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Sundays:  Pastor's Class 9:00 AM (Ephesians)
               Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM

Wednesdays: Pastor's Class 10:00 AM (Psalm 119 deep dive)
                    Divine Liturgy 7:00 PM

Holy Week:

    • Maundy Thursday Divine Liturgy 7:00 PM

 

    • Good Friday Tenebrae 8:00 PM

 

    • Holy Saturday Easter Vigil 8:00 PM

 

    • Easter Sunrise 8:00 AM

 

  • Easter Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM

 

 

                

 

True Man

"But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins he said to the paralytic, 'Rise, take up your bed and go home.' And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:6-8

The church has defended the Lord's divinity so hard, for so long, that she may not always fully consider his humanity. But the church confesses both: that Jesus is "true God begotten of the Father from eternity," and also "True Man born of the Virgin Mary." (Small Catechism, 2nd Chief Part)

It is this latter part, True Man, that we need to bring back into focus.

Adam was True Man until he sinned, whereby he lost the Holy Spirit. Before sin, in that short but golden time, Adam also had authority on earth. He was God's deputy whose assignment it was to manage the planet with all of its creatures, and he did it. (Genesis 2:19) He was able to do it because it is the characteristic of Man, who is "like God," (Genesis 1:2) to share in the power of God. But sin changed the game.

Without the Holy Spirit Adam lost his power as surely as Samson did when he lost his hair. (Judges 16:17) This is why the early church fathers understood baptism as the return of the Spirit to man, making him fully human again. We receive many gifts in baptism, but the premier endowment is the Holy Spirit.

This is why St. Paul admonishes God's people, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30) And why the church will never stop singing, "Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:11)

Now enter Jesus who is the Christ. The chrismated / anointed one, who is christmated / anointed with the Holy Spirit. He is The Man on whom the Holy Spirit "descends and remains." The Man who baptizes men with the Holy Spirit. This is how John knew who Jesus was at the Jordan. "

And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven and it remained on him (Jesus). I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32-33) 

We teach catechism students that the Lord's miracles were proof of his divinity. But they are equally the proof of his humanity. And we, who receive the Holy Spirit in our own baptism are also, therein, made True Man. Fully human. Men in perfect harmony with God, in Christ.

If it were not so when the pastor says, "I forgive you all your sins," the devil would laugh. But as it is: God has given such authority to men. If the Lord were to visibly appear before the Eucharistic Assembly on a Sunday morning and say these words it would be less amazing!

And so let us, too, glorify God who has given such authority to men, and let us believe the absolution with all our hearts.

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