Sermon June 22-23, 2024

Title: Peace is found in Jesus!
Text: Mark 4:35-41

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37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

There is an old saying ... a very old that says:

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”

Publius Syrus (42 B.C.)

[Story of sailing, Jason Eck Sam Holmes etc. and the difficulty that it can be]

35 On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

A bit of a caravan of boats began crossing the Sea of Galilee, the one with Jesus and a few others. There was no preparation or additional provisions just Jesus as he was and those with him going to the other side as evening was upon them.

The crowd that had heard Jesus speak the parables he shared were left behind and Jesus was tired – probably from the day and all the speaking but also true man born of woman … sharing our humanity. We know this because as the storm arose and the waves were breaking over the boat …

38 [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

The storm was upon them, it was evening, the boat is filling and Christ is sleeping. Were those with him fearful or did they think that Jesus just didn’t care? Or, was it both …

I remember when my children were little during thunder storms they wanted to be with Monica and me. If it was night time. They wanted to sleep with us for comfort or to have us with them. Now that they are older when the storms come it our dogs that need comfort. This past week when the storms came my dogs wouldn’t leave me. At times Abby will climb into my lap – all 100 pounds of her – shaking like a leaf while Chloe sits by my side getting petted.

Why worry … when you can trust.

It is like a rocking chair … it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere.

Source Unknown.
We all fall victim to the thought that Jesus doesn’t care about our troubles. And in the storms of life, we all fear that God is silent, uninterested and unaware.

We worry because we don’t know what God intends and even assume that we are set adrift during the storms of life to fend for ourselves.

At times, as a pastor, I am called upon to bring peace and stillness to a raging heart and a life looking for answers … in the midst of the storm … or called to bring comfort as life’s trials rage and the answer is always Jesus.

Our lives are divided into the temporal and the eternal; the here and now, in contrast to that heavenly home that waits in the future.

For some the eternal comes all too soon, for we who are left behind to grieve. But the eternal is as real as our life now though it is yet to come. We walk by faith and not by sight.

Jesus as both true God and true man, while sleeping in the boat, was in control. In the midst of the storm, he had all things under control and as with you and me … we are held in the palm of his hand, and he promises to never leave us nor forsake us.

Some years ago while making a shut-in visit, I visited a member that had a care giver who was a Christian from another denominational background. Every time I visited, the caregiver always seemed to be burdened with the signs of the end times and she worried about when Christ would return. She always had some radio show on or prophet she was listening to, following the signs that pointed to when Jesus would definitely return.
I am so thankful that the Lord by his Holy Spirit always would give me a word of calming comfort to those I visit during the storms of life.

A scripture or word of peace that came from the Lord to calm the heart.

The lady I was visiting had some dementia and though her care giver was a relative she always seemed very concerned about Jesus and his return. My visits brought a word of comfort and the Lord’s Supper to our member, and are wonderful gifts and blessings for those who are shut in, confused, scared or simply need the calming of a troubled heart.

I told the care giver that God’s return is not terrifying to a believer because his word says:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb 13:5

Not in the boat of our lesson or in the room I was visiting.

And, that Jesus says he will go and prepare a place for us, and will come again and will take us to himself, that where he is we may be also. John 14:3

And all the while the lady I’m visiting is saying:

“That’s right pastor, that’s right.” “That’s right pastor, that’s right.”

And I concluded as gently as I could:

Who knows, we may be called to our eternal rest even today … so the trials of life or Christ’s return for the Christian is not something to fear but to be joy in.

Because in the storms of life, Christ cares and brings Peace!

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Not just calm … but the word says a great calm!

40 [Jesus] said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Friends, there is no fear of Jesus or his return for we who know him and have been brought to faith. Christ Jesus has made us his own and has promised to be with us now and forever more. Comfort and peace follow us in the midst of the storm and we know that the peace of God passes all human understanding.

Peace is found in Jesus!

[The takeaway]

Christ Jesus cares and brings Peace!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen.

Sermon: June 15-16, 2024

Title: God’s mighty fortress replaces the broken tent of this life!
Text: 2 Cor. 5:1-10 

 

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5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Today we acknowledge fathers.

Thinking of my dad and dads in general brings a smile to my face. I loved my dad and all he brought to my life. Dads are given a responsibility to serve and lead their families and in society as well, but not all measure up to the calling they are given, so you may or may not have the same joyful memories about your dad as I do. It is for us to remember fathers this day, and maybe this is my own disclaimer:

Fathers are human and fathers are sinners and fathers fall short, but in Christ fathers are forgiven and on this Father’s Day may we all have the blessings of forgiveness given and received!

We are to go about our daily tasks in whatever vocation God has placed us as faithful servants of the word and to serve our neighbor which is God’s desire for each one of us. God has done all things for us in restoring our relationship with him, but he uses us daily to serve the needs of others.

A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need that hath us now o’er taken.
The old evil foe now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.

Fathers are given the headship to care for their families and represent our heavenly father’s love and care in this life. But this life is temporal.

5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Paul speaks here of the human body with the analogy of a tent. For those of you who enjoy camping, you may have experienced the fact that tents, don’t last forever.

Back in 1984 when my wife Monica was pregnant with Amy, we went camping with our friends Terry and Julie.

We had camped the summer before and even though Monica was pregnant and due in a few months, we went again. As we got to the campsite, we began to set up the tent. About half way through the process, the seams started pulling apart and before long the tent literally fell apart at the seams. Those around us were getting a pretty good laugh at our misfortune. As we pulled one side tighter ... the other side would pull apart.

Evidently after camping the previous year, Terry had put away the tent wet instead of setting it up and letting it dry and the thread of the seams had rotted. So, to continue to have our camping trip, we had to go to the store in town and another tent had to be purchased.

Not a great joy but we did finish our camping trip.

The hearers in Paul’s day would have been familiar with the wearing out of fabric of their own tents and here Paul connects it to the fabric of their own mortality.

2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.

Our lives are like the vulnerability of being naked and exposed.

This past week is the anniversary of what would have been my mother’s 94th birthday. June 13th 1930 seems so long ago, though my mom is ever on my mind. Eleanor Tkac passed away in 1988 at the age of 57 suffering the pains of cancer, and was called from this life to the life eternal in heaven way too soon.

At times the blessing of a long life is given. My Aunt Bev shares the same birthday with my mom but two years older and just turned 96; and it seems to me these days that many like Aunt Bev, are living into their 90’s, but for some, life is cut short.

Thake for example my classmate in Jr. High, Sylvia Kalaras, her life was cut short by a house fire in 1969 at the age of 14.

I still remember the details of her death in the basement of her home ... she couldn't get out.

As I heard it, the principal of the Jr. High School Mr. Migliore, lived next door to her and Sylvia – stuck in the basement as the fire raged - got as close as a foot away from his hand so he could pull her through the basement window, but fear caused her to back away from his hand for some reason into the smoke and he never saw her again. 55 years later and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—

We all can attest to the trials of this life and at times being burdened, worn out and spent - not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, by God’s miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit to clothe us with a building not made by human hands so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by the eternal.

Through the Spirit we are pointed to our mighty fortress which is Christ Jesus our Lord!

5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

And that guarantee, you can take to the bank!

The guarantee is this: that we receive the incorruptible when we put off the corruptible as our mortal bodies are clothed with immortality at Christ’s return.

Paul had told the Corinthians this in 1 Cor. 15:52

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

But Paul adds in his second letter to the Corinthians that they are to be found clothed and not naked.

That they are to be clothed in this life with Christ – first at their baptism – as the righteousness of Christ is given and marked as their own.

And also, as they partake of the Lord’s body and blood in the sacrament of the altar, for the forgiveness of their sins which will strengthen their faith!

But at times, as sinners, we’d rather complain than joy in the gift of God’s forgiveness in Christ.

And so, we miss out on the faith building God desires to do in us and for us by his free gift.

But God, by his Spirit, won’t let us grumble long.

As his church we are fed and receive the blessing that he intends for us, so that we can have courage and confidence.

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

It is a comfort to know that when we leave this life and this body of death we are to be with the Lord.

It is that confidence in Christ – our Mighty Fortress - that we hold on to.

While grace and faith are God’s gifts, and while we earn nothing by what we do, but simply receive the Lord’s favor; our neighbors, our children, and our friends need us to share God’s gifts with them, in word and deed.

Martin Luther says this in his Large Catechism to parents about the 4th commandment.

Parents should consider that they owe obedience to God, and that above all, they should earnestly and faithfully discharge the duties of their office, not only to provide for the material support of their children, servants, subjects, etc., but especially to bring them up to the praise and honor of God.

The Book of Concord, LC, Tappert Pg. 388

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

By Christ’s work we have peace with God. This is a blessed gift, but as Paul also wrote to the church at Philippi:

23I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

God’s mighty fortress replaces the broken tent of this life!

We live in this tent and serve until the Lord calls us home whether at 14, 57 or in our 90’s. It is not our concern to dwell on death for Christ Jesus has overcome death at the cross for you and by faith in him you have an eternity that awaits all who believe

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen.

Sermon June 8-9, 2024

Title: Your physician, Christ, has healed you!
Text: 2 Cor. 4:13-5:1

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16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Deborah A. Trosin Obituary

TROSIN, DEBORAH A. of Waterford; May 23, 2024; age 72; Loving wife of the late Tim; Dear mother of Jennifer (Chris) Lehti; Beloved grandmother of Justin Lehti; Cherished longtime friend of Marsha (Tracy) Oberleiter; Also survived by her grand dog Rex. Mrs. Trosin was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and worked as a medical assistant. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society.

The life of Debbie Trosin, member of this Peace Lutheran Church, summarized in 68 words - or not quite one word for each year of this beloved Christian’s life.

I think we can do a little better?

The text appointed for today from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is often used in funeral sermons. I’ve used it many times as I and those who come to mourn - grieve a loss and rejoice in a victory. We grieve the loss of a friend or family member, but also rejoice in the victory of child of Christ connected to this loss that in Jesus, gives us all hope.

Debbie’s family, for reasons of their own, and at this time have no plans for a funeral or memorial service.

Many families don’t. Some, not connected to the church, see death as the end and grieve personally, while others, celebrate the life of the deceased and remember the good times and move forward.

Other’s still, just don’t know what to do, how to do it and and simply do nothing, letting the funeral home guide them as best they can to a casket and vault, or the crematorium as may be the case.

I wanted to take this opportunity to do a little more.

I’ve known Debbie for the better part of 20 plus years, first meeting her at a Saturday evening service. Many who knew her have passed or don’t remember her from her time here. When she was able to come, she used crutches to get in and out of the church as she was quite heavy and had difficulty walking, and would struggle out of the service huffing and puffing as she went. I didn’t think much of it. Just a member of the church coming to hear the word of God and to receive his gifts in the sacrament. I didn’t know that I would get to know her in a personal way and be her pastor.

In 2010 when I began my time here as Vicar, I started going with Pastor Merrell on my day off from work to visit the shut-in members of the church.

Debbie at this time was, living in her home on Iris St, in Waterford, her home was on Maceday Lake and she loved her home and boating. Her husband Tim, passed away in 2005 at 56 years old and I never got to meet him. When I started visiting Debbie at home, she was by then confined to a motorized wheelchair. It was hard for her to do much of anything for herself or to take care of her home. At some point her daughters’ family moved in with her to help some.

Matt Rich once went over and helped organize a group to take care of some repairs that were needed and that was a big help to her.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Debbie’s day to day was not a joy for her. There was much struggle for her, but she was always happy to see me on our visits. Eventually she couldn’t care for herself anymore and became a long-term resident of the Regency care facility in Waterford. It was good for her and helpful. Those who brought care to her were very nice and friendly. She signed her home over to her daughter.

A bed in a room was now her home.

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

I visited her on a regular schedule which was usually once a month. And Debbie was really happy to see me. But as you might expect, it was not always an easy visit. Her mobility issues got worse and she had difficulty hearing which was a long-term problem which was compounded by the fact that she didn’t have hearing aids.

So, when we visited and I would answer her question … it became a bit difficult.
“Pastor, could you speak up? I can’t hear you!”
“Debbie, I’ll try. But I can’t stand here and yell at you.”

Sometimes she wasn’t at Regency when I came to visit, as she had gotten sick and was at the hospital, and those COVID times were especially difficult as you might imagine.

Debbie and I had a lot of discussions about faith. She, as most, was concerned about her salvation. She had devotion books, and Portals of Prayer I brought, and would join on line though Facebook to watch the service but I’m sure she couldn’t hear anything of what was being said.

Earlier this year as I visited, she was very conflicted and asked me:

“Pastor, how can I be sure that my sins our forgiven? I really struggle with this. I’ve not always been a good mother and I’ve hurt people and messed things up!”

This is a pretty common concern for many as we get closer to the time that we will depart this life and death looks to be closing in. For many in care facilities it is a daily concern.

Paul writes:

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

In Christ we understand that death is not the end. There still though, remains judgement and an eternity with the Lord or separated from him.

The Sheep and the Goats. As Jesus relates in the final judgement in Matthew 25.

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

Matt. 25:31-33

On this visit Debbie was concerned.
Where would she stand?
What side was she on?
Was she a Sheep or a Goat?
How could she know that her sins are forgiven?

So, I began to tell her again, as I did each month on our visits, the Good News.

That Jesus came to fulfill God’s promise.

That he humbled himself even unto death, death on a cross, so that he might restore the relationship between God and man or between the Creator and his creatures who have fallen away into sin.

And that by Christ’s death in our place we have been brought back to God the Father by faith given to us by the Holy Spirit.

“Do you believe Debbie, that Jesus died for you?”
“Yes, I do!”
“Well, then you have that forgiveness that has been promised.”

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

“Debbie, do you remember all of the visits I’ve had with you where we had communion?”
“Do you remember that after we confess our sins that I pronounced absolution and forgave you your sins as your pastor?”
“Yes, I do.”

Hear it again:

“Almighty God in his mercy has given his son to die for you and for his sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”

“Did you hear that?”
“Yes.”
“Are you forgiven?”
“Yes.”

Remember:

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Paul concludes today in the Epistle reading with the comfort of an eternity in Christ, and this brings me comfort today as I didn’t get to see Debbie at the end of her life:

He speaks of our heavenly dwelling:

5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Rest in peace Debbie.
You are Jesus’ little lamb
You are forgiven.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen.

Sermon June 1-2, 2024

Title: The Sabbath rest in Christ is made for you!
Text: Mark 2:23-28

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27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

The past few weeks I began doing some landscaping around my deck. This deck has been a long time coming … like 40 years but we got it built out front to replace the broken steps outside our front door and it came out really nice. I needed though to clean up and plant some plants and turnover the grass and get down some mulch. So, I began and have worked at it over the last few weeks. Most of this happens on my day off and by the time the day comes to a close I’m tired and need rest. I’m no Erika!

I’m sure you’ve felt those times as well? Tired, burdened and wearied … and you just need to rest.

In our gospel reading for today Jesus and his disciples are walking on the Sabbath through the grain fields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. Now God’s work of creation was completed in six days and on the seventh day God rested from all his work.
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it, God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Gen 2:1-3

God made the Sabbath – Holy - or set apart - as a day of rest.

The religious leaders made rules to expand and explain what God intended. The Ten Commandments became more than 613 Jewish rabbinical laws and rules to explain and define them.

Take the Sabbath for instance:

Instead of a day of rest it became a day of Mitzvah and Gezeirah – laws and rules. Each with varying degrees of punishment.

From Religion facts about Rabbinic law:

A gezeirah is a rule instituted by the rabbis to prevent inadvertent violation of a mitzvah. For instance, it is a mitzvah to refrain from work on the Sabbath, but a gezeirah to avoid even the handling of any work instruments on the Sabbath.

http://www.religionfacts.com/rabbinic-law

So it’s bad and against religious law to turn over the ground around the deck, plant and put down mulch on the Sabbath, but to even take up the shovel which might lead to work breaks the law as well.

General Norman Schwarzkopf and General Colon Powell besides being generals both worked as Shabbas goys. A Shabbas goy was a non-Jew who was hired to do work on the Sabbath that was not permitted for the Jew himself to do. So even though the Rabbinic laws were being broken, and even though the intent of the Jewish homeowner was to break the law, because it was a Gentile worker that did the work and broke the law the Jewish homeowner might believe – no harm, no flow – I’m good!

The intent of the law was broken and the spirit of the law was broken. So I guess that there is no rest for the weary on the Sabbath.

24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they [your disciples Jesus] doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

Even though it is not you Jesus that’s plucking the grain – they are your followers – what are you going to do about it!

What do you do with those that break the law?

You charge them!
You find them guilty!
You sentence them!
And you punish them!

3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Gen 2:3

As one commentator put it:

“Jesus lays his finger on the real trouble with these Pharisees: too much reading of rabbinical law and not enough of divine law.”

The interpretation of St. Mark’s Gospel R.C.H. Lenski Pg 126

Or:

 
Too much trying to become righteous and not enough of being made righteous.

Too much Work and not enough rest. Or, as Lutherans we might say a confusion of Law and Gospel.

Keeping the law is good.

1. You shall have no other gods
2. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God
3. You shall remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy

The first table of the Law – the first three commandments - pertains to our relationship to God.

Have no other gods, do not misuse God’s name and keep his day Holy – or set apart.

Luther in his explanation to the Small Catechism and keeping the Sabbath day holy tells us that we should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and his word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

To hold it sacred - is to keep it holy or set apart.

To gather together as the community of faith, to hear the word of the Lord, to learn all that God would have us know and to … rest … in the mercy and work of God.

As a child growing up during in a Roman Catholic household during Lent eating no meat on Friday was a given. It was a Law it was a rule in my house. Friday … no meat!

The purpose of this was to give up meat, so that by fasting, and focusing on Christ and his walk to the cross, I might see his work in sacrificing his life for sins of the world, and most especially for me!

But all it did was to get me to focus on meat!

I wanted it and would do whatever I could to figure out what I needed to do to get it - without my mom knowing. Maybe there was a good intent to meatless Friday’s but it brought a wrong outcome for me.

25 And [Jesus] said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?”

I don’t believe that it was Jesus’ intent here to point out a loophole. He is not saying “See, what David did! My disciples are not doing nearly as bad as they did.” If his intent was to make a point, Jesus, could have simply quoted Deuteronomy 23:25 which reads:

25 If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.

Jesus would have surely known this miscellaneous law from Deuteronomy 23 as I’m sure the Pharisees did as well. But the greater point that Jesus, I contend, is making - is with his conclusion:

7 ... “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

The day of rest is for us (you and me) - not we for the day. Our feeble attempt to keep the Law of God shows that we trust ourselves and our work as opposed to Christ and his finished work on our behalf.

We keep the Law when we rest in Christ and his word. As we hear God’s word by the power of the Holy Spirit we are either turned in repentance or comforted by God’s forgiveness.

In fact thinking that we are keeping the Law by our effort is a pretty sure sign that we have another god and another gospel made in our own image.

Not that the Law is bad mind you, but apart from Christ it is another idol made in our own self-serving image. The Pharisees did not love God, with all their heart, mind, soul and strength and they did not love their neighbor as their self. They were in fact loving themselves and justifying their own works of Law keeping while the very Lord of life who rested and instituted the day of rest for you and me walked with his disciples through the grain field.

The Sabbath rest is in Christ.
Our Sabbath rest is Christ!

It is no longer a specific day or time - though Sunday – the first day of the week – is marked as the day Christians gather together to hear the word of the Lord.

The Lord of the Sabbath gives you rest in him. The day, the time, and the Law are all fulfilled in Jesus and we rest in him whether we work on the weekends and worship during the week - or come together:

On the first day of the week.

16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.

And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here!” Mark 16:1-1-2;4b-6

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen.