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The Institute of Lutheran theology not only provides programs to train pastors and teachers, but it also provides educational and devotional resources for individuals and congregations. These resources are provided free of charge and made available through our web page. Please subscribe to and use any of these resources.

The Institute of Lutheran theology not only provides programs to train pastors and teachers, but it also provides educational and devotional resources for individuals and congregations. These resources are provided free of charge and made available through our web page. Please subscribe to and use any of these resources.

The Presentation of Our Lord, February 2, 2025

The Presentation of Our Lord, February 2, 2025

The humanity that Jesus came to help shares in flesh and blood (He. 2:14). The common experience of flesh and blood is suffering. By sharing in the common experience of all flesh—suffering—Jesus breaks the power of death by suffering unto death. Suffering as the common experience of flesh and blood is not much in favor. True, suffering has never been popular, but it has been accepted as the common… the usual… experience of humankind. With the significant advancements made in recent years in relieving suffering, people’s expectations… our expectations… do not include suffering. Rather than being an expected and anticipated part of our human reality, suffering has come to be seen as a break in our reality, a rupture of, and imposition upon, our ongoing comfort. Moving from comfort-seeking to comfort-expecting puts us at odds with the book of Hebrews and the biblical witness. In the suffering reality of flesh and blood, Jesus brings comfort… Jesus, and Jesus only. We receive this comfort in faith… faith, and faith alone.  Suffering fills the reality of flesh and blood; there is no escaping it. Our comfort comes from Jesus, whom we have by faith. We have him no matter what the reality of our flesh and blood tells us. Faith in Christ is a new reality tearing you away from and placing you in contrast to the reality of flesh and blood. Faith in Christ is your reality of comfort and hope.

Prayers from one who expects comfort, not suffering…

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for me. Grant me such faith that I see Christ’s suffering joined to me through my suffering. Father, have mercy.

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for me. Let me hear your Word so that Jesus Christ’s coming to share my flesh and blood blesses and hallows all human flesh and its suffering. Father, have mercy.

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for me. As I come to expect to suffer and not expect comfort, grant me the reality of comfort, which is mine, through faith in Christ. Father, have mercy.

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for me. Grant to the Institute of Lutheran Theology such theologians of the cross that it will preach and teach the revelation of God through suffering and the cross. Father, have mercy.

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for me. Throughout the days of my baptism, grant me such faith that I await the revelation of Jesus Christ in his glory, enduring my suffering with patience and hope because Jesus, in the reality of faith, is my comfort. Father, have mercy.