Sin is leprosy of the soul, a spiritual leprosy. It is a deep contamination, a systemic corruption of our humanity that affects everything we think, do, or say. It renders us unclean before God. It isolates and divides us from our fellow man. It flares and spreads like wildfire, a latent and lurking disease, a spiritual retrovirus that can lie dormant and then flare up in an instant when brought in contact with the Law. The Law amplifies Sin. It doesn’t cure it. It amplifies it, causing Sin to be utterly sinful beyond measure.
The little one at the table got to ask the questions. The little ones love to ask questions. ”Papa, why do we do this every year? Why do we sweep the house all week? Why do you kill that poor little lamb? Why do you paint his blood on the doorposts? Why do you roast him beyond well done? Why do we eat the lamb and these bitter herbs and this unleavened bread? What does this mean?"
Luke 1:39-56 (The Visitation)
Preached for choral vespers featuring Bach's Cantata #147 ("Hertz und Mund und Tat und Leben") at St. John's Lutheran Church - Orange, CA. 23 February 2014.
The Visitation brings together two very unlikely women - Elizabeth and Mary. They are kinswomen, cousins of one degree or another. Elizabeth is six months pregnant. Mary has just received the “happy news” from the angel. A mother-to-be who is hold enough to be your grandmother or even great-grandmother. And a pregnant virgin. Truly, with God nothing is impossible!
Marriage has its roots in the dirt of creation. It isn't some kind of lofty ideal, a religious concept, some romantic illusion. Marriage is grounded in the dust of our origin, our being male and female made in the image of God. Marriage is about sex and food and drink and house…