August 6, 2023 Text: Romans 9:1-5
Dear Friends in Christ,
In our society we celebrate upward mobility. Something we call the “American Way”. You can be a success even coming from modest means. But there are also stories of downward mobility. The rich kid given everything who wastes it all. In the days of the Depression, former millionaires were selling apples off the street or jumping off of buildings to end it all.
Today’s Epistle is a downward mobility story. St. Paul is grieving over his own people, Israel. Look at everything they had been given. Adoption as sons, heirs of the covenants, the glory of the Lord, worship life in the temple in Jerusalem, the heritage of the patriarchs, and then the promise given to them came in the flesh, Christ Jesus, the Lord and Savior.
How many advantages could one nation have? But Paul as a member of this family is hurting because his kinsmen are rejecting their Messiah. Some of you know this hurt. Family members turning their back on their Lord and their faith. Given many of the same advantages as the Israelites they wander off in the wrong direction. Let’s get some encouragement here today . . .
“DOWNWARD MOBILITY HELP”
It has been a trend for a while now to trace your ancestry. A detailed genetic analysis of your connection to the past. What part of your background is German, or Norwegian, or Spanish, or Indian? Anybody ever find out a part of you is an Israelite? The Israelites of Paul’s day took pride in being blood descendants of Abraham. Abraham though had two sons – Ishmael and Isaac. Only one was an Israelite. Isaac had twin sons – Jacob and Esau – but only one was the forerunner of Jesus and the son of the promise.
In God’s eyes, a true Israelite, a true child of Abraham, is not one by natural birth but by faith in the promise of Christ. You can’t prove that with a genetic test. You can only trust your Baptism, which tells you who your spiritual Daddy is.
This is why Paul was grieved for his people. They had broken God’s covenant, torn down His altars, and murdered his prophets. Jesus wasn’t even welcome among his own relatives or in his hometown. They had thrown away all of their advantages.
Being human we should expect more downward mobility than upward. Sinners will throw away their blessings more than they will treasure them. Christians can be tempted by a theology of glory. This preaching tells you that Christ is a winner, and you can be a winner too. Accept Jesus they say, and you can overcome all your bad habits, have a great romantic marriage, and have children who are respectful and won’t dye their hair or pierce something you don’t think should be pierced. Winning with Jesus gets you promoted at work and your softball team never loses. This win with Jesus religion is always a letdown. You struggle with bills and have to work at your marriage and your kids might be a little strange or leave the faith of their youth. How can I accept Christ and still be a loser?
Then a well-meaning friend steps in and tells you, “You just need more faith!” Right. So, you dig down deep inside yourself and try to whomp up some more faith – and it just won’t whomp.
In our Gospel today, the crowds are experiencing a little downward mobility, a food shortage. It wasn’t the faith of the people that changed the outcome, it was the Savior of all mankind. Faith doesn’t save. Jesus saves. The crowd experienced upward mobility as they were fed in abundance.
Ours is the Gospel of salvation in Christ, for on the cross, He earned it for us. Ours is the washing of Holy Baptism, where we were buried into that death of Christ, all our sins were washed away, and we were brought to faith in Him. Ours is the Holy Communion, where Christ comes to live within us. In Baptism we are made one with Christ. In the Lord’s Supper Christ becomes one with us. Ours is the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
All of this is our downward mobility help. Paul was distressed and literally wanted to die for his people. Noble, but not practical. What he could do was to share God’s Word with them. He could encourage them. He could pray for them. He could leave it in God’s hands. Be reminded again – Jesus saves. Those in a downward mobility spiral have to be lifted up by Him. Live the faith. Partake of the Sacraments. Strengthen your walk with Jesus. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord.
Amen.