Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: The Office of the Keys Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 46-63; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 Where is this written? This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: 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." (Small Catechism: The Office of the Keys) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What is the Office of the Keys? It's the authority Christ gives to His Church to unlock the gates of heaven by pronouncing forgiveness on sinners! Wait a minute. How can someone forgive sins? Can't only God forgive sins? Well, what does Jesus say? He tells His apostles, human men, to go and forgive sins. Here's the thing: When your pastor forgives your sins, he's not saying that he's God! He's saying what God has told him to say. He's speaking as a herald and ambassador of Jesus. "Hear ye! Hear ye! I declare to you that you have been pardoned by the King!"