I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. (Joh 17:4 NIV) and You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. (2Co 9:11 NIV)

I would not recognize the apostle as true replicas of their Lord if certain elements would be missing. Most of all virtues I would look for the shining simplicity and unity of purpose and being, which prevails in his holiness throughout all suffering and pain. From the beginning of his most holy life up to the blessed hour of his death the Lord strives for one thing more and above all else. At all costs he puts his mind to be the shepherd for the lost sheep, the king of the lost kingdom, the priest for an apostate world, with other words: He would be our Lord and master. That’s what he desired, that was his purpose, that’s what he is and that’s what he remained – and therein we find his divine simplicity and unity of purpose and being.  In all suffering and in the practice of all his virtues our Lord Jesus Christ kept that in mind and thus focused on that goal. Similarly the apostles kept focussed on God’s kingdom amidst all suffering and while living out their calling and mission consistently. The Lord and his servants pursue the one thing – both in their specific callings and missions. He entirely the Lord, they totally servants of his kingdom. So we can see him in his disciples. We should recognise him in us too and let others recognise him there as well – in suffering and with all purpose striving for his kingdom. We should yes, we should, but sadly much more can probably not be said of us. Looking at ourselves, we have all reason to repent and confess of our shortcomings and failures at this.

This devotion is a translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the Sunday Invocavit (First Sunday in Lent) as found on Pg. 118 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and puplished in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.