There are times

I think God looks at the messes we make in our world and simply refuses to give up. “No,” He seems to say, “I made this world beautiful. And beautiful it shall be, even if it is has to be in painful contrast to your mess.”

Gerhard and Walther

Those who regard it [God’s Word and preaching] as an insignificant treasure, very seldom attend [the Divine Service].—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:410.

When man was still in the state in which God had created him in Eden, his greatest blessedness consisted in God Himself dwelling in his soul. God was the light of his reason and the moving power of his will. Since all people fell into sin with the first father, Adam, man’s greatest misery is that by nature he wanders around without God’s Word.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 708.

Patristic Quote of the Day

The one who is greater in faith eats more, and because he does, there is less left over! I wish that we, too, might eat more of the hardy bread of holy writ, so that there would be less left over for us to learn.—St. Jerome, Tractate on Mark, Homily 78.

Catechesis: Justification

Even though the adversaries claim the name of the Church for themselves, we know that Christ’s Church is with those who teach Christ’s Gospel, not with those who defend wicked opinions contrary to the Gospel. As the Lord says, “My sheep hear my voice.” And Augustine says: “The question is, ‘Where is the Church’ What therefore are we to do? Are we to seek it in our own words or in the words of our Head, our Lord Jesus Christ? I think that we ought to seek it in the words of Him who is Truth, and who knows His own body best.”—Ap V:279

Gerhard and Walther

Consequently, if we wish to properly celebrate and sanctify the Sabbath, we must not only hear God’s Word but also thank God the Lord for these great treasures of the soul, and ask that He through the hearing of His Word would give us grace so that we thereby be enlightened, converted, sanctified, strengthened and eternally saved.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:409.

The Christian Church, which is the kingdom of Christ on earth, is essentially all people who have received Christ as their King and are ruled by Him, who believe in Him from their heart, who are thus Christians.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 706. 

Patristic Quote of the Day

In expounding holy Scriptures, I am, so to speak, now breaking the bread for you. If you hunger to receive it, your heart will sing out with the fullness of praise. And if you are thus made rich in your banquet, why would you then be niggardly in good works and deeds of mercy? What I am distributing to you is not my own. What you feast upon, I also feast upon.—St. Augustine, Sermons on the NT 4.5.1

Catechesis: Justification

So other good works please because of faith, just as the prayers of the Church ask that all things may be accepted for Christ’s sake. For it is clear that this clause is always added at the close of prayers: “Through Christ, our Lord.”—Ap V:264

On this morning’s walk…

…watching the miracle of ruminants turning grass into wool and protein! Glory to God for all things!

Gerhard and Walther

Consequently, hold to the fact that only those works and labors are forbidden on the Sabbath which are undertaken out of greed or carelessness, or out of disregard for the office of the ministry. These hinder the conducting of the worship service or keep others away from it.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:405.

It is impossible to be a Christian and not be thankful to God.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 703. 

Patristic Quote of the Day

So open your ears and enjoy the good odor of eternal life which has been breathed upon you by the grace of the sacraments.—St. Ambrose, On the Mysteries 1.3

Catechesis: Justification

When fearful consciences are comforted by faith, and are convinced that sins have been blotted out by Christ’s death, and that God has been reconciled to us because of Christ’s sufferings, then, indeed, Christ’s suffering profits us. If the teaching about faith is left out, saying that works are useful by virtue of Christ’s passion is of no use at all.—Ap. V:261.

Eating out

Eating out as committed zero-carbers is a breeze. Today, after a wee bit of shopping at Fresh Thyme and Hobby Lobby, we were planning on heading down to Outback, only to discover the one we thought was nearest to us must have closed. So we ended up at Longhorn. ¡No problema! Cindi ordered herself a 22 oz Porterhouse (bone in); I ordered the 12 oz ribeye, but also had a very tasty 1/2 lb cheeseburger as a side. That’s it, except for some soda water and a cup of coffee; and the restaurant totally got the order right. No veg on our plates! And the meat was cooked to perfection (still red in the center with a nice char on the outside). Was it ever delicious. And my wife, of course, never lets a silly little thing like etiquette get in the way of her enjoying every last bit of meat (and marrow) off that bone. We didn’t leave till our plates were completely empty and that bone was picked clean!

Gerhard and Walther

Because God the Lord commands that we should sanctify the Sabbath day, thereby he wants to teach that a person should not observe it on certain hours, but for the entire day. And one should not do as is the common practice, that a person perhaps fulfills it with an hour or two of hearing God’s Word, but then later corrupts the remaining time with idleness, non-beneficial gossip, strolling around, visiting around, and similar matters.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:403 (Weedon: OUCH!)

Each person is surrounded and covered by God’s blessing even more than he is by the air. Body and soul are the basic blessings each individual has received from God. However, reason and every power of the soul, all understanding and every member of the body, every ray of light that falls into his eye, every sound that penetrates his ear, every breath of air that fills his lungs, every  bit of bread he eats, every drop of water he drinks, every slumber that comfortingly shuts his eye, every joy that refreshes his soul, every step he takes without misfortune, every moment he spends—in short, everything a person has—is a special blessing of God. In Him we live and move and have our being.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 701.

Patristic Quote of the Day

That power which may not be handled came down and clothed itself in members that may be touched, that the desperate may draw near to him, that in touching his humanity they may discern his divinity. For that speechless man the Lord healed with the fingers of his body. He put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue. At that moment with fingers that may be touched, he touched the Godhead that may not be touched. Immediately this loosed the string of his tongue and opened the clooged doors of his ears. For the very architect of the body itself and artificer of all flesh had come personally to him, and with his gentle voice tenderly opened up his obstructed ears.—St. Ephrem the Syrian, Homily on Our Lord 10

Catechesis: Justification

We do not argue about the term reward. We argue whether good works are of themselves worthy of grace and of eternal life, or whether they please only on account of faith, which takes of Christ as Mediator. Our adversaries not only attribute this to works, namely, that they are worthy of grace and of eternal life, but they also state falsely that works have surplus merits. The adversaries maintain that these merits can be granted to other people to justify them, as when the monks sell to others the merits of their orders.—Ap V:238, 239.

Hamel Sunrise

Gerhard and Walther

For by the observance of the Sabbath, the Israelites were reminded that their sanctification is not a work of human powers; rather, it is a work of grace by God the Lord where they refrain from their activity so that God may do His work in them.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:393.

No one can be helped when the Gospel is made into a new law or the Law is mixed with the preaching of the Gospel.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 695.

Patristic Quote of the Day

[On Mark 7:23] This is an answer to those who consider that evil thoughts are simply injected by the devil and that they do not spring from our own will. He can add strength to our bad thoughts and inflame them, but he cannot originate them.—The Venerable Bede, Exposition of Mark

Catechesis: Justification

This faith arises in repentance and should be established and grow amid good works, temptations, and dangers. This is so that we may continually be more firmly persuaded that God cares for us, forgives us, and hears us for Christ’s sake. This is not learned without many and great struggles. How often is conscience aroused, how often does it awaken even to despair when it shows either old or new sins, or the impurity of our nature! This handwriting is not blogged out without a great struggle. Experience testifies what a difficult matter faith is.—Ap V:229

Afterward, because works please God on account of faith, they earn other bodily and spiritual rewards. For there will be distinctions in glory among the saints.—Ap V:234

Gerhard and Walther

After the fall into sin, the situation no longer exists where the saving knowledge of God is inborn with us. Instead, we have to seize it from the revealed Word. Consequently, it is essential above all else that we gather together in public assembly on a designated day and through the holy Word of God allow ourselves to be instructed about God’s essence and will in order that we then become sanctified.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:391, 2.

The flame of a pure, unselfish love of man can begin to burn only in a heart in which the fear and love of God already dwell, even if, in such a heart, this love remains imperfect until death.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 693. 

Patristic Quote of the Day

The Pharisees claimed that the traditions of their elders safeguarded the law, but in fact it contravened the law Moses had given. By saying: Your merchants mix water with the wine, Isaiah shows that the elders mixed their watery tradition with God’s strict commandment. They enjoined an adulterated law at cross-purposes with the divine law.—Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4.12.1

Catechesis: Justification

We teach the same as the entire church when we teach that we are saved by mercy.—Ap V:217

For “unprofitable servants” means “insufficient,” because no one fears God as much, loves God as much, and believes God as much as he should.—Ap V:221

Gerhard and Walther

So, even though I say that we in the New Testament are not bound to the ceremonial part of this commandment, there still continues to remain the moral part, namely, that in every week we should engage in worship on one or more days. We are to refrain from household work and worldly business, assemble together in the church to hear God’s Word, and fulfill all that pertains to the hallowing of the Sabbath. This part of the commandment about the hallowing of a day of festival is also binding on us in the New Testament.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:390. 

What is Christ saying here, both to the lawyer in our text and to us today? He is saying that only the person who never grows tired of loving carries in his heart the perfect, true love for his neighbor, which avails before God. But where is such a person?…Only one was able—Jesus Christ.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 690. 

Patristic Quote of the Day

Those who merely touched the fringe of his robe were healed. Surely you did not think it was some divine weakness, you speculators, when you saw him wounded. Indeed there were wounds that pierced his body, but they did not demonstrate weakness but strength. For from these wounds flowed life to all, from the One who was the life of all.—St. Ambrose, On the Christian Faith

Catechesis: Justification

So Daniel (9:18-19) teaches us in praying to seize mercy, that is, to trust in God’s mercy, and not to trust in our own merits before God.—Ap. V:210

Gerhard and Walther

Grant me Your grace that I from henceforth daily sing praise to You and thank You for all Your benefits with my mouth and heart. Grant that I praise You at all times for Your great grace and glorify and offer praise to You. (Tobit 8:18).—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:384

True Christians, are those in whom Jesus, makes a beginning of such love, but they never bring it to perfection. It is, therefore, evil delusion when a person thinks he is able to justify himself before God and make himself holy by the fulfillment of the commandment to love the neighbor.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 689.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Nor must we overlook the fact that as he was on the point of refreshing the multitude, he gave thanks. He gave thanks in order to teach us always to give thanks for the favors we have received from heaven, and in order to impress upon us how much he himself rejoices at our spiritual refreshment.—The Venerable Bede, Exposition of the Gospel of St. Mark.

Gerhard and Walther

The praise of God has to extend itself through our entire lifetime, for just as we receive God’s blessings throughout our entire life, so also it is proper that we, throughout our entire life, thank God the Lord… Sirach 51:15 I praise Your name without ceasing.—Johann Gerhard,  Schola Pietatis III:382.

Most people believe they are saved by fulfilling what they think are their duties toward their neighbor. They completely forget about the necessity of fearing, loving, and trusting God above all things. Yet focusing on the neighbor while ignoring God is nothing but self-deception.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 685. 

Patristic Quote of the Day

(On why Jesus would have “passed by” the terrified disciples in the boat): What is the explanation, there, of his wish to bypass those persons whom nevertheless he was prepared to encourage when they were in despair? His intent in passing by them was to serve the purpose of eliciting those outcries in response to which he would then come to bring relief.—St. Augustine, Harmony of the Gospels 2.47

Catechesis: Justification

Christ’s glory becomes more brilliant when we teach that we make the most of Him as our Mediator and Atoning Sacrifice. Godly consciences see that the most abundant consolation is offered to them in this doctrine.—Ap V:177.

A Sad and Yet Joyous Day

Today Pr. Gleason retired from St. Paul’s, but thanks be to God, he and Cindy are not going anywhere (other than to enjoy more frequent visits with grandchildren!). Here are some pics from the Divine Service, followed by my comments on Pr. Gleason’s retirement during the reception:









In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings we learn that it was the elves who woke the trees up to talk, that they might join with them in their marvel at creation. There is something decidedly elvish about Pr. Gleason’s ministry. Wherever he has gone, he has wakened creation to praise.

Think of our sanctuary. Before Pr. Gleason, the doors between the sanctuary and the narthex were simply mute. They glowed amber, but they said nothing. Once Pastor was done with them, they proclaimed in vibrant color and image. They shouted the glory of the Holy Trinity: Holy Father, Holy Son (the Lamb of God) and Holy Spirit, who is never separated from holy Church. Pr. Gleason worked his elvish magic and woke them to praise.

Or think of what he effected at our dear sister church, Trinity Worden. You remember the bare colored glass window? Now the building itself preaches the life of Christ around the bottom and the life of Christ in His saints around the top in joyous color and image.

Even in my office, when I go to work in the morning, a beautiful stained glass that Pr. Gleason gave me right after I started my podcast. Vivid gold and blue and Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum around the border, with the Bible open to John 1 (where I started my podcast!) in the center. Pastor Gleason preaches to me every time I walk into the room!

And do I need to tell you that this is exactly what he does in his preaching? Through his finely crafted homilies, he has painted our Savior before our eyes. He draws the readings together that through their light we might marvel with him at the glory of Christ, shining before us. Through him, St. Paul’s word came to life for us “before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” Thus he has opened our lips to praise and moved our hearts to join him in his adoration of the Holy Trinity.

The combo of artist and pastor has thus done an elvish job upon us all, aided by Cindy’s doing in song what he has done with the visual arts, amplifying the joy.

And his gentle piety is as beautiful as his sermons. Just ask the home-bound and they will tell you of what a blessing a visit from Pr. Gleason is. Brother, you have been among us an ikon of Christ and for that we join in giving all glory and praise to Him to whom you have so faithfully directed us: Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord, for Pastor Gleason’s elvish touch! Amen.

Gerhard and Walther

Just as the sanctified fruit of God should exist in all our actions, so also it should exist in our praise and exaltation of God. We must remember that we are standing before the throne and praising Him before whose great majesty the holy angels tremble and humble themselves.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:377.

Behold, dear Christian, if you want to know how to divide and use the Gospel and the Law in your heart for salvation, you must ask God for this blessed ability. The Holy Ghost is the only teacher who can teach you correctly.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 680.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Five loaves and fishes two he orders placed

As food before the people thronging round

Their master, by their hunger undeterred,

Who mindful not of food forgot their towns,

Their forts, their markets, hamlets, trading-posts

And cities, glad to feed upon his words.

The festive gathering swarms upon the plain;

By hundreds they recline in friendly bands,

And round the countless boards they range themselves

To dine on two small fish and scanty crusts

He multiplies—know now that he is God!

—Prudentius, Hymn to the Trinity

Catechesis: Justification

When the heart is cheered and quickened through faith in this way, it receives the Holy Spirit. He renews us, so that we are able to keep the Law, to love God and God’s Word, to be submissive to God in afflictions, to be chaste, to love our neighbor, and so on. Even though these works are far from the perfection of the Law, on account of faith they please God.—Ap V:172.

Gerhard and Walther

We are not to look only upon one of the particular benefits that God the Lord has shown us personally, but also upon what our neighbor has received from God and thank God for those benefits and not just those that God has shown us. For since we are obligated to pray for the neighbor, so also we are obligated to thank God when He hears us and helps the neighbor out of his need.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis, III:376

Wo to Christian preachers if they have nothing to preach but the Law! Their hearers will become hungry by it, but not satisfied. They will be startled out of their security, but they will never come to peace.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 678

Patristic Quote of the Day

As he broke up the five loaves and two fishes, and distributed them to his disciples, he opened their minds to understand everything that had been written about him in the law of Moses and in the prophets and the psalms.—The Venerable Bede, Exposition on the Gospel of Mark 2.2

Catechesis: Justification

Nevetheless, scarcely a weak and feeble fulfilling of the law happens even in the saints.—Ap V:169

Gerhard and Walther

Thanksgiving actually is directed toward the blessings that we have received from God the Lord. But still there is such a close relationship between praising God and thanksgiving that nobody can thank the Lord without praising and glorifying His name at the same time. Also, nobody can actually render to God the praise due Him without at the same time thanking Him for His goodness and blessings.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:374. 

The preachers, called by God through the Church, stand in a divine office, not as slaves of men, but as servants of Christ and as ones sent by God the Most High.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 673,4.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Therefore, do not say: “Why was John allowed to die?” For what occurred was not a death, but a crown, not an end, but the beginning of a greater life. Learn to think and live like a Christian. You will not only remain unharmed by these events, but you will reap the greatest benefit.—St. John Chrysostom, On the Providence of God 22:10

Catechesis: Justification

We grant also this, that alms merit many favors from God, lessen punishments, and merit our defense in the dangers of sin and of death, as we have said a little before about the entire repentance.—Ap V:157

Gerhard and Walther

To sum up, He [Jesus] began everything with prayer and concluded everything with thanksgiving in order to teach us that we much more are obligated to thank God the Lord for all His benefits and blessings.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:370.

Sanctification, on the contrary, does not happen suddenly. It occurs gradually, and it continues until the end of our life. Justification is immediately perfect. Each one who is justified instantly receives the full forgiveness of his sins, the complete righteousness of Christ, and a new status as a child of God. Sanctification, which follows justification, begins weakly and grows until death, but it never comes to perfection.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 671.

Patristic Quote of the Day

What was a lesser sin for him became the occasion of a greater sin. By God’s strict judgment it happened to him that, as a result of his craving for the adulteress, whom he knew he ought to refuse, he caused the shedding of the blood of the prophet he knew was pleasing to God.—Venerable Bede, Exposition of Mark 2.23.

Catechesis: Justification

Afterward, even we concede that the punishments by which we are chastised are soothed. This happens by our prayers, by our good works, and finally by our entire repentance, according to 1 Cor. 11:31, “But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.”—Ap V:147

Gerhard and Walther

All saints have exercised themselves in all diligence in proclaiming God’s praise and in thanksgiving.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:366.

A person in whom the process of sanctification has begun regards the pleasures of the world as vanity. Therefore, he no longer conforms himself to the world. The pleasure he receives from God’s Word and edifying fellowship with zealous Christians is more dear to him.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 669.

Patristic Quote of the Day

The request was abominable but she persuaded him, and he gave the order to bridle John’s holy tongue. But even now it continues to speak. For even today in every church, you can hear John still crying aloud through the Gospels and saying, “It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother Philip.” He cut off his head, but he could not cut off the voice. He curbed the tongue, but he did not curb the accusation.—St. John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instructions 10:27.

Catechesis: Justification

To deny that there must be a sure promise of the forgiveness of sins would completely abolish the Gospel.—Ap V:143.

One of those…

… “how come this never registered before?” moments. Was reading in Acts 17 and of course the beautiful verse about the Bereans being more noble than the Thessalonians, and how they received the Word with readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. But what struck me for the first time was the “therefore” at the start of verse 12 “Therefore many of them believed.” They believed because upon hearing the Gospel from the Apostles’ mouth, they checked out the message against the Old Testament Scriptures, and those Scriptures convinced that the Apostles were preaching them the truth! O Lord, give us a Berean heart to ask always: “Where is this written?” And then to believe the promises of Your holy Word! Amen.

Gerhard and Walther

When we take to heart the many great blessings of God, first, one finds cause for giving praise and glory to God. For as many blessings as God the Lord shows to our body and soul, that’s how many matters and reasons for divine praise and inward thanksgiving pass before our eyes.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:361.

Whoever thinks he is unable to accept some small part of Holy Scripture rejects all of it. Whoever does not want to recognize the Old Testament as God’s Word thereby rejects the New Testament, for the latter is grounded in the former.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 664.

Patristic Quote of the Day

A girl dances, a mother rages, there is rash swearing in the midst of the luxurious feast, and an impious fulfillment of what is sworn.—St. Augustine, Harmony of the Gospels 2.33 (on the death of the Baptist)

Catechesis: Justification

For the following is sure, and none of the gates of hell can overthrow it: the preaching of the Law is not enough in preaching of repentance. This is true because the Law works wrath and always accuses. But the preaching of the Gospel should be added so that forgiveness of sins is granted us.—Ap V:139

Gerhard and Walther

So then, we rightly now should also do the will of God in the same manner here upon earth as we sing and proclaim His praise. Just as God the Lord never ceases to do good for us, so also we should never cease to thank Him.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:356.

A person who does know if he has true faith and stands in grace with God is certainly in a miserable state…. Conversely, there is no one more fortunate than the one who knows he stands in grace before God. With joy he can lie down at night, for he knows he is placing himself in the arms of his God, who appoints His angels to watch over him.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 659, 660.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Now, do not make this cold reply: “What does it matter to me? I have nothing in common with him.” With the devil alone we have nothing in common, but with all humanity we have many things in common. All partake of the same nature with us. They inhabit the same earth. They are nourished with the same food. They have the same Lord. They have received the same laws. They are invited to the same blessings with ourselves. Let us not say then that we have nothing in common with them.—St. John Chrysostom, Concerning the Statues 1.32

Catechesis: Justification

But this general judgment, which interprets the whole law, must be retained, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”—Ap V:135

You know…

…it has been much to long since I observed what a wonderful game Liverpool is, and how it just requires the exact amount of ingenuity and calculation to win. Well, modesty forbids me saying more… 

Gerhard and Walther

There is nothing more powerful to lighten the wearisome load of this life’s labors than to praise and extol God. For thereby the heart of man is revived, it is drawn away from earthly things and directed to God—the Highest Good. Whoever steadfastly praises and extols God the Lord lives with his mind in heaven.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:354,5.

What he [the publican] was really saying was that he took refuge, not in God’s goodness and grace, but in His grace of the atonement through the work of the Savior. That is the firm foundation upon which justification rests.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 657.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Jesus came as the son of a carpenter. He was not physically attractive, just as the prophets had predicted of him. He was merely a carpenter, making ploughs and yokes, and instructing us by such symbols of righteousness to avoid an inactive life.—St. Justin Martyr, Dialog with Trypho 7.9

Catechesis: Justification

Furthermore, we have shown already several times what we mean by faith. For do not mean passive knowledge, such as the devils have. Instead, we mean that resists the terrors of conscience and encourages and comforts terrified hearts. Such faith is not an easy matter, as the adversaries dream. Neither is it a human power, but it is a divine power.—Ap V:128, 129.

Gerhard and Walther

That is also why God the Lord requires thanksgiving of us. Namely, not because He, on account of this, Himself becomes more exalted and greater—for He is and at all times remains perfect and blessed on His own, whether we thank Him or not. Instead, so that we, as a result, thereby become prepared to receive from Him ever more and greater gifts.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:354.

The debt of all people’s sin has already been paid by Christ, God has been reconciled to them, the prison of God’s wrath and hell has been opened, the pardon of everyone has been accomplished, and through the Gospel it has been proclaimed and offered to all. What must a person do to receive all of this with joy? Nothing, absolutely nothing, but receive it gratefully.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 655.

Catechesis: Justification

Harmony in the Church cannot last unless pastors and churches mutually overlook and pardon many things.—Ap V:122

Patristic Quote of the Day

This is the cause of all evils, the not knowing the Scriptures. We go into battle without arms, and how ought we to come off safe?—St. John Chrysostom, Homily 9 on Colossians

Congratulations to Mr. Joseph Gerth…

…St. Paul’s new principal. He and Elsa are such a blessing to us!

Gerhard and Walther

What then could be more noble or better than for a poor person upon earth to direct to heaven the same activity along with the holy angels and the elect? That he can, at the same time, step into the chorus of the holy angels and elect and simultaneously lift up his voice to God in praise along with them?…Praise of God is the true attribute and characteristic of a true Christian.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:351,2.

According to our Gospel, justification is not an act a person performs himself, but something done in him by God. It does not begin in a person’s heart, but in the heart of God.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 653.

Catechesis: Justification

If anyone should cast away love, even though he has great faith, he does not keep his faith. For he does not keep the Holy Spirit.—Ap V:98

Justification is not the approval of a particular work, but of the entire person.—Ap V:101

Patristic Quote of the Day

I have entered into these details, to show you the grandeur of the luminaries, and to make you see that, in the inspired words, there is not one idle syllable.—St. Basil the Great, Hexameron 6:11

A Rather Packed Sunday

After assisting at both early and late liturgies, we had Joe and Jenny Herl over for lunch (and a much, much too short time of visiting), sent them back off to the Church picnic to hopefully connect with other friends, and then we headed down to Keysport for a belated family birthday for Evangeline, Sawyer and Lauren. 

Gerhard and Walther

What greater and nobler thing could a person do in this life than to praise God, his Creator?—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:350.

Whoever does not believe the Gospel that was sealed by the old miracles would hardly be convinced by new miracles. Indeed, had God continued to work these gifts and miracles in the Church they would have become contemptible, dismissed as something commonplace and considered to be no longer convincing to most people.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 646.

Catechesis: Justification

We cannot set our works against God’s wrath and justice. Works cannot overcome the terrors of sin. But the terrors of sin are overcome through faith alone. Only Christ the Mediator is to be presented by faith against God’s wrath and judgment.—Ap V:93

Patristic Quote of the Day

Now twenty-four hours fill up the space of one day—we mean of a day and of a night; and if, at the time of the solstices, they have not both an equal length, the time marked by Scripture does not the less circumscribe their duration. It is as though it said: twenty-four hours measure the space of a day—St. Basil the Great, Hexameron, Homily 2, par. 8. 

Gerhard and Walther

We sin every day. That is why it is necessary to pray for the forgiveness of sins every day. We daily receive God’s blessings, indeed hourly and with every blink of the eye. That’s why it is right and proper that we also thank God the Lord for them—indeed hourly and with every blink of the eye.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:345.

All of these miraculous gifts had a purpose: to confirm and seal the new revelation before the world in a divine way… It is not surprising that such miraculous gifts are no longer found in the Church. The New Testament has been divinely sealed.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 646

Catechesis: Justification

In true terror, heaping up works upon works, they eventually despair because they find no work important and precious enough. The Law always accuses and produces wrath.—Ap V:83

Patristic Quote of the Day

I know the laws of allegory, though less by myself than from the works of others. There are those truly, who do not admit the common sense of the Scriptures, for whom water is not water, but some other nature, who see in a plant, in a fish, what their fancy wishes, who change the nature of reptiles and of wild beasts to suit their allegories, like the interpreters of dreams who explain visions in sleep to make them serve their own ends. For me grass is grass; plant, fish, wild beast, domestic animal, I take all in the literal sense.—St. Basil the Great, Homily IX Hexameron

And a very happy birthday to my oldest daughter, Lauren!

Hard to believe the child is actually 34 this year! We are so proud of her (wife of one; mom to six with the seventh on the way; and absolutely unflappable, no matter how life messes with her plans). She’s just a wee bit crazy and we love that about her! So thankful the Lord saw fit to unite her and her hubby, Dean. 

Gerhard and Walther

Every proper prayer has to have its beginning from true repentance… What are the tears that the saints shed when they pray other than an indication of proper inward repentance?—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:337.

Those who are lost are lost solely because they did not want to be rescued. Therefore, whoever knows he has an obstinate heart but still feels a secret longing for God’s grace and deliverance from sins is certainly not yet irretrievably lost. Every good thing in us—even the sinner’s longing for deliverance—is a work of God’s grace.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 641.

Patristic Quote of the Day

When he promised a kingdom to the patriarchs, the seed took root in them; with the prophets it sprang up; with the apostles it grew tall; in the Church it became a great tree putting forth innumerable branches laden with gifts. And now you too must take the wings of the psalmist’s dove, gleaming gold in the rays of divine sunlight, and fly to rest for ever among those sturdy, faithful branches.—St. Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 98.

Catechesis: Justification

But when obedience happens in those who have been justified, it merits other great rewards. God puts His saints to work in various ways.—Ap V:76, 77.

Gerhard and Walther

Whoever does not pray, in him faith will ultimately disappear. Love is lost, hope, humility, and all Christian virtues that have to be sustained with prayer.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:329.

But doesn’t the Bible also clearly say that God had really hardened many people? Yes, but it also emphasizes that God hardens only those who have already hardened themselves by despising grace.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 638.

Patristic Quote of the Day

It is up to us to sow this mustard seed in our minds and let it grow up within us into a great tree of understanding, reaching up to heaven and elevating all our faculties; then it will spread out branches of knowledge, the pungent savor of its fruits will make our mouths burn, its fiery kernel will kindle a blaze within us, inflaming our hearts, and the taste of it will dispel our unenlightened repugnance. Yes, it is true, a mustard seed is indeed an image of the Kingdom of God.—St. Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 98.

Catechesis: Justification

We teach that rewards have been offered and promised for the works of believers. We teach that good works have merit, not for forgiveness of sins, for grace or for justification (for these we receive only through faith), but for other rewards, bodily and spiritual, in this life and after this life. For Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:8 “Each will receive his wages according to his labor.” —Ap V:73.

Gerhard and Walther

Since Christ, God’s Son—who had no need—had everything in His hand (John 3:35), still prayed fervently, should not we also pray, we who need everything and have to obtain everything from the mighty hand of God?—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:326.

We see here a vivid example of a person who is obdurate. Such a person has fallen so far that he no longer knows what makes for his peace. The Word of God is preached to him in vain. It no longer makes an impression upon him. His heart is as indifferent as a stone.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 636.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Then we are righteous when we confess that we are sinners, and that our righteousness stands not in our own merit, but in God’s mercy.—St. Jerome, Against the Pelagians I:13 a.

Catechesis: Justification

Here’s what we ought to understand: People regenerated through faith not only receive the Holy Spirit, and have motives that agree with God’s Law, but we ought also to realize that they are far distant from the Law’s perfection. This point has the greatest importance by far.—Ap V:54

Sawyer’s birthday always reminds me…

…of these videos. I did them for CPH while Lauren was in labor and I was itching to get to the hospital! So even though I was talking Apocrypha, my mind was all on meeting grandchild #1.

https://youtu.be/kby7q2jtylM

https://youtu.be/erdbSYrlSbg

https://youtu.be/erdbSYrlSbg

https://youtu.be/88X8OoV0118

https://youtu.be/tuj0A_8sHds

Today Oldest Grandson…

…Sawyer Dean Herberts, turns 9. He was born upon the same day as my own maternal grandmother, just 124 years apart! Happy birthday, Sawyer! You are such a great big brother and helper to your mom and dad

Gerhard and Walther

All the saints prayed diligently, and, as God’s friends, they eagerly spoke with God the Lord with prayer. Anywhere in the Holy Scriptures where a true believer and saint is mentioned, at the same time, there is an announcement that he prayed to God.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:325.

This (1 Cor. 10:11) should serve as a warning for us, lest we be offended by the falls into sin that still take place in the true Church, as if the Church would be false because of sin. It remains the true Church when God’s pure Word is preached there and the Sacraments are administered according to His institution.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 629.

Patristic Quote of the Day

He speaks in parables that he may also make his discourse more vivid, and fix the memory of it in them more perfectly, and bring the things before their sight, as did the prophets also.—St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on St. Matthew, 44.

Catechesis: Justification

The flesh distrusts God, trusts in present things, seeks human aid in trouble, even contrary to God’s will. It flees from suffering, which it ought to bear because of God’s commands. It doubts God’s mercy and so on. The Holy Spirit in our hearts fights against such tendencies in order to suppress and kill them and to produce new spiritual motives. —Ap V:49

Gerhard and Walther

The faith by which we receive and seize the salvation in Christ produces prayer, so that we longingly sigh for the promised inheritance of eternal life. So then whoever in true faith prays for this shall also obtain it.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:325. 

That is why we should never be offended by the fact that the Bible presents even the holiest of people as sinners. We must recognize God’s wisdom in portraying them in this way. By revealing the sins that have flourished among people from the beginning of the world, God shows us that human righteousness and worthiness are nothing but an empty dream, that every person is a sinner, that even the most godly cannot stand before the heavenly Father in their own righteousness, that free grace is man’s only refuge, and that there is no salvation and no blessedness outside of Christ.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 626,7.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Let us observe, dear friends, how something like resurrection is so often anticipated in the course of nature…. The sower goes forth and casts into the earth each of the seeds. They fall into the dry and bare ground and decay. Then out of their decay the majesty of God’s providence raises them up, and from being one seed, many grow up and bring forth fruit.—St. Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 2

Catechesis: Justification

It can now be seen much more clearly that starting to fulfill the Law does not justify, because such fulfillment is only accepted on account of faith. Nor must we trust that we are accounted righteous before God by our own perfection and fulfilling of the law, but rather for Christ’s sake… If the regenerate afterward think that they will be accepted because of the fulfilling of the Law, when would a conscience be certain that it pleased God? We never satisfy the Law! So we must always run back to the promise.—Ap V:40, 43, 44.

Gerhard and Walther

Prayer is a golden ladder on which we are able to climb up to heaven, and can begin to walk and in a spiritual manner, live in heaven. If we lift up our hearts to God with prayer and walk about Him daily and converse with Him, we will thereby indeed be more and more drawn away from the earthly. We will ever more learn the practices and speech of heaven.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:321.

Complete equality would hardly change earth into heaven; rather, it would make the earth a hell. God thus wrote the commandment: “You shall not steal” into the hearts of all people, publicly and solemnly calling it down from fiery Sinai through His elect servant and messenger, Moses.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 623 [Note, this entire selection is remarkably apropos to our current day and the thinking that inequality in wealth is the source of all miseries!]

Patristic Quote of the Day

It would be through a man that humanity would be set free to return to the Lord, leaving the adversary in those bonds by which he himself had been fettered, that is, sin. For when Satan is bound, man is set free.—St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.21.3

Catechesis: Justification

Faith alone looks upon the promise. It knows that because of the promise, it is absolutely that God forgives, because Christ has not died in vain. Such faith overcomes the terrors of sin and death. If anyoone doubts whether sins are forgiven him, he dishonors Christ. For he judges that his sin is greater or more effective than Christ’s death and promise.—Ap V:27, 28.

Gerhard and Walther

Whatever good and salutary thing a person is able to think about or express comes to us through prayer.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:316.

Thus you can rejoice if God has given you a good understanding, but do not seek personal glory in this. Instead, you must be content on earth with your steward’s wages, with nourishment and clothing. Turn your gift to God’s glory and the good of your neighbor, and in heaven you will find a rich eternal harvest from your brief sowing.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 620.

Patristic Quote of the Day

In this way humanity was rescued from the clutches of its possessor by the tender mercy of God the Father, who had compassion on his own handiwork, and gave to it salvation, restoring it by means of the Word, Christ, in order that humanity might learn from this actual event that they receive incorruptibility not of themselves, but by the free gift of God.—St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.21.3.

Catechesis: Justification

We profess that the work of the Lw must be begun in us and that it must be kept continually more and more. At the same time we also speak about both spiritual movements and outward good works. Therefore, the adversaries falsely charge that our theologians do not teach good works.—Ap V:15

O MY

As in, scrumptious! Dinner tonight? Cindi made “appetizers” of some left-over sockeye salmon, for which she stirred up an Alfredo sauce to top. Then she fried up some skirt steak (yum! Thank you, Matt! We learned to love skirt steak down in Mexico) AND somehow managed to grill three chuck-eyes the same time, nice and thick and RED, but seared crunchy on the outside. And that Alfredo sauce just might have made its way onto the steaks also. Oh, and I think I forgot the pork belly that was also part of the appetizer. Sigh. All this self-denial on this “restricted” diet is soooo hard. (Snicker, snicker). 

Gerhard and Walther

Prayer is our spiritual armor with which we not only guard ourselves and are able to protect ourselves against the enemies’ might (Eph. 6:18), but also with it we can battle and fight against the enemy (Rom. 15:30).—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis, III:314.

From the moment mankind fell, the reason for man’s destruction has been that he wants to be his own lord. Every person, by nature, thinks or lives as if he were convinced he is an absolute lord over everything that belongs to him.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 617.

Patristic Quote of the Day

James and John his brother he calls “sons of thunder.” Why? To show that he was the same One who, in giving the old covenant, altered names, who called Abram “Abraham” and Sarai “Sarah” and Jacob “Israel.”—St. John Chrysostom, Homily 19 on St. John

Catechesis: Justification

Nor, indeed, is this [saving] faith an idle knowledge, neither can it coexist with mortal sin. It is a work of the Holy Spirit, by which we are freed from death and terrified minds are encouraged and brought to life.—Ap IV:115

Home, Sweet Home

My mom was such a home-body. She honestly was happiest at home, and I very much inherited THAT trait. Being a near recluse comes as easily to me as it did to her. But in her home, she always surrounded herself with her humble little treasures. I kept many of them, things that are worth next to nothing to anyone else, I suppose, but that carry precious memories to me of her and of her stories. The longer we have lived in this house, the more we have worked to make it truly our own, and worked on bringing OUT our little treasures (memory joggers). This summer we added the artwork over the mantel, the drapes, the carpet (and a matching runner in the entry). The treasure is not visible in this picture: a lap robe from my dad’s parents (for buggy or sleigh), draped over the banister. As I look around at the little familiar bits, I have a fantasy. It may be silly, but I continually imagine to myself what it would be like to welcome mom and daddy for a visit. Sigh. For now it has to remain a pleasant fancy, but I look forward to the day we’ll be together in that home of which every earthly home is but a teasing taste.