Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!

If any man is a devout lover of God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast.  If any man is a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of the Lord.  If any has labored long in fasting, let him now received his recompense.  If any has [worked] from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any has come at the third hour, let him have no misgivings; because he will in no [way] be deprived thereof.  If any has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing.  If any has tarried even until the eleventh hour let him, also be not alarmed at his tardiness, for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; He gives rest to him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as to him who has [worked] from the first hour.  And he shows mercy at the last, and cares for the first [and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts]. And He both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering.

Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward [both the first, and likewise the second].  You rich and poor together, hold high festival.  You sober and you heedless, honor the day.  Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast.  The table is full-laden; feast you all sumptuously.  The calf is fatted; let no one go away hungry.  All of you, enjoy the feast of faith:  Receive all the riches of loving-kindness.  Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.  Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave.  Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free.  He who was held prison of it, has annihilated it.  By descending into Hell, he has made Hell captive.  He angered it when it tasted his flesh.  And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:  Hell, said he, was angered when it encountered You in the lower regions.  It was angered for it was abolished.  It was angered, for it was mocked.  [It  was angered, for it was slain.]  It was angered for it was overthrown.  It was angered, for it was fettered in chains.  It took a body, and met God face to face.  It took earth, and encountered Heaven.  It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.  O Death, where is your sting?  O Hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.  Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.  Christ is risen, and the Angels rejoice.  Christ is risen and life reigns.  Christ is risen and not one remains in the grave.  For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.

John Chrysostom, Paschal Sermon (taken from The Treasury of Daily Prayer, Easter Sunday).

Pastor W posted the last part on his blog, commenting on how much he savored it. A commenter noted that it did not meet a sermon diagnostic from Issues, Etc.  Pastor W responded by showing specifically how it does: 

1. How often is Jesus mentioned? Keep a simple running tally. It’s a problem if He is mentioned only a few times, or tucked in at the beginning or the end.

He is mentioned in this homily from start to finish, note all the "your Lord" and "He" and "Savior's" and the triumphant "Christ is risen" repeatedly at the end.

Is Jesus the subject of the verbs, the one doing the action?

He accepts the last even as the first.

He gives rest.

He shows mercy.

He cares.

He accepts the deeds and honors the intentions.

He reveals the universal kingdom.

He is pardon shone forth from the grave.

His death sets free.

He annihilates hell.

He is risen, and hell is overthrown.

He is risen, and the demons are fallen.

He is risen, and life reigns.

He is risen and not one dead remains in the grave.

He is risen and become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

What are the verbs? What is the preacher telling you what Jesus did, does, and will do for you? Is the Jesus that is presented one of pop therapeutic deism, who helps, inspires and gives examples? Or is He instead the Jesus of Scripture who lives, suffers, dies and rises again, all for you?

Clearly the later.


Wow.

I believe, more than anything I could say or write about the differences between confessional Lutheran worship services and the Protestant church I have experienced, this shouts the primary one out loud!

Jesus being the point of the sermon sounds so very logical for people who take their faith name from him: Christians.  So logical.  But...most sermons I was fed were more about me, more about man, more about our faith.  Christ began and perhaps ended them or came somewhere in the middle...though for some on Old Testament passages had no mention of Christ...just God.  I think that ought to be part of the diagnostic...perhaps there is more.  But one criteria should be a clear teaching of our triune God.  The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Not just God...not just Christ...which is more par for the course.

I challenge you to take a cross section of the sermons you are fed on a regular basis and measure them by our Lord Jesus Christ!

~~~~
It is no mystery that I am on a one woman campaign to woo others to the joy that is praying the Psalter.  Recently, I got the idea to start sending prayers from the Psalter rewritten with the person's name in them, pronouns changed appropriately.  I have wondered if this were sacrilegious or irreverent, but I do not mean it in any way other than these are the words God gave me to pray and I am praying them specifically for someone other than I.  El, who has been bravely trying to pray the Psalter though she despairs at times how she does not understand much of what she is praying (remember that doesn't matter since the Holy Spirit, who is our intercessor, does), sent one back to me.

I was stunned.  I wept with joy at the Word she gave to me.  I was awash in the grace and mercy of Christ...

She even did me one better by sprinkling my name throughout instead of just at the beginning!  Isaiah 43:1 tells us that God calls us by name.  Seeing it here was such a powerful reminder of His love for me.

I wonder if El can understand how magnificent of a gift this was for me.  For me.

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

        all my inmost being, praise His holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

        and forget not all Your benefits--

Lord forgive all Myrtle's sins

        and heal all her diseases,

Redeem her life from the pit

        and crown her with love and compassion,

You satisfy her desires with good things

        so that her youth is renewed like the eagle's.

You, Lord work righteousness

        and justice for all the oppressed.

You make known Your ways to Moses,

        Your deeds to the people of Israel;

You, Lord, are compassionate and gracious,

        slow to anger, abounding in love.

You will not always accuse,

        nor will You harbor Your anger forever;

You do not treat her as her sins deserve

        or repay her according to her iniquities.

For as the heavens are above the earth,

        so great is Your love for those who fear You;

as far as the east is from the west,

        so far have You removed her transgressions from her.

As a father has compassion on his children,

        so Lord do you have compassion on Myrtle who fears You;

for you know how she was formed,

        You remember that she is dust.

As for man, his days are like grass

        he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

        and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

        Your love, Lord, is with Myrtle who fears You,

        and Your righteousness is with her children's children--

with Myrtle who keeps Your covenant

        and remembers to obey Your precepts.

You Lord have established Your throne in heaven,

        and Your kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord you His angels,

        you mighty ones who do his bidding,

        who obey His Word.

Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts,

        You His servants who do His will.

Praise the Lord, all His works

        everywhere in His dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief!