“THE THINGS”
Saint Luke 10. 23-37
The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity: 10 September Anno Domini 2006
Fr Watson
He spoke to His disciples “privately” not in the sense that what He said was exclusively only for them; else Saint Luke would not have been given the incident and guided by the Spirit to record it for you. The Lord said “privately” in so far as the Word of God only comes to men and women when they are listening directly to the Christ of God and not to the wailing sirens of the world and the flesh. Crowds like to be dazzled and entertained; whereas the life of a follower of the Lamb often seems to be solitary and Elijah like. Narrow is the gate indeed and few are chosen.
Your “old man” wants acceptance and validation by whatever “peer group” is important to you. You don’t give with the left hand so that the right won’t know what was given but rather you give like the Pharisee who desires to be seen by men to be charitable, philanthropic and confessional. Your sinful self doesn’t really want to see the “things” that make for your salvation. Those things are too simple for the sophisticate you; they are paper, blood, water, bread and wine. Fallen Adam, and fallen “you,” likes rather the Jesus of the miracles and signs. Your eyes, ears, ego and brain are now imperfect however; they are all fouled by the muscinous neo-plasm of sin; soiled by the foul excretions of spoiled souls.
Of course Jesus healing leprous, lame, blind and dead men is dramatic and impressive to the senses. But being a miracle man is not what saved you and set you free. The devil has conned most of what calls itself the “church” with this heresy of glory. This false theology says that if Jesus loves you and, more importantly, if you love Jesus, then expect healings, feedings, water walkings, and plenty of members [ happy, agreeable, and tithing members ]. The devil, who of course is the prince of counterfeit wonders, and the masquerading angel of light, strokes your passions for success, triumph, comfort, satisfaction and accomplishment. But the more your eyes are transfixed on the miracle the less they behold the pierced and bloody worker of the healing. The more you concentrate on “your faith” the less you trust in the giver of your faith; the “object” of your rescue.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” [Heb. 11.1] Jesus says to you this day: “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”
The heart of the Faith which you believe, teach and confess; the heart of Jesus Christ is not only in Who He is. He is God of God and that reality is not debatable. The Church of our Master must never surrender His Godhood. But the shining moment of This Messiah is not in His “shining moments” in the eyes of the world. The spectacular meta-physical feats, the awe-inspiring healings, and even the Transfiguration on the mount, are not the things which the prophets and kings had desired to see. Moses shone with fading glory and performed signs on Egypt even more fantastic than the Nazarene. Elijah and Elisha raised the dead to life. The Cloud filling the Holy of Holies in the Temple was terrifyingly resplendent with power and sovereignty.
What the Old Testament Fathers waited for, hoped for, and had faith in, though it was not yet seen, was that the Redeemer would come; that there would be Emmanuel [God with us] and that that God would be Christ the God/Man. The mystery of mysteries is that God took on flesh and blood - - the Incarnation. The mystery of mysteries is that the Flesh & Blood Jesus humbled Himself under the Law, and kept it inviolate for all of you outlaws. The mystery of mysteries is that the Flesh & Blood Jesus humbly told parables and taught the Kingdom of God.
The key to the parable of the “Good Samaritan” is not that you are now commanded to go out and love everyone with unselfish servitude and generosity; no, you were told to do that from Sinai onward. The parable shows you that you are robbed, naked, abandoned and dead. The parable shows you that Jesus is the Samaritan; the humble and simple God/Man comes to you on an ass, the same animal that the Lord would later ride to His execution on. Ah, His execution. The Crucifix is what the Hebrews saints longed for; the coming of Isaiah’s “suffering servant,” and “man of sorrows.”
No matter how bad a homily or sermon may be to your subjective taste; no matter how uninspiring or difficult a hymn may seem, every Sunday you are face to face with and visually presented with the pure Gospel every time you sit, stand and approach this holy altar. There is Jesus Christ and Him crucified represented in wood, wood such as he was nailed upon, in all it’s true glory; there is the mystery of mysteries; there is the Love of God and the Grace which passeth all understanding. But not “there” in Jerusalem two millennia ago only, but now “HERE” by Word and Supper too!
The parable’s “certain man,” the “certain man” who is you, had oil and wine poured upon His death wounds. He was bandaged and clothed and carried to an Inn. Two denarii and a faithful Inn Keeper keep watched over him. The Law didn’t help him, the Law left Him on his back in the gutter, as he really was, wounded, impotent and blind. Only the Samaritan Jesus was His Redeemer.
With the eyes of faith, faith given as a free gift by the Spirit through the Word, you see God. You see God in this Biblical story; to be sure, you hear His very words read into your ears by this unworthy Inn Keeper in this humble Inn of Augsburg. With the eyes and ears of faith your apprehend and believe that you are now forgiven and safe by virtue of the holy oil of Water Baptism + which was poured into your wounds of death. You now see God in the Flesh as you drink His holy Blood, as you are bathed in the wine pouring forth from His holy wounds. Mercy has been shown to you. Blessed are your eyes and blessed are your ears.
In the Name of The Father and of The Son + and of The Holy Ghost