Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 18:1-4,19-32; Romans 2:17-29
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! (From the Introit for Epiphany 1)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If you were a Jewish child, you would have to learn some Hebrew as part of your religious instruction. Faithful Muslims learn Arabic so that the Koran can be learned. But the Gospel isn't like that! It's for everyone, no matter what color they are or what language they speak. Remember Pentecost? The Gospel was preached and no matter what language a person spoke, they heard and understood it! When the Epiphany Magi came to worship Baby Jesus with their gifts, it was proof that Jesus wasn't just here for the blood descendants of Abraham, but for all people of all nations.
Tomorrow, you will be part of a worldwide joyful shout! All around the world, God's people in Christ will be singing their praises. The Baptized children of God will gather together; sins will be forgiven; Christians who are very different from each other in their language and culture will be joined together in the feast of Jesus' Body and Blood.
When Great Britain had an empire around the world, there was a saying: “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” It meant that no matter where you went around the world, some part of the British Empire was there. Well, the British Empire is no more. But the sun never sets on Christ's holy church—and it never will! All around the world, those redeemed in Christ offer up their prayers and thanksgiving and hymns and sacrifices of praise, while receiving Jesus' saving gifts.
Jesus said, “When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself.” So it is that tomorrow we celebrate once again that our Lord has taken on our sins (at His Baptism!) and that He was lifted up on the Cross for our sins and has taken them all away. As John said when Jesus showed up to be baptized, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
As o'er each continent and island The dawn leads on another day, The voice of prayer is never silent, Nor dies the strain of praise away. (LSB 886:3)