Wednesday after 3rd Last - A Devotion

  Devotion for Wednesday after 3rd Last 

Jeremiah 23:21-40       Matthew 25:31-46

As Lutherans in northern Wisconsin, as a group, we are not generally excited to remember those who have died in the faith in the past, and whom the historic church has recognized and called saints. Too often, when we hear any talk of celebrating a “saint’s day,” our alarms go off. Why? I am not sure, but I would guess there is a certain fear/animosity/something toward Roman Catholicism that leaves many reluctant to even think it is a good idea to consider those called “saints.”

Maybe a part of that unease arises because we do not want to extoll the works of any individual as that which makes them worthy of a place in God’s kingdom. Rightly so, we are saved by the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

Today is the celebration of “St. Martin of Tours, Pastor.” I thought it would be good to mention him today and remember him. Martin was born (316 AD) into a pagan family in that part of the world which is today call Hungary. He came to confess Christ as a young man. He joined the Roman army, but soon was called to serve his Lord by serving Christ’s church, and so he became a monk. It is said that he claimed to be “Christ’s soldier.”

Eventually, Martin was named the bishop of Tours in western Gaul , what is called France today. I was moved to consider it good to remember Martin today here “America’s Dairyland” because St. Martin is remembered for his simple lifestyle, and for his dogged determination to take the message of salvation in Christ, the Gospel, to this rural area of Gaul. Yes, St. Martin was a pastor to farmers.

We do not worship or pray to St. Martin, but we do remember him as an example to us of what it means to live our lives in faith in love and concern for all our neighbors. Whether a soldier or a pastor he was living his life in faith in Christ. Let us take the example St. Martin to see his passion to bring the Gospel of Christ to all people, especially to rural America. I pray that we would all see the importance of caring for our neighbors with the Gospel – especially those who feed our country – rural America – to pray for them, and the deliver to them the gifts of God’s grace.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday after Trinity X - Devotion in semi-Exile

   Lection for Tuesday Trinity X 2  Samuel 7:18- 29      1 Corinthians 10:2 3-11:16   In later editions of Luther’s Small Catechism there appears a set of twenty questions “for those who intend to go to the Sacrament.” These questions reflect the teaching of 1 Corinthians which suggests that a man “should examine himself” before he eats or drinks at the Lord’s Supper. (1 Cor. 11:23-32 specifically vs. 28). I like to use these questions and answers myself, usually on Sunday mornings before the first service, but sometimes even on Saturday evening before going to bed.   I pray that you find them useful in your regular devotional life.   Christian Questions with Their Answers   Prepared by Dr. Martin Luther for those who intend to go to the Sacrament [The “Christian Questions with Their Answers,” designating Luther as the author, first appeared in an edition of the Small Catechism in 1551, five years after Luther's death.]   After confession and instruction in the Ten Commandments, t
Read more

Wednesday after Epiphany I - A devotion

Lectionary for January 13 Ezekiel 36:13-28        Romans 4:1-25 Let us take a moment to look at the last few verses of our Old Testament reading. 22  “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.  23  I will vind icate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  24  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  25  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  26  Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and
Read more

Judica Saturday 2020 – Devotion in Exile

Judica Saturday 2020 – Devotion in Exile Mark 16:1-20 My devotion for today is not mine. What I mean is that it was written by someone other than myself. It was written by The Rev’d. David E. Ukpong, Tutor at J.E.M. Lutheran Seminary—Obot Idim, Nigeria, and an STM Student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne—IN.  Rev'd. Ukpong, and two fellow pastors from Nigeria (Rev'd. Elijah Essang and Rev'd. Kufre-Abasi Etim) whom I met when I was there to teach last fall, came to our home for spring break from their classes at CTS-FW. COVID-19 has kept them here, and they are now constrained to take classes online. It is a joy to have them in our home. This devotion is an adaptation of a paper Rev'd Ukpong wrote for one of his classes this semester. As  you read it, it will be come clearly evident why I asked his permission to use it in this space, and in this time. Thank you Pastor Ukpong! The Lutheran Service Book has in its Companion to the Hymns, but not in t
Read more