As the bride of Christ celebrates her Lord’s victory over sin, Satan and death, she is made aware that the gifts are passed from Christ to His Apostles and Pastor’s to distribute to His people. The Gospel readings following the Feast of the resurrection indicate this activity.
From the Sending of the Apostles, (John 20:19 ff) through Good Shepherd Sunday, the Lord reminds His bride of His care for her through those He sends to her to give her His gifts.
The Grade School Christian Doctrine Class is currently learning how the Pastor relates to the people of God. What follows is an adaptation from their lesson on the Lord’s Supper that deals with the ill, and homebound.
“When a Christian becomes ill, is hospitalized or homebound, he or a member of the family should notify the pastor immediately. The pastor will offer prayers on behalf of the sick and bring the ministry of the Word and sacraments into the home or hospital. Christians should expect their pastor to visit them. When he visits he will read and expound the Scriptures to them, offer them private absolution and Holy Communion, and pray with them. He will also lead prayers on their behalf in the Divine Service and admonish the congregation to pray for them as well. When Holy Communion is brought to a Christian in the hospital or home, they are to think of this as an extension of the Divine Service. Since they cannot come to the Divine Service, the Divine Service is brought to them for their help and comfort. The congregation should be taught that they stand with their sick and homebound brothers and sisters as the ministry of Christ is brought to them. Bringing the Lord’s body and blood to the sick and dying is an expression of the Holy Communion: “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually: (1 Corinthians 12:26-27). This reality is further refl ected in the Prayer of the Church and in the daily prayers of the faithful in which the needs of the whole congregation are laid before the Lord in prayer”.
The Pastor is called by Christ through the congregation to preach the gospel, to catechize the people of God by teaching the Catechism, to baptize and forgive sins to the penitent sinner, and withhold forgiveness from the impenitent sinner. He is sent by Christ to administer the Holy Supper to God’s people in the Divine Service, or at home or in the hospital for the sick and the disabled. He ought to pray for them, their families, the congregation, and for the needs of the world.
It is for this reason that Christ Himself through the Apostle Paul refers to Pastors as among the gifts Christ gives to His Church: (Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be
apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors/teachers, (NKJ). Such are called Gifts not because of the person, but because they are themselves bearers and
disbursers of His gifts.
In His most precious name,
Pastor Froh
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Contact Pastor Froh with
questions or comments at pastor@glcssm.org
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