“SOLI DEO GLORIA”
Saint Luke 14: 16-21
2nd Sunday After Trinity: 13 June Anno Domini 2021
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
Soli Deo Gloria! As the Introit in your worship folder reads (it’s from The Holy Psalter—Psalm 18): “The Lord was my Stay, He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because He delighted in me.”
This, ^^^ is the whole point of our Lord’s parable about the great wedding feast.
Even on a secular level, you (or anyone) don’t decide to go to some wedding, chose to show up at the reception where the beer, wine, and booze is (and food) unless you have been bidden—chosen by the one doing the “doing!”
The Lord is not your “stay” (refuge, rock, mighty fortress) because you elected Him to be so, but rather because HE IS. Period. He spoke His Name, His Reality, His Essence to Moses from the burning bush and that Name was not “I will be if you find me,” but rather, I AM…I - - not you!
And although you sometimes incorrectly interpret John 3. 16 to show that you are worthy to be saved because you, and the world, “God SO loved the world…” That’s not the reason. The reason is God—Who He is inextricably linked to What He does. The Greek of John 3.16 is more properly translated (for meaning) as “God loved, showed His Heart in THIS particular way, in that He gave His only-begotten Son.”
Back to our Introit. “He delivered me, because He delighted in me.” You’re not delightful but He delights none the less. That is Grace, free, pure, and boundless. That is Mercy.
Adam did not delight because Adam was dirt on the ground—inert. Eve did not delight because our first mother was not choosing to be born, adopted, loved, and SAVED, when God did the rib-octomy on The Man.
Do you not remember how David himself became The Lord’s anointed (or even Saul before him)? David wasn’t even in the room to put forth his effort, his conscious decisions to get selected. The Prophet Samuel, i.e., the God-talking Samuel has to ask Jesse to go get the youngest son.
Yes, this issue of how one is Saved is still present among all those in Christ’s kingdom, and those not in Christ’s kingdom.
Synergism (a cooperative working) or monergism (a one working—God elects) are the two competing views.
Who made the supper? Was it a cooperative effort? No. A certain man made a great supper. Who kept the Commandments? Did Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, any of you? No. The God/Man fulfilled the Law. Who died on the Cross to forgive you your sins? Did you? Did Luther? Did your faith die for you? Did your works die for you? No. Jesus is the sacrifice—the roasted lamb—the fatted calf—the Agnus Dei!
All things are always read for Christ said: “It is finished!”
Two truths from The Word of God, and not from man…not from logic, reason, or balancing symmetrical, sensical, mathematical, empirical, proof designs.
One: God desires all to be saved. He “bade many.”
The Holy Spirit has Paul write: “…good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior Who will have all men to be saved” [1 Tim. 2. 3-4]. Thus the many does indeed mean all—the “world” of John 3.16.
Two: But why are not all saved? Why are many, mayhaps most, damned? “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, AND YE WOULD NOT” [Mt. 23. 37]. Pagan old-Adam rejects: “they all with one consent began to make excuse.”
The “poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind” are not queuing up right outside the banquet hall jostling and proclaiming their decision to come in for the feast. God said to His servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes…and bring in!”
The one lost sheep out of the herd of 100 who winds up hurt, soaking wet, frightened into silence, and wedged deeply in a crevice off the bluff of a rock hill—DOES NOT DECIDE TO BE SAVED; DOES NOT COOPERATE IN THE RESCUE by grabbing with its hoofs the repelling rope. The Shepherd, The Christ, The Man of the parable does all the work—even working through His servants, The Prophets, Evangelist, Apostles, and Pastors.
Jesus has not yet returned in Glory. The Church is still militant—still struggling under the Cross—still fighting corporately and individually not to sin but to do good works. And therefore, there is still room, great and abundant room…for a while. The time is short, it is always short, for we know not the day or the hour. But, still now today, and hopefully tomorrow, Christ—in The Word—Through The Word—goes out into the highways and hedges, and compel(s) them to come in. Not their choice. Not their decision. Not their efforts or works to cooperate, or to come forward to a “believers’ bench.” Jesus saves. Jesus saves by The Word for He IS THE WORD. “That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments,
2 the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear
3 the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ’s sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake” [AC Art. 5]. Soli Deo Gloria!
And the servant said: “Lord, it is done as Thou hast commanded.”
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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