Congregation at Prayer

Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Table of Duties Concerning Wives and Husbands—The passages of Holy Scripture in the Table of Duties concern the offices we have been given as Christians where our faith in Christ is lived out in this world. There is often great confusion about these two holy offices. Husbands are the head of their wives, but their headship is one of sacrificial love, teaching the Word of God, and forgiving sin. They are to be considerate of their wives, who are placed in an office that requires them to submit to their husbands. Husbands are not to lord their authority over their wives. This is always a temptation for any Christian husband. Wives are to understand that their office of submission is patterned after Christ’s bride the Church. They are to expect their husbands to love them, teach them, and forgive them. Their beauty is not in outward adornment, but in the reception of their husband’s love. “This is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands…” It is a beautiful and blessed thing when husbands love their wives as Christ loved the Church and when wives receive that love and trust in it.CP250427

Catechesis Notes for the Week — “If in this life only we have hope in Christ…” (1 Cor. 15:19). “If believing in Christ does not result in the resurrection of our bodies from the dead and eternal life with God that is free of all sickness, sin, and corruption, then what is the point of the Christian faith? This is Paul’s assertion. ‘If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.’ But Paul, unlike so many modern theologians and even the Jewish Sadducees of his day, actually believed in the historical Jesus who is the Christ, the Son of God, who actually suffered and died for the salvation of the world and who also actually rose bodily from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. The Scriptures teach that the crucifixion and death of God’s Son upon the cross took away all sin and the curse of the creation. The Christian faith rests upon the fundamental assertion: ‘Christ is risen from the dead!’… His death reconciles us to God. His death swallowed up death because it took away the problem of sin.…” Lutheran Catechesis, p. 118b

CP250420

Catechesis Notes for the Week — This week’s section of the Table of Duties directs us to what God’s Word says concerning the Office of Husband. When the Apostle Peter directs, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers,” he is reminding husbands that their wives have been given an office by God that places them in a subordinate position to them. It would be very easy for the husband, corrupted by the sinful flesh as he is, to take advantage of his headship and the wife’s position of subordination to him. He is to “be considerate” of the position that God gave her and be husband to her in selfless love. Although they are not in the same office, they are, nevertheless, equal “heirs of the gracious gift of life” in Christ Jesus. If he does not believe that, then his prayers, which include the ministration of his office as a husband will be “hindered.” The essential disposition of the husband to the wife is contained in the passage from Colossians: “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Here the husband’s office is depicted as the office of Christ to His bride the Church, as it is also in Ephesians 5. Christ loves His bride by laying down His life for her and covering her sins with His blood. He is never harsh with her who is “bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh but nourishes and cares for her as His own body.” The office of husband finds its identity in Christ, the Church’s Bridegroom.   

CP250413

Catechesis Notes for the Week — Responsible Citizenship—Lord, keep this nation under Your care. Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth. Grant that we may choose trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve You faithfully in our generation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen. (LSB #225)CP250406