Today’s Reading: Psalm 38; Small Catechism – Confession
Daily Lectionary: Genesis 45:1-20, 24-28; St. Mark 13:1-23
“What do you believe according to these words? I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.” (Small Catechism, Confession – Part VI)
God's Word has two sides, Law and Gospel. God crushes with the Law, but builds up with the Gospel. Through the lens of the Law look at yourself in Psalm 38, as the one who cries: “My iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.” They are. Crushed, broken, alone, forsaken, apart from God. You have only the cry of the beggar: “Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!”
Yet Isaiah said that the suffering servant (Jesus) was bruised for our iniquities and broken for our sins. Paul wrote that He “who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” Christ cried out for you from the Cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). He was forsaken so that you would not be.
Repent and receive Christ’s forgiveness. It’s why He died. It’s why He suffered. Jesus came precisely to take your sins upon Himself, so that He could forgive you. And now the same One, Who bore all your sin, has given you a pastor, so you can hear His words of forgiveness in your ears. That is the gift of Holy Absolution – it is all about Christ and it is all for you! Christ’s gifts don’t end at the Cross. They begin there.
The Lord has made haste to help you. When you go to your pastor and confess your sins, you will hear him say, “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins, in the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In those words, all of Christ's work on the cross comes to bear for you. The words of absolution ring out for you with words of sweet Gospel. You give Christ your sin and He gives you the forgiveness, which He won for you by his Passion and death. What a gift! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
“The words which absolution give Are His who died that we might live;
The minister whom Christ has sent Is but His humble instrument.
When ministers lay on their hands, Absolved by Christ the sinner stands; He who by grace the Word believes The purchase of His blood receives.” (LSB #614, verses 5 and 6)
Today's Reflection is written by the Rev'd Marcus Zill (zill@higherthings.org) of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church & Student Center in Laramie, Wyoming.