Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – Tuesday of Easter 5

9 May 2023

Text: Luke 12:13-34

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia! 

Our Lord has been teaching about the kingdom, when a man shows up, not seeking deliverance from a demon or healing from a dread disease.  He is not asking Jesus about heaven, or even how to interpret God’s Law.  He wants Jesus to be a kind of court arbiter, to settle a dispute about money.  Jesus asks him rhetorically: “Man, who made Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”  For while worldly justice is important, and there is a vocation of judge for those kinds of cases, Jesus has not come for anything like that.  He has come not to condemn the world’s injustice, but to offer the world mercy in spite of its injustice – even to the point of His being lynched in an unjust court with unjust judges and unjust witnesses.

Our Lord has come not to deal in justice for the temporary, but to outwit the eternal justice and punishment that we deserve, all by His divine, sacrificial mercy.  And so all of the things that occupy us in this flesh and life pale in comparison to the sublime gift of the abundant life that Jesus gives us as a free and eternal gift!

It is a bit like Mary and Martha.  Martha was annoyed that Mary was serving guests, while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard the preached Word.  Sometimes those most active in the church become annoyed at those who only show up on Sunday for Word and Sacrament, but don’t engage in other work for the church.  Of course, Martha’s service and our congregation members’ hard work are all important.  But when the Word is being preached and taught, when we are sitting at the feet of Jesus, we should pay attention.  We should be present.  That is the “one thing [that] is necessary” (Luke 10:42).  As the Psalmist says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”  Similarly, St. Paul asks rhetorically, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).  Of course, the whole world can be against us, but it doesn’t matter, since God is for us.  And this is where our treasure should be, dear friends, not on the things of this world, but in heaven, treasuring the Word of God.

This is why our Lord tells us not to be “anxious” about worldly provisions, for God provides for us.  He points out how birds don’t have barns and lilies don’t have a textile manufacturing infrastructure.  Jesus bids us to believe that the Lord will see to our earthly needs just as He does the birds and plants.  “O you of little faith,” says Jesus, “if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you?” as our Lord also asks rhetorically.

“Fear not, little flock,” says our Good Shepherd.  For faith leads to a calm reliance upon God.  Doubt leads to anxiety, anxiety to worry, and worry to fear.  “Fear not,” dear Christians, “for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  Our treasure is in heaven, and where our treasure is, there is our heart also.  “Lift up your hearts.  We lift them up unto the Lord.” 

Thanks be to our Lord for His providence, grace, and mercy – even unto eternity! 

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.