The Lutheran Review

The Leghorn and the Red Fox

The Leghorn and the Fox

Luke 13: 31b-32 “Herod wants to kill you.”  (Jesus) said to them, “Go tell that fox…”

13:34b, “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood…”

One sunny winter day I was skiing beside Apple River that runs through the pasture on the farm where I grew up in Wisconsin.  I spotted a fox trotting across the glistening snow.  Though I froze in place hoping not to spook the animal, it nevertheless spied me and loped off into the distance.

The Leghorn and the Red Fox

As I was skiing beside Apple River in the pasture below the barnyard a fox came running from the hen house.  I knew the devastation it had wreaked.  Chickens in panic and tumult, had tried to escape the leaping canine.  But, alas, the fox’s canines clenched hold of a poultry’ prey.  The survivors huddled on their roosts.  Feathers lay scattered.  Feed went uneaten.  Eggs were not laid.  Worse, the red devil would be back, again and again.

Then I saw a strange sight.  A leghorn followed the fox’s tracks.  I shouted, “Hey, you stupid chicken, what do you think you’re doing?”  I thawed from my spot and raced to cut off the leghorn from its futile and fatal chase. However, it dodged my pointed skis and flailing poles.  With urgency, the white hen scurried across the sparkling landscape.  She paid no attention to the freezing cold, nor halted to peck at a seed by the way.  The foolish bird cast neither an eye skyward toward a circling hawk, nor was alert for the whooshing owl.  With single-minded purpose it pressed its pursuit of the red fox.

Trailing far behind, I finally reached the fox’s lair.  I beheld a disheartening scene at the mouth of the den.  White feathers stained crimson in the hen’s own blood, lay about the entrance.  Scarlet blotches speckled the snow.  A bloody smear in the snow testified to the torn flesh and battered body that the fox had dragged into its home.  I turned my skis around and backtracked across the now well-packed snow.  Stupid chicken.

Three days later, I was pushing a wheelbarrow full of cow manure out the barn door, when I saw a sight beyond my understanding.  The leghorn was picking its way back along the trail, now blown over with drifting snow.  Its feathers were disheveled and bloody.  Its body was scarred.  Its head showed signs of the battering it absorbed.  Yet, the leghorn lived.

 I abandoned my barn cleaning and put on my skis.  Across the white snow I glided to the fox’s den.  There lay the body of the red fox.  Its blood mixed with that of the hen drenched the snow.  Its body as cold as its frozen grave.  I rejoiced at the sight.  The hens were safe.  The enemy defeated.  I could not explain how a harmless chicken could kill a fox.  Yet, when I returned and looked in the chicken coop, calmness reigned.

  I wondered, is it really true that the weak could be strong?  Could it be that the mighty would not always rule?  Could a chicken kill a fox?  If that were possible, then all things are possible.

The Collect of the Day

O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength.  By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thought that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

 

   

Walking in the Ice Mall

The Ice Mall

Where would you expect to find an ice mall?  You might think of Finland where they have in the past had an ice hotel.  The whole hotel was made of blocks of ice.  You might also consider the Twin cities.  At the St. Paul Winter Carnival they use ice in some creative ways.  Ice sculptors are works of art.  Creative use of ice would have been especially possible this winter with plenty of snow and freezing temperatures.  So an ice mall on Lake Calhoun or Lake Phalen.  However, an ice mall, so far as I know, was not to be found in either Finland or St. Paul.

No, you would have to come to St, Louis to find an ice mall.  Actually the mall is in Crestwood less than two miles from my home.  I’ve written of Crestwood court before, which has few stores left.  ArtSpace occupies more store fronts than actual stores.  Most of the foot traffic in the mall is from mall walkers not mall shoppers.

You see, they seem to be saving on heating costs.  So nearly one half of the mall feels like it’s barely heated.  It’s necessary to always wear an extra layer of clothes. Yesterday I forgot the extra pullover so I had to wear my heavy leather jacket while walking.  In fact, most of the people had their winter jackets on.  Some even wore gloves.  A few had donned scarves.  I noticed a few had winter headgear, but those were younger people who wear it for effect even in the summer when its 90 degrees.  So they don’t count.

Today the temperatures are going to get within 10 degrees of normal.  We should be having highs of about 50 by now.  So if you want to experience the ice mall, you had better hurry to Crestwood court.  The ice may melt any week now.

 

 

Elizabeth Fedde

February 25 is the day designated to remember Elizabeth Fedde.  I had never heard of her before.  Still we have far more information on Deaconess Fedde than we have on St. Matthias, the new 12^th disciple that I posted yesterday.

Her daily diary of her work among the Norwegian immigrants in Brooklyn lets the reader in on the work of a Gospel centered minister of our Lord labored among the poor.  It also provides insight into the conditions of immigrants in a latter days of the 19^th century.  Her diary is readily attainable online.

Elizabeth was born on Christmas Day in 1850 in Norway.  She first turned down the suggestion that she train to be a deaconess.  She wanted no part of being one of those women she saw on the streets wearing the deaconess uniforms.  However, the idea played on her mind until she entered deaconess training in 1873.  It’s amazing how the Lord won’t let go of us once he wants us to do some ministry for him.  In 1878 she began work in an especially primitive and harsh environment.  The nine months of winter were unrelenting in their severity.

On her 32^nd birthday she received a letter from her brother-in-law in Brooklyn challenging her to come and work among the Norwegian immigrants, particularly the sailors who found themselves away from home, lonely and with nothing to do but go to the saloons.  She came at some personal cost, leaving behind a man who wanted to marry her.  She arrived in April 1883 and with 8 pastors began a relief society.  By 1885 she had been instrumental in setting up a 9 bed hospital and establishing a home for training deaconesses. In 1888 she was invite4d to come to Minneapolis and set up a deaconess home in Minnesota.  After 2 years she returned to Brooklyn.

In 1896 she returned to Norway and married Ole Slettebjo.  She died in 1921.   

Matthias, the new 12th disciple

Matthias, Called up from the Minors.

I don’t suppose its fitting to say that the person who replaced Judas as the 12^th disciple was called up from the minors. However, baseball is on my mind so I will risk pushing the image a little further. When Judas went down to the injurious sins of greed, betrayal of Jesus and unrepented remorse, Matthias was tapped to fill out the roster and bring the team of disciples up to full strength.

This all occurred after the disciples returned to Jerusalem following Jesus Ascension. They devoted themselves, prayer. A number of women were present including Mary, Jesus mother, and his brothers were there too. In fact there were about 120 persons present when Peter brought up the need to “Let another take his (Judas) office.”

Peter set out the qualifications for the one who would be called. He must have been with them continually from the time when John was baptizing until Jesus’ ascension. Furthermore, the function of the new No. 12 was to join the 11 disciples in witnessing to Jesus’ resurrection. The purpose of the newly filled roster of disciples is to witness to the resurrection.

We might ask ourselves how am I, how are we, how is my church doing in that regard? After all, it was witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus that turned the Mediterranean world from paganism to Christ.

Two men were nominated. Joseph nicknamed Barsabbas, who also had the Latin name of Justus and Matthias. The disciples prayed that the Lord who knows the hearts of everyone would show them which of the two to He had chosen. Casting their votes the lot fell on Matthias.

We know little of Matthias beyond what we have in Acts 1. Tradition places his missionary work in Ethiopia. The LCMS follows the old tradition of remembering Matthias on February 24. The Roman Catholic church moved the day to May 14 so that it fell after the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Other church bodies have followed suit.

The Prayer for St, Matthias’ Day is, Almighty God, you added your servant Matthias to the company of the apostles. Grant that your church may always be taught and guided by faithful and true pastors; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Polycarp

 

There are websites that offer a certificate of ordination for $9.95. What a deal. However, if I had spent only the $9.95 instead of nine years getting a certificate of ordination, then I may never have heard of Polycarp.

Polycarp is a link back to the apostolic age. He was born about AD 69. He was a disciple of the evangelist John. He was martyred on February 23, AD 155..

As bishop of Smyrna (a large commercial city that is located at the end of a gulf off the Aegean Sea) he wrote a letter to the church in Philippi, where Paul started a congregation on the western side of the Aegean. His letter addressed the conduct of the people and the leaders in the church.

“Let us, then hold steadfastly and unceasingly to our Hope and the Pledge of our righteousness, that is, Christ Jesus,’ who bore our sins in his own body on the tree, who committed no sin, neither was guilt found on his lips;’ but for our sakes he endured everything that we might live in him.”

Arrested after a member his household betrayed him he was paraded through the city on a donkey. As he entered the arena a voice spoke from heaven, “Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.” His executioners tried to persuade him to save his life by renouncing Christ. In response he said, “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” A letter written back to the church at Smyrna called, The Martyrdom of Polycarp encourages believers even to this day. His name meant “bears much fruit.” So he does.

He was tied to a stake. As they were about to light the fire to burn him, He prayed, “I bless you because you have deemed me worthy of this day and hour to take my part in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of your Christ, for the resurrection to eternal life.”

Prayer

O God, the maker of heaven and earth, You gave boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Savior and steadfastness to die for the faith to Your venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp. Grant us grace to follow his example in sharing the cup of Christ’s suffering so that we may also share in His glorious resurrection; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.”

What does Jesus look like?

Artists throughout the ages have sought to capture in their work the character and person of Jesus.  In the light of the Devil’s attempt to tempt Jesus, Henri Nouwen has an interesting take on getting an accurate portrait of Jesus.

Jesus chose not to be relevant and turn stones into bread.  There is no lack of stones in the Middle East.  However, when the rains failed there could be a lack of bread.  Jesus also refused to be powerful.  He would not bow down to the devil for all the power in the world.  Think of how much good he could have done were he to accept a crown. Finally, Jesus turned down the opportunity to be spectacular.  Consider the extremes people will go to for their fifteen minutes of fame.

For an accurate portrait of Jesus, Nouwen suggests that we look to the Beatitudes (Matt. 5: 2-12).  In the Beatitudes we see a portrait of someone who is blessed because he mourns (Luke 13:34-35).  Blessed are the meek.  Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness (Matt 4:15).  Blessed are the merciful (John 8:4ff).  Blessed are the pure in heart.  Blessed are the peacemakers.  Blessed are those who are persecuted (John 11:57).

This is the self-portrait Jesus gives us.  Furthermore, when we see Jesus we see his heavenly father.  Jesus used his power to defeat death and displayed his spectacular glory to rise from the dead.

Jesus does not turn stones to bread, but turns bread into his body at Holy Communion that we might have a taste of the feast to come when we live not by the bread on our table, nor even by the bread of the sacrament, but in the presence of the Bread of Life forever.

Artists will continue to capture Jesus on canvas, film or in stone.  We each have an image of him in our minds.    However, as Paul writes in a different context, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.”

The challenge for us as we live under the gospel is to become more and like him in our life here and now.

Lord, through Your Holy Spirit make me more like Jesus that I may be a reflection of his image in my life, today, tomorrow and foerever.          

How much would you pay?

What would you pay?

Would you pay $250 for a signed piece of sports memorabilia?  If you would, I have my four finger glove I used when I played softball for the Happy Pipers 4-H club.  I would be glad to sign it.  We were a team of some note.  We won Polk County B league championships in 1954 and 1957.  Still won’t bite?  Then perhaps the Kurt Warner signed St. Louis Rams helmet that I saw in a store at the mall is more to your liking.  Furthermore, it’s priced just right.  Not $250, but the low, low price of $249.99.

The second temptation provided by the devil in the gosp0el lesson for this Sunday is similar.  Matthew reports that the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain.    Luke, however, writes, “And the devil took him up.”    I never noticed that before.  It solves the problem of finding a mountain high enough to see all the kingdoms of the world.  If that kind of thing is a problem.  In Luke, the devil simply, simple for Jesus and the devil, took Jesus up.  Does Luke mean into the air where they could hang suspended and view the whole world?  We have a TV channel that gives us a satellite view of the world rotating below.   If they just kind of hung out in the stratosphere that presents other problems.  Jesus was not only the Son of God, but also the son of Mary.  He needed oxygen and he since he was flesh and blood he would have frozen solid.  Perhaps Fred Danker is correct.  Mountain may not have mentioned a mountain because mountains are sites for God’s revelations.

In any case, the devil showed him all the wonders, power and glory of the world in a sp.lit second.  Then he makes Jesus an offer.  The devil’s words are similar to words that Caesar spoke, “When Mars has done this work, I am the one with power to give what kings and nations now possess.”  Later, Nero said, “I have power to take away kingdoms and to bestow them.”

The devil claims to have power “as god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) to hand out kingdoms to whomever he will, provided they pay the price.   Jesus can have it all for the bargain basement price of switching sides from his Father to an underling, the devil.  After all, Jesus is the son of Adam who was the first son of God.  If the devil could get the first son of God to barter away his life for a piece of fruit, then why not try the same gambit with the second Son of God?  All Jesus had to do was recognize the devil’s supremacy.  Of course it was a bogus promise, based on a bogus certificate of ownership.

  What the first Adam could not do, remain faithful to God his Father, the second Adam would do for us and for our salvation.  The only one truly worthy of such adoration is heavenly Father who created the first Adam and set him on the earth and sent his own Son, the second Adam, through the womb of Mary to save all creation from the misstep of Adam I.

A hymn verse we sang this morning is a fitting prayer.

Though parched and hungry,

Yet you prayed

And fixed your mind above;

So teach us to deny ourselves,

Since we have known God’s love.  (LSB 418, 3)   

  

I Noticed

This morning I noticed that yesterday (February 18) was not Martin Luther’s 527^th birthday but the 464^th anniversary of his death.  Oops!  There was something poking in my brain trying to get my attention, but I didn’t bother to take notice.  Luther was born November 11.  I also wished a couple of people Happy Martin Luther Birthday.  But no one noticed, not even anyone from the vast worldwide readership of this blog.  At least no one notified me.  It’s a good thing I’m not running for president, because an opponent’s campaign would find my gaffe and spend millions of dollars in advertising questioning my mental acuity, and rightly so.

I also noticed this morning something else poking, not in my brain but through the snow.  Daffodils!

In St. Louis we wait with anticipation for the blooming of the daffodils along the embankments of Hwy 40 (or if you insist I-64) that runs through the heart of St. Louis city and county.  I plan to take notice.

Martin Luther at 527

Martin Luther was born on February 18, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany.  How does one summarize the life of someone who changed the history of Europe, solidified the German language, was a university professor, wrote volumes of material, lived many years as an outlaw excommunicated from the Roman church and under the ban of the emperor, was a man of great tenderness and generosity who also could exchange vituperation for vituperation with his opponents?  On this his 527^th birthday I will let Luther speak for himself.

The Nativity

Let us, then, meditate upon the nativity just as we see it happening in our own babies.  I would not have you contemplate the deity of Christ, the majesty of Christ, but rather his flesh.  Look upon the Baby Jesus.  Divinity may terrify man.  Inexpressible majesty will crush him.  That is why Christ took on our humanity, save for sin, that he should not terrify us but rather that with love and favor he should console and confirm.  (Quoted in Martin Luther Christmas Book, Roland Bainton)

The Temptation of Jesus

Learn from Christ here that there are two kinds of bread.  The first and best breach, which comes down from heaven, is the Word of God; the second and of lesser benefit is the temporal bread, which comes forth from the earth.  (First Sunday in Lent, 1534, Sermons of Martin Luther, The House Postils)

Holy Easter, April 13, 1533

If the devil approaches us and says, Look here, see how great you sin is; see, too, how bitter, how terrible is the death you must suffer; then you must counter with, Devil, don’t you know the power of my Lord Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection?  In him there is eternal righteousness and eternal life; his resurrection from the dead is mightier than my sin, death, and hell, greater than heaven and earth.  My death and sin are minute drops, but my Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection is a vast ocean.  (Same as above.)

How One Should Pray, for Master Peter the Barber, 1535

It is clear to me that a person who forgets what he has said has not prayed well.  In a good prayer one fully remembers every word and thought from the beginning to the end of the prayer….so, a good and attentive barber keeps his thoughts, attention, and eyes on the razor and hair and does not forget how far he has gotten with his shaving or cutting….or he is likely to cut his customer’s mouth, nose, or even his throat.

To this day I suckle at the Lord’s Prayer like a child, and as an old man eat and drink from it and never get my fill.

Music

I truly desire that all Christians would love music and regard as worthy the lovely gift of music, which is a precious, worthy and costly treasure given mankind by God….In summa, next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in this world.

  Those who are not moved by this are indeed, unmusical and desire to hear some dunghill poet or music of swine….all those who are not stirred by music I regard as blockheads and senseless stones.  (Quoted from Luther on Music by Walter E. Buszin)

Marriage

Luther wrote much on marriage.  The following may surprise you and give those pastors who don’t care for weddings, myself included, an out.

Luther wrote in 1538

Marriage is a civic matter.  It is really not, together with all its circumstances, the business of the church.  It is so only when a matter of conscience is involved.

In 1530 he wrote, I do not find any instance in the New Testament in which Christ or the apostles interested themselves in such matters.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUTHER!

What's after the Ashes?

 

Many of us will receive a cross shaped smudge of ashes on our foreheads today.  Those imposing the ashes will say, “Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

The ashes are a sign of mortality and death.   The sense of mortality and death is deepened in the hymn, “Savior, when in dust to Thee.”   The hymn outlines the life of Christ.  “By Thy helpless infant years …by Thine hour of dire despair…”  Then in the fourth stanza we sing,

By Thy deep expiring groan,

By the sad sepulchral stone,

By the vault whose dark abode

Held in vain the rising God,

O, from earth to heav’n restored,

Mighty, reascended Lord,

Bending from Thy throne on high,

 Hear our penitential cry!

The emphasis on ashes and dust continues in the confession of sins, “We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment.”  We cast ourselves on God’s mercy.  “Forgive us, renew us and lead us.”  Immediately we hear that God has heard our plea.  “God in His mercy has given His son to die for you and for his sake forgives you all your sins.”  Just in case we may think that our sins are so numerous and bad that not even Christ’s death could pay the price, the pastor continues, “I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  We speak our assent with our “Amen”, Yes it is so.

The service proceeds with renewed calls for repentance and repeated announcements of God’s mercy.  The Old Testament lesson from Joel calls us to tear our hearts and return to the Lord, “for he is gracious and merciful.”  In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10) we will hear Paul say, “Behold now is the favorable time; behold now is the day of salvation.” 

 Dare we miss the high point in the service when we receive the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and our strengthening and preservation to life everlasting? 

Before we go out into the world we dusty people of God hear,

“The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.  The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.”  To which we say, “Yes, it is so.”