Epaphras Letters

“Fear seized them all, and they glorified God…” (Lk. 7:16). One of the most memorable lines from Luther’s Small Catechism is the introductory phrase at the beginning of the statement of meaning for each of the commandments: “We are to fear and love God….” The crowds here, both the great crowd that followed Jesus and the considerable crowd that followed the funeral bier, both crowds were seized by fear. The people in them didn’t just feel afraid. Their emotion of fear is not the acting agent here. Rather, fear itself is the acting agent… the fear of God seized them. Fear acted by grasping them in its grip. Those crowds did not choose to fear; the fear was imposed upon them by the presence of a great power in their midst… a power so great as to raise the dead… a power so great that the fear of it was incomprehensible as the people suffered in its grasp. This same power… the power to raise the dead… the power to seize you with fear… the power to repent you and bring you to faith… this same power is present in your worship service. Your preacher delivers the Word of God, Jesus Christ, to your ears, putting the old sinner to death and raising you up to walk in newness of life. The power of this Word seizes you (as it seized the crowds in our text) with fear. How can you help but glorify and love your God whose power manifests through his Word?

Prayers from those who have lost the spontaneity of their worship…

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit brings a faith that possesses us. Grant that our response to this faith burst forth spontaneously, glorifying and loving your work upon us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit brings a faith that possesses us, astonish us with the newness of life that is ours now in this faith that possesses us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit brings a faith that possesses us. As we are people of such faith, send us out into the world to care for and tend to this creation that will soon pass away. In Jesus name, Amen.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit brings a faith that possesses us. Grant this faith to permeate the Institute of Lutheran Theology, its staff, students, faculty, and board such that they, too, burst forth with spontaneous prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. In Jesus name, Amen.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit brings a faith that possesses us. Possess me with such faith that I and the family of God around me wait for the day of fulfillment and carry out our daily work in anticipation of its arrival. In Jesus name, Amen.

“O you of little faith” (Mt. 6:30). Jesus bestows a title upon those who have gathered to hear what has become known as his Sermon on the Mount. The title calls into question whether they are true believers or not. In bestowing the title, Jesus expresses doubt as to the quantity or quality of their faith. Jesus infers that it is but an minuscule thing. Jesus makes the same judgment upon the disciples terrified by the storm as they huddle together on the boat in the middle of Galilee’s Sea, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Mt. 8:26). Again, he tells his disciples gathered in their failure to cast out a demon and they ask “Why?” Jesus says, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Jesus speaks directly to Peter sinking like a rock in the waves, saying “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt. 14:31).

Yet there are times, like the one with they Syra-Phoenician woman, when Jesus commends faith, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire” (Mt. 15:28). Similar instances occur (Lk. 18:42; Lk 7:50; Mk. 5:34 among others) where it seems that Jesus attributes the healing accomplished in the person before him by commending “your faith.”

When Jesus bestows the title “little faith” upon his disciples and others gathered before him, he quantifies the effectiveness of the faith they possess in and of themselves. In other words, Jesus assesses their loyalty, their dependence, their trust, etc. in their Lord and God, namely himself. When Jesus commends those who have been healed with the acknowledgement “your faith” has made you well, Jesus uses the title “your faith” as a self-referential title. That is, he in his very person… he in his own presence and ability… Jesus himself is the faith that has made them well. He, standing before them, is the faith that has made them well. Jesus is the faith that has come to possess them. The faith possessed in and of themselves is a meager and puny thing.

Prayers from those who still grasp after a faith of their own rather than receiving the life of Jesus and his faith…

Eternal Father, Jesus has come to be our life; grant that, as he is our life, our righteousness, and our faith, we trust not in ourselves but in him who is the Lord of all creation. Give us such life! Amen

Eternal Father, Jesus has come to be our life; grant that, as Christ is our life, we come to have the fullness of the new creation with all its abundance. Give us such life! Amen

Eternal Father, Jesus has come to be our life; grant that, as we enjoy the abundance of the new creation, we distribute that abundance among our neighbors and so it would useful for them.  Give us such life! Amen

Eternal Father, Jesus has come to be our life; grant that, as Jesus comes to be the life of its faculty, staff, and students, the Institute of Lutheran Theology is able to live from the abundance of the new creation rather than the scarcity of this world broken by sin. Give us such life! Amen

Eternal Father, Jesus has come to be our life; grant that, as we are held in the life of Jesus Christ, we await his arrival in glory all the more eagerly. Give us such life! Amen

The priests… the members of the religious establishment… these arbitrators of cleanliness… acted as the gatekeepers for the return of healed lepers to regular society. Lepers who were healed of their disease had to obtain a certificate of cleanliness prior to resuming contact with friends, family, and community. Any time the establishment’s purity boundaries were transgressed, the law required the transgressor to be pronounced clean by a priest. The religious authorities had drawn purity maps delineating the boundaries of purity: maps of places, maps of persons, maps of times, maps of meals, and maps of things (Malina and Rohrbaugh, Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, 2003, p. 397). The establishment of these boundaries allowed the religious authorities their control over the common people. Jesus violates the purity boundaries mapped for meals by eating with sinners and tax collectors (Mk. 2:15); he violates the purity boundaries regarding persons by touching lepers (Mk. 1:41), by touching menstruating women (Mk. 5:25-34), by touching corpses (Mk. 5:41). Jesus disregards the boundaries set by all the Pharisaic maps, clearly rejecting control by the elaborate Temple system established by the religious authorities.

Prayers from one with his own problems regarding religious purity…

Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, heal me of my sin-sickness, grant me the forgiveness of my sin… of my uncleanliness… so that my preacher’s word of absolution pronounces me clean once again. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, keep my ears tuned to the preaching of Jesus Christ, him crucified, and him alone so that I am not tempted to substitute ritual purity for the cleansing purity of my Lord’s Word. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, grant that I use the forgiveness pronounced upon me as permission to return to my neighborhood and be of some use there amid my family and friends. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, continue to bless the Institute of Lutheran Theology and hold it in your hand of protection. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, hold me in the faith of Jesus Christ during these days of my baptism and enfold me in the love of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ until that great day of expectation and hope arrives and I join my Lord Jesus in glory. In the name of Jesus. Amen

You and I know that “neighbor” is an inclusive term that, when considering those both near and far, pretty much encompasses all people living on the planet. The lawyer, like we would also do, seeks to limit that demand “love your neighbor as yourself” to a more manageable number of neighbors. When Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan, he puts a twist on the lawyer’s question. As the parable unfolds, it turns out that mercy is a quality of neighborliness. The Samaritan was merciful to the naked and nearly dead victim of robbers. Jesus’ pointed question back to the lawyer, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among thieves?” (vs. 36). The lawyer is forced to admit that the neighbor proved to be the “one who showed him mercy.” The twist is simply that the parable doesn’t define to whom you should be a neighbor. It leaves that consideration as all encompassing. The parable instead illustrates the quality of being a neighbor—that is, showing mercy. You are a neighbor to those to whom you show mercy and those who show mercy to you are your neighbors.

Prayers from one who struggles to justify himself…

Heavenly Father, you have provided us with the great gift of justification by faith alone in your Son, Jesus Christ, alone. Grant that I hear that word of promise and cling to it, looking solely upon Jesus and not to my own piety. Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you have provided me with a preacher who will deliver the word of promise to my ears. Grant that I am not neglectful in the hearing of your word such that words other than Christ’s come to fill my ears. Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you have set before me a myriad of neighbors both near and far. Grant me the confidence of faith such that I pour myself out in the usefulness of love and mercy toward them. Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you have nurtured the Institute of Lutheran Theology through its years of growth. Place in the mouths of its teachers and instructors your word of mercy so that those who hear them are good neighbors to the school. Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, as I hear your word I am held in readiness for your culminating act of mercy, that day when Jesus Christ shall appear in all his glory. Grant that my ears are so full of your word that I do not flag in my eagerness for that day to appear. Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

The stated audience for the hearing of this parable are those “who trust in themselves” (vs. 9). Because Jesus names the example of such people as a Pharisee, our minds leap (not incorrectly) to thinking of Pharisees as those who have contempt for others. The parable, however, works in two directions. The common direction looks to the Pharisee as the one with contempt for others, particularly that tax collector confessing to be a sinner (vs. 13). The uncommon direction looks at the tax collector trusting in his own humility and looking with contempt upon the obviously self-righteous Pharisee. Neither the self-righteousness of prideful works nor the self-righteousness of an insincere humility has any standing in the court of heaven. Whether it’s pride in works or pride in humility, both result in contempt for others. The theme verse may resemble a traditional moralism but its words in the mouth of Jesus deliver us into “faith alone” territory. Works don’t guarantee justification. Humility doesn’t guarantee justification. Only the Word of God wielded by the Holy Spirit who holds us in faith guarantees our justification… our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14).

Prayers from one who has been stripped of all prides’ venues, even the venue of humility…

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. Grant that I am so held in the faith of Jesus Christ that I look not at the works of my hands… not at the affections of my heart… not at the thoughts of my head… but only to Christ… only to your Word… as the one thing I trust. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. Grant that, as I am stripped of every sign until only the sign of Jonah remains, I receive the freedom of the Son and am free indeed. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. As I am free in Christ, grant me to use my freedom—not for self-indulgence—but for indulging the needs of my neighbors. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. Grant that the Institute of Lutheran Theology make the preaching of Christ, him crucified and him alone the unshakeable center of its teaching. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. During these days of my baptism, as I am brought to daily repentance, let me live by faith alone so that I do not walk by sight as I wait for the coming of my Lord in glory. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

The stated audience for the hearing of this parable are those “who trust in themselves” (vs. 9). Because Jesus names the example of such people as a Pharisee, our minds leap (not incorrectly) to thinking of Pharisees as those who have contempt for others. The parable, however, works in two directions. The common direction looks to the Pharisee as the one with contempt for others, particularly that tax collector confessing to be a sinner (vs. 13). The uncommon direction looks at the tax collector trusting in his own humility and looking with contempt upon the obviously self-righteous Pharisee. Neither the self-righteousness of prideful works nor the self-righteousness of an insincere humility has any standing in the court of heaven. Whether it’s pride in works or pride in humility, both result in contempt for others. The theme verse may resemble a traditional moralism but its words in the mouth of Jesus deliver us into “faith alone” territory. Works don’t guarantee justification. Humility doesn’t guarantee justification. Only the Word of God wielded by the Holy Spirit who holds us in faith guarantees our justification… our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14).

Prayers from one who has been stripped of all prides’ venues, even the venue of humility…

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. Grant that I am so held in the faith of Jesus Christ that I look not at the works of my hands… not at the affections of my heart… not at the thoughts of my head… but only to Christ… only to your Word… as the one thing I trust. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. Grant that, as I am stripped of every sign until only the sign of Jonah remains, I receive the freedom of the Son and am free indeed. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. As I am free in Christ, grant me to use my freedom—not for self-indulgence—but for indulging the needs of my neighbors. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. Grant that the Institute of Lutheran Theology make the preaching of Christ, him crucified and him alone the unshakeable center of its teaching. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the one true object of faith. During these days of my baptism, as I am brought to daily repentance, let me live by faith alone so that I do not walk by sight as I wait for the coming of my Lord in glory. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Jesus’ lament is a powerful one. We do not know whether others witnessed it. Most likely Jesus’ lamented amidst the crowds gathered to welcome him into Jerusalem (Lk. 19:28-41). The power of the lament, though, isolates Jesus from the celebratory crowds. Jesus weeps over what the city was not: it was not knowledgeable regarding the things of peace (vs. 42). Dramatic consequences will be exacted upon the city and its inhabitants (vs. 43-44). Jesus delivers his lament over Jerusalem and its destruction as a powerful working of retributive justice. “Because…” Jesus says (vs. 44). “Because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Because you did know your God’s visiting you in redemption and salvation. Because you did not hear that the kingdom of God had come near… that the time had been fulfilled (Mk. 1:15) … Because Jerusalem did not know its salvation had come, it and its inhabitants would be taken down to dust (Is. 29:1-4).

The time of your visitation has come. Your preacher delivers it week-after-week, announcing “now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation” (2 Co. 6:2). “Do not doubt but believe!” (Jn. 20:27).

Prayers from one whose doubts bring fears of the visitation…

Heavenly Father, you have come near to us in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that I hear the promise of redemption and salvation in him so that the fears of his coming disappear into an eager anticipation of his presence, through that self-same Son who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Heavenly Father, you have come near to us in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant me the certainty of your Word that, through my hearing of its proclamation and through my reception of the sacraments, I can be confident that the Holy Spirit works faith in me so that I do not doubt but believe, through that self-same Son who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Heavenly Father, you have come near to us in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that in the certainty of faith in Jesus Christ, I would be a faithful servant to my neighbors—especially those of my own household, through that self-same Son who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Heavenly Father, you have come near to us in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that the Institute of Lutheran Theology raise up preachers and teachers of Jesus Christ, him crucified, and him alone to send into a world needing to know that its time of visitation has come, through that self-same Son who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Heavenly Father, you have come near to us in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant the swift coming of your Son in his final appearing so that this old and sin-broken world passes away and the New Creation becomes manifest, through that self-same Son who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

This verse qualifies as one of the hard sayings of the bible. Perhaps it does because we examine it piecemeal rather than wholistically. The parable is much like a story told as a joke with a punchline. Verse nine is the sort of punchline that reinterprets the entire story. Yet, that reinterpretation cannot take place if we miss out on the crucial announcement of the story’s setting. It’s there in verse one: “He also said to the disciples…” Jesus tells this parable to the disciples. They already have heaven by faith. They are already “sons of light.” They don’t compete well with the “sons of this age” regarding the things of this age. That’s why Jesus admonishes them to be as “wise as serpents and as innocent as doves” (Mt. 10:16). When it comes to buying friends with the unrighteous wealth, the “sons of light” stand little chance against the “sons of this age.” Verse nine reinterprets the parable because it’s not really about the dishonest manager. Rather, it’s about the disciples who already have heaven by faith. Their use of “unrighteous wealth” is the variety of uses to which faith would put it. By faith, believers lack nothing in this world or the next. What matters is wealth’s use… wealth’s use in producing the fruits of faith (cf. Mt. 25:31-46).

Prayers from one often confused…

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, is the one truth in this world of competing truths, so hold me in thrall to him that my attention remains fixed on the only truth worth having in this sin-broken and passing away world. Lord Jesus, bind me to yourself. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, is the one truth in this world of competing truths. As my faith and attention rest on Christ Jesus, turn me to my neighbors that whatever wealth I have would be used to provide for them. Lord Jesus, bind me to yourself. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, is the one truth in this world of competing truths. Grant that I would see in the Institute of Lutheran Theology a neighbor both worthy and needful of my wealth. Lord Jesus, bind me to yourself. Amen

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, is the one truth in this world of competing truths. Grant that on the day when unrighteous wealth fails—that is, on the coming Day of Jesus Christ—I would be found in faith alone for all else is sin. Lord Jesus, bind me to yourself. Amen

As Jesus goes on to reveal in the subsequent verses, his name is not a magical talisman to be invoked by those coveting its authority. Those coveting the authority of Jesus’ name might call him Lord, but they had no intention of being under his authority. They merely wanted to use the authority of his name to give themselves authority, to impress others with their prophecy… with their casting out of demons… with their mighty works. To truly call someone Lord recognizes that person’s authority over you. When you say, “Lord,” you are acknowledging your Lord’s authority of life and death over you… you are recognizing your Lord’s right to your life, to your very being… you are accepting that you have nothing, that you are nothing, for you and all you have belong to your Lord. To call God… to call Jesus Lord, comprehends the almightiness of a God… of a Savior… whose work is sure and certain… whose work is unthwartable. “I work, and who can turn it back” (Is. 43:13).

Prayers from those reluctant to comprehend the almightiness of God…

Father in heaven, you are God Almighty. Grant me to comprehend the unthwartability of your work that I may speak truly when I call you ‘Lord’. For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Father in heaven, you are God Almighty. When confronted by your unthwartable work, grant that I comprehend it through your mercy revealed in Jesus Christ. For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Father in heaven, you are God Almighty. As I look for your mercy in Jesus Christ, grant that I look no further than your Word and your Word alone. For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Father in heaven, you are God Almighty. When I receive your mercy and love through your Word, Jesus Christ, grant that I would be of use to my neighbors in providing them with their daily bread so that they would have life in this world and the world to come. For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Father in heaven, you are God Almighty. As I am being of use to my neighbors, grant that they are of use to me. For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Father in heaven, you are God Almighty. I pray that the Institute of Lutheran Theology continue in the unthwartability of your work. For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Father in heaven, you are God Almighty. When the days grow long in number as I and the entire world awaits the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant me such faith that I never cease in my anticipation and hope of that glorious day. For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Jesus attracted crowds but especially, he attracted attentive crowds. Three days this particular crowd had been with him and had not left him even to eat. In their common hunger, Jesus declares, “I have compassion on the crowd…” This word “compassion” comes to us from the Latin language and is a combination of the word for “suffer or bear” and the prefix “com” which means “with.” While we usually think of compassion as having sympathy for someone, the literal meaning of the word is “to suffer with” or “to bear with.” Jesus suffered with the crowd in its hunger. Jesus hungered, too. In Jesus’ Passion Story, we hear of Jesus suffering for us. Jesus came in the flesh and suffered with those of us in the flesh. As the text tells us here, he suffered hunger with the crowd. He suffered temptation in the wilderness (Mt. 4:1 ff) as we suffer temptation. He suffered death as all flesh suffers death. In Jesus’ compassion, he comes to share with us our earthly woes that he might also share with us his heavenly joy—that is, the resurrection to eternal life.

Prayers from those who need a compassionate savior…

Heavenly Father, your compassionate Son, Jesus Christ, surrendered the equality of Godhood with you in order to take on my frail flesh and suffer with me. Hold me in his compassion. Hear my prayer, O God of my salvation.

Heavenly Father, your compassionate Son, Jesus Christ, suffered the indignity of a birth by water and blood as would any human child. Grant that I look no further than Mary’s lap to see my salvation. Hear my prayer, O God of my salvation.

Heavenly Father, your compassionate Son, Jesus Christ, endured the hardships of hot and cold, hunger and thirst, misery and pain while he walked the roads of Galilee. Give me ears to the words of this one who is the Word of God. Hear my prayer, O God of my salvation.

Heavenly Father, your compassionate Son, Jesus Christ, suffered the hands of evil men… of evil women… to be laid upon him and crucify him. Grant that the proclamation of his death and resurrection would deliver salvation to me. Hear my prayer, O God of my salvation.

Heavenly Father, your compassionate Son, Jesus Christ, broke the bonds of death and the tomb, rising to new life for an eternity with you. Hold me in the hope that just as I am joined with Jesus in a death like his that I should certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Hear my prayer, O God of my salvation.

Heavenly Father, your compassionate Son, Jesus Christ, is the one Word of God handed over in the words of God. Grant that this one Word of God is the center of proclamation and teaching for the Institute of Lutheran Theology. Hear my prayer, O God of my salvation.

Heavenly Father, your compassionate Son, Jesus Christ, will come again in glory shorn of the frail flesh of this old creation broken by sin and clothed in the immortal flesh that will be his and ours for eternity. Keep me in the certainty of this hope. Hear my prayer, O God of my salvation.