begging for Christ's righteousness
thoughts on the Eucharist
Because of the presence and participation of the body of Christ, the Holy Supper is a meal of the most intimate fellowship and, therefore, at the same time, the highest love-meal. Just as fervent love is demanded, so fervent love is delivered. We all come together, as children of the same family, to the table of our common, . . .
"Lord, have mercy" is my only prayer
Sometimes the prayers won't come.
Sometimes the Psalter doesn't resonate.
Sometimes the pain is too great,
the world is too loud,
the silence is too deafening.
Sometimes the only prayer I can pray is "Lord, have mercy,"
and the Holy Spirit intercedes for me,
and the Son prays for me,
. . .
on prayer after sin
Many of us, after falling into sin, feel as though we must somehow cleanse ourselves or make amends with God before we can return to him in prayer. While this type of thinking appeals to our universal, innate understanding of sin and guilt, it is patently un-Christian. Instead, as Luther reminds us:
The time when you feel . . .
deeds, creeds, and true Christianity
Through the years I have spent time worshiping in various denominations spanning the theological spectrum from 'conservative' to 'liberal.' Toward either of these poles, congregations, pastors, and church leaders tend to gravitate toward an emphasis on right doctrine (creeds) or right practice (deeds). Some . . .
hopeful penitence
While we mourn our sin during this time of Lent and focus on our sinfulness in light of God's Law, we must not let mourning turn to brooding or hopelessness. Lent is not a time of self-deprecation, a time to 'beat ourselves up,' or a time to resolve to 'do better next time.' Such feelings miss the point entirely. . . .
Lent
on sin, hopelessness, and faith
Pow! Right between the eyes. The readings appointed for Ash Wednesday hit us hard with our sinfulness, harder than probably any other readings during the Church Year. The deliberately examined life cannot help but lead us to despair for lack of our own goodness and merit. In the mirror of God's Law, we perpetually stand . . .
prayer on the eve of Lent
O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth: Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee: Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
. . .
