The Shepherd’s Voice – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tomah, WI

Lent 1 (Invocabit) | Genesis 3:1-21 & Matthew 4:1-11 | Bring the Battles of Life to the Cross

Lent 1 (Invocabit)
February 25, 2026
Matthew 4:1-11
 
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
 
I want to begin today by highlighting some of the first battles throughout American history. 
 
So, to begin, the first battle of the Revolutionary War was the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.
 
The first battle of the Civil War was the bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in April 1861.
 
The first battle of WWI occurred at Liege in August 1914.
 
The first battle of WWII was the Battle of Westerplatte in September of 1939. But America didn’t formally enter the war until December 1941.
 
The first battle of the Korean War happened in Seoul, South Korea, also before the Americans entered the fray.
 
While the initial battle of the Vietnam War for American forces was the Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965, the first battle of the Vietnam War was the Battle of Ap Bac in January 1963.
 
The war on terror started in Afghanistan in November 2001, but major ground troops didn’t enter active combat until Operation Anaconda in March 2002. (I was there)
 
So, what’s the point of all of this?
 
In war, there are many battles, and these often begin before the war officially starts, but few wars are ever won or finished in a single battle.
 
The season of Lent leads us to the battle of Calvary, where Jesus, the victor, will be nailed to the cross for the sins of the world. But this battle and war began long before that first Holy Week.
 
Today, we hear of two such battles in the Old Testament reading and the Gospel.
 
In the Old Testament reading, the first battle and conflict in Scripture occurs between your first parents and the serpent. It began with the temptation of the devil as he said to Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’”
 
It all began with temptation, a desire for what was not given to Adam and Eve, along with pride and the wish to be like God, rejecting the Creator’s Word and instruction. 
 
Sadly, this is just the first conflict of many, as Adam and Eve will turn against one another in an instant, as Adam’s first response to the fall was to say, “The woman you gave me, it’s her fault.”
 
This sin of Adam and Eve was passed down to their sons as well, as pride and insecurity tempted and led Cain to rise up and kill his brother, Abel. 
 
Sadly, you are no different from this first family, as you experience deeply personal and interpersonal battles throughout your life.
 
When alcohol, drugs, gambling, the overuse of technology, or pornography become not just temptations but full-blown addictions, you are quick to refuse blame for turning to these vices—similar to Adam—blaming the bad company who tempted you or the husband or wife whom you believe pushed you to seek fulfillment in these ways, due to fractured and unfulfilled expectations and relationships. 
 
In reality, if we’re being honest, we are like Adam, blaming God for our troubles, saying, “The woman you gave me, it’s her fault.”
 
We blame God for the temptations and conflicts of our lives.
 
But St. James writes in his epistle,
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)
 
This final verse captures the struggle with temptation perfectly and how sin is born out of temptation and finds a home within your heart,
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)
 
Temptations throughout life begin within you, the old Adam, the sinful man that dwells within your heart, and for this reason, your true enemy in all of this is not your husband or wife, your brother or sister, a father or mother, it’s you.
 
Why, because, like Adam and Eve, you do not listen, hear, or obey God’s Word.
 
You don’t.
 
In a fantastic way, St. James follows up his words regarding temptation by saying,
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:19-21)
 
If only you and I were so eager to be quick to hear and slow to speak, how much more could we communicate with each other and have love one another. How much more would we be able to hear and receive the Word of God, which, as St. James says, is able to save your souls?
 
Ultimately, the struggles and conflicts of life persist because we continually turn away from God’s Word and instruction and because of this, we are not only fighting against alcohol, drugs, gambling, technology, pornography, insert your vice here, or each other; we are also engaged in an ongoing battle with the devil, who seeks to entice you away from your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 
 
And in the Gospel reading this morning, you received a glimpse into just one of many battles Jesus had in a greater war with the devil.
 
The devil’s temptations were presented to Jesus, but He did not give in or turn away from His Father’s Word. He confessed it and clung to it with all His heart. 
 
Jesus does what your first father, Adam, did not—He obeyed His heavenly Father’s voice.
 
In fact, Jesus obeyed His Father’s voice and will, even to the cross of Calvary, where He not only won the battle, but won the war for you.
 
In His death and resurrection, He defeated sin, death, and the devil.
 
So, what should you do with all the battles and conflicts in your life this Lenten season? Bring them to where the spoils of war and the benefits of the cross are present for you. Bring them to the font of Holy Baptism, where Christ drowns the temptations of the Old Adam within you, unites you in the peace of Christ’s forgiveness in the absolution as you stand side by side with your brothers and sisters, and feeds your souls in the holy supper of your Lord, receiving eternal life. 
 
Come to the cross this Lenten season, my friends, and receive God’s precious Word, a Word that will sustain you and put an end to all the battles of your heart and lead you to new life in Christ. +INJ+
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
www.goodsheptomah.org 
 
 
 

Ash Wednesday | Matthew 6:16-21 | Why Do You Fast?

Ash Wednesday
February 18, 2026
Matthew 6:16-21
 
The Old Testament reading this evening from the prophet Joel began by saying,
Yet even now, declares the LORD,
                        return to me with all your heart,
             with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.
 
The prophet Joel is pleading for the people of Israel to repent and return to the Lord. He warns that if they continue to conduct themselves in ways against God’s will, there will be armies of locust that will come upon the unrepentant people, destroying everything in their path.
 
A sign or practice that the prophet Joel prescribes for Israel’s repentance in the text is fasting.
 
Repentance and fasting have long been associated with one another.
 
King David fasted, wept, and mourned not only the brief life of his son but also the sins of adultery and murder that led to the boy’s death.
 
Upon hearing the call to repentance through the prophet Jonah, the people of Nineveh fasted, repented, and turned from their evil ways.
 
In accomplishing what Israel could not do during the Exodus as they wandered through the wilderness for forty years, Jesus was led into the wilderness for forty days, fasting. 
 
In fact, tonight’s Gospel, Jesus says, “And when you fast…”
 
So why do Lutherans struggle so much with the concept of fasting?
 
Because it’s considered “Roman Catholic.”
 
Have you ever noticed how sometimes people oppose something just because another group believes in it?
 
How contrarian!
 
However, as explained above, this perspective rejects the Lutheran understanding of “Sola Scriptura” – Scripture alone. 
 
Sola Scriptura states that Scripture alone speaks and guides the Christian faith, and the teachings of the church must align with it. 
 
Now, for this reason, Scripture never explicitly demands fasting, but from the examples just mentioned, you can see not only how the practice went hand in hand with repentance but was also highly expected.
 
Even Martin Luther (1483­–1546) promoted the practice of fasting for two reasons, he wrote: “Of fasting I say this: it is right to fast frequently in order to subdue and control the body. For when the stomach is full, the body does not serve for preaching, for praying, for studying, or for doing anything else that is good. Under such circumstances God’s Word cannot remain. But one should not fast with a view to meriting something by it as by a good work.”
 
Isn’t this something? Christian fasting is meant to grow our hunger for God’s Word and forgiveness. It’s not intended to earn forgiveness as good works, which is why we are not like Roman Catholics or many evangelicals, for that matter; we cannot earn salvation this way. 
 
But we can learn through practice where our life needs changing, where repentance is necessary, and where our faith is struggling. 
 
Think about this: if the doctor told you that you had cancer and needed to fast for twenty-four hours for a blood test to get the right medicine, you’d do it in a heartbeat. 
 
You’d do it because you can’t imagine not talking to your father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, or friend ever again. 
 
Here’s the thing: if we don’t examine ourselves, recognize which sins are not only running through our veins but also controlling us, and learn to confess them, then we can’t be sure we’ll have a tomorrow in heaven with the people we care about so deeply.
 
We need to understand which sins control us and require confessing to receive forgiveness.
 
Alright, so what does it mean to fast?
 
Contrary to popular belief, fasting isn’t just about abstaining from food and drink; it’s about reducing or going without. Therefore, fasting can include anything that controls you.
 
So, what is controlling your life and hindering your faith and the vocations God has entrusted to you?
 
Is your phone glued to your hand while your children or grandchildren play on the floor in front of you, begging for your attention? Begging you to read a book to them?
 
Do you happily stop for breakfast every morning on your way to work, but have no money to give to the church to care for the hungry and needy?
 
When was the last time you went out of your way to visit a shut-in brother or sister from the church?
 
When we fast and reduce the things that control us and hinder our faith, the relationships we have, and the vocations God has given us, we not only realize how little of these things are truly necessary, but also recognize how much God already provides. 
 
The season of Lent is an opportunity for us to fast, not only from food and drink, but the things that have become gods and idols in our lives.
 
Do you find it hard to put your phone down? Start today by placing it in another room of your house in the evenings, spend quality time with your family, work on a puzzle, enjoy a meal around the dinner table, read the Bible, and pray together.
 
Could you cut back on eating out or stopping for breakfast every day? Could the money you save be donated to the church’s missions or a cause that supports the gospel?
 
Or could you set a goal to call or visit one friend or family member each week this Lent? Especially the lonely, those going through struggles, and those who need your support.
 
You see, when you practice fasting correctly, it creates time for prayer and meditation on God’s Word. It provides a way for you to give and support the work of the Gospel financially, and it encourages you to do good works, caring for your neighbor.
 
Why wouldn’t you want to do any of these things?
 
This Lenten season, don’t be a contrarian, don’t be opposed to Scripture just because other churches or people observe the same traditions, but instead be Scriptural, be a Christian.
 
And in fasting, if you struggle to let go of the things that you learn have control over your life, then glory be to Jesus, because you now know the sins you need to repent of, you know what is leading you away from being with your brother and sister in Christ, and when you confess these sins, you have the assurance and word of God, that He forgives you.
 
In fact, He wants to forgive you because He desires for you, your brother, your sister, and the person to your left and to your right to be with Him in eternity. +INJ+
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
www.goodsheptomah.org

Quinquagesima | Luke 18:31-43 | Memento Mori - Remember your Death

Quinquagesima
February 15, 2026
Luke 18:31-43
 
 
Many of you have sat in the doctor’s office as the death notice was handed out, as the words were spoken to your husband or wife, a father or mother.
 
“There’s nothing more we can do.”
 
The cancer has advanced past the point of reversal. The body is too weak to undergo treatments. The accident caused extensive damage to the body and its vital organs. 
 
These instances are often met with a lack of understanding. How did the shadow of death appear so quickly? Why can’t the doctor do anything more?
 
Isn’t this their job? To heal and restore people to health?
 
In these moments, you are like the disciples of Christ as He prepares them for His passion and death. It’s truly remarkable how Jesus explains everything to His disciples as He says, 
“For [the Son of Man] will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”
 
But they did not understand His words; they did not understand that death was approaching for their Lord and Savior. That His death was necessary to give them life.
 
The Gospel said,
“They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” Or “They did not know the things that were spoken [to them].”
 
To grasp or to know are synonyms for the action of Christian faith.
 
In other words, the disciples lacked faith in Jesus’ words.
 
Like the disciples, when the storm clouds of death approach, you also tend to lack understanding; you lack faith.
 
Why does this happen to you, O Christian?
 
Because in the clouds and storms of life, you do not always hear rightly, you don’t hear the words of Jesus, you don’t remember your Savior.
 
The disciples did not fully understand Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, and because of this, when His passion did arrive, they also failed to remember His words. They lacked faith and scattered from His cross. 
 
We’ll come back to this thought in a moment…
 
But for you, in the midst of turmoil, you must “remember” the words of your Savior, “They will kill him, and the third day he will rise.”
 
If you listen closely, these are words of death and resurrection.
 
Again, “They will kill him, and the third day he will rise.”
 
Seldom do you remember these words in tribulation any more than you place them before your eyes each day of this life.
 
Some men in the congregation are participating in a program this Lent called “Memento.” The Latin word “Memento” means “remember.”
The purpose of this program is to remember how fleeting this life is, that without Christ we are powerless, to reflect on our Savior’s suffering on the cross, and to honor the faithful men who came before us—fathers, grandfathers, saints, and martyrs—those who struggled and endured in faith, stood firm in the face of death, and remembered their Savior’s death.
 
Because when one remembers the death of Christ, they must also remember His resurrection.
 
But because we do not remember the death of Christ, we cannot properly understand His resurrection.
 
In reality, we don’t think much about death unless it’s on our doorstep. This is very different from the ancient world and the early church, where not only was death all around them through plague, disease, and war, but they also used language and symbols to remind themselves of where this life would lead. 
 
If you look back at art throughout history, you might come across paintings of skulls with the words “Memento Mori,” meaning “remember you must die” or “remember your death.”
 
Comforting, huh?
 
It was also common for monks, pastors, or priests to have human skulls or bones on their desks or near where they prayed, to remind them of their mortality.
 
But more than that, this practice served as a reminder of mortality, humbling one by showing that all earthly life moves toward the grave. It fosters a sense of turning away from earthly pleasures, of concentrating on eternal life with God, of living in repentance, and of cultivating a virtuous life. Additionally, it symbolizes that death is not the end, but the gateway to resurrection and eternal life. 
 
Now, no one is suggesting you should run home and place a skull on your desk or table. However, how can you remember the death and resurrection of Jesus? How can you keep these words of your Savior from the Gospel before you today?
 
Sure, you could buy one of the paintings I mentioned earlier, like a skull with the words “Memento Mori” inscribed. Or you could hang a portrait of the Lord’s crucifixion in your home. Or even simpler, you could hang a cross or crucifix near a door to remind yourself, as you venture into daily life and return at night, that not only is death always close by, but through the death of your Savior, you receive life. 
 
As St. Paul reminds us, “The last enemy to be overcome is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:16)
 
And that’s what the season of Lent leads you to understand, to know, to have faith in – not only the death of Jesus, but also His resurrection.
 
For this reason, on Ash Wednesday, those of you who desire to receive ashes upon your forehead will hear the words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”
 
“Memento Mori” remember your death, remember that you will die.
 
But then, as you enter the sanctuary, remember that you have already died in Christ Jesus through the waters of Holy Baptism.
 
As St. Paul writes to the Romans,
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
 
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
 
With these words of St. Paul: your eyes should be opened to what happens in Baptism — the conflict between death and life, and the truth that victory is with life; it remains with Jesus. 
 
Now, going back to the disciples, it wasn’t just a lack of understanding and faith for them, but the Gospel says, “This saying was hidden from them.”
 
Simply put, the disciples couldn’t understand how Christ was supposed to suffer, see how His death would fulfill Old Testament prophecies, or realize that God had chosen to veil or hide this truth from them. 
 
This remains our challenge today: when difficulties come, whether illness, tribulation, or death, and the ways of God are unclear to us, we turn away, scatter from the crosses before us, and become blind to God’s word and mercy. 
 
In this way, you are like the disciples—you see this as they heard the words of Jesus but did not have faith in them. They deserted Jesus as He hung on the cross; they gave up hope. It wasn’t until Jesus appeared to them again after His resurrection, on the Emmaus road, that He once again declared to them. 
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)
 
In bringing these disciples to remember His words, they not only remembered how He would die, but how He would live again.
 
As you approach this season of Lent, it will begin with the sign of ash and dust, a reminder that all mortals will return to the earth: “Memento Mori!”
 
Remember your death.
 
But the sign of the cross upon your forehead marks you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified and reminds you that you will live.
 
Whether you are experiencing difficulties in life right now, if the grief and sorrow of death plagues you, or this upcoming season of Lent rightly causes you to flee from the earthly pleasures of life, do not forget your Savior Jesus Christ, whose death has won for you salvation, forgiveness, and eternal peace. 
 
Memento, remember. +INJ+
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
www.goodsheptomah.org

Sexagesima | Luke 8:9-13 | The Sower Gives Life to the Soil of the Earth

Sexagesima
Luke 8:4-15
February 8, 2026
 
 
The dirt and soil of the earth are where sin and death reside.
 
In the beginning, “The LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
 
Martin Luther wrote in a commentary regarding the creation account that God formed man from a “Lump of earth.”
 
Of course, we know that in man’s fall into sin, God said to Adam,
Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
                        and have eaten of the tree
             of which I commanded you,
                        ‘You shall not eat of it,’
             cursed is the ground because of you;
                        in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
            thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
                        and you shall eat the plants of the field.
            By the sweat of your face
                        you shall eat bread,
             till you return to the ground,
                        for out of it you were taken;
             for you are dust,
                        and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17b-19)
 
In many ways, I believe it’s important to remember how man was formed from the earth and how sin and death will lead him back to the dust and soil of the earth.  
 
In fact, this provides us with a lens to view the Parable of the Sower in today’s Gospel.
 
For life to emerge from the soil, the seed of God’s Word and the breath of His voice had to penetrate it. Apart from Him, the dust of the earth would have remained just that, dust.
 
But with the seed and breath of God’s Word spoken into it, Adam received life.
 
Now, if man is made from the “lumps of earth” or the soil where the Sower is sowing the seed of God’s Word today, what does it mean to be dust and dirt of the earth in a fallen world? 
 
Well, to be “dirt” or “dirty” often means, in popular culture, that a person is unclean, morally corrupt, vile, contemptible, or promiscuous.
 
While what God creates is good, man’s sins corrupt and lead to death, bringing you back to the dirt of the earth.
 
With this understanding, the seed of the Sower is intended to give you life.
 
One reason you hesitate to give the seed of God’s Word its proper place is that it will convict you and first call you to repentance. 
 
Jesus doesn’t hide this in the parable today as He describes the soil of man’s heart, saying,
The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
 
In other words, those of you who are on this path have completely turned away from God. You have allowed the devil to silence your ears, ignore God’s Word, and in many cases, leave the church. 
 
You can see yourself here as Adam and Eve, who were led to completely disregard the Word of God through the temptation and speech of the serpent in the Garden. 
 
You don’t even recognize a need for confession.
 
But then Jesus says,
And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
 
Some people happily accept God’s Word here, but when challenges arise during the week, they forget His Word and that He said there would be trouble in this life. As a result, they depend on themselves instead of God, essentially making themselves their own gods.
 
Is this you? If you paused and reflected on the past week, did you turn to God’s Word and peace when troubles arose? Or did even thinking of prayer arise?
 
Of course, there are those whose faith is choked by the cares, riches, and pleasures of life, too.
 
Jesus says,
And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
 
We Lutherans are often guilty of minimizing works, but as we read in the book of James, “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26)
 
The good works of the Christian are the maturing fruits of faith.
 
One reason we allow the fruits of faith to be choked out is that they require control over a restless spirit. It’s hard to love difficult people, it’s challenging to remain joyful in times of grief, and how do you find peace when chaos surrounds you? What about patience, kindness, and goodness for those who attack you? Or faithfulness when others seem or appear disloyal, or gentleness as your brother breathes down your neck? In moments like this, self-control over your emotions and temper can feel like fleeting thoughts.
 
And if you think about it, to produce this kind of faithful fruit, the soil of your heart must be well cared for...
 
Here are these words of Jesus again,
As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
 
Having an honest and good heart means possessing a repentant heart. A forgiven heart.
 
And for this reason, the hearts of faithful Christians must be cultivated through hearing and receiving God’s Word, which brings about repentance and confession of sins. 
 
But, to be honest, this is the part you simply do not enjoy: admitting guilt, confessing sin, and putting away idolatries. You hold on to them, often until your graves, until the day when your bodies return to the dust of the earth.
 
But that’s why the health and well-being of the soil of your heart, where death and sin dwell, are so vital, because receiving the seed of God’s Word is the difference between eternal life and eternal death. 
 
Look, the prophet Isaiah wrote,
            “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
                        and do not return there but water the earth,
             making it bring forth and sprout,
                        giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
            so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
                        it shall not return to me empty,
             but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
                        and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
 
Whether you understand the ways of the Lord is irrelevant; what matters most is that you receive and trust in His Word, because this word will do as God wills. It will grant you His forgiveness, feed you with His forgiveness, and accomplish its purpose: to raise you from the dust of the earth to live with Him forever. 
 
This is why the Sower is called to sow the seed so generously and recklessly…. Because the Sower is generous and gracious, He wants you to grow in your faith, to be forgiven, and to be with Him forever.
 
As Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “For [My father] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45b)
 
He is a gracious God, bestowing upon all of creation more than it could ever deserve.
 
As the season of Lent approaches, permit the seed of God’s Word to enter your ears, to cultivate your hearts, preparing you to faithfully love and care for one another, and be led in the path to eternal life.
 
If you have allowed your heart to become hardened against setting aside time to read the Scriptures or, for some reason, believe you don’t need to practice this part of your faith, please use the upcoming days to establish a new routine focused on hearing God’s Word. Set aside time during your breakfast to read a paragraph, a chapter, or a page of God’s Word. Use the Good Shepherd at Prayer sheets to lead your family at home or listen to the Bible on your phone as you drive to work.
 
If you need guidance or want more structure, ask for help, and I’ll assist you in finding a devotion book or program to help you cultivate the soil of your heart.  
 
Trust me, nothing is so urgent in life that it diminishes the need for God’s Word and forgiveness—nothing. In fact, if you think you’re too busy to spend time with God’s Word, that’s a clear sign you need it more than ever.
 
Look, in the end, your bodies will most certainly follow in the steps of Adam, returning to the dust and dirt of this earth. But for you, who not only hear and receive God’s Word but also permit it to grow within you... You can face the grave unfearing, knowing you won’t remain a lump of earth, but be raised to new life, because this Word of the Sower, of Jesus, has been planted into your heart. +INJ+
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI
 
www.goodsheptomah.org

Septuagesima | 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5 | Its Time to Train for Eternal Life is Now

Septuagesima
February 1, 2026
1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5
 
The Winter Olympics will begin this Friday, and athletes from around the world will gather to compete in various sporting events that test strength, endurance, discipline, and resilience—all in pursuit of winning a gold medal.  
 
If you take a step back, the Olympics are truly remarkable; these athletes often dedicate their entire lives to training for this moment. For some, their livelihood depends on their training – competing in the Olympics is their full-time job. 
 
They dedicate themselves to the pursuit of winning the gold, but the truth remains that only one person walks away with it.
 
Just imagine if everyone received a medal; how many people would cry, “That’s not fair!”
 
Who would tune in and watch their favorite sport?
 
Probably not many. It would be a travesty, really; there would be no competition, no drama, no rivals to enter the arena.
 
Only one person can win the prize.
 
Now, what does any of this have to do with the Christian life?
 
Well, the epistle reading from St. Paul takes on not only a bit of an athletic lens, but an Olympic theme as he wrote.
 
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
 
Running is a way for St. Paul to say, “live the Christian life.”  It means walking in the path you’ve been set to follow.
 
And you know that your Christian life started at the font of Holy Baptism, and for this reason, you are to live in your Baptism by confessing your sins, receiving God’s forgiveness, and seeking the Holy Spirit’s help to stay on the narrow path.
 
Remaining on the narrow path is challenging, isn’t it?
 
St. Matthew wrote,
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14)
 
One truth is that you cannot walk the path or enter the narrow gate of heaven through your own training, works, or merit. This journey requires faith in Christ Jesus, which is given through the work of the Holy Spirit within your heart. 
 
And so, St. Paul continues in his epistle,
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
 
The need for the Holy Spirit’s help is because you struggle with self-control. You struggle with the things that hinder your faith and lead to destruction.
 
This is one of the ways the season of Lent can help Christians practice self-control. It encourages learning not to be controlled by addictions such as overeating, endlessly scrolling on Facebook and Twitter, or the temptation of pornography that’s just a click away. 
 
These things do not grant you a wreath or crown of victory. Instead, they control you and draw you away from your Savior, from the path that leads to the imperishable wreath of eternal victory. 
 
Remember, living the Baptismal life is a narrow path that demands the enduring faith of a Christian. 
 
In a literal sense, the wreath Paul mentions can be translated as a crown, which winners in the first Olympiads would receive on the podium.
 
This reminds me of the Revelation of St. John, as he wrote,
“Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)
 
What a prize to earn at the finish line: the imperishable and eternal “Crown of life.”
 
So, St. Paul goes on in the epistle,
I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
 
Paul says, “Do not run aimlessly.”
 
Don’t go through life aimlessly as if you lack purpose. Doing so leads to being full of Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth.
 
A mirror on the wall or a quick review of your phone’s history will reveal the idolatries that control you. 
 
So, how do you train with a purpose to achieve the desired result, life with God?
 
Discipline. It begins with discipline.
 
To live with a purpose, to intentionally seek the good of others. [We read in the Augsburg Confession] “[St. Paul] clearly shows that he was keeping his body under control, not to merit forgiveness of sins by that discipline, but to keep his body in subjection and prepared for spiritual things, for carrying out the duties of his calling” (AC XXVI 38). (The Lutheran Study Bible)
 
You are called to live purposefully, to discipline the body so that you may not be disqualified from eternal life or receiving the prize. 
 
And disqualification in this race of life happens when you pursue your own path, turn away from Christ, or damage and obstruct the faith of others. 
 
St. Ambrose, a church father of the fourth century, wrote regarding the training and discipline of the Christian life this way,
Like an athlete he comes last into the arena. He lifts his eyes to heaven… . He sees that his whole task awaits him… . He chastises his body so that it will not defeat him in the contest. He anoints it with the oil of mercy. He practices daily exhibitions of virtue (or in other words, demonstrating behavior of the highest morals). He smears himself with dust. He runs with assurance to the goal of the course. He aims his blows, he darts his arms, but not at empty spaces… . Earth is man’s training ground, heaven his crown.
 
Hear that last sentence again,“Earth is man’s training ground, heaven his crown.”
 
With this understanding, you cannot drift aimlessly through life, but having heard God’s Word, you are called to live, train, and prepare for eternal life.
 
And this brings us to the season of the Church Year we begin today, the Gesima season, a time dedicated to training and preparing for Lent. You need to take this period seriously because Lent is difficult and demanding. No athlete simply shows up at the Olympics and wins gold. Likewise, you can’t just wake up in heaven one day unless you train and practice your faith. 
 
However, a great comfort for you, dear brothers and sisters, is that there is no time limit to merit heaven; in fact, you cannot earn it at all, because the one who works, whether from the first hour or the eleventh hour of the day, from the first day of this life or the twilight of life, will receive the imperishable wreath and crown of eternal life if they have a present and active faith.
 
And this is what we call grace.
 
Grace is a gift of forgiveness and eternal life. It isn’t earned or won by you, but is given freely.
 
Sure, some of you will undoubtedly want to test God’s grace by delaying your prayers and the practice of Christian faith.
 
I mean, how many of you would shout, “That’s not fair!” if your neighbor, who didn’t come to faith until the eleventh hour of this life, received the same wreath of eternal life as you?
 
But if God’s judgments were fair, would any of us receive the crown of life? 
 
Absolutely not.
 
If God’s judgments were fair, you would be handed over to the shackles of hell for how you have wandered through this life so aimlessly. 
 
But this life is not fair, and through the death of Jesus on the cross, your heavenly Father poured out His wrath for your sin upon His Son. For this reason, the cross, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus now focus you as you approach the season of Lent. 
 
Because the season of Lent is one of the most challenging seasons of all, it’s not a simple race, but a time to train and re-learn the fundamentals of the Christian life.
 
Remember, “Earth is man’s training ground, heaven his crown.”
 
As you approach this season of Lent, do so with purpose. Start setting aside time to train your body, mind, and spirit, engage in prayer, and meditate on God’s Word. Not that you would earn eternal life through your own merit or worthiness, but so that the Holy Spirit can create and sustain faith in you, leading you on the narrow path and shaping you into the likeness of your Savior, Jesus Christ, who is your eternal crown of life. +INJ+
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
www.goodsheptomah.org

The Second Sunday after Epiphany | John 2:1-11 | Marriage is for the Journey to Heaven

The Second Sunday after Epiphany
January 18, 2026
John 2:1-11
 
 
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
 
This past fall, I officiated a wedding in Nashville, TN, and the groom requested an interesting wedding hymn, “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing.”
 
As I mentioned then, the hymn selection was unusual for a wedding; I had never sung it for such an occasion. However, as I ponder the hymn’s story of being brought to the eternal wedding feast of Jesus, it began to make sense.
 
The hymn, “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing,” encourages us to look beyond this earthly life toward the destination where the gift of marriage is meant to accompany us.
 
Eternal life with Jesus.  
 
Now, I share with couples who are getting married in premarital counseling a rather lengthy quote from the Church Father St. John Chrysostom, who died in the 5th century; his words speak to the purpose of their journey. But it remains worth hearing in its entirety. He writes,
 
Some say that marriage was ordained by God as a blessing to the human race. Others say that marriage is a necessary evil for those who cannot restrain their sexual appetites. In truth it is impossible to speak in such ways about marriage in general; we can only make judgments about particular marriages. There are some marriages which bring great blessings to the husband and the wife, to their children, and to all their neighbors. But there are other marriages which seem to bring few blessings to anyone. The difference between these two types of marriages lies in the spirit with which the bond was forged and is maintained. If a man and a woman marry to satisfy their sexual appetites, or to further the material aims of themselves or their families, then their union is unlikely to bring blessings. But if a man and a woman marry in order to be companions on the journey through earth to heaven, then their union will bring great joy to themselves and to others.
 
With this lens, Chrysostom saw marriage as a gift for man and woman to forge and maintain, to journey and be led through this valley of life on earth to the eternal joys of heaven, to the Lamb’s High Feast, and this changes the lens in which we view marriage, doesn’t it?
 
Marriage is a celebration of a man and a woman being united and becoming one, and it’s for this reason that, should a divorce or separation of husband and wife occur, it’s so painful.
 
Marriage is for the procreation and gift of children, but also to console one another when children are not given.
 
Marriage is for the encouragement of the Christian faith, to learn to pray not only for one another, but with one another.
 
Marriage is for a man and a woman to support each other through burdens, whether it’s losing a job, caring for aging parents, or them dying, dealing with erring and rebellious children, or caring for each other during illness. 
 
Marriage is a gift for this earthly life.
 
If you recall, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, the Sadducees approach and ask Jesus about the resurrection by posing a question to Jesus. They say,
“Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
 
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” (Matthew 22:24-30)
 
In light of these words of Jesus, marriage is a gift for this life, for the companionship along the way to eternity.
 
And viewing marriage through this lens should change how you speak, approach, and conduct yourself in this blessed estate.
 
Do you argue and fight among one another? Do you speak unkindly to one another? Are you short with one another?
 
Confess your sin, reconcile, and be at peace in Christ Jesus at once.
 
Have you gone through trials and tribulations? Has cancer, illness, or has aging caused unexpected struggles and crosses in your marriage?
 
Learn to pray together, read God’s Word together, and bear one another’s burdens so your faith can be strengthened. This way, you can support each other as companions on the journey through this life to the eternal joys of heaven.
 
 
Have you begrudged the children God has entrusted to you? Do you see them as commodities to be entertained or as a means for you to live out your dreams?
 
Stop this and confess this sin of idolatry and recognize them as the unique and precious treasures they are from the Lord.
 
The Gospel this morning shows how much God loves marriage. If you step back, you’ll see that all of Scripture is the story of one great wedding. This means how we view and treat our relationships reflects the Christian faith and the love Jesus, the bridegroom, has for you, His bride, the Church. 
 
Now, some believe Jesus wasn’t being very kind to His mother in the Gospel this morning when He said, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
 
No, Jesus was not being rude or disrespectful to His mother; instead, we begin to see a separation in how Jesus now speaks as His life now leads Him to the “Hour” of His crucifixion.
 
You see, the “Hour” of His crucifixion and the wine His mother speaks of are deeply connected and foreshadow a greater wedding than the one at Cana. 
 
The jars used for purification, into which the water was poured, were intended to fulfill the Old Testament law for cleansing oneself. However, the wine in Jesus’ first miracle points to the greater cleansing of sin, received through His shedding of blood at the hour of His sacrificial death on the cross. 
 
Here, the passage from Ephesians 5 comes to mind, 
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:25-32)
 
Again, reflect on these words,
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32)
 
All of Scripture contains the story of one great wedding.
 
While your first parents fell into sin in the Garden, bringing sin into marriage and all of God’s children, Jesus comes to reconcile God’s children, His Church. The words of St. Paul paint the most beautiful image of Jesus’ sacrificial love, the bridegroom, for you, His bride, the Church. 
 
This is an image all marriages are to take, to learn to sacrifice for one another, to forgive one another, to love one another. Because no one hates their own flesh, but desires to nourish and care for it.
 
When you see marriage in this way, you begin to appreciate the blessings it provides and recognize how marriage is a sacrificial gift for the journey of a man and a woman through life. This is reflected in the image of Christ’s love for His Church, leading the faithful to eternal life, where we all long to sing with the company of heaven at the Lamb’s High Feast. +INJ+
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
www.goodsheptomah.org

The Funeral of Sharon Herried

The Funeral of Sharon Herried
January 15, 2026
Psalm 23
 
Dear Don, family, friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ Jesus, grace, mercy, and peace be unto you this day.
 
Psalm 23 is probably the most well-known of all the Psalms. Since many children learn the Psalm early in life, many people can recite and pray it from memory throughout their entire lives. 
 
This highlights a frequently overlooked aspect of the Psalm: it’s meant to be prayed as one journeys toward the grave. It’s a Psalm for the sojourner as they walk each day. 
 
Just reflect on verse 2 as we prayed,
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
            He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
 
Who is taking the lead here?
 
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is leading His flock to where the good pasture resides.
 
But a challenging part of this journey is highlighted in verse 4, where the Psalmist prayed, a verse that has become one of the most well-known in Scripture.
            Even though I walk through the valley
 of the shadow death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
 
In reality, most of our lives unfold in the shadow of death.
 
This was true of our sister Sharon, whose illnesses caused her to be in and out of the hospital over the past years, going from one doctor’s appointment to another, as she wrestled with the growing shadows of death that drew near. 
 
But the valleys and shadows of death aren’t purely physical; they’re also mental, emotional, and spiritual.
 
And for this reason, Sharon was not alone on this journey to the grave; everyone who cared for her was affected by the shadows of the mental, emotional, and spiritual valleys she experienced.
 
Or, to put it another way, everyone who made this journey with Sharon supported her in carrying the crosses of her life. 
 
In light of this, the passage that comes to mind here is when St. Paul wrote to the Galatians,
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
 
This is what you did, Don, as you cared for Sharon. You bore the shadows, valleys, burdens, and crosses of Sharon’s life with her, just as you both committed to do when you married on January 22, 1966; the two of you became one flesh. 
 
And from that day forward you learned together to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
 
In other words, the law of Christ can be most simply summarized as love for one another. 
 
And the most vivid image of this love is seen in the sacrificial death of Jesus, the bridegroom, for His bride, the Church, upon the cross.
 
Honestly, to understand the valley and the shadow of death, one must view it through the lens of the cross and the Passion of our Lord.
 
It’s truly remarkable. After Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was led through the valley of the shadow of death for your sake. You see, the Kidron Valley, where Jesus was led on His way to trial, is the place where the blood of sacrificed lambs from Passover flowed. So, as Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley, He not only walked in the shadows of death but also foreshadowed how He would pass over and conquer death for you by journeying to the cross as the great Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. 
 
Throughout these days entrusted to you in this life, you are called to follow Jesus even now to His cross.
 
This journey begins at the font of Holy Baptism, a journey that Sharon began in May of 1946 when she was baptized and united in the death and resurrection of her Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet, she still had to journey from the font to the day her Savior called her into His eternal presence. 
 
But every time she confessed her sins in order to receive God’s forgiveness, she was led back to green pastures and still waters; she was guided like all lambs to where God is present for them in His Word and in the flesh and blood of Jesus, a foretaste of that great meal prepared in the presence of her enemies.
 
And who or what were those enemies?
 
Cancer, chronic illness, broken relationships, and the burdens of mental, emotional, and spiritual crosses.
 
These aren’t just facets of a broken world and lives, but the ongoing consequence of the broken relationship between our first parents, Adam and Eve, and their God and our God. 
 
For Sharon, these struggles stem not only from our first parents’ sin but also from the sin that resided within her.
 
Yet, because she returned to the font and confessed her sin, she heard the voice of the Good Shepherd; she had confidence in knowing He was with her, even while she was homebound. You see, Jesus came to her in His Word as it was read at her bedside and in the Lord’s Supper as it was placed upon her lips and gave her His forgiveness.
 
It’s a forgiveness that remains for you today.
 
In a wonderful way, you walk the same path as Sharon every Sunday as you gather here for the Divine Service. As you remember your Baptism and confess your sins, it’s here you entrust the burdens and crosses of this life to Jesus, and He takes them to Himself—drowning them and the Old Adam within your hearts in Baptism—so a new man might arise. 
 
And then Jesus brings you to this altar, where He feeds you the same flesh and blood He fed Sharon, for the forgiveness of your sins – a foretaste of heaven.
 
Because this is ultimately where Sharon was being led and where your Lord wishes to lead you, even through the crosses and trials of this life, to His heaven, to the place where goodness and mercy follow, and all the sheep of the Father’s fold dwell in His house forever.
 
Remember this as we leave for the grave today. Pray the 23rd Psalm with each step you take, and trust that the Good Shepherd will not only stay with you but continue to lead you through this valley by His cross. And on the last day, He will also bring you into His house forever. +INJ+
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 

The Baptism of Our Lord | Matthew 3:13-17 | Baptism Means a Life of Prayer

The Baptism of our Lord
January 11, 2026
Matthew 3:13-17
 
We Lutherans talk about Baptism a lot, don’t we?
 
But over the years, how we talk about baptism has influenced our view of this sacrament and blessed gift. 
 
Simply saying “I was baptized” shifts our perspective on baptism. While there is a specific moment—a date—when you were baptized, if you only see “I was baptized” as just a historical event, it can lead you to view baptism as a human act. This perspective makes baptism seem more like a family tradition rather than a sacred rite and sacrament of the Church. In turn, this affects how families and the Church see Confirmation and its link to baptism.
 
Because if baptism is just a family event, a civic duty, or a way to get grandma and grandpa off your back, then what happens to Confirmation?
 
It also becomes a family event, a civic duty, a coming-of-age, or, worse, a graduation where the individual is led to believe they’ve achieved something and no longer need to return to the font of Christ where His Word and forgiveness is present for them.
 
But if you examine the rite of Confirmation, it reflects maturity in the Christian’s faith, an acknowledgment of the ongoing gifts God grants in Holy Baptism and continues to give today.
 
So, in a way, confirmation is a time for the Christian, often the younger ones, to learn how to confess and clearly express the gift and faith received in Holy Baptism. 
 
And for this reason, we rightly say with Martin Luther, “I am baptized,” because the baptismal life of the Christian is an ongoing reality that extends beyond any single day, leading the Christian to continually confess their sin, drown the Old Adam, receive Christ’s forgiveness, and walk in holiness, guiding them toward eternal life. 
 
However, the often-overlooked importance of Baptism can be best emphasized by these words of encouragement from Luther, as he wrote, 
 
In all Christian earnestness, I would ask all those who administer Baptism, who hold the children, or witness it, to take this wonderful work to heart in all its seriousness. For here, in the words of these prayers, you hear how meekly and earnestly the Christian Church concerns itself about the little child and how it confesses before God in plain undoubting words that he is possessed by the devil and is a child of sin and wrath, and prays very diligently for aid and grace through Baptism that he may become a child of God. Remember, then, that it is no joke to take sides against the devil and not only to drive him away from the little child, but to burden the child with such a mighty and lifelong enemy.
What a burden, indeed. For the baptized child of God to face such a mighty and lifelong enemy as Satan. This is why Luther continued,
Remember too that it is very necessary to aid the poor child with all your heart and strong faith, earnestly to intercede for him or her that God, in accordance with this prayer, would not only free him from the power of the devil, but also strengthen him, so that he may nobly resist the devil in life and death.
Luther concludes by saying,
And I suspect that people turn out so badly after Baptism because our concern for them has been cold and careless; we, at their Baptism, interceded for them without zeal.
Here you can see how Luther encourages Christians to view Baptism as more than just a sentimental moment or the latest reason to gather friends and family.
 
Because those who are baptized are now united with Christ Jesus, they also become enemies of the devil. Therefore, Luther encourages Christians to pray for the poor child with all their heart. 
 
I wonder how often parents, grandparents, godparents, sponsors, congregations, or even pastors sit down and pray for the faith of the children baptized in the name of Jesus.
 
What follows the Gospel reading this morning—the Baptism of Jesus—is the temptation of Jesus. It’s the time when Jesus is led into the wilderness for forty days and nights to be tempted by the devil.
 
What happens to Jesus after being baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is exactly what happens to every child of God who becomes a son or daughter of the heavenly Father.
 
A life of temptation from the Evil One himself, as he seeks to lead you to hunger and thirst for things that are not given to you in this life, or to tempt God’s care for you as he invites you to test your heavenly Father or lead you away from His Church, or to seek false power and glory in this life that have not been granted to you.  
 
However, while man often depends on their own weak powers to resist the temptations faced throughout this life’s wildernesses, Jesus depends on the Words of His heavenly Father. 
 
And in a way, it points us back to His baptism, where His Father spoke over Him,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
 
The Father is pleased because His Son is obedient and fulfills His will to redeem Israel. Jesus’ submitting to be baptized by John in the Jordan River identifies Himself with all sinners, including you.  
 
It’s there in the Jordan River—the Father’s voice, His Word, is joined to the water. From this moment on, the water joined by His name becomes a great treasure for the Christian. 
 
What a marvelous gift this is!
 
You see, Jesus had no need for repentance or forgiveness, but He received this baptism from John to reveal who He is, to take upon Himself the sinful condition of man, and to take His place, your place, under the wrath of His Father for the sin of the world.
 
In this way, Jesus’ baptism points you to His cross, where, through His death, He redeems God’s children. 
 
Yet, as you walk from the font to eternal life, you journey through many wildernesses and times of temptation. The devil is your enemy and also the enemy of every baptized child of God. As the Large Catechism recalls,
[The Devil] tries every trick and does not stop until he finally wears [you] out, so that [you] either renounce [your] faith or throw up [your] hands and put up [your feet], becoming indifferent or impatient.[1]
 
One of the main dangers to the Christian faith is that you, the baptized, become indifferent or impatient with God. You grow impatient because God’s will is not always your will, and your indifference shows through your lack of prayers and the exercise of your faith. 
 
Remember, St. Peter said, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
 
“Be sober-minded; be watchful.”
 
Keeping watch for the Christian is often associated with the baptismal life of prayer. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane,
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
 
Prayer is how Christians stay watchful and ready to enter eternal life with their Savior, Jesus Christ. 
 
Prayer is not only the voice of faith but also the exercise of one’s faith and the baptismal life. When you stop praying, you neglect to exercise your faith, and your faith grows cold, indifference to Christ grows, and sadly, your baptism becomes just a moment in time.
 
In these instances, the devil succeeds in his goal of leading God’s children away from Him. 
 
But see today how your life is called to follow the pattern of Jesus, how after receiving the gift of Baptism, you will, like Him, enter the wildernesses of this life.
 
But also remember how Jesus exercises faith and clings to His Father’s Word in every confrontation with the devil.
 
This is an image of the baptized life; therefore, parents, grandparents, godparents, sponsors, congregations, and even pastors must not only sit down and pray for the faith of the children baptized in the name of Jesus but also teach them how to pray.
 
Because no one’s baptism is meant to be just a moment in time, but rather the ongoing gift and exercise of faith that delivers your heavenly Father’s forgiveness, peace, and eternal life.
 
So go ahead, pray and tell the devil and this world, “I am baptized.” +INJ+
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
[1] Paul Timothy McCain, ed., Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2005), 433–434.

The Epiphany of Our Lord | Matthew 2:2-12 | God's Word Leads us to the Word Made Flesh

 
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
The faith of children is a precious gift. Their faith often stays pure and untouched by the ways of the world. They do not seek truth but instead believe simply in what Jesus has done for them.
 
And for me as a child, I remember the story of Jesus being taught to me both in church and at home, often through reading Arch Books, those well-known, simple children’s books from CPH (Concordia Publishing House). Whether it was the stories of “Lydia Believes,” “Samson Strong and Faithful,” “Jonah and the Very Big Fish,” the “Christmas Angels,” or simply the birth of Jesus, His miracles, His teaching, His crucifixion, and His resurrection - I believed these stories with great faith; I marveled at the work of God through His only begotten Son and the lives of His people. 
 
Likewise, the Gospel for Epiphany is one of those Scriptural stories told to children that causes them and us to marvel and look on with amazement—the story of the Wise Men, also known as the Magi.
 
Now the Magi were Gentiles, nonbelievers, outsiders to Israel. They were called Magi because they were scientists, seers, and undoubtedly learned men and scholars in the natural sciences, such as the movement of stars and planets. They were also seekers; they searched for knowledge and answers in the world, trying to understand its workings through witchcraft and the occult.
 
In many ways, as we grow into adulthood, we become similar to the Magi, seeking answers in the events of this world. Our inherent sin, the sin of Adam, causes us to fear the unknown. We become like Herod, afraid of losing our positions of power in the world – positions within our careers, our jobs, our homes, and our church. 
 
We find ourselves drifting away from God’s Word, and our once childlike faith grows dim and cold. Forgetting the stories of old, the stories handed down through apostles, prophets, and history, we neglect the tales taught to us as children. As we mature and grow older, we become skeptics and focus more on our own truths rather than the truth outside ourselves— the truth found and revealed in Jesus, the child in the manger.
 
Now, you see, children often need guidance as they discover and learn; they need to be taught how to read. They need someone to read to them to begin forming knowledge and understanding. They also need parents, grandparents, godparents, and families to point them toward where truth is located for them, directing them to God’s Word. 
 
Today, the focus is often on the Magi, who followed a star high in the sky. But the star alone was not enough to lead these men to their final destination. Instead, the star guided them to the Word. It brought them to Jerusalem, but from there, the priests reading the Word of God told the Magi where they needed to go: Bethlehem. 
 
According to the prophet Micah, the birthplace of the new child King would be Bethlehem. So the star in the sky led these Magi to seek, but it was the Word that ultimately directed them to where Christ could be found.
 
The Word guided them to the Word - the Word of God led them to the Word made flesh.
 
Like the Magi, you also desire truth. Your presence here this evening shows your wish to know God and be known by Him. You will find God, understand Him, and learn about Him in the same way as the Magi—by listening, following, and submitting to His Word. 
 
The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” As God’s child, regularly engage with the Scriptures; read, mark, and inwardly digest. Know that when “the Word of Christ dwells in you”—God is present in you, strengthening you for all the days of this life and, most importantly, keeping you in the one true faith through the Holy Spirit who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth. (Apostles' Creed, Meaning of the Third Article)
 
On this Epiphany, we rejoice because God’s Word continues to come to us, just as it entered a world darkened by sin and disbelief—salvation is revealed to all through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Magi searched for a king in Bethlehem, but what they discovered was God.
 
This is also the story of every catechumen and every baptized child of God.
 
Historically, on the festival of Epiphany, it was the church’s tradition to bring catechumens (both young and old) into the church through the waters of Holy Baptism. The catechumens, who were students, would be led to the font. Unlike us (although it is entirely acceptable to have the water poured or sprinkled on the head of the person being baptized), they might have entered the font as if walking into the darkness of the grave, while the baptismal waters submerged them and symbolically drowned the Old Adam and all sin. God’s Word was then spoken into their ears, and the name of Jesus, whom even the magi sought, was given to them. 
 
In this way, the Gospel was revealed to these young Christians—the same Gospel and the name of the child King who went to the cross and died for your sins—so that you may receive the Holy Spirit and remain in faith until the day their Lord returns.
 
This is what an epiphany is: to be made known or to manifest. Jesus—His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, and His promise to come again—being revealed, made known to those who have ears and rejoice in hearing this good news. 
 
This evening, this truth is once again made known to you as you make the sign of the cross or perhaps as you help the child next to you do the same to remember your Baptisms. Then, through the singing of hymns and the liturgy, in the reading of God’s Word, and in the breaking of bread—the Holy Spirit again guides and reveals to you your Savior. 
 
However, if given to the world, your minds and hearts, like mine, will be polluted and corrupted, and you will be led away from the truth found in Christ Jesus. But the miracle of faith given in your Baptism calls you back to Him.
 
You see, the Magi were men—men who searched the stars and planets for truth. But on that first Epiphany, the truth was unveiled to them through the Word made flesh. Their response after worshipping Jesus was not to question but simply to believe and return home transformed. 
 
You, too, are called to depart and return to your homes in a new way. Having received the flesh and blood of Christ Jesus, heard the Gospel, and been granted forgiveness, do not go back to your old ways of sin and disbelief. Instead, seek truth in the Holy Scripture and in Jesus. 
 
My friends, let this news, first revealed to the Magi, dwell within you, His faithful children. The news that Christ, your Lord, has come—that He comes to save you and all who believe this certain and unquestionable truth. So, let us rejoice, let us rejoice and believe as children; let us rejoice as the Magi, for today your Savior reveals Himself to you and the world in His Word. +INJ+
 
 
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
www.goodsheptomah.org

Funeral of Douglas (Doug) Murray

Funeral of Douglas (Doug) D. Murray
January 5, 2026
 
Dear Ruth, family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, grace, mercy, and peace be unto you this day.
 
Shortly after arriving here at Good Shepherd, Doug and Ruth called up the church one day to see if I would be interested in a children’s table and chairs for my kids to use. Having a need, I said, “Sure!”
 
So, the two of them loaded up the table and chairs, got in the car, and made their way through Tomah to the church. Once they arrived, Ruth came in and made small talk with Deb, the secretary, while Doug and I went out to move the table and chairs from their vehicle to the back of my own.
 
As I closed the back end of my vehicle, I had naively thought that was it, and the two of us would head back into the church so he could fetch Ruth.
 
I was wrong.
 
What followed was Doug holding court and sharing his life story with me. How he grew up around Kendall, married Yvonne, and how the two of them lived on the farm in Kendall before moving to Tomah. Oh, how he loved that farm.
 
He also talked about his wife, Yvonne, dying after 51 years of marriage and the heartbreak that followed.
 
Then Doug reconnected with Ruth from his younger years and recounted how she had been a Godsend to him. One thing I remember Doug saying is that when he married Ruth, they were attending different churches, but as he said, “A husband and wife should be in church together.” So, they were—each Sunday, sitting side by side, worshiping, praying, and learning the story of Jesus.
 
But more on this last part in a bit…
 
You see, what I learned that day in the parking lot was that Doug was a storyteller.
 
When Doug was going to tell you something, it was going to be done in the context of a story.
 
There was a story about which restaurants in town you should go to, why John Deere tractors were the best, and why the Packers would beat my Vikings.
 
There was even a story in these latter months as he lay in a hospital bed about how one of his doctors was eyeballing his cowboy boots.
 
Doug loved to tell stories.
 
But if you listened closely to his words, his stories weren’t always filled with joy or a joke. There was the heartbreak of Yvonne’s death. Not having children of his own, he relied greatly on his nephews. Being diagnosed with cancer, he experienced times of grief and frustration, too. 
 
In a way, Doug’s story is our story, your story, too.
 
It’s a story of love, heartache, and unavoidable changes in life.
 
But Doug’s life, you see, was really a small story in the telling of a greater, grander story.
 
Take a moment to step back and reflect on today’s readings from Holy Scripture.
 
In the first reading you have Job saying,
            Oh that my words were written!
                        Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
            Oh that with an iron pen and lead
                        they were engraved in the rock forever!
            For I know that my Redeemer lives,
                        and at the last he will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:23-25)
 
Well, what is the purpose of writing and inscribing words within a book?
 
To recount something that happened, to tell a story, and what is the story Job confesses and wants known?
 
That his redeemer lives and on the last day, He will raise Job from the dead, that He might stand with Jesus forever.
 
In the second reading, St. Paul says that he doesn’t want the brothers to be misinformed, so he writes,
For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
 
St. Paul doesn’t want the brothers to be uninformed, so he gave them a “Word,” which, as some translations might render it, is a teaching and continuation of the story of Christ.
 
And finally, in the third and final reading, Jesus said,
 
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me… and they will listen to my voice. (John 10:14, 16)
 
Here, Jesus says, the sheep will recognize His voice, or in other words, they will know My Word, and within this Word, the story of My life is contained, because in Me, My life is the life of My sheep. 
 
Ponder this, if the sheep hear the voice of Jesus, they hear His Word and receive His life.
 
In fact, all of Scripture is a retelling of God’s Word and the most incredible story ever told…
 
From the beginning of Genesis and the fall into sin, all the way to the final Amen of the book of Revelation, the words within tell how Jesus will come as a babe in Bethlehem, die on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world, rise from the dead on that first Easter morning, ascend in triumph at His Ascension to the right hand of His Father, and return again to gather His faithful children into His eternal presence. 
 
And this was the story Doug was brought into, not only on the day of his baptism as a baby many years ago, but every time he walked past the font at the entrance of the sanctuary.  
 
It’s truly remarkable that each week, as Doug gathered here in this sanctuary with Ruth and all his brothers and sisters in Christ, he took part in the story of Christ. He walked past the font, confessed his sins, and asked God for forgiveness. In fact, Doug joined the angels in singing the Gloria in Excelsis at Christmas, and he traveled through Holy Week by singing the Sanctus before hearing the Words of Institution from the night of Jesus’ betrayal, just before approaching this altar to receive the blessings of Christ’s cross in the Lord’s Supper. 
 
Being a Lutheran is pretty cool, I’m not going to lie, because every week we, like Doug, don’t only hear the story of Jesus, but become real-life participants as the Good Shepherd speaks to us through His Word and leads us to His nearer presence.
 
In fact, this is the whole purpose of gathering in the house of the Lord: to be prepared, as Doug, to be brought into the eternal presence of God.
 
As we depart today and journey to the grave, don’t leave the story of Doug’s life here, but take it with you, because it’s the story of Jesus Christ, who claimed Doug in the font of Holy Baptism and redeemed him through His death and resurrection.
 
Keep this story close to your heart and go in confidence because, like Doug, you have heard the Word of the Good Shepherd and you know without a doubt, “Your Redeemer lives!” +INJ+
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI