Tenth Sunday After Trinity, August 4, 2024
Tenth Sunday After Trinity, August 4, 2024
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