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19th Sunday after Pentecost • Year C
October 19, 2025 • Proper 24
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Historical Collect
O God, our refuge and strength, since you yourself are the author of our devotion, graciously consider the devout prayers of your Church. May those things which we ask in faith effectively follow by your grace; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)
Thematic Collect
Almighty God, your love for us knows no bounds. Teach us to seek your face always and in all things to persevere in our relationship with you. Grant that we may learn to trust you and rely on your grace in every situation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
The Common Thread
We usually think of prayer as something that we do. But if we consider Jacob’s wrestling until the break of day as prayer, we see that it was the “man” who wrestled with Jacob. Luther says that this man was none other than the Son of Man. We see then, that God himself initiates prayer and continues the struggle with us until we lift up our eyes and see that our help and deliverance come from the Lord. God wants this same striving with him from us—a life devoted to him and to his word that lasts even longer than a night, that continues both “in season and out of season.” Our wrestling in his word then becomes an unceasing prayer (1 Thes 5:17) of the kind of faith that returns to the mat again and again to encounter God.
First Reading • Genesis 32:22–30
We always wrestle with faith. We are challenged yet the overcomer keeps her faith in God. Though the night lingers, take hold of God until the breaking of day. Keep the Name until the last day so that you may be inscribed with that same glorious name (Rev 3:12).
Psalm • Psalm 121:1–8
Look around. Look at the lives of others. See what benefit there may be in following their ways. Look to the mountain heights or the depths of the oceans. Look into the expanse of the heavens. There is no help to be found in these people and places. Our help comes from the One who created all of these things. Look beyond self and others, hill and sea; look beyond the heavens. Look to the God of heaven and earth.
Second Reading • 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5
Keeping the faith is a continuous turning away from useless, godless ways. It is a steadfast adherence to the truth. There is no way to keep the true faith except to hear the Word of God. Listening and obeying is to our profit; all else is loss.
Gospel • Luke 18:1–8
Do not lose heart; don’t give up. The Lord is ever-present, always ready to help. Storm the gates of heaven with prayer. Wrestle with God in faith that he hears and answers. When the light of eternity breaks, will he find that faith remains in you?
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
