Christ Lutheran Church
Cleveland, Ohio
July 20, 2025
by: Rev. Dean Kavouras
Pentecost 6C
The Oaks Of Calvary
And the LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day! (Genesis 18:1)
The Oaks of Mamre are prophetic of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only the Oaks, but also we find in Genesis 13:18 that the first thing Abraham did when he settled in Mamre was to build an altar to the LORD.
The LORD chose Abraham out of all the men in the world to be the: Father of many nations, and promised him that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through him. The LORD further pledged that Abraham’s descendants would be more numerous that the stars in the sky and the sands on the seashore. Which is remarkable because at this time Abraham was about 100 years old, his wife Sarah close behind, and as of yet they had not a single child.
But all of that changed at the Oaks of Mamre that day, which as we said are prophetic of the Old Rugged Cross on which the Lord of Glory offered His stainless life for the life of the world. You are that world.
But so as not to “bury the lead” let us make clear that the LORD had One Great Descendant of Abraham in mind when He made this promise. His One and Only Son who for us men and for our salvation “was made man.” A mystery so high and deep and broad that the church can make no response except to genuflect at the mystery so great.
The things that we heard in today’s Old Testament reading, as well as in today’s gospel don’t only put our Lord at the very center of all things, but they also teach us that: as we cannot reach God without Christ, even so we cannot get to Christ apart from liturgy. The liturgy we see taking place in both Genesis and in today’s gospel.
Let us take note.
In today’s Old Testament lesson the pre-incarnate Christ personally appears the Abraham. It was not a vision or dream but our Lord Jesus Christ came to Abraham in human form. He along with two other men.
Now we don’t have time today to explore this mysterious “theophany,” but people wonder if it was Jesus with two angels who appeared, or if this was an appearance of the Blessed Holy Trinity, coming to confirm His promises made earlier to Abraham.
But note what happens in today’s reading.
Abraham falls to the ground in worship because he knew that this was God Himself coming to visit him! There is no mistaking such an encounter, and falling on one’s face is the right response. Unless you are like the men of Sodom a few verses later who wanted to kill the Lord of glory and drive him far away. Much like today’s once Christian West does. But we will proclaim His name and His wonders for as long as we have breath.
Abraham offers to wash the feet of these men, and prepare a meal for them before they go their way. And it is in this context where Divine Words are given with food and drink that the Promise of the Christ, the Great Seed of Abraham is made with these words: “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Gen. 18:10)
Abraham fell understood and bowed down in worship, Sarah laughed at so preposterous an idea. But then the LORD settles this matter with this rhetorical question: Is anything too hard for The LORD?
But nor should we miss the other details of the account especially having to do with the tree. The Oaks of Mamre which, as we say, were prophetic of the Tree of Calvary, the dear cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. In v. 5 he invites the men to rest under the shade of the Oaks. A few verses later Moses reports that Abraham stood “under the tree” as the three men eat.
As that was Liturgy so is this event today, dear Christians. This is the Mamre. This is Calvary. This is the time and place where our God gives us rest. Rest from the heat of the battle. Rest from the war within. And rest from the war without where chaos reigns. Chaos that we sometimes walk into knowingly, or unknowingly, or sometimes half suspecting. And at other times we get dragged into the darkness clawing, kicking and screaming, and positively incredulous to find ourselves where we are.
But whether the war is within or without there is nothing we need more than the rest the Jesus gives us when we stand beneath His cross like Abraham did. Like the Centurion did who came to crucify, but remained to glorify.
We find the same in today’s gospel. Divine Service taking place which consists of Jesus teaching and feeding His people. The food was not unimportant, not by a long shot, and so we should not be too hard on Martha. But food without the Word of God does not make us make us alive. Does not sustain us in the heat of battle. Does not put calm into our hearts, and ease our minds. And so now as now as then our worship consists of the Service of the Word (p. 184) and the Service of the Sacrament (p. 192).
Of necessity a few weeks ago we did not celebrate the Sacrament. And while we rejoiced to pray together and hear God’s Word, without the ability to feed on His Flesh, “which is food indeed,” and drink His Blood “which is drink indeed” (John 6:55) we were left wanting: like going to bed without supper.
And so both of these elements together make up the Divine Encounter that we hear of in today’s readings, and that we enjoy here every Sunday. May our God continue to so bless us with His Word and Sacrament all the days of our lives.