Matins at St.Timothy’s chapel Monday, February 13, 2017

1 Corinthians 3:5-10 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

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Dear friends of our Lord and Saviour IX: “We do not make requests of God because we are righteous, but because of his great mercy.” (Daniel 9:18) After all, who are we? You and I? Who are we? Creatures, saved sinners, sanctified saints of the Lord! Made, formed, created by God the holy Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit accourding to his goodwill and mercy, kept, sustained and preserved not through my own reason or strength, but rather by his never ending goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness on my part (1st Article); redeemed, forgiven and freed from the power of sin, death and devil – not with gold or silver, but with the holy and innocent blood of our Lord IX as the innocent lamb of God, that bears the sins of the world (2nd Article) together with the Father and the Holy Spirit – one God now and forever; called, gathered, enlightened and sanctified (made holy) by God’s most precious means of grace, his divine service in Baptism, Word and Eucharist – together with the one, holy Christian Church, members of Christ’s living, glorified and eternal body, he – this one God – F, S and HS - keeps und sustains and preserves me in the holy Christian faith, trust and confidence – not in my own strength, righteousness or aptitude or means or plans, but rather because of his great mercy. So no reason to boast, but also no reason to despair. Not reason to get a big head. No reason to lose your head either. Neither looking down nor up, but in the eye on an equal level! Rejoice in the Lord always. He is our God – now and always: Creator, saviour and sanctifier; Father, brother, head & limbs. For it is as that suffering and lamenting prophet contends: “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not .” (Lamentations 3:22)

1.Cor.3:5-10 Page 1 of 3 Dr Wilhelm Weber

Matins at St.Timothy’s chapel Monday, February 13, 2017

Each one of us is but a servant of the Lord. Serving in that special task to which the good Lord has assigned to us be that as Bishops, pastors and preachers; hearers of God’s word, civil government, citizens, husbands & wives; parents & children; workers of all kinds, employers & supervisors; Youth, widows and everyone. Martin Luther writes: “Let each his lessons learn with care, and all the household well shalt fare.” (LSB 328). In all we do, not trying to please men, but God himself. Not out of fear, but out of love, trust and holy confidence.

See in the Church there are very different people, gifts and talents. We’re not all the same even if we are brothers and sisters in IX and children of one father. St. Paul compares us Christians with the various limbs of one body with IX the head, who is Lord and God of all and we’re all bound, tied and subject to him and his directions. These differences are not to be judged negatively or exclusively like they were in Apartheid. Black and white, Europeans and Africans, men and women, rich and poor don’t have to fight, contend with each other, but rather should complement each other as St.Paul writes: Bear each other’s burdens, weaknesses, shortcomings as IX has born all our sins, transgressions and iniquities patiently suffering and ultimately dying innocently on the cross. (cf. Eph.4:1-6) for ex unitate vires. We are co-workers, team players, living members of a corporate structure called the one, holy Christian Church.

From the very beginning there were all sorts of different people called by the living God into his service, field and building. There were shepherds and kings, fishermen and tax collectors, academics, teachers, rabbis, Pharisees, priests and theologians, revolutionaries and soldiers, rich and poor. The living God wanted all of these to work together each following his specific purpose and labour faithfully in his calling and task: It is his good and wholesome will that all people be helped and come to the knowledge of truth!

See, it is not as if academics don’t need the others non-academics, the rich without the poor miss out one of the main purposes of their existence, Europeans without Africans are but a stunted and incomplete reflection of God’s universal and global church, which St. John was allowed to see there on the Island of Patmos in that great vision of the gloried church gathered from all nations, tongues and people around the throne of the lamb. Therefore we are to not distance or separate ourselves from the holy congregation, but rather strive and be very

1.Cor.3:5-10 Page 2 of 3 Dr Wilhelm Weber

Matins at St.Timothy’s chapel Monday, February 13, 2017 careful to help, support, edify, uplift, strengthen, fortify, increase, expand, build as God gives us opportunity, capacity, gifts and talents. One will plant, others will water, till, weed and dig, but God will grant growth, flourishing and prospering accourding to his goodwill and mercy – in his time and reckoning. We should be attentive to build and not tear down, cooperate and not destroy, tear apart by sinful sectarianism and wrongful self-assurance and false independence, not follow our own ideologies and unique philosophies, but rather seek confessional unity in God’s given truth in IX through his apostles and prophets. He – IX – is the cornerstone and we’re built on the firm foundation of his revelation, which he has given the church through the apostles and prophets. That is why we should recognise our inter-dependence, our inter-relatedness, how we Christians fit together as different limbs yet baptized into one body – IX – God’s living church and spiritual construction. Without him, we can’t do anything, but in him, we will bear fruit according to his mercy and goodwill.

You should be careful as you go about this godly calling and divine task. It is so special, life saving and grants eternal treasures. Don’t go about it carelessly, too hasty, recklessly and absentmindedly, but carefully – for Christ’s sake – with dedication, taking time, attentively.

Remember how God went about this building and construction process over the past centuries. Think of how carefully all creation is put together, how wonderful nature is and how special humanity is composed – wonder upon wonder. Consider also how great and special and precious his work of salvation is – starting off even before the very beginning, not being put off by sinful constructs and misleading evil rather using all and everything – even treachery, deceit, vice, discrimination, torture, pain, murder and the whole bag of faithless corruption to attain his wonderful and great goal – our eternal salvation – there on Golgotha outside of Jerusalem. Consider how carefully he throughout the ages has gathered his people from the ends of the world into his one, holy Christian Church – taking time, using many different people, gifts and talents to build a church, that is his most beloved bride and esteemed treasure and love. This his work is nearing completion. His return to carry her and us home is immanent, now nearer than ever before. But as long as it is still day and as long as he is not here yet, you go about your task and calling carefully and with holy intent and dedication, persuasion and faithfully. Amen.

1.Cor.3:5-10 Page 3 of 3 Dr Wilhelm Weber