[Sermon Archive] - [Weekly Devotional Guide]

This Week's Sermon ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS 27 September 2009 "Let Your Holy Angel be With Me" Matthew 18:1-11 LSB Series B Vicar Jeffrey M. Dock Soli Deo Gloria!

Jesus said "Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven"

In the name of Jesus + Amen.

The disciples are pretty important. They're the ones hand-selected by Jesus. They've been traveling about, casting out demons, healing diseases and proclaiming that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. They would be the ones to witness Christ's teaching, His death, and His resurrection- and would preach this message to the entire world. That's pretty impressive. And so our Gospel reading starts with the disciples asking Jesus "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Why do you ask a question like this? One of these days, after I've preached a particularly good sermon perhaps, or given an amazing Bible Study, or brewed an awesome pot of coffee- I may go and ask pastor "Who is the greatest vicar you've ever had?" Perhaps those of you angling for a raise at work may go to your boss and ask "Who is the hardest worker here?" The answer you expect from the question is you. I want to hear pastor tell me that I'm the best vicar. You want to be told that you're the greatest worker. The disciples wanted Jesus to look at them and say 'you twelve are the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven'.

But Jesus doesn't do that. Instead He calls a child, places it in the midst of them, and uses this child as the example of the one who is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. The disciples were probably confused. A child is the greatest? The Greek word references a young child, perhaps even an infant. Perhaps the age of one of those children blessed at this altar today. It's easy to criticize the disciples' actions here, but let's be honest. If someone came into Immanuel and asked who the greatest person here was, what would you say? Pastor? One of our deacons? The person who donates the most money or time? Maybe we'd even point to ourselves. But would any of us really consider pointing to one of these children? What do they have going for them?

Children can't provide for themselves, can't feed themselves, and can't come to church by themselves. They're basically helpless. They have no money to give, they can't properly articulate prayers, and when brought to church events- they actually make things more difficult as opposed to helping things go more smoothly. And yet Jesus says these little ones are the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.

So why use children? Jesus wanted to teach His disciples, and also us- something very important. We are like these children. In God's eyes we look the same as these children look to us. Look at the parallels.

Christ called this child to Him and set them in the midst of the disciples (the Church). So it is with our baptism. We do not choose to come to the font. We are brought there. Scripture teaches that we are dead in sin until Christ calls us into His church. He calls us in Baptism, and it is only through the Holy Spirit's work upon our hearts that we come here week after week in faith.

Children have nothing to offer their parents. They're reliant on them for everything. And so also it is with us. What do we to offer God have that isn't a gift? Material goods? Money? Our time? He who has dominion over the world has no need of our time or money. He asks we give it, but He has no need of it. The One who created the earth from nothing is pretty well off financially. What about the spiritual goods that we have to offer? Prayers? Worship? Our impressive hymn singing ability? St. Michael and all Angels is a good time to remember that God is surrounded by legions of angels whose sole delight is in praising and glorifying His name throughout all time. He delights in our hymns and prayers, but they're hardly necessary to His being God.

Children also cannot defend themselves. They're reliant upon their parents to keep evil at bay, and to keep a watchful eye over them. Indeed, they're prone to crawl into all sorts of trouble if you take your eyes off of them for even a few minutes. So also it is with us. Given the slightest chance, we find ourselves wandering off. We do those things we know we should not do time and again. We sin. And we're helpless against the attacks of the Evil one. Make no mistake; left to your own devices you could not resist Satan for even a moment. We're like children. Like infants. Helpless.

So Jesus says we are called to be like children, which is good when you consider what a loving Father we have. He clothes us, for we can't clothe ourselves. Sure we dress in fine clothes to come to Divine Service, but these clothes do not compare to how God clothes us. He clothes us in our baptismal garments, the very righteousness of Christ. Garments whiter and more dazzling than anything on earth. We can't see them, but then neither can we see the angels. They're part of the "all thing invisible" which we confess in the Nicene Creed. Beyond our range of vision, but clearly visible to God.

We can't feed ourselves. We can make a sandwich, but we cannot come close to preparing the true food offered at this altar. Freely given here is a food greater than anything on earth. In this simple bread and wine is hidden Christ's body and blood. Again, invisibly. Like the angels and archangels and all the company of Heaven. But no less effective and satisfying just because we can't see it.

And God provides for our earthly needs. Maybe not at the comfort level we'd like, but when are humans ever known for wanting what is good for them? He who knows what you want before you ask for it will provide for you, but that doesn't mean a grand mansion or a thriving stock portfolio. Those things aren't necessarily good for us. Parents often complain their children don't recognize just how good they have it, and the same can certainly be said of Christians.

So we are like these children, unable to take care of ourselves and completely reliant upon God. And just as God cares for us, we are called to care for our children. Jesus says

"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea… See that you do not despise one of these little ones."

Our children learn from us even as we learn from God. Our children are cared for by us even as God cares for us. And we cannot measure up to the care God provides for us. Do your children see you pray every night, either on your own or in family devotions? Do your children see you commit sins even as you pay lip service to God's law by telling them they shouldn't do the very things you do? Our children learn from us. We lie to ourselves by saying they'll never notice our lies, or our perusal of pornography, or the way we treat their mothers or fathers. But they do notice. Notice and learn. The catalogue of sins our children see us commit is endless, and each of them effects the view our children have of life, of us, and of God.

But hey, at least we do the good things right, don't we? We faithfully bring our children to Divine Service, right? Every Sunday! Without fail! We make sure to find a church even when we're on vacation, don't we? As well, we celebrate the other Church holidays throughout the year teaching the children what they mean and the importance of them, true? As well as Sunday school and Bible Study of course!

And we faithfully pray with and for them, right? Teaching them the example of prayer which God commands of us by praying together as a family, daily? For both ourselves and the world around us? Incorporating the Holy Scriptures and the Psalms into our prayers? And we make sure they're learning their catechism, not just for class, but for the salvation of their souls, right? And we review it with them in the years to come, working it into our own lives that it might strengthen their faith and teach them. We certainly still have it memorized ourselves, don't we?

And we model for them faithful stewardship of God's gifts, never begrudgingly handing over money but always happily giving to the Church and other worthy causes, correct? And our children certainly see us cheerfully serving our fellow man with our time and talents, with never a thought to what we might get out of it, don't they? And all of this, we do not just for our own children but also for our grandchildren and godchildren as much as it is within our power, right?

If you can answer all those questions in the affirmative, you're either a saint to rival St. Michael or you're not being honest with yourself. We're not very good parents. None of us. It's a wonder we ourselves stay in the faith, much less our children. It'll be a miracle if they're still attending Divine Service when they're our age. A miracle. Which brings me to this feast day: St. Michael and all angels. Those invisible beings that constantly surround us, protecting and guarding us from the assaults of the devil. Luther's small catechism includes both a morning and evening prayer which both contain the line "Let your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me" This idea of us having a holy angel comes from today's Gospel reading. Jesus says "For I tell you that in Heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in Heaven." God provides each of his baptized children with an angel to watch over them and to protect and keep them in the faith. And not just the little ones brought forward to be blessed today, but all of us who become like children in Holy Baptism. We are protected by an angel. One invisible, but there.

Angels keep us in the faith. They oppose demons, who seek to always undermine our faith. Angels are God's servants to do the will of God. And as we learn in Luther's catechism, "God's will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature… and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die." This is the spiritual warfare the angels engage in. A war over your souls. Keeping you in the faith. Keeping you from the evil one. This is done by bringing you to where you can hear God's Word. It is done by keeping constantly in your mind Christ's suffering and death on your behalf. This is done as they call you to unite with them in their praise that does not cease as you kneel with them at the Lord's Table and receive Jesus' body and blood.

The reading from Revelation describes Satan being thrown down from Heaven. And then are heard these words

"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb."

Christ's death upon the cross saw the forgiveness of sins, the defeat of death, and the crushing of Satan's head. This is where the angel's power comes from. This is where our faith, and the faith of our children, is founded. It is true that we are like children, helpless, weak, and unable to stand against the Devil. It is true that we are bad parents, who do not care for our children as we should. But in the Lord's kingdom, these seeming liabilities are actually strengths. For Christ dispatches His angels and archangels on our behalf to save us from the evil one. As we sang in the hymn of the day "Watchful is the angel band / that follows Christ on every hand / To guard His people where they go / And break the counsel of the foe."

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.