e-vo for week of June 16

Dearest e-votees-

This week’s gospel text pulls no punches. The call to follow after Jesus is intense. In Baptism we were grafted into that call. In our confirmations (aka “Affirmation of Baptism”) we acknowledged that call on our lives publicly. May we be blessed and given courage so that we not shrink away from the deep and life-giving call of our savior Jesus.

Peace,
Karl

---------------------

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:51-62, NRSV

The image of Jesus setting his face resolutely towards Jerusalem has always caught my attention. Jesus knows who he is and what he is here to do. He will not be distracted. This text, partnered with Luke 7:11-17 where Jesus responds immediately to the ministry need of raising the widow of Nain’s son, shapes Jesus’ ministry in the form of a cross. There is an intense heavenly focus with a powerful responsiveness to the earthly needs about him. There is a death that is calling all of us (“Take up your cross and follow me”) and an opportunity to perform life-giving acts to those who cross our paths.

This text strikes me as one very much like 1 Corinthians 13 (aka “the love chapter”) in two ways:

1. This text is a call to each and everyone one of us. It is a personal and binding call to each of us who would lay claim to Jesus as our savior. In that way we can use it as a mirror to examine our own walks. This text does not serve well as a lens with which to scrutinize others. When I do pre-marital counseling and engage 1 Corinthians 13 I tell couples that this text serves much better as a mirror for self-examination rather than a club to pummel the shortcomings of the other. In this same way our Luke text is quite suited to self-examination. We don’t need to decide if others are fit for the kingdom of God or not—that is between God and the other. Jesus’ response to James and John wanting to incinerate those they thought didn’t make the cut should temper our judgment of others as well. There is a powerful call that demands response. The call is to us and the response is ours. God will do what God will do with others—not really our concern.

2. This call is remarkably hard (bordering on impossible). Itinerant and sojourning lifestyle with nowhere to lay one’s head is a hard sell to a world that has specialty stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond that beckon us to luxuriate and have many places to lay our heads. Telling a grieving man to let the dead bury his father seems mighty harsh from the same Jesus who brought the widow of Nain’s son to life and gave him back again. Why wasn’t she called to neglect the burial of her son and follow after Jesus? Calling a prospective follower to leave home without saying goodbye also seems harsh from Jesus. No matter how broken or dysfunctional there really is no place like home. Jesus commands an almost impossible level of response calling one unfit who looks back from whence he or she came. 1 Corinthians 13 sets a high and lofty standard for love. This gospel text does the same for discipleship.

Bottom line, we live in a salad bar mentality world. Take what you like. Take as much as you like. If you don’t like what you got throw it away. You can get a clean plate and start over. This is all for your comfort and enjoyment.

The call of Jesus to the cross and to discipleship looks very different than a salad bar. The cup isn’t one of bottomless beverages but rather a portion of the cup of his suffering. The bread isn’t breadsticks and croutons and soup crackers but his body which is real food and strengthens us to eternal life. We may be called to endure things that look foolish to the world. That’s the point. We’re not of this world.

Lord Jesus, help us to be fit for the kingdom of God. Call us out of this world into your kingdom. Give us the courage to turn our faces resolutely to where you have called us. Help us love and serve others rather than try to cast down fire upon them. Teach us your ways. Amen.

e-vo for week of June 9

Dearest e-votees-

This Sunday’s appointed Old Testament is the confrontation of David by Nathan after his affair with Bathsheba. Our sins have real and grave consequences on us and on those we love.

May God bless us all as we work out our salvations with fear and trembling knowing that God’s mercies are new every morning and that God will bring to completion the work that was started in us.

Peace,
Karl

--------------------

26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27 When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord,1 and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him." 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; 6 he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." 7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; 8 I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. [11 Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. 12 For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun."] 13 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan said to David, "Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die." 15 Then Nathan went to his house. The Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill.

2 Samuel 11:26-12:10 [11-12] 13-15, NRSV

In the text above you might notice that verses 11 and 12 are bracketed off. This is because they are not included in the assigned reading but I have them there to give the entire account of the confrontation by Nathan.

Psalm 51 is explained as resulting from this confrontation of David. David writes in verse 4 “Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight…” while speaking to God. I wonder if Uriah might have a different take on David’s culpability. Bathsheba might have something different to say if we were to give her a voice (she doesn’t even have a name in our assigned text). The baby born of Bathsheba and David lived for seven days (not even old enough to be named and circumcised as that happens on the eighth day) might have had something to say about all this had he the ability to speak. If you read the bracketed verses David’s wives who were to endure public shame as a result of David’s more private indiscretions might too want to weigh in about David’s sinning only against God.

The point is that David’s sin had deep and lasting repercussions on the lives of many. Ours do too. David knew what was right as evidenced by his response to Nathan’s parable of the rich man and the one little ewe lamb. Nathan’s “You are the man!” must have kept ringing in David’s ears.

We too know what is right much of the time. Yet we choose what is comfortable or amusing or fun or expedient or safe. Because of our choices we cause deep and lasting repercussions on ourselves and the lives of those we love. For those of us that have ears to hear we have “You are the one!” ringing out.

God’s mercy is for us and for all. God’s mercies are indeed new every morning. We have some opportunities to make amends. One of the holy grounds that pastors at time stand upon is helping people with step 5 of the 12-step program where people seek to make amends with God, ourselves and others for the wrongs perpetrated. Confession and absolution is a deep and powerful spiritual practice. Luther talked about mutual consolation of the saints as a possible third sacrament (in addition to baptism and communion). What holy ground it is when we are able to confess and when we are able to absolve with one another.

What we can take from the tragic and profound sin of David is that our sins can wound and maim people deeply. We can also take away that God doesn’t give up on people very easily—which assures us and calls us to not give up on others easily either. We should abide in these truths deeply.

God, guide us and lead us that we steer away from sin. Help us to be people of mercy and love and grace when we and those we love cause injury to each other and ourselves. Help us extend your mercy and love and grace to those we don’t love as well. Bring healing and pour out your grace. Amen.

e-vo for week of June 2

Dearest e-votees-

This week we have two raising of the dead stories in our lectionary. The first is when Elijah restores to life the widow of Zarephath’s son in 1 Kings 17:17-24. The second is when Jesus restores to life the widow of Nain’s son in Luke 7:11-17. The appointed psalm (Psalm 30) and the appointed epistle (Galatians 1:11-24) also have themes and threads of death to life.

Perhaps there are places in our life where death needs to yield to the life-giving gospel of Jesus.

Peace,
Karl

---------

17 After this the son of the [widow of Zarephath], the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 She then said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!" 19 But he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. 20 He cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?" 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." 22 The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." 24 So the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."

1 Kings 17:17-24, NRSV

11 Soon afterwards [Jesus] went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12 As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" 17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

Luke 7:11-17, NRSV

Where have you tasted of literal death in your life? Do you know the exquisite pain of losing a child as did both of the widows in our assigned texts? Have you buried friends and siblings? Are you a widow or a widower? Have you stepped into the mantle of the patriarch or matriarch of the family after tending to the deaths of your parents? Have you lost the devoted companionship of pets through death? There is no soft-pedaling death. Death is painful and palpable and awaits us all. All of us know about death more than we might like. Death seems to have the final and crushing word. But then we hear of Jesus’ empty tomb. And we hear stories like the ones above (and Lazarus and the 12-year old girl and Eutychus) [see John 11:1-44, Luke 8:40-56 (among others) and Acts 20:8-12]. Granted all of these accounts except for Jesus are not truly resurrections since all died yet again—but they offer hope. And Jesus’ unique resurrection offers a sure and certain hope. Dare we believe the outrageous hope that is offered in the empty tomb of Easter morn?

Where have you tasted metaphorical death in your life? Have you been touched by job loss? Have you been touched by debilitating illness? Has divorce shattered supposed forever unions? Have hopes and dreams been crushed? Have people betrayed or disappointed or neglected in ways that are irretrievably hurtful? Have plans and schemes and best-laid plans been thwarted? Perhaps the words spoken to the Babylonian exiles speak to you too:

11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will let you find me, says the Lord…

Jeremiah 29:11-14a, NRSV

There is no soft-pedaling death. Death is real and it hurts whether literal or metaphorical. But God knows the intimate pains of death. That is why Jesus was so stirred at the tomb of Lazarus. That is why Jesus cried from the cross. God enters into our pain. God offers hope and healing even in the midst of the deaths we endure. God isn’t done with us or those who have died yet.

Death is real. God’s love is more real. The Easter truth of resurrection is for us and for all.


God, give us courage and faith to live through the deaths we endure. Gather us at last with all the saints who have gone before us into the sure and certain resurrection hope of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

e-vo for week of May 26

Dearest e-votees-

This coming Sunday is set aside to commemorate the Holy Trinity in our liturgical cycle. We enter into the mystery of God in three persons. We are invited into the community with those three. When we engage that community we find fruits coming to bear in our lives—hope, character and endurance. May we bear those fruits well and offer them to those we encounter who need them as well.

Peace,
Karl

--------------
1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5, NRSV

We are justified by faith. We are aligned to and with God through faith. We are saved by grace through faith (see Ephesians 2:8) and so we have peace with God. This peace and this reconciliation come to us as pure and freely given gifts (though the cost was exceedingly high and paid in full on Good Friday). That condition of being forgiven without ever being able to merit it is the foundation of our faith life. We respond in love to that which love has given to us—restored relationship with God, eternal life and peace. We have the hope of sharing in the glory of God.

Since we have such a high calling and deeply abiding peace we are able to endure sufferings—even embrace them—even boast in them. We don’t seek out suffering for suffering’s sake. We don’t put our self in harm’s way to satisfy masochistic tendencies. We do, however, seek to endure suffering with joy and faith. As we faithfully engage the points of suffering in our life we know that God brings about the fruit of endurance. Through God we can abide and persist and even thrive in the most adverse conditions. As we stare down the sufferings that life throws our way we can help others find ways to endure and persist as well.

Since God is working in us the fruit of endurance we are being changed. We are growing into who we are and whose we are. We are having our character refashioned. We are gaining traits and abilities that can only be forged through suffering. Extreme conditions and successfully navigating them have a powerful ability to shape who we are. Boot camps, two-a-day practices, endurance runs, intensive medical procedures, survival situations, sustained crises, internships, cauldrons of relationships, etc, etc. all serve to shape us into someone different. When God is alive and at work in the process we come out of the fiery experiences with a new and better character forged.

Since God is the one at work in us bringing forth the fruit of character and since God will complete the work that God began in us (Philippians 1:6) we have hope. The hope that God gives (like the peace that God gives) is different than that of the world. Our hope is cross-shaped. We know what was borne to bring us hope. We know that we can persist in hope even as we endure the cross in our own life. We know that “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” and so we don’t have to let despair and defeat win. There is hope. Jesus is our hope. We bear that Jesus into a world that can at times seem quite hopeless.


Threefold God, thank you for inviting us into your community. Help us abide with you. Work into our lives endurance and character and hope. Use us to welcome others into this holy community as well. Let our lives be manifestations of endurance and character and hope in the lives of those we encounter. Amen.

e-vo for week of May 19

Dearest e-votees-

This Sunday is the Day of Pentecost. It is the 50th day after Easter (counting the starting day like we do when we call Easter Sunday the third day after Good Friday).

It is the day when the Holy Spirit was unleashed on the early church so that all who were present could hear the testimonies about Jesus in their own languages. The number of languages perceived were more than the number of those speaking—yet all heard.

It is the day when we wear red and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to blow through us and set us on fire as followers of Jesus.

May that same Holy Spirit blow through these words and this time spent together.

Peace,
Karl

---------------------------

8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

John 14:8-17, 25-27, NRSV

This gospel lesson comes from the “Upper Room Discourses” (aka the “Farewell Discourses”) of Jesus. Jesus is preparing to leave his disciples and so he is talking with them about things of great significance.

Jesus is about to leave but he is sending the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes to teach and to remind the disciples. The Holy Spirit is alive and at work in us to teach us and to remind us everything that Jesus has taught us. That Spirit is the same one that brooded over the chaos during creation. That Spirit is the same one that blew through the dusty bones in Ezekiel and restored life. We are a forgetful people. We are a people who don’t know as much as we should. Our lives can seem quite chaotic. Our lives can seem dead and dusty. The Holy Spirit continues to do what it always has bringing learning, inspiration, conviction, revelation, order and life. Jesus’ promises to his disciples apply to us as well.

Jesus gives his peace. Peace, or shalom, was an important concept in Jewish culture. When Jesus walked through the walls when the disciples were cowering behind locked doors he offers them his peace. Jesus often speaks words of peace or not being afraid. He gives us a peace that is profoundly different from the “peace” of the world. We need not fear. Jesus has done all is required. Beyond that, Jesus offers us the comforter, the Holy Spirit, to guide us. That Holy Spirit will abide with us forever. We are not alone.


God, thank you for the powerful gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to receive that blessed gift and the abide in your peace. Amen.

e-vo for week of May 12

Dearest e-votees-


Thursday of this week is the day of the church year that is set aside to commemorate Jesus ascending back into heaven after spending 40 days (see verse 3 below) after Easter offering convincing proofs of his resurrection and talking with the disciples about the kingdom of God.

In another 10 days (50 days after Easter) is the high holy day of the church we call Pentecost.

May the Holy Spirit blow through these words and through all of our days.

Peace,
Karl

----------------------

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Acts 1:1-11, NRSV

The ascension is the connector between Luke and Acts. Both of these books are written to Theophilus (see Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1) which means literally “God lover”--perhaps written to someone named “God lover” or perhaps to a community of lovers of God. Certainly the Holy Spirit inspired and preserved these books so that those of us modern lovers of God might receive the testimony as well.

The ascension is the last scene of Luke. The ascension is at the very beginning of Acts. The ascension is confessed freely in the creed: on the third day He rose again, He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. The ascension is not unlike the transfiguration of Jesus—powerful, unearthly, hard to grasp, leaves the witnesses stunned and makes a lot more sense after some time has passed and some meditation and reflection have been accomplished.

If you ever find yourself in Sioux Falls, SD and have a chance stop by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and look at the artwork behind the altar. They have a stylized depiction of Acts 1:10-11. It is stunning and inviting. It draws us into the account of Luke and reminds us that Jesus will come again (also part of the creed).

Jesus promises power when the Holy Spirit comes that we might be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Jesus says in John 16:5-16 that it is better that he go so that the Holy Spirit can come and do the Spirit’s work. Jesus is going but will come again. In the mean time we have the comforter, the advocate, the breath of God—the Holy Spirit.


God, stir up your Holy Spirit in us. Send us as your witnesses…

to our close and familiar places (home, work, friends, family)—Jerusalem.

to our surrounding and sometimes more challenging places (neighbors, communities, enemies, strangers and interlopers among us)—Judea and Samaria.

to the places we have yet to encounter (new communities, foreign lands, unfamiliar ideas and circumstances yet to arise)—the ends of the earth.

and help us bide our time well until Jesus returns again. Amen.

e-vo for week of May 5

Dearest e-votees-

The first Thursday of the month of May is designated in the U.S. as the National Day of Prayer (see http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/National_Day_of_Prayer if you want a history of how this day came to be).

It seems fitting this week to diverge from the Revised Common Lectionary to take a few moments to reflect on prayer (it might be a good week to take a few extra moments in prayer as well).

Peace,
Karl

__________

pray without ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:17, NRSV

It isn’t so often that the citation is longer than the verse. It is so simple to say. As with many things that are easy to say, the living out is so much more challenging.

When many people think of prayer they think of bowed heads and eyes closed. If this is your model of prayer you will have a hard time praying without ceasing. And you will be especially hazardous on the road if you pray behind the wheel.

When many people think of prayer they think of reciting petitions by rote or by working through a set of prayers with mnemonic devices (beads, bells, incense, etc.). If this is your model of prayer you will have a hard time praying without ceasing. And you will be especially distracted and distracting as people try to engage you in everyday conversation.

When many people think of prayer they think of reading devotional writings and scriptures with great focus and purpose. If this is your model of prayer you will have a hard time praying without ceasing. And you will be especially annoying to those trying to sleep while you have the light on and speak the holy words.

Of course all of these forms of prayer have validity and have their place. They are not, however, the essence of prayer. And they are not what we are called to do without ceasing.

We are called to be in a place and a posture of prayer wherever we find ourselves. That is praying without ceasing.

When ambulances tear by us with sirens blaring and lights flashing we can offer a prayer of safety and healing for all involved. When we engage others in confrontation and conflict we can pray “Dear Lord, help me see Your image in this one and help them to see it in me.” When we eat we can pray “Thank You for this daily bread.” When we work we can pray “help me honor and glorify You in all I do.” We need not consciously think these things or mouth them with our lips. We are just invited to dwell, to linger, to abide (a good John word) in the places of prayer. When we drowse and when we wake. We are at times of birth and dawn and when we are at the brink of night and death.

May all of us be steeped in prayer this day. Whatever we do, whatever we face, whoever we encounter—may they all be bathed in prayers. Prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of petition. Eloquent or fumbled it matters not. Sure and certain or more halting it matters not. Rote or free flowing it matters not. What matters is that we pray.


God, stir us ever more and more to pray without ceasing. Amen.