St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Welland, Ontario, Canada

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 16, 2025

Prayer of the Day
God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world. Gather all peoples into your arms, and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life we share in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Luke 13:31-35
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to [Jesus], “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

A Brief Reflection:
Herod (that fox) was Jewish. He also was loyal to the empire that put him on his little throne (Rome). Herod is known for his murderous rampage of children because he thought one would grow up and take his throne.

Shortly before the Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod’s gunning for him, the empire that installed Herod into office had recently killed Judeans and mingled their blood with the sacrificial rites of the cult of Caesar.

The mention of Pharisees matters. While others including many of the Saducees collaborated with Rome for both safety and financial gain, the Pharisees resisted and held fast to their religious and ethnic identity.

And Jesus chooses to focus on his life’s work of healing and opposing life depriving life degrading forces of evil. Death threats don’t stop Jesus. What’s more even though his heart’s desire is to embrace and protect his beloved city and its people it looks as though they reject him. And Jesus chooses to carry on his life’s work and even at the cost of his own life. And Luke tells us another “third day” is coming. Resurrection Day assures us that not even death stops God from the divine impulse to bless and save the world.

A few questions to think about: What is the nature and scope of Jesus’ work today? What is the church called to be and do as part of Jesus’ work—today? In what ways is the church (throughout the world) responding to that call?

If you are unable to attend the first two Prayer and Coffee sessions in-person, contact Pastor Bart to receive an invitation and link to join ZOOM.

Sermon 🔈 (audio only)

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Worship Guide

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
March 9, 2025 

Prayer of the Day 
O Lord God, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide us now, so that, following your Son, we may walk safely through the wilderness of this world toward the life you alone can give, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”

5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”

9 Then the devil led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’

11 and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

SERMON
Maybe you’ve had a cardiac stress test to figure out just how much the ol’ ticker can take. The word “test” as it applies to Jesus’ wilderness experience is the perfect word. How much pressure can the one called beloved son withstand before he sells out or gives in? Each of the tests operates on multiple levels and at their core, each test becomes one of integrity—is Jesus the One the Divine voice says he is? Is he truly trust-worthy? Jesus is filled with the Spirit of God and even led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God. The tests are dressed up in religious language peppered with misquoted scripture.

Jesus withstands pressure with his own resistance—Jesus quotes scripture to reaffirm his loyalty, not to win arguments or manipulate anybody. We might think a minute about the ways in which Jesus’ followers and now the church faces tests of our own. The Spirit puts Jesus in the wilderness—just like God led a liberated people through the wilderness. These places are scary. We’re vulnerable. Luke puts Jesus age at 30-considering most poor people in Jesus’ world seldom lived to see 40 tells us something. Jesus isn’t Superman…he’s already old relatively speaking and here he is in the wilderness having not eaten for a long time. Jesus’ vulnerability reminds us of our own. The tests come when we haven’t trained or prepared.

We might be cave in to the desires for quick fixes or even dusting off some of our former ways in hopes of being the thriving places we imagine or remember ourselves being. Worse, we might be succumb to the current popular practice among some calling themselves Christian to decide who’s human and who’s not and justify ourselves by twisting words of scripture.

The devil’s opportune time to retest Jesus comes at his execution. The test is mouthed by hecklers saying that if he really is the Son of God he should Houdini his way off the executioner’s scaffold. What would happen to this part of God’s agenda to bless and save the world had Jesus used his divine power and privilege to end his human suffering?

We’re not Jesus, though. We might feel the weight of the world and just want to bail. There’s a reason Jesus taught us the prayer that has the words, “save us from the time of trial—or testing. Left to our own devices, we are apt to capitulate to the current powers that hoping to find sure footing in life. Such misdirected trust leads to all sorts of actions that make things worse. Part of Lent is a rigorous gut check.

When the stress test feels overwhelming we ask of ourselves as church and as people of faith: To whom are we loyal? Really? Whom do we trust? Really?

May the Spirit of God that led and sustained Jesus likewise lead and sustain us. Amen.

STARTING SUNDAY, MARCH 9th

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Worship Guide

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TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY MARCH 2, 2025

Prayer of the Day: Holy God, mighty and immortal, you are beyond our knowing, yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Transform us into the likeness of your Son. Illumine the world with your image —through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36 [37-43a] 28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking about his exodus, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39 Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was being brought forward, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43a And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

SERMON
What do you suppose finally led Peter, James and John to break their silence about about seeing Jesus’ transfigured as he prayed on the mountain?

It fits that we would need assurance that what happens to Jesus in Jerusalem isn’t only yet another example of the empire crushing dissenters—-

Let’s look at just one unique feature Luke includes in his telling of the event. Luke reports what Jesus, Moses and Elijah talk about Jesus pending arrest and execution. Luke uses the word EXODUS. Jesus is revealed as liberator.

Moses and Elijah know a thing or two about liberation and freedom from oppression. God’s liberating ways are like a vibrant thread woven through a tapestry of scripture. Israel’s experience is defined by the Exodus. The early stories lead up to Exodus and the Law and prophets operate in light of its reality.

Is the cloud that overshadows the disciples meant to remind us of the cloud that leads the Hebrew refugees to a promised land? Is the voice from above meant to remind us of the one that speaks to Moses, giving Ten Words that would teach a people to live liberated lives?

A divine word that Jesus is the beloved reprises words spoken from above at his baptism and they foreshadow the confessional words from the executioner—words accompanied, not incidentally by darkness, seismic tremors, and the shredding the Temple curtain in half. This liberator is revealed as God’s own beloved…the one who preached in synagogue saying he would be fulfillment the prophet’s vision of liberation for the captive, good news for the poor and the year of the Lord’s favour.

What happens after the transfiguration is also most revealing. In this season of epiphany or as some call it manifestation we see Jesus at work. The disciples fail to do what they were once able to do; so Jesus liberates a child oppressed by a spirit that slams the child to the ground in seizures and convulsions. Soon thereafter the disciples would be ensnared with petty squabbles over which one of them was greatest. Jesus overrides the trap telling his followers that welcoming a child in his name is a mark of a true follower. It is still a very long way to Jerusalem with pitfalls and setbacks at every turn. Yet Jesus is present even in the setbacks…undeterred from who he is and what he is destined to do—to be the agent of liberation for all and of all.

Epiphany gives way to Lent, and we continue on, straining to listen for Christ’s call for us to follow and squinting for glimpses of God’s liberating ways in our lives and in the world.