THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY – THURSDAY

LESSON: HEBREWS 9:11-14

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Concentrate on the great treasure in the Sacrament, the forgiveness of sins, and have nothing to do with the tomfoolery of the schools of theology and their preoccupation with all kinds of curious questions in efforts to explain how Christ’s body is in the Sacrament and how He hides Himself under such a restricted form.

You must prepare yourself so that the words of the Sacrament really have their intended effect upon you. This takes place when you feel the bite of sin and your conscience troubles you with temptation from your flesh, the world, and the devil. You may be subject to bouts of anger and impatience; covetousness and the cares of this life may assail you. Offenses continually cross your path and at times you even fall in a rather gross manner, doing harm to the welfare of your soul.

You also experience how you are nothing more than a poor, wretched, human being whom death terrifies; you become despondent and all joy disappears. On such occasions it is high time for you to come before God with an open confession of your needs saying, “Dear Lord, you have instituted the Sacrament of your body and blood and left it to us as testament in which we may find the forgiveness of sins. I know full well that I need this Sacrament. I have fallen into sin, and I have my fears; there are even times when hopes are rather dim. I am not at all bold in the confession of your Word, and there are always so many besetting weaknesses. So I now approach your throne of grace in the Sacrament looking for healing, consolation, and strengthening.”

SL.XI.594,20
AE 76,443

PRAYER: You have given us many invitations to come to you in all our needs, dear heavenly Father. Strengthen us especially when we turn to you in repentance, and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of the body and blood of your Son our Savior. Amen.