Today's Reading: Catechism: Who receives this sacrament worthily?

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 6:1-19; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

‘Truly worthy’ is an interesting phrase. In my broken mind, I immediately wonder, can I be ‘kinda worthy’ or ‘mostly worthy?’ How much ‘unworthiness’ can be included before I lose the ‘truly worthy’ status? What if I was worthy yesterday but am not worthy today? This seems really tricky. Should I *not* take the Lord’s Supper? I mean, I can’t say that I am truly worthy all the time, right? Wait. Maybe this isn’t as ‘all about me’ as I think it is…

We sinners love to measure. We want to be the fastest, the tallest, the prettiest, the most successful… if there is a comparison or a measurement, we want to achieve the best. So, to our sinful minds, we also want to be the worthiest. ‘If I am more worthy than *that sinner,* I’m doing pretty good.’ We tend to approach these words as a challenge to prove our worthiness. However, that is not how God’s grace works. These words are in the part of the Small Catechism that is about the Lord’s Supper. Jesus’ Body and Blood are beautiful, freely given Gifts. There is no ‘achieving’ worthiness by trying. 

The sinner in me, though, is still unsure. If we admit that we are truly unworthy, even dead, in our sinfulness, how can anyone actually receive the Lord’s Supper? We remember our Baptism. In Baptism, every sinner was drowned, and a new creation was born. In Baptism, we were covered with Jesus. In Baptism, we are clothed with Jesus’ Death and Resurrection; we are good, holy, perfect, and yes— truly worthy. 

These words point to Jesus. He is truly worthy, and He has covered you in your Baptism. These words tell us that Jesus died and rose again FOR YOU. These words are believed by faith, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit and sustained by eating and drinking Jesus’ Body and Blood. These words point to Jesus; He breathed you back to life in your Baptism, He paid the price for your sins, He defeated sin, death, and the devil, and He continues to sustain you now and into eternity. 

Yes, Baptized Child of God, in Jesus, you are truly worthy.  

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

-Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.

The Lutheran Confessions play a vital role in the church—both centuries ago, and today. But, do they apply to the daily life of a layperson? Pastor Andy Wright offers a resounding “yes” in his book, Faithfully Formed. He quotes, summarizes, and synthesizes key teachings from the Confessions, revealing their relevance in the daily lives of ordinary people.