Palm/Passion Sunday C – April 10, 2022
Palm/Passion Sunday C – April 10, 2022
Week of April 4, 2022 | Sunday, April 10, 2022
Luke 22:1-23:56
“But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God” (Lk. 22:69). Jesus treads carefully here. He knows his conviction is a foregone conclusion. Yet, he wants to make the conviction be the result of their misuse of the law rather than the truth of his words. A second reason he treads carefully is that he weaves scripture references into his responses to their interrogation. Even as his interrogators fill the scene with intimidation, looking to misinterpret his every nuance, Jesus gives them back the words of their very own scripture. He challenges them with a recollection of Jeremiah’s life-threatening confrontation before King Zedekiah. In that scene, Jeremiah challenges the king, in the same way, Jesus challenges his interrogators, [even if I tell you] “you will not listen to me” (Jer. 38:15). Second, Jesus lays before them Psalm 110:1. There the Lord invites “my Lord” to sit at his right hand and to enjoy watching as he puts all of “my Lord’s” enemies beneath his feet. Jesus’ interrogators may be successful in putting him to death in the most humiliating and shameful manner, but he knows the promises and he fulfills them. Today, we still confess in our creed that he “sits at the right hand of God…”
Prayers from one numbered among the interrogators of Jesus yet who confesses Jesus as Messiah…
Father in heaven, you sustained Jesus in his trial with your gift of perfect faith. Give to me such faith that I am sustained in my trials as well so that your holy name be glorified. I pray to you Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for Jesus’ sake. Amen
Father in heaven, you uphold me in my trials, not because of any merit of my own, but simply for the sake of your mercy so that your holy name will be glorified. I pray to you Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for Jesus’ sake. Amen
Father in heaven, again and again, you must strip my false assumptions of merit from me; I cannot help myself in thinking that somehow, I’ll be worthy of your love to me. Grant me complete confidence in your love so that your name, not mine, is glorified. I pray to you Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for Jesus’ sake. Amen
Father in heaven, you turn me from storming the gates of heaven in my quests for holiness and righteousness, and you turn me toward my neighbor. Grant that I attend them properly to the glory of your name, not mine. I pray to you Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for Jesus’ sake. Amen
Father in heaven, you have set me within a Christian congregation that together we would come beneath your word, stand under its authority, and receive you as you have your way with us. Send us forth from that gathering into a world awaiting our witness to Jesus Christ, Savior. I pray to you Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for Jesus’ sake. Amen
Father in heaven, the Institute of Lutheran Theology (ILT) has been established in your name. Grant that ILT continue to honor and glorify your name as it bears witness to Jesus Christ, him crucified, and him alone. I pray to you Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for Jesus’ sake. Amen
Father in heaven, you have promised a new earth and a new heaven to replace this old creation broken by sin. Grant that in faith I know that reality now even as I live out the days of my baptism. I pray to you Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for Jesus’ sake. Amen