Second Sunday in Lent

Lent II Genesis 32:22-32 Romans 5:1-5 Matthew 15:21-28 #2 Pastor James Peterson 03/13/2022 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The theme for this morning's sermon is this: We will see God face-to-face. E-mail is useful. Texting is convenient. Phone Calls are better. Facetime and Skype are cool. But there is nothing better than meeting face-to-face. Just ask Grandma, who wants nothing more than her children and grandchildren to come home for Christmas, so she can hug you and hold you, give you gifts and watch your face light up. Just ask Pastor. I will e-mail you the newsletter each month. I might text you if I need a quick answer about something. I will call you to see how you are doing and if you have any prayer requests for the bulletin. But the best way for us to be church together is to be face-to-face. For then I can bless the children at this altar rail and I can bring to your hands the gifts God freely gives to you. Then I can teach, and then you can learn, and I also learn many things from you. Just ask the Canaanite woman. This woman who was from Tyre and Sidon, who did not have the Scriptures, did not have the temple. This woman who did not have hope. Her daughter was oppressed by demons and in need of healing, but who could do it? Who would do it? Who would help her and her daughter? This would not work as a healing from a distance. No, this was a battle between God and the devil face-to-face. Just ask Jacob. Jacob who fled from his uncle Laban after he stole the best lambs from Laban's flock. Jacob who fled from Esau his brother because he stole both the birthright and the blessing from their father Isaac. Jacob who was left all alone, who could see no one face-to-face or else he would surely die. Jacob was on the run, having nowhere to lay his head. Until he saw God Himself face-to-face. And Jacob and the Lord wrestled throughout the night. And this was the event in Jacob's life that changed everything. For Jacob's name means "deceiver." He had deceived his father and brother for the birthright and the blessing. He had deceived Laban for his lambs. Jacob had sinned against his family and sinned against the Lord. But now he wrestled with God and God changed his name to "Israel" which means "the one who wrestles with God." From this point forward, Jacob's name was now Israel, and as a reminder, God touched his hip socket and made Israel limp. His wrestling injury never went away, always reminding Jacob of his new identity as God's servant. And so no, I am not saying that you should strive to have a wrestling match with God and win. But you do have a new name. You have a new name placed on you in the waters of baptism. The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This name is what joins us together at this congregation. This name is the name above all names. This name is the name that I preach from this pulpit, that the name of Jesus would be proclaimed to all the earth. This name is the name that casts out demons like the Canaanite woman requested, prayed, yearned, and hoped. Even when Jesus ignored her and the apostles pushed her away, the Canaanite woman never gave up asking for her prayers to be answered. And her prayers were answered in the name of Jesus, by His power over the devil. She and her daughter were a family again. The woman had seen God face-to-face. Just like Jacob saw God face-to-face. And this then is the promise for you to hold onto forever. That you will also see God face-to-face. It won't be like Jacob or the Canaanite woman. No, you shall see God face-to-face in an even better way, a more glorious way. You shall see God face-to-face, when He comes back in glory. When the trumpet sounds and the archangel descends, then you shall surely see our Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face. As we face the days ahead and whatever those challenges may be, let us always remember that we shall see God face-to-face. As we gather here in this place, you can know for certain that the wrestling match between God and the devil has already occurred, the victor has already won. Your sins are forgiven, your debts are paid, your victory is won, and your salvation is now finished. And on that day, you shall most certainly see the Lord face-to-face, and for life everlasting you shall be with God forever as His beloved children. In the holy name of Jesus. Amen.