The Lord Jesus taught a lawyer to love the neighbor as himself. Through a parable he taught him who the neighbor was. We are endowed by our Father in heaven to care for the weak – the less blessed than we are. Some fear doing this, labeling it socialism. As Christians we follow our God – not worldly ideologies.
Since we all were set free from sin and death by Christ and were given the Holy Spirit, let us live accordingly. Let us focus on this new life and proclaim it to the world.
The Holy Spirit comes into our hearts through His Word and adopts us into God’s family. We are all united and kept in God’s family by grace. He nourishes us spiritually and we live a new, free life no longer captive to sin – and its consequence – death.
On the first Sunday of the non-festive half of the church year, we are enriched by the knowledge that we do our work in the world backed-up and empowered by the Triune God! Father, Son, and Holy Spirit meet with us here Sunday after Sunday. We are blessed way beyond understanding. Let us cherish divine services.
Our Lord consoled his Disciples in the upper room on the night he was betrayed by telling them the Father would send the teacher, the Holy Spirit. He would teach them all things, so he did, and they began to speak in other languages. That is the Holy Spirit factor. The Church also experiences it.
In Biblical imagery the right hand always conveys favor, honor, blessing. It is entirely logical and appropriate that Christ is seated at the right hand of God. The Church represents God’s right hand in the world. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Church blesses the world.