All of our Scripture readings this Sunday speak of the blessing of God’s forgiving love, coming to us through the saving work of His Son, Jesus. In Psalm 32, David speaks of how miserable and deceitful he was, trying to hide his sins from God and others. Finally, he was brought to admit his sins and have their burden taken away in the Lord’s forgiveness. David encourages us not to be like a stubborn mule, but to listen to the Lord’s instruction and trust Him and His steadfast love, even for us si...
All of our Scripture readings this Sunday speak of the blessing of God’s forgiving love, coming to us through the saving work of His Son, Jesus. In Psalm 32, David speaks of how miserable and deceitful he was, trying to hide his sins from God and others. Finally, he was brought to admit his sins and have their burden taken away in the Lord’s forgiveness. David encourages us not to be like a stubborn mule, but to listen to the Lord’s instruction and trust Him and His steadfast love, even for us sinful people. (We still use part of Psalm 32:5 in our confession of sins in Divine Services Three and Five in our hymnal.)
The Old Testament lesson, Isaiah 12:1-6, is a song of thanksgiving for “that day” when the “Root of Jesse,” the “Righteous Branch” predicted in Isaiah 11 would come. That One is God’s Son, who came to be our Strength and Song and Salvation with comfort and forgiveness for us, as we drink from His “wells of salvation” and trust in Him. His glorious work needs to be shared with everyone “in all the earth.” (We sing much of Isaiah 12 in a song that is part of “A Service of Prayer and Preaching” in our hymnal, p.261-262.)
The Epistle lesson is from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, where we hear that we have been reconciled to God through Christ Jesus. Our sins are not counted against us, and we are “a new creation” and counted as “righteous” by God through faith in what Jesus has done for us. “All this is from God,” as a free gift from Christ, and we are now “ambassadors for Christ,” sharing this Good News with others.
In the Gospel lesson, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, Jesus is being criticized for associating with “sinful” people. He tells a parable, a story of two sons. One wastes his life and inheritance on foolish and sinful living. Finally, God helps him to realize how wrong he has been, and he returns home and receives the forgiving love of his father. The other son is angry that his father has treated this “prodigal son” in such a kind and forgiving way. It seems so unfair. This second son has to be reminded that he, too, is a forgiven sinner and has also already received many blessings from his father. Now it is time for him also to share that mercy and forgiveness with others, including his brother. For all of us were once lost and dead in sin, but have been found and made alive in Christ, in what he has done for us.
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