The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost C
The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost C
Luke 10:38-42
“And she [Martha] had a sister called Mary,
who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching”
(Lk. 10:39)
Mary, contrary to the social customs of her day, assumed the position of a disciple. Mary was a student of her rabbi, Jesus. She sat at Jesus’ feet as Paul would be educated at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Mary is one of the blessed (Lk. 10:24). She has been given the freedom to hear Jesus, the Word of God, as he teaches, a freedom longed for by many. As the Word of God pours out upon her, the kingdom of God which has come near to her in the person of Jesus Christ, now envelopes her as the “good portion” which will not be taken away from her (Lk. 10:42). Martha’s intrusion into that enveloping presence of the kingdom of God established by the Word of God is the world advancing its cares… its concerns… its demands and rules… its agendas… as distractions from the kingdom.
Prayers from one continually distracted from the presence of the kingdom by the agendas of the world…
Heavenly Father, in the person of your Son Jesus Christ your kingdom has come near. So grant me the hearing of your Word, Jesus Christ, that I am drawn into faith and enveloped by your kingdom for the benefit of this world, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, in the person of your Son Jesus Christ your kingdom has come near. As I hear your Word and am drawn into faith, turn me toward the world in usefulness, not advancing my own agenda but caring for the world in its needs, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, in the person of your Son Jesus Christ your kingdom has come near. As I care for the world in its needs, grant me such faith that I may confess my failures at caring and the harm I have wrought through those failures, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, in the person of your Son Jesus Christ your kingdom has come near. As I receive forgiveness for my failures at caring, grant that I, too, may forgive my neighbors for their failures at caring for me, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, in the person of your Son Jesus Christ your kingdom has come near. Grant that my neighbors hear my word of forgiveness in Jesus’ name and come to know the wondrous humility secured in his name, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, in the person of your Son Jesus Christ your kingdom has come near. Grant to the Institute of Lutheran Theology just such a humility that its best teaching is the proclamation of Jesus Christ, him crucified, and him alone, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, in the person of your Son Jesus Christ your kingdom has come near. During these days of my baptism hold me so securely in your kingdom that the days of waiting for your Son to come in glory pass quickly, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen