SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2025 | PENTECOST PROPER 28 C
Malachi 4:1–6 | Luke 21:5–28 (29–36)
Grace, Mercy and Peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Every good story comes to an end…there is resolution of the conflicts and a final state of rest. In the ancient Greek tradition, expressed by Aristotle, that final state of rest was either a rise in fortune for the central character…or a tragic downfall. Which way will it go? In the end will things go well or will everything fall apart.
Every good story come to an end. And as we approach the end of the church year, we find that the appointed readings for our worship turn toward this very topic. The end of time, and the final judgement on the last day.
We read, for instance, in the prophet Malachi, that the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble…But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. (Malachi 4:1,2)
Malachi describes the two possible endings of this story. The final judgment will lead either to the tragic downfall of the arrogant and evildoers. Or to the rise in fortune –the salvation — of all those who fear the name of the Lord.
Likewise in the Gospel reading for today Jesus speaks about the last day: He says, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. (Luke 21:25-26)
While we know that every good story comes to an end, yet the notion of judgment is almost universally terrifying. Even in a world which has denied God and rejected his law, still there remains a fear of judgment.
This is because God has written His Law on the human heart. We innately know that there is right and wrong, even if we pretend to deny it. And even the proudest and most self-absorbed of us, if we are pressed on the point, will admit that we are not perfect.
But, rather than appealing to the 10 commandments, many in our post-Christian culture instead throw around alien ideas. For instance, these days we seem to celebrate the Hindu term “karma.”
In the Hindu religion, Karma means something like the principle that what goes around comes around…or you get what’s coming to you. And this general idea is not so different from what the scriptures teach. A similar principle is found in the Golden Rule, where the Law guides us to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” And the Law also teaches us that justice must be balanced. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. A life for a life.
And our culture bizarrely cheers when they see this at work. When someone acts badly and then something bad happens to them…they celebrate. They say, how’s that for karma?
We cheer when it happens to others…but on the other hand, when it comes to me, I don’t want justice, I want mercy. Because I’m afraid, terrified, that I will get what’s coming to me. And it won’t be good.
Now to be clear I do not recommend using the Hindu term, karma. Don’t follow our culture in this absurd abandonment of God’s true wisdom.
Because the supposed laws of karma are vague and impersonal and we, dear people of God, have something far, far better and far, far clearer in God’s Law. His Law, His justice, is not some impersonal force that brings good to the good and evil to the evil.
His Law is His perfect will. The perfect of will of the Creator of all things, the good and gracious God. That is what the Law is. And it judges all of us by God’s perfect standard.
And what is God’s judgement according to His Law? We read it in Romans chapter 3. God says to us:
Romans 3:10-18 ESV
“None is righteous, no, not one; [11] no one understands; no one seeks for God. [12] All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” [13] “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” [14] “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” [15] “Their feet are swift to shed blood; [16] in their paths are ruin and misery, [17] and the way of peace they have not known.” [18] “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
This, dear friends is the natural heritage of our human family. We inherit it from Adam and Eve. Every one of us, even little babies like Jenna, have received this unholy inheritance. All of us will struggle under the curse of sin all the days of our lives.
And I know that saying that offends people. What do you mean I’m a sinner? What do you mean that that innocent baby is a sinner. Surely you don’t mean that, pastor. Yes, I do. Because that’s what the Bible clearly confesses. And so its better that you and I are offended by the truth than given false peace by a lie.
Because you see sin and its judgement are natural to the human race. And indeed, judgement is what we deserve. All of us. Every man, woman and child.
As Paul writes, we are by nature children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3) This is the sorry state of helpless hopelessness that every human being is born into. And indeed, we embrace it. By our selfishness, by our greed, by our lust, we embrace the sinful nature and make it clear that we are, indeed, children of Adam.
But here’s where God intervenes. Though we are by nature children of wrath, destined for death and hell forever, yet God has intervened. By the work of Christ our Lord on the cross, by His blood shed there, God has purchased and won you, a lost and condemned people, and He has made you His very own.
This is what we witnessed today for Jenna. The Word and Promise of God came to her in the waters of Holy Baptism. In this Sacrament God has come to her and washed away her sins. He has declared His love for her and made her His own. He has spoken His name over her as a pledge of His faithful love.
This miracle has brought Jenna from death to life. It has overturned the natural inheritance of Adam which is condemnation. And it has given her a new inheritance, which is life forever in the Kingdom of God, which has no end.
And it grants to her the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is what Malachi describes…God turns the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers. He transforms our hearts and works faith in us by the power of His Spirit. So that rather than living as enemies of God, our hearts turn toward Him who is our true and dear Father.
And because we are Baptized into His name, we can to what Jesus commands in the Gospel reading for today. He says,
when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, (Luke 21:9)
You are baptized, so do not be terrified. When you think about the last day and the judgement, Do not be terrified. When you see a world rejecting God and His Word and descending into all manner of evil, Do not be terrified.
Even if you are persecuted, imprisoned, and threatened with death because of your faith in Christ, Do not be terrified. Because, Jesus “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” (Luke 21:13)
You are baptized so bear witness! And what is it that we bear witness to? We bear witness to Christ and Him crucified! We bear witness to hope and a future! To an end to this broken and sin-sick world, and the establishment of God’s kingdom, which has no end.
We bear witness that we are baptized into Christ. Like Jenna Dean, we who have been Baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit have been reclaimed by God. We have been rescued and brought into His Kingdom. Our destiny has been changed. Because He is our Father and we are His dear children.
And we bear witness that the Word of Christ is true. When He declares this day that our sins are forgiven, they are. We bear witness that we have peace with God. And We bear witness that Christ Himself has entered His sanctuary. He has come here to meet us today and to feed His true body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.
We bear witness that in this Holy Communion we share a fellowship with God and all His people, living and dead, now and forevermore.
We bear witness that while this broken world is fading away, Christ and His Word endure forever. And we bear witness in hope that those who hear our witness will also be rescued and reclaimed by Christ. That together with Jenna Dean and all the Baptized, they would be redeemed from the judgment that is to come.
And so today, dear people of God, we do as Christ commands. While the world continues in its downward spiral in sin and death, we who gather here, straighten up and raise our heads, because our redemption has drawn near.”
We are not afraid. We are at peace. The sun of righteousness has risen with healing in His wings. So We are not terrified, but confident. Confident that Christ has made us children of God. And our story is no longer a tragedy. For we who are are Baptized into Christ are the children of Paradise. Amen.
Now the Peace of God, which is for all the Baptized, and which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in this one true faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.