Wednesday in Fourth of July Week
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. The Gospel of the Lord.
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Perfect, "you must be perfect"? are you kidding me? Perfect, WTH does that mean? There ain't no way in 7734 that Bubba can come up smelling perfect, certainly not judging by the way I see me. I'm a defect, a defective human being. And you don't come off any better.
But this is not about the way I see me, it's about the way I measure up to my Baptismal Promises. How'm I doing, how are you doing? Are you seeking, serving, loving, striving, and respecting? Because that's all that matters.
That and that, in obedience to the Gospel, we love our enemies. I don't know about you, but that's a tall one, I can't do it, I just can't do it, I cannot love them, and I don't see how God can stand them either. So first we'll have another look at what we've promised, our Baptismal Vows. And then we'll pray for divine help in obeying Jesus' command. It seems especially important in 2020, election year.
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Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God's help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God's help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
I will, with God's help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
I will, with God's help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God's help.
We pray for our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Photo: Land that I Love.