Hide Not Your Face from Me

This past Sunday was Exaudi, the Sunday within the Octave (eight day celebration) of Ascension. So, having just celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord last Thursday, what does it mean for us today that Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father? Is He no longer with us? Are we left to fend for ourselves until He appears in glory on the Last Day? That can’t be the case, since He promised His disciples and the Church His ongoing presence. God always keeps His promises; so we know that, even thought we can’t see Christ with our physical eyes, that He continues to be with us. Then how is He with us? How do we know that God continues to look upon us with His mercy and grace in Christ? What assurance do we have? The truth is that God has given us very particular means through which He gives us that assurance and confidence. Listen to the sermon from Father Leigeber to hear more.

A Little While and You Will See Me

This past Sunday was Jubilate Sunday–the Third Sunday after Easter. We heard in the Gospel lesson these words of our Lord: “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father” (John 16:16). Jesus spoke this to the disciples in the upper room right before His arrest and crucifixion, and, in the context, these words refer to His death and burial (you will not see me) and His resurrection (you will see me). However, they also have something to say to us about the current time, when we don’t see Christ, and what we have to look forward to. Listen to the sermon for more.

Homily for Palm Sunday

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!” (Luke 19:38). Jesus enters into Jerusalem precisely in order to suffer and die on the cross for us and for the sake of acquiring our salvation and life. He came not in order to be served but to serve, in order that through His sacrifice we might live forever as God’s born-again children. Still today, He comes not to be served but to serve, and to give us of Himself through the precious Means of Grace. Christ comes each week in the Divine Service to forgive us anew and strengthen us in the new life He’s given.