"God, be merciful to me a sinner!" Trinity 11 2022

It is only the tax collector in the story who understands his real position. The tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ He recognizes that all the categories, classes, and divisions we see in the world in the final estimation don’t mean a thing before God. The stories you tell about yourself—whether ethnicity, nationality, class, gender, or economic success—don’t mean anything when you’re brought before the judgment seat of God on the last day. On that day, the only thing that matters is whether the Father sees in you the reflection of His Son Jesus.

Your identity before God is clear and simple. You are a child of God through Holy Baptism. You have been clothed with Christ, washed in His saving blood, branded as one redeemed by Christ the crucified. You might be a worker or employer, long-time American or immigrant, male or female (or some other imaginary gender). According to your baptism, you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Join the congregation of St. John in prayer each day, and for Divine Service each Sunday at 9:30 am, Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, and on festival days, where God serves us with His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

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