In Bethlehem, the House of Bread: A Christmas Hymn and a Eucharistic Hymn

In Bethlehem, the House of Bread,
Jesus was born, the Church's Head.
Within the Church, the House of Bread,
Those born in Christ His flesh are fed.

The Babe wrapped up in swaddling clothes
Wraps up His Church, that she, enclosed
Within His flesh and blood may be
Clothed with divine humanity.

Archangels, angels, saints above,
Magnify Him who came in love,
To call the hungry to His Feast,
From north and south, from west and east.

The manger held the God of life,
Who came to swallow sin and strife.
Christ, let my tongue Thy manger be,
That I may swallow life in Thee.

His mother's flesh, which Christ assumed,
Is by His Virgin Bride consumed.
The Word made flesh makes her His own,
Joined flesh to flesh and bone to bone.

Born in the darkness of the night,
The Father's uncreated Light,
Illumines us with earthly wine,
Full of the glow of blood divine.

O God made man, make us in Thee
Partakers of divinity.
Feed us Thy flesh and blood, we cry;
Fill us with Thee, O God Most High.

Chad L. Bird
2001

To be sung to the tune Bethlehem,
by Burnell F. Eckardt, Jr.
2001

First published in the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany 2001 issue of Gottesdienst.

Christmas in Lent: A Homily for the Annunciation of Our Lord

Luke 1:26-38

Annunciation of Our Lord

25 March 2012

St. John's, Chicago, IL

In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"Wait! Am I missing something?" you ask. It's Lent. Why in the world did we just hear about the conception of Jesus? It's as if you are watching a film about Lent, and going into some major flashback. It just doesn't make sense, does it?

Well, actually it does. First of all, the Festival of the Annunciation is very ancient, and this is the fixed date chosen for it. This festival is older than Christmas, and in fact, if you count nine months from today, when we celebrate the conception of Jesus Christ, you will discover why the Church celebrates Christmas on December 25th.

But perhaps more profoundly, why would we celebrate the Lord God taking on flesh in the womb of His Blessed Mother, even while we ponder His suffering and death? It is for that very reason that the Word became flesh! Not just "born to die," but "conceived to die," as well. The entire purpose for Jesus becoming a baby, starting as a fertilized egg in the Virgin Mary, is that He would give His life as a ransom for the many.

In our day, a couple can find out amazingly soon after they have conceived. An ultrasound can reveal the sex of the baby at an early stage. And they enjoy the process of selecting a name for their child.

In this case, the Blessed Virgin found out sooner than anyone else; the Angel Gabriel proclaimed the conception as it happened. It was the Word of God issuing from his mouth that caused the conception. The Word of God does what it says! No guessing about the sex of this Baby, either. The Lord removes all the guesswork by declaring from the get-go that this is a Son. And the name? No normal circumstance there, either. The Lord Himself chose the Name, a Name that would declare who He is and what He does: "Jesus!" which means, "the Lord saves!"

No ordinary conception. No ordinary baby. The Lord God was entering time and space to take on flesh and become Man to be our Savior. The Seed of Woman, proclaimed and prophesied by God in the Garden, was now entering the world He would save.

Satan hates that, and wants to distract you from the Word made flesh. He would much rather you imagine a spiritual, distant Jesus who is not so real. And often, you get sucked into that deception.

If you cannot locate Jesus, and He is only with you "spiritually," and there is no certain tangible connection, it becomes a whole lot easier to forget Him and do what pleases you. If Jesus is simply "out there" somewhere, you are more prone to openly break every commandment, from misusing the Lord's Name, to hurting others in their bodies, to lusting or coveting. It all feels easier to you, and your attitude deepens the division between you and God. If you cannot locate Jesus, the devil enjoys that you feel divided, cut off from the Lord. Jesus seems like He is merely some ghostly apparition, or imaginary friend, and vanishes from reality, or rather, your twisted imagined version of reality.

The world encourages this too. And often you don't mind following their lead. It gets divided. Secular "science" and "objective facts," are for the study and discussion of everything else, while "religion" gets sequestered and quarantined, and you enter a condescending notion that when you discuss matters about God and sin and righteousness, you have entered "the neighborhood of make believe."

The division seems harmless enough, at first. "Separation of Church and state" you hear from others, and it seems to apply for categories in your own personal thinking too. Separate Jesus into His own place, and the stuff from the "real" world is different. But such division in your mind is not harmless. It is harmful.

If Jesus is merely imagined or spiritualized, then He is not the God-with-us Son of God and Son of Mary. And you are stuck in your sin. And you are lost forever. Condemned. Without hope.

But He is not. Jesus is not some spirit. He is not some fairy tale or myth. He is the flesh and blood King of kings and Lord of lords who has come into this world to save you. "Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see. Hail! The incarnate Deity!" the hymn exclaims. Jesus has veiled and hidden His amazing and indescribable glory as God, becoming Man for you. He has made it possible for that first generation of the Church to see and hear and touch Him.

He continues this miracle, now veiling Himself in the waters of Baptism, in the words of the preached Gospel and assuring absolution, and in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. In this seemingly ordinary things, your extraordinary Savior hides Himself, that He may deliver His forgiveness, life, and salvation to you.

And that brings us full circle. Why should it make sense that we celebrate the Festival of the Annunciation during Lent? Jesus Christ became Man for you precisely to suffer and die on the cross. Lent reminds us even more strongly that Jesus is not some bodiless entity, or a result of the movie "magic" of special effects. Rather, He is the Lord God who has entered this world, the Creator becoming a Creature, so that He may bear your sin and be your Savior.

Conceived and born to suffer. Conceived and born to die. Conceived and born to rise. And He does it all for you! Amen.

THE Birth Announcement: A Homily on Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-38

4th Sunday in Advent

18 December 2011

St. John's, Chicago, IL

In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Ben was born around 9:30 at night, so when the excitement and activity was over, we fell asleep somewhere around midnight. The next morning, Kristi was up and eagerly addressing birth announcements between 5 and 6 a.m. She had already cut the blue paper and the white paper, rubber stamped the design, and layered the cut-outs. We knew he was a boy, and so already had his name printed on the cards. Only the details of his length and weight and so on, needed to be completed. Soon, dozens of friends would know!

Of course now, with Facebook, there are births that several hundred people find out about, perhaps within moments of their occurrences. We need look no further back than the last week or two. Just think for a minute how many people -- around the world! -- knew about Xander Fasshauer's and Anna Wier's births, within hours! So instantaneous! Still, in either of these situations, the baby is "announced" following the birth.

When was Jesus' birth announced? Well, angels filled the sky, praising God in the sight of the Bethlehem shepherds right away that night. A star was placed by God, so that the wise men would see it and come. But you know, even before it happened, God was at work to announce the Savior's birth.

This morning we hear the greatest birth in history, being announced nine months before it happened! The archangel Gabriel had the honor of being the one sent by God to the Blessed Virgin Mary, proclaiming to her that she would have the amazing blessing of being the Mother of God the Son. And she has a very different reaction than her cousin-in-law, Zechariah.

Zechariah had also received a visit from Gabriel. About six months earlier. But when he heard that he and his wife, in their advanced age, were finally going to have a baby, he reacted with the unbelief of his ancestor Sarah, the wife of Abraham. He might not have laughed, but he thought it ridiculously impossible. But Gabriel reminds us, "With God, nothing shall be impossible."

You often join Zechariah in unbelief. Something is too good to be true. Or specifically, the Word of the Lord speaks something that is too amazing, too wonderful to really come to pass. And so it is easier to doubt or deny the Word of God than to believe it. The devil, the world, and your sinful self can work at you until you weary and fade into such unbelief. Anyone can fall prey to them. Look! Zechariah was even a faithful priest, who knew God's Word! And he still doubted when an angel preached to him, at the temple!

But then there is Mary. The Blessed Virgin hears the Word of the Lord, proclaimed by the angel, and believes it. Unlike Zechariah who doubts and disbelieves, Mary is in awe and amazement, yet welcomes this miracle, "Let it be to me, according to your word."

Zechariah, it would seem, is like your Old Adam. He hears the Word of God, but doubts. He chuckles and says, "That would be great, but it'll never happen." Of all people, one of God's priests should hear and believe His Word, but Zechariah falls into the same damning disbelief as you and the rest of the world.

On the other hand, the Virgin Mary is like the new creature that God made you at Baptism. In fact, often Mary is spoken of as a symbol for the entire Church. She receives the Word of God and believes it. She ponders it. Treasures it. She hears the blessed preaching of the angel, and in essence joins the prayer, "O come, o come, Emmanuel!"

Baptized into Christ, you have been given this faith. You hear the Word of God, and receive it. You now kneel with Mary, and eat and drink the Body and Blood of her Son, whom you adore, at His altar.

At the Annunciation, the Blessed Virgin Mary received Him into her body, as a tiny cell placed in her womb. He entered human flesh, to bring forgiveness and life and salvation for all. Now you receive Him into your body -- Him who came into the flesh for you! He enters you and transforms you, forgiving you, and bringing life and salvation.

How amazing! The Lord God forgives and renews you in the annunciation of His Gospel, whether preached by Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin, or by generations of pastors to you, His Church. And he forgives and renews as He continually enters human flesh, from that first moment as Gabriel spoke to Mary, to now at His Holy Eucharist, to the day when we see Him in His fulfilled glory.

Yes, in this advent season, you hear, receive, and celebrate your Savior whose birth was announced by the angel, even as He was conceived. You rejoice that He who came, comes even now in His Holy Word and Sacraments, and will come again, to gather you into His everlasting Kingdom. "Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!" Amen.

Jesus Christ is Comin' to Town: A Homily for Advent 4

Luke 1:39-45

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It appears that no sooner did the angel leave Mary than she packed up and went to see her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was in the latter stages of her own miracle pregnancy and Mary was likely going to share the joy and perhaps help with the birth of John. The Virgin Mary was going to visit Saint Elizabeth.

But it wasn’t just the two women who were there. Two others, still hidden to the world, were there and enjoying the event. How do we know? When the pre-born infant, Saint John the Baptizer, heard the greeting of the Blessed Virgin, he leaped for joy! Mind you, this was no ordinary “kicking” of a baby in his mother. The verb is very clear that John leaped for joy! He knew when he heard Mary’s voice that He was in the presence of His Savior, who was merely a cluster of cells, the size of the tip of a pencil, inside His own mother.

God-in-the-flesh was visiting Saints Elizabeth and John, and they were experiencing this joy to the world! John leaps for joy. Elizabeth cheerfully chants a greeting to Mary and her Baby. This is a beautiful picture of the Church – God coming to His people, bringing His peace with His presence, and His Church responds in prayer and praise!

Of course, here, the Blessed Virgin and Saint Elizabeth are gifted in recognizing God’s presence among them. But our own sinful flesh, along with the devil and the world, are always working against that recognition. Most often, we would rather not see and hear God, and we refuse to welcome His visitation.

Are you in the habit of coming to church less than weekly? Do you find it a chore to sit and listen to a sermon and sing a bit of liturgy and hymns? Then you are avoiding the Lord’s Gifts and begrudging His gracious visitation. Do you say, “Sunday School and Bible Class are for other people. I don’t need to be there.” Then you are “despising preaching and His Word” and refusing His visitation. Do you believe the devil’s lies that abortion is simply a political issue, and would rather not be involved? Then you are turning your back on the least of these, refusing to show the love and mercy of Christ to others, and thereby refusing His visitation.

On a side note, what an amazing account this morning, supporting God’s valuing of life before birth! As Elizabeth is finishing her second trimester of pregnancy, God blesses John with faith that recognizes the Lord and His physical, bodily presence. And He doesn’t simply call John a fetus; he is a baby. A believing baby who recognizes that salvation is come in the flesh, and is inside the womb of his cousin.

But what about all these times that we refuse our Lord’s visitation? What can we say, knowing that our sinful flesh is uncomfortable in God’s presence, and wants to avoid His visitation? We can say nothing. We can do nothing. We are helpless and hopeless as we sit in the darkness of our sin.

Today we rejoice with several new friends in Christ, who join our family at St. John’s. They come with us to realize that our gracious Lord is coming to visit us, day after day and week after week. They have been taught the truth of our Coming King, who visits us in the preaching of His Gospel and in the administration of His Holy Sacraments.

And together we are thrilled to receive this forgiveness, mercy, and love through His visitation, which He delivers through these Gifts, and which remove the guilt of despising that visitation in the first place!

In the song, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” people are told to be good, as this will ensure that Santa will bring them good gifts. It is up to you to do your part – to keep your end of the bargain – with your good behavior that will earn good presents. Thanks be to God that we don’t depend on our own good deeds or behavior to get good gifts from Him. The Lord enters our lives as the Holy Baby inside the womb of Mary, the dying man on the cross, the rising Lord from the empty tomb, now coming through water, words, bread and wine. No matter how good we have been, our Newborn King brings the good Gift of Himself and frees us from the darkness of sin that had enveloped us.

As much as we enjoy “Santa’s visits,” and as fun as “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” is, for the Christian it is far more important that Jesus Christ is Coming! At Advent, and always, we repent of our failure to welcome His gracious visitation, and rejoice in the certain hope we have in the King who comes. And we are filled with humble thanks that He doesn’t bring His gifts according to how bad or good we have been. Jesus comes and gives the gifts that bring Himself, and forgives us for our constant failures to “be good for goodness’ sake.”

As the Holy Spirit delivers Jesus to us in His Holy Sacrament, He makes us good for Jesus’ sake! Today, as always, the Holy Spirit is pointing, directing our attention and focus to Christ Jesus our Lord.

Directing our attention and focus to Christ – that is what Saint John the Baptizer does. In his adult life he was careful to direct attention away from himself and onto Jesus. “I am not the Christ,” he confessed. “He must increase and I must decrease.” Even here, as a pre-born infant, John is pointing to Jesus. He leaps for joy, making sure that his mother recognizes the identity of their holy Visitor.

Directing our attention and focus to Christ – this is what Saint Elizabeth does, as she chants a greeting to our Lord and His mother. Humbled that God would enter her house, she warmly welcomes Him and the woman who is bearing Him.

Directing our attention and focus to Christ – this is also what the Blessed Virgin Mary does. She would be embarrassed and sad if attention were given to her by herself. Instead, like John, her identity and work are wrapped up in Jesus. The Virgin rejoices in her Son, God, her Savior, as she magnifies the Lord. As she visits with Elizabeth, it is not for her own attention or comfort or recognition. Mary’s visit to the household of Zechariah is really our Lord’s visit, blessing the home of the prophet John with the salvific presence of Jesus Christ, before either of them are born!

Jesus has visited you now, with His Word. He has visited you, crushing you with His Law, reminding you that there is no worthiness in you – you have not been good for goodness’ sake – and there is no reason from you that God should rescue you. He has also visited you with His Gospel, healing you and releasing you from the confines of sin, death, and hell, rescuing you with His saving presence!

Soon, our Lord will visit you in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Here Jesus attaches the Word of His promise to the bread and wine. Here He comes in His Body and Blood, visiting you and bringing you forgiveness, life, and salvation. Here, He directs attention away from yourself and solely on Him, that you might enjoy eternal salvation with Him, as He rains His righteousness upon you!

Praise the Lord, who visits you in the flesh, that you may be His forever! Amen.

Annunciation and Enunciation

“E-nun-ci-ate!” says Dr. Eunice Eifert, as she directs students in plays and teaches various communications courses at Concordia University—Chicago. “E-nun-ci-ate!” says the parent to the teen slouching on the sofa with her iPod, who has been mumbling through their whole conversation. “E-nun-ci-ate!” says the homiletics professor, as he teaches seminarians the art of preaching.

Over the ten years that I have been online, I have learned on lesson again and again: You cannot enunciate on the internet. There is no tone of voice. No sign of sarcasm or seriousness. Even with smiley faces, ’s, and LOL’s, the reader cannot always tell when it is facetious or sincere.

A number of years ago I participated in AOL’s discussion group for the LCMS. Even there, getting to know the regular contributors, I was mistaken for a very Protestant idea of the Lord’s Supper because I was taken out of context, and the playful sarcasm in my mind did not translate onto the screen.

This week’s discussion of the observance of Laetare, and the varying expressions of it, once again bring this lesson to the forefront. I know all these people in “real life,” to one degree or another. And I like them all!

Knowing Sandra, I also know she hates being the center of attention like this. She also has such a respect for the Office of the Holy Ministry, that she would not “attack” or malign a pastor. I know she is cringing right now at the cackling of Satan as he tries to divide Christ’s people.

Knowing Pastor Petersen (albeit on a much lesser level), I admire his knowledge and catechesis on the liturgy. I enjoy hearing of the ceremony and rite at Redeemer, and appreciate what he shares on their website. I confidently trust that the people of Redeemer receive the Word and Sacrament with all this beauty, focusing on Christ and not the man in front of them – just as it should be in any parish.

Knowing Pastor Esget, I LOL’ed as he posted “Real Priests Wear Rose” in his tag line! I already knew what he enunciated in a later post. He does not take himself too seriously, and planned on his readers having a sense of humor. In no way, shape, or form was he putting down anyone who simply wore a violet stole, or variation of Lutheran vestments for the day. I know he was genuinely dismayed that his comments were made to be some sort of rallying cry.

Knowing Stan, I know his passion. He jumps at every opportunity to defend the Gospel. In a strong spirit of Luther, he can do that with cutting wit, or sharp “Here I stand”s. In a parallel universe, he would be the Gutenberg for HT’s Reformation Germany.

Knowing Pastor Borghardt, I know his servant-humility and Christ-centered ministry. Pastor Borghardt always has the question “How will this serve or detract from Christ and His Gospel?” in the forefront of his mind. His enthusiasm for proclaiming this Christocentric, one-and-only Gospel to our youth is unparalleled!

The Lord has placed an amazing team among us! Yet with well-intentioned friends of HT who may not know these individuals as well, a war of words has flown way out of proportion. Each of us can sing with glee: “I am baptized into Christ!” Each of us here is authentically Lutheran. Violet, rose, or pink, each of us celebrated Laetare, hearing Christ’s Word and (hopefully) receiving His Body and Blood, the Bread of Life!

As we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord, recalling the great Gospel preached to the Blessed Virgin, we rejoice. As that Gospel was placed in her ear by the Holy Spirit for her to conceive the Son of God, we rejoice. As God’s messengers continue to preach this Gospel to us, conceiving faith and birthing new Christians, we rejoice.

Dear friends in Christ, don’t give in to Satan dividing us, or allowing him to cause ill feelings among us. No. Gabriel announces to you today: “The Lord is with you!” He tells you of the One who is great and is called the “Son of the Most High.”

The Son of Mary is come for you. And He will always speak in the clearest of words to you. Thanks be to our Incarnate Lord, whose enunciation is clear… on His Annunciation, and always!

The Hands of the Blessed Virgin Mother

The Blessed Virgin is another figure who has a typical posture. In Church art, especially the earliest traditions of icons, paintings, and statues, the Blessed Virgin Mary always has one hand directing our attention to the infant in her arms. She motions to Him, and our eyes go from viewing the Handmaiden of the Lord to the Incarnate God on her lap.

Pondering Hearts

Reading Luke 2:15-19, 46-51 ESV

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?" And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Catechesis

From the earliest times, our Lord’s mother has often been understood as a picture of the Church. Why? Because she is so good and holy? Because she is immaculate? No.

Because she hears the Word and responds in faith. God gives her the faith to receive His Word. It’s the pattern of the Divine Service. The Lord gives His Gifts. We respond with thanks and praise. The Word enfleshed is given to the Blessed Virgin, and she receives Him, pondering and treasuring Him.

Again, is Mary pondering because she has some immaculate, sinless heart? Does she have the power and virtue to do this? As Professor Froehlich, my beloved Greek professor from River Forest, would say, [me genoita]! By no means! Not at all! No way!

Mary receives what is given her to receive. She ponders what is given her to ponder. She treasures what is given her to treasure. The Spirit of the Lord has delivered Christ to her and brings about the pondering and treasuring.

Likewise, the Spirit delivers Christ to us, and brings about the pondering and treasuring of the Word made flesh.

As the Church, following the example of the Virgin Mother, treasures the Word in her heart, we are in union with each other and that Word made flesh. Our hearts are one in Christ, as He blesses and preserves us in that wondrous cycle of hearing His Word and responding in thanks.

God’s own child, I gladly say it. Why? I am baptized into Christ. Baptized into Christ, you are united with Him. As each one here is united with Him, each is united with the other. We are of one heart.

As His baptized people, where do we find God’s Love, the Word made flesh? He is there in a manger. And Mary pondered all of this in her heart.

Later, where do we find Jesus? Going about His Father’s business – proclaiming and teaching the Gospel in the House of the Lord. Again, the Blessed Virgin ponders all this in her heart.

The Word travels from water to body, from ear to heart, working, creating and sustaining faith. And now, you baptized people of God, you continue to hear this Word, pondering it in your heart.