer and call God, Our Father, we are realizing that God is so close to us, just as our own father is. Ironically, Luther’s own father was not exactly a loving father. Luther’s father wanted what was best for him and for the family. However, Luther followed the way that God was calling him to live out his life. To become a monk.
As we look at the requests within the prayer, we see something that is actually unique. Typically when a person would ask God for something that they do not have, they ask a question. Or for the English teacher here, they would use an Interrogative. However, within the prayer, Jesus uses not a question but a demand. Give us this day our daily bread. We can demand and know that God shall provide this as a need because God gives out an abundance. God gives us what we need, but it is not always what we want or had planned for ourselves.
This realization is something that drives us directly to what it means to be disciples. This is what it means for us to be different, to live differently, and to above all, love differently. As we bear witness to Nolan’s (I will omit the name online) Baptism, we should also be reminded of our Baptism and our call to discipleship. May the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you, may you grow in faith and love as God loves you, today and every day. Amen.
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