I'm going to start a new series on my blog. I hope to update it every day this year. Yes, that's 365 entries. If nothing more, I plan to list what I did that day.

• I stayed up to midnight. I wasn't expecting to, but I made it. Happy New Year!
• We had church at 10am. The Circumcision and Name of Jesus was the event. The sermon is posted on the site, so you can read it.
• I made a roast of pork tenderloin. Accompanying it was Spätzle. Roasted carrots and tomatoes rounded out the meal. It made for a delicious late lunch or early supper.
• The rest of the day was spent lounging. I played some Gran Turismo 6 and NHL 14 (PS3).

Sermon Audio

Dear fellow firstborn sons of God by way of baptism into the Son of God, Merry Eighth Day of Christmas. Today, your God fulfills the law for you. For, on this day the infant Son of God, Creator of the universe, goes under the knife to mark Himself as a son of the covenant. He is of the people of God as He receives circumcision on His eighth day.

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“Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD.”

In this morning’s Gospel lesson, 40 days have passed since Wednesday. For Mary, it was the time appointed for mothers who have given birth to sons to purify themselves, according to the law, and when firstborn sons were presented to the LORD. (cf. Leviticus 12:2-6) Therefore, on this first observance of the Presentation of Our Lord this year, for 40 days after Wednesday falls on a Sunday this church year, we begin in Egypt, to the time just after the first Passover.

Note: This sermon is an update to this one.

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

Is that not an interesting way to begin a Gospel? St. John points to the very beginning, using words that would have us look at the very beginning of our Scriptures—Genesis. More than that however, he tells you that your Savior was there when the heavens and the earth were created: “In the beginning was the Word...” Jesus is the Word! He was with God in the beginning, and He is God.

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What is a just man to do?

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It’s quite a stark contrast. As chapter four of St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians begins, he urges the church in Philippi to help two sisters in Christ of the congregation to “be of the same mind in the Lord.” Euodia and Syntyche are at an impasse, it would seem. They are butting heads. They are at odds with each other. Paul never says what’s gotten between them, but these ladies are mad at each other. Paul implores them to get along. He points out that their names are written in the Book of Life. (cf. Philippians 4:1-3)

And then tonight’s pericope starts. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Wait, there’s quarreling going on...why rejoice? Because their names are written in the Book of Life. Because the Lord is at hand. Because the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I find it interesting and not the least bit questionable that the rallying cry this time of year from the American Evangelicals is to "Keep Christ in Christmas." They are easily offended, and their offense at this time is toward the phrase "Happy Holidays." Some are offended at the term "X-mas." To them, it detracts from the "reason for the season."

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There are two questions of interest in today’s Gospel. The first is the question John sends his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” The second is the question Jesus asks of the crowds around Him: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” Both questions deal with perception and reality, desire and the truth, and set these in opposition to each other. And both can be asked today, as well.

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“’And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?’”

The prophet Malachi, the prophet who closed the Old Testament, at which time there was about 400 years of silence—no prophet appeared among the people of Israel (cf. 1 Maccabees 9:27) until the new Elijah, John the Baptist (cf. Malachi 4:5)—first tells of the coming of the Lord. YHWH would appear suddenly among His people, whom they seek and in whom they delight. He will come to his temple.