Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Church’s Ministry (Summer Stories from the Gospel of St. Luke) — The Augsburg Confession, Article V on the ministry, states that to obtain faith in Christ, He instituted the preaching office to give the Gospel and Sacraments through which the Holy Spirit works faith in the hearts of sinners. The Third Article explanation in the Small Catechism also highlights the ministry by confessing, “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts…in the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”  This week’s readings from the Gospel of Luke highlight aspects of the Chruch’s ministry of Word and Sacrament. The Faithful Servant is that minister of the Gospel who, standing upon the confession of faith in Christ, faithfully preaches the Gospel and administers the Sacraments of Christ according to Jesus’ institution and for the saving benefit of sinners.  Christ Brings Division and Suffering describes how the faithful preaching of the Gospel and confession of faith in Christ will also be accompanied by opposition and hatred directed against the Church and everyone who confesses the name of Jesus.  But this suffering is a sign that we belong to Christ and carries with it the promise of eternal life with Him.  The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree is an illustration of how the Lord is patient and long-suffering, desiring all to repent and believe the Gospel.  A Woman Is Healed on the Sabbath teaches us that Jesus is the source of true Sabbath rest and that all who cling to the confession of faith in Jesus are the true sons of Abraham. The Mustard Seed teaches us that “Christ, planted in this world by the preaching of the Gospel, looks to be the most insignificant word in all the earth, yet He produces a mighty congregation of believers among whom the Holy Spirit dwells to give the shelter of His forgiveness and salvation to all who enter her.”  The Leaven teaches us that “the Gospel spreads throughout the world and produces faith.”CP220710