[ Today's Readings ]
Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
God takes no delight in the death of the sinner. He does not bring attention to our faults to condemn us. Indeed, Jesus does not come in to the world to condemn it, but so that the world might have life through him. This is true even when the words come with deep conviction. Even if we are the princes of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah God still wants to save us from the destruction toward which we head. He calls us to wash ourselves clean in the waters of baptism he himself provides. He calls us to bear fruit befitting repentance by the Spirit he himself gives.
When we hear this there is always the risk of becoming like the scribes and Pharisees who talk a good game but don't actually do what they tell other people to do. They are interested in the honor and the self-image rather than in actually drawing near to God. We risk becoming people who are more interested in looking Christian to others than being Christian in our hearts. Pharisees are more interested in how people think of them, in being seen as superior in those relationships, than in their relationship with God as their Father and master. The secret to avoid the pitfalls of pride and vanity is to be humble servants.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
We make justice our aim, serving the poor, the orphan, and the widow. We seek the LORD as our Father and master. We look to see the saving power of God rather our own self-image.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.
In seeking his saving power we find it.
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