The God Pause for Friday, 2 May 2017 - The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - John 20:19-23
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Faith is a gift; it's hardly something we do. Apart from Christ we can do nothing. The disciples without the Spirit would have been stuck behind closed doors forever. They never would have ventured out. But then the Paraclete, the one called alongside, the Holy Spirit came; Jesus breathed into them--and us!
On Pentecost many congregations celebrate Confirmation. This rite of remembrance of our baptism reminds us that we can't even believe on our own. Faith is God's work, not ours. It's kind of a miracle. Remember what Martin Luther writes in his explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed: "I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith." We believe that we cannot believe on our own, but the Holy Spirit has called us. This is most certainly true.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. My Lord and my God. Amen.
Wolfgang W. Laudert, '11
Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Staten Island, N.Y.
John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." [Complete Jewish Bible]
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Faith is a gift; it's hardly something we do. Apart from Christ we can do nothing. The disciples without the Spirit would have been stuck behind closed doors forever. They never would have ventured out. But then the Paraclete, the one called alongside, the Holy Spirit came; Jesus breathed into them--and us!
On Pentecost many congregations celebrate Confirmation. This rite of remembrance of our baptism reminds us that we can't even believe on our own. Faith is God's work, not ours. It's kind of a miracle. Remember what Martin Luther writes in his explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed: "I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith." We believe that we cannot believe on our own, but the Holy Spirit has called us. This is most certainly true.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. My Lord and my God. Amen.
Wolfgang W. Laudert, '11
Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Staten Island, N.Y.
John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." [Complete Jewish Bible]
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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