Christ The King Sunday A

Christ The King Sunday A

07 reaction of the righteous and the unrighteous.  Jesus has previously delivered this reassurance to his disciples, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (Jn. 6:44).  This reality is echoed in Jesus’ call to the sheep, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father…” (Mt. 25:34).  The reality reflects that the Father’s blessing… the Father’s drawing… comes prior to the works of charity.  Another reality is echoed in Jesus’ dismissal of those on his left… the goats…, “Depart from me, you cursed…”  This reality implies that the cursing of the goats took place prior to their lack of charity. The reality of the blessed, the elect of God versus the reality of the cursed, those whom God has not elected draws forth a question from your lips, “What must I do to be among the elect of God?”  The answer?  “Show up!”  Show up in that only place where Jesus can be found “for you!”  There, in the physical presence of the body of Christ… there, where the church is established by the preaching of the gospel and the giving of the sacraments… there, God elects you… God draws you to Jesus… God, the Father blesses you… From there, God sends you out to be busy among your neighbors, feeding them, clothing them, visiting them, and ministering to them.  Unbeknownst to you at the time, the presence of your Lord Jesus is hidden among them.  Surprise!  You have fed, clothed, visited, and ministered to the very Lord of your salvation.

Prayers from one constant in his attempts to achieve his election rather than simply receiving it from the Father…

Heavenly Father, you elect… you choose… you draw… all things through your Son, Jesus Christ.  Deliver this election to me as your Word fills my ears, washes over my head, and feeds my mouth.  Grant me, Lord, the reality of your choosing me.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you elect… you choose… you draw… all things through your Son, Jesus Christ.  Bless me with your choosing that I would be in the company and fellowship of all the others you have called out with your choosing.  Grant me, Lord, the reality of your choosing me.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you elect… you choose… you draw… all things through your Son, Jesus Christ.    As I am in the company of these saints you have chosen, grant me the comfort of their conversation and consolation.  Grant me, Lord, the reality of your choosing me.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you elect… you choose… you draw… all things through your Son, Jesus Christ.  From the blessedness of this company, send me into the world where I might serve my neighbor by feeding, clothing, and ministering to them.  Grant me, Lord, the reality of your choosing me.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you elect… you choose… you draw… all things through your Son, Jesus Christ.  Grant me the anticipation that the serving and ministering to those neighbors of mine would finally be revealed as ministering to my savior and Lord himself.  Grant me, Lord, the reality of your choosing me.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you elect… you choose… you draw… all things through your Son, Jesus Christ.  So hold the Institute of Lutheran Theology in the proclamation of your Word that it, too, would deliver your election to its students.  Grant me, Lord, the reality of your choosing me.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you elect… you choose… you draw… all things through your Son, Jesus Christ.  So work upon me in these days of my baptism that I would show up again and again to that place where Jesus Christ can be found “for me” and in that receiving of your Son “for me,” I would know your election once again.  Grant me, Lord, the reality of your choosing me.  Amen