Category: Lectionary Meditations

By Rev. Eric Brown

“What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.”

Although many translations now call the fellow in this story the “dishonest” manager, the old King James is more accurate when it calls him “unjust”. I mean, he is utterly sleazy, and he isn’t exactly straightforward with the people he deals with. And he robs the rich man blind – he is not just. 

However, this dishonest, unjust manager has a moment of utter and brutal honesty about himself. When the accusations come in, he doesn’t try to defend himself to the rich man. He doesn’t spin a tail about how it’s not his fault. He knows he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. And then, when considering his prospects for life, there is no bluster or big talk. He doesn’t strut around saying, “I’ll find an even richer man to work for and he’ll be an even better boss than you!” Nope. Simple, brutal, honesty. I can’t dig. I’m not strong enough. I couldn’t bear to beg. This fellow is utterly honest about his own lack and limitations. And because of that, he knows that the only way he can live is by living off the master.

You and I, we’re dishonest. In and of ourselves, totally unjust. We are sinners, and we too get caught with our hands in the cookie jar. So, what then? Do we try to explain what we have done away? Do we blame someone else for our misdeeds, or talk about how our sin isn’t that bad because someone else is a worse sinner? Or do we try to bargain, try to work things out and make things up to God (as though works could dig us out of that pit)? Do we put on a brave face, or do we finally just admit that we are ashamed.

The simple fact is that we need God. We know our lack, we know our need. There is no way for us to live apart from God. But here’s where the analogy with the story ends. God’s not merely some rich man whose worked about bilking us for profit, worried about what He can gain by making us jump through hoops. No, He created us to live with Him. Our foolish, sinful attempts to live apart from God was never what He wanted in the first place! So, when we are brought to the truth that we in our sin can’t live apart from Him, He says, “Good, because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, all your debts are paid and you do in fact live with me scot free, and will do so for all eternity, because not sin, not the devil, not even death itself can separate you from My love.”

The dishonest manager’s moment of self-honesty meant he had to scramble and come up with some plan. Our moments of self-honesty, when we are brought to see our own sin, they are taken care of already, because God in His love already had planned your salvation in Christ well before you were born. You never need to pretend your sins aren’t real. No, be honest about them, strive against them – and know that in Christ Jesus they are forgiven.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me you workers of lawlessness.’” –Matthew 7:21-23

A tree is known by its fruit. If the tree has a bunch of apples on it, it’s an apple tree. If there’s a bunch of cherries, it’s a cherry tree. And when Jesus tells us that a false prophet will be known by our fruits, He gives this example. Jesus speaks of those who boast in their works – WE have prophesied, WE have cast out demons, WE have done mighty works. Sure, they were in Jesus’ name, but WE have done them.

So type of tree is that? Well, if the fruit is “me, me, me, look at me” I guess it’s a me tree. All about me. Contrast this to Paul who is determined to know nothing among us but Christ and Him Crucified. Because that is the point – you tell the tree by its fruit; you tell the preacher by what is preached. Are they preaching me or is everything driving to Christ?

Christians do judge preachers. We learn to hear the voice of the shepherd but to flee the voice of the wolves. And the thing we listen for is this: Are they preaching Christ and Him Crucified for you, or are they preaching themselves? Are they preaching all about what Christ has done for you or what you need to do for God? If it’s not Christ, then they are a false preacher, they are workers of lawlessness – preaching some false, watered down salvation by works junk that ignores the fact that the Law always shows us our sin.

It can be tempting to listen to the folks who give mighty tales of what they have done and what you too can do, but none of that is better than what Jesus has already done for you by dying and rising for you, by baptizing you and giving you eternal life. Listen for Jesus when they preach; that’s what you need. We all always need the preaching to be Christ Crucified for us.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing to eat.” – Mark 8:2

The second oldest trick that Satan has is making us think that God will only love us if we do good things. As the oldest trick is making us think we know better than God, this puts us in a world of hurt. We sin, and then the accuser says, “Well, God’s not going to like you very much anymore,” and we run and hide in shame, start blaming everyone else, and just end up quite miserable.

The crowd of people gathered around Jesus’ Word was quite miserable. There had been a lot of preaching (a few days worth!) and not a lot of food. And they were hungry. And what is Jesus’ reaction? When Jesus looks at the crowd, what does He see? Is He looking to judge their failings? Does He say, “man, that guy in the 5^th row is going to mess up bad this week, forget him”? No. He sees the situation, the need – and thus He has compassion.

Compassion. Simply seeing people in need, Jesus has compassion. He shares in their suffering and is determined to do something about it. And then we get a miracle – the feeding of the 4000, not caused by what the crowd does. Jesus just feeds them – because He loves them, baggage and all.

As you go about your week, there will be times you foolishly mess up. It’s going to happen – hopefully sin doesn’t blow too many things up, but sin happens. And what Satan loves to do is tell you that once you’ve sinned, God is going to be pretty angry and upset with you – that God’s going to be pitching a hissy fit now and ready to smite you.

Nope. Jesus has compassion upon you. That’s the point. And if you aren’t sure of that – you are baptized. St. Paul tells us that we who are baptized have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection – you’ve been with Him three days in your Baptism, and because He rose on the third day, so will you. And He has compassion on you. Jesus doesn’t like sin precisely because of what sin does to you, how it messes with you. And so He is quick always to have compassion upon you, to forgive you and renew you with His Word of forgiveness. Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever!

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20

Imagine the best person you know. The person who is the nicest, kindness person around. Maybe the most holy or spiritual person you know. The guy who just accidentally puts you to shame with how good he is, the gal you wish you could be. Back in Jesus’ day, that was sort of how people viewed the scribes and the Pharisees. They were to the top of the top. The Scribes were just so smart and knew so much, and the Pharisees were just so respected and virtuous… oh to be like them.

And then, in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus drops a law bomb. Jesus makes the astonishing assertion that our righteousness needs to exceed, needs to be beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees. Now, since we’re folks 2000 years down the line, and we see how often the scribes and the Pharisees behaved wretchedly, we’re not that impressed – but what Jesus says is unthinkable. You can’t be more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees! It would be like saying, “be richer than Bill Gates” – it’s almost non-nonsensical.

But then Jesus teaches the fullness of the Law. It’s not just about outward appearances. It’s not just being a swell. It’s not just a question of well disciplined virtuous deeds, but what of your words, your thoughts. Indeed, to hate is as bad as murder, to call someone a name is hell-worthy. That’s the righteousness that God in His Law demands.

Of ourselves, we aren’t approaching that. Nowhere close! But Christ Jesus, His righteousness is indeed beyond that of the scribes and the Pharisees. His righteous life, death, and resurrection in fact establishes the kingdom of heaven, and He establishes it for you. In Holy Baptism He poured all of His righteousness upon you – said it’s yours. In fact, everything that is Jesus’ now is yours. He gives you all that He is. So, in Christ your righteousness does exceed the scribes and the Pharisees. And He gives this to you freely – we won’t boast or brag about how “great” or “virtuous” we are – we know the Law too well to ever claim that. But you are righteous in Christ, and the kingdom of heaven is yours because you belong to Christ Jesus, and He gives you all good things.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:8

Why was Peter so down and dour? He had just seen a miraculous catch of fish, one that broke nets. Shouldn’t he be jumping up and down with joy? And yet, there Peter is, on his knees before Jesus, asking Jesus to just get up and go somewhere else. Why?

At that moment Peter is not seeing primarily a loving God who gives great gifts. At that moment Peter is thinking of his own sin and lack. This is somewhat understandable. An entire night of his hard toil had gotten nothing; his works had been shown to be useless and in vain. Then there comes Jesus, and after preaching and teaching for a while, Jesus instructs Peter to go after fish at the absolute wrong time of day, when there would be no fish around. Everyone would know that what Jesus was instructing was utter folly – and yet, there’s the ginormous catch of fish. And at that moment Peter’s not seeing the greatness of God, Peter’s own futility and arrogance come crashing in upon him. I kneel here before this Man, who gave this catch after I told Him it was foolish. He is now going to rip into me and let me have it!

Not quite. Instead Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” Then He tells Peter he’ll be catching men, he’ll be a disciple. But did you see how that worked? Sin and the fear that comes with it utterly warped how Peter viewed Jesus, viewed the blessings in his life. Peter, because of his sin, figured they were curses. But against that, Jesus tells Peter not to fear, for Jesus is there for Peter’s good.

As for us today, our own sinful flesh will constantly try to make us afraid of God. Our flesh will try to twist blessing after blessing into a sign of curse. Yet, even today, Christ Jesus speaks to us great words of love. Do not be afraid. Peace be with you. I forgive you. Jesus knows how your sinful flesh messes with you – that is why He catches you with His Word of forgiveness, and proclaims this forgiveness to you again and again. This is His great love for you.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

Sinful people like to turn the blessings God has given them into idols. It’s sort of our sinful heart’s go to thing to do. Consider the parable of the banquet. The master has offered one fantastic blessing – the banquet to end all banquets. And it is the best thing that could be. And yet, so many invited do not come. Excuses are made – idols are revealed. A new field, 10 oxen, a new bride. These things are all great blessings, but they get used against the master, used to denigrate and downplay and ignore his feast. And they miss the party. Doesn’t ruin things for the master or his banquet – he just keeps on inviting people. But because these people clung so tightly to their blessings, they miss the party of the year.

The same thing is true in life. Our God is a giver. He delights in giving you things. That’s why He created us in the first place – to give us blessing upon blessing. Yet the sin and idolatry of our heart does something so odd. It focuses on a single blessing so much that we cast others aside. It addicts us to something so that we’d cut off the rest of the blessings gives us. The love of money and its worship can make us neglect many other blessings God gives. That’s a common enough story. And while family and friends are indeed great blessings, we can become so focused on pleasing them that we abandon things that are good. Whatever thing that drives you and calls out to you, whatever good thing that you put such a focus on that it dominates your life and lessens it – that’s an idol. The sinful heart loves to turn any good thing into an idol and an addiction, robbing us of joy.

Yet God remains a giver. Even as we are tempted to ignore His gifts, He keeps giving. And not just temporal, earthly gifts; among all the blessings He gives, the greatest are the spiritual gifts, are eternal life and salvation – given through the forgiveness won by Christ. It is the forgiveness proclaimed from the pulpit and altar in His service. And so over and over the call goes out to come to this feast, to the foretaste of the feast to come.

And you will have idols trying to keep you from the feast. You will have many good things from God that your heart has twisted to where they try to call you way from His House. Might be cash, a job, a sunny day. Maybe “family time” – maybe a myriad other things – things that in and of themselves are good, yet your sinful flesh wants to abuse like an addict. But as they call out to you, remember that God calls out to you even more. The same God who gave you such good things has promised you all these and much more, and for all eternity. Indeed, an eternity where you will enjoy and use them rightly and fully, and they will no longer be idols. Just blessings from God. And today, God’s Word calls you away from this, so that He in His love and give you these and all blessings. Come, for all things are ready for you – both now and forever.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

The Magnificat, Mary’s Song given when she visits Elizabeth, is utterly wonderful, and yet I wonder if sometimes it isn’t misunderstood. I wonder if sometimes we don’t view it through a veil of false pretense. Consider the very first sentence: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.”

We can be tempted to think that Mary is doing a “humble brag” here – but I wonder if we get what she means by the “humble estate” that she is in? We can put Mary on a pedestal, think how awesome it would have been to be her. Well, while we do call her blessed, the Scriptures also show the harshness of what Mary went through. Think of what the world would have seen when it saw Mary – a teen pregnant outside of wedlock. That wasn’t popular or celebrated back then in the least – in fact, it was something you might get stoned for. Matthew reports that Joseph was thinking of divorcing her quietly – and that’s the nice option – just kick her to the curb instead of killing her. And then even after Jesus is born, Mary is warned by Simeon that a sword will pierce her own heart. And then, she must flee to Egypt so that her Son isn’t brutally murdered as a child. In many ways, being called to be the Mother of God would stink on ice.

That’s her humble, her lowered, her dropped down estate. Mary’s plans and dreams for the future that she had had are now radically changed. Nothing will be simple for her. Moreover, think of the rumors, the gossip, the accusations and dirty looks that would fly around her. Mary was brought low, she was humbled – the folks would have been talking about how apparently good little Mary wasn’t so good after all. All this crashes upon her, and Mary flees – she goes with haste to visit Elizabeth, the one other person who might understand this strange pregnancy stuff, since Elizabeth herself is miraculously pregnant at an advanced age.

And what does Mary say? “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.” Even though things are rough and wretched, even though society and family and plans are all messed up – there is God, and God is still faithful to Mary, and God still is determined to win her salvation no matter how messed up things are. She carries the proof.

Christ Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary, True God and True Man – He knows all about low estates. He knows all about being humbled and brought low. He topped (or, went lower?) His mom when it came to that. Suffered and died on the Cross. And He remembers you. He has joined Himself to you in the waters of Holy Baptism, and He will remember you to be your Savior no matter what humbled situation you find yourself in. When you are low, when you are down, Mary’s song is your song, because Christ Jesus is your great Savior who will always remember His mercy to you.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

Sinful people like to turn the blessings God has given them into idols. It’s sort of our sinful heart’s go to thing to do. Consider the parable of the banquet. The master has offered one fantastic blessing – the banquet to end all banquets. And it is the best thing that could be. And yet, so many invited do not come. Excuses are made – idols are revealed. A new field, 10 oxen, a new bride. These things are all great blessings, but they get used against the master, used to denigrate and downplay and ignore his feast. And they miss the party. Doesn’t ruin things for the master or his banquet – he just keeps on inviting people. But because these people clung so tightly to their blessings, they miss the party of the year.

The same thing is true in life. Our God is a giver. He delights in giving you things. That’s why He created us in the first place – to give us blessing upon blessing. Yet the sin and idolatry of our heart does something so odd. It focuses on a single blessing so much that we cast others aside. It addicts us to something so that we’d cut off the rest of the blessings gives us. The love of money and its worship can make us neglect many other blessings God gives. That’s a common enough story. And while family and friends are indeed great blessings, we can become so focused on pleasing them that we abandon things that are good. Whatever thing that drives you and calls out to you, whatever good thing that you put such a focus on that it dominates your life and lessens it – that’s an idol. The sinful heart loves to turn any good thing into an idol and an addiction, robbing us of joy.

Yet God remains a giver. Even as we are tempted to ignore His gifts, He keeps giving. And not just temporal, earthly gifts; among all the blessings He gives, the greatest are the spiritual gifts, are eternal life and salvation – given through the forgiveness won by Christ. It is the forgiveness proclaimed from the pulpit and altar in His service. And so over and over the call goes out to come to this feast, to the foretaste of the feast to come.

And you will have idols trying to keep you from the feast. You will have many good things from God that your heart has twisted to where they try to call you way from His House. Might be cash, a job, a sunny day. Maybe “family time” – maybe a myriad other things – things that in and of themselves are good, yet your sinful flesh wants to abuse like an addict. But as they call out to you, remember that God calls out to you even more. The same God who gave you such good things has promised you all these and much more, and for all eternity. Indeed, an eternity where you will enjoy and use them rightly and fully, and they will no longer be idols. Just blessings from God. And today, God’s Word calls you away from this, so that He in His love and give you these and all blessings. Come, for all things are ready for you – both now and forever.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

“If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”

I’m guessing you probably want to be successful. End up with a big house, nice cars, all that sort of stuff. I’m guessing you probably don’t want to end up a beggar. And yet, in the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man – things don’t turn out so well for the successful fellow. The person with the happy ending is the miserable beggar.

Now, no, this isn’t where I tell you that you can’t have nice things, or that you shouldn’t work hard or anything like that. Rather, consider the the main sentence of the story – the rich man wants Abraham to send Lazarus back to the Rich Man’s brothers to warn them of sin and hell and all that, and the Rich Man doesn’t think mere Scripture is good enough. And he was wrong (which isn’t surprising as he’s in Hades in torment) – the Scriptures simply point to the truth that Christ Jesus will die and rise for sinners.

For sinners. The Bible tells us some truths that are quite uncomfortable to our sinful flesh. It shows us our sin. It tells us we will always remain sinful in this life – that no matter how “successful” we are, this will remain the case. Isaiah was a priest and a prophet, yet he still knew that he was a man of unclean lips who dwelt among a people of unclean lips. The Bible reminds us that our wants and desires are corrupted, to where we will turn even the blessings that God freely gives into weapons we use against Him.

And there are two responses one can take to hearing this Word. You can ignore it and focus on all your own successes and strength – see how I am a good person! Or, you can admit that they are simply beggars in need of rescue.

There’s a reason our worship service begins with Confession and Absolution. All our members, whether they are rich or poor, successful or broke, happy or miserable, we all together begin service saying that we are beggars before God, that we are poor miserable sinners, and that we need mercy from God. Mercy which He gives on account of Christ Jesus, who died and rose for you. This is the truth that we live in, that we have life in. It’s not about our successes, but rather it’s always about the gifts of both life and salvation that God gives to us poor unworthy sinners. 

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.

By Rev. Eric Brown

Nicodemus is a failure. Spiritually, at least. In the world, he was quite successful. He was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews. He was well respected in society and thought to be wise. He was even a teacher – knew the Scriptures forwards and back. And yet, Nicodemus just messes so many things up in John 3.

First, he comes to Jesus by night. Nicodemus is a man of power and influence, and he knows that many of the Pharisees are giving Jesus a hard time. Does he stand up for Jesus, does he argue that he should be listened to fairly? Nope. He comes by night, when no one can see him there. That’s not exactly boldness. Then, in their conversation, Nicodemus doesn’t understand a thing Jesus says. He constantly gets the wrong answer, to the point that Jesus asks, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?” Nicodemus is embarrassed and doesn’t really know what is going on.

Yet what does Christ do? He doesn’t mock Nicodemus. Jesus doesn’t kick Nicodemus out or refuse to talk to him anymore. Instead, Jesus is patient and kind and just keeps spelling things out more and more – even to the point where we get John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus just keeps on explaining, making things clearer and clearer. It’s not about Nicodemus and his failures – it’s about God loving the world through His Son, Christ Jesus.

You don’t need to impress Jesus with your knowledge. You don’t need to hold up your successes before Him, and when you see your failures, you don’t need to shrink away. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever – and just as He showed Nicodemus patience and love and proclaimed the Gospel to him, so to, even today your Lord is patient with you, and will continue to give you His Word and Spirit so that you know that He loves and forgives you.

Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.