Ezekiel 33:
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On Labor Day, we recognize workers' contributions. We also can consider Martin Luther's Doctrine of Vocation, including our calls into relationships through which we seek our neighbors' good. Luther's teaching about vocations communicated hopeful purpose for his neighbors' lives as they transitioned from feudalism's farms to capitalism's markets.
In today's reading, Ezekiel responds to Israel's transition. God had called Ezekiel to warn the Israelites to turn from their sinful ways. They did not. Then, exiled from their land, they despaired. God responded by giving Ezekiel a hopeful message for Israel.
That hopeful message continues today--God takes no pleasure in punishment; God desires reconciliation and life. This was one of Luther's favorite verses. God called Ezekiel and Luther to spokesperson vocations. They communicated both grim warnings and joyous hope. This week's readings examine our vocational calls to communicate with our neighbors both messages of difficult admonition and of loving reconciliation.
Reconciling God, thank you for your gift of vocations through which we seek our neighbors' good. Forgive us when we fail to communicate challenging words of advocacy for our neighbors who are unemployed, poorly paid, treated unjustly in jobs, or work in unsafe surroundings. Please give us courage for speaking warnings, and enthusiasm for voicing hope. Amen.
Mary Simonson Clark, '07
Adjunct Instructor, Augsburg College Partner Engagement Redeemer Lutheran Church and Center for Life Minneapolis, Minn.
Ezekiel 33:7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
8 If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.
9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?"
11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? (New Revised Standard Version)
"Come Thou Font of Every Blessing," ELW 807
1. Come, thou Fount of ev'ry blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory
fills my heart with joy and love,
teach me ever to adore thee;
may I still thy goodness prove.
2. Here I raise my Ebenezer:
"Hither by thy help I've come";
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wand'ring from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
3. Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be;
let that grace now like a fetter
bind my wand'ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
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In March of 2016 I attended the Catalyst Conference in Irvine, Calif., just a half-hour's drive from the church where I served as pastor. The host church for the conference was Mariner's Church, one of the largest megachurches in the United States. Nearly 17,000 people attend Mariner's each week on four campuses. The main site for the conference was a large concert-style venue, with upgraded screens, acoustics and talented musicians and singers.
We sang mostly recently-written songs of contemporary Christian music--and denominational church leaders were certainly in the minority. Many of the conference-goers mouthed the words silently; a few sat down and read their phones. But near the end of the first day the conference was transformed. The worship leader instructed all in attendance to glance down at a brief order for confession in preparation for communion. Then we sang this hymn and voices swelled together. Christian unity is all too elusive in America today. We know better how to divide and fight among ourselves. But in moments like this when we can speak words of confession to each other, and worship Jesus together--we just might encounter the Holy Spirit.
Lord Jesus, help me to find bridges and points of connection with other Christians. Remind me what we share, and help me speak the truth in love. Amen.
Angela Denker, '13
Pastor and Freelance Writer, Minneapolis, Minn.
7 “Likewise you, human being — I have appointed you as watchman for the house of Isra’el. Therefore, when you hear the word from my mouth, warn them for me. 8 When I tell the wicked person, ‘Wicked person, you will certainly die’; and you fail to speak and warn the wicked person to leave his way; then that wicked person will die guilty; and I will hold you responsible for his death. 9 On the other hand, if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he doesn’t turn from his way; then he will still die guilty, but you will have saved your own life.
10 “Therefore, you, human being, say to the house of Isra’el: ‘You say, “Our crimes and sins are weighing us down, we’re pining away because of them, how can we even stay alive?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ swears Adonai Elohim, ‘I take no pleasure in having the wicked person die, but in having the wicked person turn from his way and live. So repent! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, house of Isra’el?’
(Complete Jewish Bible)On Labor Day, we recognize workers' contributions. We also can consider Martin Luther's Doctrine of Vocation, including our calls into relationships through which we seek our neighbors' good. Luther's teaching about vocations communicated hopeful purpose for his neighbors' lives as they transitioned from feudalism's farms to capitalism's markets.
In today's reading, Ezekiel responds to Israel's transition. God had called Ezekiel to warn the Israelites to turn from their sinful ways. They did not. Then, exiled from their land, they despaired. God responded by giving Ezekiel a hopeful message for Israel.
That hopeful message continues today--God takes no pleasure in punishment; God desires reconciliation and life. This was one of Luther's favorite verses. God called Ezekiel and Luther to spokesperson vocations. They communicated both grim warnings and joyous hope. This week's readings examine our vocational calls to communicate with our neighbors both messages of difficult admonition and of loving reconciliation.
Reconciling God, thank you for your gift of vocations through which we seek our neighbors' good. Forgive us when we fail to communicate challenging words of advocacy for our neighbors who are unemployed, poorly paid, treated unjustly in jobs, or work in unsafe surroundings. Please give us courage for speaking warnings, and enthusiasm for voicing hope. Amen.
Mary Simonson Clark, '07
Adjunct Instructor, Augsburg College Partner Engagement Redeemer Lutheran Church and Center for Life Minneapolis, Minn.
Ezekiel 33:7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
8 If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.
9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?"
11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? (New Revised Standard Version)
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The God Pause from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Sunday, 3 September 2017 "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing," ELW 807"Come Thou Font of Every Blessing," ELW 807
1. Come, thou Fount of ev'ry blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory
fills my heart with joy and love,
teach me ever to adore thee;
may I still thy goodness prove.
2. Here I raise my Ebenezer:
"Hither by thy help I've come";
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wand'ring from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
3. Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be;
let that grace now like a fetter
bind my wand'ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
-------
Have you checked your credit score lately? Are you credit-worthy? You may have heard that credit scores can serve as an excellent way to oppress people who don't have many resources--that we've stratified our society and made it nearly impossible for people to climb out of debt, while money lenders prey on those who have the least. We are, rightly, both afraid of debt and consumed by it each month.
And yet this hymn says all Christians must be debtors--to grace! That all among us share a great debt to the God we love. It reminds us that we share a debt that can never be repaid, and reminds us that our debt to grace brings us a responsibility to keep only God as our true God--and never ourselves or our money.
Lord Jesus, may I be unafraid to be in great debt to grace. May I see the role of grace in my life as I welcome its working throughout the world. As grace has been given to me interest-free, may I also be just as gracious to others. Amen.
Angela Denker, '13
Pastor and Freelance Writer, Minneapolis, Minn.
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The God Pause from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 2 September 2017 "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing," ELW 807The God Pause from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Sunday, 3 September 2017 "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing," ELW 807"Come Thou Font of Every Blessing," ELW 807
1. Come, thou Fount of ev'ry blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory
fills my heart with joy and love,
teach me ever to adore thee;
may I still thy goodness prove.
2. Here I raise my Ebenezer:
"Hither by thy help I've come";
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wand'ring from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
3. Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be;
let that grace now like a fetter
bind my wand'ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
-------
Have you checked your credit score lately? Are you credit-worthy? You may have heard that credit scores can serve as an excellent way to oppress people who don't have many resources--that we've stratified our society and made it nearly impossible for people to climb out of debt, while money lenders prey on those who have the least. We are, rightly, both afraid of debt and consumed by it each month.
And yet this hymn says all Christians must be debtors--to grace! That all among us share a great debt to the God we love. It reminds us that we share a debt that can never be repaid, and reminds us that our debt to grace brings us a responsibility to keep only God as our true God--and never ourselves or our money.
Lord Jesus, may I be unafraid to be in great debt to grace. May I see the role of grace in my life as I welcome its working throughout the world. As grace has been given to me interest-free, may I also be just as gracious to others. Amen.
Angela Denker, '13
Pastor and Freelance Writer, Minneapolis, Minn.
-------
"Come Thou Font of Every Blessing," ELW 807
1. Come, thou Fount of ev'ry blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory
fills my heart with joy and love,
teach me ever to adore thee;
may I still thy goodness prove.
2. Here I raise my Ebenezer:
"Hither by thy help I've come";
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wand'ring from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
3. Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be;
let that grace now like a fetter
bind my wand'ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
-------
In March of 2016 I attended the Catalyst Conference in Irvine, Calif., just a half-hour's drive from the church where I served as pastor. The host church for the conference was Mariner's Church, one of the largest megachurches in the United States. Nearly 17,000 people attend Mariner's each week on four campuses. The main site for the conference was a large concert-style venue, with upgraded screens, acoustics and talented musicians and singers.
We sang mostly recently-written songs of contemporary Christian music--and denominational church leaders were certainly in the minority. Many of the conference-goers mouthed the words silently; a few sat down and read their phones. But near the end of the first day the conference was transformed. The worship leader instructed all in attendance to glance down at a brief order for confession in preparation for communion. Then we sang this hymn and voices swelled together. Christian unity is all too elusive in America today. We know better how to divide and fight among ourselves. But in moments like this when we can speak words of confession to each other, and worship Jesus together--we just might encounter the Holy Spirit.
Lord Jesus, help me to find bridges and points of connection with other Christians. Remind me what we share, and help me speak the truth in love. Amen.
Angela Denker, '13
Pastor and Freelance Writer, Minneapolis, Minn.
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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