Luke 15:1-10
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
"Or what woman, having ten silver coins,if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
(ESV)
A Leg Up
The Venerable Bede, Theologian
25 May 2010
Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem had a leg up on the rest of us preachers. Just because he was the bishop of Jerusalem, he had the remarkable opportunity to point the faithful to the very places in which our Lord had worked salvation for the world. Here in his sermons to the catechumens and those already disciples of the New Testament, he points to Golgotha where Jesus opened the kingdom of heaven to the robber on the cross. The people who gathered for the baptism of the multitude carried torches in procession to the place of baptism, just as we light candles as we process into the church for the Vigil on Easter Eve. Perhaps Cyril stopped along the procession route to preach these catechetical homilies. While the sermon has exhortation to the new life in it, it is profoundly comforting, focusing as it does on the good news of the forgiveness of sins through the sacrament of baptism by which Jesus Himself is present to redeem the weary and heavy laden.
Cyril of Jerusalem
"Disciples of the New Testament and partakers of the mysteries of Christ, as yet by calling only, but before long by grace also, 'make a new heart and a new spirit' (Ez 18:31), that there may be gladness among the inhabitants of heaven. For if even one sinner repents there is joy, according to the Gospel (Lk 15:7), how much more shall the salvation of so many souls move the inhabitants of heaven to gladness. As you have entered upon a good and most glorious path, run with reverence the race of godliness. For the Only-begotten Son of God is present here most ready to redeem you, saying, 'Come unto me all that labor and are heavy, laden, and I will give you rest' (Mt 11:28). You that are clothed with the rough garmentof your offences, who are held with 'the cords of your own sins' (Prov 5:22), hear the voice of the Prophet saying, 'wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight!' (Is 1:16), that the choir of Angels may chant over you, 'Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered' (Ps 32:1). You who have just lighted the torches of faith, guard them carefully in your hands unquenched; that He, who once on this all-holy Golgotha opened Paradise to the robber on account of his faith, may grant that you sing the bridal song"
Prayer
O Christ, Only-begotten Son of God, You are present in my baptism that I might have rest from the burden of my sin and rescue from the load of my iniquity. Let me sing the bridal song that betokens union with You through that blessed washing. Amen.
In thanksgiving that Leslie Doiron has been brought through surgery safely, and that she would be given a full recovery
For all those suffering from slavery to sin, especially those caught by the hideous evil of pornography, that God would lead them to repentance and freedom from this bondage
For the newly baptized and confirmed children of God at Memorial Lutheran Church that together with all the saints they would confess the truth
Art: Unknown Unknown Unknown