Fifth Sunday after Epiphany and Pastoral Letter - 2025

 

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany.

Psalm 135. Laudate Nomen.

O  PRAISE the Lord, laud ye the Name of the Lord; * praise it, O ye servants of the Lord;

2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, * in the courts of the house of our God.

3 O praise the Lord, for the Lord is gracious; * O sing praises unto his Name, for it is lovely.

4 For why? the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, * and Israel for his own possession.

5 For I know that the Lord is great, * and that our Lord is above all gods.

6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth; * and in the sea, and in all deep places.

7 He bringeth forth the clouds from the ends of the world, * and sendeth forth lightnings with the rain, bringing the winds out of his treasuries.

8 He smote the firstborn of Egypt, * both of man and beast.

9 He hath sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O thou land of Egypt; * upon Pharaoh, and all his servants.

10 He smote divers nations, * and slew mighty kings:

11 Sihon, king of the Amorites; and Og, the king of Bashan; * and all the kingdoms of Canaan;

12 And gave their land to be an heritage, * even an heritage unto Israel his people.

13 Thy Name, O Lord, endureth for ever; * so doth thy memorial, O Lord, from one generation to another.

14 For the Lord will avenge his people, * and be gracious unto his servants.

15 As for the images of the heathen, they are but silver and gold; * the work of men’s hands.

16 They have mouths, and speak not; * eyes have they, but they see not.

17 They have ears, and yet they hear not; * neither is there any breath in their mouths.

18 They that make them are like unto them; * and so are all they that put their trust in them.

19 Praise the Lord, ye house of Israel; * praise the Lord, ye house of Aaron.

20 Praise the Lord, ye house of Levi; * ye that fear the Lord, praise the Lord.

21 Praised be the Lord out of Sion, * who dwelleth at Jerusalem.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c. 

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually in thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Habakkuk 1.12-2.14

Psalter: Psalm 112

Epistle Reading: Colossians 3.12-17

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 13.24-30 

Homily

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This was my pastoral letter to my congregation this week:

As I mentioned in a previous letter, I have been asked to preach at this coming Presbytery. I will be speaking on 2 Corinthians 10:13-18. Here is the second point of my sermon that will be focused on 2 Corinthians 10:17-18: ““Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. Here is a bit of what I will say.

 

The Apostle likes Jeremiah! 2 Corinthians 10:17 is a summary quotation of Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” The super-apostles (2 Corinthians 11:5, 12:11) are bringing the Corinthian believers to brag and boast and be all blustery about their own pomp and pride as they pry them away from Paul’s leadership. Image and importance are immense for them. But Paul is clear that we have little to brag about, really, except in who Jesus is, and what he has done, is doing and will do for us, his people! And that’s where he lands with his composed commendation: “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (10:18). Christ’s commendation composes us! Christ’s commendation steadies us so that we’re not swept up in strong self-pride or self-pity. Christ’s commendation composed Paul’s ministry, and it composes all genuine Christian ministry.  The super-apostles, on the other hand, are strutting around commending themselves, approving themselves, declaring their own potency and applause, tearing down Paul for his suffering and service to build themselves up (2 Corinthians 10:12). And this approach is infecting the Corinthian church. But the Apostle’s corrective is to point them to the only commendation that can and will compose them! And if they will become satisfied again in this composed commendation, they will find themselves satisfied with God’s metered ministry, along with Paul.

 

Kent and Barbara Hughes, many, many years ago, wrote a touching book titled “Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome”. It’s a delightful book, especially in helping to re-orient ministers’ perspectives on what success is. In one place in their book, as they were working through 2 Corinthians, they made this observation: “our weakness is the opportunity for his power – our ordinariness for his extraordinariness” (134). You can only come to have this stance when you become most satisfied with Christ’s composing commendation! ““Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

 

But beyond public ministry, how salutary and savory is Paul’s point for all of God’s people! In an era that is obsessed with its public face, with image management and extraordinariness posted, tweeted, snapped and whatever else, how liberating to set that down and revel in being commended and approved by Jesus! No longer do you have to worry about body-image and photo-shopping! No longer do you have to be ravaged by what others think of you or ransacked by the inner-critic in your head! No longer do you need to give credence to the neglected affections or mistreatments of some parent or adult in your childhood that kick you in the heart today. No longer do you need to submit to that important adult who growled or shouted at you as a kid, “you’ll never measure up, you so-and-so!” which replays in your memory and sabotages your life and relationships now! No! Now it’s Christ’s composed commendation: ““Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

 

Oh, dear friends, ““Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (10:17-18)! And if you are Christ’s, if you have submitted to him and come to rely on him, he commends you – he commends you to the Father. He makes you look good to God! ““Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

 

Pastor Mike