Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
The Resurrection of Jesus Makes a Difference Read More »
Father, Jesus says, “I AM the Resurrection AND the Life.” Give us renewed faith that the grave is not the end; but only the portal through which we will one day receive new bodies like His glorious body. And, today, may we reflect on our Baptism and the new Life we have through our connection to His death and Resurrection. We ask in Your Son’s precious name, the Same who is the Resurrection and the Life, and who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
Resurrection Wonder Read More »
Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
Return and Believe Read More »
Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
“In Him was life” (John 1:4). If you have ever had the opportunity to witness the birth of a child, it’s difficult to not be in awe of a new life entering the world. A newborn baby is full of life! Yet the Christ Child born that first Christmas is full of life in an even greater way. This child, the Word made flesh, is born, lives, dies, and rises to give life to the world. “In Him was life.” In Jesus is life for Mary, life for Joseph, life for the shepherds, life for those in Bethlehem, life for the Jews, life for the Gentiles, life for all, life for you. This Christmas, when you see the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, rejoice that “in Him was life”! Amen.
Jesus, The Firstfruit of Jesse’s Tree Read More »
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that the coming solemnity of your Son may bestow healing upon us in this present life and bring us the rewards of life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen!
Jesse’s Tree: The Water of Life Read More »
In John 14, Jesus says, “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.” The primary role of the Holy Spirit, then, is to teach us and remind us of all that Jesus said–perfect communication. When Peter had confessed Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus said immediately to Peter: “the Son of Man must suffer many things . . . be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22). Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. This is the word that the Holy Spirit reminds us of week after week in Scripture, hymns, preaching, and Holy Communion. It is this word of Jesus that brings us down a notch when we are arrogant and lifts us up when we are brought low by our sin. Christ, crucified for sinners and risen, is perfect communication. This is precisely what the Holy Spirit breathes into our ears.
Almighty God, You are at work for us and for our salvation. Cause the action verbs of Your mercy and grace to have full effect in our lives, bringing us to the unending Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
Resurrection Redux Read More »
