Tuesday, March 26, 2013

“We Eat a Holy Supper-The Sacrament of the Altar” Matt. 26.26–28 Lenten Midweek Series 6 ,‘13




1.            Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word today comes to us from Matthew 26:26-28 and is entitled, “We Eat a Holy Supper-The Sacrament of the Altar,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ. 
2.            The sun danced through the window and fell on her shoulders. It gave a sparkle to Ruth’s hair that matched her personality. But, today, she’d come with a serious concern to discuss.  Ruth’s first husband had died. Some years later, she’d married a member of a Lutheran congregation and attended adult instruction to learn about the Lutheran Church, but this faithful woman, an eager Bible student, had not been able to bring herself to join. Her grandfather had been a pastor in another denomination. As a small girl, Ruth had been close to her grandfather. Loyal to his memory, she couldn’t leave his denomination.  But, she’d grown to love the Lutheran Church and its teachings. In her heart she knew it was time to join the congregation where she’d been worshiping for more than a few years. The sun gave a glow to her face as she asked again about the differences between the Lutheran church and her grandfather’s denomination. The conversation turned to the Sacraments and to the Lord’s Supper in particular.  The Lutheran pastor explained that Jesus said, “This is my body. This is my blood,” and that Lutherans believe he meant what he said. We believe that his body and blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine.  Ruth looked at the pastor and exclaimed, “This is what I’ve always believed!”
3.            Ruth simply believed the Word of God that she had read in the Bible. Like Luther, she knew that the Sacrament of the Altar “is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.”  Unfortunately, there are many who hear Jesus’ words and refuse to believe them. Their human reason asks, “How can bread and wine be Christ’s body and blood?” (LC V 12). Ruth and Luther knew what these people cannot bring themselves to believe. The bread and wine in the Sacrament aren’t mere bread and wine, such as are served at our dinner table, “but this is bread and wine included in, and connected with, God’s Word” (LC V 9). With Luther, Ruth understood that all human reason is “not as wise as is the Divine Majesty in His little finger” (LC V 12). Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood.” And we know that he can never lie or deceive (Titus 1:2).  In the Large Catechism, Luther says, “Everyone who desires to be a Christian and go to this Sacrament should know” these three points: “What is it? What are its benefits? and Who is to receive it?” (LC V 1, 2).
4.            Understanding and believing Jesus’ words enables us to answer the second question concerning the benefits of the Sacrament. When Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood,” he also says, “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:26–28).  Luther explains it this way: “For this reason we go to the Sacrament: there we receive such a treasure by and in which we gain forgiveness of sins. . . . Christ asks me to eat and drink, so that this treasure may be my own and may benefit me” (LC V 22).  Because there’s forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament, it can be called food for the soul. In it we receive nourishment to refresh and strengthen our faith.
5.            I’m sure your Christian life is a struggle.  I know that mine can be too! The Bible tells us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8). He uses every trick he can think of to pull you away from the Savior. When the road is long and the way is difficult, Jesus gives you his Holy Supper to strengthen you for the struggle, to give you courage in the face of discouragement, and to support you for battle.  Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil by the sacrifice of his body and blood on the cross. His work is done. Forgiveness of sins is secured. He gives you this treasure through his Word. You receive it by faith. He makes it personal by connecting his forgiving Word to the bread and the wine, his body and blood, that you eat and you drink. This is the benefit of the Sacrament.
6.            With Luther, we then ask, “Who is the person that receives this treasure and benefit in the Sacrament?” Does this question sound silly? It does to many people who believe there’s no benefit in the Sacrament, only an opportunity to think about Jesus. It means that not everyone who comes to the Supper receives a benefit.  And, in fact, this is the case. In the Large Catechism we’re reminded, “Whoever now accepts these words and believes that what they declare is true has forgiveness. But whoever does not believe it has nothing” (LC V 35).  Some may come to the Holy Supper but refuse to see what God has offered there. Jesus has placed a treasure on the Table, but some ignore it and walk away without any benefit from the Supper at all. In fact, St. Paul tells us that anyone coming to the Holy Supper without faith “eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Cor 11:29).  This is why Lutherans practice close communion to prevent their neighbor from bringing judgment on themselves.
7.              On the other hand, whoever believes the words has what they declare. Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Here Jesus offers and promises forgiveness of sins. It is received by faith. The benefits and blessings of Baptism can’t be seized with a fist, but this treasure is received and made yours with the heart (LC V 36).
8.            Many years ago, a Lutheran pastor spoke this way about the Sacrament of the Altar. He explained that at the beginning of each service he would pronounce the forgiveness of sins and from the pulpit he would proclaim Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for the salvation of souls. But, at times people may feel that their sins are so great or that their faith is so weak that this forgiveness must be only for the other people around them. Like those people, you, too, may believe that the salvation won by Jesus on the cross is for everyone else, but the pastor really never meant it for you.  But, when you come to the Sacrament and kneel before the altar, when you take and eat the true body of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ given for you for the forgiveness of sins, and when you take and drink the true blood of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, then there can be no doubt that this treasure is yours. It is meant for you. At that very moment there is no uncertainty that you are the one eating and drinking and that the blessings and benefits of the Holy Supper are meant directly and absolutely for you.  Jesus Intends You to Have the Riches of the Treasure: Forgiveness of Sins, Life, and Salvation.
9.            So what have we learned?  What is the Sacrament? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.  What are its benefits? These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.  Who is to receive it? Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
10.        We’ve come to the conclusion of our midweek Lenten journey through Luther’s Catechisms. I pray that this Lenten walk with Luther has helped to strengthen your faith. We rejoice with the authors of the Formula of Concord that Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms are “ ‘the layman’s Bible’ because everything necessary for a Christian to know for salvation is included in them, which is handled more extensively in the Holy Scriptures” (FC Ep Summary 5). We’ve learned that the message of God’s Word as contained in the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine are meant personally for each of us. Each of us has fallen short of God’s Law, but God in his mercy has sent Jesus to be the Savior. He came into our sinful world to bear our sins on the cross and arise triumphant from the grave. Through his Word and Sacraments, he gives each of us the treasures won on the cross: forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  Join us next week for Holy Week as we allow Martin Luther again to be our guide in discovering the treasure of Christ’s Passion and triumph over the grave.  Amen.


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