Lost and Found
Jesus Christ says, “Here’s what it means to follow Me. You have to hate your life to find it. You have to lose your life to discover it.”
Pastor Bohlken
Holy Waste
In our Gospel Reading, Mary wastes expensive perfume – which cost a whole year’s worth of wages – anointing Jesus’ feet. Why does she do it? Why would any of us offer such an extravagant waste to Jesus? Or, are we more practical, like Judas?
Jesus’ Tears and His Temper
In today’s Gospel Reading, we see two important truths. First, when Mary and the Jews are grieving deeply, Jesus feels their grief and shares their tears. Secondly, there is a word that most English versions translate as deeply moved or greatly troubled though it actually means to snort or bellow with anger, and it most often used for animals in their response to a threat or an attack. So, the question naturally arises, who or what is Jesus angry with?
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Two Resurrections
Father, Jesus says, “I AM the Resurrection AND the Life.” Give us renewed faith that the grave is not the end; but only the portal through which we will one day receive new bodies like His glorious body. And, today, may we reflect on our Baptism and the new Life we have through our connection to His death and Resurrection. We ask in Your Son’s precious name, the Same who is the Resurrection and the Life, and who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
We Glory in Our Sufferings
The problem with pain has often been expressed with a twofold question: [1] If God is so loving, why does He allow it? [2] If God is so powerful, why doesn’t He stop it? Our Gospel Reading tells us that Lazarus’ two sisters sent this message to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” So, Jesus loves Lazarus, yet, He is deathly ill. And, Jesus’ power, as we learn later in John, chapter 11, is power over the final and fiercest foe, namely death. So, the two questions that the problem with pain poses are dealt with. What, then, is the point of pain?
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The Good Shepherd
Father, like silly sheep, we have often gone astray, wandering off into the wilds of our own whims and wants. We are sorry. Send Your Holy Spirit to help us to turn from trusting in ourselves and our schemes to trusting in the Good Shepherd and His love for us. For He quenches our parched soul thirst with cooling streams of living water and who feeds our persistent soul hunger with the green pastures of Your Word. We ask in the name of Christ Jesus, our Good Shepherd, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!
Slavery that is Freedom; Freedom that is Slavery
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6)
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Seeing and Not Seeing
Father, show us daily Your Word of Law and Gospel, that is, Your light and truth. Open our eyes to the light and truth of Your Law showing us ourselves, our true nature; and, also to guide our day-to-day walk in this world. But, more importantly, enlighten our eyes and our hearts with the LIGHT and TRUTH of Your dear Son’s death on the cross and His glorious resurrection from death’s tomb. In fact, Father, take us daily to that cross and open tomb that our hearts may be warmed and transformed so that we may delight in Your love and, thus, live lives of love and service to our neighbors. We ask in the name of Jesus, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen!
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Our Abba
Heavenly Father, without Your Holy Spirit, given to us through the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we may feel that our prayers are inadequate, or are not heard because we do not choose or use the right words, or we are not sufficiently bold and confident in our prayers. Send Your Holy Spirit anew today to remind us that He intercedes for us in accordance with Your good and gracious will. Amen!
A Trinitarian Faith
Father, we are somewhat dismissive of Trinity Sunday because we fail to understand how impactful the doctrine of the Trinity is for our world and our individual lives. Please forgive us and give us a new desire to share with our world the same joy and love You have been experiencing with Your Son and the Holy Spirit from eternity. We ask in the name of Christ Jesus, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
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