It seems like a good place to start these mid-week Advent services. True, “In the beginning was the Word,” (cf. John 1:1) but as the Church looks forward to Christmas once again and celebrating the birth of the enfleshed God, it does one good look to when God became incarnate, when the Son of God, the Word became flesh in order to “dwell among us.” (cf. John 1:14)

“Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!” (Psalm 118:25)

When it comes to the triumphal entry, much can be said about the entry itself, and much has been said. Regarding the donkey and colt, the palms and coats, even Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem as a king, much has been said. But have you ever given much thought to what the crowds say as Jesus rides into town?

“Give us this day our daily bread,” Jesus taught you to pray. What is meant by daily bread? Luther instructed: “Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.”

Luther left a list of things for which to be thankful, finishing them off with the phrase, “And the like.” After all, as you learned from the Small Catechism, “Give us this day our daily bread,” means, “God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”

So, take a closer look at that list. Are you thankful for things like food and drink? I’m guess that for most of you, even with these increased prices, food is very much readily available, and you never think about the methods by which that food is available.

On All Saints’ Day, the Church remembers. She remembers those saints who have gone before, suffering persecution and even dying for the faith. She remembers those saints who have, by the grace of God, served the Church and world with lasting contributions. Her members usually remember those friends and loved ones who have now entered eternal rest.

But, what does it take to be a saint? A saint is one who is sanctified—made holy—one who has no sin. Therefore, if you are without sin, you are a saint, too.

What does it take to be a saint? In the Gospel lesson, Jesus recited the “Beatitudes,” qualities of those who are blessed to be saints. This is a passage of Scripture that stands out for many, and one that carries with it great joy and blessing. However, it is also one that is often twisted and misunderstood to lead to despair.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”

Jesus used a very weighty word to describe the state of man’s corruption, not just for his time, but even today: “slave.” When Jesus used that word as He spoke to the Jews who had believed in Him, it did more than just catch their attention; alarm bells were likely going off in His hearer’s heads, putting them on the defensive. Hence their reaction in the text!

Given this country’s history with slavery, you are most familiar with the concept of chattel slavery. These kinds of slaves were considered less-than-human property. People, though they were considered anything but, were owned by other people, documented and registered and taxed under certain property tax codes. Unfortunately, even though the concept and practice of chattel slavery have been around since the 16th century, for most Americans, it influences the understanding of more historic practices of slavery, even other forms of slavery in use to this day! It should come as no shock that the words “slave” and “slavery” still carry as much weight and bad baggage today as they do; the history may not be the most recent, but it’s recent enough to cause consternation in people.