With regard to Mr. Pyle’s concerns about Christ’s presence among us (“Letters,” February)—I have Good News: Christ is most certainly and personally among us today! When Christ ascended into heaven, He didn’t remove His presence on earth— He transformed it. Nor did He stop having a body when He sat down at the right hand of the Father. He went from being in one place at one time to being in every place all the time. Yes, we are the Body of Christ, joined to Christ, who is the Head of His Church, and we are called to serve as “little christs” to others (1 Cor. 12:12ff). But that does not take away from Jesus’ real, physical body, which is very present among us now—and continues to work in this world. What great comfort this should bring us as Lutheran Christians to know that our Lord is not only still present among us—but He is so intimately involved with His creation that He alone holds the universe together still! (Col. 1:17).
The added blessing of being “in Christ” is Jesus is here today—among His people, in His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 10:16) and present with us, fighting for us, wherever we are and wherever He leads us. This is why we can take great comfort that the Lord did not leave us as orphans on earth. Instead, through Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, He truly is with us “always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). Good News indeed!
Rev. Rance Settle
Rochester, Minn.
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