Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Sacrament of the Altar, Part 5: Click here and read 55-63.
The basics:
- Luther uses this section to answer this question: How can I come to the Sacrament if I do not feel prepared?
- Luther describes his own struggle with attempting to be so holy that he was thrown down to despair feeling unworthy for the Sacrament.
- The more you feel your unworthiness for the Sacrament and use it as an excuse to stay away from it, the more you will continue to feel unworthy.
- By contrast, if you regard how good and pure you are, you do not need the forgiveness of sins offered in the Sacrament. Therefore, you must not approach.
- Those who do not desire forgiveness and do not wish to be godly should be told to stay away from the Sacrament. They are not prepared to receive forgiveness of sins.
- Those who desire to be godly, even though they are full of sin, must not stay away. They are prepared to receive the forgiveness of sins.
- The Sacrament does not depend on our worthiness. We are not baptized because we are worthy and holy, nor do we go to confession because we are pure and without sin. We are poor miserable sinners, and just because we are unworthy, we do these things.
- We are to say, "I, indeed, would like to be worthy; but I come, not upon any worthiness, but upon Thy Word, because Thou hast commanded it, as one who would gladly be Thy disciple, no matter what becomes of my worthiness."
- We look more upon ourselves than upon the Word and lips of Christ. It is our nature to act that we can stand and rest firmly on ourselves.
My thoughts today:
May we all be thankful the Sacrament does not depend upon our worthiness. Phew. We would be in a sorry state of despair if such was the case.
Sometimes it is best to just let the words of the Large Catechism sink in a little more. So, here are the words I want us to really consider today -
"...he ought not stay away from the Sacrament, lest he may deprive himself of life."
"...it is the highest art to know that our Sacrament does not depend upon our worthiness. For we are not baptized because we are worthy and holy, nor do we go to confession because we are pure and without sin, but the contrary, because we are poor miserable men, and just because we are unworthy."
"I, indeed, would like to be worthy; but I come, not upon any worthiness, but upon Thy Word, because Thou has commanded it, as one who would gladly be Thy disciple, no matter what becomes of my worthiness."
"...we always have this obstacle and hindrance to encounter, that we look more upon ourselves than upon the Word and lips of Christ. For nature desires so to act that it can stand and rest firmly on itself..."
