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

The Festival of Easter | Mark 16:1-8 | Jesus is Preparing You for Resurrection

The Festival of Easter
April 5, 2026
Mark 16:1-8
 
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
 
Since ancient times, family members have cared for their loved ones’ bodies after death. The family washed the body, dressed or wrapped it in linen shrouds, and surrounded it with incense, spices, and costly ointments. These practices of using pleasant fragrances served a practical purpose, masking the smell of death, as it was common for loved ones not only to carry the body to the family tomb but also to spend time with the deceased in the burial chamber.
 
On a different level, these practices of caring for the deceased also served as therapy, helping family members cope with their grief. In ways many of us are unaware of today, this process enables the living to accept the death of a loved one, gives purpose in caring for and dressing the body for burial, provides time to say goodbye, and ensures that rituals and dignity are maintained throughout the burial preparations. 
 
The idea of using a funeral home, embalming, and paying others to prepare a loved one’s body is fairly recent, emerging within the last one hundred to two hundred years.
 
But this morning, as we heard in the Gospel, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were walking to the tomb where Jesus was laid to continue the burial and ritual process that had begun in haste on Good Friday.
 
They bought and brought additional spices to the tomb, since the smell and stench of death would likely have started emanating from the body. You can assume that their walk to the tomb was rather slow, as they probably lacked joy in the tasks ahead. 
 
No one enjoys the journey to the grave, whether on foot or in a hearse. No one.
 
Because we understand that when we leave the grave, this is where the deceased will stay. We will depart, life will continue, but the dead remain.
 
But that’s why the morning’s Gospel is so surprising and exciting—because the women went to the tomb to care for Jesus’ body, but it wasn’t there. 
 
No, instead, what they see is an angel clothed in white, who announces to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
 
What wonderful words for their ears to hear.
 
What wonderful words for our ears to hear.
 
Now, there are a few things we can learn from the words of the angel. First, he says, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.”
 
We often like to disconnect the crucifixion from the resurrection, yet even in the earliest words announcing the resurrection of Jesus, it is clear that He remains the crucified. With Romans 4 in mind, St. Paul reveals this profound link between the crucifixion and resurrection as he says, “[Jesus] was delivered for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:25) 
 
So, what is Paul saying here?
 
He explains that Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty for your sins, every one of them. But His resurrection now demonstrates His power over the grave, confirming that forgiveness is available to those who believe in Him. It also assures you, the faithful, that when the time comes, you will not remain in the grave, but like Christ, you too will rise from the dead. 
 
And this is the great news of Easter, that “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.”
 
In a way, on Easter, we all become Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome as we come to this sanctuary. While we do not bring spices and ointments for His burial, we do bring songs of praise as we seek and celebrate the resurrected Jesus who is here as He has promised.
 
This journey we are on, whether alone or with others, is also a preparation for our own death in Christ—the grave we enter through our baptisms—shaping not just the body but also the soul, for eternal rest and new life in the resurrection with Christ Jesus.  
 
And this is why we come and return to this sanctuary as often as possible, for Christ Jesus to prepare our bodies and souls for our deaths and burials. To die to our sins, to walk away from the devil and the grave. To be clothed and made ready to be raised in forgiveness and new life, every Sunday and Lord’s Day. 
 
My friends in Christ, as the days go by, don’t let today or the next funeral of a loved one be the last time you journey here or walk past the font where Jesus, the crucified, placed His name upon you and made you a partaker of His resurrection. Instead, come back—come back often—to where Jesus has promised He is present for you for the forgiveness of sin. Come and sing praises to your heavenly King, come and receive the foretaste of heaven prepared for you at this rail, come, rejoice, and confess with your brothers and sisters in Christ and the whole company of heaven...
 
O Death, where is your sting?
 
O Hell, where is your victory?
 
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.
 
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.
 
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.
 
Christ is risen, and life reigns.
 
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
 
For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.
 
So let us stand at the grave and cry out…
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
Amen.
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 

The Great Easter Vigil | The Church has Always Kept Watch

The Great Easter Vigil
April 4, 2026
 
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
 
The Psalmist writes, “My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)
 
Since the beginning of time and the fall into sin, mankind has been keeping watch for its redemption.
 
In fact, the entirety of Scripture is nothing but the prayer of the Psalmist, “My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)
 
The image the Psalmist is painting for the reader is that of a vigil.
 
Honestly, vigils are not that foreign to us, are they?
 
We keep vigil when a woman is near giving birth.
 
We keep vigil for a child’s return late at night.
 
We keep vigil for the soldier overseas.
 
We keep vigil for the one who is ill.
 
We keep vigil when death draws near.
 
The idea of keeping watch, of keeping vigil, is ingrained in the rhythms of life.
 
It began with Adam and Eve as they waited for a seed, born of woman, to crush the serpent’s head. It continued with Israel as they observed the Lord’s Passover and remembered His promise to redeem them. And it was fulfilled in the coming of the Christ Child that first Christmas.
 
The Church is no different; throughout its history, it has always gathered in the darkness of night, with candles and torches in hand, as a reminder that the Light of Christ will scatter the darkness of sin and this world. (1 Corinthians 4:5)
 
You see this most clearly when we gather on Christmas Eve in the darkness to pray, sing Silent Night, and wait for the birth of the Christ Child. 
 
It really shouldn’t surprise you that, when we gather to celebrate the birth of Christ, we would also come together on this most holy of nights to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and to welcome the new life given to man through His resurrection. 
 
As St. Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. (1 Peter 1:3)
 
This is why, throughout the centuries, this night has been dedicated to baptizing and confirming catechumens and students of the faith, symbolizing their transition from the darkness of unbelief into the light of faith and new life. 
 
This is a night for you to recount God’s mercy through the reading of Scripture to His entire Church. It is a night of new birth and the remembrance of your baptism. It is a night for the light of Christ to dawn upon you, His creatures who are in need of rescuing.
 
So don’t be shy, but out of the darkness of your life, remain ready and learn to pray with the Psalmist and the Church, “My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)
 
Pray in the night of waiting, pray at the time of anguish and yearning, pray when death draws near.
 
But then rejoice, because morning has come, your Savior has risen from the dead, and He has an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance for you in heaven.
 
So, rejoice and greet this happy day, saying…
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 
 
 
 

Good Friday | The Death of Jesus is Your Death

Good Friday
April 3, 2026
 
 
Leading up to the season of Lent, we meditated on the Latin phrase “Memento Mori,” meaning “remember your death,” or “remember you must die.”
 
A difficult phrase to comprehend, a matter we’d prefer not to contemplate.
 
We don’t want to grapple with the idea of death, let alone give it room to exist in our minds. Yet, as people get older, the thought becomes unavoidable. 
 
As we discussed, one way the ancients kept the idea of death before them was by sometimes using the actual bones and skulls of loved ones who had already died; they would place these items on a worktable or desk. 
 
Naturally, this isn’t something we do today, nor would we consider it.
 
Yet, the season of Lent is meant to encourage us to reflect on “Memento Mori.” It aims to prompt us to confront aspects of life that weaken our faith, especially those that often lead us to sin and spiritual death. 
 
And we don’t need to look far for examples in our lives that lead us to death.
 
Reflect on tonight’s readings about Judas’ actions as he betrayed Jesus and handed Him over to the chief priests and Pharisees. Are you any different from Judas? How often do you find yourself being greedy and selfish, only thinking of yourself? 
 
In this way, you have delivered Jesus over to be scourged.
 
Then there’s Peter. You want to confess with him, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” (Matthew 16:16). But honestly, when was the last time you discussed or confessed the Christian faith outside of these walls? With a friend, a coworker, or a family member?
 
Sometimes we forget that words left unsaid still carry meaning. They still confess something, and in this case, they reflect Peter’s cowardly nature when it mattered most, as he said, “I do not know the man.” (Matthew 26:72)
 
In this way, you are a feeble witness as your Savior was tried as a criminal for your offenses.
 
Yet, the example of Pilate still remains. He’s indifferent at best, and when faced with a choice, Pilate will take the easy way out, handing Jesus over to be crucified rather than standing firm against the mobs. 
 
Like with Peter, consider how you approach and assess the situation, choosing the easier path, and instead of standing up for what is right and confessing Jesus, you let your selfishness lead you to hand Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified. 
 
To die.
 
All of these events led to Jesus’ death on the cross; however, while Jesus did die on the cross about two thousand years ago, today is really about your own death. 
 
As we read in the book of Romans, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
 
Or a little later in Romans, we hear the familiar passage,
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. (Romans 6:4)
 
We speak this verse often, because we have a great need for “Memento Mori.”
 
We have a profound need to remember our own death and mourn the things that lead us toward death. We must turn away from what harms our faith. To drown our betrayal, denial, and selfish indifference to Christ in the waters of Holy Baptism, remember that we must die to sin in order to rise to new life. 
 
When we can do this, “Memento Mori” isn’t as scary as it first appears.
 
On this Good Friday, remember your death by taking up the cross in your hands, placing it before your eyes each day, seeing your Savior on the cross, and recognizing your own death on the cross. 
 
One of the wonderful aspects of the hymns we sing tonight is that they allow us to meditate on this reality. Using the closing stanza of “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” let it serve as a prayer and a reflection of joy and life. 
 
       Be Thou my consolation,    My shield, when I must die;Remind me of Thy passion    When my last hour draws nigh.Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,    Upon Thy cross shall dwell,My heart by faith enfold Thee.    Who dieth thus dies well.
 
As Lent comes to an end, keep these words and the cross of Jesus before you and remember that His death is your death, “Memento Mori.” 
 
But His life is also your life. So, look to the cross, keep it in your sight, hold onto it, for there hangs the Life that ends all death.
 
+INJ+
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 

Maundy Thursday | 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 & John 13:1-15, 34-35 | Let a Person Examine Themselves

Holy Thursday
April 2, 2026
1 Corinthians 11:23-32 & John 13:1-15, 34-35
 
 
When one thinks of Maundy Thursday, they often think of the Lord’s Last Supper.
 
Rightfully so, as in the sequence of Holy Week’s events, this is when the Lord’s Supper was instituted by our Savior for us Christians, to eat and to drink, for the forgiveness of our sins.
 
It’s also for this reason that we hear St. Paul’s instructions regarding the Lord’s Supper.
 
In the epistle this evening, St. Paul follows up the words of institution by instructing the Christian that whenever they receive the gift of the holy supper, they are confessing what Jesus has done for them upon the cross every day of their life, until Jesus returns.
 
But also, Paul says,
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:27)
 
Receiving the sacrament unworthily means approaching the altar with an attitude or behavior that lacks faith and fails to recognize that, at this altar, you receive the very flesh and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. At this altar, you confess a shared faith with the brothers and sisters to your left and right, and you also confess love for your Lord and your neighbor. 
 
But unworthiness can also present itself when you come to receive the Lord’s Supper if you are guilty of not loving your neighbor, because when someone does not love their neighbor, they are not loving Christ. For this reason, to sin against your neighbor is to sin against Christ.
 
St. Paul says, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28)
 
To examine yourself means to test yourself and critically reflect on your actions, thoughts, and beliefs. Do they align with God’s will for you? For example, do they align with the Ten Commandments, as you’ve learned them not only from the Small Catechism but also from Holy Scripture? 
 
In the letter to the Galatians, St. Paul says, “Let each person examine his own work.” (Galatians 6:4)
 
Examine yourself—your thoughts, words, and actions—while avoiding pride and selfishness. Looking upon others and saying, “I’m glad I’m not like them…”
 
For just two verses prior, Paul said to the Galatians, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
 
Part of fulfilling the law is to bear one another’s burdens, to walk through this life with your brothers and sisters, not only to the communion rail but also as you leave the rail to return to your seats, your homes, and your vocations. 
 
Which leads us to this question: What does Maundy Thursday mean?
 
Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (commandment), referring to the “new commandment” Jesus gave his disciples and to us during the institution of the Lord’s Supper. He said,
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
 
But if you honestly examine yourselves, your lives, your words, and thoughts, do you come to the altar of the Lord with this love for one another as Christ says?
 
Or are you like Judas, just a bunch of betrayers of God and His word?
 
Betraying your Savior with your silence… silence in confessing your faith in Him, silence in confessing your sins to Him, silence in confessing your sins against Him because of your transgressions against your neighbors.
 
Think about this: do you approach this rail without first considering how you hurt and sin against others? Or the lack of reconciliation you have with one another? Have you made peace with each other or those individuals who have hurt you in your life?
 
This is a good time for us to remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount,
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:22-26)
 
St. Jerome, a translator of the Scriptures, reflects on this passage,
[Jesus] did not say, “If you have anything against your brother” but “If your brother has anything against you,” so that a greater need for reconciliation is imposed on you. As long as we are unable to make peace with our brother, I do not know whether we may offer our gifts to God.
 
In other words, if you are unable to make peace and reconcile with your brothers and sisters, you won’t be able to approach God with faithful gifts like prayer, singing, or devotion, let alone be prepared to receive the gift He has for you in the flesh and blood of the Lord’s Supper.
 
And why is this important?
 
Because when Jesus gives you a new commandment to love one another, He is instructing you to be merciful to each other, just as He will be to them and has been to you through His sacrificial death on the cross.
 
So, what does a sacrificial and merciful life look like for you?
 
Probably doing one of the hardest things you could imagine. No, you won’t have to give up your life savings to rescue a family member from debt. You won’t have to give up a vital organ to save a child’s life. You won’t even have to give up your earthly life.
 
Still, what you will need to do is one of the most challenging things you could imagine: ask your Father in heaven for a humble heart, to remove pride from your heart, so you may die to your sin, confess the malice, spite, hatred, coldness, and enmity you have toward your neighbor, and repent. 
 
All of this is difficult because the world will call you weak, and your heart will feel vulnerable.
 
But to walk in the footsteps of Jesus is to do as He commands, “that you love one another: just as [He] has loved you, you also are to love one another.”
 
Because here, at this rail, there may only be love for one another, because He, your Savior, has loved you to the end, even to the cross.
 
+INJ+
 
 Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 

Palm Sunday | John 12:20-43 | Hosanna! A Cry for Help

Palm Sunday
John 12:20-43
March 29, 2026
 
 
Their brother had just died. They were overwhelmed with anger, sadness, and confusion. How could this have happened? What should they do now?
 
They had called for help, but no one came. Have you ever felt this panic before in your life?
 
The pain of death has started to take hold. Have you felt this fear? Has death touched someone close to you? Your brother, your husband, your wife, your parent, your child? In these moments, nothing else seems to matter. Everything that once existed in life is now gone. 
 
This is how Mary and Martha felt when their brother, Lazarus, died in the chapter right before the Gospel reading at the very beginning of our service today. They were overwhelmed with sadness and disappointment. Jesus was their friend, but he didn’t arrive when they called for him. He didn’t even appear for the funeral. 
 
Have you ever felt the loneliness of Mary and Martha? Have you ever been angry or confused with God? Have you walked through a cemetery, looking at the dates carved into the stone markers, realizing it has been a long time since the graves of your brothers, sisters, husband, wife, or children were closed? It has been a long time since something has happened. It often seems like no one is coming to help.
 
Jesus made Mary and Martha wait. Why?
 
To show them that he weeps with them, shares their sadness, but also to reveal his power over death, which is the power of the resurrection in him. He answers the pleas of God’s children at the right time, but that time is unknown to us.
 
So what does the Gospel reading about the raising of Lazarus have to do with today’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem?
 
Everything.
 
It was those crowds that witnessed Jesus calling Lazarus out of the tomb, who couldn’t stop talking about this great sign. Others couldn’t help but run to see this miracle worker, this man, this King, who called Lazarus by name, raised His friend from the dead, and gave him life.
 
This is why crowds gathered on Palm Sunday. They lined the streets to celebrate the One who is the resurrection of the dead.
 
This raises the question: why have you come and entered this sanctuary today? Why do you gather around the One who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey? What were you expecting when you drove to church this morning?
 
Well, when you come to church, you bring everything that weighs you down—your sorrow, sadness, and guilt. The challenges of marriage and raising a family, losing a job, being betrayed by a friend, a cancer diagnosis, and the endless confusion and grief over losing a loved one. So, what can this Jesus on a donkey do about all of that? Would your life be different if you met the One whose name we sing about today? 
 
The death and decaying body of Lazarus remind us of the sin we carry. Our lives are filled with disappointment, the stench of our sinful ways, and decaying bodies. 
 
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, reached out and grasped for control of their lives in the Garden of Eden. They ate what was forbidden. They tasted what they believed to be good and brought sin into the world through their disobedience to God’s command. But how much more do we not only taste what is bad, what is sinful, but also feast on it as we turn away from God’s Word and the gathering with His saints in the worship of His Son, the King? How often do we find ourselves caught up in sin and in the grave of spiritual death?  
 
But this is exactly why Jesus entered the world and into Jerusalem in today’s Gospel — to save sinners, to redeem them, and to remove the stench of death that clings to your flesh.
 
Through death, He becomes the life for all the living.
 
This is why He came — to raise the dead and give you His life! 
 
And this is what the Word of God does: it proclaims and grants you the forgiveness of sin and gives life to those who have died in Christ Jesus.
 
This morning, we dedicated a Gospel Book in memory of Kevin Franks. The book’s beauty and adornment highlight the true beauty of God’s Word. Just as the Gospel nourished Kevin with the Good News, forgiveness, and the life of his Savior, Jesus Christ, throughout his life, Jesus continues to speak to us through this same Word today. A Word that calls us to gather, turn, and line the aisle of this sanctuary so we might hear the voice of our Savior, just as Kevin heard this same voice as he gathered with his family and his brothers and sisters in Christ every Sunday, to hear and receive the words of eternal life and resurrection joy.
 
In fact, it’s precisely for this reason that the crowds lined the streets of Jerusalem with their joyful hosannas. The good news of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead through His Word spread quickly. Those who saw this miracle couldn’t stay silent; instead, they were compelled to fill the streets with their cries. And for this, they also shouted, “Hosanna,” loudly and passionately, because they longed for a King who would save them, grant forgiveness, and give eternal life.  
 
Hosanna means “Save us now.”
 
Hosanna was the battle cry of those who lined Jerusalem’s road. The cry of Hosanna remains your petition and prayer today. When life feels overwhelming, the prayer of Hosanna is your plea to God for deliverance from what oppresses you. Therefore, you are given this word of Hosanna to pray, just as those who lined Jerusalem’s road did, to ask God to save you and grant you deliverance from whatever continues to enslave you today. 
 
But Hosanna is much more than a word to be sung only on Palm Sunday. It is more than just a theme for Holy Week. Yes, it certainly guides us through the week ahead, but Hosanna points us toward Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, when our Lord gives us a new commandment to love one another as He has loved us. This love continues today through the sacrament of Holy Communion, where He offers His flesh and blood for the forgiveness of your sins. Hosanna also points to the Passion of Good Friday, when another crowd gathers and cries out, “His blood be upon us and our children.”
 
His blood is on us as our sins are on Him. We are guilty, and for our sins, He went to the cross.  
 
But on the cross, we see our victory. In the cross, we see our Hosanna, our Savior. The one who was sent to crush the head of the serpent and bring life and salvation to all who hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is, after all, what the name of Jesus means: to save people from their sins. 
 
It’s this name that is given to you in the saving waters of Holy Baptism. This name is your Hosanna, your petition, and your lifeline to God when sorrows surround you. Yet, this cry of Hosanna also becomes your song of joy. It is your song of joy because on the cross, Jesus is the victor, the Savior, the One who dies in your place. He is the one who rose for your justification, the forgiveness of your sin. In Him, you may never doubt but always hope for the things to come, a resurrection not only for Lazarus and Kevin, but also for you. 
 
So, come, my friends, and gather around the Gospel of Jesus this Palm Sunday and Holy Week, sing Hosanna, and pray “Save us, Lord.”
 
These words are your confidence throughout all the days of your life. Hosanna is your song of gladness because you know what Jesus has already accomplished in His death and now gives you life.
 
Hosanna is your song of gladness because Jesus has scattered the darkness of sadness, anger, and abandonment, and has given you the light of His Word to guide and comfort you.
 
Hosanna is your song of gladness as you sing in the Sanctus and prepare to receive the flesh and blood of your Savior for the forgiveness of your sins.
 
Hosanna is your song of gladness, your confidence to journey to the cross, to rest with Him in the tomb, and to know that just as He has risen from the dead, He has triumphed over the grave and will call you as He called His friend Lazarus to come forth from your graves on the last day.
 
So sing Hosanna, what a beautiful song, because in Jesus, your salvation has been won, and your sorrows will be no more. +INJ+
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 
 

Lent 5 – Midweek | Matthew 16:13-28 & John 20:19-23 | The Office of the Keys

Lent 5 – Midweek
Matthew 16:13-28 & John 20:19-23
 
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Last week, we began discussing the Office of the Keys.
 
The Small Catechism asks, “What is the Office of the Keys?”
 
The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.
 
We primarily focused on how the Office of Keys is an office of authority anchored and possessed by the Church.
 
This week, we move on to how pastors exercise the Office of the Keys in the Office of Holy Ministry.
 
The Small Catechism asks, What do you believe according to these words (The words read in our two readings this evening)?
 
I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.
 
In this way, the Pastor is not acting for himself, but in the stead and by the command of Jesus Christ. This is why, in the absolution at the beginning of the Divine Service, the pastor says, “As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins…”
 
The pastor announced the grace and forgiveness of Jesus, as one who has been properly called and by the authority of the Office that Jesus instituted.
 
None of this is of a pastor’s own accord, but of Jesus’.
 
But as we discussed last week, we struggle with the idea and concept of authority.
 
This struggle begins in childhood when a babysitter or teacher gives you instruction, and you respond or mutter under your breath, “You aren’t the boss of me.” But they were, and for some of you, they still are, because the parent delegated the authority of their office to the teacher or babysitter. The parent did this, so there would be someone to protect you from harm and danger, to help you learn, to lead you in the way of growing in knowledge and truth.
 
As time passes and you get older, you could make a living from the complaints and frustrations you have with a foreman or a manager you perceive as incompetent.
 
Still, they are the ones who have been placed in positions of authority. And whether we like it or not, their position is one to consider for the well-being of the people who serve and work under them. 
 
Now, like the prophet Jonah, many pastors have actually tried to avoid God’s call to serve His Church. They may be like Jonah, disobedient souls who don’t want to deal with difficult people, like those of Nineveh, so they disobey God’s calling. Or they have fallen in love with the world and its glamor, unable to imagine leaving home with only God’s Word in their hand and heart. Yet, others (including myself) feel a deep sense of incapability, thinking, “How could I assume an office of such responsibility?”
 
But in times such as these, a pastor must remember, it is Jesus who sends them.
 
As the Apostle Paul wrote, “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”
 
St. Paul is quoting the prophet Isaiah here, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news.”
 
Pastors are called and sent, not of their own accord, but like the prophets and apostles, by God’s direction and Word.
 
Pastors are undershepherds of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. They receive their authority and instruction from Jesus and His Word alone.
 
And like all teachers, leaders, or anyone who has held a position of authority in your life, pastors are sent to provide guidance, so you don’t end up in trouble. They are there to help you avoid causing harm to others. They carry the shepherd’s crook of God’s Word to combat the forces of darkness that seek to lead you away from God. And they are sent to pursue you if you stray. But they also stand ready to announce the Gospel, the forgiveness of sins to all who confess their trespasses.
 
Still, there are sadly times when the sheep do not repent, when they permit themselves to be caught in the thicket of stubbornness and sin, and as the Small Catechism says, the openly unrepentant sinner [is excluded] from the Christian congregation.
 
These sheep are not permitted through the gate, to the rail of the Lord’s Supper, until they repent.
 
This is often referred to as excommunication.
 
This can be a difficult task because emotions, feelings, and relationships are involved. When a sinner refuses to repent and is often no longer among the congregation, there is sadness among the flock, because a sheep has wandered away from their home and is refusing to return to their brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
These instances hurt a pastor’s feelings and emotions, too. As an undershepherd of Christ, they have no desire to lose a sheep of the fold.
 
But they are charged as Jesus said this evening to St. Peter,
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
 
Or as we heard in the Gospel of St. John,
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.
 
The pastoral office, the Office of Holy Ministry, is one of responsibility.
 
As St. Paul wrote in the book of Acts,
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
 
The Church and those sheep that fill its walls were bought with the blood of Christ Jesus upon His cross. For this reason, there’s no greater responsibility than to watch over and care for His flock.
 
And for this reason, when one of us strays into unrepentance, the Church is to pray for them and their conversion, their confession of sin, taking to heart the words of Jesus in the Gospel of St. Luke,
I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)
 
“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents…”
 
And this is why God sends pastors among you: so that when someone repents, they may quickly hear the words of the Gospel, be restored to communion and fellowship with the flock, and then reach the place where the joys of heaven are present for them, where the angels, archangels, and the entire company of heaven are rejoicing—here where the flesh and blood of Jesus are present for the forgiveness of sins. 
 
The forgiveness of your sins.
 
My friends, the Office of the Keys, the Holy Ministry, was established for you and your spiritual well-being. Your Father loved you, so He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you on the cross, and now His Son sends His undershepherds to care for you, to guide and protect you, and to lead you to repentance, so you will hear the Good News of His forgiveness. +INJ+
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 
 

The Fifth Sunday in Lent – Judica | John 8:42-59 | There's No Hiding from God

The Fifth Sunday in Lent – Judica
March 22, 2026
John 8:42-59
 
Today isn’t one of the Gospel readings that gets you excited to say, “This is the Gospel of the Lord.”
 
“Praise to you, O Christ!”
 
But in some ways, Judica Sunday, appears like a downer all the way around.
 
Judica means “Judge me.” But who wants to be judged?
 
This Sunday marks another wave of changes in the Divine Service. We begin with the Litany, emphasizing the next two weeks as a time for special devotion and prayer. We remove the Gloria Patri from the end of the introit, Nunc Dimittis, and any other part of the Divine Service, removing the little praise that remains in this difficult season of Lent. Still, now we have covered and veiled the cross of Jesus, so we cannot even see our Savior. 
 
What’s up with that?
 
Today marks the start of Passiontide, a short season within Lent. It is characterized by the veiling of crosses in the church, symbolizing anticipation for Good Friday. The crosses are neither removed nor forgotten; instead, they are veiled during the final weeks of Lent as a humble sign of reverence for the cross and the Passion of Christ Jesus. Often, a gauzy black material, similar to a widow’s mourning veil, is used rather than a solid woven cloth. This allows the outlines of the crosses to remain visible while hiding the finer artistic details of the body of Christ.
 
Have you ever considered that when a widow veils herself, it might be for mourning, as a tradition or a way of dress, but it could also be done unconsciously to hide oneself from the world? 
 
Interestingly, the Church is the bride of Christ, so it might be appropriate for us to grieve and mourn at this time. But maybe not in the way you expect.
 
No, our mourning and sadness must be over our sin, the hidden transgressions that led Jesus to go to the cross and die for us.
 
Now, the practice of veiling the cross or crucifix comes from the closing verse of today’s Gospel reading, which is why we veiled the crucifix at that time. It said, “they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.” (John 8:59)
 
The idea of hiding oneself is easy to understand if you’ve ever played hide and seek. When Jesus hid Himself, it simply means that He was avoiding being seen. It wasn’t quite the time for His Passion.
 
Do you know who else hid themselves in Scripture?
 
Adam and Eve, that’s who.
 
After they had fallen into sin, realized they were naked, made loincloths for themselves, it says,
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)
 
It’s fascinating, really. First, they try to hide their physical bodies from one another through the use of clothing, but then they attempt to physically hide from God, their Creator.
 
So, the text goes on with Adam and Eve,
But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)
 
Now, don’t interpret this as a literal calling by God, implying that He doesn’t know where Adam and Eve are at the moment. Instead, God is using a rhetorical question here as a figure of speech to make a point.
 
“You are the stewards of my creation, and you believe you can hide from me? What have you done?”
 
We read in the book of Jeremiah,
Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:24)
 
Adam and Eve could not hide themselves from their Lord, and neither can you.
 
This is what the entire season of Lent leads us to understand: we cannot hide our sins from God, our Father and Creator.
 
But we try, don’t we? We try to hide from God just as we try to hide from our family, friends, and neighbors.
 
We silence our phones so we don’t have to talk with a friend or relative we’ve been arguing with. We hide our eating disorders in the drawer of our desk. We bury our anxiety and depression behind the smiles on our faces. We disguise our anger towards others with a handshake and a smirk. We use apps, or Apple's new option for public and private web browsing on their computers, phones, and tablets, so you can hide web activity that isn’t suitable for public viewing, such as porn or gambling addictions. 
 
A challenge in all of this is that, by hiding from each other, you’ve become so disconnected from God’s Word and the severity of your sin that you don’t even realize how serious your secret sins are.
 
But just as Your Father in heaven knew the faults of Adam and Eve, He knows your faults and failures. You cannot hide from your Creator or the one who is your Judge.
 
When you try to hide yourself, you no longer see Jesus or hear His Word. This causes you to join the Jews in the Gospel today, blind to your Savior and the reason He came—to redeem you on the cross. 
 
Sadly, in this way, Jesus remains hidden from you.
 
But as Jesus said in the Gospel, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.”
 
Faith steps out of the shadows, out of hiding, and hears the Words of Jesus, confessing their faith with eyes wide open, seeing Jesus as their Savior.
 
And this is an important aspect not only of the season of Lent but also of these final two weeks—being attentive to hearing God’s Word. Because when you listen to the Words of Jesus, as they dwell and take root within you, the image of Jesus and His cross is never far, but firmly planted within your minds and hearts.
 
Martin Luther made a wonderful comment about this image and the use of the crucifix; he says,
For whether I will or not, when I hear of Christ, an image of a man hanging on a cross takes form in my heart, just as the reflection of my face naturally appears in the water when I look into it. If it is not a sin but good to have the image of Christ in my heart, why should it be a sin to have it in my eyes?[1]
 
Although the crosses and crucifixes in the church are now veiled and hidden from view, listen carefully to the words of Jesus and allow the image of your Savior to appear within your mind, for He is never truly hidden from you or far from your heart. 
 
And then, do not forget, like Adam and Eve, that you cannot hide from your heavenly Father. He knows the secrets of your heart and does not desire the death of the sinner, but instead wants you to turn away from your evil ways and live.  
 
As Good Friday approaches, prepare by confessing not only the sins known to others but also the hidden sins that are damaging your relationships, your faith, and your soul. 
 
Confess them so that when the veil is lifted on this life, your heart will be filled with joy, knowing that your Savior loved you and was willing to die for you on the cross, so He could forgive you and you would receive eternal life with Him.
 
And for this, you will say with all the company of heaven, “Praise to you, O Christ!” +INJ+
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 
 
[1] Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 40: Church and Ministry II. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 40, pp. 99–100). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
 

Lent 4 Midweek | Matthew 18 & John 20:19-23 | The Office of the Keys

Midweek 4 – The Office of the Keys
March 18, 2026
Matthew 18 & John 20:19-23
 
Tonight, we continue our walk-through Confession and Absolution and take up the Small Catechism’s teaching on the Office of the Keys, a teaching we don’t really meditate upon much these days.
 
The Small Catechism asks, “What is the Office of the Keys?”
 
The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.
 
The Office of the Keys begins with the concept and idea of authority.
 
But man doesn’t like authority, does he?
 
It’s interesting, the etymology, the root of the word, authority, comes from the same source as the word author, which provides us with a beautiful story, really.
 
The story of authority began in the Garden of Eden, where God created man and woman along with everything that filled the earth. God is the author of this story, the creator of heaven and earth, and all that fills it. He provided Adam and Eve, your first parents, with instructions on how to care for His creation and how to avoid trouble, sin, and disobedience , but they didn’t listen to the author.
 
Instead, they rebelled against authority, the author who instructed them through His Word, and ensured all future children would be born with their sin inscribed upon their hearts.   
 
And because of the sin of Adam and Eve being written upon your hearts, you also, like them, rebel against authority and the author of life, Himself.
 
Your rebellion against authority shows early on when you, as a child, disobey your parents. They tell you to clean your room, and instead, you choose to play a video game or look them straight in the eye and say, “No.”
 
You rebel against the authority your parents entrusted to your teachers; they tell you to sit silently so they can start class, and you keep talking, thinking your conversation about the monkey bars or the gossip about what another student is wearing is more important. 
 
As you get older, it doesn’t get better. Instead, the story of sin written and formed through your hearts since birth leads you to reject the authority of professors, supervisors at work, law enforcement, and yes, even pastors who have been sent not of their own accord, but of God’s.
 
We do this, because like Adam and Eve, we desire lives of autonomy. Meaning, we want to live for ourselves, not for anyone else. We want to make the rules.
 
But God, as the author of life, created man and woman for community, for fellowship, and in doing so, He also provided an order of authority in His creation. Adam was created first and was to be in charge and responsible for Eve and her actions.
 
Adam was meant to care for her, protect her, and lead her. This is what authority or those in positions of authority do for those entrusted to their care.
 
Adam failed. Eve, likewise, failed. But Adam, the one who was placed as the head of family, he failed.
 
A complete breakdown of the order of Creation and the authority entrusted by God.
 
For this reason, God promised to send a child to redeem, meaning to buy back His creation from sin, through His only Son, Jesus Christ.
 
In His trial that first Holy Week, there is this wonderful exchange between Pilate and Jesus written for us in the Gospel John, it says,
So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:10-11)
 
We learn from this that all authority in heaven and on earth originates with God the Father, the Creator, and author of heaven and earth.
 
He sends His Son, Jesus, to submit to the authority of Pontius Pilate, to die upon the cross, to redeem you and what was lost in the sin of your first parents.
 
Jesus teaches us to live in submission and be obedient to all authority by fulfilling His Father’s will, even to the point of death, so that you might receive the forgiveness of sins He won for you on the cross. 
 
Which leads us back to the beginning of this evening’s sermon and the question, “What is the Office of the Keys?”
 
The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.
 
The Office of the Keys is a position established by Jesus within the Church that has the authority to declare His grace and forgiveness of sins to those who have repented and to withhold the forgiveness to those who do not repent. 
 
We see the Office of the Keys clearly through Jesus’ words recorded in John:
The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22–23)
 
The Office of the Keys is best understood through the analogy of a prison cell. The person guilty of sin is imprisoned by it; they are locked within the prison of death. The only way to open the door of sin and death is first through repentance; then through the pastor, who acts in the stead and authority of Jesus, declares the forgiveness of Jesus to you.  
 
Which is a joy, because this is the sole purpose of the Church, to grant the forgiveness of sin to those who repent.
 
God wants you to know His forgiveness is present for you—through His Church, His Word, and the signs, such as the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 
 
In fact, Jesus said in the first reading this evening, you must be willing to humble yourself and become like a child in need of their Father’s help, living in submission to Him who has written His name upon you in the waters of Holy Baptism.
 
And for this reason, don’t rebel against God, the author and authority of life; instead, listen to and obey His Word. Come to the Church where His forgiveness is present for you, so that you may be released from the sins that imprison you.
 
And then guide the children of the church to grow and learn the story of confession and absolution, because this is how they will be led, like Jonah, to confess their sins and faith before God. Then, they will be released from their sins through Jesus’ forgiveness in the flesh and blood of the Lord’s Supper, received at this altar—food of comfort and encouragement in this life. 
 
Comfort and encouragement we should all desire, but are only found here in the sanctuary of God’s church on earth. +INJ+
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 

The Fourth Sunday in Lent + Laetare | John 6:1-15 | The Church our Mother

The Fourth Sunday in Lent + Laetare
March 15, 2026
John 6:1-15
 
 
A beautiful reality of a church with children is that you get to see them grow from the time they are born.
 
The child, often carried to the font in a mother’s arms, enters the church through Holy Baptism and receives new life through the work of the Holy Spirit. For the first few months, one might wonder if the baby makes any noise as they remain in their mother’s arms, clinging to their love. But then, as they grow, they become more active. They move, fidget, and yes, they make noise. 
 
Still, while some like to say, “They’re the future of the Church,” as baptized children of God, they are the Church, even now.
 
As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians,
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13a)
 
Notice how St. Paul doesn’t mention age, mental capacity, or anything else. He simply states how we are all members of the body of Christ through Holy Baptism.
 
Maybe you can hear the words of Dr. Seuss in the back of your mind, “A person’s a person no matter how small.”
 
And this is especially true in the Church, where we believe all life born of woman is a gift from God.
 
However, in many congregations, the question has become, “How do we keep the children quiet or entertained so the adults can listen and hear?”
 
But one might ask, do these questions recognize what St. Paul said above, that we are many members of one body?
 
Could we ask a different question?
 
How do we care for the youngest lives and nurture the faith of the youngest among us? How do we help them remain faithfully in the Church beyond the years of Confirmation?
 
This is an important question for us to ponder.
 
Simply put, we don’t delay in teaching them that they are members of the Church today. We don’t hesitate to instill the liturgy in their hearts. We don’t wait to help them hear God’s Word of forgiveness. We don’t delay in preparing them and guiding them to receive the Lord’s Supper. 
 
Instead, parents now actively guide and teach their children in the liturgy of the Divine Service, in hearing God’s Word, and preparing them to receive the Lord’s Supper.
 
Which raises the question, are we listening and participating throughout the Divine Service? Do we lead the little ones among us to follow along with the service by our example? Do we bring them to the rail to receive a blessing and teach them about the significance of Jesus’ body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, as well as how He cares for, feeds, and forgives us through this sacred meal? 
 
But when parents aren’t present or available, we need to step up as members of the church as we are able, recognizing that, as the body of Christ, we all have different talents and abilities. Similarly, not all children are the same and respond to their older brothers and sisters in Christ differently, too. When these instances occur, we still have the opportunity to teach the faith through our examples in Divine Service.
 
Because, in the end, all of us were brought into the Church in the same way, through the font of Holy Baptism, and within this Church, we have all grown and been nurtured in the Christian faith through the same words of Jesus Christ.
 
For this reason, the Church is like a living, breathing mother, caring for her children, no matter how big or how small.
 
Throughout the Scriptures, the Church is often described as a mother. The prophet Isaiah spoke about the new birth of God’s children and how the Church will provide her children with eternal comfort and peace, as he wrote, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13)
 
Jesus would expand on this theme as He describes Jerusalem as a hen that gathers and shields her brood of chicks under her wings from the viper that aims to take their lives. (Matthew 23:37)
 
Or St. Paul wrote to those in Galatia that the heavenly Jerusalem is the mother of all God’s children.
Which prodded Martin Luther to write in the Large Catechism, “[The Christian Church] is the mother that conceives and bears every Christian through God’s Word.” (LC II 42)
 
For these reasons, how we nurture and lead the children of this church in the faith matters immensely.
 
As the familiar proverb goes, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
 
Training, teaching, and leading start even while the infant rests in their mother’s arms.
 
Honestly, this lens should continue to change how we view and approach Confirmation and First Communion.
 
Today, Jonah Rogness will receive his First Communion.
 
While he remains but a child, so do you.
 
While he has learned to seek forgiveness for his sins from Jesus, so do you.
 
But what makes Jonah prepared at his age to receive the Lord’s Supper? St. Paul answers this question, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”[1]
 
Meaning, can he confess his sin? Can he approach the altar and confess what the body and blood of Jesus are and what benefits they give to us? Can he articulate who should receive such a blessed gift from Jesus?
 
These are really questions for all of us…
 
If the answer to these questions is yes, then he has been prepared to be received at this altar.
 
The truth is that Jonah needs the same forgiveness of sins as you do, and since he has learned what the Scriptures teach about this, there’s no reason to withhold this gift from him or any other child who has been properly prepared. 
 
Did you listen to the words of the Collect we prayed today? We prayed,
You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience.
 
We are all God’s children.
 
One thing I love about today’s Gospel reading on the feeding of the five thousand is that it wasn’t the apostles who had the bread and fish for Jesus, nor were they any of the followers; it was a boy, a child.
 
Jesus used the gifts of a young boy to care for those who had followed Him into a wilderness of life.
 
In the same way, these words today teach you to depend upon the Son and Child of your heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, for life and salvation as you wander through the wilderness of this world.
 
And here is the challenge: if we delay in preparing not only the children of the Church but also ourselves for eternity with Jesus, we will all fall away. Sadly, this might be why we have seen so many young people leave the Church over the years. We haven’t always taught and led the children of the Church with joy and compassion, nor have we always seen them as the brothers and sisters in Christ that they are.  
 
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we must not leave anyone behind as we journey through the wilderness of the world. If we look around and see someone missing today, we should call and check on them. If we see someone needing help in the Divine Service, no matter their age, we should be moved to support them. If we see families in need of help, let us at least pray for them.
 
The truth is that we are all journeying through the wilderness of this life together. While our struggles and temptations change with age, our need for God’s compassion and mercy remains the same.
 
And the mercy and compassion of Jesus are present here in His Church, where the heavenly Jerusalem descends upon us as a nurturing mother, comforting her children with the mana of God’s forgiveness. Protecting the Father’s children under the wings of her grace.
 
What a wonderful image of God’s Church on earth.
 
So, why would we delay in leading the children in the way they are to go to receive God’s comfort and peace, even now, in the Lord’s Supper?
 
As we walk through this life and wilderness together, let us point one another, no matter how big or how small, to the cross of Jesus. Let us learn together to depend on Him for every good and gracious gift—trusting that He will care for us and provide more than we could ever need, just as He did for the five thousand.
 
Do this, because the abundance of His mercy and forgiveness leads us to grow as brothers and sisters, ensuring that we all remain nestled in the arms of the Church from the moment we enter through the font, to the day we are brought into eternity with Christ Jesus. +INJ+
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
 
 
 
 
 
[1] Luther, Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2017), 342.

Lent 3 Midweek | Deuteronomy 5:1-21 | Sitting in Silence

Lent 3 + Midweek (Examination)
March 11, 2026
Deuteronomy 5:1-21
 
 
Do you know yourself?
 
Do you think you know yourself?
 
These are two different questions if you think about it.
 
The reality is that you probably believe or think you know yourself, but honestly, the picture you create in your mind is distorted. It’s a self-made image, formed through a filter of perspective, similar to the filters that enhance the photos shared on Instagram or Snapchat. 
 
But to truly know yourself, that’s scary.
 
Tonight, our Lenten journey through Confession and Absolution leads us to self-examination, to learning who we are.
 
The idea of knowing oneself is not new; the Philosopher Aristotle wrote, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
 
Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
 
These philosophers believed that one could only truly know oneself through quiet contemplation of life. This means the person must be willing to set aside time to dwell in silent contemplation, examine their lives, the bad habits they have formed, the temptations leading to sin, and the specific ways they are harming their neighbor, whether actively or passively. 
 
But you don’t enjoy silence; your lives have been conditioned to the opposite, to be constantly engaged from the moment you wake up in the morning and reach for your phone on the nightstand, until the moment you go to sleep and place the phone on the charging stand or fall asleep with it in your hands as a kind of mistress. 
 
It’s scary, really, but these technologies within your hands know you better than you know yourself.
 
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians,
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!  I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. (2 Corinthians 13:5-6)
 
The purpose of examination here is to discover the true nature of your character—who you are. But also, will examining your heart reveal Jesus Christ in you and guide you through this life, as St. Paul says? 
 
And this is where the reading from Deuteronomy comes into focus: have you kept the Law of God as you ought? Have you loved the Lord your God with all your heart? What about His name? Do you set aside time each day for quiet contemplation of God’s Word and prayer? What about your parents? Do you honor them? Do you love your neighbors as yourself? Have you cheated on your spouse in thought, word, or deed? Stolen time and money from your employer? Did you permit your lips to cause division among brothers and sisters, or did you sinfully desire what has not been given to you?
 
The Ten Commandments serve as a mirror to your heart, reflecting and revealing who you truly are in this life. 
 
And when you examine your heart in this way, do you see Jesus living within you?
 
Probably not, but this is why Jesus came, to die on the cross of Calvary for the sins that dwell within you, corrupt your life, and lead you away from Him.
 
Look at the cross and see what your sins have brought about.
 
But Jesus died for you because He loves you and wants to forgive you. However, to receive Jesus’ forgiveness, you must first examine your life and confess the darkness within. 
 
To do this, you need to become comfortable with silence and set aside life’s distractions. Sit alone with God’s Word, walk through the Ten Commandments, and ask yourself, “Have I kept this Word of God as I should?” 
 
Then be honest in what is revealed to you through the mirror of God’s Law and give an answer to God. No filters, no self-justifying, just confession.
 
Because “The unexamined and unrepentant cannot receive the life of Jesus Christ.”
 
As this Lenten season continues, a wonderful prayer for your use in the endeavor of knowing the corrupted nature of yourself comes from Psalm 139,
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
                        Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
                        and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)
 
Another suggestion is to use this evening hymn, “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken,” inspired by the meditations of the Church Fathers and intended as a meditation on the Passion of your Savior, which grants you true life.  
 
The time has arrived for you to learn and understand who you are, because only then can you grow in the heavenly wisdom of confession and absolution. 
 
But more, the forgiveness of Jesus makes this life worthy of receiving eternal life.
 
In these last weeks of Lent, it’s time to get reoriented with yourself. Set aside time to meditate and pray. Put away the distractions of life and embrace the solitude. Because in the silence of the world around you, you will hear with your ears the most wonderful news from your Savior, “I forgive you.” +INJ+
 
 
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
 
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/