ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
(The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod)
Alma, Kansas
A family united by faith in Christ gathering around God's Word and Sacraments.
To reach out in Christ-like concern and Christ-borne love to each other and to those without Christ!
In This Month's
St. John Witness
MARCH WITNESS
Pastor's Message
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God..” Psalm 42:11
Thomas Costain’s history, The Three Edwards, describes the life of Raynald III, a 14th Century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly obese, Raynald was often referred to by his Latin Nickname “Crassus,” which mean “fatty.”
After a violent quarrel with his younger brother Edward, Raynald was overthrown in a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald, but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room for Raynald in the Nieuwkerk Castle, and promised him he could regain his title and properties as soon as he was able to leave the room.
While this may not have been difficult for you or me, for the door had several doors and windows of normal size. None of them were locked or barred. But Raynald’s bulk would not allow him to go through these doors. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward correctly estimated his brother’s resistance to temptation. And so, he sent trays of delicious food for him each day in his imprisonment. Instead of dieting to get out, he grew more fat, and less able to leave this prison of his own making.
When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer. “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”
Raynald stayed in that room for ten years, and even when Edward was killed in battle, his release meant the destruction of the doorway. Nevertheless, he died within a year, a prisoner of his own appetites.
God speaks to us about our appetites for sin and sinfulness. This coming season of Lent, we will look upon the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, pride, sloth, envy, lust and anger. We will focus upon the answers God provides for these temptations in Jesus Christ, and so we will learn about fasting, humility, diligence, kindness, chastity, kindness, and forgiveness. Each week, we shall pray for mercy, and seek God’s strength to resist these evil, malicious, wicked passions that we carry in our human flesh.
Jesus is our redeemer. He does not seek to imprison us in our sinful appetites, but redeem us from them by His death and resurretction.
Rejoicing as holy chuldren of God!
Pastor Grimm
*The Three Edwards, Thomas Costain, Doubleday ,New York 1958.
