13th after Trinity
Readings: Exodus 32v7-14; Psalm 51v1-11; 1 Timothy 1v12-17; Luke 15v1-10.
Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.
A Word: In the readings today we hear the call to be careful about what we believe about God, sin and forgiveness, as well as to ask God honestly for what we really want.
In Exodus we hear God and Moses talking about the people God had rescued from slavery in Egypt. God was telling Moses that he was disappointed and angry that so many of the people he saved were now worshipping false Gods. For God was furious and wanted to turn his anger against everyone who had fallen away from Him. But Moses did not want God to punish or destroy them. So he asked God to relent and forgive them, and God consented. I believe that what we learn from this readings is that from long ago, we humans have always gone astray from God’s ways and that God has always loved us so much that He was willing to forgive us.
In the psalm, we hear a prayer that is asking God to make us new by asking for two things. The first is asking God for mercy, forgiveness of sins and cleansing from wickedness. The second is asking God for a clean heart and right spirit. I believe that what we learn from this reading is that because of God’s love and care for us that we can be made new because God is not only willing to forgive us but also to help us to change.
In Luke, we hear that it is all too easy to think that we already know and understand God’s ways. This is quite arrogant and possibly what the Pharisees and scribes in this account were being. For the leaders of the faith were only grumbling about Jesus because they believed they already knew what God wanted. For they believed that God was not interested in sinners. However, as the Son of God, Jesus knew they were in error and used two parables to explain God’s plan to save everyone who is lost. I believe that what we learn from this is account is that we must not assume that we know the mind of God. What we also learn is that Jesus wants us to know and understand that God wants to save everyone who is lost in sin. For as we hear in Jesus’ teaching, the whole of heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents.
In the letter to Timothy we hear Paul confessing that he had plagued, persecuted and attacked Jesus’ followers because he had not truly known or understood God’s ways. But, even though Paul had misunderstood so much, Jesus had not only forgiven him but also called him into his father’s service. This was to share the message that Jesus had come into the world to save sinners. I believe that this letter is a reminder to all of us that God can make good use of anyone who eventually turns to him, no matter what they were like before.
For we have a God who sent Jesus into the world to save sinners. A God who wants us to turn away from our sinful ways and turn back to the true way of life. A God who is willing to forgive us and make us new. A God who rejoices with the whole host of heaven when even one sinner is saved. A God who sends all who are saved to share this good news with the world. A God who is calling each one of us to assist in God’s mission to save the world.
Let us Pray: Almighty God, wonderful creator, thank you for reuniting the world with yourself through Jesus. Thank you for calling your Church to proclaim the good news of your love and to bear witness to all who will be drawn to you. Thank you for sustaining us on our earthly pilgrimage. Thank you for calling us to the place where we shall hunger and thirst no more. All this we thank you for through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Thanks for joining us today.