1st Sunday in Advent
Vicar Michael Monterastelli
Texts: Mark 11:1-10, Isaiah (63:16b-17), 64:1-9; 1 Cor. 1:3-9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:3).
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, He is coming. That’s what Advent means, “He comes.” The Savior of the nations. Hosanna in the highest. He who comes in the Name of the Lord. That’s what Advent means for the Church of all ages. That’s what the season of Advent is for. People of Christ get ready. Be prepared. Soon we shall commemorate the blessed birth of the Messiah, when He came in the flesh.
Jesus prepared his disciples. He taught them. He sent them out. He told them what to say. “The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.” These are powerful words. They are words which prevent two of Jesus’ disciples from losing their lives as horse thieves. Instead, Jesus’ words (spoken by two of His disciples) transformed those men who looked to everyone else like horse thieves, into faithful disciples of the Lord. They became living martyrs, or witnesses. That’s what the Greek term marterion means. It means witness. Like all faithful disciples, they became living martyrs of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
These words of Jesus transformed these men and freed the colt from bondage. The colt, on which no rider had sat, became part of the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy (Zech 9:9). “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” His disciples threw their cloaks on the colt and He sat on it, as no man had done before.
Many other men made martyrs of their cloaks by throwing them in the filth of the polluted road. Others spread leafy branches from the field. And all who attended this holy and humble procession of the Savior of the nations, both those martyrs who went before and those who came after, shouted the Sanctus, which has become part of the divine communion liturgy, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! (Ps. 118:26), … Hosanna in the highest!”
Like no god has done before or after Him, Jesus acts for those who wait for Him (Is. 64:4). He meets those who joyfully work righteousness, who do right, and remember Jesus in their way of life (Is. 64:5). He comes along a filthy road of witnesses. Humble and lowly. Riding on a young and humble colt. Treading along the road paved by the polluted garments of humble martyrs. Leading the way to the prophet’s reward. This road only goes one way. It leads to death; and from death to eternal life.
But who of us can look at our life and say, ‘I have remembered Jesus as He wants me to remember Him’? “Eat My body and drink My blood in remembrance of Me”, says Jesus. By this He tells us to eat and drink His food, the food He gives to us, believing that He is here now to feed you with His body and blood. “Do this in My remembrance”, that is, “receive Me in the faith I have given you.”
Who of us has become a living martyr for Jesus? Who has sacrificed no small amount of material goods and fame as a living martyr of Jesus? Well, we all could point to something. But as soon as we did, we’d be lost again. Repent. We can’t point to our works for proof of our worthiness, for Isaiah reminds us, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment, we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Is. 64:6). We must point anyone who asks us, to Christ and Christ alone. By His Word He prepares us to remember Him. He teaches us. He calls us to His table. He sends us out and tells us what to say. He remembers us.
Advent! Jesus is coming. He does not remember iniquity, but takes it from us. Like a thief. He takes what is not His, what He has not earned. At His Baptism, He transformed Himself in the polluted water of the Jordan River. He changed from the one who is most worthy of heaven, to the one who is the most unworthy of all. Thankfully, in order to destroy the death which we have stored up for ourselves, He became like one us, worthy of death.
For you, He suffered death and hell. For you, He rose from the grave to lead you victorious into His eternal presence.
Advent! The Savior of the nations comes, righteous and having salvation, humble, and seated on a colt. Because of this, because of Him, you will be saved. The potter comes to mold his clay vessels. You are the work of His creative hands. Fashioned, since that day your mother conceived you, into vessels of His grace — grace poured on you in Baptism — grace poured into you from the cup of His salvation. As you patiently wait for the final Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, He sustains you to the end, to be guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful. He will do it. Hosanna in the highest! We are Yours, come and save us, dear Lord! Amen.
Texts: Mark 11:1-10, Isaiah (63:16b-17), 64:1-9; 1 Cor. 1:3-9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:3).
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, He is coming. That’s what Advent means, “He comes.” The Savior of the nations. Hosanna in the highest. He who comes in the Name of the Lord. That’s what Advent means for the Church of all ages. That’s what the season of Advent is for. People of Christ get ready. Be prepared. Soon we shall commemorate the blessed birth of the Messiah, when He came in the flesh.
Jesus prepared his disciples. He taught them. He sent them out. He told them what to say. “The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.” These are powerful words. They are words which prevent two of Jesus’ disciples from losing their lives as horse thieves. Instead, Jesus’ words (spoken by two of His disciples) transformed those men who looked to everyone else like horse thieves, into faithful disciples of the Lord. They became living martyrs, or witnesses. That’s what the Greek term marterion means. It means witness. Like all faithful disciples, they became living martyrs of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
These words of Jesus transformed these men and freed the colt from bondage. The colt, on which no rider had sat, became part of the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy (Zech 9:9). “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” His disciples threw their cloaks on the colt and He sat on it, as no man had done before.
Many other men made martyrs of their cloaks by throwing them in the filth of the polluted road. Others spread leafy branches from the field. And all who attended this holy and humble procession of the Savior of the nations, both those martyrs who went before and those who came after, shouted the Sanctus, which has become part of the divine communion liturgy, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! (Ps. 118:26), … Hosanna in the highest!”
Like no god has done before or after Him, Jesus acts for those who wait for Him (Is. 64:4). He meets those who joyfully work righteousness, who do right, and remember Jesus in their way of life (Is. 64:5). He comes along a filthy road of witnesses. Humble and lowly. Riding on a young and humble colt. Treading along the road paved by the polluted garments of humble martyrs. Leading the way to the prophet’s reward. This road only goes one way. It leads to death; and from death to eternal life.
But who of us can look at our life and say, ‘I have remembered Jesus as He wants me to remember Him’? “Eat My body and drink My blood in remembrance of Me”, says Jesus. By this He tells us to eat and drink His food, the food He gives to us, believing that He is here now to feed you with His body and blood. “Do this in My remembrance”, that is, “receive Me in the faith I have given you.”
Who of us has become a living martyr for Jesus? Who has sacrificed no small amount of material goods and fame as a living martyr of Jesus? Well, we all could point to something. But as soon as we did, we’d be lost again. Repent. We can’t point to our works for proof of our worthiness, for Isaiah reminds us, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment, we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Is. 64:6). We must point anyone who asks us, to Christ and Christ alone. By His Word He prepares us to remember Him. He teaches us. He calls us to His table. He sends us out and tells us what to say. He remembers us.
Advent! Jesus is coming. He does not remember iniquity, but takes it from us. Like a thief. He takes what is not His, what He has not earned. At His Baptism, He transformed Himself in the polluted water of the Jordan River. He changed from the one who is most worthy of heaven, to the one who is the most unworthy of all. Thankfully, in order to destroy the death which we have stored up for ourselves, He became like one us, worthy of death.
For you, He suffered death and hell. For you, He rose from the grave to lead you victorious into His eternal presence.
Advent! The Savior of the nations comes, righteous and having salvation, humble, and seated on a colt. Because of this, because of Him, you will be saved. The potter comes to mold his clay vessels. You are the work of His creative hands. Fashioned, since that day your mother conceived you, into vessels of His grace — grace poured on you in Baptism — grace poured into you from the cup of His salvation. As you patiently wait for the final Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, He sustains you to the end, to be guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful. He will do it. Hosanna in the highest! We are Yours, come and save us, dear Lord! Amen.
posted by Luther Memorial Chapel at
12/02/2005
