“For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink” (Jn 6:55) *** What if you were forced to live solely on junk food because you were not able or perhaps not allowed to consume true food like meat, vegetables, or potatoes, and fruit? Do you think this might have a slight impact your physical health? I am a few days late with my post this week because I am traveling in the Middle East with my colleague Rev. Jerrald Lawson—a fellow LCMS missionary and theological instructor at Riga Luther Academy. A small flock of Lutherans living in this country has requested us to provide them with pastoral care. For security reasons, I can’t share the location with you, nor provide a picture of these dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The best I can do is share with you the tabby cat who lives in the building where we are staying. *** All over the world millions of Christians are not able to access the basics of Christianity—Holy Baptism (once during one’s lifetime), Holy Scripture (daily), and Holy Communion (ideally, weekly). They might have access to physical food, but they are starving spiritually because they are being kept from Christ’s true food. At the same time, there are also many Christians around the world who have easy access to the Lord’s gifts—yet are not using them. Have they perhaps never been taught how vital it is for our faith to receive the Lord’s gifts of Word and Sacrament on a regular basis? I wish they could meet the people to whom we are privileged to minister here. These isolated sheep would implore their brothers and sisters in the faith to not ignore the gifts Jesus wants us all to have, gifts that the little flock here so desperately craves yet is being kept from. On this Lord’s Day I pray that you are able to receive the true food of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation that our Lord provides for you only from the pulpit and the altar—true food for your spiritual health.
The Tiews in Germany 