What is the Sacrament of the Altar? 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 is the benefit of such eating and drinking? The words "given for you" and "shed for you for the forgiveness of sin" show us that forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation are given to us in the sacrament through these words, because where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation. (Martin Luther’s Small Catechism)

This week both the Confirmation class and our First Communion class gathered to learn about Holy Communion. I have to say, while I probably shouldn’t have favorites, teaching the First Communion classes with young school age children and their families is one of my favorite teaching experiences all year.

As I was planning for the Confirmation classes on the Lord’s Supper, I noticed an unfortunate heading in one of the resources we use for teaching. There are several suggested activities for each session and some of them have the word "optional" after them. Usually, it makes perfect sense. This time, however, an editor missed that one of the headings reads:

Forgiveness (Optional):
Sometimes forgiveness may feel like an option, a deliberate choice that we make to forgive or to withhold forgiveness from someone else. But, seeing forgiveness as an option removes relationship from the picture entirely. When we really know our sister or spouse or child or neighbor or coworker, when we really grow to love that person, when time passes and anger cools, sometimes we find our hearts having learned to forgive in spite of our best attempts to hold onto anger.

Where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation. Help us to trust in your promise of forgiveness. Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Becky
Monday April 22, 2013
Liturgical Year C: Week 21
Liturgical Color: White
Sunday Gospel reading:
Fourth Sunday of Easter