WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.200 Grace mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord 2 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:04.200 and Savior Jesus Christ. 3 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:05.400 Amen. 4 00:00:06.800 --> 00:00:11.300 The writer of the hymn that we have just sung James Montgomery was no 5 00:00:11.300 --> 00:00:16.700 stranger to difficulties and trials in life. When he was a young boy 6 00:00:16.700 --> 00:00:20.700 he was sent off to boarding school and his parents went off to be 7 00:00:20.700 --> 00:00:22.400 missionaries in the West Indies. 8 00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:24.000 He never never saw them again 9 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.300 they both perished there soon afterward. 10 00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:31.100 In his adult life he was imprisoned two times, 11 00:00:31.100 --> 00:00:32.000 unjustly. 12 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:38.000 He was brought to trial many times unjustly and he experienced many more 13 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:43.400 moments momentarily feeling this affliction and the troubles of life 14 00:00:43.400 --> 00:00:49.400 and almost defeated at times. But in all of that he wrote the sum 400 15 00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:55.400 hymns. He is known as the the poet laureate of Christian music over 400 16 00:00:55.400 --> 00:00:59.300 hymns about a hundred of them are supposedly still in common use today 17 00:00:59.300 --> 00:01:04.099 and in our own Lutheran service book, there are four of his hymns. 18 00:01:04.099 --> 00:01:09.700 Angels from the Realms of Glory, Hail to the Lord's Anointed one of our 19 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:14.200 old favorites go to Dark Gethsemane, and then the one that we have 20 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:15.300 just sung. 21 00:01:16.600 --> 00:01:21.300 It's interesting that later in life James Montgomery found refuge and 22 00:01:21.300 --> 00:01:26.800 peace in his home in Sheffield, England and he called this this place 23 00:01:26.800 --> 00:01:28.000 of Solace. 24 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:33.100 He named the mount that's what he called his home the mount and it 25 00:01:33.100 --> 00:01:37.900 was there at this home called the mount that he penned the words to 26 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:41.300 our hymn Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain. 27 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:47.200 Just as for him this home was a place of a physical place where the 28 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:53.000 troubled peace may find Mount Calvary the place of Christ's 29 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:57.600 crucifixion is the place of spiritual comfort and encouragement for 30 00:01:57.600 --> 00:01:59.400 all who believe in him. 31 00:02:00.800 --> 00:02:02.600 So how do you meet the challenges? 32 00:02:02.600 --> 00:02:07.800 How do you meet the challenges the challenging mountains of Life 33 00:02:07.800 --> 00:02:08.800 successfully? 34 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:13.300 How do you climb their rugged slopes and cliffs? 35 00:02:14.700 --> 00:02:19.600 It was a little over 36 years ago that my wife Deborah and I along with 36 00:02:19.600 --> 00:02:24.200 some other friends and our language instructors decided to climb one 37 00:02:24.200 --> 00:02:27.200 of the most scenic mountains really that I've ever seen in my life. 38 00:02:27.200 --> 00:02:29.400 It's here in this photo. 39 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.300 It's some of you may recognize it Volcán de Agua. 40 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:36.800 It's not really a mountain per se but rather it's a dormant volcano. 41 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:42.300 And we decided we were going to climb this volcano, but we had to prepare a little bit before we did 42 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:45.300 so, for one thing we were new to living at the high altitudes of 43 00:02:45.300 --> 00:02:45.900 Guatemala. 44 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:49.400 So we were living at about five thousand feet above sea level and we 45 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:53.600 had to take a little bit of time for our lungs to acclimate to that 46 00:02:53.600 --> 00:02:57.100 hire altitude living and they say actually it takes about three months 47 00:02:57.100 --> 00:03:00.300 for your lungs to fully acclimate to living at a higher altitude. 48 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:02.100 So we waited a little bit. 49 00:03:02.100 --> 00:03:06.400 We also waited until the month of January because we knew a January 50 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:10.000 would be a time when the sky was very clear was not the rainy season 51 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:13.700 was the dry season the sky would be clear and we have the best views 52 00:03:13.700 --> 00:03:14.300 from on top. 53 00:03:14.700 --> 00:03:21.100 And it would be much more breathtaking By waiting until January. Volcán de Agua is not 54 00:03:21.100 --> 00:03:22.400 a high high mountain. 55 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:28.300 It's about 12.500 feet above sea level and we were able actually to 56 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:32.300 drive our old Volkswagen bus up to I don't know maybe about 7.000 a 57 00:03:32.300 --> 00:03:33.400 couple thousand of the feet. 58 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:37.000 We were able to drive up in our bus, but finally it just couldn't make 59 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.900 it any farther and besides that the road was narrowing down and so we 60 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:44.300 had to get out of the bus and walk the rest of the way which we are 61 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:48.100 ready for. As we got out of the car and we were starting to make our 62 00:03:48.100 --> 00:03:52.300 way up the hill along comes an anganista. 63 00:03:52.300 --> 00:03:54.400 I didn't say Sandinista an anganista 64 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.800 which is a mountain climber basically a person who is just very 65 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:01.700 interested a professional or an expert at the mountain climbing and he 66 00:04:01.700 --> 00:04:02.600 was on his way up. 67 00:04:02.600 --> 00:04:05.200 He said he was going to go up and clean up some of the litter at the 68 00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:06.700 top of the at the top of the volcano. 69 00:04:06.700 --> 00:04:09.500 He said let's go together and let's walk together. 70 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:10.700 We said that sounds great. 71 00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:14.400 So we all kind of had it up and I don't know if it was even 5 minutes. 72 00:04:14.600 --> 00:04:18.200 He finally we were so out of shape and going so slowly 73 00:04:18.200 --> 00:04:21.100 he finally said I will see you up there 74 00:04:21.100 --> 00:04:23.900 I'm going to go on ahead and he just scampered up the hill. 75 00:04:23.900 --> 00:04:26.200 He made it in he made it in 2 hours. 76 00:04:26.200 --> 00:04:28.900 It took us about six hours to get to the top. 77 00:04:28.900 --> 00:04:33.200 But this he was prepared for this. And as we were climbing it all 78 00:04:33.200 --> 00:04:38.100 eventually the the lack of oxygen cause us to just only be able to 79 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:42.000 take about four or five steps at a time without just stopping to catch 80 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:42.300 your breath. 81 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:46.000 And remember my heart was just just pounding like crazy at the time, 82 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:51.600 you know, when it was a it was not a hard to climb in in the sense 83 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:53.700 that it was a rough path. 84 00:04:53.700 --> 00:04:56.900 It was a pretty decent path, but it was just steep and it was the high 85 00:04:56.900 --> 00:04:57.200 altitude. 86 00:04:57.200 --> 00:05:03.000 So from my aviation training, I knew that when you get to higher 87 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:06.700 altitudes that is very common to have a sense of euphoria can come over 88 00:05:06.700 --> 00:05:06.900 you. 89 00:05:06.900 --> 00:05:10.100 In fact, there's more than one case of a pilot that's at a high 90 00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:14.500 altitude without oxygen and he starts thinking I don't need to switch my 91 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:15.300 fuel tanks 92 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:17.300 it's no problem I'm good. 93 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:18.300 You know, everything is fine. 94 00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:22.100 Everything is good in and then there were playing sputters a little 95 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:26.200 bit for a couple of minutes till he comes to and switches is fuel tank 96 00:05:26.200 --> 00:05:30.700 So as we are climbing up and we were almost to the top probably a 97 00:05:30.700 --> 00:05:34.200 thousand feet from the top maybe even less and my wife Deborah just 98 00:05:34.200 --> 00:05:37.000 you know, she just decided everything was good then nothing. 99 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:37.400 No worries. 100 00:05:37.400 --> 00:05:38.900 She sat down on a rock. 101 00:05:38.900 --> 00:05:40.200 She said no, I'm good. 102 00:05:40.200 --> 00:05:41.500 I'm just going to I'll just wait here. 103 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:42.700 This was beautiful from here. 104 00:05:42.700 --> 00:05:47.500 I'm not going to go any further and I remember it yelling at her then 105 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:52.000 venite vos venite, come come come let's go let's go and see you 106 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.900 finally got up and and we made it about 6 hours uphill to the rim of 107 00:05:56.900 --> 00:06:01.100 the crater. The rim of the crater the highest spot that's called lo 108 00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:01.400 alto. 109 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:04.000 We were totally exhausted. 110 00:06:04.900 --> 00:06:08.900 Trying to catch our breath when up comes this guy on a motocross 111 00:06:08.900 --> 00:06:17.800 motorcycle. All the way up the path he comes all the way up the path. He stops parks his bike takes his helmet off and takes a deep breath. 112 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:23.400 And he says que Rico that means like oh how beautiful how wonderful or 113 00:06:23.400 --> 00:06:25.700 something like that. I have to admit 114 00:06:25.700 --> 00:06:28.100 it was a little irritating and I thought it was cheating 115 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:30.900 in fact after we've been climbing for 6 hours and was totally 116 00:06:30.900 --> 00:06:35.200 exhausted and he just scoots up on his motorcycle, but it is true 117 00:06:35.200 --> 00:06:37.000 the view was breathtaking. 118 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:41.200 You can see four or five other volcanoes in the distance looking to 119 00:06:41.200 --> 00:06:44.100 the north and as we walked around the crater to the southside 120 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:47.900 I remembered we can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean which must have 121 00:06:47.900 --> 00:06:49.700 been maybe 50 miles away. 122 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:56.600 That was 36 years ago this January one of the most memorable 123 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:58.500 experiences in our lives. 124 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:04.300 Well today, let's focus on developing the right Spirit or attitude to climb 125 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:08.100 mountains and I'm not talking about mountains like Volcán de Agua or 126 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:09.200 Everest or St. 127 00:07:09.200 --> 00:07:13.700 Helens, but the mountains of life the difficulties in the hardships 128 00:07:13.700 --> 00:07:18.900 and the challenges that we face. Because Lent too is kind of like a 129 00:07:18.900 --> 00:07:19.800 mountain climb. 130 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:24.900 It's a time when we begin to climb with Jesus to the Mount of Calvary 131 00:07:24.900 --> 00:07:27.100 and it also can be a time 132 00:07:27.100 --> 00:07:31.700 when we ponder anew the challenges the mountains that we face in this 133 00:07:31.700 --> 00:07:33.200 life in our daily lives. 134 00:07:34.200 --> 00:07:38.100 Now last week, of course we heard about the other time that Jesus went 135 00:07:38.100 --> 00:07:38.400 up to the mountain. 136 00:07:38.400 --> 00:07:41.600 He went up to the Mount of Transfiguration with three of his 137 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:42.000 disciples. 138 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:46.700 We heard of how when Jesus was transform before their very eyes and 139 00:07:46.700 --> 00:07:50.600 how they saw a glimpse at least of the glory of Jesus there. 140 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:54.500 They saw a glimpse of his glory and they probably saw an idea what the 141 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:57.300 glory awaited them and they were like, it's good to be here, 142 00:07:57.300 --> 00:07:59.900 let's stay let's let's stay here, 143 00:07:59.900 --> 00:08:00.700 this is great. 144 00:08:00.700 --> 00:08:05.700 But Jesus doing would actually have to climb the other mountain 145 00:08:05.700 --> 00:08:09.400 and that's the mountain called Calvary and there instead of 146 00:08:09.400 --> 00:08:11.200 manifesting his glory and power. 147 00:08:11.200 --> 00:08:16.400 He willingly humbled himself and gave up his life on our behalf. 148 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:22.700 Today's Gospel lesson really shows us the right attitude with which to 149 00:08:22.700 --> 00:08:26.000 climb mountains in true Calvary Spirit. 150 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.200 We climb mountains beginning with prayer. 151 00:08:28.200 --> 00:08:32.900 We climb mountains filled with Christ's love and we climb Mountain 152 00:08:32.900 --> 00:08:35.100 confident because of his victory. 153 00:08:36.900 --> 00:08:42.600 No, Jesus of course loves people but he's not fooled by our antics. 154 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:47.700 He knows that there are many who would prefer not to climb mountains. 155 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:50.300 But would prefer to avoid there mountains. 156 00:08:50.300 --> 00:08:53.800 Maybe I should say it many of us would prefer to avoid our mountains 157 00:08:53.800 --> 00:08:55.300 not to mention his. 158 00:08:56.500 --> 00:09:02.700 He understands that when some people find life hard they cover up they 159 00:09:02.700 --> 00:09:05.300 cover up and they cover it up and make it look like they are 160 00:09:05.300 --> 00:09:06.400 climbing when they're not. 161 00:09:06.400 --> 00:09:11.300 In fact, even Jesus himself said at one point remember when he prayed 162 00:09:11.300 --> 00:09:15.700 to God and he said let this cup pass hoping that maybe you're saying 163 00:09:15.700 --> 00:09:19.500 or praying that maybe the cross of that he was facing was not going to 164 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:21.200 have to become a reality for him. 165 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:22.200 Of course 166 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:27.100 he did go to the cross and he knew it was the father's will and and he 167 00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:29.200 also knew that there was no faking it at this point. 168 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:36.100 For faking it Jesus uses this unpleasant word hypocrite. I think it's one 169 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:37.400 of the worst insults 170 00:09:37.400 --> 00:09:41.700 you can throw at anyone. For those who faked their religiosity, of 171 00:09:41.700 --> 00:09:43.700 course comes from the ancient Greek Theater. 172 00:09:43.700 --> 00:09:47.200 It's like a a person wearing a false face or a mask. 173 00:09:48.400 --> 00:09:53.200 And no wonder Jesus urges us to beware of practicing piety before 174 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:55.400 people in order to be seen by them. 175 00:09:55.400 --> 00:10:00.200 He says we shouldn't be like the gloomy hypocrites those who put on 176 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:04.800 this gloomy face of this piety because of their fasting and in fact 177 00:10:04.800 --> 00:10:05.600 new reality, 178 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:07.100 why would we be gloomy? 179 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:12.000 Why would we be gloomy that we are the redeemed children of God so 180 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:16.100 that even in our acts of repentance in this season, we have every 181 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:20.600 reason to to anoint our heads with oil and wash our faces, 182 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:24.400 like Jesus said. We don't have to be all gloom and doom during Lent. 183 00:10:24.400 --> 00:10:29.400 Repentance means sorrow and faith and faith brings life 184 00:10:29.400 --> 00:10:34.800 and so we don't have to be gloomy. But he says don't be gloomy don't be 185 00:10:34.800 --> 00:10:35.100 gloomy. 186 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:37.500 We are to be real climbers in life 187 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:42.800 not merely actors. Not just make believe Christians with a public 188 00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:44.100 display of false piety. 189 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:47.300 We all remember the case of Ananias and Sapphira. 190 00:10:47.300 --> 00:10:49.300 That was very very clear. 191 00:10:49.300 --> 00:10:53.200 Ttheir pretended generosity brought quick judgment 192 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:54.300 on them by God. 193 00:10:55.300 --> 00:10:57.800 There's nothing wrong really in a sense with what they did. 194 00:10:57.800 --> 00:10:58.300 They did. 195 00:10:58.300 --> 00:11:02.100 They sold a property and they laid some of the proceeds in front of 196 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:04.000 the the apostles at their feet. 197 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.700 But the ideas that they had been giving everybody the impression they 198 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:11.400 were giving it to the group to the apostles when in fact they kept 199 00:11:11.400 --> 00:11:12.800 some back for themselves. 200 00:11:13.900 --> 00:11:15.200 That's what was very wrong. 201 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:16.500 That's what was very wrong. 202 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:20.100 The Apostle Paul put it this way. 203 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:21.400 Do not be deceived. 204 00:11:21.400 --> 00:11:27.300 God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows the one who sows 205 00:11:27.300 --> 00:11:31.600 to please his sinful nature from that nature will reap destruction. 206 00:11:34.400 --> 00:11:39.400 First we know that Jesus endured mockery and shame when he was hanging 207 00:11:39.400 --> 00:11:39.800 on the cross. 208 00:11:39.800 --> 00:11:44.400 He endured the insults of many people who are going by in hurling 209 00:11:44.400 --> 00:11:47.900 their hurling their insults at him shaking their heads and saying you 210 00:11:47.900 --> 00:11:51.400 are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days save 211 00:11:51.400 --> 00:11:51.500 yourself. 212 00:11:52.900 --> 00:11:56.700 In the same way the elders and the teachers of the law who appeared to 213 00:11:56.700 --> 00:12:01.700 be very religious mock Jesus he saved others, but he can't save 214 00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:02.000 himself. 215 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.100 He's the King of Israel 216 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:08.400 let him come down from the cross and we will then believe in him. He 217 00:12:08.400 --> 00:12:12.200 trust in God let God rescue him now if he wants him. 218 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:18.100 But Jesus said father forgive them for they do not know what they are 219 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:18.300 doing. 220 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:24.800 What is it that Jesus endured all of that for us he makes up for all of the 221 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:27.800 fake climbers of the world by climbing the mountain. 222 00:12:27.800 --> 00:12:31.500 I should say by climbing our mountain of our hypocrisies. 223 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:37.500 He received the punishment we deserve so that the father might forgive 224 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.300 us. 225 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:43.200 But you and I feel remorse because we have allowed our sinful nature 226 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:49.000 to guide our thoughts words and deeds the Cross of Christ on calvary's 227 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:49.800 Mountain assures 228 00:12:49.800 --> 00:12:56.300 our hearts of his grace and empowers us to have the right spirit for 229 00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:58.900 climbing the mountains of life. 230 00:12:59.800 --> 00:13:04.200 The spirits that Christ gives to us first is that Spirit of prayer. 231 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:11.800 Jesus says when you pray. When you pray. But he says do not pray like the 232 00:13:11.800 --> 00:13:14.800 hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the 233 00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:16.800 street corners to be seen by people. 234 00:13:16.800 --> 00:13:20.600 But when you pray go into your room close the door and pray to your 235 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:25.300 father who is unseen then your father who is in heaven in who 236 00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:28.700 sees what is done in secret will reward you. 237 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.600 Remember that well fit climbers were mocking Jesus. 238 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:39.200 He prayed the words of Psalm 22 or on his lips my God my God 239 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.500 why have you forsaken me but no doubt 240 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:44.400 he had the rest of the song also in his heart if not 241 00:13:44.400 --> 00:13:51.100 even on his lips. In his heart he continued praying that song that asks God to come quickly to 242 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:55.300 deliver to rescue to save he prayed in confidence that God would not 243 00:13:55.300 --> 00:13:59.900 hide his face but listen to his answer for cry or a cry for help. 244 00:14:01.400 --> 00:14:06.600 As you face real mountains that may seem insurmountable begin with 245 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:09.800 prayer, you know, you have been forgiven because of the Cross of 246 00:14:09.800 --> 00:14:15.000 Christ now proceed to call on him to help you and to deliver you in 247 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:19.700 your particular situation. During, I think during this time of Lent those words 248 00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:23.500 of Psalm 22 that Jesus had no doubt on his lips. 249 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:26.200 Those should be on our lips as well. 250 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:31.500 My God my God, why hast Thou forsaken me yet says the Psalm you are in 251 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.800 throned as the Holy One. 252 00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:38.300 You are the one Israel praises in you our ancestors put their trust. 253 00:14:38.300 --> 00:14:41.400 They trusted and you delivered them. To you 254 00:14:41.400 --> 00:14:46.400 they cried out and were saved. In you they trusted and we're not put to 255 00:14:46.400 --> 00:14:46.500 shame. 256 00:14:47.400 --> 00:14:52.200 That is the spirit of Calvary and the power of prayer which Jesus 257 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:52.700 gives. 258 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:56.200 We could also be filled with love. 259 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:02.700 Jesus overcame his great apprehension in the Garden of Gethsemane with 260 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:07.000 love with a love that was determined to obey the father and to save 261 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:07.400 mankind. 262 00:15:07.400 --> 00:15:09.400 Even when Jesus was arrested. 263 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:12.600 He still made this loving appeal to Judas. 264 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:16.900 I think he's still wanted Judas to repent you said are you Judas? 265 00:15:16.900 --> 00:15:22.200 Are you betraying the son of man with a kiss. And when Peter cut off 266 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:27.500 the ear of this of the high priest's servant Jesus acted in love to 267 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:29.600 correct that wrong done by one of his followers. 268 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:33.500 It was no faith or anything on the part of the servant Malchus that 269 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:38.800 was involved in any of this has acted in loving grace alone when he 270 00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:40.400 healed that servants severed ear. 271 00:15:41.400 --> 00:15:46.300 This is the same Spirit he gives to you and to me through face as we 272 00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:50.400 face the mountains of trouble and anxiety and adversity. 273 00:15:50.400 --> 00:15:52.500 Here is the spirit 274 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:58.100 he gives to help us make the climb love that replaces hate love that 275 00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:03.300 writes wrong. In Christ it's possible to do things for others to do 276 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:06.300 things for others to care for others to love others without ever 277 00:16:06.300 --> 00:16:07.800 expecting anything in return. 278 00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:09.300 No gushing 279 00:16:09.300 --> 00:16:10.000 thanks are necessary. 280 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.900 No, no public recognition is necessary. As Jesus councilled, 281 00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:19.200 thus when you give to the needy sound no trumpet before you as the hypocrites 282 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:23.000 do in the synagogues and in the street that they may be praised by 283 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.900 others. Truly 284 00:16:23.900 --> 00:16:28.300 I say to you they have received their reward. But when you give to the 285 00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:33.200 needy do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so 286 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:37.600 that you're giving may be in secret and your father who sees in secret 287 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.800 will reward you. 288 00:16:40.400 --> 00:16:46.100 That is the kind of selfless love that is possible in Christ. Christ 289 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:48.300 frees us for that kind of love. 290 00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:54.700 Remember the words of the Apostle Paul in the Roman chapter 5 is his 291 00:16:54.700 --> 00:17:01.200 love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us. So a new 292 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:05.400 attitude a new spirit overcomes our mountains of trouble in adversity. 293 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:08.599 Love pours in by God's grace 294 00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:14.300 we are filled with Jesus Spirit of Calvary the spirit of love which 295 00:17:14.300 --> 00:17:17.800 Jesus did enables us to master the mountains of this life. 296 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:24.700 What's more the writer to the Hebrews said Jesus confidently, Jesus 297 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:28.300 confidently endured the cross for the joy set before him. 298 00:17:29.600 --> 00:17:33.000 We can be confident of the final victory in Christ. 299 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:37.700 As God gives you confidence in Christ victory over sin death the devil 300 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:39.700 and all the other things that drag you down. 301 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:44.500 God will help you ascend life's mountains until he finally calls you 302 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:44.700 home. 303 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:47.800 Now here is the message of our ascent. 304 00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:50.500 This is the message of our ascent. 305 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:55.600 Jesus has climbed the most difficult mountain of all for you. 306 00:17:57.200 --> 00:18:03.700 Jesus has climbed the most difficult Mountain for all of us, for all of 307 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:03.800 us. 308 00:18:03.800 --> 00:18:09.000 There is the radical difference between Calvary and the mountains that 309 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.100 we face in this life. 310 00:18:10.100 --> 00:18:10.600 Certainly 311 00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:15.000 there is a radical infinite difference a radical infinite difference 312 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:19.700 between climbing Volcan de agua and the cross of Calvary in the Mount 313 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:25.400 Calvary that Jesus climbed on our behalf. Jesus overcame Calvary once 314 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:30.200 for all for all of our sins. We could never have done it on our own we 315 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:31.100 could have not done it. 316 00:18:31.100 --> 00:18:33.700 We could have never suffered enough to make up for our sinful 317 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.200 condition. 318 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:39.000 But the sinless Son of God gave his life really as the priceless 319 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.600 payment the sacrifice to atone for us. 320 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:46.700 You can now confront your own troublesome mountains with the 321 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.300 assurance. 322 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:52.300 The Christ victory is your victory. 323 00:18:52.300 --> 00:18:53.200 You do not have to and 324 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:57.200 like I said, you never could climb to pay for your sins. Christ has 325 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:01.500 done all about atop Calvary atop the bloody Cross of Calvary Jesus 326 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.900 put all mountains in true perspective. 327 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:07.500 He reconciled God and humankind. 328 00:19:08.800 --> 00:19:10.900 Now in that state of reconciliation 329 00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:15.500 we can master the other smaller mountains of life by the spirit 330 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:22.100 he gives. And we don't go it alone either by the way, we don't do it alone in our mountain Christ goes 331 00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:27.600 with us enabling and in strengthening us. When Deborah and I climbed 332 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:29.900 Volcán de Agua 36 years ago 333 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:32.700 we would have never made it without our guide, 334 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:36.600 who happened to be our language instructor, Carlos. We never would have made it without Carlos. 335 00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:40.100 I mean was Carlos who really kept us going it was Carlos who 336 00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:43.800 encouraged us It was Carlos who put us on the right path. 337 00:19:43.800 --> 00:19:46.700 I tdhought you love the way all the way to the top. 338 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:52.800 It's so it is with God who for defies us for the Journey price has 339 00:19:52.800 --> 00:19:57.000 been there before and now through the power and encouragement of his 340 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:00.400 word and the sacraments we are encouraged. 341 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:04.100 He helps us move up and over life mountains. 342 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:09.400 So today as we begin this penitential season that we call Lamp. 343 00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:13.700 On this day that we call Ash Wednesday. 344 00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:20.800 Let us do so let us do so knowing that Christ through his word and 345 00:20:20.800 --> 00:20:26.000 Sacrament is giving us the true Spirit of confidence the true Spirit 346 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:28.900 of confidence that is necessary for mountain climbing. 347 00:20:29.800 --> 00:20:34.500 Forgive us a spirit of prayer against us a spirit of love and gives us 348 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.900 a spirit of confidence. 349 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:42.700 May this Lenten season be a Mountaintop experience in your journey of 350 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:44.200 life in Jesus name. 351 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.900 Amen. 352 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:48.900 Now May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep our hearts 353 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:50.900 and Minds through Christ Jesus. 354 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:51.900 Amen.