Lutheran Satire: St. Patrick's Bad Analogies

How could we come to St. Patrick's Day and not enjoy our favorite Lutheran Irish folk, Connall and Donnall?  St. Patrick teaches about the Trinity.

Divine Call received to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lake City, Minnesota

On March 10, I received a Divine Call to serve as the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church  of Lake City, Minnesota.  I will be deliberating where I can best serve the Lord in his Church -- whether continuing at Good Shepherd in Novi, Michigan or moving to St. John's in Lake City.  A decision will not be rendered until after Easter, but I welcome any insights or words of encouragement during this time of deliberation.  Prayers are always welcome.

Below is the letter of acknowledgement which was read this past Sunday.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

March 12, 2026

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
520 W. Chestnut Street
Lake City, Minnesota 55041-1515

Dear members of St. John’s,

            I am writing to you to acknowledge the Divine Call you have extended to me on March 10 to serve as your pastor, as well as the Divine Call you extended to my wife, Laura, to serve as the 4^th and 5^th grade teacher in your elementary school.  We are both humbled that you have extended these calls to us, and we will give prayerful deliberation to them. 

            I have received your email with the attachments and am gaining some information about the ministry at St. John’s.  I am looking forward to conversations with your leaders, as I will also be consulting with members of my current call at Good Shepherd in Novi, Michigan.  Feel free to contact me with any information you feel would help in this time of deliberation. 

My wife and I will be praying for you, for Good Shepherd, and for St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Livonia as we assess where we can serve the Lord best in his Church.  We thank you in advance for your prayers for us.

            God bless and keep you.

In Christ,
Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

Worship Notes: Passiontide

            Sunday, March 22 is the 5^th Sunday in Lent.  This marks the beginning of Passiontide (the final two weeks of Lent), in which the Passion of our Lord intensifies.  Therefore, the Lenten fast also intensifies which we can observe in our worship setting.  The sights and sounds in God’s house are muted even more.  For the past number of weeks, our celebration has been muted in the following ways:

                              There are no Alleluias. 

                              We do not sing the Gloria in Excelsis after the Absolution.

                              There are no flowers on the altar.

            During Passiontide, you will note these additional practices.

                              The Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father) is omitted from the Psalms

                              All artwork or icons have been removed or veiled.

                              The ringing of the church bell ceases.

                              All music is muted except for the support of congregational singing.

            Our services will practically be barren of celebration, but that is the point.  We are fasting.  We are penitent.  We are intently focusing on the sufferings and death of Jesus.  Ceremony and celebration will return with vigor on Easter Sunday when we rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord which declares that sins are forgiven and that death is destroyed.

Sermon -- 4th Sunday of Lent March 15, 2026)

CONDUCT YOURSELVES AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

EPHESIANS 5:8-14

In the name + of Jesus.

     St. Paul wrote many letters to the Christian churches he served.  For the most part, there was some controversy which inspired the occasion for his letters.  They remind us that no Christian congregation is perfect.  There is a perfect church, but you have to die to enter it.  On earth, the church is filled with sinners.  The Church faces pressure to change its teachings with each generation.  It is infiltrated by false teachers and false teachings.  It usually begins by some saying that there should be room for alternative views of God’s word.  They claim that the Church should do all it can to preserve unity and peace.  “By their love you will know them,” they say.  While we pray for unity and peace, that is not the chief goal of the Church.  The chief goal is to be faithful and to hold firmly to God’s word.  No false teaching is harmless, and we cannot make peace with it.  St. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, emphasis added).  So, when St. Paul saw that a congregation needed correction, he wrote a letter.

     Even though these Christians needed correction, St. Paul did not treat them as enemies or suggest that they were outside of the Christian Church.  He greeted them as brothers and sisters in Christ.  He thanked God for them.  He prayed for them.  And he reminded them who they were.  He wrote to the Ephesians, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).  

     Just as our Lord had enlightened the Ephesian Christians, so he has also enlightened you.  Many of you have lived your entire life in the light of Christ.  Having been baptized as infants and having been taught the Christian faith, you have been light in the Lord for as long as you can remember.  If you were enlightened to know God’s word later in life, you are just as much a child of God as any other Christian.  There are not degrees of being saved.  There are not levels to the kingdom of God; there is just the kingdom of God.  You are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light.

     If you want to be particular about St. Paul’s exhortation, he tells the Ephesians Christians, “Continue to walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, emphasis added).  They were already doing this.  St. Paul urged them to continue in the word they believed.  To “walk” as children of light means to conduct yourself and your whole life as children of light.  To put it succinctly, he says, “You are Christians.  Act like it!”  Conduct yourselves as children of light.

     Before we are told to act like Christians, we ought to remember what made us Christians to begin with.  St. Paul wrote, “You were once darkness” (Ephesians 5:8).  That refers to our natural sinful condition.  The sinful hearts is a dark place.  Even though the Holy Spirit has created in you a clean heart and a right spirit, it does not take much for that to be eclipsed by wickedness.  Just think of how easy it is for you to assume the worst of other people or to despise them when they infringe upon your time.

     Consider how Jesus’ disciples misread the situation with a blind beggar.  Jesus and his disciples were on their way into the temple when they saw the man who was born blind.  Being blind, he had been reduced to begging for alms.  He was a fixture at the temple gate, deposited there by friends.  He sat there, hoping that those who came to worship would be compassionate and generous to him.  Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind” (John 9:2)?  Since most people have sight, the disciples concluded that this must have been some special punishment that God had inflicted upon this man.  They had the idea that people who suffer are getting what they deserve. 

     We make similar judgments about other people because the sinful heart is a dark place.  This darkness is what produces not only wicked thoughts, but it also gives us our excuses for them.  Our compassion for the down-trodden is withheld because we believe they are getting what they deserve.  To be fair, that may be true.  If people blow their money on gambling, drinking, or needless Amazon purchases, they may be unable to pay their rent, their insurance, or their utilities.  We deem them unworthy of pity.  Granted, they created their own misery, but it is still misery. 

     Of course, we are responsible for much of our own misery.  People sabotage their own marriages by looking at computer generated images and fantasizing about other people.  People nurse grudges and withhold forgiveness, insisting that a rift in the family is justified and reconciliation is unreasonable.  Then there is the shame that you keep to yourself.  Even if you don’t suffer consequences for the sins of your past, you still endure the shame of them.  You crave mercy, but you fear the judgment of friends—perhaps even the abandonment by those friends if they ever found out.  If people get what they deserve, we know we deserve a damning judgment.

     The sinful heart is a dark place, but God sees and he knows.  And it will get worse.  St. Paul wrote, “Everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes things visible” (Ephesians 5:13).  Everything will be exposed.  Perhaps you can keep your secrets hidden and take them to the grave with you.  But in the end, everything will be revealed.  St. John was given a vision of Judgment Day.  He wrote, “Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it.  The earth and the sky fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.  I also saw the dead, great and small, standing in front of the throne, and books were opened. …The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and the Grave gave up the dead that were in them, and they were judged, each one according to what he had done” (Revelation 20:11-13).  At this public reckoning, everyone will be fully exposed.  God’s light will shine on each, and each dark deed and secret thought will be made known.

     How terrifying it would be for people to learn about every secret you hide!  But you don’t have to answer to other people.  You may have sinned against them, and you are accountable for that.  But it is God to whom you must give an answer.  And there is no hiding anything from him.  The Bible reminds us, “Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD—how much more human hearts” (Proverbs 15:11)! 

     The sinful heart is a dark place.  It fails to have pity on those who are held captive to their sins.  It claims the right to hold in contempt those who have made a mess of their lives.  God be praised that he does not treat us that way!  The Lord did not abandon us to our foolish errors or filthy judgments.  He continues to shine his light upon us—not just to expose our guilt, but to show us the way out. 

     Of all the people who could have looked down on us in judgment, Jesus is the one.  He kept all of God’s Commandments and did not cave into any temptations.  He could have looked on us in derision and withheld his pity.  We were too lazy to fight.  We caved in under pressure.  We know it was wrong and did it anyway.  Jesus could have insisted that we should get the judgment we deserve.  Instead, he came and suffered the judgment we deserve. 

     But the light of God’s love is seen in Jesus Christ.  God’s grace radiates from him.  In order to deliver us from the damning judgment for our sins, the Lord took away our sins.  So that we would not be banished to the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, Jesus took up our sins.  He was banished by his Father as he died on a dark Friday when the sun’s light failed.  That is where the Lord took care of your sins and altered your judgment.  You have been cleared of all charges.

     The Lord applied all of this to you in your baptism.  He changed both your status and your heart when he made you children of light.  St. Paul noted that “the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Ephesians 5:9).  God’s goodness has atoned for wickedness.  God’s righteousness covers over your sin.  God’s truth guides those who are saved to godly living.  In the end, God’s light will expose you for what you are—children of God purified in Jesus’ blood.  You will highlight God’s grace.  You will reflect the image and innocence of Jesus Christ.

     That is why the Lord urges you to conduct yourselves as children of light.  St. Paul urges you, “Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord, and do not participate in fruitless deeds of darkness.  Instead, expose them” (Ephesians 5:10-11).  Continue to walk as children of light.  Continue to hear and meditate on the word of the Lord.  This will guard you from error and guide you in truth and goodness.  Many voices will try to convince you to bless what God does not bless.  The appeal for the Church to get with the times or to allow for alternative views of God’s word will always go on.  Those appeals can be crafted to sound very sensible.  Only by adhering to the word of the Lord are those appeals exposed for the lies that they are.  Only by learning what is pleasing to the Lord will you continue to conduct yourselves as children of light.

     The world will always be a dark place, but the Psalms remind us, “Your words are a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).  That is the light that keeps us secure and ensures that we are on the right path.  God gave his word to show us his love.  His love is surely made known in the promises, but it is also revealed in his commands.  God gave those commands to us to direct us away from sin.  Sins do not produce anything good.  The Commandments, however, direct us to lives that will be blessed.  Martin Luther reminds us: “He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments” (Luther’s Small Catechism: Conclusion to the Commandments).  If you conduct yourselves as children of light, you will spare yourself of many griefs. 

     Continue to walk as children of light.  Paul wrote, “Do not participate in fruitless deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11).  He could have just as easily said, “Do not drink poison.  Do not play with fire.  Do not stick a fork in an electric outlet.”  You have been rescued from sin death, and destruction.  Do not return to them; for you are light in the Lord.  You are Christians.  Rejoice in it.  You are Christians.  Act like it.  Conduct yourselves as children of light. 

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

Update from Good Shepherd (March 12, 2026)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class is Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. (A supper is served at 6:00 PM.)
Bible Matters will resume on Wednesday, April 8 at 6:30 PM.

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

LENTEN VESPERS

          Our mid-week Lenten services ponder the sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The schedule is here for Lenten Vespers.
          Vespers will be at 7:00 PM. A Lenten dinner will be provided at 6:00 PM, allowing people to come from work and/or to not concern themselves with meal prep and clean up before the service.

LENTEN DINNERS
          We will offer dinners before each mid-week Lenten service at 6:00 PM.  The following people have agreed to provide food for these meals.  You are welcome to offer assistance for any of these meals.  To do so, consult with the people listed for the particular date you would like to help.

          March 18 -- Chris Gagnon & Ken Reisig

          March 25 -- Mary Mitchell w/ Ladies of Good Shepherd

HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS
          Martin Luther College is offering devotions throughout Holy Week. They will be available to you through daily emails. If you would like to receive them, you can register for them here. They are written under the theme: "Of First Importance: Christ's Death and Resurrection for Us." Feel free to share this link with anyone.

EVERY MEMBER VISITS

          Every four years or so, the pastor conducts visits at the homes of all the members.  It is intended to stay connected with everyone and to allow people to address any issues that may bother them or confuse them.  Every Member Visits will begin in February.  A sign-up sheet is posted at church (for March) to allow people to schedule their visit.  You can also sign up through the Sign-Up Genius link here.

EASTER FOR KIDS MEETING
          On Sunday, March 22, we will have our final meeting to prepare for our Easter for Kids event. We will need people to attend each of the five stations for our visitors, as well as others who can assist with crafts as needed and to interact with our guests. To find out how you can serve, join us this Sunday after church.

MICHIGAN LUTHERAN SEMINARY CHOIR AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          On Wednesday, March 25, Good Shepherd welcomes the choir from Michigan Lutheran Seminary (Saginaw) to perform a sacred concert. This 33-voice high school choir will sing hymns that reflect the Lenten and Easter seasons. Invite any others to join us for this concert. A free-will offering will be taken to help defray travel expenses for the MLS choir.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS

          Sometimes we have a hard time understanding parts of the Bible. Some of those words come from Jesus himself. We are considering the Hard Sayings of Jesus. The weekly schedule can be found here.  Adult Bible Class meets on Sundays at 9:00 AM. All from grade 7 on up are welcome to attend.  

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from March 8, 2026: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, March 8, 2026

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (March)

>  The postcards to invite people to our Easter Festival Service on April 5 have arrived!  Be sure to take as many as you can to invite friends, family, and coworkers to our Easter services. 

>  We approved spending up to $25,000 to get the windows replaced above the altar and the organ pipes.  The windows will have a bronze hue on the outside.  The windows above the altar will have frosted glass on the inside; the windows above the organ pipes will be clear glass on the inside.  Installation will take place after Easter, particularly when the lawn is not too soggy. 

>  Ladies of Good Shepherd, mark your calendars for our annual Ladies Brunch.  The men of Good Shepherd will be pleased to serve you brunch on Saturday, May 2 at 10:00 AM.  You are welcome to invite other ladies to join us for this event.

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
          Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS

          For the most part, the pastor will be observing formal office hours (Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). Occasionally, duties will take him away from the office during these scheduled times, so you will still want 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

Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.  (Supper served at 6:00 PM)

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

Sermon -- Lenten Vespers (March 11, 2026)

This sermon was also preached at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MI on February 25 and at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belleville, MI on March 4.

WHAT IS HE WORTH TO YOU?

ZECHARIAH 11:7-13

In the name + of Jesus.

     History always has a way of repeating itself.  After the Israelites left Egypt, they did not obey the word of the Lord.  As a result, everyone who left Egypt at age 20 and older died in the wilderness.  They did not see the Promised Land.  After Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, the people were faithful to the Lord until Joshua and his generation died.  Again, Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, and the Lord handed them over to enemy nations who oppressed them.  In the era of the kings, unfaithful kings set the course for the people to be unfaithful.  The result was 70 years in captivity by an enemy nation.  Upon their return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, the people quickly turned from the Lord to their own selfish ways.  It was to these people that the Lord sent the prophet Zechariah.  The faithful few were like sheep which had been abused and fleeced by faithless leaders.  Many others persisted in their faithless ways.  History had repeated itself. 

     The Lord still had concern for the afflicted ones.  Zechariah was called to serve them, but even the faithless few grew weary of God’s care.  Zechariah said, “I shepherded the flock which is to be slaughtered, especially the most afflicted of the flock.  I took two staffs for myself.  One I called Favor and the other Union.  Then I shepherded the flock.  I removed three shepherds in one month.  I grew very impatient with the flock, and they really detested me” (Zechariah 11:7-8).  Zechariah tended to them with a staff called Favor.  He removed faithless shepherds, too.  Nevertheless, he lost patience with them.  They despised the Lord’s care.  They detested the Lord’s prophet.  History repeated itself once again.

     This is the way of sinners.  History repeats itself.  We all have sins we are attracted to.  We aren’t usually innovative with our sins, trying out new and bold ways to offend our God.  We go back to the same sins, again and again.  We do them because we like them.  We may be repulsed by some sins because they are perverse or destructive.  But all sins are perverse and destructive.  Nevertheless, we go back to them.  The liar cannot help but tell biased and embellished stories.  The cheat always schemes how to take advantage of others.  If you are prone to jealousy, you continue to think evil of others and train yourself to despise them.  Eventually, you detest everything they say or do.  Whatever tempts you continues to pull you in.  You go back to your sins.  History repeats itself.  Repent.

     The Lord is slow to anger, but he does get there.  Zechariah declared that the Lord’s patience had been put to the test long enough.  Zechariah declared, “‘I will not shepherd you.  Whatever is dying, let it die.  Whatever is being destroyed, let it be destroyed.  And let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.’  I took my staff, Favor, and I broke it in two, to cancel my covenant that I had made with all the peoples.  So it was cancelled on that day, and the most miserable of the flock, who were watching me, knew that this was the word of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:9-11). 

     History repeats itself.  In this case, we should not be surprised.  Zechariah not only spoke of the past, he also foretold the future.  The Lord would raise up a shepherd for his people—a Good Shepherd who would tend the flock of God faithfully.  His staff is Favor; for he would proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  He would have compassion on the poor and afflicted because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  But he would be despised by the very people he came to serve and to save.  Although he would be faithful to the covenant—for God’s promises cannot be broken—the covenant would be broken by those who despised and rejected God’s faithful servant.

     Once Zechariah renounced service to God’s flock, he asked for compensation.  “I said to them, ‘If it seems good to you, pay me my wages.  But if it does not, withhold them.’  So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver as my wages.  Then the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter, this magnificent price at which they valued me.’  So I took the thirty pieces of silver, and I threw them into the House of the LORD, to the potter” (Zechariah 11:12-13).  The thirty silver pieces was the price of a slave.  Their compensation proved that the prophet had little value for them.  The Lord instructed Zechariah to forfeit this paltry salary.  This was fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ, who was betrayed by Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces of silver.

     Judas’ betrayal of Jesus is intriguing to me, because his motive is unclear to me.  When Mary anointed Jesus at the beginning of Holy Week, St. John reported, “One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray him, said, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’  He did not say this because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief.  He held the money box and used to steal what was put into it” (John 12:4-5).  Perhaps Judas’ motive was as simple as making a quick buck.  But Jesus had wealthy women supporting him.  If Judas knew he could expect a steady stream of revenue from them, why would he betray Jesus for such a paltry sum?

     Perhaps Judas had taken Jesus’ words to heart about his upcoming death and reasoned that his opportunity to make money at Jesus’ expense was coming to a close.  Perhaps he had expected more from Jesus.  Most Jews expected the Messiah to establish a glorious kingdom in Jerusalem.  If Jesus established that kingdom, surely the apostles could expect positions of power and glory in it.  But if Jesus was going to die, Judas may have considered Jesus a failure of a Messiah.  If Jesus did not mean glory for Judas, Judas could at least get cash for him.  Whatever his motives, Judas certainly could have bargained for a greater payout from people who desperately wanted Jesus to be silenced and terminated.  Apparently, Jesus was not worth much to Judas or to the high priests.

     Another factor which intrigues me about Judas was his reaction once he saw that Jesus was condemned to death.  “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse.  He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’  But they said, ‘What is that to us?  That’s your problem’” (Matthew 27:3-4).  Did Judas not believe they would actually kill Jesus?  Did he assume that they would just rough him up or put him in prison for a little while?  I don’t know.  But once Judas discovered how cruel their plans were, he had deep regret for betraying Jesus.

     In an effort to alleviate his guilt, Judas tried to return the silver to the priests.  When they would not take it, he threw it into the temple, just as Zechariah foretold.  And what worthless priests!  A man came to them overwhelmed by guilt.  “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4), he confessed.  So, what is the job of the priests?  To make sacrifices to atone for sins.  To bestow God’s mercy on those who seek God’s forgiveness.  But just as they despised Jesus, so also they despised God’s forgiveness.  “Your sins are your problem,” they told Judas.  And being overwhelmed by guilt and sorrow, Judas went and hanged himself.  Such is the despair of one who is consumed by his sin.  The weight of sin and guilt is soul-crushing.  It robs you of self-worth and alerts you of divine wrath.  When there is no mercy, there is no hope.

     Neither Judas nor the priests thought Jesus was worth much.  What is he worth to you?  This is a question that cannot be answered until we answer a better question first: What are you worth to him? 

     Every human being has worth because he or she is a creation of God.  But our Lord has demonstrated that you have even greater worth than that.  Even though you and I have been corrupted by sin, the Lord does not regard us as worthless.  Rather, he invested heavily to redeem us.  Jesus preached about this in a parable.  He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again.  In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).  You are the treasure that Jesus found. 

     In order to purchase you for himself, Jesus gave up all that he had for you.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).  He left the glories of heaven where he lived in majesty and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  He entered our world in weakness.  He subjected himself to all this world’s corruption and cruelty.  He who is the truth was subject to lies and slander.  He who healed the diseased and afflicted was beaten and bloodied.  He who is light and life gave himself into death while darkness covered the land.  He has redeemed you, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death.  That was the price that he willingly paid to redeem you—an infinite cost borne of infinite love. 

     What are you worth to him?  You are worth the life of the Son of God.  He gave himself to wipe out every sin that stood against you—whether those sins are history repeating itself or were one-time offenses, whether you were dismissive of your guilt or were brought to despair, whether you were unaware of your guilt or someone replays it for you every day.  Do not measure your worth by what other people think of you.  Do not even measure your worth by what you think of yourself.  Jesus has shown you that you are worth his very life to ransom you from death and hell.  Jesus says you that you are worth receiving his body and blood to continually assure you of his mercy—the holy things for his holy ones.  Jesus has made you worthy of a place at the heavenly feast with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.

     What is he worth to you?  Who could put a price on it?  Who could assess the value of the kingdom of God?  Even if it were possible to put a price on the Lord’s forgiveness, it doesn’t matter.  He delivers his grace and mercy for free.  You are the treasure that Jesus has purchased and won for himself.  Therefore, he is the priceless treasure that is ours forevermore.

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

YouTube -- 3rd Sunday in Lent (March 8, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, March 8, 2026.