May
the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your
sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. AMEN.
Christ
is risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
These
words were spoken numerous times while I was in Israel in 1999. Going with a large group of people we visited
many of the most holy sites while “In the Footsteps of Jesus”! When we gathered in the historic site of the
Garden Tomb, with the stone rolled away, hearing the words, “He is Risen
Indeed”, brought a collective air of not only fulfillment, but also joy to know
that our Savior, Jesus Christ had risen from the Dead. Jesus Christ had conquered death and death no
longer would have dominion.
Yet,
the sacrifice that was made by Jesus Christ seems minimal to some. In our day and age what Jesus Christ
accomplished for some is more myth and legend.
Consider those who go to the movies they see movies like Thor that talk
of a Norse God, great entertainment.
Please understand, I love these movies and enjoy the opportunity to
immerse myself in this for a few hours.
Another place where Jesus sacrifice is questioned is in colleges that
say the Bible is only literature or that faith is not a valid concept or
something to be believed in. A perfect
example is the movie, “God is Not Dead” that will be at our theater in the
coming weeks. The premise is that God is
Dead. Ironically this was true Good
Friday, Jesus Christ, God’s Son was dead.
But now after Easter Sunday, Jesus Christ is not dead, He is alive,
risen from the dead and we today celebrate this accomplishment that was for all
of mankind, but especially for each and every one of us gathered here at
Emmanuel.
Jesus
Christ sacrifice we remember today, especially when we partake of the Sacrament
of the Altar. In and by our partaking of
Jesus Christ precious Body and Blood we celebrate, not death, but the sacrifice
and life He offers us in this Holy Meal.
As you can see before us I have a chalice and paten. These are special to me and for all of us for
two reasons. But first, let’s pull out
our bulletin insert and respond to the simple question, What is Sacrament of the Altar?
The Sacrament of the Altar What is Sacrament of the Altar? It
is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine,
instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink. Let’s ask God to empower and enrich us with
His Body and Blood in prayer.
Gracious
Heavenly Father, in our Easter celebration, we know we receive Your true Body
and Blood sacrificed for us that strengthens us in our pilgrimage here on earth. Enable us to not only embrace what we receive
from Your Holy Hands, but that it will enable us to understand more fully the
forgiveness You offer to all of mankind in Your Holy Supper. For this is for all of mankind, including all
of us saints gathered here this morning for Confirmation Sunday at
Emmanuel. AMEN.
The
chalice and paten before us this morning I bought when I was in Israel. While on that trip, I saw myself in the
future in ministry in a congregation offering the Lord’s Supper with this Paten
and with this Chalice. Where the gifts
of God would be offered with the words, “Given and Shed for you for the
forgiveness of sins”. This promise by
God fulfilled in the Garden Tomb with the clear expression of “He is Risen”, is
a clear reminder of God’s promises made for all of mankind, but especially for
each and every one of us gathered here this morning.
It is
not only clear with a simple Chalice and Paten bought in Israel, but made
manifest for we as God’s Children here this morning, because this same Chalice
and Paten was used at my ordination here at Emmanuel. When I laid on the floor, giving my life into
the ministry as your shepherd, God in a clear way entered my life in a much
deeper form and fashion. But I was not
becoming a god like Thor, I couldn’t and wouldn’t be equal to God like Jesus
Christ. However, when that Chalice and
Paten were handed to me as a symbol of the sacrament that would be celebrated
from the Altar of God, it was to be a reminder of the grace God would offer to
each of us in the Words, “Given and Shed for you for the forgiveness of sins”.
You
see it is the firm belief that no matter who holds the office of pastor, the
worthiness of the pastor is not what is important. Because I am sinful, just as anyone
else. What we receive in the Sacrament
of the Altar is the gift of pure grace from God the Father and His Son Jesus
Christ. This is God’s gift to and for
all of mankind, but especially all of us who believe the words, “Given and Shed
for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
But it is even more appropriate for us here today.
This
morning we as a church will confirm three individuals, Autumn, Peyton and
Powell. Today these three children of
our congregation will take the responsibility of their faith upon their own
shoulders this morning. No longer will
they in the eyes of the church be seen, understood, nor should they act nor be
treated as children by anyone in the congregation. Today, they take the vows of responsibility
of their individual faiths upon themselves.
We have provided Sunday School to teach them the stories of the bible. We have given them the Holy Scriptures in
their hands in order that they read it themselves and understand their
faith. We have as a congregation
provided them with the Small and Large Catechism and instructed them in
Luther’s explanation of what God offers them not only in Holy Baptism, which
they have been baptized into, but also in the Lord’s Supper which they received
at First Communion. Today, Autumn,
Peyton and Powell stand before we their fellow heirs of eternal life and take
their place as God’s baptized and soon to be confirmed members in the Body of
Christ.
But
it is more significant than that, today, the church celebrates with them their
entrance into the ranks of the people of God as not only fellow heirs of
eternal life, fellow partakers of the food they already receive around the
altar of our Lord, but especially their entrance as adults around the table of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes,
they have previously partaken of this heavenly meal, but today, Autumn, Peyton
and Powell partake, knowing they now have ultimate responsibility of their
faith, in their preparation, further instruction, discernment and nurturing
their own personal growth in their relationship with Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that in their lives that this
meal that we receive today and in the future will strengthen them on their
journey and pilgrimage and continue to nourish them to be God’s instrument in
the spread of the Gospel message. For
God’s message of salvation of what Jesus Christ did on Calvary and offers us today
in this Holy Supper with pure grace and mercy is for all of mankind, including
all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel to celebrate Autumn, Peyton and
Powell’s Confirmation. AMEN.
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