Proper 13
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series III, Cycle C
The Church Year Theological Clue
Liturgical purists might call this "skin them alive" Sunday, according to the long-standing tradition that St. Bartholomew, whose day may be celebrated near this Sunday, depending on the lectionary followed and calendar year, was actually skinned while alive. Of course, that is only conjecture and the truth is that no one knows for certain when he died, or how, or where. In iconography, St. Bartholomew is represented by a skinning knife and a book, and sometimes he is pictured holding a knife with the devil under his foot. There is little doubt, despite the uncertainties of tradition and conjecture, that Bartholomew, who may also be known as Nathanael, died a martyr, as did all of the disciples, except John. Actually, St. Bartholomew's day is a day of infamy in the church, because the terrible slaughter of the Hugenots began in France on St. Bartholomew's Eve, in 1572, and continued into the middle of September; more than 50,000 people were killed in that period of time. Pope Gregory XIII had a medal created in memory of the massacre.
Awareness of this martyr's day and others - and regardless of whether or not it is celebrated, all of the martyrs' day focus on the very heart of the gospel, the death and resurrection of our Lord and the blessed assurance that the martyrs all had in Jesus Christ. Once more, the death of a martyr testifies to the kerygmatic theology that every Sunday holds to its heart - Jesus Christ, Son of God and born of Mary, was crucified, died, and rose from the grave on the third day, ascended into heaven, and promised to return at the end of time to bring in the fullness of the kingdom of God. He declared that he would be with his own "always." That constitutes the kerygmatic framework of the church year, and lays the business of telling Jesus' story faithfully and convincingly upon the shoulders of the pastors and people of the church.
The Prayer Of The Day
Once again, The Lutheran Book Of Worship contains two collects for this day, and the second collect seems obviously to have been prepared for the Gospel of the Day, Luke 12:13-21. It reads this way: "Almighty God, judge of us all, you have placed in our hands the wealth we call our own. Give us such wisdom by your Spirit that our possessions may not be a curse in our lives, but an instrument for blessing; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
(Note: As happens so often, the Prayer of the Day not only points to the Gospel for the Day, but it may also provide a clue as to how that Gospel may be preached. The clue, in this prayer, is "that our possessions may not be a curse in our lives, but an instrument for blessing." For some, who may have read the Gospel for the Day already, "building larger and larger barns, and so on," - a stewardship sermon may be suggested.)
The Psalm For The Day
Psalm 49:1-11 (E, L) - It would be almost impossible to locate a psalm that is better suited to preparing people for hearing the Gospel for the Day than Psalm 49. The Psalmist calls people "wicked" who "put their trust in their goods, and boast of their great riches." There is little or no hope for those persons; they will die, just as the poor will die, and they will leave their riches to others. They cut themselves off from God, and eternal life, because they trust themselves when they should put their trust in God. They may be worldly wise, but they haven't learned that "you can't take it (your possessions) with you." They haven't learned that God alone is their hope and salvation, their only chance of getting out of the predicament that their greed and selfishness have created. When one reads this psalm, one is reminded of the order of Alexander the Great before he died. He commanded that holes for his hands should be cut into his coffin, so that they could protrude through them -empty - informing people that even he, who had conquered all of the known world of his time, could take nothing with him when he died. We come into the world with empty hands, and we leave it the same way.
Psalm prayer (49 - LBW) - "Lord Jesus, you condemned the rich because they have already received their reward, and you proclaimed the poor blessed because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Teach us to seek imperishable goods and to have confidence in your blood, poured out as the price of our redemption; and to you be glory now and forever."
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 (RC) - This is a frequently used psalm, finding places in the various liturgies of the churches and specifically in the psalmody of Sunday worship; it is best known as the Venite. Comments on Psalm 95 may be located in the Lectionary Preaching Workbook III, Cycle B.
Psalm prayer (95 - LBW) - "Almighty God, neither let us go astray as did those who murmured in the desert, nor let us be torn apart by discord. With Jesus as our shepherd, bring us to enjoy the unity for which he prays; and to you be the glory and the praise now and forever."
The Readings
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:18-26 (L); 1:2; 2:(1-7, 11), 18-23 (E); 1:2, 2:21-23 (RC) - The Preacher, who is named as the son of David (Solomon's imprimatur, perhaps?), paints a vivid and bleak picture of human life on a level that has no room for God. "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." The writer actually expands on the lament of Psalm 49, because he has come to his senses, he who has become the richest and wisest man of his time knows that he will die just as surely as the poorest of people and will leave all of his possessions to others. Only in the last few verses (2:24-26) of the reading does the Preacher find respite from his despair, because he has discovered that the person who believes that his/her work/career and possessions - one's quality of life, if you will - come from God as a gift; lives in "wisdom and knowledge and joy." The reading is mostly bad news, but there is some very good news in the readings at the end of chapter 2. And this pericope certainly prepares people for hearing the words of Jesus in the Gospel for the Day.
2 Kings 13:14-20a (C) - Here is the story of the impending death of Elisha, who receives a plea from Jo'ash, king of Israel, for the assistance of Israel's cavalry and chariots, because there was trouble with Syria. Elisha gave the king orders to open a window, take an arrow and shoot it towards the east; he called it "The Lord's arrow of victory, ... over Syria!" And Elisha prophesied that Jo'ash would fight Syria until it was destroyed. However, following the prophet's orders again, he struck a bunch of arrows on the ground three times and then he stopped, only to receive a rebuke from Elisha, who told him he should have kept on striking the arrows on the ground. Therefore, Jo'ash would only "strike down" the Syrians three times, instead of many more times, which would have meant the annihilation of Syria. And then, after this prophecy of violence and war, Elisha died and was buried.
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 (RC); 3:1-11 (L, C); 3:(5-11) 12-17 (E) - This is a meditation/exhortation to the Colossians to live the life of people who have died in baptism and been raised to new life in Jesus Christ. Those who belong to Jesus and the "risen life," by virtue of their baptism, need to strive all the time to live out that new life in the living Lord.
This means putting behind one deliberately sinful ways, and "Paul" tells them, "put on the new nature, which is being renewed in the knowledge of its creator." And this also means, although it isn't said in this pericope, that one has to die over and over again through daily repentance for one's sins, and rise every day through the Word and Holy Spirit, and strive to be obedient to the will of God the Father. God is busy, attempting to make us over in his image, which breaks down all divisions and distinctions that may be made about people in this world. "Christ is all," he says, "and in all."
Luke 12:13-21 (RC, E, L, C) - The Gospel for the Day, which is the chief reading and (at least, liturgically) the preaching text for the Sunday liturgy, should complete the other readings and proclaim the gospel to the hearers. This reading certainly does the first, that is, in the parable of the rich fool, Jesus illustrates the other readings in a very graphic manner. He shows the futility of living for today, for the accumulation of wealth and possessions, for living as if there were no tomorrow, and that this life is all there is. Such people - and his parable certainly makes contact with people today who are living a materialistic existence - have cut themselves off from God and eternal life; they have doomed themselves to death in an existence that is apart from. God. There is very little good news in this gospel, although it implied in all that Jesus says.
Sermon Suggestions, Synopses, Sketches, Stories
Luke 12:13-21 (RC, E, L, C) - "Rich Fools Are Really Poor Fools." The Associated Press published a story just at the time when Donald Trump was obviously in deep, financial trouble, and his "empire" in danger of total collapse, with this title: "Check this: Trump cashed a 13-center." It seems that Spy magazine conducted an operation to answer the question (of its cover story), "Who is America's cheapest zillionaire?" Spy created a company called the National Refund Clearinghouse, opening a checking account, and sending checks for $1.11 to 58 "well-known, well-heeled Americans." Twenty-six of these people, including Donald Trump and Adnam Khashoggi, cashed their checks; 32 people did not. Next, checks for 65 cents were sent to the people who had cashed the $1.11 checks, and 13 of these people - including Trump and Khashoggi - cashed them. Finally, all 13 received a check for 13 cents, and only Trump and Khashoggi cashed them. The magazine said, in its July 1990 issue, "These habits of thriftiness will stand these men in good stead when they are behind bars or out in the street and find it necessary to assembly the funds to buy cigarettes or a cheese sandwich."
Donald Trump has said, "Everything I put my name on makes money," but it is beginning to appear that his name is being removed from many possessions. The same issue of the newspaper, which had the Spy story, carried another Associated Press article, "Trump lifestyle may suffer as creditors close in." His Atlantic City casino, the Taj Mahal, is in financial trouble and is supposed to be up for sale, as are his yacht, the Trump Princess, and his airline, the Trump Shuttle. One columnist in New York, Gail Collins, wrote, "To me, Trump sounds about two steps away from selling used magazines on the sidewalk," and Abe Wallach, an executive in a development firm, said, "Trump just thought the real estate market was heading upwards indefinitely and people would keep buying at higher and higher prices. He forgot that what goes up must come down." But there are many people who are attempting to emulate Donald Trump, seeking to accumulate all that they can so that they might get as much pleasure out of life as possible.
1. In Jesus' parable, anyone who lives mainly to gather goods and properties and other signs of wealth about him is at best a "rich fool." That person has forgotten that his life and everything else are gifts from God, not possessions that belong to that person forever.
2. The "rich fool," who lives for pleasure and plenty, as if these are all there is to live, is really a "poor fool," according to Jesus' parable. And, as anyone knows who has lived more than a few decades, a rich person may become a poor person very quickly.
3. The really "rich fool" is the person who gives his life for others, for Christ and the church - the person who gives of his wealth for the blessing and benefit of other people in the world. This "rich fool" is responsible, not that he seeks to preserve what he has accumulated, but that this person seeks to serve Christ and other human beings.
4.So, Jesus was really telling people to thank God for his good gifts and to trust him with your life, a life that is precious - has to be - because the cross of Christ tells us how much we are worth to God. That's what changes a "poor fool" into a "really rich" child of God.
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:18-26 (L); 1:2; 2:(1-7, 11) 18-23 (E); 1:2; 2:21-23 (RC) - "A Fool Who Is Becoming Wise."
1. The Preacher saw life as it really is; he realized that he would have to give up everything he had worked for and accumulated when he reached the end of life and died. "All is vanity," he declares.
2. One stands on the threshold of despair, as the Preacher realized, when one contemplates that one's "empire" will become the property of a person who has not worked for it, a person who may think that "all of this" is his forever. And he says, "This, too, is vanity."
3. Vanity is overcome when one finds pleasure in the simple things of life and joy in the work which he performs, because these things, just as is life itself, are gifts of God. "This is not vanity!"
4. God is pleased with such people and blesses them abundantly in one way or another. "And there's no vanity in that" because God does it, not people.
2 Kings 13:14-20a (C)
1. Tell the story of Elisha's life very briefly. (In any sermon on this pericope, one would have to "fill in the gaps" in Elisha's life and ministry, because eight chapters of the book have been omitted from last week's pericope to this one.)
2. Elisha was a prophet as long as he was alive. He had strength enough, when he was on his death-bed, to predict victory over the Syrians by the king of Israel.
3. Even in death, he was concerned that God's gifts would not be squandered. That's what King Jo'ash really did when he struck the arrows to the ground only three times, for God wanted to give him total victory over the Syrians, but he "blew it."
4. Make the most of the gifts of God. That's his message to you and me, and give him thanks for his concern and his care and support in the trials and tribulations of life. He is really a loving Father, this God of ours!
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 (RC); 3:1-11 (L, C); 3:(5-11), 12-17 (E) - "A Quality Life."
1. Christians should live on a higher level than people who do not believe in Christ and have not been baptized. Their baptism has elevated them to a new level of life in Jesus Christ.
2. Christians must renounce and "put to death" those things that belong to a godless way of life: Allow them to be drowned in the water of the font by daily recognition of weaknesses and sins, repentance for sins committed, and by praying for strength to live the risen life of the Lord.
3. Christians have been given the assurance that their lives will go on after death! And by living in faith and obedience to their Lord, they preserve their baptism by attempting to live - through the help of the Spirit - a quality life.
4.Life in Christ is quality living. It is ours in baptism, so let us live it.
Liturgical purists might call this "skin them alive" Sunday, according to the long-standing tradition that St. Bartholomew, whose day may be celebrated near this Sunday, depending on the lectionary followed and calendar year, was actually skinned while alive. Of course, that is only conjecture and the truth is that no one knows for certain when he died, or how, or where. In iconography, St. Bartholomew is represented by a skinning knife and a book, and sometimes he is pictured holding a knife with the devil under his foot. There is little doubt, despite the uncertainties of tradition and conjecture, that Bartholomew, who may also be known as Nathanael, died a martyr, as did all of the disciples, except John. Actually, St. Bartholomew's day is a day of infamy in the church, because the terrible slaughter of the Hugenots began in France on St. Bartholomew's Eve, in 1572, and continued into the middle of September; more than 50,000 people were killed in that period of time. Pope Gregory XIII had a medal created in memory of the massacre.
Awareness of this martyr's day and others - and regardless of whether or not it is celebrated, all of the martyrs' day focus on the very heart of the gospel, the death and resurrection of our Lord and the blessed assurance that the martyrs all had in Jesus Christ. Once more, the death of a martyr testifies to the kerygmatic theology that every Sunday holds to its heart - Jesus Christ, Son of God and born of Mary, was crucified, died, and rose from the grave on the third day, ascended into heaven, and promised to return at the end of time to bring in the fullness of the kingdom of God. He declared that he would be with his own "always." That constitutes the kerygmatic framework of the church year, and lays the business of telling Jesus' story faithfully and convincingly upon the shoulders of the pastors and people of the church.
The Prayer Of The Day
Once again, The Lutheran Book Of Worship contains two collects for this day, and the second collect seems obviously to have been prepared for the Gospel of the Day, Luke 12:13-21. It reads this way: "Almighty God, judge of us all, you have placed in our hands the wealth we call our own. Give us such wisdom by your Spirit that our possessions may not be a curse in our lives, but an instrument for blessing; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
(Note: As happens so often, the Prayer of the Day not only points to the Gospel for the Day, but it may also provide a clue as to how that Gospel may be preached. The clue, in this prayer, is "that our possessions may not be a curse in our lives, but an instrument for blessing." For some, who may have read the Gospel for the Day already, "building larger and larger barns, and so on," - a stewardship sermon may be suggested.)
The Psalm For The Day
Psalm 49:1-11 (E, L) - It would be almost impossible to locate a psalm that is better suited to preparing people for hearing the Gospel for the Day than Psalm 49. The Psalmist calls people "wicked" who "put their trust in their goods, and boast of their great riches." There is little or no hope for those persons; they will die, just as the poor will die, and they will leave their riches to others. They cut themselves off from God, and eternal life, because they trust themselves when they should put their trust in God. They may be worldly wise, but they haven't learned that "you can't take it (your possessions) with you." They haven't learned that God alone is their hope and salvation, their only chance of getting out of the predicament that their greed and selfishness have created. When one reads this psalm, one is reminded of the order of Alexander the Great before he died. He commanded that holes for his hands should be cut into his coffin, so that they could protrude through them -empty - informing people that even he, who had conquered all of the known world of his time, could take nothing with him when he died. We come into the world with empty hands, and we leave it the same way.
Psalm prayer (49 - LBW) - "Lord Jesus, you condemned the rich because they have already received their reward, and you proclaimed the poor blessed because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Teach us to seek imperishable goods and to have confidence in your blood, poured out as the price of our redemption; and to you be glory now and forever."
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 (RC) - This is a frequently used psalm, finding places in the various liturgies of the churches and specifically in the psalmody of Sunday worship; it is best known as the Venite. Comments on Psalm 95 may be located in the Lectionary Preaching Workbook III, Cycle B.
Psalm prayer (95 - LBW) - "Almighty God, neither let us go astray as did those who murmured in the desert, nor let us be torn apart by discord. With Jesus as our shepherd, bring us to enjoy the unity for which he prays; and to you be the glory and the praise now and forever."
The Readings
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:18-26 (L); 1:2; 2:(1-7, 11), 18-23 (E); 1:2, 2:21-23 (RC) - The Preacher, who is named as the son of David (Solomon's imprimatur, perhaps?), paints a vivid and bleak picture of human life on a level that has no room for God. "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." The writer actually expands on the lament of Psalm 49, because he has come to his senses, he who has become the richest and wisest man of his time knows that he will die just as surely as the poorest of people and will leave all of his possessions to others. Only in the last few verses (2:24-26) of the reading does the Preacher find respite from his despair, because he has discovered that the person who believes that his/her work/career and possessions - one's quality of life, if you will - come from God as a gift; lives in "wisdom and knowledge and joy." The reading is mostly bad news, but there is some very good news in the readings at the end of chapter 2. And this pericope certainly prepares people for hearing the words of Jesus in the Gospel for the Day.
2 Kings 13:14-20a (C) - Here is the story of the impending death of Elisha, who receives a plea from Jo'ash, king of Israel, for the assistance of Israel's cavalry and chariots, because there was trouble with Syria. Elisha gave the king orders to open a window, take an arrow and shoot it towards the east; he called it "The Lord's arrow of victory, ... over Syria!" And Elisha prophesied that Jo'ash would fight Syria until it was destroyed. However, following the prophet's orders again, he struck a bunch of arrows on the ground three times and then he stopped, only to receive a rebuke from Elisha, who told him he should have kept on striking the arrows on the ground. Therefore, Jo'ash would only "strike down" the Syrians three times, instead of many more times, which would have meant the annihilation of Syria. And then, after this prophecy of violence and war, Elisha died and was buried.
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 (RC); 3:1-11 (L, C); 3:(5-11) 12-17 (E) - This is a meditation/exhortation to the Colossians to live the life of people who have died in baptism and been raised to new life in Jesus Christ. Those who belong to Jesus and the "risen life," by virtue of their baptism, need to strive all the time to live out that new life in the living Lord.
This means putting behind one deliberately sinful ways, and "Paul" tells them, "put on the new nature, which is being renewed in the knowledge of its creator." And this also means, although it isn't said in this pericope, that one has to die over and over again through daily repentance for one's sins, and rise every day through the Word and Holy Spirit, and strive to be obedient to the will of God the Father. God is busy, attempting to make us over in his image, which breaks down all divisions and distinctions that may be made about people in this world. "Christ is all," he says, "and in all."
Luke 12:13-21 (RC, E, L, C) - The Gospel for the Day, which is the chief reading and (at least, liturgically) the preaching text for the Sunday liturgy, should complete the other readings and proclaim the gospel to the hearers. This reading certainly does the first, that is, in the parable of the rich fool, Jesus illustrates the other readings in a very graphic manner. He shows the futility of living for today, for the accumulation of wealth and possessions, for living as if there were no tomorrow, and that this life is all there is. Such people - and his parable certainly makes contact with people today who are living a materialistic existence - have cut themselves off from God and eternal life; they have doomed themselves to death in an existence that is apart from. God. There is very little good news in this gospel, although it implied in all that Jesus says.
Sermon Suggestions, Synopses, Sketches, Stories
Luke 12:13-21 (RC, E, L, C) - "Rich Fools Are Really Poor Fools." The Associated Press published a story just at the time when Donald Trump was obviously in deep, financial trouble, and his "empire" in danger of total collapse, with this title: "Check this: Trump cashed a 13-center." It seems that Spy magazine conducted an operation to answer the question (of its cover story), "Who is America's cheapest zillionaire?" Spy created a company called the National Refund Clearinghouse, opening a checking account, and sending checks for $1.11 to 58 "well-known, well-heeled Americans." Twenty-six of these people, including Donald Trump and Adnam Khashoggi, cashed their checks; 32 people did not. Next, checks for 65 cents were sent to the people who had cashed the $1.11 checks, and 13 of these people - including Trump and Khashoggi - cashed them. Finally, all 13 received a check for 13 cents, and only Trump and Khashoggi cashed them. The magazine said, in its July 1990 issue, "These habits of thriftiness will stand these men in good stead when they are behind bars or out in the street and find it necessary to assembly the funds to buy cigarettes or a cheese sandwich."
Donald Trump has said, "Everything I put my name on makes money," but it is beginning to appear that his name is being removed from many possessions. The same issue of the newspaper, which had the Spy story, carried another Associated Press article, "Trump lifestyle may suffer as creditors close in." His Atlantic City casino, the Taj Mahal, is in financial trouble and is supposed to be up for sale, as are his yacht, the Trump Princess, and his airline, the Trump Shuttle. One columnist in New York, Gail Collins, wrote, "To me, Trump sounds about two steps away from selling used magazines on the sidewalk," and Abe Wallach, an executive in a development firm, said, "Trump just thought the real estate market was heading upwards indefinitely and people would keep buying at higher and higher prices. He forgot that what goes up must come down." But there are many people who are attempting to emulate Donald Trump, seeking to accumulate all that they can so that they might get as much pleasure out of life as possible.
1. In Jesus' parable, anyone who lives mainly to gather goods and properties and other signs of wealth about him is at best a "rich fool." That person has forgotten that his life and everything else are gifts from God, not possessions that belong to that person forever.
2. The "rich fool," who lives for pleasure and plenty, as if these are all there is to live, is really a "poor fool," according to Jesus' parable. And, as anyone knows who has lived more than a few decades, a rich person may become a poor person very quickly.
3. The really "rich fool" is the person who gives his life for others, for Christ and the church - the person who gives of his wealth for the blessing and benefit of other people in the world. This "rich fool" is responsible, not that he seeks to preserve what he has accumulated, but that this person seeks to serve Christ and other human beings.
4.So, Jesus was really telling people to thank God for his good gifts and to trust him with your life, a life that is precious - has to be - because the cross of Christ tells us how much we are worth to God. That's what changes a "poor fool" into a "really rich" child of God.
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:18-26 (L); 1:2; 2:(1-7, 11) 18-23 (E); 1:2; 2:21-23 (RC) - "A Fool Who Is Becoming Wise."
1. The Preacher saw life as it really is; he realized that he would have to give up everything he had worked for and accumulated when he reached the end of life and died. "All is vanity," he declares.
2. One stands on the threshold of despair, as the Preacher realized, when one contemplates that one's "empire" will become the property of a person who has not worked for it, a person who may think that "all of this" is his forever. And he says, "This, too, is vanity."
3. Vanity is overcome when one finds pleasure in the simple things of life and joy in the work which he performs, because these things, just as is life itself, are gifts of God. "This is not vanity!"
4. God is pleased with such people and blesses them abundantly in one way or another. "And there's no vanity in that" because God does it, not people.
2 Kings 13:14-20a (C)
1. Tell the story of Elisha's life very briefly. (In any sermon on this pericope, one would have to "fill in the gaps" in Elisha's life and ministry, because eight chapters of the book have been omitted from last week's pericope to this one.)
2. Elisha was a prophet as long as he was alive. He had strength enough, when he was on his death-bed, to predict victory over the Syrians by the king of Israel.
3. Even in death, he was concerned that God's gifts would not be squandered. That's what King Jo'ash really did when he struck the arrows to the ground only three times, for God wanted to give him total victory over the Syrians, but he "blew it."
4. Make the most of the gifts of God. That's his message to you and me, and give him thanks for his concern and his care and support in the trials and tribulations of life. He is really a loving Father, this God of ours!
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 (RC); 3:1-11 (L, C); 3:(5-11), 12-17 (E) - "A Quality Life."
1. Christians should live on a higher level than people who do not believe in Christ and have not been baptized. Their baptism has elevated them to a new level of life in Jesus Christ.
2. Christians must renounce and "put to death" those things that belong to a godless way of life: Allow them to be drowned in the water of the font by daily recognition of weaknesses and sins, repentance for sins committed, and by praying for strength to live the risen life of the Lord.
3. Christians have been given the assurance that their lives will go on after death! And by living in faith and obedience to their Lord, they preserve their baptism by attempting to live - through the help of the Spirit - a quality life.
4.Life in Christ is quality living. It is ours in baptism, so let us live it.
