Monday after Invocavit Sunday
Posted on February 19, 2024 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
The disciples argue over which of them would be exalted the most, but Jesus declares single-minded, self-sacrificial service as the way of the only true King! The King who judges all first served all by creating them and placing them in a garden, supplying all their needs. Though they earned their removal from it and ended up having thorns and sweat without bread rather than bread without sweat and thorns, He still preserved them.
He gave His treaty on Mt. Sinai, telling how those whom He had redeemed from bondage would now live to express their understanding of receiving freedom by grace alone. When they broke their promise to live as He said, He sent His prophets again and again to restore them in it. Yet, they despised and killed His servants (Luke 11:43-52), so now He sent His Son to make them truly free (John 8:35-36). He unshackled them from the land (Matt. 27:51, 24:1-2) and the shadows of things to come (Col. 2:11-17), to be His new Israel (Gal. 6:14-16), spread throughout the world (Acts 1:8).
To judge the people, one must serve them as He has served. A Kingdom bestowed requires showing such favor as has been received: not contemplation of how to win a position, but the confession through service of what has been given, just as the Master became the Servant so that He might be the Giver.
Collect: O 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.
