Produced by Lutherans for Life, Life Thoughts in the Church Year are designed to help pastors and congregations see the church year through the lens of the sanctity of human life. Life Thoughts are based on the appointed readings from Lutheran Service Book using the Three-Year Lectionary.
February 7 – Epiphany V – “The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). Didn’t Jesus atone for the sins of abortion and assisted suicide? Doesn’t the Heavenly Father love those who promote or participate in them just as much as the lives they have taken? For their sake, let us not hesitate to directly apply both the diagnosis of sinfulness and the medicine of forgiveness in our congregations and our conversations.
February 14 – Transfiguration of Our Lord/St. Valentine’s Day – “God shines forth out of Zion” (Psalm 50:2), not from outer space or some other dimension. He adorns human faces with His own glory. It isn’t angels, superheroes, or celebrities only that He makes so sacred, but sinners like Moses (Exodus 34:29-30) and peasants like Jesus (Mark 9:2-3). The Almighty Father holds every human life open, no matter how embryonic or elderly, as a window to heaven. Who are we to pull the shades?
February 21 – Lent I – “Do not lay your hand on the boy … the Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:12-14). Don’t mothers and fathers experiencing surprise pregnancies have the need—and the right—to hear this plea from God Himself? And what a privilege we have to repeat the holy prohibition and promise! Jesus Christ has stepped into every sinner’s place (Mark 1:9, 13), and no other death is necessary or sufficient. His alone will atone for all of our shortcomings.
February 28 – Lent II – What “rejoicing” (Romans 5:3) can we do when abuse, abandonment, and poverty complicate pregnancy? What “hope” (Romans 5:4) can we have when terminal illness takes a loved one’s faculties, functions, and future? Just this: Through Jesus, God takes up our crosses (Mark 8:34) that we may live under His—and live immediately, abundantly, and eternally (Mark 8:35).
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