Hello!

Hey, everyone! It's been a long time since I've written anything on here, and for that I sincerely apologize. This semester was so busy that I barely got any time for myself, let alone to handle the blog. But I'm back, and during the time I'm home for Christmas break and hopefully during next semester, I'll be writing some stuff here. So, yes, I'm alive.

The time is approaching

Hello, internet. In about two weeks, I will be returning to university to begin my fall semester of classes. I'm excited to get back to school, but also nervous because this semester holds a couple of rough classes for me. But it's a challenge I'm ready to face head on. I don't know how often I'll be able to post when the semester starts, but I'll let you know when that time comes. Anyway, I just wanted to give you guys a quick heads-up.

God bless,
Manny

I'm back!

Hello, whoever you are! If you have followed my blog for any amount of time, you'll have noticed that I've been away for a couple of weeks. I want to apologize for that, I've been a bit busy with preparing to return to university in a couple of weeks. I have a couple of ideas in my head that I plan to start, including a possible vlog. So, if you're interested, please stay tuned! I'll be back tomorrow with a new post!

God bless,

Manny Tovar

Shameless Plug

I recently wrote an article for the Theologues website regarding the Sacrament of Confession and Absolution, and today it was posted. I would appreciate it if you would give it a read, as well as some of the other amazing articles posted by a bunch of talented guys (and gals). We all have something to say, and I'm thankful to the guys over at Theologues for giving people like me an outlet to express the random topics I mull over in my head.
Why Confession Matters

Pax,

Manny Tovar

Are Lutherans Catholic?

This may be a strange question, and one that you may think you know the answer to. Of course Lutherans aren't Catholic, they're two separate denominations! How could they possibly be Catholic? And you are right, to a point.

To begin, we must first define what the word "catholic" means. The English word "catholic" comes from the Greek word katholikos (καθολικός), meaning "universal". So the catholic Church is simply the "universal" church. For something to be catholic simply means it is something that the church in all the world holds as true, regardless of nationality. There's a great article written by Mathew Block (Are Lutherans Catholic) that I'll be referencing here about this same subject.

Mark Dever delves into just that question in a recent Christianity Today article subtitled What we mean when we say "One Holy Catholic Church" In his article, Dever, a Baptist minister, traces the history of the word “catholic,” briefly outlining its evolution as the word gained additional meanings in the history of the Church. The catholic faith is authentic. It is orthodox. And it is also global.

Block defines catholicity in these terms: "To be catholic, then, is to be heirs of the apostolic faith. It is to be rooted firmly in the Apostles teaching as recorded for us in Scripture, the unchanging Word of God. But while this Word is unchanging, it does not follow that it is static. The history of the Church in the world is the history of Christians meditating upon Scripture. We must look to this history as our own guide in understanding Scripture. To be sure, the Church’s tradition of interpretation has erred from time to time—we find, for example, that the Fathers and Councils sometimes disagree with one another—but it is dangerous to discount those interpretations of Scripture which have been held unanimously from the very beginning of the Church."

He also adds this: "This tradition of meditation, of course, cannot invent new dogma—it is “not a source of dogma qua dogma,” as Hearth R. Curtis explains well in a 2005 Lutheran Forum article entitled “The Relation between the Biblical and Catholic Principles.” But it is nevertheless, “the source of apostolic interpretation which norms our interpretation of the apostolic Scriptures.” In other words, Scripture is the sole source of dogma for the Church, but the Church’s tradition of meditation “establishes how that source is to be interpreted.” It is in this sense that the three ecumenical creeds are understood to be authoritative: not because they invented new doctrine (they didn’t), but because they carefully codified truths already present in the Scriptures. In this way the Church’s tradition of meditation guides us into a proper understanding of Scripture. No Christian denomination, therefore, can reject interpretations of Scripture universally acknowledged by the early Church without impairing its commitment to being the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. For the Church’s tradition of meditation, as a faithful interpretation of the Scriptures, itself becomes a standard to which subsequent interpretations can be measured. And yes, this catholic interpretation extends to doctrines now considered denominational distinctives (for example, the doctrine of the Real Presence). Denominations which reject such catholic teaching therefore, in essence, reject part of what it means to be catholic."

"On the other hand, that church body which accepts the Scriptures as the sole source of authority in the Church and further acknowledges the tradition of the Church as a norming interpretive principle in understanding the Scriptures may rightly call itself catholic. It is in this sense then, finally, that Lutherans confess themselves to be heirs of the catholic tradition. “The churches among us do not dissent from the catholic church in any article of faith,” Melanchthon declares in the Augsburg Confession. “There is nothing here that departs from the Scriptures or the catholic church, or from the Roman Church, insofar as we can tell from its writers.” Centuries later, Herman Sasse could assert the same: “It was no mere ecclesiastico-political diplomacy which dictated the emphatic assertion in the Augsburg Confession that the teachings of the Evangelicals were identical with those of the orthodox Catholic Church of all ages,” he writes. “The Lutheran theologian acknowledges that he belongs to the same visible church to which Thomas Aquinas and Bernard of Clairvaux, Augustine and Tertullian, Athanasius and Ireneaus once belonged.”

So are Lutherans catholic? Yes. And we always will be, so long as we hold fast to the traditions of the Apostles, written in the Scriptures and faithfully passed down to us by the Church.

God bless,
Manny

Baptism Series Part 3: Who can perform Baptism and who can be baptized?

Who can perform the Sacrament of Holy Baptism? According to the Small Catechism, "Normally the called ministers of Christ are to baptize but in cases of emergency and when no pastor is available, any Christian should baptize." So, are you saying that even mom and dad can baptize someone? In an emergency situation, any Christian can baptize. In fact, Luther gives a short form for Holy Baptism in cases of emergency*. In emergency situations, any Christian can baptize people, but in normal situations, the called ministers of Christ are the ones who administer Baptism.

Who can be baptized? Anyone! ... Well, that's not entirely true. There's no double dipping in Baptism. Once you've been baptized, you can only be baptized once, even if you were baptized originally in another Christian denomination. As long as Baptism is administered using the Trinitarian Invocation (I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit), your baptism is valid. So if you were baptized in the Baptist church or the Assemblies of God or in the Methodist church, you're good. If you were baptized in a pseudochristian sect (Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormonism), they would have to be baptized again, due to the fact that they deny the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. So back to our original question: Anyone.

Baptism Series Part 2: Who is Baptism For?

This will probably be my most controversial post yet, so I don't apologize in advance. Who is Holy Baptism for? Some people say infants, some say adults. Is this an either/or subject or a both/and subject? Lutherans say that this is a both/and subject. Baptism is for infants as well as for adults. How do we come to this conclusion, you may ask? It's simple. From Scripture. The first question we must ask is this: Is Baptism something we do or something God does? St. Paul says in Titus 3:4-7: "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness,
but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Something worth noting in this discussion is that in the original Greek which the New Testament was written in, all of the verses dealing with Baptism have passive verbs, indicating that the person being baptized did absolutely nothing in the act. Martin Luther, in his Large Catechism, said this regarding Baptism: "For to be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself. Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is nevertheless truly God's own work. Thus you see plainly that there is here no work done by us, but a treasure which He gives us, and which faith apprehends; just as the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross is not a work, but a treasure comprehended in the Word, and offered to us and received by faith."

Now that we have that answered, the next question is: What does Baptism do? Luther's Small Catechism says: "It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation..." Wait. Does that say "Give eternal salvation"? Are you saying that Baptism saves us? That's exactly what I'm saying? But someone will say, "That makes Baptism a work!" See my last point to clear up that misunderstanding. And although I believe, teach, and confess that, I am only affirming what Scripture says. St. Peter says in 1 Peter 3:21: "Baptism now saves you..." It can't get clearer than that. 

If you like this, leave a comment or if you have a question, feel free to leave a comment as well!

God bless,
Manny

Baptism Series Part 1: What is Baptism?

What is Baptism? Martin Luther in his Small Catechism answers it this way: "Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word" (Luther's Small Catechism). In Lutheran thought, it's not the water itself that is special, but the promise that God has attached to water. So is the water used in a baptism "holy water"? Well, the water has been used in a holy purpose, so in that sense, yes it is holy water. But the water itself has no magical properties. Luther says this about the water used in Baptism: " It is nothing other than a divine water. Not that the water in itself is nobler than other water, but that God's Word and command are added to it" (Large Catechism IV 14). There is another aspect to Christian Baptism, and it is the act of being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This constitutes Christian Baptism. Sects like the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of the Latter-Day Saints (AKA Mormons) who reject the Trinity do not administer Christian Baptism and thus if someone were to convert to Christianity from one of those sects would need to be baptized again. In conclusion, here is what Luther says about this: "[To baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit] means that in Baptism, God the Holy Trinity, receives me into communion or fellowship with Himself" (Small Catechism). Thanks for joining me for this first part of my series regarding Baptism. If you like what you read here and are interested in more, I invite you to leave me a comment or email me at Etovar1991@gmail.com.

God bless,
Manny

I'm back

Hello again, internet. Please forgive my absence. I needed a couple of days to relax. But now I'm back and tomorrow I will bring some new content regarding Baptism!

New series on the Lutheran view of Baptism

Hello, internet. I wanted to take a quick moment to announce that tomorrow I will be starting a series (not really sure how long this will take) regarding the Lutheran view of Baptism. If you are interested in Lutheran theology or in Baptism in general, I urge you to check it out!

Blessings,
Manny Tovar

The Hard Truth about Communion

Hello, all. I want to take a moment to do a shameless self-plug for an article I recently wrote for the Theologues website. You can find it here: The Hard Truth about Communion

I also want to recommend the Theologues website as well as their podcast, the Roundtable. Both are wonderful resources in discovering different Christian understandings on a plethora of topics, and is a great place for discussion and learning. If you haven't checked them out, what are you waiting for?

God bless,
Manny Tovar

What's the big deal about the Holy Spirit?

As someone who has come out of the Charismatic movement, this question is one that I have asked myself a couple of times. The Holy Spirit is a member of the Holy Trinity, coequal with the Father and the Son. But is it possible to overemphasize the Holy Spirit? Yes. Now that we are in the season of Pentecost, we turn our attention to the Holy Spirit. I am going to take some quotes from the Small Catechism regarding the Holy Spirit to help us understand the office of the Holy Spirit a bit more.

Question 156. What is the special work of the Holy Spirit?

"The Holy Spirit sanctifies me (makes me holy), by bringing me to faith in Christ, so that I might have the blessings of redemption and lead a godly life (sanctification in the wide sense)."

Question 157. Why do you need the Holy Spirit to begin and sustain this faith in you?

"By nature I am spiritually blind, dead, and an enemy of God, as the Scriptures teach; therefore, 'I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.'"

The Holy Spirit's work is twofold: conversion and sanctification. Conversion in that the Spirit is the one who brings the person to faith in the first place. And sanctification in the sense that the Spirit is the one who sustains that faith.

So for those who accuse Lutherans of not giving enough time to the Spirit, we actually give the Spirit the place that He deserves: Not higher nor lower than any other member of the Holy Trinity.

God bless,
Manny Tovar

A Shy God?

Hello, beloved. I ask your forgiveness for a lack of activity on this blog. I just needed to take a bit of time off to refocus and get my bearings again. But I'm back, and this time for good. Yesterday, for those of you unaware, was the day of Pentecost, when the Christian Church commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and those gathered in the upper room. The Church now turns her focus to the Holy Spirit, who is the shy member of the Holy Trinity. We look at the ministry of the Holy Spirit; more specifically the work of the Spirit in bringing people to penitent faith in Christ. As Dr. Luther so brilliantly explains in the explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed: "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true" (Small Catechism). And next Sunday is Holy Trinity Sunday, where we take time to ponder on the fact that the Christian God has revealed Himself as one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God bless,
Manny Tovar

In Memoriam

Hello, internet. Please forgive my absence these past couple of days. I have been busy, so I haven't had time to devote to y'all. But I'm back, although with a bit of a heavy and sorrowful heart. Yesterday, I had to put to rest my best four-footed friend, Jane. She awoke with a swollen abdomen, so me and my mother took her to the vet. It turns out she suffered from stomach cancer, and would only continue to suffer. Me and my mother made the difficult decision to put her to sleep. Although I am relieved she will suffer no longer, that doesn't make the pain go away quicker. I must accept the fact that I will no longer be greeted by her in the morning, nor will I see her when I return from work. And although I have her two children which she left behind, I still miss her. She was with me from when I was 12 years old until 23. I am grateful to God for the time I had with her, and have no doubt she lived a life full of love, joy, and dog snacks. I knew this time would come eventually, I just never thought it would be this soon. And though I wish so much I could spend more time with her, that would mean doing it while she would be suffering, and that is not fair to her. So in closing, I ask for prayer for me and for my family to be consoled with the comfort that only God can give through His word. And whether I will be reunited with Jane or not, that I leave up to God (although in my heart, I hope that all dogs do go to heaven).

In Christ,
Manny Tovar

The Day Before

Then He said to them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:44-53)

The Ascension of Our Lord. The Church commemorates this event tomorrow on May 29, 2014. The date, like that of Easter, changes every year depending on the date of Easter. Traditionally there is Divine Service on that day, but in many Lutheran churches this feast is not observed with the frequency used in the past. The event commemorated tomorrow is one of solemn importance, for in the Ascension Christ returns to the Father and begins His role as our Great High Priest, ever interceding for us before the Father.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Another year of life

On this day 23 years ago I, Emmanuel Tovar, came into the world. These past 23 years have been interesting, to say the least. But I wouldn't trade them for anything else in the world. On this day, I simply am grateful to God for giving me yet another year to live, and I pray that I may live to do His will for my life.

God bless,
Manny Tovar

Christian Art

Good evening, Internet. Today I want to give a brief reflection on Christian art, whether in the Church or the home. Many people disregard liturgical art because of their interpretation of the First Commandment (see Exodus 20:3-4), which prohibits the making of idols for worship. The problem with this is that the context does not prohibit the use of imagery in general. I wish more churches would implement some form of Christian art in churches. When it comes to the use of imagery in homes, I am a full supporter of it. Sometime down the road, I wish to own a personal crucifix! This is a short post, and I would love to get your opinions on it!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Manny Tovar

(Quick plug for a wonderful liturgical artist: http://www.kelly-schumacher.com/index.html)

Hymn Review of "Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands" by Martin Luther

Hello, internet. Today I would like to do a review of the Easter hymn "Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands" (in German Christ lag in Todesbanden) written by the one and only Marty Luther. This idea is not mine. I got it from Issues Etc. (www.issuesetc.org) and Pr. Todd Wilken. What I will do is show a stanza of the hymn, then give my reflections on each stanza. Here we go.

Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands
For our offenses given;
But now at God’s right hand He stands
And brings us life from heaven.
Therefore let us joyful be
And sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of alleluia!
Alleluia!

I could spend hours on this stanza, but I won't.  The first two lines pretty much give a concise summary of the account of the Crucifixion and the reason why Christ was on the cross in the first place. Lines three and four summarize Christ's Ascension (Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11). What should the response of the people be? Alleluia!

It was a strange and dreadful strife
When life and death contended;
The victory remained with life,
The reign of death was ended.
Holy Scripture plainly says
That death is swallowed up by death,
Its sting is lost forever.
Alleluia!

This stanza presents Christ's agony on the cross as a battle between Him and the devil. It alludes back to Genesis 3:15, when God tells to the serpent that the Child born to the woman will crush him on the head, but he will strike Him on the heel. Although Christ does indeed die, it was not the end. As verse three says, Jesus was the ultimate victor in this fight. The promise given here is that death is swallowed up by death. Such a wonderful promise!

Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accursed tree
So strong His love to save us.
See, His blood now marks our door;
Faith points to it; death passes over,
And Satan cannot harm us.
Alleluia!

 Paschal Lamb. That may be a new term for you. We all know what a lamb is. But what on earth does Paschal mean? Paschal comes from the Greek word Pascha (πάσχα), which is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for "Passover". The thing that sticks out to me is that God gave Him to us freely. And Christ showed the strength of His love by dying on the cross for us. Verse five ties back to the account of the institution of the Passover (Exodus 12:1-28) and gives the allusion of Christ as the Passover Lamb. Such beautiful imagery!

So let us keep the festival
To which the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
The sun that warms and lights us.
Now His grace to us imparts
Eternal sunshine to our hearts;
The night of sin is ended.
Alleluia!

 Since this is an Easter hymn, the festival here refers to the feast of Easter. The center of this stanza is that "Christ is Himself the joy of all". That's pretty straightforward. The next verse expounds on it, by referring to Christ as the sun that gives us warmth and light. This stanza, as said previously, is pretty straightforward.

Then let us feast this Easter Day
On Christ, the bread of heaven;
The Word of grace has purged away
The old and evil leaven.
Christ alone our souls will feed;
He is our meat and drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other!
Alleluia!

This final stanza is a very beautiful stanza filled with great imagery. It draws on Christ being the Bread of Life (John 6) and how He is what can only satisfy our souls. It truly is beautiful.

If you like things like this, please leave a comment and let me know! Or if you have any suggestions on how to make this blog better, please leave me a comment as well!

God bless,
Manny

Liturgy Series Part 13: The Benediction

Good afternoon, Internet. Today marks the last post of my series on Liturgy. I have a couple of new stuff under my sleeve, so I'll be back tomorrow with something new. Today I want to talk about the ending portion of the liturgy, the benediction.

"The Lord bless you and keep you." Recall again the words of Jesus in the parable of the sheep and the goats: "Come, you who are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom." The blessing that God speaks to us in the Benediction prepares us for that final summons. Throughout the Divine Service, God is forming us in his likeness as he establishes in us a deeper and more lasting faith toward him and a persistent and steadfast love for one another.

"The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you." In their reports of Jesus' Transfiguration, the evangelists tell us that Jesus shone more brightly than the sun, prompting Peter to say, "Lord, it is good for us to be here." In heaven we will have the same response because it will be good--very good--to be in the presence of the Light of the world. For the moment, we see only dimly, but then we will see face to face. Still, it is good to be here even now, in this heaven on earth that we call worship, for already here God showers us with his grace.

"The Lord lift up his countenance on you and give you peace." We Christians are truly blessed in that God does not hide his face from us. In all other religions there is ultimately doubt as to their gods' attitudes toward them. How can it be otherwise, given that their gods are the creation of their own imaginations? But ours is the creator of heaven and earth. To be sure, he is a stern judge who holds the sinner accountable. But in the person of his only Son, we see our Father's true nature, his fatherly heart of love. That is the countenance that he lifts up toward us in his holy Word and Sacraments as he reveals his mercy and grace.

Where the Lord blesses and makes his face shine and lifts up his gracious countenance on us, there is peace. Not the peace of this world, but peace between God and his faithful people. We know that peace because even now, in Word and Sacraments, we have Jesus and all his benefits. And in heaven we will rest in his eternal peace.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Liturgy Series Part 12: The Nunc Dimittis

Good afternoon, Internet. Another Lutheran contribution to the church's liturgy is the use of the Nunc Dimittis as the post-communion canticle: "Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace." At first glance it appears that we're taking the words of Simeon completely out of context. After all, what does his experience have to do with ours? How can Holy Communion ever compare to Simeon's unique honor of holding the infant Jesus in his arms during the child's first visit to the temple at the tender age of 40 days (Lk 2:25-38)?

Of course, we would love to have been in the temple and shared in the experience with Simeon. For that matter, we would give anything to have been the first--along with the shepherds--to see the infant Jesus, or to have been with the Magi as they offered their gifts to him. But, as Luther so insightfully taught, we don't find Christ in those places. Through the events of his incarnation, birth, crucifixion, and resurrection our Lord has accomplished our salvation. But the benefits of his saving work--forgiveness, life, and salvation--are distributed to us through his means of grace, his Word and Sacraments. We can't go back to stand with Simeon in the temple. The good news is that we don't have to.

So when, following our reception of the Lord's Supper, we sing Simeon's ancient song of faith--"Lord, now let your servant depart in peace"--nothing could be more appropriate. Indeed, our eyes have seen his salvation. Better yet, we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8). So, what could be better than holding the infant Jesus in our arms? How about eating and drinking his body and blood given for the forgiveness of our sins? This truly is heaven on earth, because here we have Jesus and all his benefits.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Liturgy Series part 11: The Distribution

Good afternoon, Internet. Today I want to talk about my absolute favorite part of the liturgy, the distribution of the Eucharist. You want to talk about personal relationship? Nothing is more personal than receiving the very body and blood of Jesus Christ into your very person. I walk away amazed every Sunday.

Try for a moment to picture the heavenly throng standing before the throne of God on the Last Day. The numbers will be staggering. And yet, united as we all are to Christ, the Bridegroom, we will be one--his elect Bride. As the faithful make their way to the altar to feast on the Bread of Life in the distribution, they are given a glimpse of that holy Bride. Oh yes, we see all of her warts and blemishes: the petty bickering over trivial matters, the deep disagreements on more weighty issues, and the painful ways in which we sometimes treat one another. Yet, by our common confession of the truth, we are one in Christ. As Christ gives himself to us in this holy meal, he strengthens that unity and bids us love one another with a deep and abiding love. How can it be any other way, as we are sent from the table with the blessing to depart in peace?

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Liturgy Series Part 10: The Agnus Dei

Good afternoon, Internet. Sorry for the absence these past couple of days, but I've been adjusting to having the summer off.

Turning again to the Revelation to St. John, at one point John sees a scroll in the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne. A "strong angel" puts forth the challenge, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" Then, between the throne and the elders, the Lamb comes into view. Undoubtedly the most significant feature in John's description of this Lamb is that it is a lamb who appears to have been slain.

When we sing the Agnus Dei, "Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us," we are preaching and praying all at once. It was, after all, with these very words that John the Baptizer pointed his disciples to Jesus (John 1:29, 36). As we prepare to feast on the Lamb of our salvation, we do indeed proclaim him who gave his life for us. Here is the Lamb of God! Yet we also pray to him who is now present in his body and blood. We pray for mercy, mercy from the One who showed the true depths of mercy and compassion as he was silently led to slaughter, dying like a lamb shorn of all its honor.

Returning one more time to the apostle John's vision of heaven, we later hear his description of the saints in white robes. "Who are they?" John is asked. The answer: "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:13-14). This is the blood of our redemption, the propitiatory sacrifice that was foreshadowed at the first Passover when the blood of the year-old lambs was sprinkled on the doorpost as a sign that blood had already been shed in that house. In his Easter hymn, Martin Luther applies that incident to us, thus revealing our standing before the Father: "See, his blood now marks our door; Faith points to it; Death passes o'er, And Satan cannot harm us" (Lutheran Service Book #458).

So it is at every celebration of the Lord's Supper. The blood of the Lamb is poured out for our drinking and his flesh for our eating. Clearly, God's mercy is shown, and his peace rests on us.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny

Liturgy Series part 9: The Words of Institution

Good evening, Internet. Today I want to talk about the central act of the liturgy: The Holy Eucharist, also called the Lord's Supper. Among many Christians, the words of Jesus that we often refer to as the Words of Institution are nothing more than an historical report: this is what Jesus did and what he said. Period. We have been blessed to know, however, that these words mean much more. They do what they say. According to the command of Christ, we celebrate the Lord's Supper not as a mere meal of remembrance but as a Sacrament by which Jesus himself comes to us. We don't transport ourselves back in time; rather, he comes to us and brings heaven down to earth for our benefit.

Of course, in heaven we won't receive the Lord's Supper. There we will have Jesus—the Bread of heaven—in all his fullness. But for now, as we wait for his return, he establishes his own beachhead in our sin-infested world, coming as our defender and deliverer, offering his own body and blood as the medicine of immortality. Here we find strength for the journey as Christ dwells in us and we in him. And the more we partake of this sacred food, the greater our desire becomes to be with Christ forever. In the words of St. Thomas Aquinas' great eucharistic hymn: "O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see: May what we thirst for soon our portion be: To gaze on Thee unveiled, and see Thy face, The vision of Thy glory, and Thy grace." (Lutheran Service Book #640)

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Liturgy Series part 8: The Sanctus

Good afternoon, Internet. Today, I want to talk to you about my personal favorite part of the liturgy, the Sanctus. Many parts of Lutheran liturgy contain Latin names to certain parts of the service, and the Sanctus is one of many. Sanctus is Latin for "Holy". If any part of the service has been recognized as providing a glimpse of heaven, it's the Sanctus: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of your glory." This is the eternal song of the angels who hover over the throne of God in the vision of heaven that was given to Isaiah (Is. 6:1-4). Such was the splendor of their song that the very foundations of the threshold of the temple trembled at the sound.

At first glance, these words appear to be out of place at this point in the service. Nevertheless, the reality is that there is nothing in this entire world that compares with the miracle of Jesus' bodily presence to feed his people. In this meal God is breaking into our world to give us life. No wonder our repeated cry is "Hosanna in the highest," for what is more needed in this dying world than the Lord's salvation?

The second half of the Sanctus contains a statement as bold as the first. Here we have our own little Palm Sunday. Just as the crowds cried out to Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, so do we declare, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Mt. 21:9; Ps. 118:26). Heaven continues to break into our world as Jesus, our humble king, comes riding into our midst in the Lord's name. This confession in the Sanctus of Jesus' real presence is so significant that Luther proposed moving the Sanctus after the Words of Institution in order to highlight the reality of the words we sing.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Liturgy series part 7: The Offertory

"What shall I render to the Lord?" Truth is, we have nothing to render him. We brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing with us when we depart. As Jesus so poignantly tells us, our treasures are already stored up for us in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21).

There is, however, an offering that we do make, both now in our worship and one day in heaven itself. It is the sacrifice of thanksgiving as we call on the name of the Lord (Ps. 116:17). In the Apology to the Augsburg Confession (Article 24), this eucharistic sacrifice is carefully distinguished from the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ. The sacrifice for sins belongs to him alone. Every time we try to grab that honor for ourselves, we come up short--very short. But when we recognize our rightful place--that we are on the receiving end of God's merciful goodness--then the sacrifice of thanksgiving cannot help but pour forth from our lips as we give our thanks to the One who gave everything for us.
The giving of our firstfruits, whether it is money or possessions, time or talents, is also a part of this sacrifice of thanksgiving. Our mouths cannot remain separated from the rest of our bodies. If the thanksgiving is flowing from our lips, then it will also find expression in the giving of our very selves for the sake of Christ and the neighbor.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Sorry

Good evening, internet. Forgive my temporary absence, but this week was finals week. Now that it's over, I can devote more time to this blog. So don't worry, I haven't abandoned you all! I will be back in action tomorrow!

God bless,

Manny Tovar

Liturgy Series Part 6: The Creed

Good evening, Internet. Forgive my absence these past couple of days. It's finals week here at my university, which means absolute insanity for the next week. But I'm back, and here to talk to you today about the Creed.

In the course of his earthly ministry, Jesus put this hard question to his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" He wasn't asking for the opinions of the crowds. He wanted a confession of faith. In reality, this confession is no different than the confession of sins. In both, we acknowledge that what God has said is true. When we confess our sins, we acknowledge the truth that God speaks about us--that we are sinners. When we confess the faith of the church in the creed, our confession speaks about God--who he is and what he has done.

In every age, the same question is put to the church: who do you say that I am? As we open our mouths and begin, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty . . . ," we confess a profound truth that has passed over the lips of Christians in every generation. This confession of the triune God is the property of no single individual, but of the whole church, including the whole company of heaven. There are more than a few saints and martyrs who put their lives on the line as they defended the truths that we confess in the creeds. Think of Athanasius, that faithful fourth-century pastor and confessor, who was exiled numerous times for his defense of the truth against the false teachers of his day. Or Luther, who stood firm against the combined might of the Roman Church and the Holy Roman Empire. In our own day, there are faithful Christians who risk their lives--and sometimes die--to confess these truths.

In the Revelation to St. John, we find confession going on in heaven. Just listen to the snippets of the grand confession that swirls around God's throne:  Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! (4:8b) Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created (4:11). Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth (5:9-10). 

 In the same way, as we stand on holy ground where Jesus comes in his Word and Sacraments, we join that noble company of saints and martyrs, confessing these holy truths concerning the triune God.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Series on Liturgy part 5: The Word of God and the Sermon

In most Evangelical churches in the United States, this part is the central focus of the church service. In liturgical services, it is not. That is not to diminish the role Holy Scripture plays in the life of the Church, for we hold it in high regard. But the true center of the service is yet to come. Today I would like to talk about both the public reading of Holy Scripture and the sermon. They occur at different times in the liturgy, but they both deal with the same topic, which is the Bible, so I've decided to include them as one.

Frequently we conclude the reading of Holy Scripture with the phrase, "This is the Word of the Lord!" More than just a "word" from God, this is his revelation in which he makes known to us his will, most specifically, his merciful will that desires our salvation. Ultimately, this word points us to the Word, the incarnate Son of God. He is God's final and full revelation to us, the mirror of the Father's heart. That is the point that the writer to the Hebrews makes in the opening verses of his epistle: "In many and various ways God spoke to his people of old by the prophets, but now in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son" (Heb. 1:1-2a). Only through him--God's only Son--are we able to know the Father's favor and grace.

In the sermon, the Word of God is brought to bear on the lives of the hearers. This is the equivalent of sitting at the feet of Jesus. But it's more than mere instruction. Through the sermon, God speaks to us with his two-edged sword of condemnation and promise, Law and Gospel. The subject of the sermon is both God and us. Through the sermon we come to a better understanding of ourselves, especially our need for God's forgiveness. But we also come face to face with God's mercy and love. Week after week, God's faithful hear the voice of their Good Shepherd, preparing them, in a sense, for that final day when Jesus calls them to their eternal reward.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Series on Liturgy part 4: The Hymn of Praise

Good evening, internet. Today I want to talk about the hymn of praise sung after the Kyrie. The Lutheran Church traditionally has used the hymn Gloria in Excelsis Deo, which is Latin for “Glory to God in the highest". 

On the night of Jesus’ birth, the angels let loose their earth-shattering song of praise: "Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." On that specific occasion, their praise gave utterance to the good news that the Son of God had come in the flesh. Heaven had come down to earth! And ever since, the Church has continued to rejoice in this miracle of our salvation.

The opening words of the Gloria in Excelsis are followed by a hymn of praise to the triune God. One can imagine the faithful singing these words in heaven: "We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory." Our focus is on the incarnate Son of God, the only-begotten Son, the Lamb of God, and only Son of the Father. And if that isn’t enough to name this One who is the object of our worship and praise, twice we sing, "you take away the sin of the world." There it is, the heart and substance of the Christian faith. In heaven we will be gathered around the throne and the Lamb, confessing that he alone is holy, he alone is the Lord.

Blessed Eastertide,

Manny Tovar

Liturgy Series Part 3: The Kyrie

Kyrie, eleison. One of the many Greek words that have come to us through time. It's Greek for "Lord, have mercy". I would like to expound on this thought of asking for mercy.

In this world of sin and death, Christians have plenty of opportunities to join in the brief, yet all-encompassing prayer of the Kyrie: "Lord, have mercy." All around us we see the results of hatred, envy, lust, and greed. Surely, the world is in need of God’s mercy. It’s no wonder that the Church, in her worship, pleads before God on behalf of the whole world. It’s a prayer that no one else is going pray.

Yet, when we cry out, "Lord, have mercy," there is confidence in our voices because we know that God is indeed merciful. He desires to bring relief to the suffering that is all around us. Our prayer may not always bring an immediate response–at least, not the response that we are seeking–but even then, we commend ourselves and the whole world to a merciful God.

Like the confession of sins, however, our cry for mercy will be silenced in heaven. There we will see the results of God’s mercy, as before the throne and in front of the Lamb will stand all the redeemed–not one of them worthy of the honor.

What a wonderful assurance during this Easter season.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Series on Liturgy part 2: Confession and Absolution

Confession. It's something all of us struggle with, Christian or not. And you may be wondering, "Why is this a part of the liturgy"? We as human beings have sinned before almighty God. Confession and Absolution forces us to acknowledge our sinful flesh, and we receive the assurance of God's forgiveness given through the lips of the pastor.

We can indeed approach God with confidence. And yet, because we stand on this side of our Lord’s final return, we still have with us the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. We have not yet faced the final judgment. And so, with sin still working in us, the condemnation of God’s Law must still confront us, lest we have any delusions that we might have something to boast of before our mighty Judge.
Above all else, Confession and Absolution keep us honest–honest with ourselves and honest before God. The act of confession is not some work that we lay before the Father’s throne; rather, it is the simple acknowledgment that God’s Word is true and right and that when we measure ourselves against its demands, we come up short. God’s Word says "you shall not give false testimony," but in truth we have lied and gossiped and slandered." And so, the Christian confesses: "Lord, Your Word is true; I have sinned."
There are three basic ways to handle sin and guilt. One is to ignore or minimize them. We’ve all been tempted in that direction more than a few times. Isn’t that, after all, what our sinful human nature is all about? Another way is to institutionalize them, especially the guilt part. After all, if you can keep people feeling just guilty enough, you will keep them coming back for more.

The third way is to give sin and guilt their proper due, and then to silence them. That is the way of God’s absolution. With his forgiveness, our sin is removed from us as far as the east is from the west. Christians know that, but they also need to hear it often. We need to be reminded that those familiar words, "I forgive you all your sins," are not just some impersonal announcement. They say what they mean and accomplish what they promise. Jesus himself said to his disciples that the sins they forgive are forgiven (John 20:23).
The last and greatest absolution that will ever be spoken to us will be at the last judgment. In the final pages of the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis provides a marvelous description of this event. As each individual comes before Aslan–the lion who is Lewis’ figure for Christ–one of two things happens: either the person gazes directly into Aslan’s face and recognizes his forgiving countenance, or, upon seeing the lion’s stern demeanor, passes into his long shadow, forever to be separated from Christ.
In the Confession and Absolution we are being readied for our appearance before Christ on the Last Day. And hidden behind those comforting words that our sins are forgiven is the invitation, "Come, you who are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Mt. 25:34). When our Lord speaks those words to us at the Last Day, Confession and Absolution as we know it will cease, for we will then bask in the eternal absolution of the Lamb.

Blessed Eastertide,
Manny Tovar

Easter Sunday

“Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!” If you're not familiar with this greeting, you should familiarize yourself with this greeting, since it's not going away any time soon. At least for the next 50 days. This is known as the Paschal greeting, and it replaces the traditional sharing of the peace in liturgical churches during the Easter season. Yes. I said “season”. Like Christmas, Lutherans (and other Christians) don't observe Easter only today, but for the next 50 days, and today is simply the beginning of this most glorious season. 

Blessed Eastertide,

Manny Tovar

Holy Saturday

“Rejoice now, all you heavenly choirs of angels; rejoice now, all creation; Sound forth, trumpet of salvation, and proclaim the triumph of our King. Rejoice too, all the earth, in the radiance of the light now poured upon you and made brilliant by the brightness of the everlasting King; know that the ancient darkness has been forever banished.  Rejoice, O Church of Christ, clothed in the brightness of this light; let all this house of God ring out with rejoicing, with the praises of all God's faithful people. It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places, with all our heart and mind and voice, praise You, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty everlasting God, and your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. For He is the very Paschal Lamb Who offered Himself for the sin of the world, who has cleansed us by the shedding of His precious blood.  This is the night when You brought our fathers, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt and led them through the Red Sea on dry ground. This is the night when all who believe in Christ are delivered from bondage to sin and are restored to life and immortality. This is the night when Christ, the Life, rose from the dead. The seal of the grave is broken and the morning of a new creation breaks forth out of night. How wonderful and beyond all telling is Your mercy toward us, O God, that to redeem a slave You gave Your Son. How holy is this night when all wickedness is put to flight and sin is washed away. How holy is this night when innocence is restored to the fallen and joy is given to those downcast. How blessed is this night when man is reconciled to God in Christ.  Holy Father, Accept now the evening sacrifices of our thanksgiving and praise. Let Christ, the true light and morning star, shine in our hearts, He who gives light to all creation, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.” (The Exsultet)

Blessed Easter,

Manny Tovar

Good Friday

Good Friday. The day when the Church commemorates the Passion and death of our Lord. If you have the opportunity to attend a Good Friday Divine Service, it will change how you view Good Friday. Why is it that the day is called "Good" Friday? Jesus dies today, and that is anything but good. But it is good, for it is in Jesus' death that He overcame sin, death, and the devil. The Gospel reading for Good Friday, according to the LSB (Lutheran Service Book, the most used hymnal in LCMS churches) is the Passion account according to John's Gospel. It is too long to put here, so I'll include a link to the entire account below.

You'll realize that the title of today's post does not include the prefix "Lenten Journey". Why is that? Because yesterday, Holy (Maundy) Thursday, oficially ended Lent and began what is called the Triduum, or the Three Days: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. As I contemplate the holy life and bitter sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am nearly brought to tears. For I am just as guilty of putting Jesus to death as the Romans are, for it was for MY sins that He died!

Christ on the Cross by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Blessed Good Friday,

Emmanuel Tovar


(The Passion of our Lord according to St. John)

Lenten Journey 2014: Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday. The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word Mandatum, which means "commandment". It comes from the Latin Vulgate translation of John 13:34 in which Jesus gives the apostles the new commandment to love one another: "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos ut et vos diligatis invicem." It is on this day that the Church commemorates Christ instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist, otherwise known as the Lord's Supper. The prayers, hymns, and sermon all center on the Lord's Supper. Here is the account from St. Mark's Gospel about the institution of the Lord's Supper:
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:22-26)

Now, while the Sacrament is the main thing emphasized tonight, it is not the only thing happening tonight. Amidst all of the excitement and anticipation for the reception and celebration of the Blessed Sacrament, this is also the night when our Lord agonized in the Gethsemane. Here to relate the account is the apostle St. Matthew.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.  Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matt. 26:36-46)

 

 And we are there too, agonizing with our Lord. But we are also there when the disciples abandon Him. And we too, unfortunately, abandon Him as well, so that the Son of Man must suffer alone. And it only worsens. To see the next part, come back tomorrow for my reflections on Good Friday.

Blessed Holy Week
Manny Tovar

Lenten Journey 2014: The Wednesday of Holy Week

Good evening, Internet. Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday, the day when the Church commemorates the institution of the Lord's Supper. It is something that I am excited to participate in. But I want to focus on today. Again, today's lectionary Epistle reading is one that grabbed my attention. 

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one  will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die– but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:6-8) Humans are reluctant to sacrifice for others. A few people might die for one who seemed particularly righteous or for one who had done them some good, but those are rare occurrences. Christ died, not for righteous people or for those who had helped Him, but for sinners. This is grace. 

Blessed Holy Week,

Manny Tovar

Lenten Journey 2014: The Tuesday of Holy Week

Good evening, Internet. As I mentioned yesterday, I have been reading the lectionary readings for each Sunday devotionally throughout the year (a practice I highly encourage), and it has really helped me in my Bible reading time. Again, the Epistle reading for the Tuesday of Holy Week, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, just peeled my eyes wide open. This time, it has to do with preaching. St. Paul says this about what him and the other apostles were preaching: "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing? How can that be? Because the image of God allowing Himself to be killed is something that the world does not understand. Frankly, it's something that I don't understand myself. But I thank God that He has not called me to understand everything, but to simply trust Him. What a relief that is! While there is nothing wrong with wanting to see proof for some things in life, there are some things that we as humans just cannot grasp. And that's all right. Verse 23 sets the standard for what should be preached in the pulpit today: "We preach Christ crucified..."

As a future pastor, this verse is applicable to me, even as I am still studying for my bachelor's degree. I am taking Hermeneutics (the science of biblical interpretation) this coming fall. To make sure that my sermons have a proper distinction between Law and Gospel, as well as to preach Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins is something I want to get a good handle on as early as I can. The Christian Church needs faithful men to preach what the Bible actually says, not what people want to hear, and unfortunately that is what I hear when I hear some well-known preachers. For this, I ask for your prayers, that I would be found a faithful preacher of God's Word. I ask any Christian who reads this post today, to pray for your pastors, that they may preach Christ and Him crucified, not what they think people want to hear.

To finish up tonight, I want to leave you with the last part of the Epistle reading for today. Have a wonderful day/evening/night, wherever and whoever you are.

Blessed Holy Week,
Manny Tovar

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (I Corinthians 1:20-25)

Lenten Journey 2014: The Monday of Holy Week

Good evening, internet. Today was a good day. As we draw closer to the Easter Triiduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday), the work of the cross is become an ever-present reality. I have been reading the lectionary readings devotionally for some time now, and the Epistle reading for today really struck me. It's Hebrews 9:11-15 (I won't quote it here, but it is worth it to look it up for yourselves). But in this section, the author makes the argument that Christ's sacrifice excels far greater than the Old Testament animal sacrifices. This verse really caught my attention: “... He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by the means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (italics mine). With His sacrifice, Christ freed us from our imprisonment. Because His sacrifice is eternal, it needs no repetition like the Old Testament sacrifices. When Jesus said, “It is finished”, He meant it. 

Blessed  Holy Week,

Manny Tovar

Lenten Journey 2014: Palm Sunday

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matt. 21:1-11)
 

 Good evening, Internet. Today is Palm Sunday (also known as the Sunday of the Passion), the first day of what is called Holy Week. The passage quoted above is taken from Matthew's account of the Triumphal Entry, which marked Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. This day, as I mentioned, is also referred to as the Sunday of the Passion, for this week culminates on Good Friday, when the Church commemorates the redemptive sacrifice that Christ made on sinful man's behalf. All throughout Lent, we are invited to join Jesus on the via dolorosa, or sorrowful way. This is somehow more intensified during Holy Week, when the days count down until Good Friday, when we behold our Savior enduring the sorrowful way to the end. But Good Friday is not the end of the story. But it is a necessary stop on our journey with Jesus. For without Good Friday there cannot be an Easter Sunday, and vice versa. But I fear I am getting too far ahead of myself, so I will attempt to focus back on today's events. Matthew says that what has been spoken by the prophet has been fulfilled. Which of the numerous prophets is he referring to? He is referring to a prophecy made by Zechariah, in which he describes the way in which the coming King is to come. Not as the people envisioned him, high and mighty, but low and humble (see Zechariah 9).

So, on this Palm Sunday 2014, here is a promise from God's word: Your King is coming. He came before, as the babe of Bethlehem, and He is coming again, but this time as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Blessed Holy Week,
Manny Tovar

Lenten Journey 2014: The Friday before Holy Week

Good evening, Internet. This evening I would like to talk about repentance. It's a pretty important theme in Lent, I mean, after the passion of Christ, repentance is one of the central themes in the season of Lent. I want to look at a well-known prayer of repentance found in the Scriptures. Psalm 51 (50 in the Latin Vulgate), is King David's most well-known Psalm, having to do with his repentance and detest of his sin of adultery with Bathsheba.

Traditionally, this Psalm has been referred to as the Miserere, taken from the opening words of the Psalm in Latin: Miserere mei Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. This prayer has been a source of consolation and contrition for millions of Christians in the entire world, for it deals with something that we as humans know all too well: sin. This Psalm strikes to the heart of our issue and forces us to accept something we wish were not true; namely that we will never be perfect in this earthly life. From the time we are born, we are destined for judgment, for we are born sinners (Ps. 51:5). When we sin, we offend God with what we have done, and have two options. Either we can remain in our sin and live in rebellion to God, or we can acknowledge our sin, and repent for having commited it. It really is up to the person. Scripture is filled with warnings and admonitions for both of these outcomes.

Let's take a look at both scenarios, one by one. Let's say that you, a Christian, commit a sin. You know full well that what you have done has offended God, but you are unwilling to repent and turn away from your sin, instead choosing to live a life in rebellion to God, continuing in a sinful lifestyle. What is the outcome? The author of Hebrews gives us this sombering admonition: "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay.' And again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:26-31) But let's say that you, after having commited the sin, recognize what you have done, feel contrition for your actions, and repent to God, asking for His forgiveness and mercy. What can that person expect? The apostle St. John, in his first letter, gives us this assurance: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Repentance. It is a scary thing, for it forces us to have to deal with the monster that dwells within us, sin. And sin always brings death and separation from God. How much more blessed our lives could be if, when we commit a sin of any kind, realized that we have sinned against almighty God Himself, and pray for His mercy and forgiveness? So, as the days dwindle down until the beginning of Holy Week, let us remember the wonderful Gospel message: that Christ died to bring forgiveness of sins and everlasting life to all who would receive it. Christ died for you, dear reader, to forgive you of your sins. There is not one sin that Christ did not die for.

God bless,
Manny Tovar

(Here is a link to the Latin Vulgate's translation of Psalm 51: Psalm 50 in the Latin Vulgate)

         (Here is a beautiful rendition of Psalm 51 set to music)

Lenten Journey 2014: The Thursday before Holy Week

Good evening, Internet. Today has been a wonderful day. Classes went well, without a hitch. Tomorrow is Friday, which gives me oodles of joy just thinking about it. I'm starting to understand that things are not as difficult as we make them seem. This seems especially prevalent in the Christian world today in regards to the will of God. The will of God is something every Christian would like to know for their life, myself included. But knowing what God's will for our life is is not as hard as people make it seem. For example, do you want to know who you should marry? Here's what God says about it: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14). Are you torn between two gorgeous females (or males)? Are they both Christians? If so, then it's simple: choose the one you like the most! It really IS that simple! Are you wondering how to be a better spouse? "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church..." (Ephesians 5:22, 25). I don't really understand why human beings have to go around making things more difficult than they have to be. But I'm guilty of this too, so I guess I need to analyze myself, too. One of the things that drew me to confessional Lutheranism is the doctrine of vocation. A summarized explanation of this doctrine is given by Dr. Gene Edward Veith is this: "The purpose of one's vocation, whatever it might be, is serving others. It has to do with fulfilling Christ's injunction to love one's neighbor." Before this turns into a mini-sermon, I'm going to end it now. I hope you have a good day/evening/night, dear reader, and I shall see you tomorrow.

To end, I leave you with a Lenten prayer by Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "God of the day and of the night, in me there is darkness, but with You there is light. I am alone, but You will not leave me. I am weak, but You will come to my help. I am restless, but You are my peace. I am in haste, but You are the God of infinite patience. I am confused and lost, but You are eternal wisdom and You direct my path; now and for ever. Amen."

God bless,
Manny Tovar


(Here is a link to a great article by Dr. Veith on the doctrine of vocation: The Doctrine of Vocation: How God Hides Himself in Human Work)

Lenten Journey 2014: The Wednesday before Holy Week

Good evening, Internet. Lent will soon draw to a close, and with it, these chronicles of my journey through my first Lent. It truly has been an honor to share my thoughts and reflections with you all these past forty days, but alas, all good things must come to an end. (We're not done yet, so don't fret!) I had the opportunity today to talk to two of my guy friends who I truly respect and admire. Both conversations were absolutely amazing. One of them is a sort of accountability partner, while my other friend is someone who I hadn't talked to in a while, and we just took the time to catch up and talked about pretty much whatever came to our minds. It truly made me thank God for friendship. Sure not all people will be your friend, but the people who are, and especially those who you consider good friends, are people you need to thank God for, for it is He who gave you them in the first place. It made me consider and ponder on the diversity in the Body of Christ. All of us (Christians) are in different walks of life; we all come from different ethnic backgrounds, from different countries, and from different cultures. But God is able to take a bunch of people, who in normal circumstances, wouldn't even give a second look at a person in Spain, for example. But because of Christ and what He has done for us, those of us in His Body are able to relate to each other on one thing we hold in common, which is the most important link of all: Christ. Like any family, we have our disagreements, and we may even argue sometimes. But realizing that we are all in this together and to give room for our disagreements is something that is crucial if we want to live as Christ would have us live.

"Now you [all] are the body of Christ and individually members of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27).

God bless,
Manny Tovar