Christ Lutheran Church
Cleveland, Ohio
March 23, 2025
by: Rev. Dean Kavouras
Lent 3C
The Season of Repentance
“Our rebellion and our sins are upon us and because of them we rot away … how can we live?’ Say to them son of man: ‘As I live declares the LORD God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. But that the wicked should turn from his way and live! Turn! Turn! from your wicked ways, for why will you die O House of Israel. (Ezekiel 33:10-11 DKV)
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All of today’s readings are directed to the church.
They are not without consolation. Not without the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. But their tone is decidedly somber. All who have ears to hear should hear the dismal warning: unless you repent you will likewise perish. And here is where the problems begin.
We can understand that those who have not been exposed the teachings of Holy Scripture would have no appetite to hear about Divine Statutes given by a God of whom they know little or nothing at all. They don’t know that He is the Creator and Sustainer of “all things visible and invisible.” But things were not always so. In living memory people did know about God, sin, judgment and above all about salvation from sin by the cross or our Lord Jesus Christ and so much more.
But the 20th century has all but erased the glory of divine knowledge from the earth;
thanks to satanic communism. And courtesy of the godless ideologies that poisoned all that they touched in the once-Christian west: education, business, arts, government, and worst of all large swaths of the church! Which was like taking the guard rails off the 480 bridge; and now people topple over in droves.
That is why all three of today’s lessons are directed to the church. To us. But why so harsh? Has our God forgotten how to be gracious? How to have mercy?
Not at all. Instead all the sufferings referenced in today’s readings: the re-enslavement of God’s people. Pilate’s bloody persecution, falling towers that haplessly kill 18 people, 23,000 of God’s people being destroyed by the Destroyer in one day … All of these things were done by God, or allowed to happen by God in order to awaken His beloved from their self-centered coma. From the primal rebellion by which rot away hour by hour.
The Heavenly Father was doing for them, what Lent does for us, but without the untold misery, bloodshed or gore. Saint Paul tells us that these things happened to them “as an example for us.” So that we should relent of our sins, stop living self-directed lives, stop worshiping ourselves and our base desires. So that we should empty ourselves of ourselves, and give ourselves altogether over to our God – like our Lord did!
He did it so that we should repent. But what does that mean?
The word repent means: to change one’s way of thinking for, you see, all evil begins as a thought that originates in the heart and mind of man. To repent means to examine and rethink one’s core. One’s way of life, take note of where it is leading us, and turn and run the other way. Turn towards the LORD. Lest our sins devour us.
Does that really happen?
Remember! Death entered the world with sin. It was a Trojan Horse. And human so-called imperfection is responsible for every trouble we experience in “this poor life of labor.” We bring it upon ourselves individually and collectively, directly and indirectly.
Moreover the word repentance means to perform a type of Spring house cleaning of our heart, mind, body, soul and conscience … and is it possible even of our personal surroundings? Our houses and hygiene, our cars our clothing our clutter – and perhaps even our associations. But there is more. When the LORD God instructs Ezekiel his voice, to speak all these things to his people they are already in captivity and service to the Babylonians. To all-mighty nation of Babylon that leveled every inch of their nation. Burned it down to the ground. Killed their brightest and best, and led them on a 500 mile death march to Babylon. Is this the fate of God’s Beloved?
While one might think that this would be a good time to “comfort the afflicted,” the LORD God had his prophet “afflict the afflicted,” even more. Did you ever feel that way? That God is kicking a man when he is already down? That is what happened here! But why, why, Oh why?
One reason O Lenten Christians. So that He might wring out every drop of rebellion from them – so that they might be fully repent, be saved from their sins, and enter the unspeakable glories that God has prepared for those who love him in heaven.
And if this isn’t scary enough the Son of Man tells his audience when they ask about two recent tragic events, “Unless you repent you likewise shall perish.” You will have towers falling on you and your blood mingled with your sacrifices.
But this is not the heart of the LORD’s message to his people, but rather this: “I do not desire the death of the wicked. Why will you die O Israel. Repent! Turn from thunder road, and return to the path of life.”
Now again this is very strong talk – and it is doubtful that anyone got up this morning and eagerly came to God’s House to hear such things. But as Jesus says, “The spirit is willing but the Flesh is weak.” And not only “weak,” but rebellious and irredeemable. Even in the mighty Sacrament of Baptism the Holy Spirit does not redeem the Flesh. But rather He drowns it in the baptismal water. And he keeps its ever-plotting head underwater by the preaching of God’s Law, in which Ezekiel specialized.
But all for a good end! Yes believe it! Because we cannot repent or believe by our own powers, or redeem ourselves by works of righteousness. Saint Paul makes clear in Romans 2:4 that: “It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.” The love of God that capacitates us to learn from the suffering of others so that we will not experience the same. For it is “upon us whom the end of the ages has come.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
This liturgy is “the end of the ages.” This is heaven on earth. This is the “gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.” (Romans 1:16)
This is “the way of escape” that Saint Paul proclaims in verse 13 of today’s epistle.
This is the place where we obtain a deep understanding of ourselves and our circumstances. Where we acquire insight for our most baffling questions. Where more questions are answered in one hour than we can ask in a life time. Where we sit “still before the LORD” and are shown “the way of escape” for every situation. All this so that we can well bear the burdens of temptation and trial.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! The blessings of Lent. And the immense benedictions of Good Friday and Easter which promise the end of all our sorrow. Amen.