You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour. (Exodus 20:16 NIV)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)
Today’s Introit is from Psalm 124. The verses 2-4.7: If the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Here’s J.S. Bach’s intonation of the Psalm: http://youtu.be/mcPEZzrV0AM
“Wär’ Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit, So soll Israel sagen, Wär’ Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit, Wir hätten mußt verzagen, Die so ein armes Häuflein sind, Veracht’t von so viel Menschenkind, Die an uns setzen alle.
Auf uns ist so zornig ihr Sinn, Wo Gott hätt’ das zugeben, Verschlungen hätten sie uns hin mit ganzem Leib und Leben; wir wär’n, als die ein’ Flut ersäuft, Und über die groß Wasser läuft Und mit Gewalt verschwemmet.
Gott Lob und Dank, der nicht zugab, Daß ihr Schlund uns möcht’ fangen! Wie ein Vogel des Stricks kommt ab, Ist unsre Seel’ entgangen; Strick ist entzwei, und wir sind frei, Des Herren Name steht uns bei, Des Gott’s Himmels und Erden.”
Martin Luther 1524
“If God had not been on our side And had not come to aid us, The foes with all their power and pride Would surely have dismayed us; For we, His flock, would have to fear The threat of men both far and near Who rise in might against us.
Their furious wrath, did God permit, Would surely have consumed us And as a deep and yawning pit With life and limb entombed us. Like men o’er whom dark waters roll Their wrath would have engulfed our soul And, like a flood, o’erwhelmed us.
Blest be the Lord, who foiled their threat That they could not devour us; Our souls, like birds, escaped their net, They could not overpower us. The snare is broken—we are free! Our help is ever, Lord, in Thee, Who madest earth and Heaven.”
If you want to listen to an easy melody to sing these verses by follow this link: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/non/de/wgonmudz.htm
Now there’s lots to be said about this wonderful Psalm. Allow me to point out some of the most striking points of this appointed Introit of this festival of Holy Innocents. The Psalms are Jesus Christ’s prayerbook. So if you have read today’s gospel from the evangelist and apostle St. Matthew in the 2nd chapter (verses 13-18) and then also the passage from Revelation 12:1-6.13-17 you know, how Jesus Christ was attacked by furious men – soldiers of king Herod – on the look out for boys under 2 years of age – prepared to rob, snatch and kill innocent infants right out of the arms of their nursing mothers. They were prepared to swallow these harmless babies alive. Terrible! No wonder there’s big wailing from Ramah and who’s surprised that Rachel doesn’t want to be consoled? (cf. Jeremiah 31:15) Her children are no more. They have been brutally killed – an innocent offering and sacrifice as Joseph and Mary flee with baby Jesus Christ to Egypt. A narrow escape indeed! He has escaped: “like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.“
The exiled and captive apostle St. John on Patmos sees these dramatic scenes play out as global drama that it is. It’s not just the soldiers and mercenaries of king Herod, but rather the old evil foe himself – the dragon from the deepest deep, the arch-enemy of God and all people, Satan, the file and foulest devil. He’s out to get the saviour, the messiah, who’s come to redeem his people. He’s the one, who sends out darkest floods and torrents of chaos to overcome, suppress and drown the holy innocent one: Jesus Christ, born of the holy virgin Mary + He’s gnashing his ferocious teeth, just too eager to devour the little baby alive – worse than a stinking hyena whose just waiting to gulp down a newly born lamb. (cf. http://blog.africageographic.com/africa-geographic-blog/wildlife/the-lion-hyaena-and-the-tragedy-of-the-baby-giraffe/) There seems to be so little protection – just a manger, a weak virgin still recovering from childbirth, Joseph and a few shepherds with their staffs in the distance. Reason enough to despair – had it not been for the almighty Father, the Lord of hosts, the God of heaven and earth, who held his hand protectively over little baby Jesus – that he could sleep and rest safe and sound: Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. Well, the Lord was in control all the time – and that’s why Jesus Christ escaped to Egypt.
Those that did die there in Bethlehem pierced to death by those sharp swords or clubbed to death by the bludgeons of all the kings men are in the caring hands of the living God. Nobody can snatch them out of there. Their dismal and terrible death shows how real the danger and painful suffering caused by the evil one is. Yet, even if he can snatch us out of the protective hands and arms of our mothers and fathers here on earth – smash our heads against rocks, brutally spill our guts with swords and shovels, blow our hearts and inners to smithereens – yet he can’t snatch us from the loving hands of our God and saviour for he’s greater than all. Yes, we’re safe in his hands – even through pain, catastrophe and death – born in the peace that surpasses all understanding. Praise be to the LORD!
In the end Jesus Christ will not run away to escape. When God’s time is ripe, he will willingly turn towards Jerusalem to suffer much, die and be buried amongst robbers, outcasts and the godless. He will drain the divine cup of wrath and drink the very dredges of God’s ferocious anger over sin and evil. He will suffer vicariously for us and our iniquities. He will voluntarily bear the punishment that was meant for us and suffer for all godless. He will take punches, hits, stabs and whips with fists, canes, staffs, thorns, nails and spears. He will be punctured, pierced and cut to spill his innocent blood – he the truly holy innocent – immaculate – bleeding to death for us and our salvation. Cruel and vicious mercenaries of evil, orgs and manifestations of their malicious master – doing what they do best: Inflicting pain, hurting defenceless sufferers and taking innocent lives. But that was not to be yet, not now when Jesus was small and suckling at his mothers breast – no, this shame and hurt was to be inflicted at a stage, when he was in the pride of his manhood. 30 years of age – then he was to suffer the greatest possible pain, torture and shame inflicted upon him – to pay the price of redemption, reconciliation and propitiation – not with gold or silver, but with his most precious blood and his innocent death and dying + Make no mistake – the suffering was to happen, when it was worst and when he would be able to bear the worst brunt of it.
Right here during the high holidays of Christmas – when all the eyes of the world are on the manger in Bethlehem and we are celebrating holidays and high festivals – we as members of the Church are already focussed on Jerusalem and finally Golgotha. That’s Jesus’ destination and goal – his final glorification – his mission at last accomplished and finished to the honour and glory of our heavenly father.
And you know, that really gives the proper weight and profound depth to the holy high holidays of Christmas, which otherwise would really just be a sentimental party, where we close our eyes, ears and mouths to the real world for a few hours and perhaps days – if we’re lucky. Christmas is much more that that – and the gospel of Jesus Christ too. He’s truly the Messiah promised by the prophets of old and also the saviour of the world – the Light of the world – especially for those, who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. Praise be to the triune LORD and GOD – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – now and forever. Amen.
Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our lives may bear witness to the faith that we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
The Epistle reading for Childermas is from Revelations 12: “A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.” (1-6)
and then a few verses further: “When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring–those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (13-17)
Again – and in the space of only two days in this festive season of the high holidays of Christmas – the holy Christian Church commemorates the death of holy martyrs, who were killed for Jesus Christ’s sake. Two days ago it was St. Stephen, today it’s the little children of Bethlehem under 2 years, who king Herod had killed because he feared the new born king of the Jews. Again the watchword is from Psalm 116 verses 15 and 17: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints… I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.”
The day’s gospel is from the evangelist St. Matthew: “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (2:13-18 NIV)
The hymn for the day is Dr. Martin Luther’s 2nd Christmashymn and fitting the same tune as the first one. Especially verses 4-6 sing to strengthen and comfort afflicted faith even though death, devil, hell and many more grievously hurt and harm us. God will not let go of us as we put our trust in him. Jesus Christ is on our side and ours and in the end we will overcome. Thank God for that in eternity.
This hymn is also available in isiZulu and is found under Nr.45 in the Incwadi Yokukhabelela. Here is a link on YouTube: http://youtu.be/FVDnFRYSpSI and here is another one: http://youtu.be/F5b8jC5zBNk
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1) Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar, 2) zu Bethlehem, in Davids Stadt, |
3) Des sollt ihr alle fröhlich sein, 4) Was kann euch tun die Sünd und Tod? |
5) Er will und kann euch lassen nicht, 6) Zuletzt müßt ihr doch haben recht, |
The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (Joel 2:11-12 NIV)
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1. Thessalonians 3:12-13 NIV)
The hymns of the Church reflect its theology and that holds true for the Christmas carols too. The old hymn by Bishop Caelius Sedulius from the 5th century was translated by Dr. Martin Luther in 1524 as available in Latin and German here: A_solis_ortus_cardine, but also in English here: BWV 121 Christum wir sollen loben schon. Is there anybody out there, who would care to translate that into seTswana or isiZulu? That would be a worthwhile activity during these high holidays of Christmas, wouldn’t it? Here it is sung in latin by the Schola Gregoriana Monostorinensis performing in the Calvary Church from Cluj (RO): http://youtu.be/QhzFqWc64Qc
Today on this 3rd high holiday of Christmas the one holy Christian Church commemorates the apostle and evangelist Saint John according to the words written by the great prophet of old Isaiah: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” (Isaiah 52:7 NIV)
The gospel for this day is from Saint John’s gospel the 21st chapter: “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumour spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.” (John 21:20-24 NIV)
The sermon is based on the first chapter from Saint John’s first letter: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched–this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1. John 1:1-10)
Together we take to heart the admonition of Psalm 33 verse 1: “Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.” (Psa 33:1 NIV)
“Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people.” (Isaiah 64:9)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (John 3:36)
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.” (Exodus 14:13 NIV)
“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:20 NIV)
Today on the 2nd of the high holidays of Christmas the Christian Church commemorates the death of its first martyr St. Stephen, which is recorded in Acts chapter 7. In the sight of this harsh end, we confess with words of Psalm 116: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints…I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.“(Psa 116:15.17 NIV) This is yet more clear evidence that the Church is no blue-eyed, sentimental re-hasher of fairy tales and ringer of jingle-bells, but rather has even these very serious calamities as part of its highest holidays. The cross and harsh suffering, persecution and martyrdom is a very real part of the church militant. It’s just sad, that so many people only stand the very short glimpse of Christmas Eve into the profound message of Christ’s incarnation – which for their sake is even to often abbreviated, over simplified and made easy to swallow. If they would only stay longer and hear more, they would realize how rich and encompassing the gospel of Jesus Christ really is. There’s no end to it and no one to fathom it’s depth, wisdom, truth, grace, beauty, joy, peace, comfort, mercy never mind its systematic entirety and wholesomeness in our short lives as Luther confesses: “We are beggars for sure!” However there will come a time, when at last we will see, hear and praise what we have here believed – for Christ’s birth sake and as he become one of us, so that we would live eternally with him in heaven.
We pray with the order of the Pastoral Care Companion (LSB): “Heavenly Father, in the midst of our sufferings for the sake of Christ grant us grace to follow the example of the first martyr, Stephen, that we also may look to the One who suffered and was crucified on our behalf and pray for those who do us wrong; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” (Pg.603)
Wilhelm's space 