Jesus, our Brother,

 

When you created us out of dust, you gave us flesh and blood, so since we have flesh and blood, you shared in our humanity in order to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. In this way you destroyed the power of death and freed us from our slavery to death. You have become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and made atonement for our sins. You too suffered when you were tempted, just as we do, but you were without sin. You are able to help us when we are tempted. [SEE: Hebrews 2: 14-18.] You were fully God and fully man. You experienced life as a human. You demonstrated compassion [Matthew 14: 14; Luke 7: 11-15]. You felt sorrow [Matthew 26: 36-46, Luke 19: 41-44; John 11: 32-44], anger [John 2: 12-17], and joy [Luke 10: 17-24]. You felt every emotion we feel; you were like us, but God and perfect in every way.

 

Do I recognize my feelings, LORD, or do I ignore them or stuff them? Do I share my feelings with you or do I think I can hide them from you? Thank you for each emotion. It is a gift from you. It is a way to connect with you and with others. It shows that your death and resurrection have freed us from the power of sin and death. We are not trapped by our emotions, but you use them as a springboard to a closer relationship with you.

 

We praise you, God. Great is your love toward us and your faithfulness endures forever [Psalm 117: 2]. From the beginning, you have demonstrated your steadfast love toward your people: toward Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, through Moses to the children of Israel, and through your disciples to us. Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and the needy from those who rob them [Psalm 35: 10]. The heavens praise your wonders and your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. Who in the skies can compare to you? Who is like you among the heavenly beings? You are feared in the council of the holy ones. You are more awesome than those who surround you [Psalm 89: 5-7]. May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In your name, Jesus, we pray. AMEN.