Daily Readings - Sun Sep 11 2022

⁷And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:⁸They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.⁹And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:¹⁰Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.¹¹And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?¹³Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.¹⁴And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

1 Timothy

Chapter 1

¹²And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;¹³Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.¹⁴And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.¹⁵This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.¹⁶Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.¹⁷Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke

Chapter 15

¹Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.²And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.³And he spake this parable unto them, saying,⁴What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.⁶And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.⁷I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.⁸Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?⁹And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.¹⁰Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of sin, mercy, and the boundless love of God. In the first reading from Exodus, we see the Israelites turning away from God and worshipping a golden calf, an act of rebellion that provokes God’s anger. Yet, Moses intercedes for his people, reminding God of his promises to their ancestors and pleading for mercy. This passage highlights the tension between sin and forgiveness, showing that even in our failures, God’s faithfulness endures. The second reading from 1 Timothy offers a personal testimony of sin and redemption. Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, humbly acknowledges his past sins but rejoices in the mercy he has received through Christ. His words remind us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, and that Christ came specifically to save sinners. The Gospel from Luke presents two parables that further illuminate the heart of God. The parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin reveal a God who actively seeks out the lost and rejoices when they are found. These stories are not just about sinners being forgiven; they are about the relentless love of a God who leaves no one behind. The Pharisees and scribes in the Gospel criticized Jesus for dining with sinners, but Jesus’ actions embody the very essence of his mission: to seek and save the lost. Together, these readings remind us that sin is not the end of the story. God’s mercy is always available, and his love is always seeking to restore us. In our daily lives, these readings call us to humility and openness to God’s grace. We are all sinners in need of mercy, and we are all called to extend that same mercy to others. Let us not be like the Pharisees, judging those who are struggling, but rather like the shepherd and the woman in the parables, who rejoice in the recovery of what was lost. May we approach life with the same patience and compassion that God shows us, trusting in his love and seeking to bring others closer to him.