“ROGATE 2023”
Saint John 16: 23-30
Rogate: 14 May Anno Domini 2023
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
Today, this day, May 14th, what are you asking for? Don’t think about it or your sinful nature—that’s the hypocrite will know that pastor wants you say that you’re asking for healing for sick parishioners, peace in war-torn parts of the world, wayward prodigals being brought back to the faith, and other Godly desires.
And yes, that is what your New Man, your Christian self “simul iustus” does pray for.
But when you just slip back into your daily routine of spiritual sloth, carnal leisure, and profane accumulation of mammon (money, vacations, more stuff, more entertainment) then indeed you ask for all the wrong things. Even in your church life you are far too often like Martha of Bethany—preoccupied with the hustle & bustle of works and things to do (even good things: taking care of Augsburg, giving extra money to missions, being here on Thursdays to study the Symbols). One thing is needful, and that thing, as Mary of Bethany knew was no “thing” but a God/Man Messias Jesus.
You know from the Reformer’s explanation of the 1st Article of The Creed all those things that The Lord knows that you need and that He richly and daily provides for you. You know as Christ explained that even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as God clothes the lilies of the field; that even the birds of the air are fed all they can eat; and that you, you of little faith, are more important than birds and plants.
So yes, you can pray for your necessities; but stop praying for your vanities and excesses. One thing is needful.
That is why parishes like ours and many others, pray and emphasize and Gospel Christ in The Word (preaching) and Christ in The Sacrament (the centrality of The Sacrament of The Altar).
Is today the day that Jesus mentions in John’s Gospel? Yes. This is now the very New Testament era that Christ was predicting to the “12.”
This is The Easter Season—at least until Thursday night at 7pm. Jesus has suffered on Calvary’s cross for you sins and bad selfish prayers and greed and lying and lust and murder and idolatry. Jesus died and was buried for all your trespasses. Jesus has risen from the dead and guarantees you all of this same Easter victory when He comes again in glory.
And now it is “that day,” that day when He is no longer locally present in visible form to talk to. You can’t go up to Jesus, the way John and Philip could, and ask Him to pray to God for you and yours.
Now as Christ makes clear, you pray to The Father. You pray to Jesus’ Father. You so pray because now IN CHRIST The Father/His Father is your true Father: “our Father Who art in heaven!”
Standing in the very sandals of Jesus, standing in His bloody red footprints, you as His dear brothers and sisters, pray The Father for all The Father’s good and gracious will.
This is no proverb. This was prophecy by Jesus which has been fulfilled in and by Jesus. Christ ascended to the right hand of The Father. Christ daily interceded for all of you. How so? By granting you The Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life. Life is Jesus. It is Trinitarian communication that you are all now privileged, invited, implored to participate in.
Talk to Jesus? Yes, sure. That is good and fine. Pray to Jesus? Again, permissible, and efficacious, yes! But the model for The Church and for The Church’s Holy Children, is to pray to THE FATHER, IN THE SON (in The Name of Jesus), BY THE SPIRIT. No one can say Jesus is Lord but by The Spirit.
And what are you going to ask for, knowing that The Father hears you, hears all prayers in His Son’s dear and Holy Name?
Well, Who is The Son? The Christ. And who are you? Christians—“little Christs” who are thus Sons and Daughters of The King.
What is The Son’s Name? Jesus. Jesus means Savior, He Who saves, Salvation for all His!
So, what do you pray for? What do you ask?
You pray Jesus! “Thy will be done!” That will is Jesus: Salvation.
You love your neighbor as yourself. You do good works. But you pray for the salvation of all the elect.
You believe, teach, and confess: “for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of The Truth.”
And you pray, “come quickly Lord Jesus.”
In The Name of The Father (to Whom we pray) and of + The Son (in Whom we pray) and of The Holy Ghost (by Whom we pray)
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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