Second Sunday after Pentecost • Year C

Historical Collect

For those who love you, O God, you have chosen and prepared what no eye has seen nor ear heard. Pour into our hearts a loving affection for you, that we may choose you in and above all things. For only then shall we have what you promise, which far exceeds all we can desire; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)

Thematic Collect

Life-giving God, in the midst of a world torn asunder by sin and evil, we call out to you for peace, life, and salvation. Hear our cries; defend us from all evil and restore our hope; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

We have no merit or worthiness before God; indeed, we are seen by him as unworthy. Though taught by his law how to behave, we fail—and we fail most miserably. Nonetheless, as many as are baptized into Christ have put on the vestment of salvation because of God’s promise and Christ’s righteousness. We are adopted into the family of God because of Christ’s virtue, not our own. For we are a multitude of sin and demons, not in our right minds, yet through faith in Christ, clothed in his righteousness, and restored to a rational mentality.

First Reading • Isaiah 65:1–9

God has made himself known in his word, yet we try to hide from him because of our sin. We feel guilty because, well, we are guilty. We are a rebellious people who want to do things our way instead of in God’s way. Still, though God has every right to repay us for our actions, he has chosen to share the inheritance of his own Son to adopted sons and daughters.

Psalm • Psalm 3:1-8

Sometimes it is helpful to read David’s Psalms, thinking of “enemies” or “foes” as our sins. How many are such foes! They are rising up against us and it seems that they are having their way and that we are utterly defeated. Still, if we take David at his word, or even consider the words of Luther, we may lie down at night and sleep without fear. Luther wrote in his Small Catechism, “In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the holy cross and say: ‘In the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.’ Then kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer… Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.” Our sin has been defeated by God in Christ. Though the enemy sends his demons on the occasional skirmish, the victory is the Lord’s.

Second Reading • Galatians 3:23–4:7

The Law is our teacher. In it we not only learn what God expects of us but when we fail to live up to his expectations, the Law reminds us that we have been poor students. My favorite professors were ones whom I wanted to be like in some way or another. SoI followed their examples, read the many books they assigned, wrote  papers, and participated in their classes. Still, there were times when I failed to do all of the homework that they assigned and when I got to class, I felt guilty. I still feel bad about it these many years later. But I have diplomas hanging on my wall that declare that I passed the courses. When I feel guilty for not working hard enough (eg: when my Greek and Hebrew fail me) I remember that by the grace of God (and a few professors), I still have my diplomas.

Our faith in Christ is like a diploma — though more like a baptismal certificate. You will be accused by the Law every day. But you may then point to that certificate and say with God’s authority, “Thank you, Professor Law, for pointing out my error. I will try to do better. But do you notice that certificate hanging on my wall? I am clothed in Christ now, not in my own righteous or unrighteous works.”

Gospel • Luke 8:26–39

Legion, naked, shackled, and kept under guard, is the perfect image of a man living under the Law. Later, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, he is the image of a man touched by God’s grace. Now he is clothed with Christ (Gal 3:27) and free, no longer under guard (Gal 3:25).