Twenty-third Sunday After Pentecost

Twenty-third Sunday After Pentecost

Jesus delivers consolation to those disciples concerned about the coming crisis of the temple’s destruction.  He reassures them that crises come and go.  There’s nothing particularly unique about them; even the betrayal of these disciples by those closest to them is but another crisis to be endured as they await the coming of the Son of Man.  Our contemporary culture appears addicted to the adage, “Never let a good crisis go to waste!”  Crisis after crisis—whether real or not—becomes an opportunity for leaders, whether cultural or political, to use the fear of them as motivation and urgency for the people to take the action preferred by those leaders.  Jesus himself provides an action: “Lift up your heads!  See the coming of your redemption!”  Jesus reassures those disciples then, and all disciples now; the Son of Man… the Lord of all Creation… the one who has charge of all time… that one is also Lord of all Crises.  This Lord of all Crises is your Lord as well.  Take heart!  Do not fear!”  Lift up your heads!  He is your redemption in each and every crisis that comes upon you.

Prayers from one who is tempted to never let a good crisis go to waste…

Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, all things were made, are made, and will be made.  Give me ears to hear that I should, “Fear not!” even in the face of crisis for nothing is made without our Lord.  With my fears alloyed, grant I should live each day in the expectant coming of my redemption, Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, all things were made, are made, and will be made.  As you grant me to live in the expectant coming of my redemption, turn me from the idolatrous trust in cultural and political leaders.  They are mortal and their plans perish with them.  Grant that I trust in you and you alone, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, all things were made, are made, and will be made.  As you grant me to trust in you and you alone, the reality and expectation of betrayal by those close to me is no surprise but instead an occasion for forgiveness and the confession of your name, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, all things were made, are made, and will be made.  As you grant the word forgiveness to be on lips so also grant that your Word of forgiveness be on your lips for all my betrayals of you, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

Heavenly Fatherly, through your Son, Jesus Christ, all things were made, are made, and will be made.  As I live through the crises common in this world broken by sin and passing away, grant that I deliver both the bread of life come from heaven and the daily bread come from this world to those in crisis with me, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, all things were made, are made, and will be made.  All things of this world are as grass, fading and withering.  Grant that in the midst of its fading and withering, the Institute of Lutheran Theology may be of use to its students and faculty, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, all things were made, are made, and will be made.  Since all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to your Son, my Lord, grant that he be the one and only authority of my life and my one and only redeemer from all the crises that come during these days of my baptism, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen