Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  Yes, we know him so by grace, by the Father’ revelation.  And we, who are flesh and blood, must announce him so with our lives. 

By grace, by the Father’s good will, simple folks get to know things of God.  The wise, in contrast, do not get to know these things.

And it is by grace, of course, that Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  For it is the Father in heaven who makes known to him who Jesus is, not flesh nor blood.

Still and all, Jesus chooses him who is flesh and blood to serve as the foundation stone of the Church.  The Church, then, is built on one who is mortal.  Yet the forces of evil that seek to tear it down will not prevail.  For God, his good pleasure, can do it all.

That is, by grace, by God’s inscrutable judgments, what is mortal becomes immortal, what is weak, strong, and what is foolish, wise.  And he chooses those who are mortal, weak, foolish, so that no human may boast before him.  So that no human may be proud and self-serving as Shebna.  Humans are to boast only in the Lord.

It is right, then, to say that the apostles are poor men, know nothing, go barefoot, wear no linen (SV.EN X:408-409).  But by grace they converted the whole world.  And this gives us reason to wonder at God’s grace.

For he makes use of poor folks, of earthen vessels for the preaching of the Good News.  All that remains for us to do is to trust in God who takes care of us in all places.  He, yes, dwells at our deepest level, gives us life, sustains weak folks always.

Lord Jesus, by grace we know you and confess you to be the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  Grant us poor and weak folks to go about doing good like you.  We will thus proclaim you with our lives.  And as we hold your Supper, give us a powerful medicine and food for the weak (EG 47).

23 August 2026
21st Sunday in O.T. (A)
Is 22, 19-23; Rom 11, 33-36; Mt 16, 13-20