April 21, 2007 - The Eve of the Third Sunday of Easter

“The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Alleluia. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. Alleluia.” (Introit for the Third Sunday of Easter: Psalm 33:5-6)

 

In the name of Jesus. Amen. Sometimes it is rather difficult to believe that the earth is full of the Lord’s goodness. You look around, even nearby, and there is violence, tragedy, disease and hunger. The list could go on. The manifestations of sin are all around us. The evidence seems quite clear.

The temptation for you, dear child of God, is to think that God doesn’t care or worse yet, that He doesn’t exist. Maybe He just sits back in the heavens and watches things fall apart.

The Gospel reading in today’s daily lectionary presents a realistic picture. Things are not always what they seem in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God belongs to the poor. Those who are hated are blessed. Those who are well fed now will go inevitably hungry.

So also, as the Psalmist rejoices to confess, “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” He points us not to some generic “goodness,” but to the covenant love of God, the fact that God keeps His promises. That truth is made known today in the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The earth is indeed full of the goodness of the Lord, because the Gospel is being preached to the ends of the earth. The same Word that made the heavens is creating new people as the Good News that Jesus suffered, died and rose again is proclaimed to the world. The power of sin, death and the grave has been vanquished in Christ Jesus, crucified and resurrected.

The manifestation of the crucified and risen Savior is all around us as His Gospel is proclaimed, His Baptism is carried out in His name, and His Supper is celebrated. The manifestation of the crucified and risen Savior is all around you. Your life is full of His goodness, His covenant love.

The evidence is clear. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has come to you with forgiveness and new life. Yours is the kingdom of God. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

“The Gospel shows the Father’s grace, Who sent His Son to save our race, Proclaims how Jesus lived and died That we might thus be justified.
It is the power of God to save From sin and Satan and the grave; it works the faith which firmly clings To all the treasures which it brings.” (LSB #580, verses 1 and 4)

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 32:1-14; St. Luke 6:20-38

 

Easter 2007 Reflections were written by the Rev. Joel Fritsche, Admissions Counselor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO.  His email is fritschej@csl.edu.

Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflections Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.

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