TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Readings:
Key Verses (using the World English Bible):
Eph. 6:10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might… [P]ut on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.”
John 6:49-50: “The nobleman said to [Jesus], ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way. Your son lives.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.”
Reflection
This week, Lutheran churches will observe “Reformation Day,” the commemoration of the day when Martin Luther challenged the religious authorities of his time, and changed the Universal Church forever. The celebration isn’t restricted to Lutherans or even Protestants alone. I’ve noticed in my own Episcopal church that we may sneak in “A mighty fortress is our God” somewhere into the Sunday nearest October 31st.
The spirit of reform is most appropriate for this Sunday, which the traditional lectionary has set apart for the union of sloth. You may remember that the passion of “sloth” is more than mere laziness; it’s negligence, indifference, or apathy towards what one ought to do. It’s what can happen when we begin to rid ourselves of the passions; if we’re not careful, we can be left feeling nothing, numb. But sloth can also happen when we’re bombarded by all the problems and shortcomings of this world. The overburden shuts us down, paralyzes us, and keeps us in survival mode, where we struggle to just get through each day instead of looking for ways to change our situation.
That’s not what Martin Luther did, and that’s not what the writer of Ephesians tells us to do. The Epistle presents our spiritual journey—even at this late stage of becoming one with God—as a “wrestling”, for which we must continue to “be strong.” It’s a battle, and we have to “put on the whole armor of God,” “taking up the shield of faith,” “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.” These militaristic undertones may be uncomfortable, but the image I get is of Jacob wrestling with the angel (or God), refusing to let go until he’s received a blessing. The point is that faith is not always warm fuzzies; it’s also action, and maybe even warfare.
Faith was the centerpiece of Martin Luther’s theology. In his view, we are made right with God only through our faith in God, and today’s Gospel reading supports that claim. A nobleman begs to Jesus to heal his son. Jesus remarks that people don’t believe without seeing, but then says that the child has been healed. The nobleman believes first, and then his belief is confirmed by his servants’ news. But look at what happens next. The nobleman asks the servants at what hour his son was healed. Their answer confirmed his belief that it was Jesus who healed his son, and not just coincidence. For me, this supports that call to action. Our journey doesn’t stop when faith comes. There are still questions to be asked, and it’s okay to ask those questions, to seek answers, and look for confirmation.
So what do we do with sloth? How do we make peace with negligence or apathy into our whole selves, or is that even something we should be doing? In a way, I think we can. Feeling the paralysis of overburden is a signal that we must, all the more, actively seek him who carries our burdens. Feeling a numbness of heart is a call to remember that God is emotion, specifically hope and love. The One who is above passion passionately and tirelessly seeks us nonetheless. Whenever we feel empty on our journey, let us look up to the One who emptied himself for our sake. God seeks us continually, not to leave us like the pre-Creation formless void, but to re-form us for his greater purpose.
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, gracious Lord,
we thank you that your Holy Spirit
renews the church in every age.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people.
Keep them steadfast in your word;
protect and comfort them in times of trial;
defend them against all enemies of the gospel;
and bestow on the church your saving peace;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
—Collect for “Reformation Day” (October 31st) in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 58
O God,
forasmuch as we are unable to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may, in all things, direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
—Original Collect for Trinity 21 from the 6th-century Gregorian Sacramentary.
Hymn: “A mighty fortress is our God”
(Words: Martin Luther, 1483-1546, based on Psalm 46; English translation by Frederick Henry Hedge 1805-1890; adapted by Joseph A. Soltero, 2013
Tune: ‘Ein feste Burg’, melody by Martin Luther; harmony by Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750)
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our help and shield amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing,
For still our ancient foe
Yet seeks to work us woe.
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruèl hate,
On earth he has no equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he,
The Lord of Hosts, his Name,
From age to age the same,
And he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word is, o’er all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abiding.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours,
For Christ is with us siding.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also,
The body they may kill,
God’s truth shall triumph still.
God’s kingdom is forever.
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