κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

The sound of ripping cloth is harsh. It often comes suddenly, sharply. It is a sound of destruction. It can create feelings of stress and nervousness, anger and annoyance. And ... sometimes ... it’s oddly satisfying.  For centuries, the ripping of cloth was a sign of mourning ... grief ... loss. Whenever the people of Israel were in great emotional pain, they ripped their clothes and mourned. Joshua tore his clothes when he realized the Israelites had been faithless while attacking the city of Ai. Jacob tore his clothes as he mourned the loss of his son Joseph, who had been cast aside by the sin of his brothers. The people of Nineveh tore their clothes when they heard their great city would be overthrown for worshiping a god other than YHWH. Even King Ahab tore his clothes when he realized how evil he had become.  Tonight marks the start of our 40-day season of repentance, fasting, and prayer. The ashes you wear are a simple mark of mourning and mortality ... a simple expressi...

[Introduction] There are times in life when we want everyone to know that we mean what we say.  When you were confirmed, I’m sure you meant what you said before God and man when you rejected the devil, his works, and all his ways. When you were married, I’m sure you meant what you said before God and man when you vowed to be faithful [to your spouse] ... until death do you part. When we make vows ... we really do intend to mean what we say. But ... let’s be honest ... we are sinful human beings. We are like the father of a boy in Mark 9[:22], who ... though he said he believed in Jesus ... actually doubted if Jesus could help his son who had been seized by a demon. We are like King David, who vowed over and over throughout his life to be faithful, but he still became an adulterer multiple times, and a murderer, and a liar. And all too often we are just like the prophet Jonah, who should not have meant what he said as he complained that God would save “those” people in Nineveh....

We prayed Psalm 41 in place of the Introit for the Day. Psalm 41 will be the focus of our attention for the entire season of Lent. David said in the opening words of that psalm, Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble, Yahweh delivers him; Yahweh protects him and keeps him alive; he is being blessed in the land; You do not give him up to the will of his enemies (Ps 41:1-2). Those words from David are like a man who painted a portrait of his friend, and then the two switched places, and his friend painted a portrait of him. Here is what I mean ... 1.  Blessed is the one who considers the poor! David’s word, “considers,” can also be translated as “pays attention” ... or “focuses upon” ... or “thinks about intently.” When you paint someone’s portrait, you must first look intently upon that person, studying his or her features very closely. When David said, Blessed is the one who considers , he was talking about someone who gives careful, attentive thought to ...

Today is Ash Wednesday. For years, I have been hearing the same question leading up to tonight’s service: Pastor, are we going to have ashes ? Granted, I’ve been your pastor for only four years now, but even when we lived in Peoria, which has a huge Roman Catholic and Lutheran population, you’d see people everywhere bearing the sign of repentance: an ashen cross on their forehead. They too asked the same question: Pastor, are we going to have ashes ?  Have you ever wondered why we do this? I finally did during my fourth year of seminary.  Pastor , I asked that year, are we going to have ashes?   To my surprise, he said, no.  Really? Why? I inquired.  Read the Gospel for today , he said. So I did. ... [Jesus said:] And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces in order that their fasting may be seen by others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, in...