The world was a very evil place. God looked upon what He had created, and even in the foreknowledge of the fall of man into sin, grew weary with their wickedness. Moses wrote for us,

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:5-8)

God instructs Noah to build an ark. He is to fill it with every kind of animal, and take his wife, his sons, and his sons’ wives in with them. 40 days and 40 nights the rains fell, and the springs of the deep burst open, gushing forth their water so that the whole earth was flooded. A year, a month, and 20 days later, Noah and his family disembarked.

I think I’m going to be short again this week. Sunday was Exaudi, the Sunday after the Ascension of Our Lord. While anything but normal, Jesus was delivered and received yet again; praise be to Jesus! Monday was a wonderful day off. Tuesday was back to the office, as well as Wednesday. On both days, I planned services for August and September, put together the church calendar for both of those months (perhaps incomplete), and updated the church website accordingly. While we were supposed to meet for Lutheran Confessions Study, many people couldn’t make it, so we called it off. Thursday, I was the teacher at the Breakfast Bible Study; I tried a different dish that morning—it was good and very hot, so it took me a while to finish; consequently, probably not one to get again. Back in the office and I worked on introit and gradual inserts. Friday at the office was spent working on Sunday’s sermon; that evening, I went to the Bible Study host’s house, but only one other person showed up—we talked at length, but didn’t do any real studying. While short, it was a good time for us. Saturday was Elizabash; due to changes made by the chamber of commerce, there weren’t many vendors, and the streets cleared out pretty early. The latter might have been helped by a storm on the horizon. This might be the last year that the church participates; I’m not heartbroken about it.

Here is the text of the email I just sent my US Representative.

Rep. Gardner,

The time is NOW. We should have had enough of the president circumventing the law to suit what he thinks is right. The events of yesterday are over the top. Why are we not hearing anything from congress with regard to the 30 days notice he is supposed to give you before releasing prisoners from Guantanamo? Why are we not hearing anything from congress with regard to the fact that his administration negotiated with terrorists? Why is there no outrage over the fact that five top-level terrorists were released, supposedly to spend a year in Qatar, but that we all know will go right back to plotting terrorists acts against the United States? His administration has even admitted to breaking the law. What are you waiting for?

Suspend your campaign for the senate and see to the work you are currently elected to by impeaching President Obama.

Thank you.

As far as the number of weeks go, this one is my favorite number. Those who know me know why. When I play sports games, and create myself as a player in that sport, I either give myself the number 55 or 22. In any event, this week was a bittersweet week.

NOTE: These weekday sermons seem to be chock full of typos and such errors, more so than the Sunday sermons are. Perhaps that's because they are written under more pressure (a tighter deadline). If you listen to the audio, you'll likely hear some places where the manuscript tripped me up. What is entered here and the pdf file are the original, unedited, uncorrected manuscript.

As you were to pore over the Scriptures, you would find periods of time where God is simply silent. There was no thunder from heaven, no smoke, no fire, no trembling mountains—only silence. Not much is said of God’s activity in the time between Noah and Abraham. The Old Testament closes and there was 400 years of silence before John the Baptist, to which even the Apocrypha attests. (cf. 1 Maccabees 9:27) Even in the New Testament, there’s hardly a word from God, even as He walks on earth in the flesh, between the time of Jesus’ Annunciation to His birth, between His birth and baptism, and a little between His resurrection and ascension. Of course, we presume to know that God was active in all of those times, but we read and hear little to nothing of them.

We now live in a time referred to as The Saeculum, a Latin word meaning “age” or “period of time.” It is used to refer to a period of time since an event occurred and the death of the last person to witness the event. This Saeculum that we live in is marked by the period of time in which no one living as seen Jesus in the flesh. By the standards set forth so far in this sermon, The Saeculum is another period of silence from God—there is no thunder from heaven, smoke, fire, or trembling mountains, at least, none of which we can attribute to the direct activity of God to mark His presence. The Canon of Scripture is closed, as there is no further revelation from God. Jesus has come, died on the cross, rose from the grave, and is now ascended to the right hand of majesty.

Now, there is silence...only silence.

“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

As we are about to enter the days of Rogation, the three days before Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of the throne of God, we are given a text on prayer; appropriate to the day, Rogate, which name means “ask” or “call upon.” So, Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”

It was a preparation and enjoyment. We got the house clean, again. We welcomed some guests, again. And right now, a good time is being had by all in our household. Time in the office was short, consequently, but plans were made in that short time.

“And when [the Helper] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

Jesus is speaking of His death, resurrection, and ascension. He speaks to the 12, His chosen disciples, preparing them for the time when He would no longer be among them as He had been before.

Jesus is the Way, so goes on His way; He must go to the cross and grave first, for sins, then, into resurrection and rebirth. But then, Jesus continues on His way, for He ascends into heaven, and is no more seen as He was before. Now the Comforter, that is, the Holy Ghost, comes to His church. (Burnell F. Eckardt, Jr. in Every Day Will I Bless Thee)

There, in Jesus’ Bride, the Church, the Holy Ghost does His work.

Can you believe that there have already been 20 weeks this year? Or, can you believe that there have only been 20 weeks this year? It’s all a matter of perspective, I suppose—where you’ve been, what you’ve done, what you’ve gone through so far this year, or any year—that determines whether a point in time is already so far into a period or only so far into it.