Dear friends in Christ,
We continue our survey of Church History from the book of Professor E.A.W. Krauss from our St. Louis seminary of a century ago. The past number of months we have been following the life of another Roman Catholic priest named Martin—Martin Boos. He preached like another Martin, Martin Luther—justification by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. Although he had suffered much on account of his faithful preaching, he continued preaching the pure word. Last month we left him as he was sailing on the Danube River from Bavaria toward Austria. This month we read excerpts from Boos’ diaries that show us what sort of priest he was.
42. 5. Boos In Austria [part 1]
In Linz, Austria, the man who had been hunted and was exhausted was now received with joy. Bishop Gall often said that he wished he could get just 20 priests like him.
It was as if Boos was reborn; there he felt himself to be at rest and free from persecution after such a long and severe persecution.
He immediately received a temporary appointment to Leonding near Linz as assistant preacher, but very soon after that went to Waldneukirchen and from there went first to Poestlingberg, and then in 1806 to Gallneukirchen, which was one of the most significant and largest parishes in the Diocese of Linz. There Boos had 4000 souls to feed.
And how faithfully he fed them!
May several short excerpts from his diaries give us a glimpse into Boos’ evangelical heart as a caretaker of souls!
1. From Boos’ diaries and “daily thoughts”
08 July 1803: A widow who had six children forcibly dragged her son to school. When he saw me and the teacher at the doors to the school, he wanted to run away from his mother. She grabbed him with both hands and placed the large child in the midst of the school. In tears she said to the teacher and to me: “Help me raise this boy. He never wants to obey me.” I said, “Yes, we will help you. Since you bring your children to the school, you will get our assistance and help.” To the boy I said, “Fall to your knees before your mother and kiss her feet first and then her hand.” The body immediately did it. Then he had to thank the mother that she brought him to the school and had to ask her and the children for forgiveness. He did so without objection. “We’re not yet finished with the child,” I then said to her mother. “Like a recruit, he still has to be drilled to obey.” She left confident.
15 July 1803: “I still have something on my heart,” someone said to me, “but I cannot tell it to any person, not even to you, but it so greatly oppresses me.” “So tell it to God,” I said, “for a person may tell God everything, good and bad, small and great, everything.” Then he also told me the secret thing.
21 July 1803: Today I told to a person who was despairing on his deathbed because he had always delayed repenting: “The sooner a person converts, the better it is for him. But better late than not at all.” He took courage and trusted.
22 August 1803: Today I visited a sick man who was an enemy of his neighbor lady. “You can die,” I said to him, “if you reconcile with your neighbor both inwardly and outwardly.” “Yes, my God!” he answered; “I fear a new war if I were to speak with her.” “If it is okay with you,” I said, “I will ask for forgiveness in your name.” “Yes, that would be absolutely fine with me.” I went, took off my hat and asked for forgiveness in the name of the sick man. That went to her heart so that she cried and promised me that she would immediately cook something good for the sick man and bring it to him as a sign of their reconciliation. “Excellent, go and do what you say.”
22 September 1803: Our knacker complained to me today that his wife had him listed in the newspaper as dead. The people had already fled from him before because he was a knacker, but now so all the more. “For you, Hans” I said, “there is no other advice than to repent and seek friendship with Jesus; for He also receives knackers and all those people whom no one wants anything more to do with.” Hans smiled and was comforted.
09 October: “Unless you are not immediately quiet, I must immediately appeal to the judge for satisfaction!” a tailor told 300 farmers when one of them made an allegation against him. Christians want to have satisfaction right away, although they see Christ hanging on the cross without demanding or getting satisfaction.
10 October: There are people who consider it a weakness to forgive an offender. According to this principle God would be the weakest in heaven and earth because no one in heaven and earth forgives as much as He does.
Boos’ diary is filled up through and through with such valuable thoughts that it is difficult to choose between them. There is one more passage to cite. In it he speaks of the difference between Law and Gospel.
“Moses and the law” says Boos, “would have received the Prodigal Son at his return with the rod or with bread and water. Christ, or the Gospel, receives him with hugs, with kisses, with a new garment, shoes, a ring and with a noble supper. Behold! There is the difference between Law and Gospel! Most sinners simply do not know or believe that God would so graciously receive them, otherwise they would repent numerous times.”
So far Professor Krauss
ON 02 JULY THE CHURCH REMEMBERS THE TIME ST. MARY VISITED HER RELATIVE ST. ELIZABETH, THE MOTHER OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIZER, THE FORERUNNER OF JESUS
John the Baptizer and Jesus, the two great figures of salvation history, now come together in the visit to Elizabeth by the Virgin Mary [Luke 1.39-45], both of whom conceived their children under miraculous circumstances. Thus John is brought into the presence of Jesus while they are still in their mothers’ wombs. This presence of the Lord causes a response by the child as John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb. John’s response to the presence of Jesus, the Messiah, foreshadows John’s own role as forerunner. Already now, a new creation is beginning, and a baby still in the womb hails the new creation inception. Foreshadowed in John’s leap are the miracles of Jesus, who will cause all creation to leap at His presence: “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them” [Lk 7.22]. The incarnate presence of the Messiah also evokes a response from Elizabeth, who proclaims Mary’s blessedness. Mary’s Magnificat [Lk 1.46-55] provides the theological significance of this meeting as Mary sums up her place in salvation history. Mary’s song is a hymn to God for His gracious gifts to the least in the world, whom He has lifted up out of lowliness solely because of His grace and mercy.
Almighty God, You chose the virgin Mary to be the mother of Your Son and made known through her Your gracious regard for the poor and lowly and despised. Grant that we may receive Your Word in humility and faith, and so be made one with Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
[A Year with the Church Fathers: Meditations for each Day of the Church Year, Scott Murray, CPH 2011, pg.186-187]
LUTHER AND THE FOURTH OF JULY:
A quote from John Jay (1745-1829) statesman and jurist, an author of The Federalist, first appointed Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court:
"No country has more reason than this Republic to recall with joy the blessings Luther assisted to secure for the world, in emancipating thought and conscience and impressing the stamp of Christianity upon modern civilization. Although America had not been discovered by Columbus when Luther was born, Luther's far-reaching influence, which today is felt from the Atlantic to the Pacific, helped to people our northern continent with the colonists who laid the foundation of its future liberties on the truths of the Bible." [Cited in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, Spring 2011, pg. 46]
FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY 2016:
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. [Titus 3.1]
In the course of his/her life a Christian has a double citizenship. In baptism we are issued a “heavenly passport”—including all rights of citizenship [Ph. 3.20]. But until death, the “earthly citizenship” is much more obvious. Both kingdoms—as different as they are—need us. Titus is to remind these Christians on Crete that as citizens of heaven they were not suddenly free from every worldly government. To the contrary, God Himself instituted it [Rm. 13.1]. It is to concern itself with all earthly matters for Him—in school, in the city, in county, or in the land. The reminder that even irritating teachers, unfriendly traffic officers and unsympathetic politicians, etc. are God’s instruments to whom we owe obedience and respect, is always necessary.
Maybe this does not at all come as a surprise to us and we are amazed what exemplary citizens we are. Let us then be reminded by St. Paul of our other citizenship and of the demand of our heavenly King. No, it is not enough to pay our taxes gladly and never to park illegally. Even the anger of a new 25 mph sign condemns us before God. Let us never mix up the “rules of the game” of both kingdoms. God is happy with your perfect life, but Christ alone rescues. “…not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” [Ti 3.5]. God’s unconditional kindness saves us. Now in faith and soon in beholding.
I have experienced mercy, mercy which I did not deserve. I consider that as the most wonderful thing my proud heart never desired. Now I know it and am happy and boast of grace. Amen.
[By: Pr. Manuel Drechsler in God Is For Us, 12 February 2016]
STEWARDSHIP THEME FROM ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM—
“What is vain?” Let us hear the Preacher himself, who says, ‘I built houses and planted vineyards for myself…. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the children of man’ [Eccl. 2. 4, 7-8]. And again, ‘Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity’ [Eccl. 12.8]. Hear also what the psalmist says, ‘Man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!’ [Ps. 39.6]. Such is ‘vanities of vanities,’ your splendid buildings, your vast and overflowing riches, the herds of slaves that bustle along the public square, your pomp and vainglory, your high thoughts, and your ostentation. For all these are vain; they came not from the hand of God but are of our own creating. But why then are they vain? Because they have no useful end. Riches are vain when they are spent on luxury, but they cease to be vain when they are distributed freely and given to the poor [Ps. 112.9] {Homily on Ephesians, 12}
[From: A Year with the Church Fathers: Meditations for Each Day of the Church Year, CPH, 181-182]
On 20 July we remember the landing of man on the moon in 1969 and the first walk on the moon by a man on the 21 July
The following is a quote from the book Everyday Saints and Other Stories by Archmandrite Tikhon [Shevkunov]. It was the 2011 Russian Book of the Year winner.
The quote accurately and insightfully deals with the question of life on other planets:
“There is no intelligent life anywhere except on Earth,” said Father Raphael. Then he explained. “Because if there were intelligent life somewhere else, God would have definitely revealed this to Moses, when he wrote the book of Genesis. And Moses would have at the very least hinted about this to us. Therefore, have no doubts whatsoever, Georgiy Alexandrovich, the universe was created by God only for mankind!”
“So why then all these infinite myriad stars and galaxies above us?”
“So that we, in looking at them, could grasp the omnipotence of God.” [pp. 464-5]
LCMS Stewardship Newsletter Article: July 2016
In our Lord’s parable of the vineyard workers, the vineyard owner says to those who worked the longest, “Or do you begrudge my generosity” (Matthew 20:15)? It’s an unfortunate translation. It’s not wrong, but it doesn’t give us the full picture. What the vineyard owner actually says is this: “Or is your eye evil because I am good?” Earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness” (Matthew 6:21–23).
This statement comes right in the middle of our Lord’s teaching about giving. He said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:19–24).
Having an evil eye does not let in the light. Having an evil eye means that we are so focused on what we don’t have, that we are unable to rejoice in what God has given. An evil eye makes us distressed when we see others prosper. It makes us rejoice when others suffer. An evil eye makes us so love ourselves and our money, that we don’t want to share with others; we don’t want to give of what we have because we are so focused on keeping what we have and getting what we don’t.
Whereas a good eye is an eye that lets the light in so that our lives are filled with it. This light shines upon all that we have and reveals that it comes from our Father’s divine goodness and mercy. A good eye that lets in the light, unencumbered by the darkness, so that we have a good will, a benevolent disposition, and a genuine happiness to see others prosper and the desire to be part of it.
Jesus came to give you a good eye and to take away the darkness that fills your life. Christ our Lord, through His death and resurrection, has forgiven your sin, removed your evil eye and given you new eyes that let in His light and truth. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).
The reality is that you have all that you need and more. You have the love of God in Christ Jesus. You have the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. You have house and home, all that you need for this body and life. So, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy. And you will see that your hearts will follow, just as Jesus promised.
FACES OF THE REFORMATION:
We began in June with Pope Leo X—see who we feature in July
Open your average world history book, and you’ll find but a paragraph or two on the Reformation. The event appears a small drop on the timeline, but the Christian Church knows better.
Since the past is best explored through the people who lived it, meet 25 men and women passionate about the Reformation re-discovery of the Gospel—either for or against it. These iconic individuals used their unique vocations to create theological and cultural tidal waves beginning in the sixteenth century and continuing today. See how the gracious Word of the Lord had the final word in bringing the “it’s still all about Jesus” proclamation to the corners of Europe and beyond.
The 66th Regular Convention of our Missouri Synod will be held 09-14 July in Millwaukee. The theme is “Upon This Rock” from St. Matthew 16.18: “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
We have already had a prelude to the convention. Our congregation has taken part in the National Offering and the traditional first order of business, the election of our synodical president has already taken place via electronic voting in early June with two votes from each congregation: one vote from the pastor and another from the delegate representing the congregation at last year’s district convention. In our case that was Paul. Our current synodical president, Dr. Matthew Harrison, was reelected with 57% of the vote in a field of three candidates. We will wait to see what the rest of the convention brings.
THIS MONTH’S LWML NEWS
We had a vital and lovely meeting during June’s coffee hour. On 31 July we are having a Fifth Sunday Dinner following Divine Service. The theme is “Pot-Luck.” Let’s see how many interesting summer type pot luck items we can enjoy. Please join us. On 14 August we are taking the show on the road and holding our meeting at Jean’s house and will get to see her beautiful flowers. Plan now for our church picnic to wrap up the summer on 28 August at Kinsella Park. God Bless and have nice month.
Carol, Pres.
FROM OUR ZONE LWML: THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
We were really overwhelmed with delicious cookies, coffee cakes, fresh fruit, and cupcakes. The cheese and crackers, snacks were a big hit as well. The Hospitality Committee thanks all who made our room such a big hit at the convention.
"THINKING CHRISTMAS"
A BIG thanks to all who purchased hygiene products and other gifts that added to our Christmas Shoebox project. The Credit Card of $250, that Thrivent contributed, has now been used and twenty-one boxes are filled to the brim!
Operation Christmas Child is a project of the Samaritan's Purse, Franklin Graham, President. The gifts we give are sent all over the globe and the organization asks that we include a donation of $7.00 in each box, to help with this world wide shipping. If each family gives just $1.00 a month up to and including Nov., this goal will be met. You will find a "bank" in the Narthex for your $1 gifts.
From our partners at the LCMS Foundation-- Relational Stewardship
The two words in the title have clear meanings. ‘Relational’ involves or expresses a relationship. In human terms this has to do with how we relate to and interact with other people. The word ‘stewardship’ requires an understanding of what a ‘steward’ is. A steward is one who manages on behalf of another; the owner.
When combined, these two words refer to managing our time, talents and resources in correlation to people around us. This includes those who are important to us. These become objects of our love, care and bounty. This also involves all the others too. These become ‘our neighbor’.
For sure, people also manage outside of human relationships. This involves managing time, using our talents within our various vocations or callings, and in gainful work. It also involves caring for the physical environment of our world and all living things plus how we utilize and care for things. However, the highest virtue in relational stewardship is reflected in how we interact with human beings.
God’s Word admonishes and encourages believers to remember this truth- that all things and people are creations by a God who formed and sustains His creation in perfect love, expressly for the purpose of such love.
‘Relational stewardship’ becomes an opportunity to work (cultivate/nurture) and keep (protect) the relationships we have with people, in such a way that everyone under our care flourishes to be all that they were created to be. (Ref-Genesis 2:15).
If you understand and acknowledge God’s ownership, the faith and grace given to each helps us pattern our lives after the One, who owns us and gave Himself for us- that we might have Life to the full. (Ref-John 10:10)
What lifetime planning goals will you ask God to help you with? How can we help? For more information, contact Robert Wirth, LCMS Foundation Gift Planner @ robert.wirth@lfnd.org or 716-863-4427.
Comments for this post have been disabled.