The Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2025

The Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2025

Truth? Or lies? Who are you going to believe? Jesus says of himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (Jn. 14:6). In contrast, Jesus says of the devil, “He is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44). The Apostle Paul writes “God, who does not lie…” (Tit. 1:2). Paul also asserts, “Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar…” (Ro. 3:4). Truth and faithfulness belong to God’s character and being.” Paul again asserts, “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim. 2:13). Repeatedly, we sinful and broken human beings living in a sin broken world challenge God’s truthfulness and faithfulness with conclusions drawn from our own reason and senses. In doing so, we make a liar of God and prove ourselves children of the father of lies.

Prayers from a liar who must rest in the truthfulness of God…

Father in heaven, you set your truth loose in this sin-broken world through the Incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ. Grant that I am held in his faith… his truth… and his life. Holy Father, be my truth.

Father in heaven, as I am held in Jesus and his faith, truth, and life, grant me his victory over the world and its lies. Holy Father, be my truth.

Father in heaven, as I receive Christ’s victory over all the world’s lies, grant me Christ’s victory over the father of lies. Holy Father, be my truth.

Father in heaven, as I am delivered out of the devil’s web of deceit and lies, let me see and know my neighbors with sight and knowledge uncluttered by falsehood. Holy Father, be my truth.

Father in heaven, as I see my neighbors in truth, grant that the duties of my callings serve them and help them in every need. Holy Father, be my truth.

Father in heaven, grant my neighbor, the Institute of Lutheran Theology, to be one of those neighbors I serve and help. Holy Father, be my truth.

Father in heaven, during these days of my baptism, when your truth is set against the devil’s lies, grant that your Holy Spirit keep your Word of truth ever in my ears. Holy Father, be my truth.