April 30, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: Creed Third Article

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 17:1-16; Luke 10:23-42

“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.” (3rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“So the Holy Spirit is like the Bat-signal,” said a confirmation student while learning about the Third Article of the Creed.

“Wait, what?” I answered, bewildered, but curious. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” he went on to say, “Whenever Gotham City needs help, they light up the Bat-signal, and it points the way; it lets people know help is on the way; it lets everyone know that Batman is coming to the rescue.”

You might not think comic books could provide a talking point for confirmation class and the Holy Spirit. And believe me, I didn’t think so at first either. But this kid was right.

God the Father sends God the Son. God the Son lives and dies for the sins of the world. God the Son promises God the Holy Spirit. God, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. God the Holy Spirit points us back to God the Son, who brings us back to God the Father. The Holy Spirit gives us Jesus. Works faith in our hearts. He calls us by the Gospel, gathers us in the Holy Christian Church, sanctifies us in Jesus, and enlightens us with all of God’s holy Gifts.

The Holy Spirit is sent and given to let you, and all the baptized know, that help is on the way in Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Holy Spirit takes no days off, no breaks, no mid-day naps. His work is never done, yet is always being done in the Holy Christian church where we receive the forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit leads you to and gives you Jesus, who came to rescue, redeem, restore, and renew you.

And thankfully, unlike your favorite comic book heroes, the Holy Spirit is not a work of fiction or fantasy. However, he does mask himself and work through ordinary means: water, word, bread and wine, the Gospel, the Absolution, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Spirit is no imaginary hero, but the very real third person of the Holy Trinity who lives and works to call you to faith in Jesus, point you to your Savior, give you faith in Jesus, keep you in the faith, and eternally fill you with Good News: help is indeed on the way in Christ who rescues you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Creator Spirit, by whose aid The world’s foundations first were laid, Come visit every humble mind; Come pour Your joys on humankind; From sin and sorrow set us free; May we Your living temples be. (LSB 500:1)