The Third Sunday of Easter A

The Third Sunday of Easter A

It’s a good thing Jesus has already been to hell and back.  Otherwise, he would be liable to such condemnation by his very own words, “…whoever says, You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire” (Mt. 5:22).  Truth is, we probably agree with him:  Cleopas and his companion did have the witness of scripture before them but were so slow of heart that, until this moment, they had not believed scripture’s witness to the Messiah.  How foolish!  Yet, we must ask, “What about us?  Are not we, too, slow of heart?”  Yes, of course, we are.  That is the truth of sinful humanity.  Scripture witnesses to the things concerning Jesus Christ but we, in our sin, want to make scripture about us… about our obedience… about our faithfulness… about examples for our living… Jesus appeared, in person, to those two on the road to Emmaus; he had to appear and shock them out of their self-referential pity pit.  Jesus comes to you in person as well.  He comes in the person of your preacher who, in the proclamation of Christ crucified, opens all the scriptures to you concerning the things of Christ.  Such preaching quickens that slow heart of yours, and that slow heart burns.

Prayers from one slow of heart and in need of quickening…

Father in heaven, quicken my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit such that, as I hear my preacher’s proclamation, I too would have a burning heart.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, quicken my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that I, too, would have eyes to see you present by body and blood in the bread broken and wine poured.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, quicken my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that I would brave the darkness of this world, like Cleopas and his companion braved the darkness of night, and witness to my Lord’s resurrection to all and sundry.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, quicken my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit and make it tender toward my neighbors and soft in my dealings with them.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, quicken my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that I do not flag in zeal for doing good, especially the good of the duty and obligations of the callings into which you have placed me.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, quicken my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that I might support the Institute of Lutheran Theology in my prayers, with my wallet, and by my speech.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, quicken my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that, during these days of my baptism, I might readily confess my sins before you and receive your absolution that I would be returned to the promises of my baptism.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen