Today’s Reading: John 14:23-31
Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 1:8-33; John 11:17-37
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We all need a little help in life, with changing a flat tire, or that pesky calculus homework, but when it comes to matters of greater importance, we Lutherans confess in the Small Catechism, “I believe that I cannot believe.”
I believe that I cannot believe. Aren’t we Christians supposed to have all the answers? Haven’t we heard that we’ve got to have it all figured out when it comes to the trials and tribulations of life? There was a time–but alas, it ended with Adam’s hiding for fear from the sounds of God walking in the Garden. A time, long past, when God’s creatures used to expect only good from God. But those days are long gone. “I believe I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him.”
Thanks be to God, then, that He comes to us! The Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, and enlightened me with His gifts. Thanks be to God through Christ Jesus our Lord that He takes a vested, incarnational interest in us! Before ascending to the very throne of God, He sends the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to teach, and bring to our remembrance all that we’ve forgotten that Jesus has said and done for us.
He teaches us by the Divine Service, catechism class, Sunday school and Bible study, showing us where we can go to find the words of eternal life. He teaches us who we can trust to give the most precious of all gifts: the forgiveness of sins.
The Spirit is constantly bringing to our remembrance, that is, giving us His Word to remind, comfort, and give us the peace that the world cannot give. This strengthens us, enlivens us and opens our ears to hear and mouths to speak of the wonders Christ gives us still by Word and Sacrament. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Day of Pentecost)
-Rev. Adam Degroot is pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM.
Audio Reflections speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch
Come on an adventure with author Eric Eichinger as he unpacks the saga of Jesus’ Hero Journey. You’ll see how aspects of this journey are seen in popular stories, and how God used Jesus to create the most action-packed one with a real Savior for all. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.
