Sermon for Oculi, 2025

Behold how marvelously Jesus defeats the devil: He turns the devil’s wickedness against him. The devil sees to it that the one thing that would cause His undoing is accomplished, namely, the crucifixion of our Lord, whereby Jesus redeemed mankind. And by this event, paradoxically, we are set free from our sins, for the Blood of Christ covers our unrighteousness, sets us right with God, and reconciles us to Him. Moreover, the devil, against his expectations, desires, and will, participates in his very undoing. 

And so, whatever ails you, whatever troubles you, whatever grieves you, especially if it’s your own sin or guilt, remember this: Jesus is stronger than the devil. He has come upon the devil and taken from him all his armor wherein he trusted and divided his spoils. That’s why Jesus was able to do all those other healings and why He was able to cast out the devil from this poor, mute man, who, therefore, was subsequently able to speak. 

You know, we are very much like that man, we Christians, because Jesus, in Holy Baptism, has likewise driven the devil far from us. Like this man, we have been loosed from the devil’s clutches. And as a result, we have learned to speak. And that which we most especially say and are able to say is, “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God… God of God… very God of very God, begotten, not made…who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man” and so forth; that is, to confess the Christian Faith. Our tongues have been loosed, and we speak. Out of the convictions of our renewed hearts, we confess the Faith.

Readings:

• Old Testament: Exodus 8:16-24

• Epistle: Ephesians 5:1-9

• Holy Gospel: Luke 11:14-28

Sermon: