The Third Sunday in Lent A

The Third Sunday in Lent A

Jesus speaks to this woman with an imperative.  He commands her.  She, in turn, is caught by surprise, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jn. 4:9).  The woman is right.  Jesus does break social convention:  a male Jew just didn’t initiate a conversation with a female Samaritan.  It was taboo.  Jesus, however, didn’t much care for protocol.  Manners and social convention get swept aside when it comes to matters of the kingdom… matters of the living water… water welling up to eternal life.  Protocol, manners, and social convention all fall under the heading of “tone”—that is, how we pitch our conversations to avoid the harsh realities between us and within us.  In most circumstances, “tone” helps us to move through our daily encounters without constant friction and confrontation.  In matters of the kingdom… in matters where Jesus is concerned… in those matters, confrontation is necessary.  The old sinner must be confronted with the harsh reality of its death in sin no matter how much the old sinner is offended by that confrontation.  Only the dead know the resurrection to eternal life.

Prayers from one whose old sinner is all too eager to complain, “tone,” whenever the harsh reality of being dead in sin becomes too offensive…

Heavenly Father, you are the God who kills and makes alive, so use your Word of Law and Gospel upon me that the full offense of my death in sin is revealed and I am delivered into the new life in Christ.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you are the God who kills and makes alive, as the God of both my death and my life, grant to me the confidence to trust you and your Word, “He who believes in me will live, even if he dies.”  Amen

Heavenly Father, you are the God who kills and makes alive, put your Word in my ears that your Holy Spirit would work faith in my heart.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you are the God who kills and makes alive, use me in these days of my baptism so that my neighbors benefit from your use of me.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you are the God who kills and makes alive, use me to be the voice delivering the Word of your Kingdom into the ears of my neighbors so that they, too, would receive the living waters of Jesus Christ.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you are the God who kills and makes alive, continue to lead the Institute of Lutheran Theology into a bold proclamation of your Word as Law and Gospel.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you are the God who kills and makes alive, during these days of my baptism continue working my death in sin and the being raised to new life upon me so that I would rest in the confidence of your mercies being new every morning.  Amen