Christ
Jesus Breathes His Spirit and His Life into Us by the
Ministry of the Gospel
Ministry of the Gospel
The crucified and risen
Lord Jesus establishes the Ministry of the Gospel, in order to bestow His
life-giving Holy Spirit and His peace upon the Church. To those who are called
and ordained to this Office, and to those whom they serve in His name, He
grants the Holy Absolution of all sins. By the fruits of His Cross He replaces
fear and doubt with peace and joy, and thus gives “repentance to Israel and
forgiveness of sins” (Acts
5:31 ). Through the preaching of His sent ones He calls us to
believe that He “is the Christ, the Son of God,” so that by such faith
we “may have life in His name” (John 20:31 ). In His resurrection we have the “living
hope” to which we have been “born again” and by which we are guarded
“for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:3 , 5 ). Until then, “though you
have not seen Him, you love Him,” and by the mercies of God “you believe
in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Pet. 1:8 ).
Monday, 10 April 2023—Psalm
105:1–5 , 8 ; Antiphon, 1 Peter 2:2–3 —The second Sunday of Easter is
sometimes called Quasimodogeniti, Latin
for the first words of the Introit, ‘Like
newborn infants.’ Just as a baby eagerly suckles at its mother’s breast, so
we, who have been given new life in Christ by His death and resurrection, also
do eagerly desire the pure spiritual milk provided by our Lord for our
nourishment and good growth. This He gives us through the preaching of His Word
and the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
Tuesday, 11 April 2023—Psalm
148 —In Sunday’s psalm, the psalmist calls upon all of
creation—those on the earth, those under the sea, and those in the heavens—to
join in a chorus of praise to the Lord.
Animate and inanimate, all of creation proclaims the glory of the Lord!
Wednesday, 12 April 2023—Acts 5:29–42 —The first readings for the Sundays
after Easter are all taken from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Written
by St Luke as a continuation of his Gospel, it is an account of the early
Church, a snapshot. Like the Book of Acts itself, the readings will show how
the Gospel was first preached in Jerusalem, and then, in ever-widening circles,
throughout the world and down through history unto our day. The reading for
next week has Peter and the other apostles being brought before the Jewish high
council and questioned by the high priest for proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.
Though they were beaten and charged not to speak in the name of Jesus,
they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for His name,
and did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Thursday, 13 April 2023—1
Peter 1:3–9 —St Peter’s first epistle is a note of
encouragement to Christians being persecuted for the faith. He reminds them of
the inheritance they have in Christ Jesus due to His resurrection from the
dead.
We who are in Christ will share
in His resurrection and the blessings of everlasting life with God in heaven.
Having our eyes fixed on this eternal reward gives us strength to bear with the
burdens of this life, even persecution.
Friday, 14 April 2023—John 20:19–31 —There are two appearances by the
risen Christ in Sunday’s Gospel, each bringing us a great deal of comfort. In
the first, Jesus establishes the Office of the Holy Ministry, and assures us
that, in the words of the catechism, ‘when the called ministers of Christ deal
with us by His divine command, in particular when they . . .
absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as
valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ, our dear Lord, dealt with us
Himself.’ In the second appearance, our Lord appears to Thomas. Thomas wanted
the certainty of seeing his risen Lord in the flesh, as the others had. When he
beholds the wounds in the One who was crucified on our behalf, his faith is
sure, and he confesses, ‘My Lord and My God!’ Thomas’s assurance is ours also.
We need never doubt that our Lord is truly risen from the dead, ‘the first-fruits
of those who have fallen asleep.’ (1 Corinthians 15:20)
Collects for the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord: Almighty God, through Your
only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate
of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in
righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
O God, for our redemption You gave Your only-begotten Son to
the death of the cross and by His glorious resurrection delivered us from the
power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily
repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in righteousness
and purity forever;
O God, in the paschal feast You restore all creation.
Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people that they may walk in
perfect freedom and receive eternal life;.
Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus
Christ, You destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Grant
that we who have been raised with Him may abide in His presence and rejoice in
the hope of eternal;
Collect for Easter 2—Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s
resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus
is Lord and God;
Lectionary summary on front page
from the LCMS Commission on Worship
Prayers from Lutheran
Service Book © 2006Concordia Publishing House
The Risen Christ copyright © Ed
Riojas Higher Things
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