The Shepherd’s Voice – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tomah, WI

On this episode of the Shepherd's Voice, we get to know soon to be married, Josh and Nicole!

The Fifth Sunday of Easter May 3, 2026 John 16:5-15   Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!   What comfort this sweet sentence gives, what joy it is to sing! This is your song of victory, your song of hope, your song of truth. Although it is a short song, it tells a bigger story. Much of music is used to tell stories. It is used to express happiness and to comfort in sadness. As you grow older, songs that were sung as a child have a way of sticking with you. Others are passed down from generation to generation.   Many children, cradled in their mothers’ arms, have heard, “You are my sunshine.” There is so much joy in seeing a sleeping or giggling child, and comfort in knowing a child is safe in a parent’s or grandparent’s arms. But the song also acknowledges that life isn’t always peaches and cream; there are gray skies and storms of life. Women who never hold a child, mothers who reject motherhood, mothers who bury their own, or mothers who see their children grow old and drift away from faith can attest to these storms.   These are storms Christ died for.    Once protected within the unpenetrating arms of mother or father, children are thrust into a world full of unknowns as they grow and mature. Naturally, independence begins to emerge among young adults. Using the old saying, they spread their wings to fly away from the nest. Parents pray for their safety, that they will make wise decisions, and that they remember the one divine and eternal truth: that Jesus Christ entered this world as a child, died for their sins, your sins, and mine, defeated Satan, rose again, and ascended to the Father.    But children are curious, and no matter the age, we all ask at some point, “What is truth?” Seek an answer to the question, “What is truth?” outside of the Church and outside of the protective arms of God, and the world will send you on a wild goose chase.   Well-meaning friends, neighbors, and peers tempt us to seek truth in this world, as if searching for water in a desert without water. The repeated message from the false priests and priestesses of our time claims that there is no objective truth. Instead, they suggest living simply, relying on yourself, and following the way of subjective or personal belief, where gods, goddesses, angels, and demons all act according to personal wills and desires.    Without a doubt, you’ve heard it said or said it yourself, “I can’t believe in a God who would…. (Pick your disaster, let a child die, Alzheimer’s diagnosis, or judge someone based on their sexual orientation.)” However, with words like these, our god becomes our pronouncements; god becomes what we decide. God is no longer the creator; rather, He is the one being created in your image. Divine truth is lost — the truth that was given to you in the waters of your Baptism, the truth you were created in, is gone.    Having lost the clear confession of truth, churches often resort or are tempted to try gimmicks in the hopes of being relevant and enjoyable to the seekers of this world. However, in this quest, objective truth becomes secondary or dismissible.   What if you had a surgery scheduled this week and the doctor told you it would be an enjoyable experience? You might think twice about choosing this particular doctor and drive to Madison, Milwaukee, or even the Twin Cities. The doctor’s job isn’t to bring you immediate enjoyment but to provide lasting healing. Today, worship has become a matter of lifestyle, light on substance, and not a matter of life and death. Instead, it’s something of the here and now, not of the eternal and forever.   The words of Jesus in the Gospel, however, state that there is an objective truth.   These words explain how we will recognize this truth and how the Holy Spirit will guide us in the way of truth. For this reason, Jesus must go to the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the “Spirit of truth.” It is He, Jesus says, who will guide the disciples and you.   Let’s be honest, we feel nervous when talking about the Holy Spirit. Some churches speak in tongues and claim to possess the Holy Spirit, but we don’t want to be associated with them. However, in these situations, we can rely on our confirmation instruction and recall what is taught in the small catechism, especially the third article of the Apostle’s Creed. More importantly, we should understand its meaning: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified, and kept me in the true faith.” These are the ways the Holy Spirit works—not something mysterious, but the concrete means of grace, the forgiveness of sins.    So, what is the truth the Holy Spirit will guide you into, to know and confess? Jesus said in John 14, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”   Truth is not just an idea; it’s a person—it’s Jesus Christ. It doesn’t end with simply knowing who He is, but it’s found in Him, who brings you into a relationship with God through daily surrender of the Old Adam, dying to sin and being raised to new life. It’s found in the forgiveness of sins, rescuing you from death and hell, and restoring you as image-bearers of God.    Truth is found in Jesus. He’s not an emotion or idea. He’s not an invisible friend or make-believe relationship. He’s the child born of Mary, the Son sent by God the Father, whose heroic course brought Him back to the Father’s right hand, granting you access to your Father in heaven and always sending the Holy Spirit.   But the Holy Spirit, Jesus says, also comes to convict the world of sin. Of what sin? Unbelief. Not just the disbelief that Jesus exists or existed, but it reveals your unbelief and rejection of Him as Savior.   The Holy Spirit also comes to convict the world of righteousness. Christ is not referring to worldly righteousness or justice, where people give others what is owed. “The Holy Spirit convicts those who do not hold onto Jesus or receive Him because they try to justify themselves with their own poor and miserable works and merits.” Instead, it is Jesus’ blood that is the sacrifice. His ascension to the Father demonstrates His righteousness and brings us into the presence of the Father.    The Holy Spirit comes to convict the world of judgment. Not our judgment, but the judgment of this world’s prince, the devil. He is the father of lies, and like your first parents, he desires to tempt you and lead you to reject the Truth found in Jesus Christ. He wants you to believe you can be God, and you are inclined to act as if you are — just as your first parents did in the Garden of Eden.   In a world full of schedules and commitments, everything today seems to be compartmentalized. Like food on a plate, nothing is allowed to touch; our church lives occupy one corner of the plate, and the rest of our lives take up the remaining portions. Sunday is reserved for God and church, while the rest of the week is for worldly things. Our lives are conducted from Monday through Saturday, as if one life doesn’t inform the other. Sunday is the day of resurrection, and Monday begins everything else for the week.    Everything throughout the week feels like a struggle, a fight. Even though this world has been judged through Christ’s victory on the cross, we live as if we must fight for ourselves. We must succeed in this world and make a name for ourselves. Yet, despite the many changes in this world, we always pray that our eyes may be fixed where true joy is found.    Near the end of today’s Gospel, Jesus says the Holy Spirit will guide you in all truth and take everything that is His to declare it to you. What is declared to you is something greater than anything you have in this life. It’s Him making you a child of His heavenly Father; it’s you being placed in His protective arms. The lullaby He gives you is yours to sing in the liturgy of the Church. It’s this song that you carry with you into the busyness of the week and the chaos of each day. When the days of sunshine fade, and gray skies appear, this song gives you the words to call on your heavenly Father with boldness and confidence. Trust that He hears you, live as His child, and know that He will carry you through this life and bring you to Himself in heaven. +INJ+     Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/    

The Fourth Sunday of Easter April 26, 2026 John 16:16-22   Alleluia! Christ is Risen!   This past week, my family drove 4 hours to Iowa for a Lutheran education conference. With a van full of children, you can imagine the constant refrain from the backseats…   “Are we there yet?”   “How much longer?”   A child’s understanding of time is often skewed, isn’t it?   When waiting for something good to arrive, like seeing old friends, time moves slowly, but when the opportunity for joy and fun arrives, time flies by.   This understanding of time doesn’t really change as people age; the days leading up to vacation feel long, but the time off itself goes by quickly.    No matter what happens, one thing is certain: time continues to move forward at the same rate. It’s the events and experiences in your life that shape how you perceive and experience time.    So, to quote the country artist, Kenny Chesney, “Don’t Blink.”   But in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” (John 16:16)   Jesus said, “A little while, and you will not see me.”   Why? Because He must die upon the cross, which is highlighted by these words, Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.   There is so much packed into these words of Jesus.   First, these words of Jesus look ahead to His death and resurrection. But then they also address the idea of time, while, in another sense, Jesus seems to discuss how sorrow, weeping, lamenting, and grief influence our experience of time.    Jesus says the world will rejoice at the time of his death, even while the disciples mourn and weep.   When a death happens close to you, surely you don’t see the world celebrating your sorrow and fear, but maybe you’ve noticed how the world doesn’t stop for your tears either; it keeps moving.    Time always keeps moving, doesn’t it?   The fourth-century Greek poet, Menander, wrote the well-known adage for a play, “Time heals all wounds.”   In a way, the idea is that with enough time, your sorrows and griefs will disappear; they will fade as the days go by. You just need patience.   But, you don’t just practice this idea or hear these words when a loved one dies, do you?   You also use it when you’re upset with someone, when you’ve had a falling out with a friend or family member, when a young man and a woman break up, or when you’ve committed a serious sin that weighs heavily on your heart and faith.    “Time heals all wounds.”   These words have not only become your friend, but a means also to avoid confronting the tribulations of life.   But how does Scripture respond to this idea of time? Let’s look at the well-known passage from Ecclesiastes,   To everything there is a season,                         A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born,                         And a time to die;                         A time to plant,                         And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill,                         And a time to heal;                         A time to break down,                         And a time to build up; A time to weep,                         And a time to laugh;                         A time to mourn,                         And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones,                         And a time to gather stones;                         A time to embrace,                         And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain,                         And a time to lose;                         A time to keep,                         And a time to throw away; A time to tear,                         And a time to sew;                         A time to keep silence,                         And a time to speak; A time to love,                         And a time to hate;                         A time of war,                         And a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)   As Luther notes on this passage from Ecclesiastes, God has ordained a definitive beginning and end to every aspect of life. He writes, All human works and efforts have a certain and definite time of acting, of beginning, and of ending, beyond human control. Thus this is spoken in opposition to free will. It is not up to us to prescribe the time, the manner, or the effect of the things that are to be done; and so it is obvious that here our strivings and efforts are unreliable. Everything comes and goes at the time that God has appointed. He proves this on the basis of examples of human works whose times lie outside the choice of man (AE 15:49).   Okay, so what does all of this mean?   It means your time is in God’s hands. Your births, your relationships, your marriage, your children, the breakups, the wars between friends and family, the job loss, the retirement, the deaths of a loved one, the grief and sorrow that follow.   All of this life is in God’s timing.   Yet, we can still say with confidence, “Time [does not] heal all wounds.”   Why do we say this?   Because Jesus is the only one who heals all wounds. He alone can take your grief and sorrow into Himself and give you joy, and that leads us to look to the time of His death upon the cross.   As the prophet Isaiah wrote,  Surely he has borne our griefs                         and carried our sorrows;              yet we esteemed him stricken,                         smitten by God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)   How often do you get caught in a continuous cycle of sorrow, grief, lament, and weeping?    How often do you neglect or refuse to reach out and engage with the people and situations that challenge you throughout life? That leads to heartache and anger. Figuring, you’ll just give it time.   While time does not heal all wounds, time remains fleeting, so you should listen intently to the words of Jesus today,  A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father. (John 16:16)   These words not only describe the aspect of time, but also lead you, along with Jesus’ disciples, to look toward His cross and His death. Still, they don’t leave you in darkness either, because they remind you that on that first Easter morning, your Jesus rose from the dead, bringing you the joy of His forgiveness.    If you desire this joy, the joy of a mother who has given birth to a child, then you must not only go and face the crosses in your life—the person, the event, or cause of your grief and sorrow—but also confront these crosses by confessing your griefs, sorrows, laments, struggles, and the sin you are holding onto.   In other words, go to Jesus and confess your sin and your faith in Him, because only then can you or your neighbor rise with Christ in the joy of His resurrection.   Go to the font, drown the old Adam of sin and doubt, of fear and sadness, so you may receive new birth in Christ Jesus.   And don’t wait to do this, because just as there is a time for every purpose under heaven, the time for repentance and reconciliation, that is now.   So don’t waste time; instead, entrust the minutes, hours, and days of your life into God’s hands with eagerness, for He cares for you and longs to bring you into His eternal joy, where there is no time. +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/    

Easter 3 April 19, 2026 John 10:11-16   Alleluia! Christ is Risen!   Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, which tells the story of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. What’s so wonderful about this passage is that Jesus teaches us He is not like a hireling, who doesn’t care about you, His sheep, and abandons you in your troubles or when the enemy attacks; no, instead, He came to save you. And that’s what He did—by laying down His life for you on the cross that first Good Friday, by enduring the attacks and wounds of the wolf, He died for your sins, your struggles, the darknesses that lead you away from His cross and Church.    But maybe you’ve asked yourself, “How is Jesus coming to me today, to save me, to care for me, to bring me back to His cross and Church, back to the gathering of His flock?”   The answer to this question might come after the resurrection, as Jesus spoke to Simon Peter in the Gospel of St. John,   So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”   He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”   He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”   He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”   He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”   He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”   He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”   And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”   Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:15-17)   First, we learn from this passage that Jesus cares for His sheep by sending pastors among them. But secondly, did you notice how Jesus doesn’t tell Peter to feed “your” sheep, no, He says to him, to feed “My” sheep — to feed the sheep of Jesus?    Who are these sheep?   They are you—the ones who bear the Lord’s mark, have been washed in His baptism, sealed with His name, and covered by His blood shed on the cross.   This passage from the Gospel of John, these instructions given to St. Peter, are read at every ordination and installation of a pastor, because the clear instruction to all pastors is to feed the sheep of Jesus, “His sheep.” (Paraphrase from St. Augustine)   Now, how is a pastor to do this?   Well, Harold Senkbeil, a pastor outside of Elm Grove, WI, wrote a book called The Care of Souls, and in that book, he has a chapter called “Sheep-Dogging and Shepherding.”   In this chapter, Senkbeil alludes to the pastor as a sheepdog.   While many of you know what a sheepdog is, for those who don’t, this type of dog has traditionally been used to herd various kinds of livestock. Sheepdogs work closely with farmers or shepherds to move herds or flocks, prevent them from straying, guide them home, and guard and protect them from danger.    Senkbeil says, Consider this picture of the relationship between a sheepdog and shepherd as a vivid illustration of the bond between a pastor and the Good Shepherd who has enlisted him in service to his sheep. The sheepdog is iconic of a faithful pastor’s work: one ear turned to the voice of the Great Shepherd, the other tuned attentively to the sheep.   With this illustration in mind, Senkbeil urges the reader to ponder these relationships more as he quotes another author: [The sheepdog] was the docile and faithful agent of another mind. He used his whole intelligence and initiative, but always in obedience to his master’s directive will… The little mountain sheep he had to deal with were exceedingly tiresome, experts in doubling and twisting and going the wrong way as any naughty little boy. Even so, the dog went steadily on with it, his tail never ceased to wag.   The dog’s relation to the shepherd was the center of his life; and because of that, he enjoyed doing his job with the sheep; he did not bother about the trouble, nor get discouraged with the apparent results. The dog had transcended mere dogginess. His actions were dictated by something right beyond himself. He was the agent of the shepherd, working for a scheme which was not his own and the whole of his of which he could not grasp, and it was just that which was the source of so delightedness, the eagerness and also the discipline with which he worked. But he would not have kept that peculiar and intimate relationship unless he had sat down and looked at the shepherd a good deal.   What these words reveal is that the sheepdog will never fully grasp the shepherd’s entire intent, meaning, he doesn’t know why this event leads to the next event. However, the dog acts as an extension of the shepherd, eager and willing to go wherever he is needed, and despite any frustrations, the sheepdog always looks to the shepherd, captivated by His love for him and the sheep.    And this is where it all begins — the sheepdog watching and being captured by the Shepherd. Everything the sheepdog does is directed by the words of the Shepherd.   Similarly, everything the pastor does should be guided by the voice of the Good Shepherd.     So, if you’re sick and in the hospital, the pastor is here to visit you and surround you with the comfort of God’s word.   If you are failing to live the baptismal life and walk in the fruits of the Spirit— “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”—the pastor is there to guide you back onto the difficult path of confession and absolution. (Galatians 5:22-23)   If you have wandered away from the flock, if you fail to keep the confession of faith from your Confirmation, the pastor will go after you, calling, texting, writing, emailing, Facebooking, or whatever form of communication is needed to lead you back to the Good Shepherd and the supper that awaits you here.    It’s what the pastor, the sheepdog, is sent to do, because he receives his direction from the Good Shepherd, from his Lord, Jesus Christ.   And this is why I come into this sanctuary each morning: to get away from the distractions of the pastor’s study, to quietly look to my Savior, to hear His Word, to kneel and pray for you, His sheep, just as the apostles, the first pastors, instructed in the book of Acts as it was written, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4)   Or when I am permitted to come to your home and bedside during your times of trouble, sickness, or approaching death, because the Scriptures instruct the pastor, as St. James wrote, Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:13-15)   Or if you have strayed, if you have not been found regularly among the flock in the Divine Service; Jesus, the Good Shepherd, sends His sheepdog, His undershepherd, the pastor, after you—to leave the 99 and rescue the one—striving to bring you home to the flock of Jesus as you read in the Gospel of St. Luke. (Luke 15:3-7)   Why is all this done? Because Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” (John 10:14)   These words are the good news of Good Shepherd Sunday.   Jesus, your Good Shepherd, knows you. He has claimed you in Holy Baptism, and through His Word, He calls out to you. He doesn’t send hirelings among you, who do not care about you and would abandon you in times of trouble, to leave you when you or your children wander away from Him, or remain snug in your beds on a Sunday morning.   No, He sends His pastors, His sheepdogs, to do His will, to care for you, and to ensure you are constantly hearing the voice of Jesus, so you might know Him. So you might look to the cross and see how the Shepherd laid down His life for you, the sheep, enduring the attacks and wounds of the wolf - He died for your sins, your struggles, and the darknesses that lead you away from His Church, from His flock.   Jesus does all of this through His pastors because He loves you, and this is why Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”   “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”   [Jesus] said to him, “Feed My lambs.”   This is why pastors are sent to you: to do as Jesus has instructed and commanded. So, on the last day, you can join the whole company of heaven in saying, Alleluia! Christ is Risen! +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/  

Easter 2 April 12, 2026 John 20:19-31     Alleluia! Christ is Risen!   Disappointment, grief, and fear are difficult feelings to process.   Certainly, you’ve experienced a time when you loved someone so deeply that you couldn’t imagine life without them. There are others you’ve trusted in life so completely that you’d follow them anywhere. And there are people you’ve depended on for their steady advice during tough times, and now you feel lost without them — like you’ve lost your sense of direction, and you would have followed them anywhere.    You can experience these feelings of disappointment, grief, and fear after a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or the death of a spouse. Maybe you and a close friend had a falling out. Or, in other situations, a confidant or a pastor was called away to shepherd a different flock.    These situations are difficult for everyone. They often cloud a person’s thinking.   For instance, grief can lead to brain fog, memory loss, and rollercoaster emotions. One moment you’re happy, and the next you’re crying or screaming. The body may become physically exhausted, and you may even experience digestive issues, sleep deprivation, and cardiovascular problems known as broken heart syndrome.    These darknesses and their shadows lead you onto new paths filled with distorted realities. In these moments, your faith is tested—faith in man, faith in God.    You might wonder, is this what is occurring with Thomas in today’s Gospel?   After all, earlier in the Gospel of John, Thomas was not known to be the doubter he is in today’s reading. No, instead, he was bold as he said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we might die with [Jesus].” (John 11:16)   Where were the disciples headed here? Where is the location Thomas mentions? They were going to the tomb of Lazarus, to the place where life and death confront each other, the site where faith and hope struggle, and where Thomas believes death and martyrdom await him and the others.    What happened to this Thomas?   The death of Jesus shattered his hopes and dreams, taking away his rabbi and teacher—somebody he depended on and believed in to rescue and save him and the others from oppression, want, and need.    Thomas would have followed Jesus anywhere...   Surely you can relate to this, Thomas. Surely you’ve felt like Thomas. Some of you might not even blame him for being full of doubt and unbelief.   This is, after all, what has happened here: bold Thomas has become doubting Thomas because he no longer believed in Jesus, His Word, because he could not see his Savior with his eyes or touch Him with his hands.   The Church Father, Gregory the Great, wrote regarding today’s Gospel, It was not an accident that [Thomas] was not present (with the eleven). The divine mercy ordained that a doubting disciple should, by feeling in his Master the wounds of the flesh, heal in us the wounds of unbelief. The unbelief of Thomas is more profitable to our faith than the belief of the other disciples. For the touch by which he is brought to believe confirms our minds in belief, beyond all question. (Gregory the Great)   Alright, so what is Gregory the Great saying here? He is saying, the doubting faith of Thomas is for us, for you. Gregory is saying that Thomas placed his finger into the print of the nails and his hand into the side of Jesus for your faith.   Which raises another difficulty: understanding God’s will and timing throughout life. Why did my high school sweetheart break up with me? She was my everything. Why did God take my spouse to be with Him? I need them. Why did God permit me to have such a falling out with my dear friend? Why did God take away the pastor who understood me the most and always pointed me in the right direction?   The answer to these questions is rarely what you desire or want, because when disappointment, grief, and fear arise, as they did for Thomas, you rarely think clearly and often find your faith wavering at best.    However, through the example of Thomas today, we see that these instances are opportunities for us to trust, have faith, and cling to Jesus’ Word all the more.   And this is what St. John says in the closing verse of the Gospel as he wrote, And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)   This belief and faith are how you place your fingers with Thomas into the print of the nails and your hand into the side of your Savior. Remember from last week, Jesus never stops being the crucified, and for this reason, every time you enter this sanctuary through the remembrance of your baptism, you enter the cross of Christ the crucified.   When you receive God’s forgiveness through the absolution and the proclamation of Jesus’ Word, you receive His peace. When you approach this altar, you receive the crucified and risen flesh and blood of Jesus upon your lips for your salvation and faith.   In a miraculous way, Jesus continues to come to you as He came to Thomas, both in His Word and in His body, in order for the Holy Spirit to create and sustain faith within you.   Look, life can be scary when going through cosmic changes, especially in relationships. But today is a chance for you to remember that your doubts and fears are not unique; even Jesus’ disciples struggled, and some, like Thomas, experienced a conflict of faith, particularly after the death and resurrection of Jesus.    You are no different from them. You should expect the Christian life to be difficult because you remain in this life with other humans, who likewise are intelligent, emotional creatures.   But through the signs and events written within the Scriptures, be reminded of the hope you have in Christ Jesus, the Savior who has already won redemption for you.   And should you find yourself in darkness, locked in a state of fear, come to where Jesus is present for you, hear His Word of peace, and repeat with the entire Church,   Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!     Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!     Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!   Come, hear, touch, and receive Jesus for your eternal and everlasting faith. +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/

The Festival of Easter April 5, 2026 Mark 16:1-8     Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!     Since ancient times, family members have cared for their loved ones’ bodies after death. The family washed the body, dressed or wrapped it in linen shrouds, and surrounded it with incense, spices, and costly ointments. These practices of using pleasant fragrances served a practical purpose, masking the smell of death, as it was common for loved ones not only to carry the body to the family tomb but also to spend time with the deceased in the burial chamber.   On a different level, these practices of caring for the deceased also served as therapy, helping family members cope with their grief. In ways many of us are unaware of today, this process enables the living to accept the death of a loved one, gives purpose in caring for and dressing the body for burial, provides time to say goodbye, and ensures that rituals and dignity are maintained throughout the burial preparations.    The idea of using a funeral home, embalming, and paying others to prepare a loved one’s body is fairly recent, emerging within the last one hundred to two hundred years.   But this morning, as we heard in the Gospel, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were walking to the tomb where Jesus was laid to continue the burial and ritual process that had begun in haste on Good Friday.   They bought and brought additional spices to the tomb, since the smell and stench of death would likely have started emanating from the body. You can assume that their walk to the tomb was rather slow, as they probably lacked joy in the tasks ahead.    No one enjoys the journey to the grave, whether on foot or in a hearse. No one.   Because we understand that when we leave the grave, this is where the deceased will stay. We will depart, life will continue, but the dead remain.   But that’s why the morning’s Gospel is so surprising and exciting—because the women went to the tomb to care for Jesus’ body, but it wasn’t there.    No, instead, what they see is an angel clothed in white, who announces to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.”   What wonderful words for their ears to hear.   What wonderful words for our ears to hear.   Now, there are a few things we can learn from the words of the angel. First, he says, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.”   We often like to disconnect the crucifixion from the resurrection, yet even in the earliest words announcing the resurrection of Jesus, it is clear that He remains the crucified. With Romans 4 in mind, St. Paul reveals this profound link between the crucifixion and resurrection as he says, “[Jesus] was delivered for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)    So, what is Paul saying here?   He explains that Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty for your sins, every one of them. But His resurrection now demonstrates His power over the grave, confirming that forgiveness is available to those who believe in Him. It also assures you, the faithful, that when the time comes, you will not remain in the grave, but like Christ, you too will rise from the dead.    And this is the great news of Easter, that “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.”   In a way, on Easter, we all become Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome as we come to this sanctuary. While we do not bring spices and ointments for His burial, we do bring songs of praise as we seek and celebrate the resurrected Jesus who is here as He has promised.   This journey we are on, whether alone or with others, is also a preparation for our own death in Christ—the grave we enter through our baptisms—shaping not just the body but also the soul, for eternal rest and new life in the resurrection with Christ Jesus.     And this is why we come and return to this sanctuary as often as possible, for Christ Jesus to prepare our bodies and souls for our deaths and burials. To die to our sins, to walk away from the devil and the grave. To be clothed and made ready to be raised in forgiveness and new life, every Sunday and Lord’s Day.    My friends in Christ, as the days go by, don’t let today or the next funeral of a loved one be the last time you journey here or walk past the font where Jesus, the crucified, placed His name upon you and made you a partaker of His resurrection. Instead, come back—come back often—to where Jesus has promised He is present for you for the forgiveness of sin. Come and sing praises to your heavenly King, come and receive the foretaste of heaven prepared for you at this rail, come, rejoice, and confess with your brothers and sisters in Christ and the whole company of heaven...   O Death, where is your sting?   O Hell, where is your victory?   Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.   Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.   Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.   Christ is risen, and life reigns.   Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.   For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.   So let us stand at the grave and cry out…   Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!   Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!   Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!   Amen.     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/  

The Great Easter Vigil April 4, 2026     Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!     The Psalmist writes, “My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)   Since the beginning of time and the fall into sin, mankind has been keeping watch for its redemption.   In fact, the entirety of Scripture is nothing but the prayer of the Psalmist, “My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)   The image the Psalmist is painting for the reader is that of a vigil.   Honestly, vigils are not that foreign to us, are they?   We keep vigil when a woman is near giving birth.   We keep vigil for a child’s return late at night.   We keep vigil for the soldier overseas.   We keep vigil for the one who is ill.   We keep vigil when death draws near.   The idea of keeping watch, of keeping vigil, is ingrained in the rhythms of life.   It began with Adam and Eve as they waited for a seed, born of woman, to crush the serpent’s head. It continued with Israel as they observed the Lord’s Passover and remembered His promise to redeem them. And it was fulfilled in the coming of the Christ Child that first Christmas.   The Church is no different; throughout its history, it has always gathered in the darkness of night, with candles and torches in hand, as a reminder that the Light of Christ will scatter the darkness of sin and this world. (1 Corinthians 4:5)   You see this most clearly when we gather on Christmas Eve in the darkness to pray, sing Silent Night, and wait for the birth of the Christ Child.    It really shouldn’t surprise you that, when we gather to celebrate the birth of Christ, we would also come together on this most holy of nights to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and to welcome the new life given to man through His resurrection.    As St. Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. (1 Peter 1:3)   This is why, throughout the centuries, this night has been dedicated to baptizing and confirming catechumens and students of the faith, symbolizing their transition from the darkness of unbelief into the light of faith and new life.    This is a night for you to recount God’s mercy through the reading of Scripture to His entire Church. It is a night of new birth and the remembrance of your baptism. It is a night for the light of Christ to dawn upon you, His creatures who are in need of rescuing.   So don’t be shy, but out of the darkness of your life, remain ready and learn to pray with the Psalmist and the Church, “My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)   Pray in the night of waiting, pray at the time of anguish and yearning, pray when death draws near.   But then rejoice, because morning has come, your Savior has risen from the dead, and He has an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance for you in heaven.   So, rejoice and greet this happy day, saying…   Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!   Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!   Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/        

Good Friday April 3, 2026     Leading up to the season of Lent, we meditated on the Latin phrase “Memento Mori,” meaning “remember your death,” or “remember you must die.”   A difficult phrase to comprehend, a matter we’d prefer not to contemplate.   We don’t want to grapple with the idea of death, let alone give it room to exist in our minds. Yet, as people get older, the thought becomes unavoidable.    As we discussed, one way the ancients kept the idea of death before them was by sometimes using the actual bones and skulls of loved ones who had already died; they would place these items on a worktable or desk.    Naturally, this isn’t something we do today, nor would we consider it.   Yet, the season of Lent is meant to encourage us to reflect on “Memento Mori.” It aims to prompt us to confront aspects of life that weaken our faith, especially those that often lead us to sin and spiritual death.    And we don’t need to look far for examples in our lives that lead us to death.   Reflect on tonight’s readings about Judas’ actions as he betrayed Jesus and handed Him over to the chief priests and Pharisees. Are you any different from Judas? How often do you find yourself being greedy and selfish, only thinking of yourself?    In this way, you have delivered Jesus over to be scourged.   Then there’s Peter. You want to confess with him, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” (Matthew 16:16). But honestly, when was the last time you discussed or confessed the Christian faith outside of these walls? With a friend, a coworker, or a family member?   Sometimes we forget that words left unsaid still carry meaning. They still confess something, and in this case, they reflect Peter’s cowardly nature when it mattered most, as he said, “I do not know the man.” (Matthew 26:72)   In this way, you are a feeble witness as your Savior was tried as a criminal for your offenses.   Yet, the example of Pilate still remains. He’s indifferent at best, and when faced with a choice, Pilate will take the easy way out, handing Jesus over to be crucified rather than standing firm against the mobs.    Like with Peter, consider how you approach and assess the situation, choosing the easier path, and instead of standing up for what is right and confessing Jesus, you let your selfishness lead you to hand Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified.    To die.   All of these events led to Jesus’ death on the cross; however, while Jesus did die on the cross about two thousand years ago, today is really about your own death.    As we read in the book of Romans, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)   Or a little later in Romans, we hear the familiar passage, We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)   We speak this verse often, because we have a great need for “Memento Mori.”   We have a profound need to remember our own death and mourn the things that lead us toward death. We must turn away from what harms our faith. To drown our betrayal, denial, and selfish indifference to Christ in the waters of Holy Baptism, remember that we must die to sin in order to rise to new life.    When we can do this, “Memento Mori” isn’t as scary as it first appears.   On this Good Friday, remember your death by taking up the cross in your hands, placing it before your eyes each day, seeing your Savior on the cross, and recognizing your own death on the cross.    One of the wonderful aspects of the hymns we sing tonight is that they allow us to meditate on this reality. Using the closing stanza of “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” let it serve as a prayer and a reflection of joy and life.           Be Thou my consolation,     My shield, when I must die; Remind me of Thy passion     When my last hour draws nigh. Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,     Upon Thy cross shall dwell, My heart by faith enfold Thee.     Who dieth thus dies well.   As Lent comes to an end, keep these words and the cross of Jesus before you and remember that His death is your death, “Memento Mori.”    But His life is also your life. So, look to the cross, keep it in your sight, hold onto it, for there hangs the Life that ends all death.   +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/  

Holy Thursday April 2, 2026 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 & John 13:1-15, 34-35     When one thinks of Maundy Thursday, they often think of the Lord’s Last Supper.   Rightfully so, as in the sequence of Holy Week’s events, this is when the Lord’s Supper was instituted by our Savior for us Christians, to eat and to drink, for the forgiveness of our sins.   It’s also for this reason that we hear St. Paul’s instructions regarding the Lord’s Supper.   In the epistle this evening, St. Paul follows up the words of institution by instructing the Christian that whenever they receive the gift of the holy supper, they are confessing what Jesus has done for them upon the cross every day of their life, until Jesus returns.   But also, Paul says, Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:27)   Receiving the sacrament unworthily means approaching the altar with an attitude or behavior that lacks faith and fails to recognize that, at this altar, you receive the very flesh and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. At this altar, you confess a shared faith with the brothers and sisters to your left and right, and you also confess love for your Lord and your neighbor.    But unworthiness can also present itself when you come to receive the Lord’s Supper if you are guilty of not loving your neighbor, because when someone does not love their neighbor, they are not loving Christ. For this reason, to sin against your neighbor is to sin against Christ.   St. Paul says, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28)   To examine yourself means to test yourself and critically reflect on your actions, thoughts, and beliefs. Do they align with God’s will for you? For example, do they align with the Ten Commandments, as you’ve learned them not only from the Small Catechism but also from Holy Scripture?    In the letter to the Galatians, St. Paul says, “Let each person examine his own work.” (Galatians 6:4)   Examine yourself—your thoughts, words, and actions—while avoiding pride and selfishness. Looking upon others and saying, “I’m glad I’m not like them…”   For just two verses prior, Paul said to the Galatians, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)   Part of fulfilling the law is to bear one another’s burdens, to walk through this life with your brothers and sisters, not only to the communion rail but also as you leave the rail to return to your seats, your homes, and your vocations.    Which leads us to this question: What does Maundy Thursday mean?   Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (commandment), referring to the “new commandment” Jesus gave his disciples and to us during the institution of the Lord’s Supper. He said, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.   But if you honestly examine yourselves, your lives, your words, and thoughts, do you come to the altar of the Lord with this love for one another as Christ says?   Or are you like Judas, just a bunch of betrayers of God and His word?   Betraying your Savior with your silence… silence in confessing your faith in Him, silence in confessing your sins to Him, silence in confessing your sins against Him because of your transgressions against your neighbors.   Think about this: do you approach this rail without first considering how you hurt and sin against others? Or the lack of reconciliation you have with one another? Have you made peace with each other or those individuals who have hurt you in your life?   This is a good time for us to remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:22-26)   St. Jerome, a translator of the Scriptures, reflects on this passage, [Jesus] did not say, “If you have anything against your brother” but “If your brother has anything against you,” so that a greater need for reconciliation is imposed on you. As long as we are unable to make peace with our brother, I do not know whether we may offer our gifts to God.   In other words, if you are unable to make peace and reconcile with your brothers and sisters, you won’t be able to approach God with faithful gifts like prayer, singing, or devotion, let alone be prepared to receive the gift He has for you in the flesh and blood of the Lord’s Supper.   And why is this important?   Because when Jesus gives you a new commandment to love one another, He is instructing you to be merciful to each other, just as He will be to them and has been to you through His sacrificial death on the cross.   So, what does a sacrificial and merciful life look like for you?   Probably doing one of the hardest things you could imagine. No, you won’t have to give up your life savings to rescue a family member from debt. You won’t have to give up a vital organ to save a child’s life. You won’t even have to give up your earthly life.   Still, what you will need to do is one of the most challenging things you could imagine: ask your Father in heaven for a humble heart, to remove pride from your heart, so you may die to your sin, confess the malice, spite, hatred, coldness, and enmity you have toward your neighbor, and repent.    All of this is difficult because the world will call you weak, and your heart will feel vulnerable.   But to walk in the footsteps of Jesus is to do as He commands, “that you love one another: just as [He] has loved you, you also are to love one another.”   Because here, at this rail, there may only be love for one another, because He, your Savior, has loved you to the end, even to the cross.   +INJ+    Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/  

Palm Sunday John 12:20-43 March 29, 2026     Their brother had just died. They were overwhelmed with anger, sadness, and confusion. How could this have happened? What should they do now?   They had called for help, but no one came. Have you ever felt this panic before in your life?   The pain of death has started to take hold. Have you felt this fear? Has death touched someone close to you? Your brother, your husband, your wife, your parent, your child? In these moments, nothing else seems to matter. Everything that once existed in life is now gone.    This is how Mary and Martha felt when their brother, Lazarus, died in the chapter right before the Gospel reading at the very beginning of our service today. They were overwhelmed with sadness and disappointment. Jesus was their friend, but he didn’t arrive when they called for him. He didn’t even appear for the funeral.    Have you ever felt the loneliness of Mary and Martha? Have you ever been angry or confused with God? Have you walked through a cemetery, looking at the dates carved into the stone markers, realizing it has been a long time since the graves of your brothers, sisters, husband, wife, or children were closed? It has been a long time since something has happened. It often seems like no one is coming to help.   Jesus made Mary and Martha wait. Why?   To show them that he weeps with them, shares their sadness, but also to reveal his power over death, which is the power of the resurrection in him. He answers the pleas of God’s children at the right time, but that time is unknown to us.   So what does the Gospel reading about the raising of Lazarus have to do with today’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem?   Everything.   It was those crowds that witnessed Jesus calling Lazarus out of the tomb, who couldn’t stop talking about this great sign. Others couldn’t help but run to see this miracle worker, this man, this King, who called Lazarus by name, raised His friend from the dead, and gave him life.   This is why crowds gathered on Palm Sunday. They lined the streets to celebrate the One who is the resurrection of the dead.   This raises the question: why have you come and entered this sanctuary today? Why do you gather around the One who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey? What were you expecting when you drove to church this morning?   Well, when you come to church, you bring everything that weighs you down—your sorrow, sadness, and guilt. The challenges of marriage and raising a family, losing a job, being betrayed by a friend, a cancer diagnosis, and the endless confusion and grief over losing a loved one. So, what can this Jesus on a donkey do about all of that? Would your life be different if you met the One whose name we sing about today?    The death and decaying body of Lazarus remind us of the sin we carry. Our lives are filled with disappointment, the stench of our sinful ways, and decaying bodies.    Our first parents, Adam and Eve, reached out and grasped for control of their lives in the Garden of Eden. They ate what was forbidden. They tasted what they believed to be good and brought sin into the world through their disobedience to God’s command. But how much more do we not only taste what is bad, what is sinful, but also feast on it as we turn away from God’s Word and the gathering with His saints in the worship of His Son, the King? How often do we find ourselves caught up in sin and in the grave of spiritual death?     But this is exactly why Jesus entered the world and into Jerusalem in today’s Gospel — to save sinners, to redeem them, and to remove the stench of death that clings to your flesh.   Through death, He becomes the life for all the living.   This is why He came — to raise the dead and give you His life!    And this is what the Word of God does: it proclaims and grants you the forgiveness of sin and gives life to those who have died in Christ Jesus.   This morning, we dedicated a Gospel Book in memory of Kevin Franks. The book’s beauty and adornment highlight the true beauty of God’s Word. Just as the Gospel nourished Kevin with the Good News, forgiveness, and the life of his Savior, Jesus Christ, throughout his life, Jesus continues to speak to us through this same Word today. A Word that calls us to gather, turn, and line the aisle of this sanctuary so we might hear the voice of our Savior, just as Kevin heard this same voice as he gathered with his family and his brothers and sisters in Christ every Sunday, to hear and receive the words of eternal life and resurrection joy.   In fact, it’s precisely for this reason that the crowds lined the streets of Jerusalem with their joyful hosannas. The good news of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead through His Word spread quickly. Those who saw this miracle couldn’t stay silent; instead, they were compelled to fill the streets with their cries. And for this, they also shouted, “Hosanna,” loudly and passionately, because they longed for a King who would save them, grant forgiveness, and give eternal life.     Hosanna means “Save us now.”   Hosanna was the battle cry of those who lined Jerusalem’s road. The cry of Hosanna remains your petition and prayer today. When life feels overwhelming, the prayer of Hosanna is your plea to God for deliverance from what oppresses you. Therefore, you are given this word of Hosanna to pray, just as those who lined Jerusalem’s road did, to ask God to save you and grant you deliverance from whatever continues to enslave you today.    But Hosanna is much more than a word to be sung only on Palm Sunday. It is more than just a theme for Holy Week. Yes, it certainly guides us through the week ahead, but Hosanna points us toward Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, when our Lord gives us a new commandment to love one another as He has loved us. This love continues today through the sacrament of Holy Communion, where He offers His flesh and blood for the forgiveness of your sins. Hosanna also points to the Passion of Good Friday, when another crowd gathers and cries out, “His blood be upon us and our children.”   His blood is on us as our sins are on Him. We are guilty, and for our sins, He went to the cross.     But on the cross, we see our victory. In the cross, we see our Hosanna, our Savior. The one who was sent to crush the head of the serpent and bring life and salvation to all who hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is, after all, what the name of Jesus means: to save people from their sins.    It’s this name that is given to you in the saving waters of Holy Baptism. This name is your Hosanna, your petition, and your lifeline to God when sorrows surround you. Yet, this cry of Hosanna also becomes your song of joy. It is your song of joy because on the cross, Jesus is the victor, the Savior, the One who dies in your place. He is the one who rose for your justification, the forgiveness of your sin. In Him, you may never doubt but always hope for the things to come, a resurrection not only for Lazarus and Kevin, but also for you.    So, come, my friends, and gather around the Gospel of Jesus this Palm Sunday and Holy Week, sing Hosanna, and pray “Save us, Lord.”   These words are your confidence throughout all the days of your life. Hosanna is your song of gladness because you know what Jesus has already accomplished in His death and now gives you life.   Hosanna is your song of gladness because Jesus has scattered the darkness of sadness, anger, and abandonment, and has given you the light of His Word to guide and comfort you.   Hosanna is your song of gladness as you sing in the Sanctus and prepare to receive the flesh and blood of your Savior for the forgiveness of your sins.   Hosanna is your song of gladness, your confidence to journey to the cross, to rest with Him in the tomb, and to know that just as He has risen from the dead, He has triumphed over the grave and will call you as He called His friend Lazarus to come forth from your graves on the last day.   So sing Hosanna, what a beautiful song, because in Jesus, your salvation has been won, and your sorrows will be no more. +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/    

Lent 5 – Midweek Matthew 16:13-28 & John 20:19-23     Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   Last week, we began discussing the Office of the Keys.   The Small Catechism asks, “What is the Office of the Keys?”   The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.   We primarily focused on how the Office of Keys is an office of authority anchored and possessed by the Church.   This week, we move on to how pastors exercise the Office of the Keys in the Office of Holy Ministry.   The Small Catechism asks, What do you believe according to these words (The words read in our two readings this evening)?   I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.   In this way, the Pastor is not acting for himself, but in the stead and by the command of Jesus Christ. This is why, in the absolution at the beginning of the Divine Service, the pastor says, “As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins…”   The pastor announced the grace and forgiveness of Jesus, as one who has been properly called and by the authority of the Office that Jesus instituted.   None of this is of a pastor’s own accord, but of Jesus’.   But as we discussed last week, we struggle with the idea and concept of authority.   This struggle begins in childhood when a babysitter or teacher gives you instruction, and you respond or mutter under your breath, “You aren’t the boss of me.” But they were, and for some of you, they still are, because the parent delegated the authority of their office to the teacher or babysitter. The parent did this, so there would be someone to protect you from harm and danger, to help you learn, to lead you in the way of growing in knowledge and truth.   As time passes and you get older, you could make a living from the complaints and frustrations you have with a foreman or a manager you perceive as incompetent.   Still, they are the ones who have been placed in positions of authority. And whether we like it or not, their position is one to consider for the well-being of the people who serve and work under them.    Now, like the prophet Jonah, many pastors have actually tried to avoid God’s call to serve His Church. They may be like Jonah, disobedient souls who don’t want to deal with difficult people, like those of Nineveh, so they disobey God’s calling. Or they have fallen in love with the world and its glamor, unable to imagine leaving home with only God’s Word in their hand and heart. Yet, others (including myself) feel a deep sense of incapability, thinking, “How could I assume an office of such responsibility?”   But in times such as these, a pastor must remember, it is Jesus who sends them.   As the Apostle Paul wrote, “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”   St. Paul is quoting the prophet Isaiah here, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news.”   Pastors are called and sent, not of their own accord, but like the prophets and apostles, by God’s direction and Word.   Pastors are undershepherds of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. They receive their authority and instruction from Jesus and His Word alone.   And like all teachers, leaders, or anyone who has held a position of authority in your life, pastors are sent to provide guidance, so you don’t end up in trouble. They are there to help you avoid causing harm to others. They carry the shepherd’s crook of God’s Word to combat the forces of darkness that seek to lead you away from God. And they are sent to pursue you if you stray. But they also stand ready to announce the Gospel, the forgiveness of sins to all who confess their trespasses.   Still, there are sadly times when the sheep do not repent, when they permit themselves to be caught in the thicket of stubbornness and sin, and as the Small Catechism says, the openly unrepentant sinner [is excluded] from the Christian congregation.   These sheep are not permitted through the gate, to the rail of the Lord’s Supper, until they repent.   This is often referred to as excommunication.   This can be a difficult task because emotions, feelings, and relationships are involved. When a sinner refuses to repent and is often no longer among the congregation, there is sadness among the flock, because a sheep has wandered away from their home and is refusing to return to their brothers and sisters in Christ.   These instances hurt a pastor’s feelings and emotions, too. As an undershepherd of Christ, they have no desire to lose a sheep of the fold.   But they are charged as Jesus said this evening to St. Peter, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.   Or as we heard in the Gospel of St. John, If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.   The pastoral office, the Office of Holy Ministry, is one of responsibility.   As St. Paul wrote in the book of Acts, Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.   The Church and those sheep that fill its walls were bought with the blood of Christ Jesus upon His cross. For this reason, there’s no greater responsibility than to watch over and care for His flock.   And for this reason, when one of us strays into unrepentance, the Church is to pray for them and their conversion, their confession of sin, taking to heart the words of Jesus in the Gospel of St. Luke, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)   “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents…”   And this is why God sends pastors among you: so that when someone repents, they may quickly hear the words of the Gospel, be restored to communion and fellowship with the flock, and then reach the place where the joys of heaven are present for them, where the angels, archangels, and the entire company of heaven are rejoicing—here where the flesh and blood of Jesus are present for the forgiveness of sins.    The forgiveness of your sins.   My friends, the Office of the Keys, the Holy Ministry, was established for you and your spiritual well-being. Your Father loved you, so He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you on the cross, and now His Son sends His undershepherds to care for you, to guide and protect you, and to lead you to repentance, so you will hear the Good News of His forgiveness. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/    

The Fifth Sunday in Lent – Judica March 22, 2026 John 8:42-59   Today isn’t one of the Gospel readings that gets you excited to say, “This is the Gospel of the Lord.”   “Praise to you, O Christ!”   But in some ways, Judica Sunday, appears like a downer all the way around.   Judica means “Judge me.” But who wants to be judged?   This Sunday marks another wave of changes in the Divine Service. We begin with the Litany, emphasizing the next two weeks as a time for special devotion and prayer. We remove the Gloria Patri from the end of the introit, Nunc Dimittis, and any other part of the Divine Service, removing the little praise that remains in this difficult season of Lent. Still, now we have covered and veiled the cross of Jesus, so we cannot even see our Savior.    What’s up with that?   Today marks the start of Passiontide, a short season within Lent. It is characterized by the veiling of crosses in the church, symbolizing anticipation for Good Friday. The crosses are neither removed nor forgotten; instead, they are veiled during the final weeks of Lent as a humble sign of reverence for the cross and the Passion of Christ Jesus. Often, a gauzy black material, similar to a widow’s mourning veil, is used rather than a solid woven cloth. This allows the outlines of the crosses to remain visible while hiding the finer artistic details of the body of Christ.   Have you ever considered that when a widow veils herself, it might be for mourning, as a tradition or a way of dress, but it could also be done unconsciously to hide oneself from the world?    Interestingly, the Church is the bride of Christ, so it might be appropriate for us to grieve and mourn at this time. But maybe not in the way you expect.   No, our mourning and sadness must be over our sin, the hidden transgressions that led Jesus to go to the cross and die for us.   Now, the practice of veiling the cross or crucifix comes from the closing verse of today’s Gospel reading, which is why we veiled the crucifix at that time. It said, “they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.” (John 8:59)   The idea of hiding oneself is easy to understand if you’ve ever played hide and seek. When Jesus hid Himself, it simply means that He was avoiding being seen. It wasn’t quite the time for His Passion.   Do you know who else hid themselves in Scripture?   Adam and Eve, that’s who.   After they had fallen into sin, realized they were naked, made loincloths for themselves, it says, And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)   It’s fascinating, really. First, they try to hide their physical bodies from one another through the use of clothing, but then they attempt to physically hide from God, their Creator.   So, the text goes on with Adam and Eve, But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)   Now, don’t interpret this as a literal calling by God, implying that He doesn’t know where Adam and Eve are at the moment. Instead, God is using a rhetorical question here as a figure of speech to make a point.   “You are the stewards of my creation, and you believe you can hide from me? What have you done?”   We read in the book of Jeremiah, Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:24)   Adam and Eve could not hide themselves from their Lord, and neither can you.   This is what the entire season of Lent leads us to understand: we cannot hide our sins from God, our Father and Creator.   But we try, don’t we? We try to hide from God just as we try to hide from our family, friends, and neighbors.   We silence our phones so we don’t have to talk with a friend or relative we’ve been arguing with. We hide our eating disorders in the drawer of our desk. We bury our anxiety and depression behind the smiles on our faces. We disguise our anger towards others with a handshake and a smirk. We use apps, or Apple's new option for public and private web browsing on their computers, phones, and tablets, so you can hide web activity that isn’t suitable for public viewing, such as porn or gambling addictions.    A challenge in all of this is that, by hiding from each other, you’ve become so disconnected from God’s Word and the severity of your sin that you don’t even realize how serious your secret sins are.   But just as Your Father in heaven knew the faults of Adam and Eve, He knows your faults and failures. You cannot hide from your Creator or the one who is your Judge.   When you try to hide yourself, you no longer see Jesus or hear His Word. This causes you to join the Jews in the Gospel today, blind to your Savior and the reason He came—to redeem you on the cross.    Sadly, in this way, Jesus remains hidden from you.   But as Jesus said in the Gospel, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.”   Faith steps out of the shadows, out of hiding, and hears the Words of Jesus, confessing their faith with eyes wide open, seeing Jesus as their Savior.   And this is an important aspect not only of the season of Lent but also of these final two weeks—being attentive to hearing God’s Word. Because when you listen to the Words of Jesus, as they dwell and take root within you, the image of Jesus and His cross is never far, but firmly planted within your minds and hearts.   Martin Luther made a wonderful comment about this image and the use of the crucifix; he says, For whether I will or not, when I hear of Christ, an image of a man hanging on a cross takes form in my heart, just as the reflection of my face naturally appears in the water when I look into it. If it is not a sin but good to have the image of Christ in my heart, why should it be a sin to have it in my eyes?[1]   Although the crosses and crucifixes in the church are now veiled and hidden from view, listen carefully to the words of Jesus and allow the image of your Savior to appear within your mind, for He is never truly hidden from you or far from your heart.    And then, do not forget, like Adam and Eve, that you cannot hide from your heavenly Father. He knows the secrets of your heart and does not desire the death of the sinner, but instead wants you to turn away from your evil ways and live.     As Good Friday approaches, prepare by confessing not only the sins known to others but also the hidden sins that are damaging your relationships, your faith, and your soul.    Confess them so that when the veil is lifted on this life, your heart will be filled with joy, knowing that your Savior loved you and was willing to die for you on the cross, so He could forgive you and you would receive eternal life with Him.   And for this, you will say with all the company of heaven, “Praise to you, O Christ!” +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/     [1] Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 40: Church and Ministry II. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 40, pp. 99–100). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.  

Midweek 4 – The Office of the Keys March 18, 2026 Matthew 18 & John 20:19-23   Tonight, we continue our walk-through Confession and Absolution and take up the Small Catechism’s teaching on the Office of the Keys, a teaching we don’t really meditate upon much these days.   The Small Catechism asks, “What is the Office of the Keys?”   The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.   The Office of the Keys begins with the concept and idea of authority.   But man doesn’t like authority, does he?   It’s interesting, the etymology, the root of the word, authority, comes from the same source as the word author, which provides us with a beautiful story, really.   The story of authority began in the Garden of Eden, where God created man and woman along with everything that filled the earth. God is the author of this story, the creator of heaven and earth, and all that fills it. He provided Adam and Eve, your first parents, with instructions on how to care for His creation and how to avoid trouble, sin, and disobedience , but they didn’t listen to the author.   Instead, they rebelled against authority, the author who instructed them through His Word, and ensured all future children would be born with their sin inscribed upon their hearts.      And because of the sin of Adam and Eve being written upon your hearts, you also, like them, rebel against authority and the author of life, Himself.   Your rebellion against authority shows early on when you, as a child, disobey your parents. They tell you to clean your room, and instead, you choose to play a video game or look them straight in the eye and say, “No.”   You rebel against the authority your parents entrusted to your teachers; they tell you to sit silently so they can start class, and you keep talking, thinking your conversation about the monkey bars or the gossip about what another student is wearing is more important.    As you get older, it doesn’t get better. Instead, the story of sin written and formed through your hearts since birth leads you to reject the authority of professors, supervisors at work, law enforcement, and yes, even pastors who have been sent not of their own accord, but of God’s.   We do this, because like Adam and Eve, we desire lives of autonomy. Meaning, we want to live for ourselves, not for anyone else. We want to make the rules.   But God, as the author of life, created man and woman for community, for fellowship, and in doing so, He also provided an order of authority in His creation. Adam was created first and was to be in charge and responsible for Eve and her actions.   Adam was meant to care for her, protect her, and lead her. This is what authority or those in positions of authority do for those entrusted to their care.   Adam failed. Eve, likewise, failed. But Adam, the one who was placed as the head of family, he failed.   A complete breakdown of the order of Creation and the authority entrusted by God.   For this reason, God promised to send a child to redeem, meaning to buy back His creation from sin, through His only Son, Jesus Christ.   In His trial that first Holy Week, there is this wonderful exchange between Pilate and Jesus written for us in the Gospel John, it says, So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:10-11)   We learn from this that all authority in heaven and on earth originates with God the Father, the Creator, and author of heaven and earth.   He sends His Son, Jesus, to submit to the authority of Pontius Pilate, to die upon the cross, to redeem you and what was lost in the sin of your first parents.   Jesus teaches us to live in submission and be obedient to all authority by fulfilling His Father’s will, even to the point of death, so that you might receive the forgiveness of sins He won for you on the cross.    Which leads us back to the beginning of this evening’s sermon and the question, “What is the Office of the Keys?”   The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.   The Office of the Keys is a position established by Jesus within the Church that has the authority to declare His grace and forgiveness of sins to those who have repented and to withhold the forgiveness to those who do not repent.    We see the Office of the Keys clearly through Jesus’ words recorded in John: The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22–23)   The Office of the Keys is best understood through the analogy of a prison cell. The person guilty of sin is imprisoned by it; they are locked within the prison of death. The only way to open the door of sin and death is first through repentance; then through the pastor, who acts in the stead and authority of Jesus, declares the forgiveness of Jesus to you.     Which is a joy, because this is the sole purpose of the Church, to grant the forgiveness of sin to those who repent.   God wants you to know His forgiveness is present for you—through His Church, His Word, and the signs, such as the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.    In fact, Jesus said in the first reading this evening, you must be willing to humble yourself and become like a child in need of their Father’s help, living in submission to Him who has written His name upon you in the waters of Holy Baptism.   And for this reason, don’t rebel against God, the author and authority of life; instead, listen to and obey His Word. Come to the Church where His forgiveness is present for you, so that you may be released from the sins that imprison you.   And then guide the children of the church to grow and learn the story of confession and absolution, because this is how they will be led, like Jonah, to confess their sins and faith before God. Then, they will be released from their sins through Jesus’ forgiveness in the flesh and blood of the Lord’s Supper, received at this altar—food of comfort and encouragement in this life.    Comfort and encouragement we should all desire, but are only found here in the sanctuary of God’s church on earth. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/  

The Fourth Sunday in Lent + Laetare March 15, 2026 John 6:1-15     A beautiful reality of a church with children is that you get to see them grow from the time they are born.   The child, often carried to the font in a mother’s arms, enters the church through Holy Baptism and receives new life through the work of the Holy Spirit. For the first few months, one might wonder if the baby makes any noise as they remain in their mother’s arms, clinging to their love. But then, as they grow, they become more active. They move, fidget, and yes, they make noise.    Still, while some like to say, “They’re the future of the Church,” as baptized children of God, they are the Church, even now.   As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13a)   Notice how St. Paul doesn’t mention age, mental capacity, or anything else. He simply states how we are all members of the body of Christ through Holy Baptism.   Maybe you can hear the words of Dr. Seuss in the back of your mind, “A person’s a person no matter how small.”   And this is especially true in the Church, where we believe all life born of woman is a gift from God.   However, in many congregations, the question has become, “How do we keep the children quiet or entertained so the adults can listen and hear?”   But one might ask, do these questions recognize what St. Paul said above, that we are many members of one body?   Could we ask a different question?   How do we care for the youngest lives and nurture the faith of the youngest among us? How do we help them remain faithfully in the Church beyond the years of Confirmation?   This is an important question for us to ponder.   Simply put, we don’t delay in teaching them that they are members of the Church today. We don’t hesitate to instill the liturgy in their hearts. We don’t wait to help them hear God’s Word of forgiveness. We don’t delay in preparing them and guiding them to receive the Lord’s Supper.    Instead, parents now actively guide and teach their children in the liturgy of the Divine Service, in hearing God’s Word, and preparing them to receive the Lord’s Supper.   Which raises the question, are we listening and participating throughout the Divine Service? Do we lead the little ones among us to follow along with the service by our example? Do we bring them to the rail to receive a blessing and teach them about the significance of Jesus’ body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, as well as how He cares for, feeds, and forgives us through this sacred meal?    But when parents aren’t present or available, we need to step up as members of the church as we are able, recognizing that, as the body of Christ, we all have different talents and abilities. Similarly, not all children are the same and respond to their older brothers and sisters in Christ differently, too. When these instances occur, we still have the opportunity to teach the faith through our examples in Divine Service.   Because, in the end, all of us were brought into the Church in the same way, through the font of Holy Baptism, and within this Church, we have all grown and been nurtured in the Christian faith through the same words of Jesus Christ.   For this reason, the Church is like a living, breathing mother, caring for her children, no matter how big or how small.   Throughout the Scriptures, the Church is often described as a mother. The prophet Isaiah spoke about the new birth of God’s children and how the Church will provide her children with eternal comfort and peace, as he wrote, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13)   Jesus would expand on this theme as He describes Jerusalem as a hen that gathers and shields her brood of chicks under her wings from the viper that aims to take their lives. (Matthew 23:37)   Or St. Paul wrote to those in Galatia that the heavenly Jerusalem is the mother of all God’s children. Which prodded Martin Luther to write in the Large Catechism, “[The Christian Church] is the mother that conceives and bears every Christian through God’s Word.” (LC II 42)   For these reasons, how we nurture and lead the children of this church in the faith matters immensely.   As the familiar proverb goes, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)   Training, teaching, and leading start even while the infant rests in their mother’s arms.   Honestly, this lens should continue to change how we view and approach Confirmation and First Communion.   Today, Jonah Rogness will receive his First Communion.   While he remains but a child, so do you.   While he has learned to seek forgiveness for his sins from Jesus, so do you.   But what makes Jonah prepared at his age to receive the Lord’s Supper? St. Paul answers this question, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”[1]   Meaning, can he confess his sin? Can he approach the altar and confess what the body and blood of Jesus are and what benefits they give to us? Can he articulate who should receive such a blessed gift from Jesus?   These are really questions for all of us…   If the answer to these questions is yes, then he has been prepared to be received at this altar.   The truth is that Jonah needs the same forgiveness of sins as you do, and since he has learned what the Scriptures teach about this, there’s no reason to withhold this gift from him or any other child who has been properly prepared.    Did you listen to the words of the Collect we prayed today? We prayed, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience.   We are all God’s children.   One thing I love about today’s Gospel reading on the feeding of the five thousand is that it wasn’t the apostles who had the bread and fish for Jesus, nor were they any of the followers; it was a boy, a child.   Jesus used the gifts of a young boy to care for those who had followed Him into a wilderness of life.   In the same way, these words today teach you to depend upon the Son and Child of your heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, for life and salvation as you wander through the wilderness of this world.   And here is the challenge: if we delay in preparing not only the children of the Church but also ourselves for eternity with Jesus, we will all fall away. Sadly, this might be why we have seen so many young people leave the Church over the years. We haven’t always taught and led the children of the Church with joy and compassion, nor have we always seen them as the brothers and sisters in Christ that they are.     My brothers and sisters in Christ, we must not leave anyone behind as we journey through the wilderness of the world. If we look around and see someone missing today, we should call and check on them. If we see someone needing help in the Divine Service, no matter their age, we should be moved to support them. If we see families in need of help, let us at least pray for them.   The truth is that we are all journeying through the wilderness of this life together. While our struggles and temptations change with age, our need for God’s compassion and mercy remains the same.   And the mercy and compassion of Jesus are present here in His Church, where the heavenly Jerusalem descends upon us as a nurturing mother, comforting her children with the mana of God’s forgiveness. Protecting the Father’s children under the wings of her grace.   What a wonderful image of God’s Church on earth.   So, why would we delay in leading the children in the way they are to go to receive God’s comfort and peace, even now, in the Lord’s Supper?   As we walk through this life and wilderness together, let us point one another, no matter how big or how small, to the cross of Jesus. Let us learn together to depend on Him for every good and gracious gift—trusting that He will care for us and provide more than we could ever need, just as He did for the five thousand.   Do this, because the abundance of His mercy and forgiveness leads us to grow as brothers and sisters, ensuring that we all remain nestled in the arms of the Church from the moment we enter through the font, to the day we are brought into eternity with Christ Jesus. +INJ+ Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/           [1] Luther, Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2017), 342.

Lent 3 + Midweek (Examination) March 11, 2026 Deuteronomy 5:1-21     Do you know yourself?   Do you think you know yourself?   These are two different questions if you think about it.   The reality is that you probably believe or think you know yourself, but honestly, the picture you create in your mind is distorted. It’s a self-made image, formed through a filter of perspective, similar to the filters that enhance the photos shared on Instagram or Snapchat.    But to truly know yourself, that’s scary.   Tonight, our Lenten journey through Confession and Absolution leads us to self-examination, to learning who we are.   The idea of knowing oneself is not new; the Philosopher Aristotle wrote, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”   Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”   These philosophers believed that one could only truly know oneself through quiet contemplation of life. This means the person must be willing to set aside time to dwell in silent contemplation, examine their lives, the bad habits they have formed, the temptations leading to sin, and the specific ways they are harming their neighbor, whether actively or passively.    But you don’t enjoy silence; your lives have been conditioned to the opposite, to be constantly engaged from the moment you wake up in the morning and reach for your phone on the nightstand, until the moment you go to sleep and place the phone on the charging stand or fall asleep with it in your hands as a kind of mistress.    It’s scary, really, but these technologies within your hands know you better than you know yourself.   The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!  I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. (2 Corinthians 13:5-6)   The purpose of examination here is to discover the true nature of your character—who you are. But also, will examining your heart reveal Jesus Christ in you and guide you through this life, as St. Paul says?    And this is where the reading from Deuteronomy comes into focus: have you kept the Law of God as you ought? Have you loved the Lord your God with all your heart? What about His name? Do you set aside time each day for quiet contemplation of God’s Word and prayer? What about your parents? Do you honor them? Do you love your neighbors as yourself? Have you cheated on your spouse in thought, word, or deed? Stolen time and money from your employer? Did you permit your lips to cause division among brothers and sisters, or did you sinfully desire what has not been given to you?   The Ten Commandments serve as a mirror to your heart, reflecting and revealing who you truly are in this life.    And when you examine your heart in this way, do you see Jesus living within you?   Probably not, but this is why Jesus came, to die on the cross of Calvary for the sins that dwell within you, corrupt your life, and lead you away from Him.   Look at the cross and see what your sins have brought about.   But Jesus died for you because He loves you and wants to forgive you. However, to receive Jesus’ forgiveness, you must first examine your life and confess the darkness within.    To do this, you need to become comfortable with silence and set aside life’s distractions. Sit alone with God’s Word, walk through the Ten Commandments, and ask yourself, “Have I kept this Word of God as I should?”    Then be honest in what is revealed to you through the mirror of God’s Law and give an answer to God. No filters, no self-justifying, just confession.   Because “The unexamined and unrepentant cannot receive the life of Jesus Christ.”   As this Lenten season continues, a wonderful prayer for your use in the endeavor of knowing the corrupted nature of yourself comes from Psalm 139, Search me, O God, and know my heart!                         Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me,                         and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)   Another suggestion is to use this evening hymn, “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken,” inspired by the meditations of the Church Fathers and intended as a meditation on the Passion of your Savior, which grants you true life.     The time has arrived for you to learn and understand who you are, because only then can you grow in the heavenly wisdom of confession and absolution.    But more, the forgiveness of Jesus makes this life worthy of receiving eternal life.   In these last weeks of Lent, it’s time to get reoriented with yourself. Set aside time to meditate and pray. Put away the distractions of life and embrace the solitude. Because in the silence of the world around you, you will hear with your ears the most wonderful news from your Savior, “I forgive you.” +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/

Lent 3 (Oculi) March 8, 2026 Luke 11:14-26   In the late 1940s, a thirteen-year-old boy lived just outside Washington, D.C. He was a normal young man, living in a middle-class home, with a mother and father who took him to church, a Lutheran church, for that matter.   Like many young boys, he was curious about life, including good and evil. Like a child around Halloween, he wondered whether spirits spoke to the living, whether the grave was the final resting place, or whether something lingered in the shadows and darkness.   The boy’s curiosity was ignited by an aunt he admired and deeply loved, a reminder of how important family is for children. The aunt was a spiritualist, which means she believed the living could communicate with the dead, and that the dead still spoke with the living, like a medium or a psychic.    While children today fiddle on their phones and play video games, this young man played with the Ouija board, a game-like device from the 1940s that was mass-produced with the idea that it’s fun to communicate with the dead.    Not exactly the kind of game I’d like to play around with.   Well, when the boy’s aunt died, he experienced a deep period of sadness and despair, and his family noticed significant changes in his behavior. Over time, they began to see strange things happening around the house—scratching noises on the walls or under the floor. Furniture moved by itself across the floor, objects were thrown off shelves, and a vase floated into the air before crashing to the floor.    As the days went by and the strange occurrence continued, the family noticed the boy was acting differently, becoming quiet during the day and screaming uncontrollably at night. His behavior was erratic, unusual, and quite scary.    What were the boys’ parents to do?   They did what any faithful Christian parents would do: they went to their pastor at the Lutheran Church they attended to seek his help. Their pastor was not only a dedicated student of the Scriptures but also interested in psychology, so he reached out to his psychologist friends as well, thinking they might be able to diagnose the young man with a mental disorder.    However, the psychiatrist couldn’t diagnose the young man with any specific mental illness. They had no medical explanation for what was happening. So, the Lutheran pastor suggested that an exorcism be performed on the boy. Not having any experience with exorcisms himself, the pastor recommended that the parents contact a Roman Catholic priest. And so, they did.   The boy was taken to Georgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C., where an exorcism was performed on him. Nothing seemed to take hold, and the boy remained unchanged.   As time went on, the mother believed that whatever was possessing her son was giving her a sign to return to where she grew up, in St. Louis, MO, and so the family did.   Once the family arrived in St. Louis, a cousin, recognizing the challenges, reached out to the church again, requesting help. Eventually, three priests ministered to the boy and conducted the rite of exorcism night and day.   On the night of Easter Monday, 1949, it is said that the possession reached a climax, and after days and nights of continuous prayer, reading Scripture, and commanding the demon to depart, the demon relented and left the body of the young boy, restoring his life.    For some of you, this might have been a difficult story to hear this morning. Others may have read it or seen it on the big screen. This reveals the real story behind the book and movie, “The Exorcist.”   An interesting aspect of the real story of the Exorcist reveals that the boy’s family was Lutheran, not Roman Catholic. However, they still went to the Roman Catholic Church for help, as described. The Lutheran pastor felt unprepared for such a battle.   It’s a fascinating story that few of us would probably believe today, but that’s exactly how Satan would like it. As St. Paul writes, “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)   We Lutherans do get squeamish when we talk about exorcisms. Heck, many don’t even like the bulletin cover this morning. But an exorcism? It sounds so full of evil and darkness.   But Martin Luther did not share this belief; he believed demonic possession to be as real as the devil. He once wrote to a fellow pastor engaged with a woman who was demon-possessed, The first thing you and your congregation ought to do is this: pray fervently and oppose Satan with your faith, no matter how stubbornly he resists. About ten years ago, we had an experience in this neighborhood with a very wicked demon, but we succeeded in subduing him by perseverance and by unceasing prayer and unquestioning faith. The same will happen among you if you continue in Christ’s name to despise that derisive and arrogant spirit and do not cease praying. By this means, I have restrained many similar spirits in different places, for the prayer of the church prevails at last.   Luther’s belief, and the church’s belief today, is that where the Word of Jesus is preached, the sacraments are administered, and the forgiveness of sins exists, Satan cannot remain. Instead, he must be expelled and driven out from that place, the assembly, and the Christian – the Church.   And this is the core meaning of conducting an exorcism: to have Satan, sin, and darkness expelled or cast out of you. It’s not just something from books and movies; it’s what Jesus does for each of you through prayer, hearing His Word, receiving the Sacraments, and forgiving sin.    In fact, the Gospel today is all about exorcism, the casting out of a demon. St. Luke wrote, “Now [Jesus] was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled.” (Luke 11:14)   The Greek word for “casting out” is ἐκβάλλω (ekballo), and this is where the Church gets the word “Exorcism” from.   But the “Ex” in ἐκβάλλω or exorcism is the foundation of the word “exercise.”   When you put this little word study together, you learn that an exorcism is the exercise of casting out what is evil and sinful from your heart.   Now, because Lutherans believe the Christian is both a saint and a sinner, it means you must frequently exercise faith to overcome the evil and sinful desires in your heart.    This is where Confession and Absolution and Holy Baptism come into play, through the confession of your sins, the darkness of your heart, the secret transgressions that plague you, those things that not even a spouse or friend knows, you exercise faith in Christ Jesus and ask Him to remove your guilt and shame, to forgive you, and cast out of the devil and his darkness from your heart.   St. John says precisely this in his first epistle, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)   But this doesn’t mean you are immune to future evil, either.   As the Gospel reading concluded this morning, When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.   These words emphasize the continuous need to confess your sins and return to your Baptism to drown the Old Adam, and all the serpent’s lies that echo in your ears.    Don’t underestimate the enduring power of the font. It’s there—the pastor first speaks into the ears of the baptized, “Depart unclean spirit and make way for the Holy Spirit.”   It’s at the font, sides are taken, and lines are drawn in the ancient battle with the Devil. Luther wrote regarding Holy Baptism, It is no joke to take sides against the devil and not only to drive him away from the little child, but to burden the child with such a mighty and lifelong enemy. Remember too that it is very necessary to aid the poor child with all your heart and strong faith, earnestly to intercede for him/her that God, in accordance with this prayer, would not only free him from the power of the devil, but also strengthen him, so that he may nobly resist the devil in life and death.   Why is it that we don’t see the dangers of the devil as Luther describes?   For one, because “[He] disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)   We simply don’t want to accept evil or acknowledge Satan in our lives.   But secondly, as the story of the boy at the beginning of today’s sermon shows, we often invite Satan into our homes and hearts through what we consume—the games we play, our entertainment, our addictions, and sadly, even some of our relationships.   The way forward, the path of escape, is to return to faith, the community of believers, the Church, and the exercise of your faith. As Luther emphasized, the strongest weapon a pastor has, and that you have against evil, is to pray without ceasing and with the unshakable faith of a child.    As the season of Lent continues, the struggles of faith grow harder, pray for one another, teach the little ones in your life to pray the Our Father, and help them understand that when you pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…,” you’re not just speaking of generalized evil, but to highlight the original language, you’re praying to be delivered from the “Evil one,” from Satan himself.    And this is why Jesus was born into your sinful flesh, endured the temptation in the wilderness, experienced the sadness of a friend and loved one’s death, and suffered His holy Passion, even dying upon the cross, to be the stronger man who delivers you from the “Evil one.”   My friends, Satan is real, evil exists, and so do exorcisms.   Recognize that this evil surrounds you, seeks to turn you against one another and against your Savior, Jesus Christ. But through prayer, hearing God’s Word, the forgiveness of sin - the Holy Spirit, the finger of God, is at work in you, giving the gifts of Christ’s victory and driving out all darkness from your heart, just as He did when you were brought to the waters of Holy Baptism and the pastor spoke into your ears, “Depart unclean spirit and make way for the Holy Spirit.”   So, hold on to the gift of your Baptism, rejoicing in how God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—has freed you from Satan’s reign and gives you and all children of God, safe harbor in the ark of His Church. +INJ+       Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/  

Lent 2 Midweek – Confession March 4, 2026 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25   Tonight, we continue our Lenten midweek series on Confession and Absolution, focusing on the act of confessing our sins.   As you just heard, the story of David’s sin has a snowballing effect—lust, murder, and an attempt to conceal. It’s a remarkable yet common story.    David allows lust to take hold of his heart as Bathsheba bathes on a nearby rooftop. One also has to wonder what made Bathsheba choose such a visible spot to bathe.   David takes Bathsheba for himself, lies with her, and gets her pregnant. Of course, she is a married woman. So, what should he do in this situation? He decides to have the loyal husband and soldier return from the battle, to come back and lie with his wife so the child will appear to be his.    Oh, wait, did we mention that Uriah was a loyal soldier who wouldn’t do this while his brothers were still fighting in battle? Yeah, no, he won’t do that.   So, what is an adulterous king to do?   Use your influence, power, and position to send the husband to the front lines, where he will probably die, so no one will make a big deal about this affair to anyone.    To top it all off, act as if this was the predictable outcome, that it was an expected outcome, and you’ve done nothing wrong.   Now, God sends the prophet Nathan into the story. He was David’s pastor and counselor. He has been observing this entire situation unfold, and like any faithful pastor, he must care for the sheep entrusted to him. This means he has to do the difficult work of calling David to repentance. This is a tough task, but it can also be a joyful one if David repents because then forgiveness is present for him.    But part of the challenge here is this: how do you approach or engage a king, someone in power, a person in authority who acts as if they haven’t done anything wrong, and call them to repentance?   This isn’t just a pastoral challenge; it’s a challenge for any mother or father who needs to correct a child’s behavior, or a child who must confront a parent, a brother who needs to call a sister to repentance, or a friend who has become blind to their ways and actions.   And so, Nathan doesn’t just come out and say to David from the get-go, “Hey David, you sinned.”   No, he approaches the situation like a doctor treating a sick patient. Nathan understood that the cancer of David’s sin needed to be cut out and removed, but he kept the steel blade hidden beneath his robe; he concealed the instrument to remove the cancer until the right moment, and then he drove the steel blade scalpel into the open wound of sin so that David could feel the pain of his sin.    And this is what I mean by all of this.   As I mentioned a moment ago, Nathan did not approach David and just tell him, “You sinned.”   Instead, Nathan knew David well, and through a story, an allegory, God’s law was revealed and preached to David. Nathan delivered his message so effectively that David became absorbed in the story and didn’t even realize he was the star in it until Nathan’s echoing words thundered, “You are the man!”   How often does this happen to you?   How often do you go through your day without noticing the sins that plague your heart?    When this happens, you join David in suffering from what we call spiritual blindness, when a person either doesn’t see their sin or wants to acknowledge their trespasses.   As Jesus says to the Pharisees, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘we see, your guilt remains.’” (John 9:41)   Through God’s Word, the prophet Nathan, David’s pastor, leads him to see his sin, and now there is only one thing David can do with the sin, confess it.   And you can hear David’s confession for these sins in the words of Psalm 51, which we prayed tonight, David wrote, Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment.   David was forgiven, but that didn’t mean there weren’t any earthly consequences for his sin. The child in Bathsheba’s womb would die. A terribly hard pill to swallow.   There are a few things we can learn tonight. First, whether a person is blindly sinning or outright ignoring God’s law, we must approach them with gentleness and humility, using the Word of God as Nathan did, so gently and winsomely, to guide them toward recognizing their sin and repenting.    Not all situations are the same, nor is each person. So, build trust with one another so you can have honest conversations.   Secondly, be humble enough to accept correction, to have your eyes open to your trespasses, so you might confess your sin. As the Psalmist wrote, For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.… I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:3, 5)   God wants to forgive you, but you must recognize and confess your sin. Yes, there may be earthly consequences for your blindness and lack of faith that led you into this snowball of despair. But a lack of confession will only keep you from the heavenly presence of Christ.   As we learn in the book of Proverbs, Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)   In the end, we are little Davids, conceived in sin, and often enough, becoming blind to the ways we hurt and harm the people God has placed into our lives to love and care for.   We must keep working to strengthen our relationships so we can have difficult conversations with each other and call one another to repentance, when necessary, in charity and love.    But we also need to learn to be humble and vulnerable, to be open to God’s call to repentance, through the people He sends into our lives, because in confessing our sin, we exercise a faith of humility and dependence on our Father in heaven, we recognize that there is no sin that we can hide, and acknowledge that we require a change of heart.   In fact, David exercises his greatest strength as a King through the humility of confessing his sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah.   Your Savior Jesus Christ, David’s Son and Lord, also demonstrated the greatest act of humility by dying for your sin on the cross.   This Lenten season, when you need to be humbled, look to the cross, where Jesus died for you. Then exercise true strength by allowing yourself to be called to repentance, to confess your sin, and to rejoice in the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/  

The Second Sunday in Lent March 1, 2026 Matthew 15:21-28   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.   In the Gospel today, we see Jesus not as we are accustomed to. The Canaanite woman approaches Jesus and His disciples with a prayer – a plea, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”   The Gospel says, “He answered her not a word.”   This is not the Jesus we know and love. Maybe in the back of your mind, you are wondering about this Jesus, “Who are you?”   While I was on vicarage, there was a lady who lived in a nursing home; one day, she asked the pastor for a picture of Jesus to hang on her wall. My supervisor brought her an image of Jesus, one of the Olan Mills style portraits. But it was not right, she told us. She did not want a feminine-looking Jesus but a strong Jesus, a Savior – that’s what she was looking for.   This got me thinking – there are numerous images of Jesus throughout the church, but how does his appearance strike you? What does his facial demeanor confess to you?   Isn’t it interesting how the true subjectiveness of art influences not only how we see the world, but also how we want Jesus to appear to us and within our own hearts? What Jesus do you want? The masculine Jesus? A serious Jesus? Or a happy Jesus? Well, the Canaanite woman doesn’t get a choice, and neither do you.    Now, this woman pleads with Jesus for His mercy three times, and it seems He might remain unmoved. Her crying must have been powerful because even the disciples felt for her and turned to Jesus to intercede on her behalf. At first glance, you might think the disciples aren’t that compassionate, but I believe their concern is genuine and perhaps gets lost in translation, as Jesus responds with, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He is saying, I was not sent for this Canaanite—this woman from the ancient and idolatrous enemies of God’s people—rather, I was sent to redeem Israel.   None of this matters to the woman, though. She will not give up or be dismissed. She has heard of Jesus and the miracles He has already performed—possibly the healing of the paralytic, the raising of the ruler’s daughter, the restoration of sight for the blind, the loosening of the mute man’s tongue, and the feeding of the five thousand—where even the crumbs were collected into baskets after everyone ate. All that Jesus has done precedes Him, and this is enough for her here; she places her faith in Him to grant her and her daughter healing and mercy. But, “He answered her not a word.”   The whole Gospel can feel a bit uncomfortable for us, can’t it? The Psalmist writes, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.” (Psalm 103:8) But, where is His mercy? Where is His graciousness in saying, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs”? As if the situation couldn’t get worse, He insinuates she’s a little dog.   Throughout time, the God of Israel has fed His ungrateful people in the wilderness during the exodus and again in the recent feeding of the five thousand. In saying, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” Jesus will learn whether this woman really knows who He is, or if she is just giving Him lip service as she addressed Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!”   Ultimately, in the final conversation, she will confess the purity of her faith in Jesus and her unworthiness by saying, “Even [the little dogs even] the puppies eat from the crumbs that fall from tables of their masters.” (Jerome) If you have observed little children, you know how the endless stream of crumbs falls from the table to the floor below. This space becomes a utopia for dogs to dine and feast.   The woman doesn’t want to take anything away from the lost sheep of Israel. She understands that Jesus came to redeem His sheep that have wandered, but she also believes in the abundance of God’s mercy - that even the crumbs will be enough for her and her daughter to survive.   Are you as persistent and bold as this Canaanite today in your pleas for mercy and your desire for God’s help? Would you also be satisfied with crumbs?   In the end, none of us pray as we should, and our faith often wavers throughout life. When God doesn't seem to answer your prayer, you might get discouraged and possibly seek out another Jesus—one that better fits your needs.    Maybe you have prayed for Jesus to remove a burden from your life – a broken relationship or an illness that could be fatal. Yet, in the end, you still find yourself not speaking to your spouse while your brother’s cancer persists. You wanted a powerful Jesus, one who would fix these struggles or take them away.    Maybe you prayed for a miracle, hoping that the child in your womb—whom you were told would die even before taking a breath—would actually survive and live, but that didn’t happen. You desired the merciful and life-giving Jesus. All of these are good things to pray for, and if we learn anything from the Canaanite woman, it’s this: don’t stop praying. Instead, approach God with persistent prayer and faith.    Learn to pray as she did: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” In these pleas, she shows Jesus as the object of her faith, and she was not swayed by his demeanor.   There’s something else she confesses with this statement, “Son of David”—that Jesus is both God and man. We often come to believe that prayers are to be answered, just as letters were once returned in the old days, and that emails are supposed to be responded to today.   Likewise, we have a certain belief regarding the demeanor of Jesus and often prefer a smiling and welcoming Jesus – one to accompany our Precious Moments collection of angels. But Jesus was “born of the Virgin Mary and made man.” He grew not only in age, but also in wisdom. When the temple became a place of commerce, Jesus cleansed it by driving the merchants out with a whip. When He gathered the children unto him, He did so with joy. When His friend Lazarus died, He wept. When you look at the processional cross, the crucifix, what do you see? I see the face of a Savior who experienced an agonizing and painful death not only to redeem the Israel of the Old Testament, but to save this Canaanite who descends from the ancient and adulterous enemies of God. I see a man who entered the judgment hall to redeem you.   Luther wrote regarding today’s text, “This was written for all our comfort and instruction, so that we may know how deeply God hides His grace from us, so that we would not consider Him according to our perception and thinking but strictly according to His Word.”[1]    We often approach prayer as a means to receive an immediate response from God. But God’s grace can be hidden from our perceptions – and when we experience this, we see Jesus as uninterested. His demeanor appears cold, and His countenance is not as we desire. But this is not so, for in these ways we are taught to rely all the more upon God’s Word. It is not subject to our feelings, emotions, or perceptions – it is unchanging, and it is good.   This Lent, do not waver in your prayers, nor be dismayed if God’s grace appears hidden from you; remain persistent. The voice of the Canaanite woman did not waver; her voice remained persistently focused on the object of her faith – her Lord and the Son of David. His response to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” In this way, we are taught that prayer is the voice of faith.     Join her now in singing and echoing a similar prayer in the Agnus Dei before you approach the altar: “Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.” Give voice to your faith and remember that even in the crumbs of bread and the drops of wine, your Lord sees your faith and has mercy on you – He grants you His forgiveness and His life. He gives you His Word. +INJ+   The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/     [1] Luther, M. (2013). Gospel for the Second Sunday in Lent. In B. T. G. Mayes, J. L. Langebartels, & C. B. Brown (Eds.), Luther’s Works: Church Postil II (Vol. 76, p. 380). Saint Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

Lent 1 – Midweek (Absolution) February 25, 2026 Luke 7:36-50   Dear Brothers and Sisters,   This Lenten season, we will use the midweek services to meditate upon Confession and Absolution.   We began this evening’s service, as we’ll do each midweek service throughout this season of Lent, with confession and absolution from the service of Compline.   Now the service of Compline dates back to the fourth century as a sort of bedtime prayer, and for this reason, Compline means completion, to pray at the completion of the day and one of the most important aspects of this service is the rite of Confession and Absolution, that there would be peace within the home and among one another before laying one’s head down to sleep, especially since no one truly knows if they would awake the next morning.   For this reason, a verse from the Psalms that comes to mind is that of Psalm 4, Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. (Psalm 4:4)   The Apostle Paul builds upon the verse by writing to the Ephesians, Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)   Reflect upon this: how often do you go to bed angry?   Surely, some of you are whispering to yourselves, never.   However, you can see from both verses I just read to you how anger and sin are intimately related. So let me ask you this: how many of you go to bed still caught up in sin?   Meaning, going to bed without forgiving each other for an argument, a hurtful word, taking someone else’s property, or an unfaithful act within a relationship?    Honestly, when it comes to understanding the two parts of Confession from the Small Catechism, “First that we confess our sins, and second that we receive absolution...” a great challenge for people is absolution — forgiving those who have sinned against you and caused you harm.   Now, of course, absolution—the forgiveness of sin—occurs after someone confesses their sins.    But when absolution is not granted or given, your husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, friend, or co-worker remains in chains and is imprisoned by the sin they have confessed to you.   Now, culture, your friends, AI (on the internet), poorly written self-help books, and sometimes your feelings, all tell you that it’s okay not to forgive, to withhold forgiveness from someone who has hurt you.   I understand that forgiveness can be tough, but it’s better for Christians not to seek help or understanding about spiritual matters from the world, but from the Scriptures. As Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)   The words of Jesus highlight a serious need for us to consider how we approach forgiveness and the act of forgiving one another, even when it’s difficult, when the sin of another has cut deep and left a lasting scar.    A common refrain in families is, “They hurt me for the last time.”   Or “Fool me once, but…”   Or “They’re never going to change.”   But do these words confess faith and confidence that the Holy Spirit can change people’s lives?   Do you lack faith in God to transform the heart of an erring brother or sister in Christ? Or do your words resemble those of the Pharisee in the second reading tonight from the Gospel of St. Luke?   The Pharisee in the second reading only saw a sinful woman, one who was unclean, probably a prostitute or adulterer, because her sins were great; he didn’t see how she could be forgiven.    And this offers another perspective for us to consider. Most often, we focus more on the severity of our neighbors’ sins than on our own sinful nature, or that it’s sinful of us to refuse to forgive someone who is contrite and sorry for their transgression.    And for this reason, these words of Jesus tonight should not only call you to account for the sins you have failed to forgive, but also be a comfort not only to those who have hurt and caused you harm, but also to you, a poor, miserable sinner yourself. Jesus said, Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”   How wonderful it is that we can forgive one another just as our dear Savior forgives us. This entire season of Lent leads us to the cross of Calvary, where Jesus not only took the place of a murderer and insurrectionist but also bore your sin and endured the judgment for it by dying on the cross for you.   But even there, as Jesus hung between two criminals, the sins and faith of one were confessed, and what did Jesus say to him?   “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)   Before Jesus gives up His spirit, is placed in the tomb, and sleeps the sleep of death, He forgives the one who confesses their sin – the criminal.   In doing so, Jesus shows us not only how to prepare for bed each night but also how to face death by exercising the Christian faith entrusted to each of us.    Sure, the one who has sinned against you might do it again, but just as the forgiveness of Christ does not cease for those who have faith, neither does the forgiveness of the Christian.   As St. Peter once asked Jesus, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)   My friends, those who have sinned against you most deeply have the most to gain in Christ Jesus and through your love for them. Let us make it a point this Lenten season to work on forgiving those who harm us, to release them from the bondage of sin, so we, too, can go to our beds each night, ready for the resurrection. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI             Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/

Lent 1 (Invocabit) February 25, 2026 Matthew 4:1-11   Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,   I want to begin today by highlighting some of the first battles throughout American history.    So, to begin, the first battle of the Revolutionary War was the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.   The first battle of the Civil War was the bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in April 1861.   The first battle of WWI occurred at Liege in August 1914.   The first battle of WWII was the Battle of Westerplatte in September of 1939. But America didn’t formally enter the war until December 1941.   The first battle of the Korean War happened in Seoul, South Korea, also before the Americans entered the fray.   While the initial battle of the Vietnam War for American forces was the Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965, the first battle of the Vietnam War was the Battle of Ap Bac in January 1963.   The war on terror started in Afghanistan in November 2001, but major ground troops didn’t enter active combat until Operation Anaconda in March 2002. (I was there)   So, what’s the point of all of this?   In war, there are many battles, and these often begin before the war officially starts, but few wars are ever won or finished in a single battle.   The season of Lent leads us to the battle of Calvary, where Jesus, the victor, will be nailed to the cross for the sins of the world. But this battle and war began long before that first Holy Week.   Today, we hear of two such battles in the Old Testament reading and the Gospel.   In the Old Testament reading, the first battle and conflict in Scripture occurs between your first parents and the serpent. It began with the temptation of the devil as he said to Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’”   It all began with temptation, a desire for what was not given to Adam and Eve, along with pride and the wish to be like God, rejecting the Creator’s Word and instruction.    Sadly, this is just the first conflict of many, as Adam and Eve will turn against one another in an instant, as Adam’s first response to the fall was to say, “The woman you gave me, it’s her fault.”   This sin of Adam and Eve was passed down to their sons as well, as pride and insecurity tempted and led Cain to rise up and kill his brother, Abel.    Sadly, you are no different from this first family, as you experience deeply personal and interpersonal battles throughout your life.   When alcohol, drugs, gambling, the overuse of technology, or pornography become not just temptations but full-blown addictions, you are quick to refuse blame for turning to these vices—similar to Adam—blaming the bad company who tempted you or the husband or wife whom you believe pushed you to seek fulfillment in these ways, due to fractured and unfulfilled expectations and relationships.    In reality, if we’re being honest, we are like Adam, blaming God for our troubles, saying, “The woman you gave me, it’s her fault.”   We blame God for the temptations and conflicts of our lives.   But St. James writes in his epistle, Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)   This final verse captures the struggle with temptation perfectly and how sin is born out of temptation and finds a home within your heart, Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)   Temptations throughout life begin within you, the old Adam, the sinful man that dwells within your heart, and for this reason, your true enemy in all of this is not your husband or wife, your brother or sister, a father or mother, it’s you.   Why, because, like Adam and Eve, you do not listen, hear, or obey God’s Word.   You don’t.   In a fantastic way, St. James follows up his words regarding temptation by saying, Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:19-21)   If only you and I were so eager to be quick to hear and slow to speak, how much more could we communicate with each other and have love one another. How much more would we be able to hear and receive the Word of God, which, as St. James says, is able to save your souls?   Ultimately, the struggles and conflicts of life persist because we continually turn away from God’s Word and instruction and because of this, we are not only fighting against alcohol, drugs, gambling, technology, pornography, insert your vice here, or each other; we are also engaged in an ongoing battle with the devil, who seeks to entice you away from your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.    And in the Gospel reading this morning, you received a glimpse into just one of many battles Jesus had in a greater war with the devil.   The devil’s temptations were presented to Jesus, but He did not give in or turn away from His Father’s Word. He confessed it and clung to it with all His heart.    Jesus does what your first father, Adam, did not—He obeyed His heavenly Father’s voice.   In fact, Jesus obeyed His Father’s voice and will, even to the cross of Calvary, where He not only won the battle, but won the war for you.   In His death and resurrection, He defeated sin, death, and the devil.   So, what should you do with all the battles and conflicts in your life this Lenten season? Bring them to where the spoils of war and the benefits of the cross are present for you. Bring them to the font of Holy Baptism, where Christ drowns the temptations of the Old Adam within you, unites you in the peace of Christ’s forgiveness in the absolution as you stand side by side with your brothers and sisters, and feeds your souls in the holy supper of your Lord, receiving eternal life.    Come to the cross this Lenten season, my friends, and receive God’s precious Word, a Word that will sustain you and put an end to all the battles of your heart and lead you to new life in Christ. +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org       

Ash Wednesday February 18, 2026 Matthew 6:16-21   The Old Testament reading this evening from the prophet Joel began by saying, Yet even now, declares the LORD,                         return to me with all your heart,              with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.   The prophet Joel is pleading for the people of Israel to repent and return to the Lord. He warns that if they continue to conduct themselves in ways against God’s will, there will be armies of locust that will come upon the unrepentant people, destroying everything in their path.   A sign or practice that the prophet Joel prescribes for Israel’s repentance in the text is fasting.   Repentance and fasting have long been associated with one another.   King David fasted, wept, and mourned not only the brief life of his son but also the sins of adultery and murder that led to the boy’s death.   Upon hearing the call to repentance through the prophet Jonah, the people of Nineveh fasted, repented, and turned from their evil ways.   In accomplishing what Israel could not do during the Exodus as they wandered through the wilderness for forty years, Jesus was led into the wilderness for forty days, fasting.    In fact, tonight’s Gospel, Jesus says, “And when you fast…”   So why do Lutherans struggle so much with the concept of fasting?   Because it’s considered “Roman Catholic.”   Have you ever noticed how sometimes people oppose something just because another group believes in it?   How contrarian!   However, as explained above, this perspective rejects the Lutheran understanding of “Sola Scriptura” – Scripture alone.    Sola Scriptura states that Scripture alone speaks and guides the Christian faith, and the teachings of the church must align with it.    Now, for this reason, Scripture never explicitly demands fasting, but from the examples just mentioned, you can see not only how the practice went hand in hand with repentance but was also highly expected.   Even Martin Luther (1483­–1546) promoted the practice of fasting for two reasons, he wrote: “Of fasting I say this: it is right to fast frequently in order to subdue and control the body. For when the stomach is full, the body does not serve for preaching, for praying, for studying, or for doing anything else that is good. Under such circumstances God’s Word cannot remain. But one should not fast with a view to meriting something by it as by a good work.”   Isn’t this something? Christian fasting is meant to grow our hunger for God’s Word and forgiveness. It’s not intended to earn forgiveness as good works, which is why we are not like Roman Catholics or many evangelicals, for that matter; we cannot earn salvation this way.    But we can learn through practice where our life needs changing, where repentance is necessary, and where our faith is struggling.    Think about this: if the doctor told you that you had cancer and needed to fast for twenty-four hours for a blood test to get the right medicine, you’d do it in a heartbeat.    You’d do it because you can’t imagine not talking to your father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, or friend ever again.    Here’s the thing: if we don’t examine ourselves, recognize which sins are not only running through our veins but also controlling us, and learn to confess them, then we can’t be sure we’ll have a tomorrow in heaven with the people we care about so deeply.   We need to understand which sins control us and require confessing to receive forgiveness.   Alright, so what does it mean to fast?   Contrary to popular belief, fasting isn’t just about abstaining from food and drink; it’s about reducing or going without. Therefore, fasting can include anything that controls you.   So, what is controlling your life and hindering your faith and the vocations God has entrusted to you?   Is your phone glued to your hand while your children or grandchildren play on the floor in front of you, begging for your attention? Begging you to read a book to them?   Do you happily stop for breakfast every morning on your way to work, but have no money to give to the church to care for the hungry and needy?   When was the last time you went out of your way to visit a shut-in brother or sister from the church?   When we fast and reduce the things that control us and hinder our faith, the relationships we have, and the vocations God has given us, we not only realize how little of these things are truly necessary, but also recognize how much God already provides.    The season of Lent is an opportunity for us to fast, not only from food and drink, but the things that have become gods and idols in our lives.   Do you find it hard to put your phone down? Start today by placing it in another room of your house in the evenings, spend quality time with your family, work on a puzzle, enjoy a meal around the dinner table, read the Bible, and pray together.   Could you cut back on eating out or stopping for breakfast every day? Could the money you save be donated to the church’s missions or a cause that supports the gospel?   Or could you set a goal to call or visit one friend or family member each week this Lent? Especially the lonely, those going through struggles, and those who need your support.   You see, when you practice fasting correctly, it creates time for prayer and meditation on God’s Word. It provides a way for you to give and support the work of the Gospel financially, and it encourages you to do good works, caring for your neighbor.   Why wouldn’t you want to do any of these things?   This Lenten season, don’t be a contrarian, don’t be opposed to Scripture just because other churches or people observe the same traditions, but instead be Scriptural, be a Christian.   And in fasting, if you struggle to let go of the things that you learn have control over your life, then glory be to Jesus, because you now know the sins you need to repent of, you know what is leading you away from being with your brother and sister in Christ, and when you confess these sins, you have the assurance and word of God, that He forgives you.   In fact, He wants to forgive you because He desires for you, your brother, your sister, and the person to your left and to your right to be with Him in eternity. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

Quinquagesima February 15, 2026 Luke 18:31-43     Many of you have sat in the doctor’s office as the death notice was handed out, as the words were spoken to your husband or wife, a father or mother.   “There’s nothing more we can do.”   The cancer has advanced past the point of reversal. The body is too weak to undergo treatments. The accident caused extensive damage to the body and its vital organs.    These instances are often met with a lack of understanding. How did the shadow of death appear so quickly? Why can’t the doctor do anything more?   Isn’t this their job? To heal and restore people to health?   In these moments, you are like the disciples of Christ as He prepares them for His passion and death. It’s truly remarkable how Jesus explains everything to His disciples as He says,  “For [the Son of Man] will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”   But they did not understand His words; they did not understand that death was approaching for their Lord and Savior. That His death was necessary to give them life.   The Gospel said, “They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” Or “They did not know the things that were spoken [to them].”   To grasp or to know are synonyms for the action of Christian faith.   In other words, the disciples lacked faith in Jesus’ words.   Like the disciples, when the storm clouds of death approach, you also tend to lack understanding; you lack faith.   Why does this happen to you, O Christian?   Because in the clouds and storms of life, you do not always hear rightly, you don’t hear the words of Jesus, you don’t remember your Savior.   The disciples did not fully understand Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, and because of this, when His passion did arrive, they also failed to remember His words. They lacked faith and scattered from His cross.    We’ll come back to this thought in a moment…   But for you, in the midst of turmoil, you must “remember” the words of your Savior, “They will kill him, and the third day he will rise.”   If you listen closely, these are words of death and resurrection.   Again, “They will kill him, and the third day he will rise.”   Seldom do you remember these words in tribulation any more than you place them before your eyes each day of this life.   Some men in the congregation are participating in a program this Lent called “Memento.” The Latin word “Memento” means “remember.” The purpose of this program is to remember how fleeting this life is, that without Christ we are powerless, to reflect on our Savior’s suffering on the cross, and to honor the faithful men who came before us—fathers, grandfathers, saints, and martyrs—those who struggled and endured in faith, stood firm in the face of death, and remembered their Savior’s death.   Because when one remembers the death of Christ, they must also remember His resurrection.   But because we do not remember the death of Christ, we cannot properly understand His resurrection.   In reality, we don’t think much about death unless it’s on our doorstep. This is very different from the ancient world and the early church, where not only was death all around them through plague, disease, and war, but they also used language and symbols to remind themselves of where this life would lead.    If you look back at art throughout history, you might come across paintings of skulls with the words “Memento Mori,” meaning “remember you must die” or “remember your death.”   Comforting, huh?   It was also common for monks, pastors, or priests to have human skulls or bones on their desks or near where they prayed, to remind them of their mortality.   But more than that, this practice served as a reminder of mortality, humbling one by showing that all earthly life moves toward the grave. It fosters a sense of turning away from earthly pleasures, of concentrating on eternal life with God, of living in repentance, and of cultivating a virtuous life. Additionally, it symbolizes that death is not the end, but the gateway to resurrection and eternal life.    Now, no one is suggesting you should run home and place a skull on your desk or table. However, how can you remember the death and resurrection of Jesus? How can you keep these words of your Savior from the Gospel before you today?   Sure, you could buy one of the paintings I mentioned earlier, like a skull with the words “Memento Mori” inscribed. Or you could hang a portrait of the Lord’s crucifixion in your home. Or even simpler, you could hang a cross or crucifix near a door to remind yourself, as you venture into daily life and return at night, that not only is death always close by, but through the death of your Savior, you receive life.    As St. Paul reminds us, “The last enemy to be overcome is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:16)   And that’s what the season of Lent leads you to understand, to know, to have faith in – not only the death of Jesus, but also His resurrection.   For this reason, on Ash Wednesday, those of you who desire to receive ashes upon your forehead will hear the words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”   “Memento Mori” remember your death, remember that you will die.   But then, as you enter the sanctuary, remember that you have already died in Christ Jesus through the waters of Holy Baptism.   As St. Paul writes to the Romans, Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.   For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.   With these words of St. Paul: your eyes should be opened to what happens in Baptism — the conflict between death and life, and the truth that victory is with life; it remains with Jesus.    Now, going back to the disciples, it wasn’t just a lack of understanding and faith for them, but the Gospel says, “This saying was hidden from them.”   Simply put, the disciples couldn’t understand how Christ was supposed to suffer, see how His death would fulfill Old Testament prophecies, or realize that God had chosen to veil or hide this truth from them.    This remains our challenge today: when difficulties come, whether illness, tribulation, or death, and the ways of God are unclear to us, we turn away, scatter from the crosses before us, and become blind to God’s word and mercy.    In this way, you are like the disciples—you see this as they heard the words of Jesus but did not have faith in them. They deserted Jesus as He hung on the cross; they gave up hope. It wasn’t until Jesus appeared to them again after His resurrection, on the Emmaus road, that He once again declared to them.  “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)   In bringing these disciples to remember His words, they not only remembered how He would die, but how He would live again.   As you approach this season of Lent, it will begin with the sign of ash and dust, a reminder that all mortals will return to the earth: “Memento Mori!”   Remember your death.   But the sign of the cross upon your forehead marks you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified and reminds you that you will live.   Whether you are experiencing difficulties in life right now, if the grief and sorrow of death plagues you, or this upcoming season of Lent rightly causes you to flee from the earthly pleasures of life, do not forget your Savior Jesus Christ, whose death has won for you salvation, forgiveness, and eternal peace.    Memento, remember. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     www.goodsheptomah.org

Sexagesima Luke 8:4-15 February 8, 2026     The dirt and soil of the earth are where sin and death reside.   In the beginning, “The LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”   Martin Luther wrote in a commentary regarding the creation account that God formed man from a “Lump of earth.”   Of course, we know that in man’s fall into sin, God said to Adam, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife                         and have eaten of the tree              of which I commanded you,                         ‘You shall not eat of it,’              cursed is the ground because of you;                         in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;             thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;                         and you shall eat the plants of the field.             By the sweat of your face                         you shall eat bread,              till you return to the ground,                         for out of it you were taken;              for you are dust,                         and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17b-19)   In many ways, I believe it’s important to remember how man was formed from the earth and how sin and death will lead him back to the dust and soil of the earth.     In fact, this provides us with a lens to view the Parable of the Sower in today’s Gospel.   For life to emerge from the soil, the seed of God’s Word and the breath of His voice had to penetrate it. Apart from Him, the dust of the earth would have remained just that, dust.   But with the seed and breath of God’s Word spoken into it, Adam received life.   Now, if man is made from the “lumps of earth” or the soil where the Sower is sowing the seed of God’s Word today, what does it mean to be dust and dirt of the earth in a fallen world?    Well, to be “dirt” or “dirty” often means, in popular culture, that a person is unclean, morally corrupt, vile, contemptible, or promiscuous.   While what God creates is good, man’s sins corrupt and lead to death, bringing you back to the dirt of the earth.   With this understanding, the seed of the Sower is intended to give you life.   One reason you hesitate to give the seed of God’s Word its proper place is that it will convict you and first call you to repentance.    Jesus doesn’t hide this in the parable today as He describes the soil of man’s heart, saying, The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.   In other words, those of you who are on this path have completely turned away from God. You have allowed the devil to silence your ears, ignore God’s Word, and in many cases, leave the church.    You can see yourself here as Adam and Eve, who were led to completely disregard the Word of God through the temptation and speech of the serpent in the Garden.    You don’t even recognize a need for confession.   But then Jesus says, And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.   Some people happily accept God’s Word here, but when challenges arise during the week, they forget His Word and that He said there would be trouble in this life. As a result, they depend on themselves instead of God, essentially making themselves their own gods.   Is this you? If you paused and reflected on the past week, did you turn to God’s Word and peace when troubles arose? Or did even thinking of prayer arise?   Of course, there are those whose faith is choked by the cares, riches, and pleasures of life, too.   Jesus says, And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.   We Lutherans are often guilty of minimizing works, but as we read in the book of James, “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26)   The good works of the Christian are the maturing fruits of faith.   One reason we allow the fruits of faith to be choked out is that they require control over a restless spirit. It’s hard to love difficult people, it’s challenging to remain joyful in times of grief, and how do you find peace when chaos surrounds you? What about patience, kindness, and goodness for those who attack you? Or faithfulness when others seem or appear disloyal, or gentleness as your brother breathes down your neck? In moments like this, self-control over your emotions and temper can feel like fleeting thoughts.   And if you think about it, to produce this kind of faithful fruit, the soil of your heart must be well cared for...   Here are these words of Jesus again, As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.   Having an honest and good heart means possessing a repentant heart. A forgiven heart.   And for this reason, the hearts of faithful Christians must be cultivated through hearing and receiving God’s Word, which brings about repentance and confession of sins.    But, to be honest, this is the part you simply do not enjoy: admitting guilt, confessing sin, and putting away idolatries. You hold on to them, often until your graves, until the day when your bodies return to the dust of the earth.   But that’s why the health and well-being of the soil of your heart, where death and sin dwell, are so vital, because receiving the seed of God’s Word is the difference between eternal life and eternal death.    Look, the prophet Isaiah wrote,             “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven                         and do not return there but water the earth,              making it bring forth and sprout,                         giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,             so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;                         it shall not return to me empty,              but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,                         and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)   Whether you understand the ways of the Lord is irrelevant; what matters most is that you receive and trust in His Word, because this word will do as God wills. It will grant you His forgiveness, feed you with His forgiveness, and accomplish its purpose: to raise you from the dust of the earth to live with Him forever.    This is why the Sower is called to sow the seed so generously and recklessly…. Because the Sower is generous and gracious, He wants you to grow in your faith, to be forgiven, and to be with Him forever.   As Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “For [My father] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45b)   He is a gracious God, bestowing upon all of creation more than it could ever deserve.   As the season of Lent approaches, permit the seed of God’s Word to enter your ears, to cultivate your hearts, preparing you to faithfully love and care for one another, and be led in the path to eternal life.   If you have allowed your heart to become hardened against setting aside time to read the Scriptures or, for some reason, believe you don’t need to practice this part of your faith, please use the upcoming days to establish a new routine focused on hearing God’s Word. Set aside time during your breakfast to read a paragraph, a chapter, or a page of God’s Word. Use the Good Shepherd at Prayer sheets to lead your family at home or listen to the Bible on your phone as you drive to work.   If you need guidance or want more structure, ask for help, and I’ll assist you in finding a devotion book or program to help you cultivate the soil of your heart.     Trust me, nothing is so urgent in life that it diminishes the need for God’s Word and forgiveness—nothing. In fact, if you think you’re too busy to spend time with God’s Word, that’s a clear sign you need it more than ever.   Look, in the end, your bodies will most certainly follow in the steps of Adam, returning to the dust and dirt of this earth. But for you, who not only hear and receive God’s Word but also permit it to grow within you... You can face the grave unfearing, knowing you won’t remain a lump of earth, but be raised to new life, because this Word of the Sower, of Jesus, has been planted into your heart. +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

Septuagesima February 1, 2026 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5   The Winter Olympics will begin this Friday, and athletes from around the world will gather to compete in various sporting events that test strength, endurance, discipline, and resilience—all in pursuit of winning a gold medal.     If you take a step back, the Olympics are truly remarkable; these athletes often dedicate their entire lives to training for this moment. For some, their livelihood depends on their training – competing in the Olympics is their full-time job.    They dedicate themselves to the pursuit of winning the gold, but the truth remains that only one person walks away with it.   Just imagine if everyone received a medal; how many people would cry, “That’s not fair!”   Who would tune in and watch their favorite sport?   Probably not many. It would be a travesty, really; there would be no competition, no drama, no rivals to enter the arena.   Only one person can win the prize.   Now, what does any of this have to do with the Christian life?   Well, the epistle reading from St. Paul takes on not only a bit of an athletic lens, but an Olympic theme as he wrote.   Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.   Running is a way for St. Paul to say, “live the Christian life.”  It means walking in the path you’ve been set to follow.   And you know that your Christian life started at the font of Holy Baptism, and for this reason, you are to live in your Baptism by confessing your sins, receiving God’s forgiveness, and seeking the Holy Spirit’s help to stay on the narrow path.   Remaining on the narrow path is challenging, isn’t it?   St. Matthew wrote, Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14)   One truth is that you cannot walk the path or enter the narrow gate of heaven through your own training, works, or merit. This journey requires faith in Christ Jesus, which is given through the work of the Holy Spirit within your heart.    And so, St. Paul continues in his epistle, Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.   The need for the Holy Spirit’s help is because you struggle with self-control. You struggle with the things that hinder your faith and lead to destruction.   This is one of the ways the season of Lent can help Christians practice self-control. It encourages learning not to be controlled by addictions such as overeating, endlessly scrolling on Facebook and Twitter, or the temptation of pornography that’s just a click away.    These things do not grant you a wreath or crown of victory. Instead, they control you and draw you away from your Savior, from the path that leads to the imperishable wreath of eternal victory.    Remember, living the Baptismal life is a narrow path that demands the enduring faith of a Christian.    In a literal sense, the wreath Paul mentions can be translated as a crown, which winners in the first Olympiads would receive on the podium.   This reminds me of the Revelation of St. John, as he wrote, “Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)   What a prize to earn at the finish line: the imperishable and eternal “Crown of life.”   So, St. Paul goes on in the epistle, I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.   Paul says, “Do not run aimlessly.”   Don’t go through life aimlessly as if you lack purpose. Doing so leads to being full of Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth.   A mirror on the wall or a quick review of your phone’s history will reveal the idolatries that control you.    So, how do you train with a purpose to achieve the desired result, life with God?   Discipline. It begins with discipline.   To live with a purpose, to intentionally seek the good of others. [We read in the Augsburg Confession] “[St. Paul] clearly shows that he was keeping his body under control, not to merit forgiveness of sins by that discipline, but to keep his body in subjection and prepared for spiritual things, for carrying out the duties of his calling” (AC XXVI 38). (The Lutheran Study Bible)   You are called to live purposefully, to discipline the body so that you may not be disqualified from eternal life or receiving the prize.    And disqualification in this race of life happens when you pursue your own path, turn away from Christ, or damage and obstruct the faith of others.    St. Ambrose, a church father of the fourth century, wrote regarding the training and discipline of the Christian life this way, Like an athlete he comes last into the arena. He lifts his eyes to heaven… . He sees that his whole task awaits him… . He chastises his body so that it will not defeat him in the contest. He anoints it with the oil of mercy. He practices daily exhibitions of virtue (or in other words, demonstrating behavior of the highest morals). He smears himself with dust. He runs with assurance to the goal of the course. He aims his blows, he darts his arms, but not at empty spaces… . Earth is man’s training ground, heaven his crown.   Hear that last sentence again,“Earth is man’s training ground, heaven his crown.”   With this understanding, you cannot drift aimlessly through life, but having heard God’s Word, you are called to live, train, and prepare for eternal life.   And this brings us to the season of the Church Year we begin today, the Gesima season, a time dedicated to training and preparing for Lent. You need to take this period seriously because Lent is difficult and demanding. No athlete simply shows up at the Olympics and wins gold. Likewise, you can’t just wake up in heaven one day unless you train and practice your faith.    However, a great comfort for you, dear brothers and sisters, is that there is no time limit to merit heaven; in fact, you cannot earn it at all, because the one who works, whether from the first hour or the eleventh hour of the day, from the first day of this life or the twilight of life, will receive the imperishable wreath and crown of eternal life if they have a present and active faith.   And this is what we call grace.   Grace is a gift of forgiveness and eternal life. It isn’t earned or won by you, but is given freely.   Sure, some of you will undoubtedly want to test God’s grace by delaying your prayers and the practice of Christian faith.   I mean, how many of you would shout, “That’s not fair!” if your neighbor, who didn’t come to faith until the eleventh hour of this life, received the same wreath of eternal life as you?   But if God’s judgments were fair, would any of us receive the crown of life?    Absolutely not.   If God’s judgments were fair, you would be handed over to the shackles of hell for how you have wandered through this life so aimlessly.    But this life is not fair, and through the death of Jesus on the cross, your heavenly Father poured out His wrath for your sin upon His Son. For this reason, the cross, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus now focus you as you approach the season of Lent.    Because the season of Lent is one of the most challenging seasons of all, it’s not a simple race, but a time to train and re-learn the fundamentals of the Christian life.   Remember, “Earth is man’s training ground, heaven his crown.”   As you approach this season of Lent, do so with purpose. Start setting aside time to train your body, mind, and spirit, engage in prayer, and meditate on God’s Word. Not that you would earn eternal life through your own merit or worthiness, but so that the Holy Spirit can create and sustain faith in you, leading you on the narrow path and shaping you into the likeness of your Savior, Jesus Christ, who is your eternal crown of life. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

The Second Sunday after Epiphany January 18, 2026 John 2:1-11     Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,   This past fall, I officiated a wedding in Nashville, TN, and the groom requested an interesting wedding hymn, “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing.”   As I mentioned then, the hymn selection was unusual for a wedding; I had never sung it for such an occasion. However, as I ponder the hymn’s story of being brought to the eternal wedding feast of Jesus, it began to make sense.   The hymn, “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing,” encourages us to look beyond this earthly life toward the destination where the gift of marriage is meant to accompany us.   Eternal life with Jesus.     Now, I share with couples who are getting married in premarital counseling a rather lengthy quote from the Church Father St. John Chrysostom, who died in the 5th century; his words speak to the purpose of their journey. But it remains worth hearing in its entirety. He writes,   Some say that marriage was ordained by God as a blessing to the human race. Others say that marriage is a necessary evil for those who cannot restrain their sexual appetites. In truth it is impossible to speak in such ways about marriage in general; we can only make judgments about particular marriages. There are some marriages which bring great blessings to the husband and the wife, to their children, and to all their neighbors. But there are other marriages which seem to bring few blessings to anyone. The difference between these two types of marriages lies in the spirit with which the bond was forged and is maintained. If a man and a woman marry to satisfy their sexual appetites, or to further the material aims of themselves or their families, then their union is unlikely to bring blessings. But if a man and a woman marry in order to be companions on the journey through earth to heaven, then their union will bring great joy to themselves and to others.   With this lens, Chrysostom saw marriage as a gift for man and woman to forge and maintain, to journey and be led through this valley of life on earth to the eternal joys of heaven, to the Lamb’s High Feast, and this changes the lens in which we view marriage, doesn’t it?   Marriage is a celebration of a man and a woman being united and becoming one, and it’s for this reason that, should a divorce or separation of husband and wife occur, it’s so painful.   Marriage is for the procreation and gift of children, but also to console one another when children are not given.   Marriage is for the encouragement of the Christian faith, to learn to pray not only for one another, but with one another.   Marriage is for a man and a woman to support each other through burdens, whether it’s losing a job, caring for aging parents, or them dying, dealing with erring and rebellious children, or caring for each other during illness.    Marriage is a gift for this earthly life.   If you recall, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, the Sadducees approach and ask Jesus about the resurrection by posing a question to Jesus. They say, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”   But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” (Matthew 22:24-30)   In light of these words of Jesus, marriage is a gift for this life, for the companionship along the way to eternity.   And viewing marriage through this lens should change how you speak, approach, and conduct yourself in this blessed estate.   Do you argue and fight among one another? Do you speak unkindly to one another? Are you short with one another?   Confess your sin, reconcile, and be at peace in Christ Jesus at once.   Have you gone through trials and tribulations? Has cancer, illness, or has aging caused unexpected struggles and crosses in your marriage?   Learn to pray together, read God’s Word together, and bear one another’s burdens so your faith can be strengthened. This way, you can support each other as companions on the journey through this life to the eternal joys of heaven.     Have you begrudged the children God has entrusted to you? Do you see them as commodities to be entertained or as a means for you to live out your dreams?   Stop this and confess this sin of idolatry and recognize them as the unique and precious treasures they are from the Lord.   The Gospel this morning shows how much God loves marriage. If you step back, you’ll see that all of Scripture is the story of one great wedding. This means how we view and treat our relationships reflects the Christian faith and the love Jesus, the bridegroom, has for you, His bride, the Church.    Now, some believe Jesus wasn’t being very kind to His mother in the Gospel this morning when He said, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”   No, Jesus was not being rude or disrespectful to His mother; instead, we begin to see a separation in how Jesus now speaks as His life now leads Him to the “Hour” of His crucifixion.   You see, the “Hour” of His crucifixion and the wine His mother speaks of are deeply connected and foreshadow a greater wedding than the one at Cana.    The jars used for purification, into which the water was poured, were intended to fulfill the Old Testament law for cleansing oneself. However, the wine in Jesus’ first miracle points to the greater cleansing of sin, received through His shedding of blood at the hour of His sacrificial death on the cross.    Here, the passage from Ephesians 5 comes to mind,  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:25-32)   Again, reflect on these words, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32)   All of Scripture contains the story of one great wedding.   While your first parents fell into sin in the Garden, bringing sin into marriage and all of God’s children, Jesus comes to reconcile God’s children, His Church. The words of St. Paul paint the most beautiful image of Jesus’ sacrificial love, the bridegroom, for you, His bride, the Church.    This is an image all marriages are to take, to learn to sacrifice for one another, to forgive one another, to love one another. Because no one hates their own flesh, but desires to nourish and care for it.   When you see marriage in this way, you begin to appreciate the blessings it provides and recognize how marriage is a sacrificial gift for the journey of a man and a woman through life. This is reflected in the image of Christ’s love for His Church, leading the faithful to eternal life, where we all long to sing with the company of heaven at the Lamb’s High Feast. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

The Funeral of Sharon Herried January 15, 2026 Psalm 23   Dear Don, family, friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ Jesus, grace, mercy, and peace be unto you this day.   Psalm 23 is probably the most well-known of all the Psalms. Since many children learn the Psalm early in life, many people can recite and pray it from memory throughout their entire lives.    This highlights a frequently overlooked aspect of the Psalm: it’s meant to be prayed as one journeys toward the grave. It’s a Psalm for the sojourner as they walk each day.    Just reflect on verse 2 as we prayed, He makes me lie down in green pastures,             He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.   Who is taking the lead here?   Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is leading His flock to where the good pasture resides.   But a challenging part of this journey is highlighted in verse 4, where the Psalmist prayed, a verse that has become one of the most well-known in Scripture.             Even though I walk through the valley  of the shadow death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.   In reality, most of our lives unfold in the shadow of death.   This was true of our sister Sharon, whose illnesses caused her to be in and out of the hospital over the past years, going from one doctor’s appointment to another, as she wrestled with the growing shadows of death that drew near.    But the valleys and shadows of death aren’t purely physical; they’re also mental, emotional, and spiritual.   And for this reason, Sharon was not alone on this journey to the grave; everyone who cared for her was affected by the shadows of the mental, emotional, and spiritual valleys she experienced.   Or, to put it another way, everyone who made this journey with Sharon supported her in carrying the crosses of her life.    In light of this, the passage that comes to mind here is when St. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)   This is what you did, Don, as you cared for Sharon. You bore the shadows, valleys, burdens, and crosses of Sharon’s life with her, just as you both committed to do when you married on January 22, 1966; the two of you became one flesh.    And from that day forward you learned together to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)   In other words, the law of Christ can be most simply summarized as love for one another.    And the most vivid image of this love is seen in the sacrificial death of Jesus, the bridegroom, for His bride, the Church, upon the cross.   Honestly, to understand the valley and the shadow of death, one must view it through the lens of the cross and the Passion of our Lord.   It’s truly remarkable. After Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was led through the valley of the shadow of death for your sake. You see, the Kidron Valley, where Jesus was led on His way to trial, is the place where the blood of sacrificed lambs from Passover flowed. So, as Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley, He not only walked in the shadows of death but also foreshadowed how He would pass over and conquer death for you by journeying to the cross as the great Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.    Throughout these days entrusted to you in this life, you are called to follow Jesus even now to His cross.   This journey begins at the font of Holy Baptism, a journey that Sharon began in May of 1946 when she was baptized and united in the death and resurrection of her Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet, she still had to journey from the font to the day her Savior called her into His eternal presence.    But every time she confessed her sins in order to receive God’s forgiveness, she was led back to green pastures and still waters; she was guided like all lambs to where God is present for them in His Word and in the flesh and blood of Jesus, a foretaste of that great meal prepared in the presence of her enemies.   And who or what were those enemies?   Cancer, chronic illness, broken relationships, and the burdens of mental, emotional, and spiritual crosses.   These aren’t just facets of a broken world and lives, but the ongoing consequence of the broken relationship between our first parents, Adam and Eve, and their God and our God.    For Sharon, these struggles stem not only from our first parents’ sin but also from the sin that resided within her.   Yet, because she returned to the font and confessed her sin, she heard the voice of the Good Shepherd; she had confidence in knowing He was with her, even while she was homebound. You see, Jesus came to her in His Word as it was read at her bedside and in the Lord’s Supper as it was placed upon her lips and gave her His forgiveness.   It’s a forgiveness that remains for you today.   In a wonderful way, you walk the same path as Sharon every Sunday as you gather here for the Divine Service. As you remember your Baptism and confess your sins, it’s here you entrust the burdens and crosses of this life to Jesus, and He takes them to Himself—drowning them and the Old Adam within your hearts in Baptism—so a new man might arise.    And then Jesus brings you to this altar, where He feeds you the same flesh and blood He fed Sharon, for the forgiveness of your sins – a foretaste of heaven.   Because this is ultimately where Sharon was being led and where your Lord wishes to lead you, even through the crosses and trials of this life, to His heaven, to the place where goodness and mercy follow, and all the sheep of the Father’s fold dwell in His house forever.   Remember this as we leave for the grave today. Pray the 23rd Psalm with each step you take, and trust that the Good Shepherd will not only stay with you but continue to lead you through this valley by His cross. And on the last day, He will also bring you into His house forever. +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI  

The Baptism of our Lord January 11, 2026 Matthew 3:13-17   We Lutherans talk about Baptism a lot, don’t we?   But over the years, how we talk about baptism has influenced our view of this sacrament and blessed gift.    Simply saying “I was baptized” shifts our perspective on baptism. While there is a specific moment—a date—when you were baptized, if you only see “I was baptized” as just a historical event, it can lead you to view baptism as a human act. This perspective makes baptism seem more like a family tradition rather than a sacred rite and sacrament of the Church. In turn, this affects how families and the Church see Confirmation and its link to baptism.   Because if baptism is just a family event, a civic duty, or a way to get grandma and grandpa off your back, then what happens to Confirmation?   It also becomes a family event, a civic duty, a coming-of-age, or, worse, a graduation where the individual is led to believe they’ve achieved something and no longer need to return to the font of Christ where His Word and forgiveness is present for them.   But if you examine the rite of Confirmation, it reflects maturity in the Christian’s faith, an acknowledgment of the ongoing gifts God grants in Holy Baptism and continues to give today.   So, in a way, confirmation is a time for the Christian, often the younger ones, to learn how to confess and clearly express the gift and faith received in Holy Baptism.    And for this reason, we rightly say with Martin Luther, “I am baptized,” because the baptismal life of the Christian is an ongoing reality that extends beyond any single day, leading the Christian to continually confess their sin, drown the Old Adam, receive Christ’s forgiveness, and walk in holiness, guiding them toward eternal life.    However, the often-overlooked importance of Baptism can be best emphasized by these words of encouragement from Luther, as he wrote,    In all Christian earnestness, I would ask all those who administer Baptism, who hold the children, or witness it, to take this wonderful work to heart in all its seriousness. For here, in the words of these prayers, you hear how meekly and earnestly the Christian Church concerns itself about the little child and how it confesses before God in plain undoubting words that he is possessed by the devil and is a child of sin and wrath, and prays very diligently for aid and grace through Baptism that he may become a child of God. Remember, then, that it is no joke to take sides against the devil and not only to drive him away from the little child, but to burden the child with such a mighty and lifelong enemy. What a burden, indeed. For the baptized child of God to face such a mighty and lifelong enemy as Satan. This is why Luther continued, Remember too that it is very necessary to aid the poor child with all your heart and strong faith, earnestly to intercede for him or her that God, in accordance with this prayer, would not only free him from the power of the devil, but also strengthen him, so that he may nobly resist the devil in life and death. Luther concludes by saying, And I suspect that people turn out so badly after Baptism because our concern for them has been cold and careless; we, at their Baptism, interceded for them without zeal. Here you can see how Luther encourages Christians to view Baptism as more than just a sentimental moment or the latest reason to gather friends and family.   Because those who are baptized are now united with Christ Jesus, they also become enemies of the devil. Therefore, Luther encourages Christians to pray for the poor child with all their heart.    I wonder how often parents, grandparents, godparents, sponsors, congregations, or even pastors sit down and pray for the faith of the children baptized in the name of Jesus.   What follows the Gospel reading this morning—the Baptism of Jesus—is the temptation of Jesus. It’s the time when Jesus is led into the wilderness for forty days and nights to be tempted by the devil.   What happens to Jesus after being baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is exactly what happens to every child of God who becomes a son or daughter of the heavenly Father.   A life of temptation from the Evil One himself, as he seeks to lead you to hunger and thirst for things that are not given to you in this life, or to tempt God’s care for you as he invites you to test your heavenly Father or lead you away from His Church, or to seek false power and glory in this life that have not been granted to you.     However, while man often depends on their own weak powers to resist the temptations faced throughout this life’s wildernesses, Jesus depends on the Words of His heavenly Father.    And in a way, it points us back to His baptism, where His Father spoke over Him, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”   The Father is pleased because His Son is obedient and fulfills His will to redeem Israel. Jesus’ submitting to be baptized by John in the Jordan River identifies Himself with all sinners, including you.     It’s there in the Jordan River—the Father’s voice, His Word, is joined to the water. From this moment on, the water joined by His name becomes a great treasure for the Christian.    What a marvelous gift this is!   You see, Jesus had no need for repentance or forgiveness, but He received this baptism from John to reveal who He is, to take upon Himself the sinful condition of man, and to take His place, your place, under the wrath of His Father for the sin of the world.   In this way, Jesus’ baptism points you to His cross, where, through His death, He redeems God’s children.    Yet, as you walk from the font to eternal life, you journey through many wildernesses and times of temptation. The devil is your enemy and also the enemy of every baptized child of God. As the Large Catechism recalls, [The Devil] tries every trick and does not stop until he finally wears [you] out, so that [you] either renounce [your] faith or throw up [your] hands and put up [your feet], becoming indifferent or impatient.[1]   One of the main dangers to the Christian faith is that you, the baptized, become indifferent or impatient with God. You grow impatient because God’s will is not always your will, and your indifference shows through your lack of prayers and the exercise of your faith.    Remember, St. Peter said, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)   “Be sober-minded; be watchful.”   Keeping watch for the Christian is often associated with the baptismal life of prayer. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)   Prayer is how Christians stay watchful and ready to enter eternal life with their Savior, Jesus Christ.    Prayer is not only the voice of faith but also the exercise of one’s faith and the baptismal life. When you stop praying, you neglect to exercise your faith, and your faith grows cold, indifference to Christ grows, and sadly, your baptism becomes just a moment in time.   In these instances, the devil succeeds in his goal of leading God’s children away from Him.    But see today how your life is called to follow the pattern of Jesus, how after receiving the gift of Baptism, you will, like Him, enter the wildernesses of this life.   But also remember how Jesus exercises faith and clings to His Father’s Word in every confrontation with the devil.   This is an image of the baptized life; therefore, parents, grandparents, godparents, sponsors, congregations, and even pastors must not only sit down and pray for the faith of the children baptized in the name of Jesus but also teach them how to pray.   Because no one’s baptism is meant to be just a moment in time, but rather the ongoing gift and exercise of faith that delivers your heavenly Father’s forgiveness, peace, and eternal life.   So go ahead, pray and tell the devil and this world, “I am baptized.” +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   [1] Paul Timothy McCain, ed., Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2005), 433–434.

  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.   The faith of children is a precious gift. Their faith often stays pure and untouched by the ways of the world. They do not seek truth but instead believe simply in what Jesus has done for them.   And for me as a child, I remember the story of Jesus being taught to me both in church and at home, often through reading Arch Books, those well-known, simple children’s books from CPH (Concordia Publishing House). Whether it was the stories of “Lydia Believes,” “Samson Strong and Faithful,” “Jonah and the Very Big Fish,” the “Christmas Angels,” or simply the birth of Jesus, His miracles, His teaching, His crucifixion, and His resurrection - I believed these stories with great faith; I marveled at the work of God through His only begotten Son and the lives of His people.    Likewise, the Gospel for Epiphany is one of those Scriptural stories told to children that causes them and us to marvel and look on with amazement—the story of the Wise Men, also known as the Magi.   Now the Magi were Gentiles, nonbelievers, outsiders to Israel. They were called Magi because they were scientists, seers, and undoubtedly learned men and scholars in the natural sciences, such as the movement of stars and planets. They were also seekers; they searched for knowledge and answers in the world, trying to understand its workings through witchcraft and the occult.   In many ways, as we grow into adulthood, we become similar to the Magi, seeking answers in the events of this world. Our inherent sin, the sin of Adam, causes us to fear the unknown. We become like Herod, afraid of losing our positions of power in the world – positions within our careers, our jobs, our homes, and our church.    We find ourselves drifting away from God’s Word, and our once childlike faith grows dim and cold. Forgetting the stories of old, the stories handed down through apostles, prophets, and history, we neglect the tales taught to us as children. As we mature and grow older, we become skeptics and focus more on our own truths rather than the truth outside ourselves— the truth found and revealed in Jesus, the child in the manger.   Now, you see, children often need guidance as they discover and learn; they need to be taught how to read. They need someone to read to them to begin forming knowledge and understanding. They also need parents, grandparents, godparents, and families to point them toward where truth is located for them, directing them to God’s Word.    Today, the focus is often on the Magi, who followed a star high in the sky. But the star alone was not enough to lead these men to their final destination. Instead, the star guided them to the Word. It brought them to Jerusalem, but from there, the priests reading the Word of God told the Magi where they needed to go: Bethlehem.    According to the prophet Micah, the birthplace of the new child King would be Bethlehem. So the star in the sky led these Magi to seek, but it was the Word that ultimately directed them to where Christ could be found.   The Word guided them to the Word - the Word of God led them to the Word made flesh.   Like the Magi, you also desire truth. Your presence here this evening shows your wish to know God and be known by Him. You will find God, understand Him, and learn about Him in the same way as the Magi—by listening, following, and submitting to His Word.    The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” As God’s child, regularly engage with the Scriptures; read, mark, and inwardly digest. Know that when “the Word of Christ dwells in you”—God is present in you, strengthening you for all the days of this life and, most importantly, keeping you in the one true faith through the Holy Spirit who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth. (Apostles' Creed, Meaning of the Third Article)   On this Epiphany, we rejoice because God’s Word continues to come to us, just as it entered a world darkened by sin and disbelief—salvation is revealed to all through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Magi searched for a king in Bethlehem, but what they discovered was God.   This is also the story of every catechumen and every baptized child of God.   Historically, on the festival of Epiphany, it was the church’s tradition to bring catechumens (both young and old) into the church through the waters of Holy Baptism. The catechumens, who were students, would be led to the font. Unlike us (although it is entirely acceptable to have the water poured or sprinkled on the head of the person being baptized), they might have entered the font as if walking into the darkness of the grave, while the baptismal waters submerged them and symbolically drowned the Old Adam and all sin. God’s Word was then spoken into their ears, and the name of Jesus, whom even the magi sought, was given to them.    In this way, the Gospel was revealed to these young Christians—the same Gospel and the name of the child King who went to the cross and died for your sins—so that you may receive the Holy Spirit and remain in faith until the day their Lord returns.   This is what an epiphany is: to be made known or to manifest. Jesus—His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, and His promise to come again—being revealed, made known to those who have ears and rejoice in hearing this good news.    This evening, this truth is once again made known to you as you make the sign of the cross or perhaps as you help the child next to you do the same to remember your Baptisms. Then, through the singing of hymns and the liturgy, in the reading of God’s Word, and in the breaking of bread—the Holy Spirit again guides and reveals to you your Savior.    However, if given to the world, your minds and hearts, like mine, will be polluted and corrupted, and you will be led away from the truth found in Christ Jesus. But the miracle of faith given in your Baptism calls you back to Him.   You see, the Magi were men—men who searched the stars and planets for truth. But on that first Epiphany, the truth was unveiled to them through the Word made flesh. Their response after worshipping Jesus was not to question but simply to believe and return home transformed.    You, too, are called to depart and return to your homes in a new way. Having received the flesh and blood of Christ Jesus, heard the Gospel, and been granted forgiveness, do not go back to your old ways of sin and disbelief. Instead, seek truth in the Holy Scripture and in Jesus.    My friends, let this news, first revealed to the Magi, dwell within you, His faithful children. The news that Christ, your Lord, has come—that He comes to save you and all who believe this certain and unquestionable truth. So, let us rejoice, let us rejoice and believe as children; let us rejoice as the Magi, for today your Savior reveals Himself to you and the world in His Word. +INJ+     The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

Funeral of Douglas (Doug) D. Murray January 5, 2026   Dear Ruth, family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, grace, mercy, and peace be unto you this day.   Shortly after arriving here at Good Shepherd, Doug and Ruth called up the church one day to see if I would be interested in a children’s table and chairs for my kids to use. Having a need, I said, “Sure!”   So, the two of them loaded up the table and chairs, got in the car, and made their way through Tomah to the church. Once they arrived, Ruth came in and made small talk with Deb, the secretary, while Doug and I went out to move the table and chairs from their vehicle to the back of my own.   As I closed the back end of my vehicle, I had naively thought that was it, and the two of us would head back into the church so he could fetch Ruth.   I was wrong.   What followed was Doug holding court and sharing his life story with me. How he grew up around Kendall, married Yvonne, and how the two of them lived on the farm in Kendall before moving to Tomah. Oh, how he loved that farm.   He also talked about his wife, Yvonne, dying after 51 years of marriage and the heartbreak that followed.   Then Doug reconnected with Ruth from his younger years and recounted how she had been a Godsend to him. One thing I remember Doug saying is that when he married Ruth, they were attending different churches, but as he said, “A husband and wife should be in church together.” So, they were—each Sunday, sitting side by side, worshiping, praying, and learning the story of Jesus.   But more on this last part in a bit…   You see, what I learned that day in the parking lot was that Doug was a storyteller.   When Doug was going to tell you something, it was going to be done in the context of a story.   There was a story about which restaurants in town you should go to, why John Deere tractors were the best, and why the Packers would beat my Vikings.   There was even a story in these latter months as he lay in a hospital bed about how one of his doctors was eyeballing his cowboy boots.   Doug loved to tell stories.   But if you listened closely to his words, his stories weren’t always filled with joy or a joke. There was the heartbreak of Yvonne’s death. Not having children of his own, he relied greatly on his nephews. Being diagnosed with cancer, he experienced times of grief and frustration, too.    In a way, Doug’s story is our story, your story, too.   It’s a story of love, heartache, and unavoidable changes in life.   But Doug’s life, you see, was really a small story in the telling of a greater, grander story.   Take a moment to step back and reflect on today’s readings from Holy Scripture.   In the first reading you have Job saying,             Oh that my words were written!                         Oh that they were inscribed in a book!             Oh that with an iron pen and lead                         they were engraved in the rock forever!             For I know that my Redeemer lives,                         and at the last he will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:23-25)   Well, what is the purpose of writing and inscribing words within a book?   To recount something that happened, to tell a story, and what is the story Job confesses and wants known?   That his redeemer lives and on the last day, He will raise Job from the dead, that He might stand with Jesus forever.   In the second reading, St. Paul says that he doesn’t want the brothers to be misinformed, so he writes, For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)   St. Paul doesn’t want the brothers to be uninformed, so he gave them a “Word,” which, as some translations might render it, is a teaching and continuation of the story of Christ.   And finally, in the third and final reading, Jesus said,   I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me… and they will listen to my voice. (John 10:14, 16)   Here, Jesus says, the sheep will recognize His voice, or in other words, they will know My Word, and within this Word, the story of My life is contained, because in Me, My life is the life of My sheep.    Ponder this, if the sheep hear the voice of Jesus, they hear His Word and receive His life.   In fact, all of Scripture is a retelling of God’s Word and the most incredible story ever told…   From the beginning of Genesis and the fall into sin, all the way to the final Amen of the book of Revelation, the words within tell how Jesus will come as a babe in Bethlehem, die on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world, rise from the dead on that first Easter morning, ascend in triumph at His Ascension to the right hand of His Father, and return again to gather His faithful children into His eternal presence.    And this was the story Doug was brought into, not only on the day of his baptism as a baby many years ago, but every time he walked past the font at the entrance of the sanctuary.     It’s truly remarkable that each week, as Doug gathered here in this sanctuary with Ruth and all his brothers and sisters in Christ, he took part in the story of Christ. He walked past the font, confessed his sins, and asked God for forgiveness. In fact, Doug joined the angels in singing the Gloria in Excelsis at Christmas, and he traveled through Holy Week by singing the Sanctus before hearing the Words of Institution from the night of Jesus’ betrayal, just before approaching this altar to receive the blessings of Christ’s cross in the Lord’s Supper.    Being a Lutheran is pretty cool, I’m not going to lie, because every week we, like Doug, don’t only hear the story of Jesus, but become real-life participants as the Good Shepherd speaks to us through His Word and leads us to His nearer presence.   In fact, this is the whole purpose of gathering in the house of the Lord: to be prepared, as Doug, to be brought into the eternal presence of God.   As we depart today and journey to the grave, don’t leave the story of Doug’s life here, but take it with you, because it’s the story of Jesus Christ, who claimed Doug in the font of Holy Baptism and redeemed him through His death and resurrection.   Keep this story close to your heart and go in confidence because, like Doug, you have heard the Word of the Good Shepherd and you know without a doubt, “Your Redeemer lives!” +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI

The Second Sunday after Christmas January 4, 2026 Matthew 2:13-23   The Gospel reading this morning feels like an action-packed story: a quick escape to Egypt to protect the Child who would be the Savior of the world, a tyrannical king who kills all male children under two out of fear that one of them might dethrone him, and a safe return home after the evil king dies.    The story is gripping and suspenseful.   However, one of this morning’s main characters is someone we don’t often talk about; we know little about him. After this morning’s Gospel reading, the only other time we’ll hear of him is when he and his wife Mary are searching for their son as they leave Jerusalem, only to find the boy in the temple, discussing, as the boy will say, the teachings of His heavenly Father.    The man’s name is Joseph, of course, the earthly father of the Christ Child.   In this morning’s Gospel, Joseph provides a template and icon for all fathers to imitate, and his example really began before Jesus was even born, as the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and said,   Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:20b-21)   The story goes on that when Joseph awoke from that sleep,   He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)   Yes, I know you know this part of the story, so why is it so important for today? Because Joseph always listened to the Word of the Lord and obeyed it. This is the foundation of all fatherhood: to listen, hear, and obey the Word of the Lord.   Regrettably, too many fathers neglect to regularly read, listen to, and learn God’s Word outside of the Divine Service each Sunday. Then they wonder,   “Where are my children?”   “Why aren’t they still in church?”   You see, if a man is not exercising his faith regularly, how can they expect their household to do the same?   More than ever, the Church needs to regain masculinity, godly masculinity; we need men who walk in the image of the prophets, those godly men who heard the voice of their God throughout the Old Testament and prepared the way for the Christ Child’s birth.   In a series of sermons on marriage and the family, the Church Father St. John Chrysostom highlights the faith of fathers throughout the Old Testament, such as Noah, who receives the Word of the Lord and builds an ark to save his family. Or there’s Abraham, who, despite being wealthy, did not seek fame and riches but sought the Lord’s wisdom, listening to and obeying the Word of the Lord as the greatest treasure of all.    As Chrysostom would write regarding the men of the Old Testament, he says,   All these great men looked at this present life as nothing; They did not thirst for riches or other earthly attachments.   Tell me, which trees are best? Do we not prefer those that are inwardly strong and are not injured by rain storms, or hail, or gusts of wind, or by any sort of harsh weather, but stand exposed to them all without fences or garden to protect them?   He who truly loves wisdom is like this and his riches we have already described. He has nothing, yet has everything; He has everything, yet nothing. A fence does not provide internal strength, nor is a wall a natural support; They provide only artificial protection. What is a strong body? Is it not one that is healthy, whether hungry or [filled], cold or warm? Or is it something that is dependent on restaurants, tailors, merchants, and physicians for health?   The truly rich man, the true lover of wisdom, needs none of these things, and that is why the [Scriptures] admonish us to bring our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Don't surround them with external safeguards of wealth and fame, for when these fail - and they will fail - our children will stand naked and defenseless, having gained no profit from their former prosperity, but only injury, since when those artificial protections that shielded them from the winds are removed, they will be blown to the ground in a moment.   Therefore, wealth is a hindrance because it leaves us unprepared for the hardships of life. (64)   How remarkable are these words written by St. John Chrysostom in the 4th century? It’s as if he’s living yet today.   What has weakened your family’s faith in the past? How is your faith and the faith of those around you, including your children, being battered by the winds and storms of this life, leaving you and them exposed to the elements of this world?   We live in sad times when the home is more concerned with the adornments of life, whether it be, as Chrysostom said, dependence on restaurants, tailors, merchants, and physicians for health. Or in our time, sports, choirs, and social media status.   It’s time for the men of the Church to rise and follow in the steps of Joseph, the prophets, and patriarchs.     It’s time for us to arise and prepare the coming generations so they might withstand the hardships of this life with the help of the Lord.   And look, this is why Joseph is the perfect icon and image for us to follow, as he received the Word of the Lord, and in a very awesome way, he became the guardian and protector of this, the Word made flesh.   Meditate upon this…   Fathers who follow in the footsteps of Joseph do so by hearing the Word of the Lord themselves—receiving it, trusting in it, and confessing it to their children and families. Then they guard and protect this deposit in their children’s hearts so the Word can take root, strengthening their dear little ones’ faith to be stronger than all the trees.    In fact, we want the children of the Church to grow up under the tree of the cross, always looking and clinging to it, because it’s there that Joseph’s Son would die for them, for you, ensuring forgiveness and life eternal for all who possess faith in Him who was born of Mary.   Still, you say, “Pastor, but I don’t know how to be a Joseph, I don’t know how to lead my children in the faith…”   Thankfully, the father of Lutheranism, Martin Luther, wrote before every chief part of the Small Catechism, “As the head of the family should teach in a simple way to his household.”   Teach the Catechism. Reclaim Lutheranism. Exercise the Christian faith.   As Martin Luther once remarked, “There’s enough in the Catechism to occupy the greatest theologian for a lifetime.”   You possess the tools; they just need to be used.    Now, I understand, some have not been given the gift of children, and you might be thinking, “What can I do?”   There’s plenty; you can always pray for the families, and specifically for the fathers of the church. In fact, everyone should be doing this each and every day. For those children who are fatherless or whose fathers are absent, how can you confess and impart the Word of the Lord to them, and then protect it?    There are no rules against encouraging one another in the faith; in fact, St. Paul wrote, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)   You are to do this because you are a family gathered and united as the holy family was in Bethlehem by the Word made flesh.   Again, how cool is this?   Now, circling back to the beginning today, the truth is, this morning’s Gospel is in fact the start of an action-packed, gripping, and suspenseful story. It’s the story of a father protecting a child who would grow into a man—a Man who would heal the lame, walk on water, and raise the dead.   A Man whose faithfulness to His heavenly Father was so strong that He fulfilled His Father’s will, even dying upon the tree of the cross - for you.   And this man’s name is Jesus, because He was sent to save His people from their sins.   My friends, you have received the most incredible story ever told, so go ahead and tell it to all who have ears, because it’s this Word that permits all of God’s children to withstand the storms and trials of this fleeting life and be led in Holy wisdom to eternal life. +INJ+    Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

Christmas 1 December 28, 2025 Luke 2:22-40   ***Today, we had a baptism at the beginning of the Divine Service***   Have you noticed how everyone rightly focuses on the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but then forgets how the days that follow His birth are also important and continue to tell the story and purpose of the Christ Child’s arrival into the world?   To start with, we hear about Mary and Joseph’s faithfulness to God’s word as they brought the baby Jesus to the temple this morning. The Gospel says they took Jesus to the temple according to the Law of Moses, and it wasn’t until the law was fulfilled that they would depart and return to Galilee.    This image of Mary and Joseph’s faithfulness should motivate all parents to be just as faithful in hearing and listening to God’s Word and bringing their little ones to His temple and sanctuary, just as Gabe and Leah have, bringing Ellowyn to where God is present for her today.    Now, when Mary and Joseph arrived at the temple, they were greeted by Simeon, a devout and righteous man who had been in the temple specifically to wait for and receive the Lord’s consolation, to see the Christ.   But let’s take a moment to consider what it truly means to receive the Lord’s consolation. Yet, it might be helpful to start by thinking about what the opposite of consolation is.    It’s a harsh world of desolation, of indifference, ruthless disdain, and complete mercilessness, a lack of compassion and forgiveness.   Not a world one would typically desire to bring a child into.   But this is the world that Simeon knew and was waiting for consolation from.    As you look around, is the world you live in much different from the world of Simeon that first Christmas?   To ask the question differently, has the devil ceased to attack the faith of God’s children?   The answer is no, of course.   You still live in a world of desolation; indifference has become the Devil’s playground. The talking heads on television and social media often teach you to have ruthless disdain for the neighbor you disagree with, and forgiveness is seen as a weakness.    Maybe this is a world you witnessed this Christmas as you gathered with family? A reminder of how near the wildernesses of this world are.    But Simeon, a member of God’s faithful remnant of Israel, is waiting in the temple for the consolation of Israel to come, and he sees the Christ child as Mary and Joseph enter the temple, takes Him into his arms, and speaks the most comforting words anyone can say.              Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,                         according to your word;             for my eyes have seen your salvation             that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,             a light for revelation to the Gentiles,                         and for glory to your people Israel.   These are the words of Simeon’s consolation, God’s comfort and peace, His forgiveness. These are the words of fulfillment as the prophet Isaiah had written,   It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.                         This is the LORD; we have waited for him;                         let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9) And this confesses why Jesus was born into this world, to save us, to save you.   This is also what Anna the Prophetess confesses in the verses that follow Simeon. You see, just a few days ago, the Shepherds announced the birth of Jesus, but the words that Prophetess Anna now speaks are about His death, as St. Luke records,   And coming up at that very hour [Anna] began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.   This redemption would occur through the means of the cross.   Now, while the Bible doesn’t specify the type of wood used for the cross, there might be a little sermon for young Ellowyn here (and the rest of you).   The name Ellowyn is of English origin. It carries several wonderful meanings, such as purity, joy, or, in some cases, it refers to the Elm Tree. When associated with an Elm Tree, the name symbolizes resilience and beauty. An Elm tree is known for its large canopy, which offers shade to those seeking shelter beneath it. It’s also a hardwood, signifying strength beneath its bark.     Of course, Ellowyn’s last name is Oakes, which is an even sturdier tree and name.   Yet, there is a tree stronger than both, and this is the tree that Leah and Gabe must point their little Ellowyn to every day: the tree of the cross. Because this is what faithful parents do—they humbly bring their children into the courts of the Lord and guide them to look beyond this world, beyond themselves, and to their Savior.   Why does this matter?   Because little Ellowyn has been born into a harsh world of desolation, of ruthless disdain for one another, complete mercilessness – a world lacking compassion and forgiveness.   Merry Christmas, huh?   But look, as she was baptized today, like the rest of you, she became a member of God’s faithful remnant on earth.   A remnant that’s always walking and approaching the tree of Jesus’ cross, because that is how and where He won eternal consolation for Ellowyn and for all of you.   Here’s the thing: just as Jesus’ journey to the cross began at His birth, so the Christians’ journey to eternal life begins at the font, where you are joined to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.   From this day forward, every journey from the font to this altar follows the way of the cross; it’s a rehearsal for singing with Simeon and praising God with Anna in paradise.   Think about that when you sing Nunc Dimittis in a few minutes…   Having come or been brought into this sanctuary, you approach, take, and receive the flesh and blood of Jesus into your hands and upon your lips, and then you sing again with Simeon,   Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,                         according to your word...   How cool is that?   Here you are given the Lord’s consolation, His peace. And how would a child ever know this if their parents did not faithfully carry out their responsibilities, to walk in the shadows of Mary and Joseph, and to bring their little ones into the presence of God as He has instructed.   Mothers and fathers, fathers and mothers, have an enormous responsibility in raising their child in the faith, and the greatest joy they will receive is by presenting them to the Lord, where He shall place His name, granting them not only consolation now, but eternal peace when they leave this world and enter the heavenly courts.   Remember this, because there’s no greater joy than receiving the peace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ and being made ready by Him to live with Him forever. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

Christmas Day John 1:1-14   Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,   In 1968, the space shuttle Apollo 8 was orbiting the Moon. But on that Christmas, the astronauts onboard this space shuttle broadcasted a short, brief greeting from high above down to Earth below in one of the most watched television broadcasts at that time. Some of you may remember huddling around a TV or radio for this mesmerizing event. As the astronauts orbited, and the lunar sunrise approached, they spoke the words “In the Beginning…” The three astronauts read the first ten verses of the book of Genesis, the beginning of creation.      Imagine what those three astronauts experienced. What a sight to see the Earth below as the sun rises and they read these Words of God, these Words of creation. What awe and wonder to witness the beauty of Earth and God’s creation as they begin their new day with, “In the beginning….” How small the world must have seemed, with its problems and challenges, to these astronauts at that moment as they orbited in space.      Today’s Gospel, John 1, in many ways paints a cosmic picture for us. The tone and makeup of the Christmas readings have shifted. No longer are you hearing about cattle lowing, angels from on high, mangers, or room at the inn. Today’s Gospel points you to creation.     How often do you reflect on the words of creation, “In the beginning?”   “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The truth is, most days you forget how awe-inspiring the world God created is. Instead, you focus on the world often shaped by you. Why is this the case?     You are a fallen creation; a child separated from their Father. In Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, you fell too. Just as your first parents became concerned and even consumed with their needs in this life, so have you.     It must have been a fleeting moment in time when those astronauts read the words of Genesis during Christmas in 1968. We might like to think the sense of awe and wonder lasted, but surely children soon after this event longed for Red Ryder Range Model 1938 BB guns to shoot and baby dolls to dress. Before long, this moment in history became just the past, and man and woman on earth were once again consumed by their own wants, needs, and desires. They were preoccupied with their own world.   Things haven’t changed much since 1968.      Our lives continue to be filled with daily events. When a man and a woman become engaged, their days and world are shaped by wedding plans. As couples welcome children into the world, new parents feverishly prepare to care for this gift, this child of God entrusted to them. In the face of job loss, one is overwhelmed with concerns about how to provide for and care for their family. Likewise, when death occurs, you must bear the burden of planning a funeral and returning your loved one’s body to the earth. These are the joys, the challenges, and the sorrows of life; they have not changed over time but remain constants.      Yet, in the joy and sadness that so often shape your lives and the world you live in, you have a promise that remains with you. A promise first made to Adam and Eve in Genesis, where God said, “And I will put enmity between you and the women, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Amidst the crumbling world around Adam and Eve, God came to them, spoke to them, and offered hope through a promise, through His Word.      If the world around you feels like it’s crumbling, or God seems distant and uninterested in you, don’t listen to the flesh or the lies of the serpent. Instead, listen to this Word of God. Hear the promise made to send a Seed, an offspring to conquer sin in this world, to defeat and destroy the devil, and to undo death with life. This child does not abandon you in your struggles or leave you in loneliness. Rather, this promise has been fulfilled in the Word that became flesh, the Word incarnate that was nailed to a tree and became a curse for you and every child.      Your joy today is these words, “In the beginning…”   Because as we hear “In the beginning” from the Gospel of St. John, we hear the beginning of God’s promise to man being fulfilled through the redemptive and regenerative work of the Word made Flesh, Jesus Christ.     For every child born of God, this promise is given. In baptism, Jesus penetrates your world as a child, uniting Himself with you. Our text says, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (NKJV) Blood and flesh are the ways of earthly birth and earthly death, but the birth given in Holy Baptism is a heavenly birth, a birth that leads to eternal life in Jesus.     In the midst of this world, Jesus comes to you. He becomes man and takes on your flesh, joining Himself to you. He does not sit high above the heavens as a God who does not love His creation or is indifferent to your prayers and petitions. Instead, He humbles Himself, enters into this world, and bears the crosses of your life in His flesh, taking them upon the cross He bore for you, dear child of God. And He continues to bring renewal and His forgiveness to you. How wonderful this is—soon, we will gather not around a television but here around this altar, Saint Augustine writes.    What you can see here, dearly beloved, on the table of the Lord, is bread and wine; but this bread and wine, when the word is applied to it, becomes the body and blood of the Word. That Lord, you see, who “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” was so compassionate that he did not despise what he had created in his own image; and therefore “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Because, yes, the very Word took to himself a man, that is, the soul and flesh of a man, and became man while remaining God. For that reason, because he also suffered for us, he also presented us in this sacrament with his body and blood.   This very flesh and blood are for the comfort, encouragement, and forgiveness you are so desperately in need of. At this rail, something truly amazing happens: heaven fills this earth. You are joined with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as our voices unite in praise with the angels, archangels, the saints who now rest from their labors. We rejoice and praise the one who comes and enters our world.     The miraculous aspect of Christmas is that your Savior comes to you. In Him, you find forgiveness and salvation. He is your hope in this life, a light that shines in your darkness, and your joy during times of sadness. Through Him, you were created, and in Him, all things are fulfilled, giving you eternal peace.      As you journey through life until your final day on earth, let your days be shaped by the Word that was made flesh and now dwells among us. When you pass by the font, remember the new creation you are through holy baptism. As you approach this rail, rejoice that your Savior lives within you as you live in Him. Rejoice, for this is not just a fleeting moment, but the joy of eternity extended to you. God bless you and keep you this Christmas Day. Merry Christmas!     “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”     www.goodsheptomah.org

Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols December 24, 2025     +INJ+   It’s clear that the Christmas season began nearly two months ago, as stores began displaying their holiday decorations in the days leading up to All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween, as some call it.    It was slightly after the beginning of November that Starbucks began selling its holiday coffees.   But don’t get me started on the Hallmark channel, which began its 24/7 programming of Christmas movies on October 17th that make you wonder every two to three hours if the down-on-her-luck girl will find Mr. Christmas in a small town or if the big city accountant who runs away from life will ever find the true meaning of Christmas.   Now, I love a good Christmas movie, a Frosty the Snowman or a little Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but have you noticed how the whole Christmas season, as the world sees it, conditions you for nearly two months?   And it’s about how Christmas begins with you—what you do, how you find and create purpose and love.   This idea really stood out to me in the movie, The Polar Express. It features a boy who has lost his belief in the Christmas stories of the world, so he boards a train on Christmas Eve in the middle of the night to go to the North Pole with other children for a magical experience.    The climax of the movie revolves around the train arriving at the North Pole just in time to see Father Christmas off, allowing one of the children to receive the first Christmas gift of the night. The challenge for the young man who plays a central role in the movie is that he cannot hear the sleighbells ring when Father Christmas appears because of his lack of faith in Father Christmas. You see, the boy no longer believes in him.   Only when the young man finds it in himself to believe in Father Christmas again does he hear the joyful ringing of the sleigh bells.   In a way, this is how you’ve been conditioned over the past two months: that the “spirit” of Christmas begins with you, that it depends on you.     That’s a heavy weight for anyone to carry, let alone a child.   But it also misses how Christmas comes to each of you…   So, what did we hear in the lessons we just read tonight?   The Angel Gabriel told Mary when she questioned the miraculous birth of the Savior,   The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)   Mary didn’t do anything here; she simply received the Word of God, and the Christ Child was conceived in her womb through the work of the Holy Spirit who came upon her.   If you fast forward, the Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds in the field, who seem to have been just doing what shepherds do, and announced to them,   For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)   There’s nothing the shepherds did to solicit this great news and the joy that overwhelmed them; it came to them through the words of the heavenly angels. As the prophet Isaiah wrote,               For to us a child is born,                         to us a son is given… (Isaiah 9:6)   Ponder these words…   The good news of Christmas doesn’t start with you; it’s not a feeling or emotion to be recreated from childhood. It’s given and announced to you through the words of God’s messengers.    To say all of this differently, Christmas is not dependent upon you, but it is because of you.   Again, Christmas is not dependent upon you, but it is because of you.   The truth is, if a successful Christmas depends on the number of gifts given or received, falling in love under the mistletoe like in the movies, or digging deep into oneself to find or create a feeling of “Christmas Spirit” so you can hear the ringing of magical bells, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.    No, the joy of Christmas comes to you; it comes because of your heavenly Father’s heart and great love for you that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be born of the Virgin Mary—to redeem and rescue you.   This is why Martin Luther is correct when he said, “The manger and the cross are never far apart.”   In other words, when you approach the manger, you are already starting your journey to the cross of Good Friday, where the Christ Child dies for you.   How wonderful is this?   You have a Savior who came from heaven above to this earth below. He came for you, to save you, to forgive you, and to give you eternal life – His life.   For this reason, the Church remains His manger, where He comes to you through His Word.   The Church is His manger as He comes and is present to feed you at this altar with His flesh and blood, the food of pardon and peace.     The Church is His manger, because it’s here the true Spirit, the Holy Spirit, gathers, creates, and sustains faith in the hearts of all God’s children.   How great this is that Christmas and the Church do not depend on you, but they are for you.   Remember this….   Christmas and the Church do not depend on you, but they are for you.   +INJ+     Merry Christmas!   www.goodsheptomah.org

Advent 4 – Rorate Coeli December 21, 2025 Philippians 4:4-7     Bah! Humbug!   It’s believed this saying first appeared around the 1750s, about 100 years before it was made famous by that cold, miserly, selfish, and cynical old man, Ebenezer Scrooge, in Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol.”   Bah! Humbug!   To define the well-known saying from the classic, let’s start with the Humbug, which is meant to say something is not genuine, that it’s a deception, a con, a fraud, a hoax, it’s fake.   The Bah! in Bah! Humbug! acts as an annoyed interjection to emphasize the contempt behind “Humbug.” Because of this, the Bah! is meant to be the finishing touch on the Humbug, the exclamation point!   For these reasons, when Scrooge says, Bah! Humbug! - he is genuinely and emphatically dismissing Christmas joy, equating it with foolishness and hypocrisy. He’s calling Christmas a hoax, nonsense, or a scam.   Old Scrooge saw Christmas as a waste of time and his money; he lacked sympathy towards others, and his lack of cheerfulness isolated him from both his acquaintances and family.   In many ways, I’m sure Charles Dickens wants the reader to see themselves in Scrooge.   Can you? Can you see yourself in him?   As the season of Advent approaches its end, people’s prayers must grow more intense, asking God for a change of heart—one that admits how they, you, have imitated Scrooge in both what you say and what you fail to do for others.   Now, there is another man in Scripture, a truly zealous, well-educated, get-things-done type, whom some might have seen as similar to Scrooge, except this one was serious about it in a very different way and took it to another level. He persecuted Christians, arrested them, and even participated in stoning them for their faith in Christ Jesus.    His name was Saul of Tarsus.   You know him as the Apostle Paul. Yes, it was he who persecuted Christians, sought to arrest them, and was there when St. Stephen, the first martyr, was stoned to death for confessing his faith in Jesus.   But then something miraculous occurred: Jesus came to Saul, not through ghosts or spirits in the night, but He called him to faith through His Word and gave Saul new life in the waters of Holy Baptism.    In this way, Saul was no longer the same, as his heart of stone was transformed into a heart of flesh. Later, he would be known as St. Paul, and he would become someone who suffered for Jesus, proclaiming the gospel everywhere he traveled. He would encourage other apostles in their faith. He would be shipwrecked, beaten, and left for dead. In fact, the epistle this morning was written while he was imprisoned.    And what did he say? Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   No one writes these words from prison, no less, unless they truly believe them and have faith in their Savior, Jesus Christ. No one writes these words unless their heart has been miraculously transformed.   Throughout this season of Advent, have you permitted your heart to be transformed? Have you cast aside the Bah! Humbugs! of your life for joy in Christ? Have you learned to pray regularly and faithfully, so that the anxiety of your heart might receive the peace of God that surpasses your understanding of this mortal life on earth, the peace that guards your hearts and minds from the cold, miserable, selfish, and cynical ways of old Scrooge?    If not, the time is now; hear the words of John the Baptist from today’s Gospel,   “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”   These words are a call to repent of the sin that has led you away from Christ this Advent season. The ways your path has become crooked—the road where joy is not found.   Today is a call for the heart of mankind to be reconciled in the cross of Jesus – His death and resurrection.   In a way, Advent is meant to be a battleground for the heart and mind of every Christian. But the peace you desire will thankfully not be revealed to you by spirits throughout the night, but through the same transformational Word and Gospel spoken to St. Paul on the road to Damascus.    It’s this word of Christ that removed Paul from the crooked path and set him to walk in the way of Jesus, and this was his cause for joy – faith and trust in Jesus.   Old Scrooge saw Christmas as a waste of time and his money; he lacked sympathy towards others, and his lack of cheerfulness isolated him from both his acquaintances and family.   Is this you?   Are there sorrows that continue to fill your heart as we approach this Christmas? Are there broken relationships that you have not reconciled? Do you grieve your lack of charity in word and deed? Have you failed in keeping your prayers this Advent season?   If so, the time is at hand; put away your anxious heart and go to the Lord in prayer.   Pray for a generous heart.   Pray for peace in your life.   Pray for reconciliation with one another.   Pray for your Lord to remove the cold, miserly, selfish, and cynical old man within you.   Because when you entrust the needs of this life to God in prayer, there you exercise your faith, and where there is faith, there is peace, and there is joy in your heart.   So let us gather now in these waning hours of night and pray, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”   Come and be with us, O Emmanuel, transform us into your likeness, so that we might rejoice in your presence forever. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     www.goodsheptomah.org

Advent 3 + Midweek (The Angels and the Shepherds) December 17, 2025 Luke 2:8-20   Tonight, we conclude our meditations on the Angels of Advent as we reflect on the Angels who appear to the Shepherds.    It’s interesting that shepherds are among the first to learn about Jesus’ birth since He will be the great Shepherd. In a way, the angels are not only announcing the birth of the Savior but also revealing the work He will perform to protect, keep, and lead you, His lambs, to springs of living water.   But one of the things that prevent you from being led to the springs of living water, eternal life, is your rejection of His Word—lips that do not confess His name both here and in your daily life, whether you’re going to work or school, taking children to practice or rehearsals, encountering neighbors at the store or out to eat, or gathering around the table at home.    But right from the beginning, as soon as Jesus is born of the Virgin Mary, the angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds to do what we find difficult: to announce the good news, the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.    However, this angelic announcement is met with the same fear as each of the previous two announcements to Mary and Joseph. In each case, fear appears in the person receiving the good news, but it quickly vanishes with the angel’s words.    In a way, I wonder if the shepherd’s fear diminishes partly because of the words of the angel as he said to them,  Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.   This news is for all people…   Have you ever noticed that you’re usually less afraid in life when you’re with others? When you’re part of a group? When you’re in a crowd?    Some people call this strength in numbers, right?   Speaking of numbers, joining the angel of the Lord is a multitude of heavenly hosts in saying,             “Glory to God in the highest,                         and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”   How wonderful it is to witness heaven and earth united in celebration.    The joy comes from the peace of heaven that has descended upon earth in the baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It is this child who will take away all fear from man’s heart.    But let’s return to the idea of fear again. Throughout our readings this Advent, fear is always present in the hearts of the receivers, whether it’s Mary, Joseph, or the shepherds. But when someone hears the Gospel for the first time today, do they experience fear?    Maybe…   Honestly, though, for all the wrong reasons, fear usually rests in the one who has the chance to confess not only the birth of Jesus but also the purpose for which He was sent: to take your sins to the cross, to die for you, and to rise again so you could receive eternal life.    Consider this: it’s your fear that stops you from sharing Jesus with everyone you meet — at the bus stop, school, work, or even around your dinner table.    However, reflect on what the shepherds did after receiving the good news—the gospel of Jesus from the angels. They went to Bethlehem to see this Babe in the manger, and the text says,    And when they saw [Jesus], they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.   Having seen Jesus, these shepherds could not keep from confessing the good news of His birth; they told everyone, praising their Lord for revealing Himself to them.    Now think about this: Have you seen Jesus? Have you heard His voice? Has He revealed Himself to you?   Absolutely!   He does this every time we gather here in this sanctuary. As you walk past the font, you remember where He claimed you as His own. As you sit in the pew, you hear His voice, the good news of forgiveness, and at this rail, you join the angelic choir of heaven in receiving a foretaste of what’s to come.   How could you not want to confess this great news to everyone you come in contact with in how you speak and what you do?   Think about this: if you read a book and found the story to be delightful, would you not tell others?   Or if you went to a restaurant and enjoyed a wonderful meal, would you not tell others?   I mean, these days, if the Chick-fil-A trailer shows up in Tomah, Facebook is all a clatter with people saying the best chicken sandwiches are in town!   So why wouldn’t you be moved to confess the good news of the angels more boldly with those you encounter?    Because you live in fear.   You worry about what others think. You’ve fallen for the lies of the devil, believing it’s inappropriate to speak of faith in Christ Jesus. You’ve closed your heart to His Word.    But listen to these words from St. John, There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)   In other words, set aside the fears of this world, such as the fear of rejection. Fear God and the eternal punishment He can bring. Allow Jesus to dwell in you, because with Him, love overflows, dispels earthly fears, and works within you. In return, you receive the greatest gift of heavenly peace – His forgiveness.    As we conclude our meditations on the Angels of Advent, remember that the definition of an angel is to be a messenger of God. While you are not angels, nor will you ever be, you are called to be messengers of God—to take the great news the shepherds heard and make it known to all who will hear.    In the end, you cannot separate your confession of Jesus from faith, as St. Paul wrote, If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10)   In the days ahead, cast aside your fears, and do not keep the good news of your Savior’s birth to yourself. Learn from the shepherds to confess His birth, remembering that this news is for all people. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI     www.goodsheptomah.org

Advent 3 + Gaudete December 14, 2025 Matthew 11:2-11   In the latest issue of the Lutheran Witness, the magazine of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the topic of “Traditions” is discussed, which is fitting as we go through the season of Advent and approach Christmas. Every family has its own traditions. Every congregation has its traditions. In the end, every tradition we observe and uphold should help us confess the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.    In the opening article of the Lutheran Witness, our synod president, Matthew Harrison, reminded readers that tradition is a Scriptural idea, taught in both the Gospels and the Epistles.   St. Luke wrote, Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4)   The idea here is that Luke would “Deliver” or pass down what he received to others.   Or as the St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.   For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)   The use of the word “delivered” here is rooted in the Greek word for tradition, so St. Paul is truly saying, “For I gave to you, the tradition of what I received.”   And this is none other than the tradition of passing down and sharing the story and good news of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.    But we don’t think of words being passed down from one generation to another in the same way we think of Grandma’s sugar cookies at Christmas, the trimming of the Christmas tree, or the family games played around the table on Christmas Day. We tend to see tradition as things we do.   The Lutheran Confessions address the idea of traditions, the things we do, too, by saying, Our churches teach that ceremonies ought to be observed that may be observed without sin. Also, ceremonies and other practices that are profitable for tranquility and good order in the Church (in particular, holy days, festivals, and the like) ought to be observed.[1]   From this, the traditions and ceremonies of the Church, such as the pastor wearing robes, lighting candles, making the sign of the cross, Gospel processions, and celebrating the festival of Christmas, are all for the good of the Church. There’s nothing wrong with them.   So, what does any of this have to do with today?   Well, there’s a tradition during the season of Advent that we’ve usually just accepted without knowing the story behind it, and that is the rose-colored candle in the Advent wreath. The rose-colored candle represents the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday.   Gaudete comes from the Latin word for “Rejoice!”   Soon, the Sunday School choir will sing the musical piece Gaudete. While it’s a sacred Christmas carol written in Latin, it is believed to have actually been composed around the 16th century as part of a Finnish or Swedish collection of songs. It’s not as old as one might have believed.   But getting back to that rose-colored candle and the history of Gaudete Sunday. The season of Advent originally began around the 5th century as early as November 11th, when it was known as St. Martin’s Lent. No, this was not for Martin Luther; it was for St. Martin of Tours, a Soldier turned pastor, known for his generous heart and love of Christ.   It was around the ninth century when the season of Advent was shortened to the current four weeks, and with this shorter season, Gaudete Sunday occurs in the third week to reflect that we are now more than halfway through the penitential season, it provided a brief reprieve from the traditions and discipline of increased fasting, prayer, and alms giving.    You see, Advent didn’t used to be as commercialized as it is today; it has long been a penitential season, much like Lent. But over time, the world has snuffed out the penitential aspect of Advent to get a jump-start on the Christmas festivities. In light of this, Gaudete Sunday has lost some of its importance. There’s no need to have a respite from the toils of a penitential season if all you are doing is partying and rejoicing already.   In a fascinating way, while the church is adorned with the tradition of an Advent wreath to help us mark time and properly prepare our hearts for the coming of our Savior, do we keep this tradition correctly so that we might stay focused and receive Christ’s coming properly?    Or do we permit the more recent traditions of the world to imprison us with “parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling in the snow?”   You see, the season of Advent, like Lent, is a time set aside for Christians to examine what sins and tribulations of life have imprisoned them (You).   What’s interesting about the Gospel reading today is that while John the Baptist is in a physical prison, his disciples might find themselves in a mental and spiritual prison of sorts. They have followed John the Baptist and heard his teaching about the coming of the Messiah, but now their excitement likely turned to disappointment because John the Baptist, their leader, is in captivity and will die soon.   So, from his prison cell, John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus. Some believe this is because John’s faith had weakened or that doubts began to arise in his mind about Jesus. Still, I’ve joined those theologians who see this event as John the Baptist, not seeking his own confirmation of who Jesus is; he knows who He is but continues to point his disciples, who are in a weakened state, to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who will go to the cross to take away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)   And I believe John the Baptist knew his disciples would need this lesson, so they might seek the comfort of Jesus as they approach their time of mourning and sadness, the day when John the Baptist would be beheaded.   So, what has imprisoned you this year?   Has the tinsel of the season blinded you and caused you to lose sight of your Savior? Has an illness hindered your ability to walk and serve your neighbors? Has cancer made you feel like a leper, cut off emotionally and physically from friends and family? Have you noticed yourself drifting away and ignoring Jesus’ voice and words? Has depression and anxiety made you feel poor and dead inside?    If so, the words Jesus spoke to the disciples of John the Baptist are for you, too.     Jesus said to them, Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (Matthew 11:4-5)   This is what the traditions of Holy Scripture do when they are handed down correctly: they deliver the Good News of Jesus Christ to those imprisoned, whether by ailment or sin. The Good News of Jesus grants you forgiveness of sin and raises you to new life, eternal life.    This is why the traditions of the Church, such as those observed during Advent, include acts like penitential self-examination and confession, as well as the simple details of the Advent wreath that mark the passage of time, preparing you for the coming of your Savior on the last day. The day when you are not only raised out of sin but also out of the grave, the day when you shall join the heavenly choir, rejoicing eternally.    For this reason, the lessons of John the Baptist, like the traditions of the Church today, must always point you to your Savior, Jesus Christ. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI       www.goodsheptomah.org       [1] Paul Timothy McCain, ed., Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2005), 39.

On this podcast, we get to know another family of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Dave and Barb Scardino!   Please take a listen and learn how they moved to Tomah and became members at Good Shepherd over thirty years ago!   www.GoodShepTomah.org  

Advent 2 – Midweek December 10, 2025 Matthew 1:18-25   When you were born, God gave you the ability to understand life’s matters. When you were young, you didn't use this ability well; it needed to be developed. Therefore, God placed adults in your life to help you learn how to think clearly in your daily life.   Reason is the ability or capacity to use logical thinking and draw conclusions from existing information.   In our second reading this evening, Joseph used his reason to conclude that the woman he was betrothed to, Mary, was pregnant through sin and a relationship with another man.     It’s not hard to see how he would arrive at this conclusion if he had not yet slept with Mary.   But here God intercedes for the sake of salvation. He sends His angel to Joseph in a dream, and like when the angel Gabriel visited Mary, the angel says, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear.”   If you think about it, even before the angel appeared, Joseph was probably full of fear. What was his family and friends going to think of him now that Mary was pregnant and not by him? Would he be shunned? Would he be an outcast? Would he be looked down upon?   Could he not lead a household?   But at the core of the angel’s message is the reality that man cannot understand the ways of God apart from Him and His Word.   Now, just as the experience Mary had with the angel is beyond human understanding, God uses His messengers to begin revealing the meaning behind these events that first Advent, as he says, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”   The first part of the angel’s greeting connects Joseph, the baby in Mary’s womb, and his lineage with the line of David. This is important because it fulfills the prophecy spoken to David in our first reading this evening, as we heard, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.” (2 Samuel 7:12)    This prophecy will take time to be fulfilled, but it begins to find fulfillment in the womb of Mary, where the offspring, Jesus, now resides.   But the second part of the angel’s message conveys the origin of the Christ child, that He has no human father. That through the work of the Holy Spirit, sent by the heavenly Father, the child was conceived.                  Again, this was difficult for Joseph to reason and rationalize.   However, the way to understanding the birth of Jesus begins with the source of the child’s conception, the Holy Spirit.   Likewise, you received a new birth from above when the Holy Spirit came upon you in the font of Holy Baptism and ignited faith within your heart. This faith continues to be revealed through God’s Word, and in this Word, human reason is brought into submission because God’s ways are not the ways of man.   As the prophet Isaiah wrote,             For my thoughts are not your thoughts,                         neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.             For as the heavens are higher than the earth,                         so are my ways higher than your ways                         and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)   In a glorious and comforting way, you are not tasked with reasoning or rationalizing the will of God. Instead, you are to be as Joseph and receive the messenger and Word of God as it is spoken to you. Through this word, permit the Holy Spirit to create faith within you and lead you through the trials and unknowns of life, faithfully trusting Jesus, who came in the womb of the Virgin Mary to redeem you upon the cross.   And look, faith can be difficult at different times in life, but as we read in the book of Hebrews, remember, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)   But as Martin Luther wrote, One of the noblest and most precious virtues of faith is to close one’s eyes to this, ingenuously to desist from exploring the why and the wherefore, and cheerfully to leave everything to God. Faith does not insist on knowing the reason for God’s actions, but it still regards God as the greatest goodness and mercy. Faith holds to that against and beyond all reason, sense, and experience, when everything appears to be wrath and injustice (AE 43:52).   What a marvelous gift!   If you are going through a difficult or uncertain time in life, resist the urge to weigh your heart down with trying to reason and rationalize this period. Instead, learn from Joseph to rise and put your faith and trust in God’s words, entrusting Him to care for you today and always.    Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI

Advent 2 December 7, 2025 Luke 21:25-36     In preparation for this Sunday, I revisited and reread Martin Luther’s sermon for the second Sunday in Advent, and in it, you hear a message about how God uses nature to tell the story of the end times— the end of days, the end of this life, and the end of this earth.   This story of the end days is described in the Gospel as Jesus said, And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.   And then a few verses later, Jesus says, Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.   In a beautiful way, God’s creation is always the teacher, whether through disaster or new life, guiding you to prepare for the arrival of His kingdom.    But how often do you observe its lessons?   How often do you see eclipses of the moon or shooting stars and think, “God is coming?”   How often do you hear of hurricanes tossing waves to and fro, destroying anything in their path, and think, “God is coming?”   How often do snowstorms trap you in your homes and think, “God is coming?”   How often does a budding leaf in the warmth of spring stop you to ponder and think, “God is coming?”   God’s creation is always telling and preparing you for His return.   And in this way, it’s the darknesses that descend upon your life, the tossing waves of trials and tribulations, the coldness of your hearts that often keep you bent over and looking down, so you cannot see the budding fig leaf of spring, telling you summer is near.    New life is near.   Christ is near.   Every Advent, I like to reread the book, God is in the Manger, which includes excerpts from the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In one of his devotions from this past week, he wrote,  Let’s not deceive ourselves, ‘Your redemption is drawing near’ (Luke 21:28), whether we know it or not, and the only question is: Are we going to let it come to us too, or are we going to resist it? Are we going to join in this movement that comes down from heaven to earth, or are we going to close ourselves off? Christmas is coming – whether it is with us or without us depends on each and every one of us.   The question Bonhoeffer poses is, are you going to permit Christ to come to you, or are you going to ignore the signs that you need a Savior and close your heart to Him?   Jesus says, “Your redemption is drawing near.”   And this is what the Advent season prepares you for: like the changing seasons of this world, Advent prepares you not only for Jesus’ birth but also for His coming again on the last day, the day when He will gather you into His eternal presence.    So, how do you prepare for the coming of Jesus? You do as Jesus instructs, “Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is near.”   These words should be understood in the context of the fig tree sprouting leaves and summer approaching. It signifies that the old, dying life is cast aside so the new man can emerge.   Or through the lens of Holy Baptism, the Old Adam is drowned along with all his sins so that a new man might arise, and this occurs through Confession and Absolution.   This can also be seen in a Christian’s posture. In some traditions, a Christian continues to kneel for Confession and Absolution. They kneel to confess their sins in humility, which demonstrates how sin burdens the heart of man. But after receiving the absolution, the forgiveness of sins, they rise to new life because they see the nearness of their Savior as they hear His voice in His Word or approach this rail to receive His flesh and blood.   Reflect on how Martin Luther also teaches this truth in the Small Catechism and how the Christian should arise each morning; he says you should make the sign of the cross to remember your Baptism, that drowning of the Old Adam and the raising of the new man, then pray the Morning Prayer like we do at the beginning of Sunday School and then conclude with the Lord’s Prayer before going about your tasks.   Remember, in the Lord’s Prayer, you pray, “Thy kingdom come.” With these words, you are always asking for Jesus to come with His grace and mercy.   But how often do you give attention to what you are asking for when you speak these prayers?   When you follow this Lutheran practice of prayer in the morning, you not only use your words but also your entire body, which was burdened by sin and needed sleep, to rise from bed to embrace the new life of the new day.    But of course, you must also pay attention and be aware of how the darkness of each night yields to the rising sun of each new day, how the slumber from the past night’s sleep gives way to the sounds of the new morning. And how your first words of each new day either confess the life of a curmudgeon or the joy of one who looks to the coming Savior who has protected you through the most dangerous part of your life, the time of night, the time while you sleep unaware.   In a marvelous way, every aspect of God’s creation and this life is a reminder of the coming of Jesus.   Look, the Gospel readings for Advent can be startling to many because the world has convinced you that it’s already Christmas, but it’s not. Christmas lasts twelve days, starting December 25th. It’s not time yet.   It’s Advent now, a season of longing and preparation. The readings remind you to look around, observe the fallen world, and see how creation is telling you that God is coming, see the signs of cosmic events and the storms in your own life. Learn again to confess your sins, because only then will you be ready for the coming of Christ.     As we come to a close today, I want to share the final part of Bonhoeffer’s meditation. He wrote,   Such a true Advent happening now creates something different from the anxious, petty, depressed, feeble Christian spirit that we see again and again, and that again and again wants to make Christianity contemptible. This becomes clear from the two powerful commands that introduce our text: “Look up and raise your heads’’ (Luke 21:28). Advent creates people, new people. We too are supposed to become new people in Advent. Look up, you whose gaze is fixed on this earth, who are spellbound by the little events and changes on the face of the earth. Look up to these words, you who have turned away from heaven disappointed. Look up, you whose eyes are heavy with tears and who are heavy and who are crying over the fact that the earth has gracelessly torn us away. Look up, you who, burdened with guilt, cannot lift your eyes. Look up, your redemption is drawing near. Something different from what you see daily will happen. Just be aware, be watchful, wait just another short moment. Wait and something quite new will break over you: God will come.”   And He does come; He comes to you here, around this altar.   So come on bended knee and then arise to new life, to the redemption found in Jesus Christ.   My friends, as you look forward to the coming of the Christ child in the manger this Advent, see Him also on the cross, and then see how the happenings of daily life and the world are reminders for you to “Straighten up and raise your heads, because your Savior [is near].” +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   Good Shepherd Website: www.goodsheptomah.org Donate and Support Good Shepherd: https://www.goodsheptomah.org/donate 

Advent Midweek 1 – The Angel Gabriel December 3, 2025 Luke 1:26-38   As we begin our Wednesday evening services this year, the theme will be the Angels of Advent.   Now, to begin, we need to remember who angels are. Throughout the Scriptures, angels are spiritual beings; they are warriors, and they often pray for man. As Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew, they see His Father’s face and do His will.  Angels are not to be trifled with.   But the most basic definition of the word “angel” is “messenger.” Angels are messengers of God who bring His news to mankind.   While we meditate on the Angels of Advent over the next three weeks, only one of these angels will have a name, and that is tonight – Gabriel the archangel.    It’s also interesting that, while Michael, the other known archangel, is mentioned throughout the Scriptures, Gabriel is the one sent to announce both the conception of John the Baptist and Jesus.   Now, meditating on Gabriel’s message tonight, let’s begin with how he was received by Mary. As Gabriel arrived, the text said she was troubled by him and his words. After all, in our hymn we sang, “The angel Gabriel from heaven came, with wings as drifted snow, with eyes as flame.”   There’s an image for you, and not one easily discerned.   But the angel Gabriel perceives Mary’s fears, which is why he tells her, “Do not be afraid, Mary.”   The word “afraid” here originates from the Greek φοβος; you might hear in the background the word “phobia,” which means fear or terror.   What has your heart filled with fear and terror this Advent?   What kind of news or messages have sunk your heart in depression, filled you with dread and anxiety, and caused you terrors throughout the night?   Do you worry about your children and their faith? Have you been laid off? Did a doctor deliver the news, the news you feared, that you have cancer or another life-altering diagnosis?   This, of course, leads to the questions of a racing mind.   Will my children receive eternal life? How will I pay the bills or buy Christmas presents? Will the cancer or ailment consuming my flesh take my life?   Mary was told by the angel Gabriel as she was filled with fear, “Do not be afraid.”   This is the angel’s message for you, no matter your fears: “Do not be afraid.”   Why? Because God is with you, Christ is with you.   You see, the angel Gabriel’s entire message fulfills Old Testament prophecy, beginning with Genesis 3, as God the Father promises Eve an offspring who will come to defeat the Devil and the sin they brought into this world.   But this prophecy is also mentioned in our first reading tonight from Isaiah, as he wrote, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)   And this text from Isaiah really gets to the heart of Gabriel’s message to Mary, she is going to bear a Son, Jesus, the One whose name will be Immanuel, which means God with us.   In a very physical way, Immanuel takes His place within the womb of Mary. He is God with her, and one of the messages of the Advent season is that Immanuel is God with you in the midst of the darkness of your fears.   And this should be your prayer throughout the troubles of life, for the only Son of God to abide with you.   In fact, as we began the service tonight, our words and actions remind us of this truth as the candle entered this darkened sanctuary, and we sang…   “Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, the light no darkness can overcome.”   “Stay with us, [abide with us] Lord, for it is evening, and the day is almost over.”   “Let your light scatter the darkness and illumine Your Church.”   Remember these words and pray them when darkness in life surrounds you, when fear and terror grip your heart. Then recall how your Savior came to you through the waters of Holy Baptism. Remember how the light of His Word enters your ears just as it was brought into this sanctuary tonight and dwells in your heart. Remember how His flesh and blood have been placed upon your lips and how your Savior remains with you, even now.    Remember this... because when darkness falls upon you, Jesus is your light. He is your Immanuel; He is God with you.   This is the angel Gabriel’s message for Mary, and it is His word for you. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

First Sunday in Advent November 30, 2025 Jeremiah 23:5-8 & Matthew 21:1-9   The lights sparkling on the homes around Tomah signal that Christmas is coming.    The number of emails you’re receiving is a warning to you that Christmas is coming.   The change in music on the radio alerts you that Christmas is coming.   The colors adorning the altar, the candles in the wreath, all announce, Christmas is coming.   But it’s not here yet.   It’s hard for us to understand because we live in a world that rushes everything. We’re in a rush to grow up, to get to the store, and to jump into relationships and the gifts that come with marriage before the vows have been said…   However, today we begin the season of Advent, a time for slowing down, prayer, and meditation. To review, the word Advent means “to come.”   The Old Testament reading from Jeremiah provides the well-known prophecy of God the Father raising a righteous branch, Jeremiah wrote,   Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’  (Jeremiah 23:5-6)   Then two verses later, Jeremiah says again,   Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23:7-8)   The thing about prophecies is that they are always looking forward; they focus on what is to come. As Paul wrote to the Colossians, “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:17)   The words of Jeremiah are a shadow of what will come, namely, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, born to the Virgin Mary in the little town of Bethlehem. He is the righteous branch, who will take the curse of sin and death, your sin and death, to the tree of the cross, so from it, His righteousness, His forgiveness might be extended and declared upon you.   In a way, the Christian is always hesitantly and slowly walking in the shadows of the cross; the cross guides you through this life, including the sadness you feel, the grief you experience, the anger filling your heart, the disappointment with family and friends, and the sense of abandonment.   While these instances are all emotions you feel, they are also the shadows surrounding you; they are the crosses you bear.   However, like the people of Israel, you lack patience as these crosses weigh on you. Israel was never patient. They wanted to save themselves. So you try to save yourself by taking the burdens of life into your own hands.    But if you reflect on the Old Testament readings today, the cross of Jesus is ultimately what will lead the offspring of Israel to dwell in their own land, the land of milk and honey, the new heaven and the new earth, paradise.   Yet, those who lined the streets that first Palm Sunday did not truly understand the prophecies of God; instead, they sought an earthly king, an earthly kingdom. This Jesus, the Messiah, was to come and fulfill their prayers and petitions of Hosanna, now, to save them from their earthly oppressors in a rather immediate manner.   Like you, they wanted to see instant gratification. They wanted instant relief. But can you rush God? Can you make Him work on your timeframe?   Looking back at Scriptures, the fulfillment of prophecies rarely happened instantly. This serves as a good reminder and lesson today, as the world rushes into Christmas without taking time to prepare for Christ’s coming and its true meaning. Christians learn and relearn the discipline of patience, and how prayer strengthens your faith to wait on the coming of Jesus Christ.    This is why we started the Divine Service today by prayerfully reciting the Litany. This historic prayer, which often replaces the Prayer of the Church because of its length, dates back to the fifth century. Martin Luther appreciated it so much that he created two different versions. Recently, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has highlighted the importance of praying the Litany not only during the Divine Service but also at home.   Why?   Because this lengthy prayer helps us learn to pray and petition God to have mercy on us, it teaches us patience, which is invaluable during a season of the year when patience is seldom found.   It also teaches dependence.   For this reason, just as the true exercise of the Advent season is countercultural, the slowness to decorate, the wait to set up a tree, or fill its trunk with presents, also makes a life of prayer countercultural.    But your prayers are the expression of a faith placed in Jesus Christ, who comes to redeem the world from sin and death. Which if you take a step back and listen to the words of the liturgy and the Divine Service, it’s one long exercise of prayer petitioning God to come to us, to lead us, and bring us into His eternal presence.   Just listen to the words we will pray as we prepare to receive the flesh and blood of Jesus in a few minutes, and I will speak the words, “As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” And you respond, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”   And He is coming, but not in the way the world expects Christmas to approach. Instead, He’s coming through His Word, at this rail in the Sacrament of the Altar, where He gathers you with the whole company of heaven, and on the last day, to gather you, His Israel, His Church, to dwell with Him in the land He has prepared for you, forever.    What a glorious celebration this shall be.   Isn’t this something? The whole exercise of the Christian life is looking forward to the end, to the coming of Christ.   Yes, Christmas is coming, but it’s not here yet. Instead, this is the time to learn the discipline of faithful patience, to pray for Christ’s coming to His people. Let us remain focused on this Advent season so we might rightly take to heart how the liturgy of prayer prepares you for your Savior’s arrival. +INJ+   www.goodsheptomah.org    Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI

Thanksgiving (Observed) November 26, 2025 Luke 17:11-19   In preparation for this week, we recently watched a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in our house. It’s a classic, isn’t it?   You got Peppermint Patty inviting herself and others over to Charlie Brown’s for dinner.   Charlie Brown goes with the flow, being a good friend, and even though he has family plans to visit Grandma, he still tries to host his friends.   Who does that?   Amid everything, Charlie Brown enlists Snoopy’s help in preparing the meal.    Then, of course, there’s the scene where they all sit down around the Ping-Pong table to unknowingly enjoy a feast of popcorn, candy, and buttered toast prepared by Snoopy and Woodstock, the little yellow bird. (This is the part that gets the children laughing hysterically. What child wouldn’t want candy and popcorn for dinner?)   But this is also when Peppermint Patty’s expectations for a perfect Thanksgiving meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing weren’t fulfilled. Peppermint Patty boils over, and her anger rises to the surface.   But look, she invited herself over, invited others without asking, set her own expectations for Thanksgiving, and then threw a temper tantrum when things didn’t go as she had thought they would.    In a way, there are parts of this story that you can all relate to at Thanksgiving, aren’t there?   The uninvited guests, the failure to achieve the perfect holiday, opinions on what food should or should not be served, the minefield, and arguments between family and friends.    Honesty, when Thanksgiving is presented like this, who wants it?   But isn’t this an image of your lives?   A challenge is how you handle unfulfilled expectations, not only today, but throughout life: do you lash out, yell, and scream, or do you learn to call out to God for His mercy, for His peace and forgiveness, His patience?   Look at the Ten Lepers in the Gospel this evening. The disease that covers their skin has not only rendered them unclean, but it’s also forced them to live apart from their family; there’s no holiday or feasting for them, just a realization they cannot help, nor heal themselves, as they dwell in isolation.   The only thing these lepers can do is cry out for mercy, and that is exactly what they do when they see Jesus; they cry out with every ounce of their hoarse voices, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”   Interestingly, here, all ten lepers call out together, “Have mercy on us.” They see themselves as a collective community in their misery.   This is interesting because of the widespread American belief that the family’s togetherness is the main focus of Thanksgiving, even though we live as individuals the rest of the year.    Peppermint Patty confesses this idea after recovering from her meltdown, that what’s most important is spending time with friends and family.   Spending time with family and friends is good; it’s actually a gift from your Father in heaven.   But as you look at these Lepers, only one of them now returned to thank Jesus for the gift of being cleansed, forgiven, and returned to his family.   A Samaritan.   Someone who wasn’t even seen as a friend, much less a member of the family of Israel. Yet, he gets it and returns to Jesus to give Him thanks for the mercy, forgiveness, and new life he received in the Words of Jesus.   This is important because the Leper can now reunite with his family, eat and break bread with them, drink from the same cup, and be part of fellowship and community.    This is pretty cool.   Many of us have separated ourselves not only from our families but also from each other due to the leprosy of sin that goes well below the skin and penetrates the heart. We boil over when family and friends invite themselves over, we get upset when the menu for the big dinner isn’t just right, and we struggle to navigate the emotional landmines planted between us and by us during these days of family gatherings.     In light of this, we must once again learn to confess the leprosy of sin and to stop being individuals; instead, we must call out to God for mercy, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”   In a way, this reflects what we do as we will soon sing the words of the Sanctus. We sing as a family, “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the Son of David,” and in this way, we pray to be saved, we ask for God’s mercy, to be cleansed, and forgiven of all our sins.   And then approach this rail on bended knee to receive the greatest meal of Thanksgiving in the flesh and blood of your Savior Jesus Christ.   In fact, throughout many parts of the Scriptures and the history of the Church, this meal, the Lord’s Supper, is called the Eucharist or εὐχαριστέω, which means “to give thanks.” Because of this, it’s the greatest Thanksgiving meal you could receive, as through it, you share in the meal of God’s eternal family, where you receive the bread of Christ’s body and drink from the one cup of His blood for the forgiveness of sin.    What a gift it is to be members of this eternal family of God.   Remember this if things do not go as planned over the next couple of days, if your Thanksgiving does not live up to expectations, the meal just isn’t right, or you’re overwhelmed by the conflict and strife that has existed between you and others.   Don’t be overwhelmed, but call out to Jesus when things begin to spiral and say with your fellow Lepers, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on me.”   And then return to Him and thank Him for dying on the cross to cleanse you of your sin, to grant you His mercy, and to make you members of His eternal family. +INJ+     Pastor Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI

Trinity 26 November 16, 2025 Matthew 25:31-46     Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.     We have firmly entered the final Sundays of the Church year. Just like last week, this week, and next, stay focused on the end times, the day of Christ’s second Advent, His return.    Our Gospel today began with these words, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”   Luther remarked regarding the second coming this way: “He will then not be bedded in the manger, nor ride on an ass, as He did in His first advent, but burst forth from the clouds in great power and glory.”[1]   This is a transcending image.   But it also raises the question: Do we regularly reflect and ponder these words of Jesus from the Gospel?   Honestly, if you are like me, you probably find it hard to stay focused on anything these days, especially the words we recite week after week, for many reasons. One reason is that our attention span keeps getting shorter every day. While technology can be helpful, it can also hinder our ability to concentrate on a single task. That’s why many now think public speakers should limit their talks to 18-20 minutes, so their message is fully understood. Some online platforms that share thought-provoking content, like TED Talks, try to keep their presentations within these time limits. I’ve had a cartoon on my office door in the past showing a congregation half asleep. The caption says, “There is a fine line between a long sermon and a hostage situation.”    Whether it’s true that goldfish now have a longer attention span than humans, the truth is that we are easily distracted and lack the patience needed to wait for the Lord's coming.    Except that’s precisely what the confession of the Creed invites and calls us to do daily as we will soon recite the words of the Nicene Creed, “And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.”[2]   But why is it so crucial for us to remain watchful for the second coming of Christ?   Because if you do not patiently stay watchful, you risk falling away from the Christian faith. In this context, staying alert means exercising your faith, confessing it with your words, and making sure you remain within the sheepfold. For those who do not practice this faith, their awareness of Christ’s return fades, they become less vigilant, and they are as cold as a log separated from the burning fire. As a result, they are now at great risk of falling away, like the goats in today’s Gospel.    Another reason we’re called to be watchful about preventing our faith from drifting comes from our Epistle today, as Peter wrote,  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.   Did you catch these words, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”   This leads us to the sheep and the goats…   We often find ourselves acting like goats—independent and stubborn people who may attend church, even appearing similar to sheep, but lack patience for the Gospel. Unfortunately, the goats do not understand or appreciate God’s patience and the ways He is giving you time to turn to repentance.   But the sheep are those who flock together. They know their Shepherd’s voice, they follow Him, and have taken the Psalmists’ words to heart,               I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,                         and in his word I hope;             my soul waits for the Lord                         more than watchmen for the morning,                         more than watchmen for the morning. (Psalm 130:5-6)   To be watchmen implies one is vigilant and prepared. They have not fallen asleep but continue to watch over the city, even in the waning hours of the night.   And that is what the pastoral office is called to do: keep watch over you. To speak to you the words of the law, but also the words of the Gospel. Here, however, one must ask oneself, are you humble enough to see yourself as a goat, so that you might confess your sins and be received as a sheep?   The pastoral office is established by Christ Jesus Himself to care for His sheep. And Jesus emphasizes that how you receive those whom He has sent and the words they speak to you are important. He says, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”   Yes, you probably haven’t seen me, your pastor, needing a drink of water, nor have you needed to clothe me or visit me in prison. But where was Jesus hungry, thirsty, naked, imprisoned, and weak?   On the cross.   And ultimately, this is where your life leads you: to where Jesus bore the judgment of sin for you. As He called out, “It is finished,” He declared His victory over sin, death, and the Evil One.   Yet, as you live in this world, this unholy trinity of sin, death, and the Devil continues to distract your thoughts and words. They strive to silence your confession and vigilance, so you won't be ready for the day of the Lord. This is why you must exercise your faith that through the work of the Holy Spirit, you will be made ready and kept faithful in thought, word, and deed.   It all begins with confession and absolution. Every time you gather and confess your sins, you exercise your trust and faith in Christ Jesus to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. You approach the judgment seat of God and stand before your heavenly Father and admit that you have not kept His law. You have acted like stubborn and rambunctious goats toward the gifts you freely receive. And you know what? As the Father looks upon you, He sees His Son’s death on the cross for you and renders His judgment: not guilty (Forgiven).   This is the pattern of faith you must continue to exercise throughout your lives as you strive to remain vigilant for the day of Christ Jesus’ second coming. It’s a pattern of calling upon Jesus for forgiveness, a way of waiting and watching, and a life that has hope in His Word.   The Lutheran Theologian Albrecht Peters wrote regarding the second coming of Christ, For this reason, true Christians must tirelessly beseech their Lord to return, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; with heads held high, they are to run as fast as possible toward that day of judgment (Luke 21:28), which even Christ Himself describes as our redemption, “that is, not death, but eternal life, no wrath, but pure grace, no hell, but the kingdom of heaven, neither terror nor danger, but pure comfort and joy.” (Creed, pg. 202)   Aren’t these words wonderful? While the word judgment often causes us discomfort, here, Albrecht Peter encourages Christians to look forward to the day of judgment because you are God’s saints. You are His children. And He provides you all with the words to beseech Him, to exercise your faith daily, and to wait patiently as you pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come.”    So, how do you exercise your faith and remain vigilant for the Lord's return? By praying, by speaking the words Jesus has given to you in the Lord's Prayer. These words are your petitions for all that is needed within this life: for your Lord’s kingdom to come, for His will to be done here within your lives today, for you to receive your daily bread with thanksgiving, for your sins to be forgiven as you forgive those who sin against you, for you to be kept from temptation and at last, delivered from the evil one.    Through these words like those of the Creed and of Confession and Absolution, you are given the faith needed to keep watch throughout the days of life, your hearts are turned to Christ’s second coming, and with eagerness, you await the day, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, [the day when] He will sit on the throne of His glory.”   And to you, He will say, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” +INJ+     The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI         [1] Pieper, F. (1953). Christian Dogmatics (electronic ed., Vol. 3, p. 516). St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House. [2] McCain, P. T. (Ed.). (2005). Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (p. 16). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

All Saints Day (Observed) November 2, 2025 Revelation 7:9-17       If you visit my mother-in-law’s house, you'll be greeted by a family tree that dates back over a hundred years. On one wall of the home, the names and dates of each person are carefully and meticulously written beside their photograph. The dates of birth and death are inscribed. The children from each marriage naturally branch out, along with all the vital information about their lives, captured and documented in the family history.   This journey into ancestry is not only a testament of love for family, but it also narrates the family story. It ensures no one in this long Lutheran heritage is forgotten. In a way, this family tree serves as a reminder of God’s faithful saints who now rest from the toils and labors of this earthly life.    I’m unsure how many of us try to remember, or even know, the story of our family’s long history: where they came from, where they lived, what they did for a living, what they believed, and how the Christian faith passed down to them the story of Jesus and provided the assurance of eternal life.    Despite all the technological advances in genealogy, it really seems that the learning of family heritage is fading with each passing generation.    While on vicarage in Palo Alto, CA, I was told one of the saddest quotes I had ever heard. The psychiatrist Irvin Yalon wrote,   Some day soon, perhaps in forty years, there will be no one alive who has ever known me. That’s when I will be truly dead - when I exist in no one’s memory. I thought a lot about how someone very old is the last living individual to have known some person or cluster of people. When that person dies, the whole cluster dies, too, vanishes from the living memory. I wonder who that person will be for me. Whose death will make me truly dead?” (Irvin D. Yalom, Love’s Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy)   No doubt, we ordinary people might never become famous; our names may never be recorded in a history book or included in college course lectures. Our likeness will never be carved into marble, granite, bronze, or steel. But does this mean the memory of your life will vanish with future generations? Will their deaths truly wipe away the memory of your life?    To be sure, this is an incredibly heavy thought to ponder. Will someone else’s death make you truly dead?   While much of the world may sympathize with this idea or even embrace it in the culture of death we live in, where assisted suicide has become legal in many places around the globe, the Christian must stand on God’s Word and respond with an emphatic “No.”    No, I will not die. But I will live in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   And we should join Job as he faithfully wrote,            Oh that my words were written!               Oh that they were inscribed in a book!        Oh that with an iron pen and lead               they were engraved in the rock forever!        For I know that my Redeemer lives,               and at the last he will stand upon the earth.        And after my skin has been thus destroyed,               yet in my flesh I shall see God,        whom I shall see for myself,               and my eyes shall behold, and not another. (Job 19:23-27a)   Jesus’ death did not end your existence; it did not erase your life or the memory of it. Instead, the new life given to you through Holy Baptism guarantees you will never be forgotten, but that your name would be inscribed with an iron pen into the book of life.    You have been made members of the choir immortal, washing your robes in the blood of the Lamb as you enter this sanctuary, confessing your sins and receiving your Father’s forgiveness. In this way, you are being delivered from the trials and tribulations of this present life and prepared to be released from the great tribulation of this earthly life on the last day.   This is the image John speaks of in our first reading from Revelation this morning, as he wrote. These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.   The blood of the Lamb, Jesus’ sacrificial death, ensures that you will never pass away, you will never cease to exist, and never become just a memory because you already live in and with your Savior.    Like the multitudes, those faithful Christians from your family tree who make up your heritage also live and now dwell before God’s throne. They find shelter in His presence. They no longer hunger or thirst. Nor do they experience hardship or pain. No, their Shepherd, your Shepherd, has led them to springs of living water.    The water of Holy Baptism has led them to eternity.   Similarly, the water of the font continues to lead you to follow the example of the saints who have gone before you, to give thanks for their lives and how God used them in His Church. As we remember those who rest with Jesus, we allow our faith to be strengthened as we reflect on the ways God was merciful and faithful to them. And finally, we strive to imitate their love for God and love for neighbor in and throughout our daily vocations.   Reflect on this and consider how the memory of God’s saints endures. It lives, and every time we gather here, the proper preface leads us to remember how God’s saints live with Him as the pastor sings, “Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify the Lord, evermore praising you and saying…”   Think about that, in this instance, heaven comes to earth and the voices of the church militant, those still living on this side of heaven, and the church triumphant, those already in the eternal presence of Jesus, are joined in one gloriously spectacular choir, singing to Jesus, the Lamb who sits upon His throne. The Lamb who dwells in our midst. The Lamb who wipes away your tears and brings an end to all sadness.   This is a heritage worth following, worth living, because it ensures, by the grace of God, that you are more than a memory, you are an everlasting saint, a child of God who shall never die, but live with Him forever. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI    

Reformation (Observed) October 26, 2025 John 8:31-36   What is truth?   Truth is understood as the opposite of what is false. However, in today's world, it is common for people to develop their own ideas of what is true and what is false.    We refer to this perspective as subjective truth because the individual acts as the judge of what is right and wrong.   The concept of subjective truth becomes clear when a child is confused about their sexuality, questioning whether they are a boy or a girl.    This discussion is settled not only by science, which has determined that there are only two sexes — male and female — but also by the Word of God, as we learn how our heavenly Father created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.   When considering the conception of life, is it simply a clump of cells or a human being growing and developing in the mother’s womb?   While science declares that there is truly human life from the moment of conception, scripture also affirms this truth: God creates life through the union of a man and a woman.   Interestingly, when we hear the word science, we think of chemistry sets and microscopes, but the origin of the word “science” comes from the Latin word “Scientia,” meaning knowledge or to know.   To know or to learn what?   What is to be true.   The great endeavor for truth can be heard in the words of Pontius Pilate as Jesus stood before him that first Good Friday.   Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”   There’s a lot packed into these verses.   First, Jesus says that the purpose He came into this world and took on human flesh — your flesh — was to bear witness to the truth. In other words, to confirm what is true. And for this reason, Jesus says that everyone who is in the truth listens to His voice.    You should hear in the back of your mind these words of Jesus, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)   Jesus is the truth, and He reveals through His voice the knowledge and wisdom that now leads you to eternal life.   So, for this reason, to be a disciple, a student of Jesus, begins with hearing His Word.    And we call this objective truth, because His Word does not change. Jesus does not change, as we learn from the book of Hebrews, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)   Now, as it’s Reformation Day, when you really think about it, on the surface, the Reformation started because the Roman Catholic Church took a subjective approach to interpreting Jesus’ words to serve its needs. The Pope became the only interpreter of Holy Scripture, thus undermining how Scripture interprets Scripture, how Scripture interprets itself, and not only establishes divine truth but also reveals it to you.    This was the reason Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Luther didn’t do this to create a new church; he did it because he wanted the church to return to the objective and unchanging divine truth of Jesus Christ, the One who went to the cross and died to set you free from sin, death, and the pesky devil.   Now, take a moment to reflect with me on the word “Reformation.”   At the heart of “Reformation” is the word “Form” or “Formation.”   But, to reform is not to look forward in this instance, but to look back. The “re” in reformation means to return to the original form or substance. One word that comes to mind in the Church is “redeem,” which means to buy back.   The use of “form” for reform should indicate a past similarity or state once experienced. Therefore, the goal of the Reformation is to return or restore the Church to its original resemblance or condition.    The point of the Reformation is to point and lead the Church —and you —back to Christ.   His Word is the only truth that will create faith, redeem you, and free you from the bondage and confusion of this earthly life.   This is the difference between true and false disciples of Jesus. False disciples hear His word, but Luther notes that they become like parrots, repeating the words of others; their hearts are not changed, and there is no faith in them.   In contrast, a true disciple listens to the Word of Christ, takes it to heart, allows it to transform who they are, and confesses it throughout their life.    This is what McKinsey will do today: she will confess the faith she knows to be true, the faith she has learned and received through the Word of God. She will confess that she won’t stop coming to church but will return as often as possible so that the Holy Spirit might continue to change and reform her heart into the likeness of Christ Jesus. She will confess the redeeming truth that Jesus Christ died upon the cross of Calvary to redeem her, a sinner.   In other words, she’s going to confess that she’s a Christian. Confessing her sins and her need for her Savior’s forgiveness.   Every time we gather in this sanctuary, we join her in confessing our sins and our need for redemption. In doing so, we confess our need for a Reformation of our hearts—that Christ would come, forgive us, and return us to the Baptismal identity we received at the font, becoming children of God.    Because this is how true freedom is received, through faith in Christ Jesus, who is the “Truth” that frees your restless hearts.   My friends, there are many Pontus Pilates in your lives, asking, “What is truth?” even encouraging you to become the judge and creator of your own truths. This is one of the great challenges of the culture that children like McKinsey are growing up in.   But if we understand that Confirmation is more than just a step on the journey of life, but part of ongoing maturity in the Christian faith, a time to learn more deeply how to confess the faith received at one’s Baptism, then we begin to see that Confirmation is really about a reformation of the human heart. It’s a time to return to the cross and confess your sins, so that you might come to know and confess the divine love of Jesus Christ.     A love that does not depend on you, but comes to you through the Word of Christ Jesus and in His flesh and blood, present for you here at this altar.   If spiritual doubts ever arise in your mind, or if the world feels overwhelming, return here — to where Christ Jesus has promised to be present for you. Hold fast to Him and never be ashamed of His Gospel, for it is the power and divine truth for salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)   So, listen to His voice, hold on to it, and believe. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity October 19, 2025 Matthew 22:34-46     Questions have been part of humanity since the beginning of time. The world’s chief doubter, Satan, asked the first question. The serpent said to the woman, Eve, “Did God actually say, you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1) Here, the trickery, deception, and leading away from the will of God by the serpent began.   It started with a question.   The result of Adam and Eve’s actions brought mankind into sin by disobeying the command of God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The question by Satan ultimately was a test of Adam and Eve’s faithfulness and obedience to God’s command, a test they failed.   Now, it is not wrong to ask questions. Quite the contrary, it is good to ask questions. Hang out with a child for more than a few minutes, and you'll get more than a few questions.   "What does that word mean?”   “When’s lunch?”   “Are we there yet?”   Questions, of course, come in many forms; most often, they seek to gather information and knowledge, but they are also used to test the respondent. The question posed by the Pharisees in today’s Gospel was meant to trap Jesus, and not in a good way. They weren’t genuinely interested in learning about the commandments, God’s will, or the kingdom of God. The Pharisees were insincere in asking, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” They hoped to catch Jesus off guard.    Yet, Jesus answers their question by quoting the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.” This means they are to love God in a way that reaches the core of who they are. This love encompasses every part of their being—heart, soul, and mind. To expand on that, their heart should always be turned toward God and His Word; the soul represents the life of a person, which should be focused on God and His will every year, day, hour, and minute. The mind is the seat of intellect and reason, along with all of a person's senses. Together, the whole person should always depend on and be focused on God.    However, the Pharisees were not interested in learning what the great commandment was, any more than being dependent upon God or loving God.   Just as Satan tested and tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden, so these Pharisees set out to test and tempt Jesus. As in the world today, these Pharisees were not interested in the will of God; they were more interested in how to wash their hands, what they were to wear, and how their own works would achieve righteousness or good in their lives. In this way, they would never truly love God with all their heart, soul, or mind. In turn, they would never truly be able to “love their neighbor as themselves.” All because their life was focused on their works and their own wills.   How do you ask questions of God? Do you ask to test God? Or do you ask to learn the will of God?   Martin Luther, in his wisdom, laid out the Small Catechism in a question-and-answer format. He keeps things simple, so the head of a household may teach the children and family the will of God plainly. In the Ten Commandments, you are taught that there are two tables of the Law. Jesus summarizes the two tables in today’s Gospel, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”    This is God's will for you.   However, the sinful nature you inherited from your first parents prevents you from doing good apart from Christ. You are unable to love God as you should, but instead create your own gods of this world. You become frustrated with your children, your spouse lets you down, and your neighbors abandon you. Moreover, you find yourself asking God, what is the love you command me to give? Why have you placed these people in my life?    God’s response to you, love your neighbor.   Paul writes in First Corinthians regarding the kind of love we are to have, saying,   “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”   However, we have not lived our lives in this manner for our neighbors no more than we have for God. Here we have sinned, and our recognition of our sin is a call to repentance. It is a call to look to Jesus with contrite hearts and faith that He will forgive you, as He is the seed promised to Eve in the Garden, the promised Son of David whom David will call Lord.   In the final question of today’s Gospel, Jesus flips the script on the Pharisees. He asks, “If David calls the Christ Lord, how is He his son?” The Pharisees were unable to respond, leaving the conversation in silence.    Dear friends, do not grow silent in your faith. When you are asked the question, “Who is the Christ?” what will you say? Especially when your closest neighbors ask you this? Your father or mother, your husband or wife, your child, or those who bring the most considerable harm against you?   Do not be silent, but confess and give answer for the faith you’ve learned from the simple questions laid out in the Small Catechism. Confess the faith anchored in the love of Jesus Christ, that He would die for you and your neighbors, in order that together you may receive forgiveness and the certainty of eternal life. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity October 12, 2025 Luke 14:1-11   As we observe LWML Sunday, I am reminded to reflect on our Thursday morning Bible study on the Pastoral Epistles. In the letters to Timothy, the Apostle Paul reminds him of the faith he received from the faithful women of his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, who taught him the Christian faith.   We learn here how the faith is handed down to God’s children throughout the ages. What a precious gift these women were to Timothy.   Who was instrumental in handing down the faith to you? Was it a mother or a grandmother? Or was there someone else who was instrumental in your life?   My guess is that whomever it was, one of the main reasons you are here today is because this individual brought you to church each Sunday.   Now, why is Sunday so important for the Christian faith? Wasn’t Saturday the seventh day of Creation, the day of rest?   It was, but move ahead to Holy Week and you’ll see how Jesus completes His salvific work of redemption and new creation on the cross on Good Friday. As the women, along with some disciples, removed His body from the cross and placed it in the tomb, Jesus rested from all His work—the work of saving you, of securing forgiveness and eternal life for you that Holy Saturday.    And so, after Jesus rested from His saving work on the cross, He rose again on the first day of the week, on Sunday. As an aside, the first person to see the risen Jesus was a woman, Mary Magdalene, as she exclaimed to the Apostles, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)   However, because of the resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter Sunday, the church now gathers on the first day of the week for Sabbath rest.   But what does the word Sabbath mean?   Luther defines the word, Sabbath in the Large Catechism, “To rest.”   In the Old Testament, the Third Commandment was given to the Jewish people to stop laborious work, allowing both man and beast to rest from their endless toil. But in the New Testament, this day shifts its focus toward resting the spirit and soul of man, finding peace and renewal in Christ. For this reason, Luther asks in the catechism, “What does it mean by keeping the [Sabbath] holy?” he says, “Nothing else than to be occupied with holy words, works, and life.”   So, how are you to be occupied with holy words, works, and life?   You come to the Divine Service to remember the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. You come to hear the Word of the Savior, and worship Him, to receive His forgiveness and a foretaste of the life to come.   This is a pattern of faith, the pattern of keeping the Sabbath that has been ingrained in many of us because it’s a faith handed down by a mother, grandmother, or family member.   But if we’re honest, this pattern of life was given to some of us with a little more of a heavy hand, wasn’t it?   Because of this heavy hand, attending church became more of a box to check for some, simply the fulfillment of a duty. And this use of the law isn’t always a bad thing; it can help us form the good habit of coming to church. However, if coming to Good Shepherd is seen as accomplishing something, as checking the box, then you have missed the whole point of remembering the Sabbath Day and keeping holy, or what the Sabbath of Christ is all about.   This is evident in our Gospel today, where the lawyers and Pharisees fail to understand the true meaning of the Sabbath. For them, the Sabbath is a work, tradition, and law to be done by them. It was not about God’s Word and receiving His mercy.   Jesus exposes this truth as He asks, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?”   What a sad situation, the lawyers and Pharisees just sat there, silent, hardening their hearts towards Jesus and His Word of mercy.    Do you do this when one of the readings convicts you of a particular sin in your life?   If you step back, you’ll see that one of the greatest gifts and reasons we come to this sanctuary and gather around this altar each Sunday is mercy. The gift of being rescued and pulled from the pit of death and despair.   But if you don’t properly understand the purpose of the Sabbath Day, then you become like the lawyers and Pharisees. As a result, you end up not acting out of love or possessing a joyful willingness when coming to church, but rather begrudgingly.    Furthermore, when the church becomes a task to be accomplished, pride begins to fill your heart, leading you to feel you have achieved something. You begin to take an unhealthy ownership of the Church and her practice; you begin to lord over the church.   But today you are reminded that one does not receive eternal life just by showing up on a Sunday morning; instead, one must be willing to humble oneself and take the lowest seat in the sanctuary so that Christ can invite them to come forward and sit next to Him.    This act of humility is exercised every week when you faithfully bow before Jesus and confess your sins, so the pastor can declare the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of your heavenly Father. Only through this absolution from God are you prepared and invited to come higher in the presence of the Lord to receive the foretaste of the wedding feast at this altar.    And all of this is a gift for you, won by Jesus through His death on the cross. A gift He now wants to give you, here, at this altar and in this sanctuary.   Think about that, who doesn’t want to receive a gift? And if you knew there was a gift waiting for you here each Sunday, would you not willingly want to run back here as quickly as you could?   You should, because this is about receiving the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness.   And this should alter how you see your need to attend church. You get to come here, to be with Jesus, to see Him, and hear His voice, and receive His flesh and blood for the forgiveness of sin.   In this way, the Church is like a nurturing woman, a mother who gives birth and calls her children to gather, to be formed in the love of Christ Jesus, and teaches the faith that leads to the wedding feast.   What a wonderful image and icon, not only for the ladies of the LWML to ponder on this LWML Sunday, but also for all of us who desire to serve as God’s servants in this life, building up and teaching the faith to the children of every age and pointing them to their Savior. +INJ+     Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org    

In this episode of the Shepherd's Voice, we sit down with Dillin and Deb Lafftery and learn how they came to Good Shepherd and why this church is important to them and their family. 

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity October 5, 2025 Luke 7:11-17   What an incredible sight this Gospel must have been, as the Lord of Life encountered a procession of death.   A widow and mother follow the bier that now carries her son’s body in procession to the grave. It’s a sorrowful journey, filled with many tears and an uncertain future.    The woman must have been asking, is this it? Is this all I’m left with, a slow walk to the grave?    In ancient times and throughout early Christian history, the funeral procession started at the deceased’s home and ended at the grave, usually a tomb or cave. Due to purification laws and health concerns, the body was taken outside the city.   Of course, this was before the rise of funeral homes and similar establishments. The cosmetics of dressing up a corpse or the removal of death from our lives reflect how we have commercialized the process today. Historically, families were responsible for caring for the body and preparing it for their loved one’s final resting place. This process, along with the journey to the grave, served as a way to mourn – it was part of the grieving process.    One thing that might seem unusual to us is that it was also common to hire professional mourners, people who would lead the procession in wailing and crying. When the mourners reached the tomb, prayers, Scripture readings, and hymns would be offered.   Another aspect of burial traditions in the early church was the celebration of the Eucharist, commonly referred to as the Lord’s Supper. In this way, it served as a family meal and a foretaste of heaven. The final step was to place the body in the grave with its feet pointing east, in hope and anticipation of Jesus’ return for the living and the dead.    But that wasn’t the end; it was tradition for the family to return on the third, ninth, and fortieth days after the burial, where family and friends would again sing hymns, read scripture, and offer prayers as they rejoiced in thanksgiving for Christ’s victory over death.   The third day represented Christ rising from the dead. The ninth symbolized fulfillment and judgment. The forty days served as a time of testing, trial, and completeness.    This description reflects an intention and a ritual that were not only present but also designed to facilitate the grieving process and affirm the resurrection of Jesus at the time of death.    And this is an important point for us to remember as we live in times when funerals have become less about ritual, less about grieving, and less about the Lord of Life.   So, how should we prepare for the Christian funeral today?    Well, Luther has a helpful insight regarding this matter. He says, A Christian is a person who begins to tread the way from this life to heaven the moment he is baptized, in the faith that Christ is henceforth the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And he holds to this way until his end. He is always found on this way and is led in the truth to obtain life, as one who already sees the shore where he is to land. He is prepared at all times, whether death comes today, tomorrow, or in one, two, or ten years; for in Christ he has already been transported to the other side. We cannot be safe from death for a minute; in Baptism all Christians begin to die, and they continue to die until they reach the grave.   If you step back, the funeral dirge of life and the confession of what is received in death begin the moment you’re baptized – it’s at this moment we begin to prepare for our funeral.   For this reason, baptism begins to influence not only your journey to the grave but also how you mourn.    Think about that for a moment…   The font of Holy Baptism becomes the ongoing battlefield of life and death. It involves confessing the sins that have consumed and isolated you in grief and sorrow. It includes confronting the fears of death that fill your mind as you endure ailments and aging. It also involves the struggle with Satan himself.    In Baptism, you die to this life and rise to new life in Christ. This reflects the pattern of the Christian life: confessing and drowning your sins in Christ’s death, so that you may rise with Him to new life and forgiveness.    With this understanding, you are not only exercising your faith every time you gather in this sanctuary, but you are also getting ready to die. I know you might not want to hear this, but you are preparing to die, and everyone around you is preparing to grieve.   Even the prayers before a death in Christ confess these truths.   The prayer for the Commendation of the Dying (commonly known as last rites) is as follows, Go in peace. May God the Father, who created you, may God the  Son, who redeemed and saved you with His blood, may God the Holy Spirit, who sanctified you in the water of Holy Baptism, receive you into the company of saints and angels to await the resurrection and live in the light of His glory forevermore.   How about this, the pastor prepares you for death by pointing you back to your Baptism, praying to God to receive you not because of your deeds on earth, but because of His Son’s death and resurrection.    As the pastor meets with the grieving family before the funeral, he prays, We give You thanks for all who have lived and died in the faith, especially for name, our dear sister. In this body You gave her life and poured out Your Holy Spirit when You washed her in the renewing waters of Holy Baptism. By the same Spirit You led her to confess with her mouth that Jesus is Lord and to believe in her heart that You have raised Christ from the dead.   Or, of course, as the casket is placed at the sanctuary’s entrance, next to the font at the beginning of the funeral service, and the funeral pall (symbolizing the white baptismal garment) is laid over the casket, the words of St. Paul are spoken. In Holy Baptism [name] was clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covered all his sin. St. Paul says: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?   And then the congregation responds by saying, We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.   For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:3-6)   Yes, a Christian understanding of death starts at the font. The waters that spring forth and abide with you through life’s trials, but also lead you to a foretaste of heaven here at this altar, and to the grave.   This is the procession, not only of confessing life and death, but also the life and death of Jesus Christ.   No, it doesn’t remove the tears and sadness that accompany you to the grave, but it invites you to grieve with hope, because just as Christ Jesus rose from the grave, He has promised to raise those who have fallen asleep in Him, to raise you and your loved ones. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-13)     For this reason, you don’t need to approach this dirge to the grave the same way as the rest of the world.   My friends, we are in a time when it is essential to refocus and return to a proper understanding of the funeral and the procession of this life to the grave…   We don’t need paid mourners or cosmetics that hide the corpse; we don’t need to alter the Church’s ways to fit the world with celebrations of life; we need to relearn how to confess Jesus, the Lord of Life, and His love for us—poor, miserable sinners—in both life and death.    We need to relearn how to grieve and mourn.   We need to gather around the grave with prayers, the reading of God’s Word, and hymns of comfort. We need to hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Do not weep,” and then return to church for the family meal that is the Lord’s Supper.   Because it’s here at this altar that the angels, archangels, and the entire company of heaven come and dwell on earth with you. It’s here you are prepared not only for death but also for the day Christ returns and says, “Young man, young woman, I say to you, arise.”    And then you will, because the waters of Holy Baptism claimed you and led you to this great and triumphant day. +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org

St. Michael and All Angels (Observed) September 28, 2025 Matthew 18:1-11   As a child, I would prepare for bed, get my pajamas on, brush my teeth, and get snug under the covers, and then I would use this prayer I was taught,   Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take   It’s a prayer I’m sure many of you have also prayed or taught your little ones to say. It’s a meaningful prayer, and because of its rhyme, it’s also very easy to remember.   Some believe this prayer was written by the English clergyman George Wheler and published around 1698. However, others think it was inspired by an earlier German version called “The Black Paternoster,” which simply means the “evening Our Father.” (Paternoster means “Our father” in Latin)   The Black Paternoster goes as such,   Mathew, Mark, Luke, John Bless the bed that I lie on; And blessed guardian angel keep Me safe from danger while I sleep.   However, some believe that even this version of the prayer might originate from a medieval Jewish prayer that went like this, “In the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, may Michael be at my right hand; Gabriel at my left; Uriel before me; Raphael behind me and the Shekhinah of God be above my head.”   And just so you know, Shekhinah is Hebrew for the presence of God or His dwelling place.   But if all of this is true—that the prayer we know today as “Now I lay me down to sleep” has an unusual origin tracing back to this Jewish prayer—and it has really changed a lot.    Requests for angelic protection from danger and similar matters are no longer included, as they have become more obscure.    It is also worth noting that these original versions of the bedtime prayers were sometimes flawed. For example, we don’t pray to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to bless our beds and watch over us.   However, all of this should make you think more carefully about your prayers, including their origin, history, and what they express.   And this leads me to wonder: why haven’t we, as Lutherans, fully embraced and used the Evening Prayer that Martin Luther provided to the Church and included in the Small Catechism as we should?    In many ways, Luther has taken everything from the past and present versions of “Now I lay me down to sleep” and provided the Church with a prayer of great depth.   Luther’s Evening Prayer goes like this, I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.   Ponder the prayer with me.   First, Luther begins the prayer by thanking God, his heavenly Father, through His dear Son, Jesus. Remember, all prayers are to be made through Jesus Christ. (John 14:13-14) But then the prayer guides you to thank God your Father for keeping you throughout the day, whether it was a good or a bad day.    However, the next part of the prayer is a crucial aspect of the Christian life that many of our prayers overlook at the end of the day. Luther’s Evening Prayer continues to say, “and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night.”   As the Psalmist writes, In peace I will both lie down and sleep;                         for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)   How can you lie down at night in peace if your sins still trouble you and there hasn’t been forgiveness? You won’t!   But know this: forgiveness is peace, and this gracious gift begins with your Savior, Jesus Christ. For this reason, every day you dwell in this world, the temptation of sin surrounds you, but you also have a Father who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you. So, make it a habit to pray and ask your Father in heaven for this wonderful gift of peace and forgiveness.    Alright, but now the final section of Luther’s Evening Prayer arrives, and it begins as such,  For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.   The Christian now entrusts their bodies and souls into God’s care, trusting Him to watch over them. Consider this: who else can watch over you while you sleep? Are you not most vulnerable to the world and the attacks of evil when your body lies on the pillow? How could you fend off even a dream at this moment without God’s help?     And for this reason, the prayer concludes, “Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.”   It’s a petition for God to send His messengers and guardians to be with you, watch over you, and keep you safe from the temptations of the Evil One who resides in the dark shadows of this life.    But if you do not exercise your faith and prayers in such a way, will you even remember that God continues to care for you throughout the hours of the night, or that He sends His angels to care for you?   This is one reason for observing the festival of St. Michael and All Angels: to remember that God cares for you through His angels. But beyond today, you must also remember that God’s angels continue to care for and watch over you, even if you don’t see them. They do this not as cute cherubs shooting magical arrows of love, but as His warriors, as the Psalmist again says.                The angel of the LORD encamps                         around those who fear him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)   God’s angels encamp around you to defend, protect, and deliver you from the evil and temptations of this life.   They do so because you are God’s children. Don’t get caught up in the Gospel today and only think of a child like those who make sounds during the Divine Service, infusing it with life and excitement; instead, consider yourself God’s child, because this is what the Gospel says.    And as His child, you are in need of protection – protection from the temptation and inclination to sin.   The temptation of being led away from God.   The temptation of using your speech or actions to lead other Christians away from God into sin throughout your days.   The truth is that we sin often and greatly need God’s care and mercy. The wonderful thing is that He is gracious and eager to give it to us. However, we also need to make it a habit of asking for His care and mercy.    For a long time, our catechisms have served as textbooks, meant for a brief period to teach the young, then placed on a shelf or tucked away in a closet. However, as God’s children, our learning is never supposed to stop; instead, we are called to keep growing, deepen our faith, and mature.     It’s time for us to pull out our catechism, and if we don’t know where they are, to get a new one.   Because on these pages, faith is given to us, God’s dear children, in simple terms, and the prayers provided by Luther have often gone unnoticed or fallen out of use. But in these words, we are given not only an opportunity to confess our faith, our sins, our need for a Savior, but also His ongoing care through the work of His angels.    What a gift that God doesn’t leave you to the known and unknown evils of this life, but sends His angels to serve Him by protecting you.   To God be the glory! +INJ+   Rev. Noah J. Rogness Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Tomah, WI   www.goodsheptomah.org