Trinity Sunday, May 26, 2024

Trinity Sunday, May 26, 2024

Jesus responds to Nicodemus with this puzzling declaration. From then on, it seems as if Jesus and Nicodemus are talking past each other… not really connecting with what the other is saying. Jesus’ side of the conversation insists on the distinction between being born of water and the Spirit (which is usually considered a reference to baptism) and being born of the flesh (usually considered a reference to our human birth) (cf. Jn. 3:5). Being born into the this broken, sinful, and passing away world does not give us humans eyes with the capacity to see the kingdom of God. The eyes of flesh are only flesh (vs. 6) and do not have such sight. Being born of water and the Spirit, however, gives us the eyes of the New Creation. Being baptized gives us the eyes of faith. These eyes of faith do have the capacity to see the kingdom of God not only as it will be on the other side of the eschaton but also as it is right now in the person of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul affirms this when he declares, “We walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). We walk in the kingdom by our eyes of faith rather than our eyes of flesh.

Prayers from those contending to see with eyes of faith and not merely with eyes of flesh…

Holy Father, baptized into your name we have received eyes of faith, grant us to see Jesus as the fullness of your kingdom come to us in this broken, sinful, and passing away world. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, baptized into your name we have received eyes of faith, grant that such eyes see through the deceptions and falsehoods of the evil one and behold only Jesus. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, baptized into your name we have received eyes of faith, grant that these eyes of faith are reestablished, refreshed, and renewed every time our ears hear the gospel preached to us. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, baptized into your name we have received eyes of faith, grant that we see our neighbors now through the lens of Jesus Christ, beholding them as community and not as competition. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, baptized into your name we have received eyes of faith, grant that as we see our neighbors in community we are drawn to useful service in its vast and interconnected web of duties. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, baptized into your name we have received eyes of faith, grant that those of the Institute of Lutheran Theology use their eyes of faith to behold the kingdom of God in the person of Jesus Christ. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, baptized into your name we have received eyes of faith, grant that these eyes of faith see clearly during these days of our baptism as we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in all his glory. For Jesus’ sake. Amen