Gottesblog

This last week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block the “Texas Heartbeat” law, which bans the murder of unborn children after they are six weeks old in the womb.

Today marks the 77th anniversary of D-Day, the largest amphibious assault in history. The invasion of U.S., British, and Canadian Allied forces, led by the U.S. Army, aimed to break open the World War II Western Front by land and airborne operations. The cost? Over 4,000 Allied soldiers dead, plus 6,000 casualties. German losses were heavy, with up to 9,000 casualties.

We rightly stand in awe of the incredible bravery and personal sacrifices demonstrated on the Normandy beaches in Operation Overlord. But we must be careful with our inspired emotions, lest modern sensitivities turn them into terminal grief over the staggeringly bloody battlefield.

A review of the distinctive powers and purposes of church and state is essential as the pandemic of wokeness accelerates.

In the Western Church, the historic Gospel for Easter, the Resurrection of our Lord, is Mark 16:1-8. The Gospel reading includes the angel announcing that Christ is risen from the dead, but ends with the women fleeing the tomb in fear. How can this be? What does this mean? Is fear the end of the Gospel?

How does the historic liturgy which presents the very Son of God in Word and Sacrament leave room for the breadth, beauty, and emotion of Lutheran hymnody? For example, with the Son of God being truly present in His own Body and Blood at the Table for His saints, how is it possible for those present to be able to do anything other than kneel in His presence, receive His gracious gifts, and again kneel to pour out their hearts, thank, praise, and adore Him?

St. Luke 8:4-15, the Gospel for tomorrow (Sexagesima Sunday), depicts a sower scattering seed. Jesus notes that some cannot understand or accept the word He is sowing. St. Chrysostom offers an interesting perspective on the surprising good that can follow from the righteous living alongside the wicked:

Today the Christian Church celebrates the riches of God’s glorious grace manifested for us sinners in the Epiphany of our Lord. Wise men from the East led by a star and the Word fall down before the Christ Child to worship Him, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

December 6 is the day of St. Nicholas of Myra, that saint of great charity who, at the 325 A.D. Council of Nicaea, slapped the heretic Arius for preaching the unreal to steal from the children right faith, hope, and love in Christ.

In 1977, while on a European academic exchange program, I found myself in line to view the preserved body of Vladimir Lenin, brought out from his mausoleum in his glass coffin and on special, open display in Red Square.