Almighty God, Your Word is Cast

 

Almighty God, Your Word is cast

    Like seed into the ground;

Now let the dew of heav'n descend

    And righteous fruits abound.

 

Let not the sly satanic foe

    This holy seed remove,

But give it root in ev'ry heart

    To bring forth fruits of love.

 

Let not the world's deceitful cares

    The rising plant destroy,

But let it yield a hundredfold

    The fruits of peace and joy.

 

So when the precious seed is sown,

    Life-giving grace bestow

That all whose souls the truth receive

    Its saving pow'r may know.

 

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Now, what is the Sacrament of the Altar?  By Martin Luther

 

Answer: It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in and under the bread and wine which we Christians are commanded by the Word of Christ to eat and to drink. And as we have said of Baptism that it is not simple water, so here also we say the Sacrament is bread and wine, but not mere bread and wine, such as are ordinarily served at the table, but bread and wine comprehended in, and connected with, the  Word of God.

 

It is  the Word (I say) which makes and distinguishes this Sacrament, so that it is not mere bread and wine, but is, and is called, the body and blood of Christ. For it is said: Accedat verbum ad elementum, et At sacramentum. If the Word be joined to the element it becomes a Sacrament. This saying of St. Augustine is so properly and so well put that he has scarcely said anything better. The Word must make a Sacrament of the element, else it remains a mere element. Now, it is not the word or ordinance of a prince or emperor, but of the sublime Majesty, at whose feet all creatures should fall, and affirm it is as He says, and accept it with all reverence fear, and humility.

 

With  this Word you can strengthen your conscience and say: If a hundred thousand devils, together with all fanatics, should rush forward, crying, How can bread and wine be the body and blood of Christ? etc., I know that all spirits and scholars together are not as wise as is the Divine Majesty in His little finger. Now here stands the  Word of Christ: Take, eat; this is My body; Drink ye all of it; this is the new testament in My blood, etc. Here we abide, and would like to see those who will constitute themselves His masters, and make it different from what He has spoken. It is true, indeed, that if you take away  the Word or regard it without the words, you have nothing but mere bread and wine. But if the words remain with them as they shall and must, then, in virtue of the same, it is truly the body and blood of Christ. For as the lips of Christ say and speak, so it is, as He can never lie or deceive.   Read more     -Luther's Large Catechism

 

Join us for worship, Communion and Bible study this Sunday for the strengthening of your faith, and for the blessings you can share with the body of Christ.  For Christ commands: Do this in remembrance of me for the forgiveness of sins.