Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (Heb 12:1-7 NIV)

A wonderful confessional! As so often I find that the lectionary fits the occasion tailor-made. This week is under the watchword from 1.John 3,8b: The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work and the theme given by Sunday Invocavit’s gospel is temptation and how to overcome it. Just as we heard in the previous devotions on Monday and Tuesday. Today this again is the theme of our confessional.

• Goal:    To overcome temptation! Endure hardship as discipline!
• Malady: Hindered and entangle by sin! Shame! Opposition from sinful men! Growing weary and loosing heart! Forgetting the word of encouragement: Lord’s discipline
• Means: Discipline is a sign of God’s love and that he has accepted you as sons and that he is treating you as sons. (Story of the two brothers playing ball in the park!)
  • Go about your calling as sons of God!
    • Pray and Read his word +
    • Do your homework & tasks
    • Live friendly together with your brothers, housemates and fellow Seminarians and even outsiders.
• Trouble of sin, shame, opposition, growing weary & loosing heart
  • Illness – accidents do happen!
  • Opposition/stumbling blocks
  • Forgetting word’s of encouragement, our calling, our destiny
• Examples from holy Scripture (great cloud of witnesses!)
  • Joseph in Egypt
  • King David
  • Job – and all the Prophets: Starting off with Amos right through Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah.
  • Apostle St. Paul
  • Jesus himself – and his holy passion.

Read the first part of the reading again Heb.12,1-3. Confessional: Weary/losing heart/forgetting God’s goodness, mercy and love – that’s our sin, isn’t it? Now God wants to forgive, justify and heal + Revive our joy and place us under his gracious hand, protection and blessing +

The blood shedding has been accomplished by his son – under Pilates’ soldiers. Whipping, scorning, shaming, hurting, bleeding, thirsting, falling, pierced, stabbed, tortured and finally put to death – for us and our salvation. He did that for you + So that you would not lose heart or grow weary under the burden of your sins. Look up and see him on the right hand of the throne of the Father. Consider him and what he did for you. He proclaims with all authority in heaven and on earth: I forgive you all your sins + Depart in peace + joy of the Lord, your God. Amen.