St. Nicolai Notes

Prayer for February 19-25, 2017 

Sermon Text: Matthew 5:38-48

That you will transform us beyond our violence, revenge, hatred and miserliness

Christ Jesus, You challenge us beyond our favored practices! We are accustomed to protecting ourselves and attempting to manage our own security. How can we turn aside from the revenge that has become such a valued practice among us? How can we allow ourselves to be shamed? How can we allow our resources to be confiscated, yet give more than asked? How can we walk side by side with our oppressors? To whom shall we lend with our resources that never seem to be enough?

You must work a deep transformation within us if we are to move beyond our violence, revenge, hatred and miserliness.  You must transform us if we are to overcome the distance we create between ourselves and those who wrong us. You must make us new people if we are to practice the prayer and love for enemies to which You call us.  

We are deeply flawed. And most of the time we don’t want our flaws healed or corrected. But we do want to follow You in fidelity, so we submit ourselves to the transforming work that You must do in order to shape our lives so that they reflect the perfection of God—your Father and ours. Amen.