“CHRIST’S HEART RENDED”
Saint Matthew 6: 16-21
Ash Wednesday: 26 February Anno Domini 2020
Father Jay Watson SSP
All of you do honor and revere the great Saint John the Baptist. But do you do what he said you should do? You love your Lord and your God, Christ Jesus. But do you do what He said you must do?
John’s message, and Christ’s message, is one and the same: God’ Word for all people. This was the same message which God wished Saint Jonah to proclaim to the people of Nineveh.
“Repent and believe!”
Therein is the full counsel of God, or, as a Lutheran dogmatician might “put it”: Law and Gospel. Therein is one of the greatest conundrums (difficulties), and theological dilemmas which has faced the Church since the time of the Apostles.
We would hope all the Church, all orthodox, catholic, Scriptural believers, would believe and hold fast God’s Grace in Salvation—Soli Deo Gloria: all glory for your salvation is due to God and nothing comes from you. Sadly, we know that both The Eastern Orthodox and The Romanist Church do not concur with this reality. And, sadly, neither does most of American Protestantism, the sectarians, and the unconnected non-denominationalists. From all of these groups one gets: cooperating with Grace by Works to perfect love (Rome), the synergism of a “holy life” to climb the ladder of Divine Ascent (Eastern Orthodoxy), and “deciding to follow Jesus” following the “methods” of The 10 Commandments living a Godly, obedient, and prayerful life (almost all Protestantism).
While they are wrong on what constitutes full and free Salvation, they are not wrong on the fact that Jesus did not just say: “Believe.” He said also “Repent.” So many nuances, to be sure.
But “cutting to the quick,” Lutherans need to hear and believe, that good works are absolutely necessary! And works are, works. They are not silent, interior, self-conscious, passive, thoughts and desires. Yes, yes, YES…to repent means to be contrite, remorseful, and sorrowful over sin(s). And that is an interior disposition—in thought! But to repent, literally means to “turn away from” sin(s). Turning is physical and demonstrable to others. Lutherans, along with everyone else, are given no “pass” to simply mentally say “sorry” but then go on a merry way continuing in the sin(s). Paul himself says repeatedly to fight the fight, to put on the armor of God, to keep from fornicating, lying, deceiving, and all other sins of action. Run the race says Paul with your eyes fixed on the prize of Christ’s Salvation in the great resurrection. Good works are NOT necessary for your salvation, because Jesus has done everything for your Redemption. True. But good works are necessary BECAUSE you are a believing Christian. God does not need your good works but your neighbors do.
Lutherans are not anti-nomians, i.e. against the Law. You do not believe in, and indulge in, “cheap grace.” You do pray by The Holy Spirit to amend your sinful “thoughts, words, and DEEDS” by the help of the Holy Ghost. Lutherans do tend to be too quietistic (interior focused) thinking that they don’t want to be Pharisees or old-Roman Catholics, always “parading” and displaying shows and signs of piety and ritualism. Well, fair enough, becoming a Pharisee is easy, as easy as waking up every morning. But outward signs and manifestations are good for one’s own heart and faith, as well as for the neighbors’ sight. (praying before meals in public)
So, pastor, you’re telling me I have to fast during Lent? No. I am saying that Jesus says “moreover when you fast”…don’t do it like a hypocrite…to be seen as a fasting person, oh so noble and disciplined, and holier than everyone else. Fasting during Lent is wonderful. Luther recommends fasting all the time. The Church has a 2,000—year tradition of fasting on Sunday mornings before the Holy Communion. These are all good. Fasting is good for you. But one other Lenten discipline is good for your neighbor: alms giving, i.e. helping with your money those who stand in need of assistance…the poor, the diseased, those in emergency situations. That help need not be only monetary but can be devoting your time to care and assist others by your presence and help.
So, what is the whole point. What is the purpose of Life during Lent for a Christian? It is the exact same thing as life for all of you, every single day of the year and every single day of your life. Repent and Believe.
Now, those two words are not magic talismans any more than the traditional Lutheran buzz-words “Law and Gospel” are incantational. No. Law and Gospel, and John the Baptist’s words, Jesus’ words: “Repent and Believe” are a “short-hand” representative of the whole good counsel of God: The Word of Scripture—Hebrew, Greek, as translated and preached and taught to you and all others. It was not a catch-phrase that The Lord wanted preached to the city of Nineveh, it was all of His Word: the condemning and convicting of the Commandments; their own failed keeping of Love towards God and neighbor, as well as the good news of what a loving and merciful God has done for his children who receive what He gives.
Did they believe? Yes. Would we have known of that belief has they remained immobile, silent, unchanged in all noticeable and outward ways? No, probably not. They were not forgiven and spared because they put on sackcloth and ashes, and because they proclaimed a fast. They did those things because the preached Word of Jesus, by way of Jonah, a “type of Jesus” worked faith in their hearts. Jonah’s message from God, from God’s Word, caused repentance, in all the ways it needs to be caused. Jonah’s message created true faith that allowed those people, of that great city, to receive the remission of their trespasses, and the life that is given to all God’s children.
May this 2020 Lenten season be for you a time to repent and believe. And by that, I mean, receive in your hearts, souls, strengths, and minds, all of Jesus’ Work and Sacrifice. Jesus is the fulfillment of Law and Gospel; He is the abundance of “Repent and Believe.” This Word of God is for you. Hear it. Eat and Drink it. It is the true treasure that allows your foreheads to show it, on Ash Wednesdays, and your stomachs to feel it on those days, between you and God, where you know and believe where your heart is also.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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