Sunday was Pentecost. On that day in the year 33A+D the Holy Spirit came down from heaven. He came to the gathered Church in the Upper Room. Something like tongues of fire appeared over all the believers there. They spoke to everyone who was there not in Hebrew or Aramaic, but in the languages those people had spoken when they were your age.

Then St. Peter preached. He told them they were guilty of Our Lord’s Death. But many of them weren’t even there! But our sins nailed Him to the tree. What sins? Let’s think about this school year that ends today. Do you remember all the times you didn’t do your homework, all the times you didn’t listen to your teacher, all the times you got in a fight, all the times you didn’t play nice on the playground, all the times you made fun of somebody else here? All those sins nailed Him to The Cross.

But then he told them how to be forgiven. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in The Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” When you were baptized, Jesus forgave all your sins. He forgave the sin you inherited from your parents who inherited it from their parents, and on up the line. He forgave all the sins you did this year here and at home and wherever you were, all the sins you’ve ever done or ever will do.

So when you sin, remember your baptism and repent. Be sorry you have sinned and desire to do better. Remember what Jesus did for you and believe He forgives you. His Death won forgiveness for you. His Spirit gives you faith. He gives it through Baptism. He gives it through preaching. You hear His Word of forgiveness and believe, and you are forgiven. This is a gift that’s for you and your children, for everyone who is far off. It’s a gift that’s for now, for this summer, next school year, and unto life everlasting.