On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

we celebrate the birth of Son, the Elder. It is bittersweet, as is life under the cross.

Today he is seventeen! It is amazing what we've done in those years! It is unfortunate that little has resulted from those heroic efforts.

Or is it?

As I wax theological it should be noted that we still very much hope to find a way to effect major developmental change in this young man's life.

Should we not find this way in this life...

it is NOT because we didn't pray hard enough - or believe big enough - or do enough fasting - or DO anything often or big enough!!

Son, the Elder belongs to Christ. Not because he is disabled, not because of any decision of his, not because there is no age of accountability for him.

Son, the Elder belongs to Christ because of Christ's decision. Son, the Elder belongs to Christ because of baptismal regeneration. It is on account of Baptism that this young man belongs to Christ Jesus.

Yes Virginia, there is - baptismal regeneration - "Baptism, ... now saves you" (1Pe3:21 - the missing words refer to Yahweh saving Noah through water).

There is no to DO list with the triune God. He did the doing. It is done, it is finished.

So while we tarry under the cross, we get glimpses of eternal bliss. In Baptism, in the Holy Supper, receiving the Lord's Divine Service with the elect.

It is the greatest comfort in dealing with disability to rest, knowing that there is nothing lacking that my son must do to be saved - it is done. Jesus did it in his incarnation, in life, in his atoning death. And we await the bodily resurrection at the last day. That imperishable body will be without infirmity.

Deo Gratias

Thanks be to God