Prayers on Gospel Texts - May, 2011

Over a period of three years now, since April of 2008, this prayer section on our website has focused on the psalm designated for each Sunday in the Church Year. Commencing with Lent in March, 2011 we began using the gospel text for each week instead. Visitors will be helped by reading through the text as listed in each case before engaging the prayer. We hope in this way to both stimulate thought on textual themes and encourage devotional engagement week by week in each text's implications for life as we know it today.

May 1 (Second of Easter) - John 20:19-31

What a difference your presence makes in our lives, Dear God! We can relate to the despair of the disciples the evening of your resurrection, gathered in a house whose doors had been closed "for fear of the Jews.' How many doors are there behind which we have hidden when we felt threatened along life's way? And how many times have you not then come among us to minister peace and hope as our Sovereign Lord? Remind me today and throughout this week that whenever and wherever you thus minister to us there follows a call for us to minister in your name to others. "As the Father has sent me," you declare, "so send I you." Even, if like Thomas, we demur--not having been where others were when you came--you come again to reveal who you are and charge us once again, "Do not doubt, but believe." Lord, in your mercy, help us not only to respond in faith but to heed your call and share in your mission. Amen.

May 8 (Third of Easter) - Luke 24:13-35

How is it, Lord, that you always find us wherever we are? And why is it that you are forever seeking us out, even when we are not seeking you? The two on Emmaus Road were just as much in despair at the disciples were in that house whose doors were closed "for fear of the Jews."

These were traveling away from Jerusalem, despairing because you were the one for whom they had hoped, and unaware of your resurrection they felt abandoned and fearful themselves. So often do we, Lord, even knowing that you are risen from the dead. But you keep coming, among them and among us, even when at first we do not recognize that it is you.

Open our eyes, Lord, as you opened theirs. Rekindle the faith with us in the breaking of bread, and stay and abide with us ever after until our hearts also burn within us and we are infused by you with one holy passion to share the good news with others. Amen.

May 15 (Fourth of Easter) - John 10:1-10

Am I a shepherd after your own heart, O God, one to whom you regularly open the gate to your sheepfold? An do your sheep know and respond to the sound of my voice? Or am I only a thief and a bandit, intent more on seeking my own privilege than caring about the flock you have assigned me?

Jesus claims that all who came before him were the latter. "I am the gate," he said. "Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. Thieves come only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly." Lord, I long to be that kind of a shepherd! Purge me of all other motives in the ministry to which you have called me. And so infuse me with your Spirit that I may serve not only the flock as a whole but every individual sheep within my flock as well. Amen.

May 22 (Fifth of Easter) - John 14:1-14

We look to you, Lord, for comfort, and we never look in vain. Over the years we have learned that to look elsewhere is futile--if not in the short run then surely in the long. Increase our faith in you and keep us from trusting completely in anything or anyone else. Like Thomas and Philip we often let what sounds reasonable to us take over in life. If it does not seem to us to be reasonable--to some provable--then surely it cannot be. Thank you for your patience with them and with us, which both evidences your love and answers our questions. Help us, Lord, in light of the promise here offered, to lay aside finally our fears of death and dying so that we may live in the hope you give us that the best is yet to be. You are indeed the way, the truth, and the life. To whom should we look, now and forever, but to you? Amen.

May 29 (Sixth of Easter) - John 5:1-9

Your questions of us, Lord, not unlike your question addressed to the man who had been ill for thirty-eight years, are always both inviting and penetrating--this one especially. "Do you want to be made well?" Who wouldn't, one wonders. yet some really don't. Not so this man, who for thirty-eight years had no one to help him get in to Bethzatha's pool when the waters were stirred.

"Someone always steps in ahead of me," he said wistfully. How true. We all want to be first in line, even if clearly others are far more in need that we are. Forgive us, Lord, from so centering on ourselves that we fail to see the truly needy around us.

We have heard recently of the patience of the Japanese people after all they have been through--never breaking rank in line for the food and medicines they so desperately need. Help us to be more like that when tragedies come our way.

Above all, let us look to you for the healing you offer that never requires us to stand in line. Amen .

Prayers on Gospel Texts - April, 2011

Over a period of three years now, since April of 2008, this prayer section on our website has focused on the psalm designated for each Sunday in the Church Year.

Commencing with Lent in March, 2011 we began using the gospel text for each week instead. Visitors will be helped by reading through the text as listed in each case before engaging the prayer. We hope in this way to both stimulate thought on textual themes and encourage devotional engagement week by week in each text's implications for life as we know it today.

April 3 (Fourth in Lent) – John 9:1-41

A whole chapter, Lord, given over to an extraordinary event, set in the context of an even more extraordinary conflict. A blind man healed, largely unaware of who it was that healed him. “One thing I do know,” he later told his inquisitors, “that though I was blind, now I see.”

How striking it is to me that in your presence, Lord, the blind are made to see, while those who have always had the gift of sight are proven blind. All of us who follow after you this day on your Lenten journey are caught up short—both by the miracle cited and the skepticism of those surrounding who, out of hatred for you and pride in themselves, refused to accept and believe it.

Help us, Lord, looking on both to truly see the blind man delivered and be delivered ourselves from our skepticism and unbelief. Have I substituted my religious understanding for faith in you? Am I offended in my own life by where you go and what you do that does not seem to sync with what I have assumed is proper?

Soften my heart to your Son and his grace. And help me forsake whatever pride and prejudice prevents me from glorying in his power and submitting to his rule. Amen.

April 10 (Fifth in Lent) – John 11:1-45

“The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” Martha said to Mary. “Ans when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.”

A week ago we saw people who ought to have known better resisting Jesus. Here we see a woman of faith anxious to be with him, to sit quietly at his feet, as later evidenced.

Lord, make me more like Mary and less like the scribes and Pharisees, who ought to have seen and known better. Open my mind and heart to your presence and fill both with your grace, wisdom, and power.

Deliver me as you delivered Lazarus from death. lest I miss the opportunity of being with you and living in you. Raise my mind and spirit from every temptation to trust more in my wisdom than in yours. And lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.

April 17 (Palm/Passion) – Matthew 27:11-54

The silence of your Son, O God, in the midst of his accusers, is an awesome witness to the fact that they had no real authority over him. He knew and still knows that every attempt to control his destiny by anyone foolish enough to believe they have the power is destined to fail.

He was in your hands, Lord, who alone holds that power, and you had willed in love to allow him to suffer and die for our sakes that you might raise him again on the third day for our salvation.
He had no need to justify himself in any of the human tribunals to which he was sent back and forth. For he saw your will in the distance and was committed fully to obey it, that whoever later might come to believe in him could have eternal life.

Sadness prevailed for a time, as we see in this whole chapter, but joy and light were not far behind. What wondrous love is shown us here, and humility in the face of certain death! Amen.

April 23 (Easter) – John 20:1-18

How sovereign you are, O God, in power, grace and love. We see the power in your raising Jesus from the dead. We see the grace in his garden encounter (yes, garden encounter) with Mary. And we see the love in the cascading good news that spread quickly to all your people who had been drowning in despair.

And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, Martin Luther later proclaimed, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him. one little word shall fell him!

There is naught to do this day but rejoice, Lord, in who you are and all you have done for us. Our joy is unending, for you have willed to save us—even from ourselves. Let nothing hinder our praise this day. And let nothing tempt us to stray from the power, grace, and love it heralds forever. Amen

Prayers on Gospel Texts - March, 2011

Over a period of two and a half years now, since July of 2008, this prayer section on our website has focused on the psalm designated for each Sunday in the Church Year.

Commencing with Lent in March, 2011 we will be using the gospel text for each week instead. Visitors will be helped by reading through the text as listed in each case before engaging the prayer. We hope in this way to both stimulate thought on textual themes and encourage devotional engagement week by week in each text's implications for life as we know it today.

Ash Wednesday, March 9 (First Week in Lent) - Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

It's all here, O God. Reminders as ashes are placed on our foreheads that we are but dust and to dust we shall one day return. Not bad news, but good if, in response to Jesus teaching, we heed it.

We need to be warned against practicing our piety--a good thing in itself--not before God first but before others. So also are warnings issued here against pride in such matters as the giving of alms and even praying and fasting--not to mention storeing up treasures for ourselves on earth.

O God, save us from all self-seeking by planting deep within us the Spirit of our Lord. Teach us your will and way, and help us in our living to serve first the interests of your Kingdom. Amen.

Sunday, March 13 (First in Lent) - Matthew 4:1-11

What must it have been like, O God, for your Son to be tempted? Any why did the Spirit lead him out over forty days and nights into the wilderness to fast before he was thus enticed by the tempter?

Surely here we are at the heart of both the trauma and triumph of redemption. The battlers here engaged are no minor characters. This is a cosmic battle between your beloved Son and a fallen, once-angelic pretender to your throne.

Thank you, O God, that you sent Jesus thus to do battle for the likes of us. And thank you for the encourgaement of knowing he won that battle by using your Word.

Teach us to speak that same Word to all our lesser temptions, O God. Free us from the fantasy that we can deliver ourselves from evil thoughts, ways, and acts. Help us to so hide your Word in our hearts that we, following Jesus, may not sin against you. Amen.

Sunday, March 20 (Second in Lent) - Matthew 17:1-9

It all appears to come together in Jesus, O God--your beloved Son. Cosmic light, your voice of approval, and the appearing of Moses and Elijah--their lineage thus passed on to Peter, James, and John. No wonder the latter fell to their knees in awe and worship--rising at your invitation to see "noone except Jesus himself alone."

This was the first text assigned me to preach on in homiletics as a freshman in seminary. Well do I remember my own fear and trembling, trying to understand why Jesus, on coming down from the mountain, instructed his disciples to "tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Like the early disciples, we need to truly be with Jesus over time, O God--to see and affirm who he truly is. Thank you for your patience with us as we follow him--both up the mountain where he is transfigured before us and down into the valley where he leads us toward Jerusalem and his suffering and death.

And yes, O God, bring us to see him on Easter Morn, as Peter, James, John, and others did, resurrected from the dead, true Lord of life and death. Remind us daily that Jesus, once come among us, now ascended into heaven, is coming again soon to establish forever your Kingdom he announced and began among us. Amen.

March 27 (Third in Lent) - John 4:5-42

Thank you, O God, that there isn't any "no man's land" to you, as there is so often to us. Like your ancient people, who never wanted to go through Samaria, we have places ourselves where we would rather never go. But every place for you is sacred, just as it was for Jesus. He had to go through Samaria, Scripture says, and he was tired. Yet even there in that hated place we note that "he sat down by Jacob's well."

How significant that was in all that followed, Lord, as he engaged in conversation with a Samaritan woman. What was in her little life became tied to what more there was to life--in Jesus, of course, but also in the whole biblical saga going back in this case to Jacob.

Thank you, Lord, how you catch all of us unaware, whatever our name, no matter where we live or what we have done and are doing. And thank you for the heart of love with which you both are aware of our inner soul and long to heal our whole being.

Make us like Jesus, so living in you and aware of your mighty acts in history that living by your Spirit we will learn to see opportunities for witness wherever we are and go. Send us even to places we would rathwer not go and help us find there both the rest in you that is always present in sacred memory and the love for people you intend us to win for the Kingdom. Amen.

Praying the Psalms - February, 2011

February 6 (Fifth after Epiphany) - Psalm 112:1-9 (10)

Fear of and great delight in your commandments, O Lord, is by the psalmist's witness the best we can bequeath to generations yet to come. Who we worship and thus become in ourselves speaks volumes to those coming after us. If in us they see generous, just, and fearless people whose hearts are firm and secure in the Lord, their own confidence will be bolstered. The wicked may see such in us and be angry, but "the desire of the wicked comes to nothing."

Help us, O God, to have that perspective in all our living. Stay close by us in moments when we are tempted to wander away from you. Graft your Spirit into our living, and help us to reflect that Spirit in all we do and say.

Only in that way will we truly praise you, and bring both honor to your name. Amen.

February 13 (Sixth after Epiphany) - Psalm 119:1-8

As days get longer, so do the psalms, Lord, this one the longest of all. In but a few verses at the beginning, reminiscent of Psalm 1, the stage of life is set for us with reminders that those are happy in life "whose way is blameless ... who keep [your] decrees and seek [you] with their whole heart."

Your laws and decrees are lifted up in every verse of this psalm. Even so, may we lift them up every day of our lives. Keep us focused on learning and observing your word. Only so will we be kept from shameful ways of our own.

We need your help, O Lord, as we journey through this life. Simply yearning to be steadfast in keeping your statutes is not enough. We need and will continue to need the enabling power of your Spirit. Amen.

Sunday, February 20 (Seventh after Epiphany) - Psalm 119:33-40

In this continuing season of lights, Lord, we need the light of your presence to guide us. We need to be taught by you, given understanding into the mysteries of your ways and will. Turn our hearts and our eyes from looking at vanities and give us true life in you.

You have promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we are. We cannot hope to make our own way to you. But see the longing of our hearts for your righteousness and grant us life through your word and Spirit.

Deliver us also from the disgrace we always feel when your light shines upon us. Help us to see beyond the shadows of our own making the saving power of your light. And help us there to place our trust. Amen.

February 27 (Eighth after Pentecost) - Psalm 131

What beauty there is in simplicity, Lord, capturing in a few words not only the intense intense longing of our hearts but an equally intense confidence and joy in believing and belonging.

Save us from substituting great schemes of our own for simple faith in all you offer your people. Humble us under your mighty hand that we may be satisfied to live in the mystery of your will, even when we do not fully understand it. Help us, Lord, to put our trust in you and not in our feeble attempts to fully grasp all you are and offer.

Make us to be, with the psalmist, like a child at its mother's breast, feeding on your word and Spirit, and confident in hope. You have never disappointed those who look to you, Lord. Waken us to our need of the wholeness you alone offer, that we may every live in the only hope that truly satisfies. Amen.

Praying the Psalms - January, 2011

January 2 ( Epiphany) - Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Light tied to righteousness, mercy, and justice, Lord, the way life ought to be. King David recognized it, and called on you to make it happen, not only in his life but in genrations yet to come. No doubt you were pleased with his prayer, even if not always with the way he lived.

Does light from you, so much desired, depend on the symmetry between the way we pray and the way we act? In your Son there was no division betrween the two. Help us, Lord, to live out the things we confess to want from you lest we ask in vain. Help us always to remember that Jesus is the light of the world. Only living in him and by his Spirit will we be the light for others he calls us to be. Amen.

January 9 (First after Epiphany) - Psalm 29

When you speak, O God, power abounds. like the thunder over mighty waters. Your voice breaks the cedars in Lebanon, shakes the wilderness, causes even oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare. To hear it is to respond with all your people in the only way possible, with shouts of "Glory"!

Forgive us in this season of light for glorying, as we often do, in all the lesser lights that surround us daily, tempting us to let them point our way. Teach us, rather, your way, by holding us in the light of your Son and your Spirit. Give strength to your people from the throne where you sit enthroned, and bless us with true peace. Amen.

January 16 (Second after Epiphany) - Psalm 40:1-11

The power of David's witness seems to flow here, Lord, from the narrative of his life. He waited patiently for you to draw him out "from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog." His brokenness as a man, even while yet a king, brought him to that desperate point.

Sort of owning up to his desperation, he acknowledged that the Lord would not be pleased with his sacrifices and other offerings. It was only in coming forth as he was, saying "Here I am," that the Lord gave him an open ear.

Delivered, finally, of the scourge of his sin, he was set free to witness personally to "the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation." The grace he received could not be kept there, hidden from others. It had to be shared, spread abroad, if it was to be sustained in him. What a lesson in light, Lord! Every beam of it, sent forth by you, cannot be contained, but demands to be shared. Amen!

January 23 (Third after Epiphany) - Psalm 27:1, 4-9

Deeply personal, Lord, was David's faith in you. He did not fear others after discovering that you were his light and salvation. "The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

His faith was also focused. "One thing I asked of the Lord," he writes, "that will I seek after; to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."

David knew that in so doing, you would hide him in your shelter in the day of trouble, and set him "high on a rock." He also knew that only in continuing to behold your beauty and inquire in your temple could his faith and focus be maintained. No wonder he plead with you not to hide your face from him!

Hide not your face fro us, either, Lord. We perish without you! Amen!

January 30 (Fourth after Epiphany) - Psalm 15

As light eminates from you to us, Lord, so must it eminate from us to others. Failing to reflect your light in our living, anything we offer others can hardly be helpful--much less redemptive.

Failing to "walk blamelessly ... to speak the truth from [our] heart" we evidence only the lack of light in our lives. Your light with have nothing to do with slander, doing evil to our friends, or taking up reproach against our neighbors. It calls on us also to stand by our oaths, even to our hurt, avoid lending at interest, or taking bribes against the innocent.

Only those who follow the light can be said to live in it, Lord, and they shall never be moved. Help us, Lord, both to believe that and to live it out. Amen.