Come - it is all prepared + Taste and see how friendly our Lord is

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.  “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live…

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'”

Dear friends of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Well – another royal wedding. This time in Monaco. Prince Albert II married SA swimming champion Charlene Wittstock on Friday. Protocol was not quite as pompous as a few weeks ago, when Prince William married Kate Middleton in London, but it was spectacular indeed. The rich and famous, the high and mighty, the crème de la crème of society, the pretty and witty celebrities made sure they were there – to see and be seen, to party and enjoy and to bring their respects and special gifts and presents to the royal couple. On TV I saw King Mswati III mix and mingle with pop stars like Elton John. Well, they have their own ideas about marriage, but I won’t go that route today. However you understand, what kind of people get to go to these kind of weddings. Special people – strictly by invitation only – very exclusive, very exclusive indeed! At yesterday’s wedding of Dean Thwala and his bride in Ntshongweni things were comparatively low-key, but still – a wedding is a wedding. To this one I was invited together with others from the LCSA, the Thwala family and friends and friends of friends. I made sure I was there. Long distance, early hours, party pack and fancy dress – no problem. An invitation to a wedding is serious family and friendship business. You don’t just let a party like that go by. No – you make space in your calendar, buy a nice present, dress accordingly in your best suit and tie, flowery hat, fancy shoes, make-up and all the rest of it and make sure you are there on time to party at the party.  You know all about that, don’t you?

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that the kingdom of heaven is very much like this: A king giving a wedding feast for his son. We read all about it in the gospel of St. Matthew in the 22 chapt: 1-14. As always things are quite a bit different in the kingdom of God to our experience. We are invited to a cross-cultural experience of a different sort. Allow me to highlight three aspects of God’s culture and his ways of doing weddings and things that might come as a surprise:

1. The king [God] invites guests, but they don’t come!
2. Eventually everybody is invited, but those improperly clad are expelled!
3. Not just fun and games, but also revenge and rejection.

The great invitation. That’s what this Sunday is about – just like every day, when God voices his good news: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!  He calls from the altar: Come and taste the goodness and friendliness of your Lord!  The prophetic invitation is addressed to those far off and to those nearby, to Jews and gentiles, to strangers and fellow citizens:  “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live… becomes reality in the work and life of Jesus Christ. He quenches thirst of the thirsty with living waters. He feeds multitudes so that they have their fill right there in the desert and out in the harshest wilderness. He provides heavenly food and drink in his holy sacrament for the forgiveness of sins and for the nurturing of saving faith. He does that even today and he does it worldwide. It’s God’s invitation to his people – good, bad and ugly – around the world. It’s his standing invitation to be part at the wedding feast for his son. A great party has been prepared. Invitations have been sent out and everything is ready. He leaves no doubt about this: All is done, prepared, finished and complete. However there is still too much open space in the wedding hall, too many guests have declined the invitation, they have better things to do than to be part of the kings party. That is unbelievable! Completely unheard of! What a cheek! No wonder the king is offended. And the invitees don’t only ignore the invitation – that’s downright ungracious and very, very rude –  no, they also abuse the servants, shame them and even kill them. Now that is just too much insolence, too much impudence, far too much audacity! Remember it’s the kings invitation – not just some insignificant side-kick or ignorable nincompoop! The king can’t go along with this atrocious disrespect and horrible disloyalty. He has to draw the line somewhere – and this frightful rudeness needs to be punished. He is angry, no infuriated – he sends out his troops [angels] and they carry out his revenge fast and furious. The murderers of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, missionaries and Christian witnesses are finally destroyed and their dwelling places wiped out – finish en klaar. [On Thursday, the 30^th June the Church remembered the martyrs under Nero in 64 AD]. There’s no way that trespassers of God’s law will get away with murder or any other kind of  evil, vice or malice. The Church calls this kind of transgression against the divine will “sin”: “faithlessness”, “idolatry” and “disbelief”.

In the olden times people did not come dressed according to their own whim or fancy, but rather clad with the finery their host had gifted them with. The king gave special festive clothing to his invited guests and they obviously were overjoyed to dress up in these new, flashy and oh so royal garments. It’s like you getting an outfit from Carl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein or Christian Dior or even a presidential shirt ala Mandela made by Desré Buirski. You’ll wear it at the next best occasion, now wouldn’t you? I would. I remember having a silk shirt by Christian Dior in my varsity days. Man – I really liked that shirt and I wore it at every special event. Well, that’s what the king expects of his guests at the wedding feast of his son. He provides the technicolor dream coat for his guests and he anticipates that that’s what they are going to wear for this royal occasion – that’s the formal dress code or royal uniform. Just like Prince William wore that parade uniform in red, blue and black. Very snazzy, very glamorous and very proper too! You can’t beat the real and proper thing. It’s just right! Well, and now comes the surprise: There are guests who just don’t do it. They fail to give the king credit for his choice of wedding protocol. They don’t dress up. They come in their own garb and thus add insult to injury. Not only did too many people ignore the king’s invitation, disregarded it point blank, but then some of those who do eventually come, still don’t follow the rules of the ruler. And again the king acts predictably. He expels the impudent intruder. Has him bound and thrown out of the royal palace. No longer part of the party, but rather weeping and gnashing teeth in utter darkness outside.

In holy Baptism we are dressed with the magnanimous clothes of Christ’s righteousness. With them our Lord covers our dirty unworthiness and ugly sinfulness and thus graciously makes us acceptable in God’s sight. No longer shameful outsiders, aliens and strangers, but rather respectable family members of God’s household and fellow citizens of his saints. It’s according to this divine dress code that we get past God’s final judgment and to fill our seats at the heavenly banquet. Without this baptismal dress we are just not worthy to enter God’s kingdom, just not good enough to pass his divine judgment and doomed to rejection and expulsion from his divine presence. But who on earth would not want to be dressed up in divine luxury and affluence if given half a chance? So don’t be silly, rather be grateful that you are baptized in the name of the triune God and flaunt the baptismal garment’s procured by Jesus Christ your savior. You’ll never be underdressed at any party – not even in the heavenly realms of the highest king of Kings. So walk tall as a baptized Christian and don’t even play with the idea, that you make a better figure dressed your own, original and independent way. Christ’s baptismal dress is the absolute non-plus-ultra – even by divine standards.  So get your children baptized! Make sure that you together with them appreciate the heavenly baptismal dress as your most fitting outfit here and there in eternity – and don’t be afraid to show it off to others too: Look – I am baptized and that is why I am a Christian and I live like one too! You should try this new baptismal look – it’s truly divine and works wonders even in our everyday lives, because it first makes us God’s children and fellow citizens of the saints, but then also makes us identifiable as such. Thank God for this wonderful wardrobe!

Remember this story [parable] told by Jesus Christ is about the kingdom of God and that’s a lot different to our human experience even if it has numerous connections. The kingdom of God brings about divine judgment on human kind. Finally it will again be obvious that it is not human judgment that sets reality, but rather God only. He is the one, who defines truth and reality – not us. That is why at the final judgment lot’s of human commonplaces are going to go down the drain  – flushed away together with the rest of human excrement – worthless even if at this stage of the race these ideas, philosophies and theories keep many, many people enthralled and enraptured.  The final judgment is going to distinguish between truth and deception, tell apart what’s lasting and what’s passing, differentiate between heaven and hell, saved and lost, chosen and rejected, joy and despair. Blessed are those, who put their trust in the Lord – they will see, taste and enjoy what he has promised eternally. Woe to those, who don’t.

This should come as no surprise, because God had long ago made his criteria clear. Even in the days of Noah, he showed clearly that he would not turn a blind eye to the evil of mankind. In the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah he underlined his intentions to discriminate between what’s pleasing to him and what’s deplorable in his sight. Nobody should say that he didn’t know. There is a too late, too bad and just not acceptable in God’s sight – and Jesus Christ sets the standard. His father said: This is my beloved son – listen to him! That’s why we should give close attention to his directions, intentions and institutions, abide in them and live through them: Sit at his table, give ear and thought to his voice and teaching, have eyes for his goodness, eat his divine food, wear his clothes and talk his talk, walk his walk and sing his songs. He is the one, who does, what he says and therefore we can trust his friendly invitation: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!  You too are invited. Therefore hurry up, come, see and taste, how good your Lord Jesus Christ is + Amen.

And the peace of our Lord that passes all understanding bless and keep you in Christ Jesus + Amen.

Rev. David P. Tswaedi DD

Response Speech to the Signing of the Agreement between UP and LTS-Tshwane, Pretoria, June 8^th 2011.

Distinguished guests, delegates of representatives of various institutions present here, the individuals who did the much of the hard with the sweat of their brains during long hours on intense concentration, to craft a Protocol Document that would respond to the needs and the mission of both our institutions, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!

It’s surely an honour to be asked to respond to this signing on behalf of the LTS-Tshwane and its Shareholders.

First and foremost we wish to express our deepest gratitude to the University of Pretoria for being so magnanimous and willing to listen to our story. It has been our desire as well as those before us to have a tertiary institution as a neighbour, not merely geographically but importantly academically.

The journey of our seminary has been long to get here, it began in the former E-Transvaal, now Mpumalanga, moved to the former Natal, now KZN, to its present locations down Arcadia street.

Though we are a small institution and UP being a giant that it is, we nevertheless do not underestimate the contribution we will bring into this relationship in line with a Setswana sage that says, “a big river needs rivulets to flow”. LTS-Tshwane impacts the lives of many future pastors and leaders on the African continent with its pastoral formation course and others, from West African to the horn of the Mother land. Our contribution might not be evident initially but surely will in time.

The areas covered by the Agreement will certainly challenge our institution to strive for excellence in its theological training, as well as in assisting our students to position their studies meaningfully in the lives of their people later, and finally to continue the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, viz., bringing individuals and peoples to Him.

May the spirit and the letter of this document continue to inspire us to search for more ways of co-operation in the future.

Thank you.

Tswaedi D.P.

Come Holy Spirit and teach us to know the Father and the Son and You, from both as Three in one that we your name may ever bless and in our lives the truth confess.

Dear friends of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God our Father, who sent his Holy Spirit, so that we would believe and trust in him alone now and forever! 

On this day the one holy Christian and Apostolic Church celebrates its own birthday. Together with Christians all over the world, together with Angels and Archangels, with Saints and Martyrs of days gone by we are praising the living God for all he has done for us and our salvation throughout the Ages through this his very own institution, Christ’s living body and most effective instrument: The holy Christian Church from all nations and throughout all Ages.

Oh yes, the Church was there from the very beginning. The triune God spoke to his people since the times of Adam and Eve. He spoke his holy word in Law and Gospel from the very beginning – and we know that Jesus Christ is that word, which became flesh and lived amongst us on Christmas, but was there one with God before all time and space. Since those very early days long gone by the triune God has called people from all parts of the world to trust and believe in him – and we know that the Holy Spirit is the one, who does these miracles and wonders amongst his folks, that they repent, that they are converted and that they believe and trust and love Jesus Christ as their only true Lord and Saviour. Oh yes, this has been the divine activity from the very beginning – gathering, collecting, joining together, unifying, strengthening, building and edifying the Church from all ends of the world. That was his business on Pentecost and that is his business even today. Wherever the living and most gracious God uncovers sin to forgive it by his grace, wherever he proclaims his own goodness and mercy with sinners, wherever he feeds hungry people, heals ill and sick, frees captives and those in bondage, makes foreigners and migrants be at home even in strange places and allows the poor and needy to hear his good news – that’s where his Church is right amongst us in this very world. God did his church business in the time of the apostles amongst the nations in the Middle East, reaching out from Jerusalem [the centre of the world] to people in Asia and Africa and Europe: Parthians, Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  Phrygia , Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and Rome,  both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians. What an international, global event Pentecost has always been! That’s where the living God himself made up for the mischief of that idolatrous tower of Babel. Now by his forgiving grace these different cultures, languages and traditions are no longer doomed to live separated in fear, hatred, envy and strive with each other, unable to understand each other, unable to sympathize with one another and just banned to worshipping their family deities, village spirits and tribal idols or national ideologies  By God’s grace and forgiving mercy the most diverse people are brought together by the Holy Spirit into one body, one Church so that they can hear the miracles and wonders of the one and only God of this universe and together with one voice give him his due praises as one big happy family as it was meant to be from the beginning. Here at Pentecost the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob grants his own Church to witness the starting realization of his final Church version for the entire globe encompassing all nations and continents. His beloved Apostle and Bishop of the seven Churches St. John saw it on Patmos and we too are looking forward to seeing this vision with our own eyes and to hear this beautiful song with our two ears and joining in with our humble voices too. St. John describes the  “great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [Rev. 7,9f]

This Pentecost message is especially comforting to those in the Church, who in this life and time experience the discrimination, isolation and persecution in the world. However there is comfort, because it is the living God’s promise that his Church will not be overcome but will remain to the very end. Not even a thousand or more devils nor any evil or anything else can stop him from taking his Church to its final destination – the glorious perfection of his honorable bride. You can build on that. You can trust him on that because he is faithful and will surely do as he promised. Already his great works are proclaimed beyond Africa, Europe and Asia in the Americas, Australia and even Oceania. That is another good reason to rejoice and thank God today. He alone can take credit for all this goodness for it is done “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” [Zech. 4,6 Watchword for Pentecost] This is so true everywhere, but especially in the Church. Look how it was with Moses. [OT Reading Nm.11, 11f.14-17.24f]. God gave him 70 elders to help him carry his burden. For God it is easy to help in this or that way. Nothing is impossible for him. Look how it is with me. I can’t even talk or write in isiZulu, but my father has translated this sermon and so you can hear of God’s miracles and wonders anyway. We are never alone in the Church, but rather we are joined to various members and limbs under the one head Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit joins us together with a common faith, love and hope so that we become more and more what God has envisioned for us – one, holy Christian and Apostolic Church proclaiming his miracles and wonders in this world and even amongst those, who don’t yet believe. God has established his Church worldwide and we are part of it, because he is good, gracious and merciful.  Therefore let us continue in his word and remain at home where his glory dwells. He will continue to teach and guide us with his holy word and thus keep us in all truth despite all affliction and temptation. [Gospel Joh.14, 23ff] To him be all the glory now and forever. Amen. The peace of Christ be with you always+

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh! (Joe 2:28 ESV)

Komm, Heiliger Geist, erfüll die Herzen deiner Gläubigen und entzünd in ihnen das Feur‘ deiner göttlichen Liebe, der du durch Mannigfaltigkeit der Zungen die Völker der ganzen Welt versammelt hast in Einigkeit des Glaubens. Halleluja! Halleluja! [altkirchlich LKG 180]

Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, Erfüll mit deiner Gnaden Gut Deiner Gläub’gen Herz, Mut und Sinn. Dein brünstig Lieb entzünd in ihn’. O Herr, durch deines Lichtes Glast Zu dem Glauben versammelt hast Das Volk aus aller Welt Zungen; Das sei dir Herr, zu Lob gesungen! Halleluja! Halleluja! [Martin Luther 1524 LKG 182,1]

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende. Qui per diversitatem linguarum cunctarum Gentes in unitate fidei congregasti! Halleluja! Halleluja!

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord, With all Your graces now outpoured On each believers mind and heart; Your fervent love to them impart. Lord, by the brightness of Your light In holy faith Your Church unite; From ev’ry land and ev’ry tongue This to Your praise, O Lord, our God, be sung: Alleluia, alleluia! [LSB 497,1]

Der Herr fuhr auf gen Himmel ...

WIzintshumayelo zokuSebenzelana ekuZwaneni

Intshumayelo ngomkhosi wokukhumbula ukwenyuka kweNkosi, ka 02. 06. 2011                            31/2011

Egameni likaNkulunkulu onguYise, neNdodana, noMoya oNgcwele

1.             Iculo 127/108

2.             Umkhuleko: Jesu Kristu owenyukele ezulwini ukuhlala ngakwesokunene sikaYihlo phezu kwemibuso yonke, namandla nezilimi zonke, yebo phezu kwakho konke okungaphawulwa emhlabeni lowo nasekozayo, siyabonga, ngokuba waqeda ukuboshwa kwethu, wabeka zonke izitha zethu phansi kwezinyawo zakho, sesiyacela, sithi: Mawusimele kuYihlo njalo, uvikele ikerike lakho, uliduduze, ube nathi ngezinsuku zonke ngezwi namasakramente akho, uze ubonakaliswe kithi ngosuku lenkazimulo yakho, mawusamukele embusweni wakho ongapheliyo, wena ophilayo, wabusa kanye noYihlo noMoya oNgcwele kuze kube phakade. Amen.

3.             Iphistola ngohlelo lwesibili lilotshiwe kuzo izEnzo 1:1-11;

Ivangeli ngohlelo lokuqala lilotshiwe kuLuka 24:44-53.

4. Isivumo senkolo: Ngiyakholwa nguNkulunkulu uYise …                                                                                                                                                                                                          5.Iculo 126/107

6.                                                                                                                                                            Umkhuleko wakhe ofundayo intshumayelo             7. Izwi lentshumayelo ngohlelo 3 lilotshiwe

ku-1 amaKhosi 8:22-24.26-28, lithi: “USolomoni wema phambi kwealtare likaJehova ebusweni balo lonke ibandla lakwaIsrayeli, welulela izandla zakhe ngasezulwini, wathi: Jehova Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, akakho unkulunkulu onjengawe phezulu ezulwini nasemhlabeni phansi, ogcina isivumelwano nomusa nezinceku zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yazo, ogciné nenceku yakho uDavide ubaba lokho owakusho kuyo; yebo, owakukhuluma ngomlomo wakho ukugcwalisile ngesandla sakho njengokuba kunjalo namuhla. … Ngalokho, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, maliqiniseke izwi lakho owalikhuluma encekwini yakho uDavide ubaba. Kepha uNkulunkulu uyakuhlala impela emhlabeni na? Bheka, izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakukwanela; pho, kakhulu kangakanani lendlu encane engiyakhileyo na? Mawubheke umkhuleko wenceku yakho nokunxusa kwayo, Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, uzwe ukukhala nokukhuleka inceku yakho ekukhuleka phambi kwakho namuhla.”Amen.

8. Intshumayelo: Bandla elithandekayo yeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, maqondana nokwenyuka kweNkosi uJesu Kristu isivumo sabaphostoli sithi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, uhlezi ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu, uYise uMninimandla onke;” esaseNikeya sithi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, uhlezi ngakwesokunene sikaYise;” nesika-Athanasiyu sithi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, uhlezi ngakwesokunene sikaYise;” nesaseAugsburg sithi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, ukuba ahlale ngakwesokunene sikaYise, abe-nobukhosi njalonjalo, abuse phezu kwezidalwa zonke, angcwelise bona abakholwa nguye.”

Izwi leNtshumayleo yanamuhla liyasisiza ukuba siqiniswe ekukholweni nasesivumeni sethu maqondana nokwenyuka kweNkosi uJesu Kristu ukuba singaphuthi kanye namaKristu abaningi abadukisiwe ngencazo yezidukisi ethi: UJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu wakhushulelwa ezulwini ukuba amukelwe yizulu kangaka ukuba ubuntu bakhe buvalelwe ezulwini, imbumbano yobuNkulunkulu nobuntu bakhe ahlanganisiwe ngayo oqotsheni lunye  ihlukaniswe. Ngenxa yalesisidukiso ikerike likaKristu lagcizelela iqiniso ukuba livume ukuthi njalo lapho ubuNkulunkulu bukaJesu bukhona nobuntu bakhe bukhona kakhulu ngokufundisa iqiniso lesidlo seNkosi, ngokuba lesiyasidukiso sibonakala ngendlela embi, uma kufundiswa ukuthi esidlweni seNkosi siyadla isinkwa kuphela, nokuphuza iwayini kuphela, nokuthi ikholwa lizozihlanganisa nomzimba kaKristu, negazi lakhe kuphela uma umoya wakhe wenyuselwa ezulwini ukuhlangana khona ngokomoya nakho okobuntu bukaJesu.  Ngakho lokhu ngithi: Izwi lentshumayelo yanamuhla lingasisiza ukuqonda ukuwenyuka kweNkosi yethu kahle, ngokuba izwi leyo lithi: Bheka, izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakukwanela. Usolomoni, inkosi yaseJerusalema, wakhuluma neNkosi emkhulekweni wakhe. Okusho ukuthi izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakuyanela iNkosi uJesu Kristu eyakhushulelwa ezulwini. Khona ezulwini wamukelwa nguYise nokuphiwa isihlalo sobukhosi khona. Kwakungahlukaniswa khona ubuntu nobuNkulunkulu, ubuntu bakhe babungaboshelwa khona ukuba ubuntu bakhe buhlale khona, bungabi khona lapho ubuNkulunkulu bukhona, kube ubuNkulunkulu bakhe kuphela obunenkululeko ukuhlangana nmakholwa akhe ezindaweni zonke nasemhlabeni. Qha-ke, iNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu isithembisele ukuthi ukuthi, noma singabathathu noma ababili kuphela esihlangana egameni lakhe, enguye uNkulunkulu uqobo, nomuntu futhi uqobo. Masingadukiswa yizidukisi, kodwa sikholwe ngethemba eliqinileyo ukuthi siyamukela umzimba wakhe ngokudla umzimba wakhe esinkweni esibusisiwe, negazi lakhe elithululelwe kube ngukuthethelelwa kwezono, uma siliphuza ngewayini elibusisiwe esidlweni sakhe. Ake sikholwe, sivume ngalawaya mazwi esivumo saseAugsburg, ukuthi yena-ke onguNkulunkulu uqobo ozelwe nguYise phambi kwezikhathi zonke, nomuntu futhi uqobo ozelwe nguMariya intombi, nowake wabethelwa esiphambanweni, nokufa, nokuvuka, ukuthi nguye oyiNkosi yethu ehlezi enkazimulweni yayo ngakwesokunene sikaYisa ukubusa izidalwa zonke.

Kanti nguye osagcwalisa izithembiso nokuprofetha kwakhe. Masingakhohlwa isithembiso sakhe avalelisa abafundi bakhe ngaso ngosuku lokwenyuka kwakhe esithi: “Bhekani, mina nginani izinsuku zonke kuze kube-sekupheleni kwezwe.” Ezwini lentshumayelo yanamuhla uSolomoni uyakhuluma ngesithembiso iNkosi eyakhuluma ngaso ngaphambili ukusithembisa uDavide uyise ukuthi indodana yakhe izophumelela ukumakhela uNkulunkulu indlu yokumkhonza, ngisho ithempeli. Mhla uSolomoni wakhuleka umkhuleko wokuvula ithempeli, lesisithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sasisegcwalisiwe yiNkosi yamakhosi uNkulunkulu. USolomoni wayesephiwa ukwakha lelithempeli elihle elavulwa ngalesosikhathi. Futhi uSolomoni wathinta isithembiso esamenyezelelwe uyise nguNkulunkulu ngomprofethi uNathane esithi: “Akuyikunqunywa-muntu kuwe emehlweni ami ukuhlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwaIsrayeli.” Wacela ukuba lelizwi lesithembiso uNkulunkulu owalikhuluma kuye inceku yakhe uDavide uyise ligcinwe, ligcwaliswe. UNkulunkulu wezwa umkhuleko lowo kaSolomoni. Lesisithembiso sagcinwa, sagcwaliswa ngokwenyuka kweNkosi, indodana kaDavide eyiNkosi yakhe futhi njengokusho kweHubo 110, nangezwi elilotshiwe kuMath. 22:41-45. UJesu Kristu uyiyo indodana kaDavide eyakhushulelwe ezulwini ngosuku 40 emva kokuvuka kwakhe, izinsuku ezingu-10 phambi kokuthululelwa kukaMoya oNgcwele kubafundi bakhe ngomkhosi wePhentkoste.

Unguye esivuma ngaye ngamazwi esivumo saseAugsburg athi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, ukuba ahlale ngakwesokunene sikaYise, abe-nobukhosi njalonjalo, abuse phezu kwezidalwa zonke, angcwelise bona abakholwa nguye ngokuthumela uMoya oNgcwele ezinhliziyweni zabo, obabusayo, abaduduze, abaphilise, abavikele kuSathane nakuwo amandla esono.” Ngalawomazwi sekuthintiwe esikuzwayo ezwini lentshumayelo yanamuhla ukuthi wagcwalisa izithembiso zakhe, ngokuba wasilungisela izindawo emhlabeni lapho etholakala khona nasezinsukwini zanamuhla, noma ekhushulelwe ezulwini. Sesizwile ukuthi ukubo abahlangana egameni lakhe, nokuthi unabo abamukele umyalo wakhe ukwenza izizwe zonke abafundi bakhe ngokubabhapathiza egameni likaNkulunkulu onguYise neNdodana noMoya oNgcwele, nangokufundisa abantu bezizwe zonke ukugcina uJesu akuyalé ngakho.  Ngokwempela uJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu ovukile kwabafileyo wathembisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi uma bethethelela isoni esikhalela izono zaso egameni likaNkulunkulu onguYise neNdodana noMoya oNgcwele uyakuba othethelelwe impela. Wamisela abafundi bakhe isidlo somzimba negazi lakhe elingcwele ukuba badle umzimba wakhe esinkweni, baphuze igazi lakhe ewayinini ukuba babe nokuthethelelwa kwezono. Wayethembisa bonke abakhuleka kuYise egameni lakhe ukuthi bayakwamukela abakucelayo, nokuvulelwa, mhla bengqongqotha.

Ake simethembe, sikholwe, singangabazi ukuthi uJesu uzogcwalisa akuthembisayo, njengalokhu zonke izithembiso zaphambili sezigcwalisiwe nguNkulukulu. Ake simele iqiniso elihle elikhulu elithi: Nezithembiso ezingakagcwaliswa kuze kube namuhla, zizogcwaliswa ngesikhathi sazo, kakhulu leso esakhulunywa ngosuku lokwenyuka kwakhe yizingelosi esithi: “Madoda aseGalile, nimeleni nibheka ezulwini na? UJesu lo, osuswé kini enyuselwa ezulwini, uyakuza kanjalo, njengalokhu nimbonile eya ezulwini.” Uzobuya uzokwahlulela abasahambayo nabafileyo. Impela lesisithembiso siyakugcwaliswa, njengaso sokuthululela uMoya oNgcwele phezu kwabafundi esagcaliswa ngomkhosi wePhentekoste waseJerusalema.

Ngakho lokhu umkhosi wokwenyuka kweNkosi ungumkhosi othanda ukuvuselela amakholwa kaJesu Kristu ukuba bathokozele insindiso awayilungiselwe yiNkosi, nezithembiso zayo zokuthi usezwa imikhuleko yethu, nokuthi usavuselela abashumayeli ukuba bashumayele intethelelo yezono egameni likaJesu, bameme abangakabhapathizwa ukuba bazinikele ukubhapathizwa, abahlubukileyo babuyele embhapathizweni wabo, amakholwa onke asondele njalo esibikweni nasesidlweni seNkosi. Yikho iNkosi uJesu ethanda ukuba kwenzeke, ize ibuye ngosuku lokugcina, isamela amakholwa ayo kuYise. Yebo, kuqinisile, yenyukele ezulwini, kodwa isekithi ngezwi namasakramente ayo. Ake sithokozele izithembiso zeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ezisegcwalisiwe, ezigcwaliswa namuhla, nazo ezisayakugcwaliswa esikhathini esiayo! Amen.

9.             Umkhuleko: Nkosi Jesu Kristu, Ndodana kaNkulunkulu wawuhlupheka ebumpofwini obukhulu usahamba lapha emhlabeni, kodwa manje usesihlalweni sobukhosi ngakwesokunene sikaYihlo, uyiNkosi ekongamela konke okusezulwini nasemhlabeni, futhi nguwe ophilisa konke, nokukubusa phezu kwakho konke. Siyakhuleka kuwe, siyacela sithi: Mawusithumele uMoya wakho oNgcwele, uthumele izisebenzi eziqotho ekerikeni, uzihlakanisphise, uqinise izwi lakho, umelane noSathane namakhosi amabi, ulondoloze umbuso wakho ngamandla, zonke izitha zakho zibekwe phansi kwezinyawo zakho, thina sinqobe ngawe isono, ukufa, nakho konke okubi. Mawusizwe ngenxa yothando lwakho olukhulu. Amen.

Umkhuleko weNkosi: Baba wethu osezulwini …

10.           Iculo 128/109

Ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu odlula ukuqonda konke makulondoloze izinhliziyo zethu nemicabango yethu kuKristu  Jesu, iNkosi noMsindisi wethu. Amen.

Lentshumayelo ilotshiwe ngomnyaka ka-2011 ngu-E. A. W. Weber

Ukucindezelwa nokuthunywa kwalezintshumayelo kuyasekelwa yinhlangno ethiwa: Lutheran Heritage Foundation

Dithero tsa Tirelano mo Kutlwanong

Der Herr fuhr auf gen Himmel ...

Thero ka moletlo wa go gopola tlhatlogo ya Morena, e le ka 02. 06. 2011      31/2011

Mo leineng la Modimo o e leng Rara le Morwa le Mowa o o Boitshepo!

 1.         Sefela sa 143 – 126/130

2.         Thapelo: Morena Jesu Keresete, yo o tlhatlogetseng kwa legodimong go nna mo letsogong le letona la ga Rrago godimo ga magosi, le dithata le dipuo tsotlhe le godimo ga tsotlhe tse di bolelwang mo lefatsheng leno le mo go le le tlang, re a go leboga, ka o khutlisitse kgolego ya rona, wa baya dira tsotlhe tsa rona fa tlase ga dinao tsa gago, re a go rapela, re re: A o ko o re emele fa pele ga Rrago ka gale, go femela, le go gomotsa Kereke ya gago, o bo o nnele ruri mo go rona ka malatsi otlhe ka Lefoko le disakaramente tsa gago, go tsamaya o iponatse go rona ka letsatsi la kgalalelo ya gago, o re amogele mo pusong e e sa khutleng, wena yo o tshelang, wa busa mmogo le Rara le Mowa o o Boitshepo ka bosenabokhutlo. Amen.

3.         Epistolo ka fa thulaganyong ya 2 e kwadilwe mo Ditirong tsa baapostolo 1:3-11;

Efangele ka fa thulaganyong ya 1 e kwadilwe mo go Luka 24:44-53.

4.                                                                                                           A go ipolelwe tumelo ya bokeresete! 5. Sefela sa 145 – 128/-

6.                                                                                                                        Thapelo ya mmadi wa thero.             7. Lefoko ka fa thulaganyong ya 3 le kwadilwe mo go

1 Dikgosi 8:22-24.26-28, le re: “Ke fa Salomo a ema fa pele ga aletare ya MORENA, phuthego yotlhe ya Iseraele e mo lebile, a tsholeletsa mabogo kwa legodimong a re: ‘MORENA, Modimo wa Iseraele, kwa godimo mo legodimong le fa fatshe mo lefatsheng ga go na modimo ope o o tshwanang nao. Wena o bolokela batlhanka ba gago kgolagano le bopelotlhomogi fa ba sepela fa pele ga gago ka pelo yotlhe. Wena o diretse motlhanka wa gago Dafita rre, tse o di mo solofeditseng. Ruri, o ne o di buile ka molomo wa gago, mme jaanong o di dirafaditse ka seatla sa gago jaaka go ntse kajeno. … Jaanong he, Modimo wa Iseraele, ka thapelo, a lefoko la gago le o le solofeditseng motlhanka wa gago Dafita rre le direlwe nnete. Mme a ruri Modimo o ka aga mono lefatsheng? Kana legodimo le legodimo le le godimodimo ga le go lekane. Jaanong Ntlo e ke e agileng yona e tlhaela bogolo jang! MORENA, Modimo wa me, ngoka thapelo ya motlhanka wa gago le mokokotlelo wa gagwe gore o utlwe go goelela le go rapela mo motlhanka wa gago a go rapelang fa pele ga gago kajeno.” Amen.

8. Thero: Phuthego e e rategang ya Morena wa rona Jesu Keresete, malebana le tlhatlogo ya Morena Jesu Keresete Boipolelo jwa Baapostolo jwa re: “A tlhatlogela kwa legodimong, o ntse ka fa letsogong le le jang la Modimo Rara, Mong-wa-thatha-yotlhe.” Jwa kwa Nitsea jwa re: “E bile o tlhatlogetse kwa magodimong, o ntse ka fa letsogong le le jang la ga Rara.” Jwa ga Athanasio jwa re: “A tlhatlogela kwa legodimong, o ntse ka fa letsogong le letona la Modimo Rara Mong-wa-thata-yotlhe.” Jwa kwa Augsburg jwa re: “A tlhatlogela kwa legodimong, a nna fa letsogong le letona la ga Rara gore a buse a laole dibopiwa tsotlhe ka bosenabokhutlo, a itshepise ba ba dumelang mo go ene.”

Lefoko la thero ya kajeno le a re thusa gore re tiisiwe mo tumelong le mo boipolelong jwa rona malebana le tlhatlogo ya Morena Jesu Keresete gore re se fose mmogo le bakeresete ba le bantsi ba ba timeditsweng ka tlhaloso ya batimetsi e e reng: Morena Jesu Keresete o tlhatloseditswe kwa legodimong gore a tsholwe ke legodimo mo go kalo gore botho jwa gagwe bo tswalelwe mo legodimong, momagano e Bomodimo le botho jwa gagwe bo momagantsweng ka yona  mo personeng e le ngwe fela e kgaoganngwe, gore kereke ya bokeresete e rute, e ipolele ka metlha gore kwa boModimo jwa ga Jesu ba leng teng le botho jwa gagwe bo teng. Timetso eo e bonala ka botlhoko ka thuto ya bone ba ba reng: Mo selalelong sa Morena re ja senkgwe fela, le go nwa weine fela, ka ntlha ya timetso ya bone e e reng: Mmele a ga Jesu o tswaletswe mo legodimong, fela jaaka madi a gagwe. Modumedi o ka kopana le mmele le madi a ga Keresete fela, fa mowa wa gagwe o tlhatlogela mo legodimong go kopana teng le tsa botho jwa ga Keresete. Ke moo ke re: Lefoko la thero ya kajeno le ka re thusa go tlhatloganya tlhatlogo ya Morena sentle, gonne Lefoko leo le re: Kana legodimo le legodimo le le godimodimo ga le go lekane. Salomo kgosi ya kwa Jerusalema o bua le Morena mo thapelong ya gagwe. Ke gore Legodimo la legodimo le le godimodimo ga le lekane Morena Jesu Keresete yo o neng a tlhatloseditswe kwa legodimong. Teng koo o amogetswe ke Rraagwe, le go fiwa setulo sa bogosi teng, ga a ka a kgaoganngwa teng gore botho jwa gagwe bo nne ko, boModimo fela bo nne bo kgololesegile go kopana le badumedi ba gagwe kwa le kwa. Nyaya, Morena Jesu o re solofeditse gore o fa gare ga ba le babedi, le ba le bararo ba ba kopanang mo leineng la gagwe, e le ene Modimo ruri, le motho ruri. A re se ka ra timediwa ke batimetsi, mme re ikanye gore re amogela mmele wa gagwe mo senkgweng, le madi a gagwe a re a tshologeletsweng mo weineng mo selalelong sa Morena gore re nne le boitshwarelo jwa dibe. Re ikanye ka fa mafokong ale a boipolelo jwa kwa Augsburg, fa e le ene yo e leng Modimo ruri yo o tsetsweng ke Rara ka bosenatshimologo, le motho ruri yo o tsetsweng ke Maria wa lekgarebe go nna Morena wa rona, a nne mo bogosing ka fa letsogong le letona la ga Rara go busa dibopiwa tsotlhe.

Kana ke ene yo o sa ntseng a dirafatsa ditsholofetso le dipolelelo-pele tsotlhe tsa gagwe. A re se ka ra lebala tsholofetso ya gagwe e a sadisitseng barutwa ba gagwe pila ka yona ka letsatsi la tlhatlogo ya gagwe, e e reng: “Mme itseng, nna ke na le lona ka malatsi otlhe go ya bokhutlong jwa lefatshe.”  Mo Lefokong la thero ya kajeno Salomo o bua ka ga tse Morena a di boleletseng pele go solofetsa Dafita rraagwe, fa morwae a tla kgona go agela Modimo ntlo ya kobamelo, e bong tempele. Fa Salomo a ne a rapela thapelo ya go bula tempele polelelo-pele ele e ne e setse e dirafaditswe ke Modimo. Salomo o ne a fiwa go aga tempele e ntle eo. Salomo o umaka le tsholofetso, gongwe polelelo-pele e e boleletsweng rraagwe ke Modimo ka moporofeti Nathan, e e reng: Ga o kitla o tlhoka monna fa pele ga me yo o dutseng mo sedulong sa bogosi sa Iseraele. Salomo o ne a kopa gore Lefoko leo la tsholofetso le Modimo o le solofeditseng motlhanka wa ona Dafita rraagwe le direlwe nnete, le dirafadiwe. Modimo o utlwile thapelo eo ya ga Salomo. Tsholofetso eo e dirafaditswe ka tlhatlogo ya Morena, morwa Dafita yo e bileng e le Morena wa ga Dafita ka fa Pesalomeng 110, le Math. 22:41-45. Ke ene Jesu Keresete, Morwa Dafita, yo o tlhaloseditsweng kwa legodimong ka letsatsi la 40, ya re a sena go tsoga mo baswing, letsatsi la 10 pele a ise a goromeletse Mowa o o Boitshepo mo barutwang ba gagwe ka moletlo wa Pentekoste.

Ke ene yo re mo ipolelang ka mafoko a Boipolelo jwa kwa Augsburg a a reng: Keresete o ne a tlhatlogela kwa legodimong, a nna fa letsogong le letona la ga Rara gore a buse a laole dibopiwa tsotlhe ka bosenabokhutlo, a itshepise ba ba dumelang mo go ene ka go romela Mowa o o Boitsehpo mo dipelong tsa bone, o o ba tlhapisang, o ba tiisa, o ba gomotsa, o ba tshedisa, o ba abela dimpho tsa mefutafuta le masego, o ba femela mo go Satane le mo thateng ya boleo. Ka mafoko ao go setse go amilwe tse re di utlwang mo Lefokong la thero ya kajeno, fa a dirafatsa ditsholofetso tsa gagwe, gonne o re baakanyeditse manno mo lefatsheng kwa a ka bonwang teng, le kajeno, le fa a tlhatlogetse kwa legodimong. Re setse re utlwile, fa a le fa gare ga bone ba ba kopanang mo leineng la gagwe, fa a le le bona ba ba utlwileng taolo ya gagwe go dira merafe yotlhe go nna barutwa ba gagwe ka go ba kolobetsa mo leineng la Modimo o e leng Rara le Morwa le Mowa o o Boitshepo, le ka go ruta batho ba merafe yotlhe go tlhokomela le go boloka tse di laetsweng ke Jesu. Tota-tota Morena Jesu Keresete yo o tsogileng mo baswing o ne a solofetsa barutwa gagwe gore fa ba itshwarela moleofi yo o ikwatlhaelang maleo a gagwe mo leineng la Modimo o e leng Rara le Morwa le Mowa o o Boitsheop o tla ba a itshwarestwe. O tlhomamiseditse badumedi ba gagwe selalelo sa mmele le madi a a boitshepo a gagwe gore ba je mmele wa gagwe mo senkgweng, ba nwe madi a gagwe mo weineng go itshwarelwa maleo. O solofeditse botlhe ba ba rapelang mo go Rraagwe mo leineng la gagwe gore ba tla amogela se ba se kopang, le go bulelwa, fa ba konyakonya.

A re ikanyeng, re se ka ra belaela ka gope, fa Jesu a tla dirafatsa tse a di solofeditseng, jaaka ditsholofetso le dipolelelo-pele tsotlhe tsa pele di dirafaditswe ke Modimo. Re emela boammaaruri jo bogolo jwa gore le ditsholofetso, le dipolelelo-ple tse di iseng di dirafadiwe di tla dirafadiwa ka nako ya tsona, bogolo yona e e boletsweng ka letsatsi la tlhatllogo ya gagwe ke baengele e e reng: “Lona banna ba Galelea, lo emetseng lo leletse kwa legodimong? Jesu yole yo o tsholeleditsweng kwa legodimong, a tswa mo go lona, o tla boa a tla, fela jaaka lo mmonye a ya kwa legodimong.” O tla bowa go atlholela batshedi le baswi ka letsatsi la bofelo. Tota tsholofetso eo e tla dirafadiwa, jaaka yona tshologo ya Mowa o o Boitshepo mo godimo ga barutwa e dirafaditswe ka moletlo wa Pentekoste wa kwa Jerusalema.

Ka moo moletlo wa tlhatlogo ya Morena ke moletlo o o ratang go tsoseletsa badumedi ba ga Jesu Keresete gore ba itumelele pholoso e ba e baakanyeditsweng ke Morena, le ditsholofetso tsa gagwe, fa a sa ntse a utlwa dithapelo tsa rona, fa a sa ntse a tsoseletsa bareri gore ba rere boitshwarelo jwa dibe mo leineng la ga Jesu, ba laletsa ba ba iseng ba kolobediwe gore ba ineele go kolobediwa, baikepi ba boele mo kolobetsong ya bone, badumedi botlhe ba atamele ka metlha mo boipobolong le mo selalelong sa Morena. Ke tsona tse Morena Jesu a ratang gore di dirafale, go ya a boe ka letsatsi la bofelo, a ntse a emela badumedi ba gagwe mo go Rraagwe. Ee, ke nnete o tlhatlogile mo legodimong, mme o ntse a le mo go rona ka Lefoko le disakaramente tsa gagwe. A re itumeleleng ditsholofetso tsa gagwe! Amen.

9.         Thapelo: Morena Jesu Keresete, Morwa Modimo, o ne o le mo khumanegong le mo ditlalelong mo lefatsheng, mme jaanong o ntse mo letsogong le le jang la ga Rrago, o le Morena yo o okameng tsotlhe tse di mo legodimong le mo lefatsheng, e bile ke wena, yo o di tshedisang, le go di busa. Re a go rapela, re re: A o ko o re romele Mowa o o Boitshepo wa gago, o romele badiri ba ba boifang Modimo mo kerekeng, o ba tlhalefise, o tiise Lefoko la gago, o ganetse Satane le barena ba ba bosula, o boloke puso ya gago ka thata, go ya baba botlhe ba gago ba latlhelwe ka fa tlase ga dinao tsa gago, mme rona re fenye ka wena boleo, loso, le tsotlhe tse di bosula. O re utlwe ka ntlha ya lorato lo logolo lwa gago. Amen.

Thapelo ya Morena: Rara wa rona yo o mo legodimong …

10.       Sefela sa 144 – 127/131

A kagiso ya Modimo e e fetang tlhaloganyo yotlhe e boloke dipelo tsa rona le maikutlo a rona mo go Keresete Jesu, Morena, Morepholosi. Amen.

Thero eno e kwadilwe ke E. A. W. Weber, ka ngwaga wa 2011

Kgatiso le go rongwa ga dithero tseo go tshegediwa ke kopano e e bidiwang The Lutheran Heritage Foundation.