The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost A

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost A

Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Son of the Living God (v. 16).  Jesus immediately insures against Peter’s taking credit for his confession.  Peter does not get to take any pride in being that student who presents the teacher with the correct answer.  No, Peter’s recognition of Jesus as God’s Son is a gift from the Father.  The Father is the source of revelation; the Holy Spirit is the agent of revelation; Jesus is the content of the revelation.  In this simple exchange between Jesus and Peter… between student and teacher… between disciple and master… we catch a glimpse of the divine Trinity at work.  This God of ours—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is not some distant entity, some far-off eminence of holy transcendence.  No, this God of ours is right here… right now… in our midst.  He is imminent, immediate, and Immanuel (God with us).  That we would come, like Peter, to confess Jesus as the Son of the Living God is not to our credit. The confession is to the credit of our God who works upon us.

Prayers from one who ever enjoys taking credit for making the right confession…

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I live and move and have my being in your divine presence.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I can be confident that my Lord Jesus will never leave me nor forsake me.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that Jesus words, “I will not leave you orphaned,” ring true in my ears.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I trust my Lord who says, “I will be with you even unto the end of the age.”  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I do not look to the works of my hands, the affections of my heart, or the prowess of my reason for the justification of my existence.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I bear witness before the Institute of Lutheran Theology of the sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ as savior and lord.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I would live out the days of my baptism in faith that I have received the gifts of Christ—the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!