Tuesday, September 21, 2004

St. Luke 15:1-10 for Pentecost 17, Series C

The Wartburg

Been looking at St. Luke 15:1-10 today. Notice that Jesus doesn't say "those who think they are righteous" but those who are righteous and need no repentance. Surely, some would say, this doesn't mean they are righteous. And surely, some would say, we don't want to exalt those who are sinners as if sinning is a good thing.

How about we just read what Jesus says. He says there are those who are righteous and need no repentance. They are the ninety-nine who are left in the desert.

It is the repentant sheep (read "found by Jesus") over whom the angels rejoice in heaven. So, good to be a sinner with a Savior than a righteous person who needs no repentance.

This theme occurs over and over in St. Luke: Jesus did not come to call righteous people but sinners to repentance.

3 comments:

Mark Buetow said...

Brandon also pointed out this fine Gospel bit: the sheep is laid upon the shepherd's shoulders. Just as our Lord rescues sheep by taking the cross upon His shoulders. And the Lamb is on the cross. And so little lost sheep are saved!

Mark Buetow said...

Malacandra! I been havin' that screen name for ages. I've never learned Old Solar though. -Mark

Mark Buetow said...

In dunno what it has to do with Luke 15, but it sure sounds good! In fact, I'm just thick, because I guess I never really picked up on those ideas in O.O.T.S.P. Perelandra is pretty obvious, but I'm likin' the stuff about Baptism and Malacandra.

Good thing this Malacandra is baptized!