YouTube -- 2nd Sunday of Easter (April 27, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, April 27, 2025.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday of Easter (April 27, 2025)

JOHN 20:19-31

JESUS REMOVES ALL DOUBTS.

In the name + of Jesus.

M: Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:  He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

     The apostle Thomas is remembered in the Christian Church for doubting.  I suspect the world would praised him for his skepticism.  Thomas knew what had happened to Jesus—crucified, died, and was buried.  But Thomas had not seen him, heard him, or touched him.  So, why would Thomas believe Jesus had risen?

     Thomas’ skepticism may sound noble, but let’s consider what Thomas refused to believe.  Thomas had the prophecies of the Old Testament.  To be fair, the apostles had not connected all the dots between the prophets and the Messiah either.  Thomas had the words of Jesus.  Three times Jesus had explicitly spelled out that he would go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and rise from the dead on the third day.  Thomas had seen all of Jesus’ words come true, but he did not believe the word about the resurrection.  Thomas had the testimony of Mary Magdalene who was the first to see Jesus risen.  The women who had fled the tomb not only saw Jesus, they grabbed his feet.  Then there was the testimony about the angels at the tomb who had declared Jesus risen from the dead.  Jesus had appeared that day to Peter, to the Emmaus disciples, and to ten of the apostles in an upper room.  St. John wrote that “the other disciples kept telling him, ‘We have seen the Lord’” (John 20:25)!  They kept telling him, hoping to convince him.  These were not pranksters.  They were Thomas’ close friends and colleagues.  There was no reason to conclude that they were playing with him.  Rather, they were insistent, “We have seen the Lord!”

     But Thomas was persistent in his unbelief.  Thomas had demands that needed to be met before he would believe that Jesus had risen from the dead: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25). 

     Odds are, you have had your own doubts about events recorded in the Bible.  We know what normal looks like in this world, and that is what we expect.  When God intervenes in his creation, it is amazing, astounding, and even unbelievable.  But that is the nature of a miracle.  God acts outside of the laws of nature to carry out his work of salvation.  He acted to provide for the needs or the safety of his people.  And God acted to destroy those who opposed and attacked the promise of salvation.  The accounts of the miracles are amazing, astounding, and even unbelievable.  The greatest miracle in the Bible is the resurrection of Jesus.  It should be no surprise, then, that Jesus’ resurrection receives the most scrutiny and suffers the most criticism. 

     There is a pastor who preaches on college campuses and defends the Christian faith to skeptics.  In one instance, a woman challenged the resurrection of Jesus.  She stated, “How convenient of you to simply state that the Bible is true without any proof!  Show me the medical records of Jesus and then I will believe you.”  He responded, “Well, how convenient of you to demand proof that you know does not exist!  No one had medical records back then.  Homer.  Herodotus.  Sophocles.  Plato.  Aristotle.  Show me their medical records.  But you believe they were real” (paraphrase of Rev. Cliffe Knechtle, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rNp4bYMkkZw).  We accept the historical reality of many from history, but Jesus and his resurrection endure unrivaled skepticism.  Jesus’ resurrection has more and better testimony than just about anything from ancient history.  We have eyewitness accounts from dozens of people who willingly died excruciating deaths rather than renounce their testimony.  That should be enough to remove all doubts.

     The resurrection of Jesus is challenged, attacked, and denied because Satan does not want you to have any comfort or salvation.  What if Jesus is not risen from the dead?  St. Paul tells you: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is pointless, and your faith is pointless too.  …If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  Then it also follows that those who fell asleep in Christ perished” (1 Corinthians 15:14,17-18).  The enemies of the faith, led by Satan, will always sow seeds of doubt among God’s people.  What appears to be healthy skepticism is plain unbelief.  And “whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). 

     But Jesus removes all doubts.  Promises were made centuries in advance.  Jesus fulfilled them to the letter.  Eyewitnesses confessed Jesus’ resurrection without hesitancy and without yielding.  And yet, Thomas demanded more.  Jesus did not owe Thomas a special appearance, but in mercy he granted one.  Jesus removed all doubts.  “Jesus came and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.  Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and look at my hands.  Take your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue to doubt, but believe’” (John 20:26,27).  Thomas not only saw, he was invited to touch and inspect.  This was no phantom or vision.  This was Jesus—flesh and bones and wounds from nails and spear still visible.  He who was dead—a fact confirmed by Pontius Pilate—proved himself risen from death—a fact confirmed by all the apostles and even by doubting Thomas. 

     Tradition tells us that Thomas did not hem and haw over Jesus’ resurrection.  He went from skeptic to ardent confessor.  He ended up going to India to preach repentance and forgiveness won by a Savior crucified and risen.  Thomas’ confession and conviction remained firm, attested by the fact that he suffered martyrdom in India, being slain by a spear for the Savior who had been slain for him.  Thomas could lay down his life for the Lord, knowing that the Savior he had seen victorious over death would give him that same victory.  Thomas’ slain body would be raised up again.  Jesus removed all doubts about that. 

     St. John wrote his Gospel to remove all doubts from you as well.  It is the reason he wrote his Gospel: “Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, did many other miraculous signs that are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).  Jesus removes all doubts.

     Jesus has removed doubts about your forgiveness as well.  We all want to be forgiven of our sins and freed from the burdens of guilt and regret.  We can hope that we are forgiven, but if our forgiveness is limited to hopes and wishes, then we have no confidence that our Lord’s favor actually rests upon us.  We are not forgiven because we say so.  Just saying it does not make it true.  I remember when my sons were playing baseball in the back yard.  One was pitching, one was hitting, and one was playing catcher.  Unfortunately, the catcher did not have a mask on.  I warned him, “You’re going to get hit in the face with a foul tip.”  The response was, “No, I won’t.”  Nice words, but those words did not guarantee anything.  I think it took one pitch to prove my warning true.  Just saying that nothing bad would happen proved a false hope.

     Just saying something does not make it true.  Likewise, you do not get to declare yourself forgiven of your sins.  That would be like a prisoner announcing to the warden that the charges against him have been dropped and that he is free to leave.  The prisoner does not get to declare his innocence or his freedom.  That must be granted by the one who sentenced him.  So also, forgiveness can only be granted by our Lord; for, he is the one we have sinned against.  He is the one who hands down the sentence.  And while we long for a full pardon for our sins, only God can give it.  So, how can you be sure that forgiveness is actually yours?

     Jesus removes all doubts.  This is what he told his apostles.  “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whenever you forgive people’s sins, (their sins) are forgiven.  Whenever you do not forgive them, (their sins) are not forgiven’” (John 20:22-23).  Jesus gives his Church the authority to forgive sins in his name.  That authority is entrusted especially to the minister who speaks in the stead and by the command of Jesus Christ.  Where does that authority come from?  Jesus told his apostles, “Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you” (John 20:21).  Jesus gives authority to his disciples to forgive sins of the penitent or to withhold forgiveness from the impenitent.  Those who will not turn from their sins are told that their sins cling to them.  It is the proper judgment upon those who want to keep their sins.  But for those who are alarmed by their sins and desire an escape from God’s judgment, to those who long for comfort, peace, and hope, Jesus removes all doubts.  The absolution which is declared by the pastor in the name of Jesus is not a wish.  It is a declaration of pardon and a release from guilt and punishment. 

     Jesus removes all doubt.  He assures you that when his ministers forgive your sins, your sins are truly forgiven.  You can envision it this way.  Jesus is not here personally to tell you to your face that your sins are forgiven.  But since he gives this authority to his church, and the church bestows this authority on the pastor, you should hear the pastor’s words as if they were Jesus’ words.  The “I forgive you” is the voice of your Savior out of the mouth of your pastor.  This way, you don’t have to merely hope your sins are forgiven.  And your pastor does not merely wish you well, as if a more glorious form of “Have a nice day.”  Rather, you get to hear the pronouncement applied to you as from Jesus himself, “I forgive you.  Peace be with you.”

     Jesus removes all doubt.  He has fulfilled all Scripture and accomplished all that had been foretold.  He has paid for all sins and delivered you from every accusation.  He has overcome death and has opened up heaven for you.  He has proclaimed a full pardon for you and has exonerated you before his Father.  He has entrusted his church with the authority to unbind the penitent from their guilt and unburden you from all your fears.  These promises and proclamations are written so that you will believe, and that by believing you will have eternal life.  You have undeniable proof of God’s mercy so that you can have unwavering hope in your salvation.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Sermon -- Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist (April 25, 2025)

This sermon was preached at a chapel service at Hope Christian Academy in Westland, Michigan.

ACTS 15:36-41

ST. MARK REVEALS A SAVIOR WHO DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Without really knowing him, you probably have a great respect for St. Mark the Evangelist.  How could you fail to admire one of four writers of the Gospels?  Perhaps it would be good for you to learn the rest of the story.  You may find him disappointing.

     St. Mark was raised by a godly woman named Mary.  (His father is not mentioned.)  She was a resident of Jerusalem and was among the first Christians.  Her home was used as a gathering place for Christians to worship and pray (Acts 12:12).  Although not one of the apostles, Mark seems to have been a witness of at least some of Jesus’ ministry.  In his gospel, Mark includes an interesting note following the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane.  He wrote, “A certain young man was following him, wearing just a linen cloth over his naked body.  They seized him, but he left behind the linen cloth and fled from them naked” (Mark 14:51-52).  Many agree that this was Mark referring to himself.  If he was able to escape the guard, he might have been a pretty shifty runner.  You might be disappointed to learn that Mark would also end up running away at a later date.

     Mark had accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.  He traveled with them to the island of Cyprus.  From there, they sailed to the mainland to a city called Pamphylia, which is in modern-day Turkey.  We don’t know why, but that’s where Mark ran away and returned home.  Later, when Paul and Barnabas were planning to revisit the churches they had founded, Paul refused to bring Mark along.  That suggests that Mark’s reason for abandoning the work on the first missionary journey was inexcusable.  Mark had failed to fulfill his duties faithfully.  Although Barnabas was willing to give his cousin, Mark, another chance to serve, St. Paul was unwilling to take the risk.  To him, Mark was a disappointment and, therefore, unwelcome.

     Mark was likely a young man, perhaps even a teenager, which means that you might have a lot in common with him.  You have heard Jesus’ teachings.  You probably come from a devout Christian family.  And, like Mark, you don’t always live up to your intentions in serving the Lord.  Many of you have taken a confirmation vow.  You swore before God and his church that you would willingly suffer all things, even death, rather than turn away from your Lord.  And I have no doubt that you meant it.  That vow is easy to make surrounded by your family and the family of believers who were gathered at your church with you. 

     But once you have found yourself surrounded by people who do not share your faith, whose speech is peppered with obscenities, and who cheer for perverse behavior and think you are weird because you don’t, it is not so easy to stand firm in your faith.  That confirmation vow takes a bit of a beating.  Maybe your parents were disappointed in your choices.  Maybe you were disappointed in yourself.  You would not be the first.  There is a reason King David taught us to pray in the Psalms, “Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways.  According to your mercy remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord.” (Psalm 25:7).  Those of us who are older have prayed that prayer often.  We can still feel the disappointment of poor choices from our past.  Mark probably prayed it, too.  You are not unique in your struggles.

     If you have a desire to serve the Lord, it is because the Holy Spirit has planted that desire in you.  If you are disappointed in yourself over your sins, the Holy Spirit has planted that in you as well.  We all prove ourselves to be sinners.  You may be frustrated by it.  You may even despise yourself for it.  But it is not a reason to despair.  The Lord Jesus Christ came for sinners.  He does not disown you because you are weak.  He remains faithful to you amid your struggles.  You may not live up to whatever vows or promises, but the Lord has made a vow to you.  St. Mark recorded it for you: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). 

     You will notice that Jesus did not say, “Whoever believes and performs up to a certain level.”  He did not say, “Whoever believes and overcomes all temptations.”  He did not say, “Whoever believes and does not let me down.”  Our Lord promises salvation to all who are baptized and who trust in him.  You and I do not have the righteousness which God demands, but Jesus provides it.  Whoever believes in Jesus has it.  Whoever has been baptized into Christ is covered in it.  Therefore, you are not judged according to your merits, but according to Jesus’ merits.  Those who trust in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation will never have their hopes disappointed.

     I had said that you should know the rest of the story about St. Mark.  There is a bit more to the story.  It did not end with St. Paul’s disappointment of Mark.  Young Mark grew in faith, in maturity, and in his commitment to the Lord.  He was devoted to God’s word.  He was fed by the Lord’s Supper.  And he continued to serve the Lord in his kingdom.  The Gospel he wrote is regarded as the memoirs of St. Peter.  That means Mark accompanied Peter in his work.  Even St. Paul changed his mind about Mark.  Paul mentions Mark in his letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, showing that Mark had become a fellow minister with St. Paul.  Shortly before he was put to death, St. Paul wrote to Timothy and implored him to come to him.  He included this request: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).  Not only did Paul ask for Mark, Paul praised him for his usefulness.

     You will also continue to grow in the faith, and the Lord has use for you in his church—whether you would become a full-time church worker like Mark or whether you will support that work like Mark’s mother, Mary.  Do not let the struggles of youth sour you about your future.  The rest of your story has yet to be written.  So, be devoted to God’s word.  Partake in the sacrament as often as you can.  If you are disappointed in yourself because of your sins, go to your pastor and confess them so that he will absolve you of them.  Neither the Lord nor your pastor will ever be disappointed in a broken and contrite heart.  As you continue to receive God’s mercy and to grow in the faith, the Holy Spirit will build your courage so that you will confess the faith in your words and your works. 

     We have pondered St. Mark’s story.  But the story St. Mark would have you cling to is the one he wrote about Jesus.  Mark proclaimed to you all that the Savior has done for you so that you will find peace and purpose and pleasure in him.  You will never be disappointed in Jesus’ promises, and he is not disappointed that you are his.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Today's Earworm: Driver's Seat by Sniff 'n' The Tears

Today's earworm comes because we had run out of dryer sheets for our laundry.  I had made a trip to the store to get more.  I managed to toss several items in my cart which were also needed, and a few which I knew we would use soon enough.  I got home to realize that the main reason I had gone to the store--to get dryer sheets--was overlooked.  Another trip to the store was put on the schedule.

Anyway, one of the ways I chose to remember the need for dryer sheets was to substitute those words for the title of the song, "Driver's Seat."  Well, that stuck in my head for a while.  "Dryer sheets!  Ooo-OO-Ooo-OO!  Dryer sheets!  Yeah."  Sing it with me!  Here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Kitchen renovations have begun

The work on renovating the kitchen at church has begun.  Bob Wozniak and Jim Datte have removed all the cabinets.  Ken DeSantis came to do some electrical work.  Thank you for your diligent work.  More updates will be posted as the work progresses.

Everything has been taken away except the kitchen sink.  Bottom photo: The kitchen sink.

YouTube -- Easter Sunday (April 20, 2025)

Here is the Easter Dawn service from April 20, 2025.  Note: This service is joined in progress during the second lesson.

Here is the Easter Festival Service from Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Update from Good Shepherd (April 24, 2025)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Bible Class is on Sunday at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters is on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS
          The prophet Malachi was the last prophet among the Old Testament writers. He prophesied about 400 BC. The next prophet from the Lord was John the Baptist, beginning his preaching about 29 AD. What was going on between these two prophets? Was God silent? Was he active? What was going on with God’s covenant and with God’s people?
          Our Bible study will consider “The Time Between the Testaments,” as the Lord was setting the stage for the coming of the Christ. The tentative schedule can be found here.

BIBLE MATTERS
          Bible Matters is a topical discussion group that enables God’s people to become more comfortable in discussing matters of the Christian faith and more confident in defending the Bible’s teachings. We encourage open dialogue and welcome bold questions. All are welcome to consider how God’s word addresses various topics.
          Sessions will focus on the topic: The Resurrection Accounts in the Gospels. The resurrection of our Lord is recorded in each of the four Gospels. Each one gives an account with different details, as each account focuses on different emphases and had different initial audiences. Each deserves to be considered in its own context. The schedule can be found here.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
           Be aware that west-bound traffic on 9 Mile Road is closed between Haggerty and Meadowbrook. There is no known date for the end of this project.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (April)

>    The new cabinets for the renovation of the kitchen at the church have arrived!  Renovations of the church kitchen will begin shortly after Easter to allow us to use our existing kitchen for Easter breakfast.

>   Our Evangelism & Stewardship Committees met to set up some tentative dates of interest:

               May 18 -- Ice Cream Social (after church)
We welcome members to join us and to help plan these various events. Even if you take charge of one event, that will benefit us all.

>  Options to replace the windows in the chapel will get one final look at our Open Forum in June.  Opinions are welcome prior to that.  Inquiries can be made to Bob Wozniak.    

>  The water fountain in the hallway will be replaced with a filling station. 

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Easter Dawn service from April 20, 2025: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, April 20, Easter Sunrise Service.  Note: This service is joined in progress during the second lesson.

Here is the Easter Festival Service from April 20, 2025: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, Easter Festival Service

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS

            The pastor will try to hold formal office hours Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. It should be noted that some meetings are scheduled for those times. It is best to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.
BIBLE CLASS -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.  

BIBLE MATTERS -- Wednesday at 6:30 PM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com 

Sermon -- Easter Day (April 20, 2025)

Some of the ideas in this sermon were taken from an Easter sermon by Rev. David H. Petersen who serves at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church (LC-MS) in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  The particular sermon was printed in a book entitled, "Thy Kingdom Come," a devotional book for Lent and Easter seasons.

You can (and should) order it here.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-57

DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.

In the name + of Jesus.

M: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

     St. Paul asks a question which sounds pretty dumb.  “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  We all have answers for that.  Death is the fate of all of us.  No one gets out of this world alive.  Death rules on the battlefield, in the cancer ward, at the nursing home, and on the highway.  As resilient as the human body is, it is also incredibly fragile.  An infection, a virus, or a blood clot is all it takes to end a life.  Death is cruel, cold, and uncaring; and it takes what it wants.

     But St. Paul’s question is not a curiosity; it is a taunt.  “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  That is because today, death has been swallowed up in victory.  Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead.  This man did not merely avoid death.  He did not reveal some mystical secret about how to evade the grave.  If Jesus had avoided death, what good would that do you?  Even if Jesus had avoided death, you and I will not.  We are mortal because sin has produced death in us.  We are perishable because sin has corrupted our bodies.  Long before we get to the grave, our bodies are subject to wrinkles, aching joints, loss of balance, loss of memory, and failing senses.  Medicine can only do so much.  The mortician gets the last word.

     But no more.  Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Jesus did not avoid death.  He went right into it.  Jesus was executed by crucifixion.  He laid down his life and gave up his spirit.  His lifeless body was wrapped in cloths and placed in a grave.  But the grave did not keep him.  It could not keep him.  Death holds no victory over him.  Jesus conquered death.  Now, Jesus has authority over it.  And not just authority to conquer death for himself, but Jesus has authority over the graves of all people. 

     So, “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  Death, who have you really conquered?  When Jesus comes again to judge the living and the dead, you, O grave, will be emptied.  Jesus will give the command.  Death, you will submit.  You, O grave, will give back what you have taken.  In the end, O grave, you get no one.  For death has been swallowed up in victory.  The victory belongs to Jesus Christ.  And all who believe in him will live and reign over death with him.

     When St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he devoted the entire 15^th chapter of his letter to the resurrection of the body.  He explained that Jesus Christ is the firstfruits from the dead.  He also explained that the full harvest, the resurrection of all flesh, will come when Jesus returns on the Last Day.  Jesus told us what will take place.  He said, “A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out.  Those who have done good will rise to live, but those who have practiced evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29).  If these words cause alarm, it is because we know that we have failed to do all the good that God demands.  We are guilty of evil that he forbids.  When we stand before God in judgment, we want to be found among those who have done what is good.  After all, no one wants to suffer everlasting torment in hell.  But what can we say in our defense?

     We get to trust in this: “A righteousness from God has been made known. … This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and over all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22).  You and I cannot boast of a righteousness of our own.  Our impending death is proof that we are sinners; for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  But there is a righteousness which comes from God.  It comes through Jesus Christ who lived a perfect, innocent life.  He has avoided all evil, and he performed only what is good.  Now, if Jesus had done it only for himself, that does you no good.  But what does the Bible say?  “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and over all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22).  Do not waste your time insisting that you are good enough and should be rewarded accordingly.  If you are going to die, then you are a sinner.  If you are a sinner, then you are not good enough.  Instead, trust in Jesus for your righteousness.  Then you will be judged according to his merits and not your own.  The Bible says, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  If you are baptized into Christ, you are covered in Jesus’ righteousness.  So, that is your status before God.  That is your hope in the final judgment.  Eternal life is yours. 

     But people crave an eternal life here and now.  In some cases, people hope to come back to this life and live it over and over again in cycles.  But understand this: The world is not going to get any better.  There will always be wars and rumors of wars, kingdom against kingdom, famines, earthquakes, and so forth.  The world has been corrupted by sin.  Living in it forever or repeatedly means that you will endure endless rounds of difficulties and devastation.  What’s more, your own body will not escape its problems.  Sin affects every life and corrupts every body.  Plants, animals, people, even the planet—are all subject to disease, disorders, decline, death, and decay.  Is this the life you want to live forever and ever, or over and over?

     Our Lord Jesus Christ has provided deliverance not only from the curse of sin, but also its effects.  St. Paul wrote, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and what is perishable is not going to inherit what is imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:50).  That’s why these bodies will finally give out.  What has been corrupted by sin cannot live in a holy place.  And what is mortal will not live forever.

     But now, death has been swallowed up in victory.  That victory not only means that the grave must give you up, but also that your body will be transformed.  Death will give way to life.  The perishable will be converted to imperishable.  The mortal will become immortal.  In delivering you from sin and death, Jesus also delivers you to a life of glory and perfection in body, in mind, and in heart.  The righteousness that he has credited to you by faith will be confirmed in you in reality.

     And it is more than being raised with an incorruptible body only to return to a corrupted place.  Our Lord Jesus has opened the way to a new heaven and a new earth.  St. John caught a glimpse of it in his Revelation: “‘(Our God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away.’  The one who was seated on the throne said to me, ‘Look, I am making everything new’” (Revelation 21:4-5).  It will not just be our bodies that will be restored and renewed, but all creation will be restored and renewed, too.  This is why we confess: “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come” (Nicene Creed).  We have a living Savior who guarantees it.  Death has been swallowed up in victory.

     We rightly give our attention to the resurrection of the body on Easter Sunday.  Jesus’ resurrection from the dead guarantees our resurrection.  We cling to this even in face of death.  In those bitter moments when we bury those who have died in the faith, our hope remains.  Our fellow Christians depart from our sight, but they do not depart from the kingdom of God.  We bid farewell to them, knowing we will get them back.  That is why we can repeat the taunt of St Paul, “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  It is no victory, grave, if you get nothing in the end.  There is no sting, death, if God’s people go on to live in glory.  Death, you are done.  We have a Savior who lives and who gives eternal life to all who believe in him.  Death has been swallowed up in victory. 

     When Jesus returns on the Last Day, he will come to judge the dead and the living.  That means not all will have to be raised up from their graves.  Some will be alive and will see Jesus descend from the clouds in glory with all the angels accompanying him.  St. Paul refers to the living ones in particular in this section from 1 Corinthians.  He says, “Look, I tell you a mystery.  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).  

     The day of resurrection will be unmistakable.  Jesus will appear in glory.  The grave will give up all the dead, believers and unbelievers alike.  Those who are still alive will not experience a resurrection, but they will be changed.  “For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.  But once this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put on immortality, then what is written will be fulfilled:  Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54)? 

     These mortal, corruptible bodies will suddenly, like a flash, be renewed and restored to purity and perfection.  The living Savior will convert our bodies to be like his resurrected body—designed to live forever and be forever free from any and all flaws.  And we will live forever in a world that is forever free from any and all flaws.  This is the Christian hope that endures through every moment of life.  Death may bring tears to our eyes, break our hearts, and hit us with unpredictable bouts of grief and sadness.  But death does not destroy our hope.  For, Jesus Christ has overcome death.  Those who belong to Jesus are not lost.  They dwell forever with the Lord.  And when death comes for you, you need not fear.  Rather, you get to taunt the grave: “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  For, you have a living Savior.  You have eternal life.  Death and the grave get nothing.

     Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Its threat is as empty as Jesus’ tomb.  Jesus lives.  And all who believe and are baptized will live with him—resurrected, restored, renewed, and rejoicing forevermore.  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)!

M: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- Easter Dawn (April 20, 2025)

JOHN 20:1-9

A MEDITATION ON THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD.

In the name + of Jesus.

     “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb.  She saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1).  We don’t know what else Mary observed.  Were the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb already gone?  Did she get a glimpse of the inside of the tomb?  She must have not seen the angels, and she certainly did not hear their announcement that Jesus had risen from the dead.  Mary saw the stone had been rolled away.  That was all the evidence she needed.  Her conclusion: “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they put him” (John 20:2).

     Peter and John heard her report.  It demanded further investigation.  So, they ran from their upstairs room in Jerusalem to the tomb just outside the city walls.  John got there first.  He was not as bold as Peter, so he only stooped to look inside the tomb.  John reported what he saw.  “Bending over, he saw the linen cloths lying there” (John 20:5).  Peter, of course, never seems to hesitate with anything.  “Simon Peter … went into the tomb.  He saw the linen cloths lying there.  The cloth that had been on Jesus’ head was not lying with the linen cloths, but was folded up in a separate place by itself” (John 20:6-7). 

     Peter and John observed more than Mary had.  They assessed the evidence.  The tomb was, indeed, empty.  The body of Jesus was gone.  They did not see the angels or hear the announcement from them, but they did observe the linen cloths that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body.  If someone were to steal a body, they would not have unwrapped it.  And they certainly would not have taken the time to fold up the head cloth nice and neat.  They assessed the evidence.  Jesus’ departure from the tomb was done in calm and intentional fashion.  If the grave clothes were left behind, it is because they were no longer needed.  Besides observing the scene, Peter and John both had Jesus’ words to call to mind.  Jesus had told them them “that the Son of Man must suffer many things; be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the experts in the law; be killed; and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).  Everything Jesus had said was going to happen happened.  This was the final word to be fulfilled.  John makes his personal confession: “He saw and believed” (John 20:8).

     What did John believe?  That Jesus had risen from the dead.  But John acknowledged that he and Peter “still did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead” (John 20:9).  They had not connected the dots that the Lord had foretold this throughout the pages of Scripture.

     Our Lord has revealed his love and his salvation since the Garden of Eden.  Some of God’s promises are glaringly obvious.  Psalm 16, for example, prophesies: “You will not abandon my life to the grave.  You will not let your favored one see decay” (Psalm 16:10).  But as we mine the Scriptures for gems, we continue to discover the ways the Lord has foretold and foreshadowed the death and resurrection of the Christ.  For example, we can marvel at God’s miraculous deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den.  It is a historical event from the early days of the Persian Empire.  But now consider: Daniel was an innocent man who was unjustly condemned to die.  He was placed in a den which had a stone rolled in front of it.  He was as good as dead, a feast for roaring lions looking for someone to devour.  In the early morning, the stone was taken away and Daniel came out alive.  See how this foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection!  Many other examples are recorded which continually pointed God’s people to the Christ, for whom it was necessary that he “suffer many things…; be killed; and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).  This is why we give our attention to the Scriptures.  Our Lord wants us to live in the confidence of his love and of our place in his eternal kingdom. 

     Peter and John saw the evidence in the tomb.  They believed that Jesus had risen from the dead.  It is proof that God has accepted Jesus’ death as the full payment for your sins.  It is proof that Jesus has authority over death and the grave.  And it foreshadows your own resurrection to life everlasting.  Peter and John still had God’s promise to ponder, to study, and to meditate upon.  So do we.  We have heard the evidence.  We meditate on the promises.  We rejoice in their fulfillment.  We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- Good Friday (April 18, 2025)

JOHN 19:31-37

BLOOD AND WATER POURED FORTH FROM THE LORD.

In the name + of Jesus.

     In the days of the Colosseum, the emperor sponsored gladiatorial games for the citizens of Rome.  Trained soldiers were given a variety of weapons to fight to the death.  After a brutal struggle, the dead and wounded would lie on the floor of the Colosseum.  Their blood soaked into the sand which covered the wooden floor.  Then, a jester would come out with a red-hot poker.  He would dance to amuse the crowd, but his real purpose was to prance up to each body and touch the red-hot poker to it.  If the man did not flinch, he knew that the man was dead.  If the man did flinch, a soldier would take a sword or spear and run him through to put the mortally wounded man out of his misery.  This practice seems to have been utilized by the Roman soldier who was overseeing the death of Jesus. 

     As Good Friday was winding down, three men hung from their crosses.  Crucifixions could last for days as a condemned man languished in a slow, torturous death.  The weight of one’s body would rest on his chest as his lungs slowly filled with fluid.  Breathing became labored.  Fighting for life, a man would push up with his legs to grab a small gasp of air and then slump down to languish some more.  Eventually, he would not be able to breathe any more, and he would expire.  But as long as he could push up for that breath, he would hang from the cross.

     “Since it was the Preparation Day, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses over the Sabbath (because that Sabbath was a particularly important day). They asked Pilate to have the men’s legs broken and the bodies taken away.  So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who was crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other man” (John 19:31-32).  With their legs broken, the men could no longer push up for that precious breath.  Death came quickly, and their bodies were removed from their crosses before the Sabbath.

     In the case of Jesus Christ, however, breaking his legs was unnecessary.  Jesus had yielded up his life already.  His life was not taken from him.  As Jesus had told his enemies, “I lay down my life so that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.  I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again.  This is the commission I received from my Father” (John 10:17-18).  So, Jesus intentionally went into death.  He did not lose his life; “he gave up his spirit” (John 19:30). 

     Therefore, when the soldiers broke their legs to hasten the death of the criminals, they did not need to do this for Jesus.  “Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear” (John 19:34).  This was likely not an act of unnecessary cruelty or boredom.  This was likely standard operating procedure.  If Jesus had flinched, he was not dead yet.  But the thrust of the spear up into Jesus’ heart guaranteed that he was dead.  The Romans excelled at putting people to death by crucifixion, and this act ensured that their job was done right.

     St. John had been standing at the foot of the cross, and he had witnessed all that Jesus endured there.  He saw the soldiers nail Jesus to the beams of wood.  He saw the soldiers divide up Jesus’ garments and cast lots for his seamless tunic.  He heard the priests and Pharisees mock Jesus.  He heard Jesus speak seven times, although most of Jesus’ sufferings were endured in silence.  And John witnessed the soldier take his spear and thrust it into Jesus’ side.  This held significant interest for John, and he strongly asserted what he had witnessed.

     John wrote, “When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.  Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear.  Immediately blood and water came out.  The one who saw it has testified, and his testimony is true.  He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe” (John 19:33-35).  There was no comment made to incriminate the soldier of barbaric behavior.  There was no propaganda which would inspire readers to resent the Romans.  John simply recorded the facts.  The spear in Jesus’ side confirmed his death.  But John saw something significant from this wound.  Part of it was the fulfillment of Scripture, “They will look at the one they pierced” (John 19:37; Zechariah 12:10).  But what truly caught John’s attention was that blood and water poured forth from the Lord.

     John stated emphatically that he had seen it.  It is a historical account about the death of Jesus of Nazareth.  John’s Gospel is not a propaganda piece.  Nor is it a collection of fables.  John’s Gospel is a record of history.  He wrote about real people engaged in real events in documented places among historical figures at times that can be dated with relative certainty.  Even people who deny that Jesus is true God acknowledge that there was a Jesus of Nazareth who died by crucifixion.  The death of Jesus Christ is recorded even by historians who had no interest in defending or confessing the Christian faith.

     These events were as real as the sins we have committed against God.  When you are haunted by your sins, your guilt is real.  The devil does not vex you over things that never happened.  He accuses you with the truth.  You did say those terrible things.  You did try to cover up your sins with a lie.  You did try to pin the blame on someone else.  You did withhold your help from someone in need because you didn’t trust them, didn’t like them, or just didn’t want to be bothered by them.  You fantasized how harm would come to someone because that would somehow make your life better.  This guilt is real because those sins were real.  In order to find real relief from such guilt, you need historical, well-documented proof of salvation which was won for you.  A mythical Savior does nothing for you.  A historical and actual atoning sacrifice produces a real payment for sins.  But besides a well-attested act of redemption, you need a definitive way for that atonement to be applied to you.

     The historical death of Jesus is undeniable.  You can take a trip to Jerusalem and visit the place where Jesus was crucified.  Of course, present-day Jerusalem does not look exactly like the Jerusalem of Jesus’ day.  Archaeologists have taken their best guesses about which hill at Jerusalem is Golgotha.  In fact, there are two places which are presented as the possible site of Golgotha.  While the exact placement of Jesus’ cross is debatable, his crucifixion is not.  John saw it.  And John saw blood and water pour forth from the Lord.  

     If you go to Jerusalem, you can pose in front of the place where your forgiveness was won, but you won’t find forgiveness there.  The ransom price was made 2,000 years ago, but the benefits need to come to you now.  And this is why St. John was so emphatic about seeing blood and water pour forth from the Lord.

     John noted why the blood and the water pouring forth from Jesus’ side matter.  In his first epistle, St. John wrote, “This is the one who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ.  He did not come by the water alone but by the water and by the blood.  The Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  In fact, there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three are one” (1 John 5:6-8). 

     Jesus won your salvation for you in his death at Golgotha.  But how does he get that salvation to you today, 2,000 years after he died on a hill 6,000 miles away?  It is by the Spirit, the water, and the blood.  The Holy Spirit guided the apostles to record the very words of God so that we can know what God demands, what God promises, and what God has done to save sinners.  God’s demands show our need for a Savior.  God’s promises assure us that he does not leave us hopeless in our sinful condition.  And God’s actions through Jesus are how our sins have been taken away.

     To give us greater assurance of this salvation, God has attached his promise to tangible things.  You are not left to wonder if you believe his words strongly enough, sincerely enough, or purely enough.  God applies his salvation to you.  He has washed you clean in your baptism and has marked you as his redeemed.  In holy communion, he pours into you the blood which was shed as the atoning sacrifice for your sins.  There is no need to wonder if God’s love and salvation are really yours.  Blood and water poured forth from our Lord, and now blood and water have been poured forth upon you.  This is how the salvation which was won for you on Golgotha is delivered to you here and now.

     Our Lord is the source of life.  He gave life to this world when he created the world and everything in it.  Most things the Lord summoned into being.  He spoke and gave life to the world.  Mankind, however, the Lord set apart from the rest of creation.  He formed the man from the dust of the earth.  He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.  When it came time for the Lord to make a helper suitable for the man, the Lord took a rib from the man and formed a woman.  The life of the bride came out of the side of her husband.

     Our Lord Jesus Christ has betrothed himself to the Church.  Jesus is the groom; the Church is his bride.  Just as the life of the first bride came from the side of the man, so also the life of the Church comes from the side of Jesus Christ.  Blood and water poured forth from the Lord.  It is through the water that the Lord gives life to his Church, and it is through the blood that the Lord sustains that life in his Church.  Regarding the water, we have the promise, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).  Regarding the blood, we have this declaration, “This is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).  

     The blood and the water poured forth from the Lord’s body at the cross.  It was a real, historical, documented event.  Now the blood and the water are poured forth to the body of Christ in the sacraments.  Here, the Lord applies true forgiveness, grants real comfort, and bestows lasting peace.  Blood and water poured forth from the Lord.  It is for you.  For the forgiveness of sins.  For real.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Bible Matters -- Spring Session begins April 23

           Bible Matters is a topical discussion group that enables God’s people to become more comfortable in discussing matters of the Christian faith and more confident in defending the Bible’s teachings.  We encourage open dialogue and welcome bold questions.  All are welcome to consider how God’s word addresses various topics. 

          Sessions will focus on the topic: The Resurrection Accounts in the Gospels.  The resurrection of our Lord is recorded in each of the four Gospels.  Each one gives an account with different details, as each account focuses on different emphases and had different initial audiences.  Each deserves to be considered in its own context.

April 23           According to the Gospel of St. Matthew

April 30           According to the Gospel of St. Mark

May 7              NO CLASS

May 14            According to the Gospel of St. Luke

May 21            According to the Gospel of St. John

May 28            Accounts from Acts and 1 Corinthians.

Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

Sermon -- Maundy Thursday (April 17, 2025)

HEBREWS 10:15-25

JESUS GIVES US A NEW AND ENDURING COVENANT.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The covenant that the Lord had established with Israel at Mt. Sinai was a holy arrangement between God and his redeemed people.  While the Lord was always faithful to his end of this covenant, God’s people were not.  Sinners proved themselves sinners—no matter how great the blessings were for obedience and no matter how harsh the punishments were for disobedience.  The Ten Commandments still carry blessings and curses.  In his explanation to the Conclusion to the Commandments, Martin Luther wrote, “God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments.  Therefore we should fear his anger and not disobey what he commands.  But he promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments.  Therefore we should love and trust in him and gladly obey what he commands” (Luther’s Small Catechism).  The threats do not keep us from sinning against his word, and the promises are not enough to have us willingly and consistently do the good God desires.  The old covenant was destined to fail—not on God’s part, but on ours.  A new covenant is needed if it is to endure and if we are truly to benefit from it.

     The old covenant also limited access to the Lord’s presence.  In some respects, we have such limitations today.  Our president is a servant of the people, but no citizen can just walk into the Oval Office to speak with the president.  You need to have an appointment, go through a background check, and endure a slew of security measures if you would even have a chance to see the president.  A senator would have easier access than a mayor, and a mayor would have easier access than you.  But there are limits on all people.

     In a similar way, access to God was granted only as God directed.  Non-Israelites were kept the farthest out—restricted to the outer courtyard of the Temple.  Israelite women could get a little closer.  Israelite men could enter the area where the altar was.  Priests could enter the temple itself.  But a thick curtain prohibited entrance into the Holy of Holies. They couldn’t even peak inside of it.  Sewn into the curtain were two cherubim which guarded the way into the Holy of Holies just as cherubim guarded the way back into the Garden of Eden.  That curtain preached its own sermon: Sinners cannot stand in God’s holy presence.  The curtain declared physically what Isaiah proclaimed verbally: “It is your guilt that has separated you from your God” (Isaiah 59:2).

     The only one who was ever granted access to the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God, was the high priest.  He was restricted to one day a year, and he was not allowed behind the curtain unless he came with a sacrifice of blood.  If access to the Lord was so restrictive where God chose to dwell with people on earth, how could people hope to dwell with God in his heavenly presence?  A new covenant would be needed if it is to endure and if we are truly to benefit from it.

     Jesus gives us a new and enduring covenant.  The writer to the Hebrews goes on at length to explain how everything about Jesus is superior to the old covenant.  That is what the whole letter is about.  Regarding access to the Lord, he writes, “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place through the blood of Jesus.  It is a new and living way he opened for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh.  We also have a great priest over the house of God” (Hebrews 10:19-21).  Jesus is our great high priest who entered into the very presence of God.  He did not take the blood of goats or bulls; rather, Jesus entered heaven itself with his own blood.  Jesus is both the high priest and the sacrificial victim.  He presented his own holy, precious blood which was shed in his innocent sufferings and death on our behalf.  This perfect sacrifice is pleasing to the heavenly Father, establishing peace with him and securing us a place with him. 

     Jesus gives us a new and enduring covenant.  The barrier that had stood between us and our Lord was our sin.  Remember: “It is your guilt that has separated you from your God” (Isaiah 59:2).  But our Lord Jesus has taken away the sin of the world.  Listen to what St. Matthew records about the death of Jesus.  “After Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  Suddenly, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51).  That curtain which had forbidden access to the Holy of Holies was rent in two the moment Jesus died.  Now no barrier stands between us and our Lord.  All sins were punished and purged by Jesus’ death.  Since sin has been taken away, there is nothing to prohibit your access to God anymore.  There is no pecking order in our access to God’s presence.  Whether man or woman, lay person or clergy, young or old, single or married, Jew or Gentile—all have the same access to God.  For, all have the same Savior, and all live under the same, enduring covenant.  Jesus grants us eternal access to the Father.  Jesus gives us a new and enduring covenant.

     So, why would this new covenant endure where the old covenant failed?  It is because the Lord has not made any demands of you for this covenant to be fulfilled.  He does not ask you to contribute anything.  Jesus fulfilled the Law for you with his perfect obedience.  Jesus took up your sin to suffer its curse for you.  Then Jesus overcame death by his resurrection and opened up heaven to you.  He has done it all and delivers the blessings to you.  Since it is all God’s work, this is the new covenant endures through all ages and in all circumstances. 

     But isn’t there anything for us to do?  What about faith?  What about repentance?  What about good works?  Aren’t these conditions to be met?  Don’t we need to do something to set us apart from the rest of mankind which is perishing?  Some suggest or insist that we must make some contribution toward our salvation.  They argue that our part proves why we are saved but others are not.

     What does the writer to the Hebrews say?  “The Holy Spirit also testifies in Scripture to us, for first he said: This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord.  I will put my laws on their hearts and I will write them on their mind” (Hebrews 10:15-16).  In other words, the faith that trusts God’s promises and receives his salvation—this faith God has worked in you.  The Holy Spirit has given you new life in Christ, and he sustains it in you.  He has put God’s law in your heart so that you not only believe it, but you also live according to it.  The repentance God calls for, he works in you so that you turn from sin and strive for holiness. 

     To be sure, there is something that sets you apart from the rest of mankind which is perishing: The Holy Spirit has set you apart.  He works repentance in you.  He sustains a living faith within you.  That is why this new covenant endures.  It is God who works in you to will and to work according to God’s good purpose.  And that is why God does not throw it back into your lap, as if God had left something undone.  The writer to the Hebrews declares God’s promise: “I will not remember their sins and their lawlessness any longer.  Now where these sins are forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” (Hebrews 10:17-18).  You might remember your sins.  Even if you try to suppress the memory, the devil will dredge up the past.  He will accuse and convict.  You will try to find ways to forget and to eliminate the feelings of guilt.  But it is not necessary.  The only one who can condemn you for your sins is Jesus, and he has taken them away.  Instead, the Lord calls to remembrance the sacrifice he made once and for all.  Therefore, no more sacrifice is needed.  No conditions still need to be met.  Salvation has been secured.  Your access to God is unrestricted.  Jesus gives us a new and enduring covenant.

     To make you partakers of this new and enduring covenant, our Lord has given sacraments to his Church.  Once again, these are not acts that you do.  These are God’s gracious acts through which he delivers forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation to you.  In your baptism, you were cleansed of all sin.  You were united to Jesus in his death and resurrection.  The sinner was put to death, and the Lord raised up a saint. 

     Tonight, we especially remember the sacrament which the Lord gave to his church on the night he was betrayed.  In it, he makes us partakers and beneficiaries of his atoning sacrifice.  “He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way, he took the cup after the supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is being poured out for you’” (Luke 22:19-20).  We not only remember the death of Jesus Christ, we also are in communion with it so that we receive forgiveness through it.  And our Lord remembers his covenant with us—that we are redeemed and reconciled to the Father through the blood of Jesus. 

     Jesus gives us a new and enduring covenant.  This is why the writer to the Hebrews urged his fellow Christians: “Let us hold on firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.  Let us also consider carefully how to spur each other on to love and good works.  Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing.  Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).  The only way we could nullify this covenant is if we abandon it.  Many Christians have wandered from the saving faith for one reason: They stopped gathering to hear the word and receive the sacrament.  But if we are faithful in receiving his gifts, he will be faithful in strengthening and keeping us in the saving faith.

     Jesus gives us a new and enduring covenant.  He entered the Most Holy Place with his holy, precious blood to gain access to God’s presence for us.  Then he gives us his holy, precious blood in the sacred feast to sustain us in the saving faith and to purify our spirits.  So, let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we have access to God’s presence.  When our last hour comes, he will send his angels for us.  The angels who had guarded the way to Paradise will usher us into Paradise to dwell in the very presence of God.  Then the covenant will endure.  For, as St. John promises, “God’s dwelling is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them, and he will be their God” (Revelation 21:3).

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.