Divine Hospitality (Pentecost 4, Proper 6c, 2013)

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Pentecost 4, 2013 (June 16)
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn
Luke 7: 36–8:3

TITLE: “Divine Hospitality”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel just read from St. Luke chapters Seven and Eight.

Introduction

When I was a kid growing up, my pastor’s name was Dale Ness. Pastor Ness was rather a character. He drove around a green 1956 Chevy pickup named Hiawatha. He was the pastor at our small church, and the teacher at our K–8 school. Oh, and he also had eight children. The parsonage where they lived felt like a combination of a diner, an orphanage with kids sticking out of every corner, a junk yard (he also was a welder as a hobby), and maybe some kind of zoo. I think there were a couple dogs in the mix as well. But the one thing about the Ness house that was the most memorable is what I will call hospitality. No matter what other crazy things were going on, you were always welcome. It didn’t matter if there was no money, or space, or not enough food. You knew that they were happy you were there. They had an incredible sense of hospitality.

And that’s what we’re talking about today. The theology of hospitality.

What is Hospitality?

So what exactly is hospitality? When I hear the word hospitality, I have an image in my head somewhere in between June Cleaver and the Waltons. Hospitality means welcoming people into your home. Hospitality means giving them a place at the table, and food in front of them. Perhaps more than anything, hospitality means showing and demonstrating love to whomever God puts into your path in life, whether it is at your house, on the street, at school or work. Hospitality really means confessing that Jesus came into our flesh and blood, and that all of us are His children.

We can see this many times in the Bible. Abraham entertaining the three angels in Genesis 18 would be one example of many. Certainly there are countless times in Jesus’ ministry when He shows hospitality toward those around him. The woman at the well. The many times He ate with tax collectors and sinners like Matthew, or forgave the sins of so many, like the woman in our text today. And we certainly can’t forget in the book of Hebrews the exhortation, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2 ESV)

To Whom Do We Show It?

The Pharisee

So to whom do we show hospitality? That is really the heart of our text today. Jesus has come to the house of a Pharisee. The Pharisee wants something from Jesus, and so seeks to get Jesus on His territory. He shows no hospitality to our Lord. He doesn’t use any of the conventions of their day, washing Jesus’ feet, greeting Him with a holy kiss. Jesus has entered into this house, but it is not the welcome of a home away from home. It is more like entering a lion’s den.

I think perhaps the hard part of hospitality for us is where we show it. It is easy to be nice to and care for people whom we already know and love. But what about the stranger? What about the person who needs your help, not simply those who want it? Like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan, it is all too easy for us to only “hang out” with people that fit our own little narrow definition. All too often, we will only show love and care for those that can give it back. We are all guilty of it.

The Woman

But not so this woman of our text! She is not a respectable part of society in Jesus’ day. They had words for women like that, which I shall not repeat here. She was looked down upon, belittled, labeled a public sinner. No one had time or a place for her. She was in many ways a stranger in a strange land.

Yet she recognized something that the Pharisee did not. She recognized that Jesus loved her with an everlasting love. She recognized that Jesus did not look down on her or belittle her. He knew who she was and and He knew her sins, better than she did in fact. But Jesus still welcomed her. Can you imagine how much that meant to her, the one that society rejected, belittled and considered beneath them?

Why Show It?

So this is where we really get at what hospitality is all about. Why do we care for others? Do we care for others because we can get something from them? Do we show concern because we know that it will help us in the long run. Do we care for others because they have cared for us? Our motivations are always mixed and confusing when it comes to how we treat each other.

In the case of the woman in our text, she loves Jesus because of how much He had forgiven her. In other words, her love and actions toward our Lord are in direct response to what Jesus had done for her. Nothing more, nothing less. She recognized that in Jesus there was one who would never betray her, never use her or abuse her. She recognized in Jesus one who came down to her to lift her up.

God’s Hospitality

And that simple reality brings us to God’s hospitality. When God looks at you, He loves you. It’s that simple. He doesn’t love you because you can do stuff for Him. He doesn’t love you because you’ve worked really hard and deserve it. No, He loves you because that is who He is. God is love, as we hear in St. John’s epistle. This means God’s actions toward you are not manipulative or sneaky. He’s not buttering you up so that He can sock you with a bunch of chores. No, He loves you so that He gave His one and only Son. He loves you so that He washes you in His font, brings you here into His house, and sets you up at His Holy Table. He does this all for you. It really is amazing, when you think about it.

What This Means for You Now

So what does this mean for you here and now, as we reflect on God’s hospitality and our own. There is no doubt that we fail at this, like so many things. We grow weary and tired of doing good. We get worn out from giving and giving and giving. But God, who is oh so merciful, God continues to give of Himself again and again and again. When we wear out and grow tired, He strengthens. When we are weak, that is when He shows His never-ending mercy to us, His children. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about caring for our families or making cookies for after church, God will provide what is needed. Always. Why? Because that is who He is, and that is what He does.

Conclusion

Pastor Ness’ house was always a welcome one. It has served for me, for more than thirty years, as a picture of how God welcomes us into His Home. He sets you up at His Table. He clothes you with the robe of Christ’s Righteousness. He gives you the finest of food and wine here at His banquet, which is Christ’s Body and Blood. Come, be a part of the family of God here and now. You are home.

Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

And now the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith to life everlasting. Amen.

Divine Hospitality (Pentecost 4, Proper 6c, 2013)

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Pentecost 4, 2013 (June 16)
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn
Luke 7: 36–8:3

TITLE: “Divine Hospitality”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel just read from St. Luke chapters Seven and Eight.

Introduction

When I was a kid growing up, my pastor’s name was Dale Ness. Pastor Ness was rather a character. He drove around a green 1956 Chevy pickup named Hiawatha. He was the pastor at our small church, and the teacher at our K–8 school. Oh, and he also had eight children. The parsonage where they lived felt like a combination of a diner, an orphanage with kids sticking out of every corner, a junk yard (he also was a welder as a hobby), and maybe some kind of zoo. I think there were a couple dogs in the mix as well. But the one thing about the Ness house that was the most memorable is what I will call hospitality. No matter what other crazy things were going on, you were always welcome. It didn’t matter if there was no money, or space, or not enough food. You knew that they were happy you were there. They had an incredible sense of hospitality.

And that’s what we’re talking about today. The theology of hospitality.

What is Hospitality?

So what exactly is hospitality? When I hear the word hospitality, I have an image in my head somewhere in between June Cleaver and the Waltons. Hospitality means welcoming people into your home. Hospitality means giving them a place at the table, and food in front of them. Perhaps more than anything, hospitality means showing and demonstrating love to whomever God puts into your path in life, whether it is at your house, on the street, at school or work. Hospitality really means confessing that Jesus came into our flesh and blood, and that all of us are His children.

We can see this many times in the Bible. Abraham entertaining the three angels in Genesis 18 would be one example of many. Certainly there are countless times in Jesus’ ministry when He shows hospitality toward those around him. The woman at the well. The many times He ate with tax collectors and sinners like Matthew, or forgave the sins of so many, like the woman in our text today. And we certainly can’t forget in the book of Hebrews the exhortation, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2 ESV)

To Whom Do We Show It?

The Pharisee

So to whom do we show hospitality? That is really the heart of our text today. Jesus has come to the house of a Pharisee. The Pharisee wants something from Jesus, and so seeks to get Jesus on His territory. He shows no hospitality to our Lord. He doesn’t use any of the conventions of their day, washing Jesus’ feet, greeting Him with a holy kiss. Jesus has entered into this house, but it is not the welcome of a home away from home. It is more like entering a lion’s den.

I think perhaps the hard part of hospitality for us is where we show it. It is easy to be nice to and care for people whom we already know and love. But what about the stranger? What about the person who needs your help, not simply those who want it? Like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan, it is all too easy for us to only “hang out” with people that fit our own little narrow definition. All too often, we will only show love and care for those that can give it back. We are all guilty of it.

The Woman

But not so this woman of our text! She is not a respectable part of society in Jesus’ day. They had words for women like that, which I shall not repeat here. She was looked down upon, belittled, labeled a public sinner. No one had time or a place for her. She was in many ways a stranger in a strange land.

Yet she recognized something that the Pharisee did not. She recognized that Jesus loved her with an everlasting love. She recognized that Jesus did not look down on her or belittle her. He knew who she was and and He knew her sins, better than she did in fact. But Jesus still welcomed her. Can you imagine how much that meant to her, the one that society rejected, belittled and considered beneath them?

Why Show It?

So this is where we really get at what hospitality is all about. Why do we care for others? Do we care for others because we can get something from them? Do we show concern because we know that it will help us in the long run. Do we care for others because they have cared for us? Our motivations are always mixed and confusing when it comes to how we treat each other.

In the case of the woman in our text, she loves Jesus because of how much He had forgiven her. In other words, her love and actions toward our Lord are in direct response to what Jesus had done for her. Nothing more, nothing less. She recognized that in Jesus there was one who would never betray her, never use her or abuse her. She recognized in Jesus one who came down to her to lift her up.

God’s Hospitality

And that simple reality brings us to God’s hospitality. When God looks at you, He loves you. It’s that simple. He doesn’t love you because you can do stuff for Him. He doesn’t love you because you’ve worked really hard and deserve it. No, He loves you because that is who He is. God is love, as we hear in St. John’s epistle. This means God’s actions toward you are not manipulative or sneaky. He’s not buttering you up so that He can sock you with a bunch of chores. No, He loves you so that He gave His one and only Son. He loves you so that He washes you in His font, brings you here into His house, and sets you up at His Holy Table. He does this all for you. It really is amazing, when you think about it.

What This Means for You Now

So what does this mean for you here and now, as we reflect on God’s hospitality and our own. There is no doubt that we fail at this, like so many things. We grow weary and tired of doing good. We get worn out from giving and giving and giving. But God, who is oh so merciful, God continues to give of Himself again and again and again. When we wear out and grow tired, He strengthens. When we are weak, that is when He shows His never-ending mercy to us, His children. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about caring for our families or making cookies for after church, God will provide what is needed. Always. Why? Because that is who He is, and that is what He does.

Conclusion

Pastor Ness’ house was always a welcome one. It has served for me, for more than thirty years, as a picture of how God welcomes us into His Home. He sets you up at His Table. He clothes you with the robe of Christ’s Righteousness. He gives you the finest of food and wine here at His banquet, which is Christ’s Body and Blood. Come, be a part of the family of God here and now. You are home.

Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

And now the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith to life everlasting. Amen.

Worthy (Pentecost 2c, Proper 4, June 2, 2013)

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Pentecost 2, Proper 4, 2013 (June 2, 2013)
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn
Luke 7:1–10
Confirmation Sunday

TITLE: “Worthy”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel just read from St. Luke chapter seven. We focus on the words, “Lord, I am not worthy that you would come into my house…but only speak the Word and my servant shall be healed.”

Those were the words of the centurion in our text. He recognized something very important about himself, something we can all learn from. Worthiness is the word. He did not consider himself worthy to be in God’s presence. But Jesus’ Word is all he really needed.

So what about you? Are you worthy to be in God’s presence? Are you worthy to be here, preparing to receive the Lord’s Supper for the first time?

Well, let’s review what might make you worthy. Did you get all your memory work done? Did you complete all your sermon studies, filling out each answer carefully and thoughtfully? How about answering questions? Did you get all of those right, or did you freeze up and freak out along the way?

What? You aren’t all perfect? After all the work your parents have done preparing you? After all the work that I’ve done as your pastor? I am shocked. Well, not really.

Friends, this is what we struggle with all the time as Christians. You aren’t worthy to be in God’s gracious presence. You didn’t do everything right in class. I daresay that you don’t do everything right in school, or at home, with your friends, or anywhere else. Now, don’t get me wrong. You have worked hard. All of you. But that isn’t what makes you worthy to be in God’s presence, or what makes you worthy to receive His Son’s body and blood in Holy Communion.

We said it together this week in your confirmation examinations, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him…” (Luther’s explanation to the Third Article of the Creed) It isn’t your smarts that makes you worthy, although you are all very smart. It isn’t your strength of will (or any other kind of strength) that makes you worthy. Left to your own devices, you don’t deserve to be here. Yes, I know. That sounds harsh. But remember, you aren’t alone in that. It is true not only for you, but for every one of us here today. As we prayed near the beginning of the service, “we have sinned in thought, word and deed by what we have done and by what we have left undone.”

No, as much as I might like to pick on you and point out how unworthy you are, it is really true for everyone here. A big part of being a Christian is really about learning that you aren’t a Christian because you’re so good, or because you’re better or smarter or more holy than anyone else. You, like all of us, deserve nothing but death and hell.

And that, friends, is where grace comes in. Grace means that God speaks the Word and you are healed. The words “I forgive you” ring out through the whole Bible. What God says something, it is true. The centurion in our text knew it. And now, by God’s grace, you know it as well. God’s Word makes you holy. God’s Word is what heals you. God’s Word is what gives you hope and life, the forgiveness of sins, salvation, and all of those many fifty-seven cent words we’ve spent the last two years learning together.

Today you receive and participate in the great gift of the Lord’s Supper. In ancient times Christians had a little prayer that they would pray as they prepared to receive Jesus’ body and blood. The prayer is actually from our text today. It goes like this, “Lord, I am not worthy that you would come into my house, but only speak the Word and my soul shall be healed.” When you see me kneeling behind the altar, receiving the Lord’s Supper, that’s what I’m saying. I would commend it to you, really to all of you, as a good way to begin your reception of Christ’s body and blood. ”Lord, I am not worthy that you would come into my house, but only speak the Word and my soul shall be healed.”

So now where do you fit into all of this, oh parents, friends, family members and congregation? These young women are about to confess the faith once delivered to the saints, and promise to suffer all things, even death, before denying Jesus and His death for their sins. It’s a big deal. And they can’t do it alone. The Holy Spirit has called them by the Gospel, and He has made us into the Church, which is Jesus’ very body. We as a congregation promise to pray for them, support them, and encourage them in the faith they confess today.

But you are no more up to the task than they are! It is all too easy to forget them once they are confirmed. It is all too easy to let them go out of sight and out of mind, to let them become one more set of statistics, more young people that we will “tsk, tsk, tsk” at and wish we had them in church still. May it never be so among us!

The only hope for them and for us is in Jesus Christ and His great mercy. But this isn’t a last, desperate move on the part of the Christian Church. That is always our hope. That is always where our trust lies. Today we rejoice not that they have graduated from Church school and now know all the answers. Today we rejoice that they confess the faith that God gave them in their baptisms. And as a part of this body, the Church, we can pray for them and encourage them in their journey along the way. And Lord willing, they will do the same for us in the years to come.

So this day, new confirmands and old confirmands, rejoice that you are worthy to come under His roof, because you are in Christ. In Christ, your life begins anew. You are worthy.

Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

And now the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith to life everlasting. Amen.

From Grace to Joy in the Holy Trinity (Trinity Sunday, 2013)

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Trinity, 2013 (May 26, 2013)
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn
John 16:23–33

2013-Trinity.mp3

TITLE: “From Grace to Joy in the Holy Trinity”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel just read from St. John chapter eight. Today we will be talking about the joy of the Holy Trinity, and how we enter into and receive that joy by faith in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Trinity is a mystery. That is no secret. Once you start talking about one God in three persons, most peoples eyes begin to glaze over, even Christians who understand it. For us sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, the inner workings of the Holy Trinity remain to us as shadows, bits and pieces that we understand here and there, but can never fully comprehend.

This is why when God reveals Himself to us, He doesn’t do so as a doctrine or a teaching, but as a person, namely, Jesus Christ. God isn’t a chart or a diagram. Jesus Christ is God made flesh for us. He is the exact image of the Father, and the Holy Spirit delivers Jesus to us, His children. So you do not need to fully understand the Holy Trinity in order to worship Him. You need simply to believe, and wonder at God’s grace in coming to sinners like us.

So this is how we enter into the divine life, the life of God for us. Each one of our readings, from the Introit at the beginning of the service, all the way through to our Gospel today, each one of them have variations of the word joy in them. Listen to these different places and what they mean:

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalms 16:10–11 ESV)

This is a Psalm that talks about the resurrection of the dead. The way of death to life in Jesus is the way of joy. Even in the midst of death, there is a fullness of joy because we are in His presence. We hear this again in Proverbs,

“I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,” (Proverbs 8:30 ESV)

Here we have a picture of Jesus as the master workman whom God the Father uses to create and sustain the world. They delight in each other, and rejoice in the divine presence. And we hear Psalm sixteen quoted in Peter’s great Pentecost sermon from Acts:

““‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.” (Acts 2:25–26 ESV) (this is quoting Psalm 16)

To be in God’s presence is joy. Jesus, the very Son of God in the flesh, rejoices to be in the presence of God the Father. This is no passing happiness that will come and go. No, this is the joy that comes from knowing that you are in God’s strong right hand forevermore, and that nothing can shake you from His grip. Even Abraham himself saw this as Jesus said in our Gospel. Jesus spoke to the Jews about the day of His death and resurrection. Jesus said,

“Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”” (John 8:56 ESV)

So in each of these texts, we see the joy that can only come from being in the presence of God. And that is what God delivers to you today by His Word and Spirit.

In order to understand this, we need to do a little word studying. The word for “joy” in the Bible is the word “xara”. And the word for “grace” in the Bible is the word, “xaris.” We get the word charismatic from this word. If we say that someone has a charismatic personality, we are really saying that they have been given the gift of joy and that it is, well, it is contagious.

But joy and grace are always tied together. Grace means that God looks upon you with favor because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And because God looks upon you with a kind heart, you have joy. And this joy no one can take away from you.

Joy, beloved, is a gift that can only come from God. It doesn’t mean happiness, as kind of an emotional state. It doesn’t mean always being in a good mood. It certainly doesn’t mean that you have it all together. What it means is that you know the end of the story, and that it is a great ending. It is a story, really, that never ends.

This is what led one pastor to write that all true theology is doxology or praise to God. Why? Because if we are studying and learning of the God that reveals Himself to us in the Bible, then we are learning about how God comes to us know to forgive our sins, to bring us to heaven, and to give us the fullness of joy which has no end.

Now this perspective, this way of looking at your life in Christ, it changes how you look at the world, at yourself and at your fellow Christians. This way of looking at things means you can take the long view, and don’t have to feel desparate to get things fixed and figured out right away. Why? Because you have God’s grace, and in that grace is great joy. You don’t have to fret and worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow is in the hands of the One who orders all things mightily.

Today the world tries to take your joy away from you. The world wants you to believe that things are bad and getting worse. Tornados lead to tsunamies and earthquates. Violence begets violence. Anger leads to hadred. Frustration can lead to hurt and harm, broken relationships, divorce and more. And death leads to more death.

But God has something to say to you this day. Peter wrote in his sermon from acts, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”” (Acts 2:36 ESV) You crucified Him by your sins, but He has risen from the dead and given Himself to you in His holy Word and Meal. You are unclean, unholy and don’t deserve God’s love. But God gives it to you anyway, because He loves His Son and you now have the name of Jesus put upon you in Holy Baptism. So now when God looks at you, He sees Jesus and all of His great works for keeping the Law for you.

This, dearly baptized, is why you have joy. You have joy not because of what you do, but because of who He is and what He has done for you. So rejoice this day and be glad, sing His praises and remember all of His mighty words for you. And come rejoice with feasting at His table, where He lives and reigns to all eternity. Amen.
Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

And now the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith to life everlasting. Amen.

Whatever You Ask in My Name (Easter 6c, 2013)

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Easter 6c, 2013 (May 5, 2013, revised from 2008) 

Holy Cross Lutheran Church 

Rocklin, California

Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn 

John 16:23-33

TITLE: “Whatever You Ask in My Name”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is from the Gospel just read, with focus on Jesus’ words, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you (John 16:23b).

Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean?

With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that he is our true father and that we are his true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask him as dear children ask their dear father.

In our household, as I expect it is in most of yours, a part of the nightly ritual is talking about the day. “What happened at school today?” “Who did you play with?” “What kind of trouble did so-and-so get into?” That sort of thing. Now on most days Kathryn and I can pretty much predict what many of the answers are going to be. The days don’t really change all that much. But that isn’t really the point. The point isn’t that we don’t know what’s going on. The point is that we love to hear about our children’s lives. Why? Because that’s what parents do.

Now if this is true for earthly fathers and mothers, how much more is this true for our heavenly Father! Our heavenly Father, who knows all things, wants to hear from you. He doesn’t want to hear from you because He doesn’t know what’s going on in your life. Far from it. He wants to hear from you because He loves you. He wants to hear from you, and answer your prayers, because you are His child, baptized into His name. Jesus put it this way:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23-24 ESV)

If this is true, if God gives you all things in Christ, and if God wants your joy to be full, why don’t we pray? We quickly make prayer into an obligation, a task to get done, or even something we do to please our parents or grandparents. We treat prayer like it is a fire alarm. Break the glass and pop out a prayer, but only when things become really bad.

But it is not so. Luther once commented that next to preaching, prayer is the greatest devotion the Christian can render to God (Luther, House Postils, 2:104). The right to speak to God in prayer is a high honor, and it is one that does not come lightly. You have the ear of the king! You are in holy conversation with God in Jesus Christ, our Lord. There is no greater benefit to you and your needs than prayer. When you pray, God hears. When God hears, he answers. When He answers, it is only in blessing for you.

This is why Satan wants to drag you away from prayer. He knows how powerful it is. The Israelites prayed to God that he would take away the fiery serpents, and He did. Abraham prayed to God that He would save Lot and his family. David prayed to God for forgiveness, and God granted it. The Canaanite woman. The centurion. Jairus’ father. The blind, the sick, the sinners. God heals them all. That is who He is. That is what He did for them, and that is what He does for you even now. Satan knows this all too well. He doesn’t want your sins forgiven. He doesn’t want you receiving God’s peace. He wants you feeling tired, alone, angry with God and man alike. He knows this, and so He does everything He can to drag you away from our Lord in prayer. Luther put it this way:

The devil is a scoundrel who furtively sneaks up behind us to see if he can somehow divert us from prayer. So, we must prepare ourselves to oppose him and allow nothing to deter us. When he prompts you to think, there’s something else I must do first, then you must say, No, not so; as soon as the need arises, I shall pray; for when I have need to call upon God, that is the right time to do it. If I am not fit or worthy to pray, God will make me fit and worthy. For I know that He loves me, not because I am so good or righteous, but for the sake of Christ, Whom I love and in Whom I believe. (Luther, House Postils, 2:106)

What the devil doesn’t want you to know is that even when you are too whipped to pray, even when you feel like you hate God and want nothing to do with Him, even then the Spirit prays for us when we cannot pray for ourselves. St. Paul says “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26 ESV) This is God’s work for you. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ hears your prayers. You have been washed in Him, you sit at His holy table, eat, drink, listen and speak with Him. You are a part of the family, and that will never change. Hear again those beautiful words from the catechism:

Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean?

With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that he is our true father and that we are his true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask him as dear children ask their dear father.

Pray with boldness and confidence. You are the Lord’s. Believe it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.