St. Paul said to the churches in Corinth, "For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." There are many days that drain me as a pastor. Days in which I see tears shed that cannot be dried up, stomachs that cannot stop hurting, and hearts that once broken can't be glued back together. I see pain, sorrow, lament, and just overall sadness that overcomes even the staunchest of believers. There are days when words won't come out of my mouth because the suffering of the sheep crushes my heart and spirit. There are days when all I want to do is hold those whom I love and tell them, "I'm so, so, sorry for what you're going through. I wish I could fix this and take away the pain with a word, with a special formula, with a magic wand even." As St. Paul says, "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).  There are days when bearing the burden literally feels like a burden, not just a fun saying about how we are all suffering together. There are days when I know my weakness, my sin, my failures, my mortality, and my doubt, and the reality that in myself I have nothing that can overcome the sorrow that we suffer in this valley of the shadow of death. I must despair of myself, any merit or worthiness I have, and trust in the Lord and in His steadfast love and faithfulness.

For that is what carries us through this life, not our strength and staunch belief, but rather it is the Lord's Faithfulness that brings us in assurance of our eternal life from womb to tomb. Praise be to Jesus for this. Praise the Father that His Son's death was not in vain, but was for mine and the world's salvation. Praise the Lord that because Jesus is risen, our preaching of the forgiveness of sins purchased for us on the cross is not in vain, but is the absolute and final word for our salvation. Praise the Lord that because Jesus is risen, all who die in Christ shall rise as well. As St. Paul wrote, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his" (Romans 6:1-5).  In Holy Baptism we die with Christ, and because we died with Christ we shall also rise with Jesus. We are untied to Jesus and where He goes, we shall go as well. He has ascended to the right hand of the Father, and He promises eternal life with Him, His Father, and the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord, that even though my faithfulness wavers like a stormy ocean, Jesus faithfulness is a peaceful river that never changes and assures me and all believers of our eternal life. Thank the Lord for the resurrection of Jesus the Christ, for it comforts us in the assurance that all of Jesus' Work is for our benefit, our eternal life, and that is the only thing that can comfort us in our sorrow and doubt. This is our comfort and our assurance, that Jesus is faithful to His Word to save us, to forgive us, to usher us from this mortal life through the portal to life immortal. May this truth carry us through every chaotic day and be our joy constantly.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I go to prepare a place for you, and your room is awaiting you in heaven," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull