Other articles by Bishop Stuck

Dear Partners in Mission,

At the Friday evening gathering worship for Synod Assembly this year we ordained our newest pastor, Joseph Faust, who will serve Trinity Lutheran in Linton, Indiana. During the homily I said that the Spirit was about to “puff” him up in a good way. The breath of God was about to come upon him so that he can be more than he is. This is what the Spirit does for each of us, no matter what the calling may be.

Through our Baptism into Christ, the promised Spirit has come upon us so that we may live fully as his disciples in the world. We get “puffed up” for the work ahead. The more we have to do, the more “puffed up” we will become. The greater the task and the harder the assignment, the more the Spirit comes to strengthen and support us.

When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his death and resurrection, he found them huddled in fear behind locked doors. They were afraid of what the future might bring for them. They were afraid to venture out into the world because of what had happened to Jesus.

Jesus came to them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he breathed (puffed) on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He was equipping them and sending them out into the world to do the work he had called them to do.

Evangelist Luke tells us that right before his ascension to the Father, Jesus opened up the minds of the disciples so that they might “understand the scriptures,” and said to them:

“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

What Jesus promised was a “puffing up” from a “power from on high,” the Holy Spirit, that the disciples might be witnesses of his death and resurrection, and the power for repentance and forgiveness that comes through trusting in him. We are “puffed up” by the Spirit so that we might speak forgiveness and live forgiveness. This is not just the ordained pastor’s job, but it is something that we all are called to do by virtue of our baptism into Christ.

I pray the Spirit might come and “puff you up” this day, so you may do the difficult task you have been dreading, or you might offer the gift of forgiveness to the difficult person who has hurt you deeply, or that you may hear the word of forgiveness in your own life for the sake of your relationship with God or another person.

May you trust the “puffing up” power of the Spirit for your own life.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Jim Stuck