“TRINITY TEN”
Saint Luke 19: 41-48
10th Sunday after Trinity: 13 August Anno Domini 2023
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
I Am here right now! I The Christ of God, Jesus your Savior am here at this “city,” this gathering of My people, Augsburg.
I weep over you; I weep because of you; I weep for you.
I weep over you drenching you wet and salty in My tears—the tears of God. I have + Baptized you and I guard and protect you always. You are Mine.
I cry and my reins move because of you—because of your sins and more so because of your sin—your fallen state.
You at times do not read and heed My Holy Words. I have given you The Scriptures. What have you done with them. Do you read them to become smarter and more clever in so-called churchly and denominational debate? Do you spend the time in your own Confessions—which accurately explain the import and true meaning of My words over and against the heretics and heterodox? And then, if you do, are you a bit too arrogant and comfortable? You are most assuredly NOT better informed or smarter than other parishes and parishioners. There is no one that does good no not one. I weep over you because you do not always repent and forgive those who have wronged you. Only My mercy and forgiveness bring you peace. I AM Peace personified. Do you not confess Me (at least at Christmas) as The Prince of Peace, as Immanuel (God with you). I Am God in the flesh and blood and words for you.
And thus, I weep for you.
Brothers and sisters, this is what Jesus is speaking to you this morning.
Listen. Hear!
What are the things that belong to peace. What is peace. Peace is not the cessation and absence of conflict—battles, wars, strifes. Peace is Christ in you and you in Christ. You are in this world and no matter what the strident and angry pro-nomians say, Jesus’ Kingdom will not overcome Satan’s temporary rule of fallen man. He told Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world. His Apostle Paul speaks of your war/our war: “for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” [2 Cor. 10. 3-4]. So, we do not look to see The Church take over the world but rather we fight to maintain The Church’s role and function in the world. What is The Church’s mission? It is God’s Mission—in Christ Jesus The Lord. The Church will fight with every ounce of her strength (In Christ) and with her last breath (By The Holy Spirit) to honor The Father and preach Christ Crucified for the forgiveness of sins—It is Jesus’ Absolving Mercy that alone “belongs unto thy peace.” Attend to repentance. The Spirit constrains and moves you to be here at this Altar at all times—to hear your Savior God and receive Him in His Body and Blood.
Yes, those who reject The Christ will meet their earthly fate—“enemies shall cast a trench…compass thee round…on every side…lay thee to the ground…and thy children…because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” That was the sentence against the unbelieving Jews in the year 30 A.D. and it came to pass in the year 70 A.D: forty years of patience for them ran out.
I did not go into the Roman Forum, Coliseum, or Senate Chambers. I did not enter Pilate or Herod’s palace or seat of government. I went into The Temple, My Temple which had become a den of thieves. I will not enter the halls of Congress or the White House, or any other edifice of secular rule (though to be sure, Christian politicians who truly are servants and patriots may well be elected and may “clean house” in the Kingdom of the Left). I will always enter My Church, even as I have entered you—through your ears and your mouths/tongues. I come to you to cast out all false doctrine, works righteous heresy, and indolent and lukewarm inactivity (things that you should do and that you do not do). My law, My laws, are burning, astringent, cleansing death to your “old Adam.” But My forgiving love and My Body and Blood are the sweetest and most comforting joy. My tears of pain and anguish, from My cross, paying for you trespasses, were tears of love for you. They fill the Holy + Font and The Blessed Chalice. Shed for you.
Be attentive to hear Me—Now, today, again, “the time of thy visitation!”
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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