Advent 3: Monday
Read:
Psalm 85"Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.”
(Psalm 85:10)
Righteousness and peace are friends. Luther quotes St. Augustine to that
effect many times. The one who is not righteous should not expect to find peace;
and, I suppose, the one who inflicts strife is far from righteous. Righteousness
and peace are friends: that's what it means when the Psalm says that
righteousness and peace have kissed each other. They go together.
And what of mercy and truth? They have met together, like two good
companions walking down the road. The one who is merciful can expect to love
truth. The one who is true can expect to receive mercy. All four are fast friends.
All are qualities of the Lord, in whom there is no contradiction.
And you? Not so much.
Mercy and truth don't meet together naturally in you: the truth is that,
because of your sin, you don't deserve God's mercy. Instead, you deserve His
judgment.
Righteousness and peace don't form their friendship in you by nature: by
nature, you're not righteous. Therefore, declares the Lord in His Law, you don't
deserve His peace. Instead, along with His judgment, you deserve His wrath.
Wrath and judgment go together, and they meet in you unless this curse of sin
can be removed.
That is why, as you prepare for the coming of Christmas, both the
Incarnation and the crucifixion of Jesus are so important. When Jesus is born,
the angels declare to the shepherds that He brings peace and goodwill to men. If
He brings peace to men, then He brings righteousness to men, too. How? He
brings it be speaking the Truth, by being the Truth: the Truth that God has
willed to be merciful upon you through His Son, Jesus Christ.
So that you might receive God's mercy, peace and righteousness, God
expends His wrath and judgment for sin on His Son on the cross. At Calvary,
look where the cross-beam intersects with the post: that is where you find your
Savior. And because He suffers God's wrath in your place, that is where God's
mercy, truth, righteousness and peace meet together for you.
For the sake of Jesus Christ—incarnate, crucified and risen, the truth about
you is this: God has mercy on you and declares you righteous for Jesus' sake.
Thus, no matter what torment the devil throws at you, you have peace with God
and eternal life is yours. You know so because of your Lord on the cross—the
same who brings you mercy and truth, righteousness and peace in His Word and
Sacraments today.
Arise, ye drooping mourners! The King is very near;
Away with grief and sorrow! For, lo, your Help is here.
Behold in many a place—O blessed consolation!—
You find Him, your Salvation, Within His means of grace. (TLH 69:3)