JUNE 5, 2011  SERMON ARCHIVE

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen.

The text for our meditation today is the first lesson for this seventh Sunday of Easter, Acts 1:12-26. There we read these words:

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, " ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and " ‘Let another take his office.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection." And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Dear Christian friends,

What Does the Word "Office" Mean?

This word "office"—especially as it is used here in today’s First Reading—this is not the sort of word many Americans use every day, even though there are offices all around us that play important roles in our everyday life.

When we use the word "office," we usually mean a room where people do work, as in, "Your book is in my office" or "I will be out of the office today." Several of you in the congregation use that second one a lot whenever I send you an email. Don’t you ever work?

In today’s First Reading, where it is written of Judas Iscariot, "Let another take his office," the Spirit is not referring to a room or building where Judas used to go to work. Judas’ office was that special position of authority and responsibility that had been given to him by our Lord Jesus Himself. Judas had been given the office of apostle.

Judas had been given special authority, in the same way that our city of Mason City has given certain men and women the special authority to be police officers. Not anyone is allowed to be a police officer, but the city of Mason City has specially selected and vested certain people with authority to be police officers and to act in the name of the city.

Judas’ had been given the office of apostle. Judas’ authority was not to arrest people, as the city police have authority, but Judas’ authority was to forgive sins in the name of Jesus (Luke 5:24, Acts 1:8).

Judas had been given specific responsibility, in the same way that the Voters of Cerro Gordo County have given specific responsibility to specific people, that they educate the children of the county. Not just anyone may teach, but teachers must first be trained, and then given the responsibility to teach.

In the same way, Judas had been trained by Jesus, the teacher of all teachers. Jesus also gave Judas the responsibility to teach when Jesus gave him the office of apostle. As Peter explains concerning Judas in today’s First Reading, "He was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."

Judas failed his office and abandoned his office. More than that, Judas refused to repent and to return to the office Jesus had given. "Let another take his office." Let another have the place given to him by God. Let another exercise the authority Judas had dropped and take up the responsibility Judas had shirked. "Let another take his office."

But you know what? Today’s First Reading does more for you than tell you the history of how the disciples coped and moved forward with their work after Judas abandoned his office. Today’s First Reading also gives you a way of coping with the people in your life. This reading also gives you a way of moving forward in your life, especially as you relate to others around you. Judas the Betrayer of Jesus teaches that we must always draw a careful distinction between the office and the person who fills the office.

What I mean is this: Judas showed himself to be a man unworthy of his office. Indeed, Judas showed himself to be a man consumed by evil and worthy of disgust. But should we think badly of Judas’ office—that of an apostle?

Should we conclude from the despicable actions of one apostle that all apostles should be despised?

Of course not! The office of the apostle—that is, the position and responsibility of declaring eyewitness testimony concerning Jesus—this is a high and holy office, even when filled with a traitor. Can we not say the very same thing about the other offices God has given to you?

Think about the many offices—that is, the many positions of authority and responsibility that God has created for you and for your good! In each case, you must faithfully distinguish between 1) the high and holy office and 2) the sinful, fallen person who fills the office. For example, You who are married hold the office of husband or the office of wife. These are good and holy offices, even when sinful people fill these offices. Some husbands and some wives neglect or abandon their offices by the way they treat their spouse. Should adultery or divorce make you think that marriage is evil? Of course not!

You must distinguish between the office and the person who fills it. The office of husband and the office of wife are not filled with sin, but the people who fill these offices are. Marriage is a high and holy office, to be held in reverence by all, even by those whose marriages suffer or fail.

In the same way, you should not think that the office of schoolteacher is evil or corrupt, simply because you do not like the way one particular teacher teaches, or the way the educational system operates.

You should not think evil of all police officers simply because you feel offended by the way one officer too rigorously chewed you out. (That ticket the officer gave you was simply a part of the office, by the way. Why should you feel angry toward someone who has acted faithfully in his or her office?)

Abusive or absent fathers do not ruin the office of father any more than Judas ruined the office of apostle. False teachers and lazy pastors do not ruin the office of the Holy Ministry; mouthy and disobedient children do not ruin the office of son or daughter; arrogant judges do not ruin the office of judge; corrupt and self-serving politicians do not ruin the office of senator or office of governor or office of president.

Sinners indeed dishonor their offices, fail in their offices, and make mockery of their offices—but the office remains high and holy nevertheless, ready to be filled by someone else. "He was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."

Judas did not ruin his office. He simply abandoned it. Fine. Let’s all move on because life goes on. "Let another take his office."

Why Does the Word "Office" Matter?

The Spirit speaks about office in today’s First Reading, teaching you to distinguish between the holy office and the sinful person who fills it. By speaking in this manner, the Spirit gives you a way of thinking about everyday life and the way you relate to one another. For example,

You children: God has given your parents the high and holy office of being your parent. They are not perfect. They make many mistakes. They are still your parents, given to you by God. Respect and honor the office, even when sinful people carry it.

If your father or your mother sins against you by abuse or neglect, get help from me or from someone else. Only do not allow yourself to think evil of the office of mother or the office or father. God created these offices. They are good offices, even when carried by sinners.

You who are students: God has given you the office of student. Treat every homework assignment and every examination as a gift from God. God is using the office of schoolteacher and the office of parent in order to teach you the office of student.

God uses the office of student in order to prepare you for the greater offices you shall be given in the future. Be faithful in your office, students. God shall allow you to pass beyond your office soon enough, and greater offices await you

You parents and you spouses and you workers of every type: God has given you the office or the offices you now fill. Use your office as the expression of the Christian faith, which your God has given to you.

Parents, devote yourselves to your children as though you were devoting yourself to raising the infant Jesus. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her: Bear with them and be with them in the same way that Christ does for His dear Bride. Employees, do not serve your employer as if he or she were merely there to give you a living. Serve your employers faithfully, as though you were serving Christ Himself— because you are

After all, your Christ has given you the office you now hold. "[Judas] was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry," says the Spirit. "Let another take his office." Perhaps these Words will allow us to believe that, when an office gets emptied or abandoned, God will eventually provide for it to be filled again. For Judas’ office, which he abandoned, God provided Mathias.

What shall we say about the other offices people fail or abandon? Pastors can certainly be replaced. New police officers and schoolteachers can be hired. While no one can replace the individual loved ones in our lives whom we lose for various reasons, can’t other Christians at least attempt to fill the offices that these people leave behind?

Why shouldn’t the Church regard itself as family for those who have no family left? Why shouldn’t Christians help one another with the raising of children and the keeping of houses and other such things as are given to certain offices?

God’s apostle James might even have been thinking of the many offices God has created for us when he wrote, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27a). With these Words, James seems to speak about the Church’s filling of an office that has been emptied.

Finally, place the full weight your every day life upon the message I proclaim to you in keeping with my office. God has given me the office and responsibility of assuring you that your sins are forgiven, that your Christ has done more than enough for your salvation, and that you shall never be forgotten by your God.

Do not allow my sins to stand in the way of my office. Look past my sinful, needy person. Focus your attention upon my office, which God has created for your assurance and certainty. I do not forgive your sins because I think you deserve it. I do not forgive your sins because I also am a sinner.

I forgive your sins on account of the office God has placed in your midst. Stated another, more familiar way, "As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I… forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Christ Is Risen.