(Eph.6:1-9;   Ps.145:10-14;   Lk.13:22-30)

“Do God’s will with your whole heart

as slaves of Christ.”

These words Paul addresses to the slaves of his time, instructing them to “obey [their] human masters with the reverence, the awe, and the sincerity [they] owe to Christ,” but they apply well to us all, who are in all things to serve the Lord.  Always we should “give [our] service willingly, doing it for the Lord rather than men.”  This is as “the narrow door” of which our Lord speaks; this is what will bring us into His heavenly kingdom.  For it is certain that “each one, whether slave or free, will be repaid by the Lord for whatever good he does.”

Brothers and sisters, the Lord’s “kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and [His] dominion endures through all generations.”  It matters not when we live or where, or what position we have in society – none of these things pertain to the reign of God.  For those who are to be saved shall indeed come from the four corners of the universe and from every period of time, and as Paul says to masters of their slaves: “You and they have a Master in heaven who plays no favorites.”  So if you think that any honor or preference of this earth will smooth your way into the kingdom, you are surely mistaken and risk the grave disappointment of discovering that “some are first who will be last,” or finding yourself barred from His House for failing to serve the Lord with all your heart in all the things of the world.  For He has come to serve and not to be served, and He “lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”

Jesus goes “through cities and towns teaching – all the while making His way toward Jerusalem.”  Even unto the cross He offers instruction to those who would follow Him.  He is as the fathers Paul instructs to “bring [their children] up with the training and instruction befitting the Lord.”  But we must heed His words; we must honor and obey the Lord as children are expected to honor and obey their parents.  For His words are wise and they carry the greatest promise: “That it may go well with you, and that you may have long life,” not so much upon this earth, but in the heavenly kingdom.

Do all things in His name, brothers and sisters.  Honor Him.  Obey Him.  Serve Him well that He might see you and “know where you come from” and thus honor you “at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

*******

O LORD, let us follow in your narrow way  

that we might be saved;  

let us honor you with all our lives. 

YHWH, all are one in your kingdom, for you do not play favorites with your children but call all the same to your presence.  And so the lowly you raise from the dust and the exalted you tear down… for all must come to you on an even path.  The narrow way that leads to your glory is not dependent on the concerns of this age.

And so slaves are no less your children than their masters; masters no less than their slaves – it matters only their devotion to you.  All are called to serve you, LORD, to follow the command you give to each one.  And so father and son may come equally unto Heaven if they do as fits their role, as fits your call. 

Let children obey their parents and parents nurture their children in the faith.  Let workers perform their tasks with zeal and those over them treat all with respect and love.  Let all discourse of your glory by their service to you, giving you thanks for the splendor of your kingdom, to which they thereby come.  Praise you, LORD, for your goodness toward all!

(Job 3:1-3,11-17,20-23;   Ps.88:2-8;   Lk.9:51-56)

“My soul is surfeited with troubles

and my life draws near to the netherworld.”

After sitting in silence seven days, scraping the boils from his skin, finally, “Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.”  Finally he cries out against all his troubles, asking, “Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?”  Only so much can mortal man bear, and so Job seeks now only the tranquility of death, wherein “the weary are at rest.”

How well our psalm today describes Job’s state, he who is among those “whose path is hidden from them, and whom God hemmed in.”  For he truly finds himself now “numbered with those who go down into the pit… a man without strength” from whom all blessing has been taken.  His “couch is among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom [God] remember[s] no longer and who are cut off from [His] care.”  And so he prays for an end to his misery; so he seeks the forgetfulness of death to remove its pangs from his body and his heart.

And is it not these same pangs James and John would inflict upon the Samaritans who refuse to welcome Jesus: “Lord, would you not have us call down fire from heaven to destroy them?”  Would they not plunge them “into the bottom of the pit, into the dark abyss” where Job sits in his innocence?  Is it not right that God’s “wrath lies heavy” upon such as these?  Let God’s “billows” “overwhelm” them, they declare.

But Jesus has another answer.  He would not see even the guilty suffer the fate of the righteous Job.  For He is now “firmly resolved to proceed toward Jerusalem,” where His crucifixion awaits.  He is now upon the fulfillment of His mission here on earth, and it has nothing to do with punishing the sins even of His persecutors – it has only to do with His death.  It is He upon whom God’s wrath shall be heavy, He who will be plunged into the pit… He who will suffer all punishment for sin.  Even for these Samaritans (even for you and me), the Lord shall suffer and die, taking upon Himself the punishment James and John see rightly due them, rightly due to all.  His cross completes the pangs inflicted upon Job.  And through this cross the troubles shall be overcome.

Brothers and sisters, let us no longer cry for relief from our suffering, for that relief is at hand now in the cross of Christ; He has suffered all these things already, and we must but give them to Him to be drawn from the netherworld and set in His glory.

*******

O LORD, let us be taken with your Son  

from this world of darkness and death. 

YHWH, save us from the dark abyss, from the nether world to which by our sin we come.  Let us know that the price has been paid by your only Son, who has suffered all torments for us.  In His sacrifice let us trust, and give to Him our cross. 

Truly, LORD, this earth is a dark place, and it draws us to a darker place, an eternal abyss, where is no light.  From the grave how shall we be saved, we who are mortal and decaying, we who are surfeited with troubles, with the bitterness of this disobedient age?  Does it not seem to us there is no escape. 

O let us not be forgetful of you, LORD, or of your love!  Let us not forget that you have sent your only Son, to die not only for the righteous but also those who would cast Him out – His death means new life to all who offer Him their cross.  How quickly He would take all darkness from us, how eagerly He awaits our turning to Him…  O Jesus, lift all souls from the bottom of the pit; save us from the wrath we rightly deserve.