Proper 27

Psalm 42 NIV

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Mark 12:38–44 NIV

As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Hebrews 9:24–28 (NIV)

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Sermon: He Really Is . . .

If you stop to think about it, there are a few differences between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. First, and most obvious, are the months in which they occur. Memorial Day is in May. And Veteran’s Day is in November. Another difference is that Memorial Day is always the same day, though not the same date, the last Monday of May. And Veteran’s Day is always the same date, but not always the same day. November 11, to be exact because it was on that day the armistice was signed to end World War I. 11/11 at 11. And a third and perhaps most important difference is that Memorial Day is a day that commemorates or recognizes those who have died while Veteran’s day recognizes and honors those who returned.

You see, the going was important. In fact, the wars our country has been involved in required men and women to go. To make the sacrifice of giving up jobs and family and security and safety and travel to various other parts of the world to face various enemies in unknown circumstances. But for the parents, spouses, children and other family members of these individuals, the return home was just as, if not more important. It is the return that makes the going significant. The return is the answer to the prayers of the family and the larger community. There is something about the return that makes the going even more special.

In our passage this morning, the writer to the Hebrews reminds the readers again of what Christ did for us. I don’t know about you but at times it seems like a broken record. But it’s because what is being said here is so important and so life changing. The author does not want the reader to miss what Christ did for us. And this was to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins for all eternity. Again, unlike the high priests who had served since the time of Aaron, the sacrifice was not made over and over again, each time, hoping for better results. Instead, through Christ’s death, sin was defeated once and for all. The author has been coming back to this time after time. Reminding the readers that Jesus Christ, left heaven, came to earth, lived among us and offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins. This message is so important, so vital the author will repeat it as many times as necessary until the readers believe it.

If you face persecution, live for Christ. If your family disowns you, live for Christ. If the synagogue doesn’t feel like it used to, live for Christ. The old way of living will not save you, will not redeem you. Offering sacrifices are useless and unnecessary. Everything is different because of what Jesus Christ did for us. The writer wants us to understand that the Heavenly Father sent His Son to fight a battle against sin and Jesus Christ won.

And what Jesus Christ did is important because the writer says that everyone of us will die. People are destined to die. I know this isn’t a positive thought but the truth is that the first step to death is being born. Everyone in this sanctuary is facing the very real possibility of death. And the writer says that after death is the judgment.

Now, I don’t know what that looks like. As a kid, I remember a pastor telling me the judgment was like a giant screen where your whole life was shown and everything you ever did, or thought about was shown so everyone else could see. I’ve heard a different view where judgment is like moving through a process of refinement that removes all the bits and pieces that keep us from being glorified so when we stand before God, the only thing left is that which is perfect. I don’t know if the process will be loud with lots of witnesses, quiet with just you and God, or somewhere in between. But the Bible does say that for the decisions we make in this life, we will be judged.

But that’s not all. Christ’s death pays the price for our sin. Putting our trust in Him means that we are clean before God. Believing in Christ means that when God the Father looks at us, He sees His Son and we are forgiven. God doesn’t hold our sins against us. Jesus made the sacrifice for us when He died on the cross for us. Jesus’ death allows us to live our lives for God. But Jesus is gone. And He lived over 2000 years ago. Yes, He rose from the dead, but He ascended into heaven. He’s gone.

And to that the author says, yes, He is gone. But He is coming back. He says, “He will appear a second time . . . to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” In the same way a veteran returns and brings hope and joy, so too, Christ will return and bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.