Public versus Private: Thoughts on Trinity 19

We have a tendency to privatize our fear, our thoughts, and our faith. We tend think they have no life outside of our minds and our hearts. Contrary to this is what Matthew writes here in the Gospel for Trinity 19. Faith is seen. Thoughts are seen. Fear is seen. Ideas have consequences. These are not private things. They are public: perceived and known.

"Jesus, seeing (ἰδὼν) their faith, said, 'Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven.'" The question is what does Jesus see? Is He seeing into their hearts? To be sure, Jesus can see into their hearts, but is that what is being referred to here. Or does He see the action of the men who bring the paralyzed man to Him?

Perhaps the exchange with the scribes gives us clarity. "And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, 'This man is blaspheming.' But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, 'Why do you think evil in your hearts?'" It seems clear here. But the word for "knowing" here is actually the word for seeing (ἰδὼν). Furthermore, the translation assumes that some of the scribes say this privately, that is, silently to themselves. But the part for "to themselves" can just as naturally mean "among themselves" (ἐν ἑαυτοῖς). So that, in reaction to our Lord's statement that the man's sins are forgiven, some of the scribes lean in together with befuddled expressions on their faces, saying among themselves "This man is blaspheming." So what does Jesus see? Does He see into their minds and hearts here? Or does He see their reaction and their corner winkle?

Finally, the people are afraid because of what they have just seen, namely the Son of Man prove His authority to forgive sins on earth. And that holy fear works doxology in those people. They leave glorifying God.

Frankly, I don't know of any commentary that says Jesus sees the action produced by either the faith or the evil thoughts. But considering the tendency today to privatize faith, to make it matter of personal taste, something that is just between me and Jesus no matter where I am or where Jesus has promised to be, makes this interaction ripe for the picking.

Faith is seen. Thoughts are seen. Fear is seen.

Faith actively trusts, and that produces something in the one who trusts. It produces the bringing of those who need help to Jesus, the only one who can help.

Thoughts are seen because ideas have consequences. The evil thoughts of those scribes was evident by their ad hoc committee meeting discussing the blasphemy of Jesus.

Fear is seen in the enactment of doxology to God for His work in forgiving sins on earth.

Lest we think that all this is private. That no one can see our faith. That no one can see our thoughts. That no one can see whom we fear. Lest we think we can hide the breaking of the First and Greatest Commandment--to fear, love, and trust in God above all things, with our whole being, in heart, mind, soul, and strength. These things are seen.

So what does Jesus see in you? Consider your life in light of the First and Greatest Commandment. What does He see?

He sees a broken, sick, and dying sinner. And seeing this, He says, "Take heart, your sins are forgiven."

The Michaelmas Skip

Dang.  Where did I put  that?  Jason asked me to chime in on a discussion someone's having somewhere on the Michaelmas skip.  Oh well, I'll just skip it.  (wait for groans)

According  to the Gottesdienst calendar (is there any other?), this year the skip is made to the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity on September 30th.  That is, we skip Trinity 17 and 18.  This will line things up so that you arrive at Trinity 27 on schedule, November 25, before launching into Advent.

Why? you ask.

I'm afraid I misplaced that information as well, but I can do some recollecting and surmising.  I'm guessing maybe this is British, perhaps having something to do with Cromwell. They observe "St. John's Tide," "St. Laurence Tide," etc.  These are divisions of the Trinity season.  When it gets to Michaelmas (Sept. 29), or the Sunday nearest, not only do we move to "Michaelmas Tide," we also shift to counting from the end of the Trinity season, setting our gaze already on latter days, at least to a degree.  This becomes more pronounced in the last three Sundays of the church-year.  I suspect that the heavy emphasis then on the Last Day is partly due to a very old, though not universal, custom of having a seven-Sunday Advent season.

Maybe somebody else has more information, but that's what I have.  For now, anyhow.

Advice for Arrogant Pastors

I probably love Lifehacker too much, but I recommend daily reading. There is tons of useful stuff on there regarding productivity.

Here this little piece Lifehacker: Sabatoging Effectiveness with Intelligence could do a lot to help confessional pastors who are frustrated with their winkels or congregations. To benefit, you'll have to accept the fact that you think too highly of yourself and are a jerk, but it is time for that anyway. You think too highly of yourself. Admit it. You think you are a smart pastor, smarter than average, with a better insight into true Lutheranism. You do. If you didn't, you wouldn't be reading this blog.

We all think too highly of ourselves. Our piety has rightly taught us to be ashamed of that. It is good that we don't speak this way about ourselves even if we often feel or think these things. But our stupid pride has lots of ways of getting us. Because we won't say these things out loud, we might not even allow ourselves to admit we think them. Then we believe our own humility act and it becomes a point of pride.

As long as you deceive yourself about your own arrogance, this article will never help you. Trust me on this: it applies. Here is some very practical advice for how to get along with brothers in the Office who don't seem as smart as you or as confessional as you. And it also works for voters' and elders' meetings. If you follow this advice you will not only be better liked, but you will get more done and you will discover that these dolts in your circuit or the confused elders who think like an Armineans, aresmarter than you thought. You will get more done and you will learn things. And maybe you won't get thrown out of the Ministry either.

Now if I could just follow this advice myself :).

Goooooooooo TEAM!

By Larry Beane

Good news: to its credit, CPH has removed the video that they sent the world via e-mail and YouTube promoting the Go Team Jesus Megaphone and Popcorn Holder.

Deo gratias.

Bad news: as of now, CPH is still selling the Go Team Jesus Megaphone and Popcorn Holder.  Perhaps this too shall pass - hopefully not like a kidney stone.

Here is what CPH wants you to know about it:

The Go Team Jesus megaphone makes a great popcorn holder for sporting events!

The importance of sports in the development of a child is the responsibility of parents and coaches. Many experts believe that beside the obvious benefits of sports like physical exercise, building self-esteem, and learning the importance of teamwork, the primary goal of sports is to help children feel valued and wanted. 

The Go Team Jesus megaphone is a great way to help parents and friends cheer on their student athletes. If you run a concession stand at school sporting events the Go Team Jesus megaphone makes a great popcorn holder.

• Simply fill a plastic cup with popcorn
• Place the cup into the Go Team Jesus Megaphone
• Top off with a little more popcorn and you have a great way provide a souvenir with purchase
• Use this FREE downloadable sign to advertise

Don’t wait supplies are limited so order your Go Team Jesus megaphones now!

Maybe Gottesdienst should make an offer for the remaining stock.  With a little blue and white paint, the letters could be reformatted to: GotTesdienst! and the megaphone could double as a brat holder to be used at the upcoming Oktoberfest.

Historically speaking, marketing and fundraising have always been among the church's weakest links.  

The End of Virtue

What Berke Breathed mocks in this strip is a real phenomenon. Movie studios won't make G-rated movies. No one will go. "G" stands for "boring." So also, "virgin" is synonymous with "nerd." To be a virgin, at any point after 6th grade, is to be anti-social, deviant, and inwardly turned. Losing one's virginity is spoken of as though one has lost oppression, abuse, and chains.

What Berke Breathed mocks is real and sad. We, as a society, have lost our virginity. We have lost our virtue. So far gone is it, that we think vice is virtue.

Kyrie Eleison! I relate to my shut-ins more closely everyday. For what is the holy trinity of shut-in conversation? 1. It sucks to get old. 2. Medicine is too expensive. 3. The world is going to Hell in a handbasket and I feel sorry for kids these days. I never used to agree with them so enthusiastically as I do now.