A Famine Not of Bread

Click here to listen to this sermon. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others” (Luke 20:13-15). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The key to understanding any of the parables is to look for the point where it departs from everyday life. Well, good luck with this one! No one behaves in the way that we would normally expect them to behave. I mean, what landowner would keep sending his servants to collect the rent when they’re being so mistreated? Couldn’t he send a couple of big guys with swords? Maybe the sheriff? Or the militia? And then he’s even so naïve as to send his...

Click here to listen to this sermon. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! We’ve been rejoicing in the great benefits of our Lord’s Body and Blood given in the Sacrament. Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. A soothing medicine. A precious remedy against the poison in our systems. The medicine of immortality. The antidote that we should not die, but live forever in Jesus Christ. Food that strengthens us for the journey to the promised land of heaven. How can this be? How do these great things happen? What works such magnificent benefits for you? Is it your eating and drinking? Maybe the way you chew the host? How about whether you receive it in your hand or mouth? Perhaps the way you swish around the wine in your mouth? And then the way you swallow both? Not letting the host touch your teeth. Not letting the wine hit your cheeks. Common cup or individual cup? And if not that, then maybe it’s the kind of bread and wine that you use. Moist bread? Swee...