“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Just as Mary, on the very first Christmas, we too meditate on the mystery of Christmas. Christ was born in order to live, die and rise from the grave for us! The Word became flesh and through faith we see his glory! Glory to God in the highest!

This last Sunday of Advent, we celebrate together the promise and fulfillment of the One born Immanuel, “God with us.” As we get closer and closer to Christmas, we ask God to prepare our hearts to receive the baby born in Bethlehem as his wonderful gift of salvation.

In this season of Advent (Coming) we focus on the three “comings” of Christ: his coming into this world as a baby to put himself in our place and to pay for our sins, his coming in glory at the last day to take us into the full enjoyment of our salvation, and his coming into our hearts through the power of his Word which gives us faith and makes that salvation our own. All three of these comings lead us to REJOICE....

Since Jesus’ coming is sure and so important, he sends out forerunners in the footsteps of John the Baptist who help us to make proper preparation for his coming. They do that with a message not their own. They do it with the message that he himself has given. Pay close attention to those heralds of the coming Lord, the prophets and apostles, and to the pastors and teachers in our midst who have succeeded them to get us ready for his coming.

Eagerly looking forward to Jesus’ second advent, we join in the excitement of the Palm Sunday crowd, making the preparations God instructs and joining our voices to shout: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” This Sunday, we clearly proclaim the purpose for Jesus’ coming. His coming brings salvation.

Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
once for ev’ry sinner slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Christ reveals his endless reign.

The attitude of the unbeliever to talk of judgment by God can only be denial or terror. But the attitude of the child of God is formed by the Word of God. In faith we can look forward to that day of publicly hearing God’s “not guilty” verdict which brought us to faith in the first place. There’s no better preparation for death and judgment than clinging to that gracious verdict, and no better life than the one that has that verdict as its center and motivation.

God had St. Paul write, “If the dead are not raised, then let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Note the “if.” That approach to life makes sense only if this life is all we have. But it isn’t. Jesus will raise us from the dead and take us to live in his home forever. Knowing that, we are set free from needing to live a self-indulgent life now. Instead, we can be generous people, using what God has given us to serve him and others.

By God’s grace — through faith — we have been made part of the same family as those believers who have died and are now realizing the joys of heaven. We are saints of God and look forward with excitement and confidence to joining him around his throne. We know the victory that is ours, and we want to live and act like those who know it.

What a treasure we have in the Reformation! The bright light of the “new covenant” with God that comes by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ penetrated the darkness of false doctrine to give freedom to the oppressed heart. As sons and daughters of the Reformation, may we remain in the truth of that saving Gospel.

Jesus Christ came into this world to serve as our great High Priest, sacrificing himself on the cross to gain eternal rest for us in heaven. Our response to this love of Christ is humble service to him and our neighbor.

Our material belongings are blessings from God. Yet sometimes they can also be temptations to not put God first. A young man in our Gospel reading for today felt he had done a good job of keeping God’s law. Jesus showed him, however, that because of his attitude about material possessions he hadn’t even begun to keep the First Commandment. In fact, it’s impossible for anyone to be saved by the law. Only God can save us sinners. And in his Son, he has!

The closest we can get to a mirror of the love of God for us is the mirror of the love that he wants us to have for one another in the family. The goal of family members is to reflect the love of God for us in self-giving love for one another. How tragic that in our society such a mirror is so clouded! There is much to repent of and much to strive toward.

The gifts of God are so rich and varied that the devil uses that very generosity in God to stir up jealousy and envy. Expect it in others; find it in yourself as well. That weakness makes it crystal clear that our need for the Savior is a constant one. It also makes clear that our struggle against our own flesh gives us much more difficulty than the persecution from the world.

See how deeply the love from God penetrates our heart and soul. We are called to reflect that intense and all-embracing grace in our attitudes toward those around us. Our ambition is to be not the promotion of self, but the imitation of Christ. We learn how fixed we are on that when we face opposition and struggles.

Today we see God’s power over the spiritual forces that fight against us. He warns us of the dangers and shows us the power he puts at our disposal for the fight. He then lets us see his power in action, proving victory is always certain with him.

Unbelief mocks and says that if God did all things well and was the source of all good, then he shouldn’t allow misery and need. But especially in need and suffering God does all things well; that truth is the center of our quiet confidence. It is the reason for our hope based on the promises of God and earned for us by the work of Christ and its eternal consequences for us.

Jesus wants to so deepen our understanding of his grace that he becomes all in all to us. The emphasis in the readings for this Sunday is the truth that all God pleasing obedience must begin in the heart. As so often, the Prayer of the Day affords us a good summary of the thoughts for the day.

It is not only the outsider who turns aside from the Wisdom which is Christ. Many who have heard the Word with us also go away when some part of it conflicts with their own thinking. God, keep us always from the ignorant arrogance that thinks our wisdom is greater than yours!

The lessons from God’s Word for today encourage us to examine our spiritual diet. In order to stay alive spiritually, a person needs the real Bread which is Jesus Christ. The only way to receive this special nourishment is through his Gospel in Word and Sacraments.

The saving faith our God gives us through his Gospel in Word and Sacrament wants to show appreciation for our forgiveness and eternal life. Faith wants to and is able to serve our God by serving our neighbor. There is no better way to do that than to reach out to others with the same saving Gospel that works for us.

The Lord’s generosity in material things should serve as a reminder of his even greater generosity in spiritual things. As Augustine said, "There is nothing visible or transitory that does not point us back to something more important that is invisible and imperishable." Our readings encourage the response of an attitude adjustment in us that includes a reordering of our priorities.

The word of God has renewed our relationship with him by connecting us to the one who feeds body and soul.

As the Word of God called us last Sunday to receive God’s message and messengers because their authority is from God, so this Sunday both preachers and hearers are urged to remain faithful to God’s Word which gives us the always faithful and ever compassionate Good Shepherd.

During the past eight weeks the emphasis has been on the creation of faith and its preservation in spite of the suffering and persecution that seem to contradict the promise. Now the second cycle of the Pentecost season begins with an emphasis on the response of those who hear the Word. Those who have the Savior in his Word share him by sharing his Word.

The Word of God is powerful and efficacious. By means of this Word, the Holy Spirit works faith in the heart. Nevertheless, man is still able to reject God’s powerful Gospel message. May we always proclaim his saving message of salvation in spite of the many who reject it, because whether they believe it or not, God will be glorified and his plans will be worked out.

Our God is both almighty and merciful. (What a consoling combination for the believer!) In his Word today, we see the almighty and merciful God who can bring back his people from captivity, uses us mortals in his glorious work and plans, and gives us the new birth which means new life for now and forever.

We have seen that faith gives evidence of life. But sometimes the evidence challenges faith. The fact that Christ lives and lives in us is no guarantee that we will never face fear or disaster. Quite the contrary, he has promised we will have troubles. Today we see one aspect or fruit of our faith: we trust in him even when outward evidence argues against trust in him.

The work of the gospel is invisible, but real. It is hidden, but with results that can be seen — even if the power behind those visible results remains a mystery. That is the truth of the kingdom of God hidden within the heart. Has faith made a difference in life, or is it something apart? Faith that is the result of the living seed of the Word is alive and gives evidence of its life.

God is serious about his Word in both law and gospel. It is addressed to us both collectively and individually. This Sunday it is well summed up in the pertinent question: Where are you? In the liturgy of confession may we answer honestly. In the absolution and the gospel may we hear God’s response. For faith begins and ends with confession and absolution; they are its constants that are never to be taken for granted.

In God’s kingdom we are to live according to his will as expressed in his holy law. But even in the directions given for our lives in the law, we see Christ for us. For the law does not benefit God; it benefits us. The Third Commandment is a preeminent example of the point.

The Bible clearly teaches us that we have one undivided God. Yet there are three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are all fully God. In this God alone we find our beginning, our redemption, and our restoration to everlasting holiness.

Come, Holy Spirit! The Spirit is given on the first Christian Pentecost in fulfillment of promise and prophecy, and he continues to come to his faithful through Word and sacrament. Thus the Church never ceases to be renewed and to grow.

The season of Easter draws to a close as Jesus prays his “high-priestly prayer.” Now as then, our ascended Savior prays for Spirit-inspired unity between the Father and his church. With much anticipation, we look for the coming of the Holy Spirit, as we confidently live a new life of faith in our ascended Lord.

The infinite love of God is our motivation and power to love him and each other. Such love shows itself in listening to what God says in his Word, defending it from falsehood and reaching out with it to others.

Faith always believes the promises of God and always produces fruit to thank God for all he has done for us.

On “Good Shepherd Sunday” our attention is fixed on Jesus the Good Shepherd of the sheep. His care and concern are recognized by those whom he has called as his sheep. Even in suffering, his sheep know his care for them and follow him.

With his perfect life, innocent death and glorious resurrection, Christ paid for all our sins and won for us eternal life. Therefore, it is our privilege to share this good news with the rest of the world.

The fact of Jesus’ resurrection is our assurance that we have eternal life. Our faith, based on our risen Savior, gives us what we need for this life and for the life to come. Through his Word we receive our faith and the strength it needs. In our risen Savior, we have the victory and want to live like people who know that.

Believers gather on Easter to hear the joyous news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. His resurrection assures us of our own resurrection and calls us to fix our eyes on him who is our life.

Darkness descended on the world that day as God draped Creation in the darkness of mourning. For the Light of the world was flickering out. Though guiltless, he was tortured and cursed; though innocent, he died among criminals. Who could ever call this day “good?” Only those who know the truth of the cross: “Sing my tongue the glorious battle; sing the ending of the fray. Now above the cross, the trophy, sound the loud triumphant lay. Tell how Christ, the world’s Redeemer, as a victim won the day.”

Christ shows us the full extent of God’s love for us. The Church calls this day Maundy because of Jesus’ “new” command in the Gospel lesson that his followers love one another (it is the dies mandate). Christ shows the full extent of his love in service and in sacrifice. He loves us more than life and feeds us his body and blood to prove it. Reconciled to God, we then follow his command to love one another.

Lutherans have a long history of remembering the Savior’s Passion in midweek services during the season of Lent. The more common practice, in history and in the experience of the wider church, is to read the Passion history on the first Sunday of Holy Week, as we are doing today...

The readings today tie Lent with both Epiphany and Easter. In them Jesus shows his glory as a saving glory but a glory that is hidden under a blanket of suffering and a veil of humiliation.

Traditionally this Sunday was called Laetare, “Rejoice” Sunday. We rejoice in the middle of Lent that God has so fully and so perfectly taken to heart our only real need as sinners and satisfied it in Christ.

Lent shows us that God is serious about his Word — all of his Word. The law shows we deserve only God’s wrath and punishment. But Jesus Christ came into this world in response to God’s promise, to live and die as our substitute. He led the perfect life we could not live and died in our place, to give us salvation — all according to his Word.

Lent has to last a while and come around every year if for no other reason than this, that it is so hard for us to get the points made so strikingly in Lent. This Sunday we see God’s seriousness in Lent in this: Salvation and suffering go hand in hand, for Jesus and also for us!

Jesus Christ came into this world to live and die as our substitute. He led the perfect life we could not live because of sin and died in our place, suffering the vengeance of all our sins. No one can take from us the salvation that is in Christ Jesus nor separate us from the love of God that we have through Christ.

Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to come into this world to save us, never lost the glory he has as the Son of God. We see his glory shining in his saving message of salvation, and that glory reflects off us and shines to others as we share the Good News.

Our loving God treats us with such tenderness in our weaknesses. While we doubt his providence and protection, he assures us of his constant care here and our guarantee of the eternal life in his heaven. We can always trust his faithful love and power.

Why follow him? Jesus shows his glory by his triumph over the devil. When he walked this earth for us, he sometimes did that openly for all to see. He still does it just as effectively but in a less public, less obvious way. Just as his victory made manifest his glory then, so it does now. Just as then, so now, everything is accomplished through his Word.

Jesus shows his glory in the kind of people that he calls to serve him and in using the gospel to make them willing to follow him. Some he calls to a full-time following that leaves behind secular vocations. To all, however, comes the call to follow him with a willingness to abandon everything should faithfulness require it.

The long-expected Christ has arrived; the waiting is over as the Son of David is anointed. The Father’s approval sounds from heaven and book-ends the season of Epiphany, when with the Holy Spirit and with power it thunders again on the Mount of Transfiguration as the Son is revealed in glory.

The Eastern Church celebrates January 6th as the Nativity of our Lord. For the West, the Epiphany of our Lord is the continued celebration of the birth of the Savior of Nations. So bright is the dawning of the Son, so great is the fullness of his glory, that his light not only fills the dark streets of Bethlehem, but the ends of the earth. Jew and Gentile alike gather to worship him who is born ruler of Judah and Shepherd of all Israel.

There are two great miracles of Christmas: the one that God has become man for us and for our salvation, and that he in grace reveals the first miracle even to me and blesses me with all its benefits.

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Just as Mary, on the very first Christmas, we too meditate on the mystery of Christmas. Christ was born in order to live, die and rise from the grave for us! The Word became flesh and through faith we see his glory! Glory to God in the highest!

What’s the best way to prepare for Jesus’ coming? It’s not with frantic doing. It’s not with a focus on what we have done or promise to do. It’s not with how we will pay back what he comes to bring. The best preparation for Christmas is a readiness to receive.

In this season of Advent (Coming) we focus on the three “comings” of Christ: his coming into this world as a baby to put himself in our place and to pay for our sins, his coming in glory at the last day to take us into the full enjoyment of our salvation, and his coming into our hearts through the power of his word which gives us faith and makes that salvation our own. All three of these comings lead us to REJOICE....

Since Jesus’ coming is sure and so important, he sends out forerunners in the footsteps of John the Baptist who help us to make proper preparation for his coming. They do that with a message not their own. They do it with the message that he himself has given. Pay close attention to those heralds of the coming Lord, the prophets and apostles, and to the pastors and teachers in our midst who have succeeded them to get us ready for his coming.

Eagerly looking forward to Jesus’ second advent, we join in the excitement of the Palm Sunday crowd, making the preparations God instructs and joining our voices to shout: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” This Sunday, we clearly proclaim the purpose for Jesus’ coming. His coming brings salvation.