Monday after Invocavit Sunday
Posted on February 27, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 22:24-32 (NKJV)
22:24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Devotion
“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
We live in a post-authority culture. Many people are either skeptical of authority, or outright reject it. The problem is the world’s faulty definition of authority. Many define authority simply as having power. Like the disciples arguing about who is the greatest, so also this world argues about which person gets to put more of their boot to someone else’s head.
Our Lord rebukes this notion by explaining that those who are in authority ought to model Christ and His service rather than seek their own power or gains. Despite this, the sting of rebellion in the Old Adam weighs heavy on many of us, wanting to resist even Godly authority at every turn. Like Peter, we are tempted to deny such authority because of the world, the flesh, and the devil. But our Lord saves us and causes our faith not to fail. When we return to Him in faith, He can teach us to strengthen one another and rightly submit to His authority, and to those whom He has given us, just as we ought.
Prayer: Lord, mercifully hear our prayer, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
