Are You a Faith Show-off?”
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ (Luke 18:13)
Genuine repentance and pretentious piety stand in stark contrast in the gospel and all around us. All creation stands in need of God’s forgiveness. Keep the faith. God’s people—“all who have longed for his appearing”—shall be accounted righteous for Jesus’ sake. Our God is merciful to sinners. For all this the assembly glorifies God forever.
Preaching Question
How is it standing on your head?
The theme of reversal in today’s Gospel lesson, is similar to being turned upside down. It is disorienting and uncomfortable. Sometimes that is exactly the fertile soil in which repentance can grow.
Home Devotional Questions
Are you comfortable with this image of “reversal” in our Gospel Lesson today?
How are your prayers different when they are offered in the pews from when you kneel at your bedside?
Do you think of prayer as more of a public act, or a private one?
Why do we even need to pray aloud?
