Lord’s Day 40: Q&A 105-107: Don’t Hate
We are back after a couple weeks off from the holiday season, and I find it appropriate that Lord’s Day 40 is where we start the New Year. Partially because it’s always good to remind yourself to love and not hate, but my church is also starting a months-long sermon series going through the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. It’s within this group of teachings that we get a lot of the theology from this week’s Lord’s Day, namely that we are not merely to not murder, but also that we are not to hate, be envious, or put down our neighbor. Instead, we are to love them; to pray for them; to seek after their good, even when they are not seeking ours. Obviously Jesus is the epitome of this. I thought of how, at the Last Supper, he knew that Peter would deny him. He knew that Judas was going to betray him. He knew that the rest of the disciples would flee and desert him, leaving him alone in his darkest hour. And yet he broke bread with them, loved them, and prayed with and for them. That is the example that we are called to follow, even though it is incredibly challenging. I hope we will all take up that challenge in this New Year and in every year.
Lord’s Day 40
Q&A 105-107
GOD’S LAW
Once again, these can be read responsively.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God, you have called us to love our neighbor as ourselves. You have shown us that everyone is our neighbor, for they bear your image, just as we do. And yet we find ourselves full of envy, hatred, and anger against our neighbors. We give in to our sinful ways and the divisions that this world would have us live into rather than embracing the unity that comes through faith in you. Forgive us, Lord, for being vindictive, insulting, and belittling to our fellow humans. Have mercy on us for our destructive thoughts towards others. Bring us into a renewed sense of your love and care for everyone, just as you showed us. Rather than hate, may we love. Rather than scorn, may we uplift. We pray empower us, Holy Spirit, to show the world your love, even and especially those who we would rather hate. In the name of our loving Savior Jesus we pray, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who not only endured scorn and hatred, but gave himself up to be a victim of the hatred and murderous intent of humanity in order to save humanity from itself - this Savior bore all of our sins upon himself as he was killed. Our Deliverer who showed us how to love our enemies has forgiven our sins, even though we do not deserve such a grace. Let us give him praise and thanks, for without him we would be swallowed up by our sinfulness and hate. In Christ, our sins are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Holy, Holy, Holy are you, Lord God Almighty. We give you thanks today, for you stooped down from heaven to become incarnate as a human being. Jesus, you came into our midst and became as one of us, yet without sin, so that you could take all of our sins away from us. Thank you, Jesus, for showing us what it means to love as you love and not to hate as we would hate. For Christ, in this meal we are about to celebrate, you broke bread with the one who was to betray you. You drank with the one who was to deny you. And yet, you showed love, even unto the very end. May we strive evermore to follow that example in every part of our lives, O Christ. May we rid ourselves of all envy, hatred, anger, and vindictive thoughts against ourselves and our neighbors and instead turn and love, cherish, and protect, even when others do not seem to be deserving of it. For you, our Savior, have loved, cherished, and protected us when we have not deserved it, and we trust that you will continue to do so as you draw us and the world ever closer to you. Be with us in this sacrament, Holy Spirit, and give us fresh eyes to see the world as you see it and to love the world as you love it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
SENDING
Brothers and sisters in Christ, go from this place into a world that would have us hate rather than love; that would have us mock rather than build up; that would have us trample others rather than sacrifice ourselves for others. Go into that world bringing the good news of the Gospel to live as Jesus lived: loving our neighbors as ourselves, seeking their good, and building them up even if they do not return those things to us in kind. Follow after Christ’s example and love peace, gentleness, and patience. Go now in his peace. Amen.
