Twenty-eighth Sunday After Pentecost (Col. 1:12–18; Lk. 14:16–24)

“Many are called, but few are chosen” (Lk. 14:24). The called are all Christians; the chosen are those among Christians who both believe and live as Christians. In the early days of Christianity, people were summoned to faith by preaching; we, however, are summoned by birth itself from Christian parents and by being raised among Christians. And glory to God for that! Half the journey—that is, entry into Christianity and the rooting of its principles in the heart from earliest childhood—we travel without any effort. It would seem that faith should be all the stronger and life all the more upright throughout all the years that follow. And so it was; but for some time now things have ceased to be so among us. Non-Christian principles have been admitted into the school curriculum, corrupting the young; non-Christian customs have entered society, corrupting young people after they leave school. And it is no wonder that, if even by God’s word there have always been few chosen, in our time they prove to be even fewer: such is the spirit of the age—anti-Christian! What will come of this? If we do not change our approach to education and to the customs of society, true Christianity will grow weaker and weaker, and will at last disappear altogether; only the Christian name will remain, but the Christian spirit will be gone. The spirit of the world will fill everyone. What is to be done? Pray…