In Sunday's gospel, Jesus' hometown family and friends closed their hearts and minds, and got in the way of Jesus being able to do any deeds of power. On the other end of the spectrum, Jesus sends the disciples out with nothing for their journey, so that there wouldn't be anything to get in the way of God's work and people's hospitality. Both groups of people teach us that God desires to work in, through, and around us...and we can either be a part of that work or we can stand in the way of it.

The ELCA tagline is "God's work. Our hands." And so we have a responsibility. Not to do works that determine our salvation (it's all about grace!), but to soften our hearts and spirits to let God work in and through us, and not to resist or stand in the way.

Here is a prayer for your journey of letting God work through you:

Lord, your church is composed of people like me.
I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them.
It will be a church where people grow in faith and serve you, if I am open to such growth and service.
Therefore, with your help Lord, we shall dedicate ourselves to the task of being all the things you want your church to be. Amen

(prayer via Pastor Meredith Musaus at Holy Cross Lutheran, Menomonee Falls, WI and David Lose, workingpreacher.org)