St. Peter Lutheran Church
2929 F.M 972 (at F.M. 1105)
Walburg, Texas 78626

Office: (512) 863-5600
Worship Services - each Sunday 10:15 a.m.
Holy Communion - 1st & 3rd Sundays

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St. Peter Lutheran Church at Walburg, Texas
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Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

Last Updated:
Nov. 26, 2018

As he was drawing near-already on the way down the Mount of Olives-the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."

- Luke 19:37-40 English Standard Version (ESV)

We will be entering the holiday season. Attempting to score some "likes" on social media or to score another book or "documentary" deal, some "culture warriors"  will attempt at this time to equate a greeting (or lack thereof) at some commercial center as being on par with the persecution faced by our brothers and sisters in Christ in China or Pakistan or Nigeria. Meanwhile secularists will hone in on said "culture warriors" and declare that this is what all Christians are like: thin-skinned hypocrites who whine that they didn't get their desired greeting. Ah, Christmas in America!

In the passage above from Luke, Jesus is making his triumphal entry and what is interesting is that no one really understands what it all means. The disciples think that Jesus is coming to put "Christ in culture." The religious teachers want good optics. Those in power don't mind a show as long as it doesn't change anything. Jesus sees past it all. He sees the future cowardice of the disciples, the present bankruptcy of posturing religiosity, and he sees the great past failures culture makes to really bring about a changed life.

Jesus sees the longing beneath the surface. He hears people, who do not really know what they are saying, declaring the truth. Beyond the clutter that has come to represent Christmas and the distractions thrown up by the devil, the world, and our sinful selves; there is truth that breaks through even if the lips confessing it don't realize what they are confessing. The pop star singing the classic advent hymn, the corporate executive declaring that there are holy days and masses for Christ, the television studio putting aside the typical conspiracy show and producing one about peace on earth.

Like the disciples, our culture knows there is something bigger at work, but doesn't know that the healing will effect the cosmos root and branch. Secularists and Pharisees attempt to tell the world that it doesn't know what it is saying; but Christ declares that the message of God with us (Emmanuel) is so important, that if His followers remained silent the message would come from the places we least expect it. Whether from the carols we cannot forget or the house churches overseas, Christ will be confessed. It isn't our doing to be sure, but who who wants to be left out when the King comes to town?

Felicem Domini Nativitatis diem! Blessed be the day of the birth of our Lord!

Pastor Phil

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