Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23; 6:24—8:29; Philippians 1:21-2:11
This Week’s Readings: St. Luke 10:23-37
“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what must I do to be saved?’”.” (St. Luke 10:25)
The above question comes from the mouth of one who does not understand Jesus, it comes from the mouth of one who does not believe what Jesus has done and what it means for him.
This question is just as wrongly worded as questions like, “Do we HAVE to have communion so often?” “Do we HAVE to go to confession?” “Do we HAVE to go to church every week?” These questions also come from a lack of understanding, from those who do not appreciate fully the precious gifts our Lord has for us in His Supper, in His Word of Absolution, and in the Divine Service.
There is nothing YOU can DO. It is all done FOR YOU. It is all a free gift from your compassionate Christ who takes your burdens upon Himself and provides for your every need in His substitutionary suffering, death and resurrection. Christ is your self-sacrificing Good Samaritan. You did not find Him beside the road; He was never lost in the first place! He found you and chose to love you, even though your pitiable condition is unlovable and unappealing.
Christ found you. He picked you up and bandaged you with His love, His forgiveness, and His righteousness. He bathed your death wounds with the water of His life-giving Baptism, calling you His own and giving you His name.
Christ has placed you in the care of an inn-keeper, your pastor, to keep your bandages fresh and clean – to feed you with meals of Christ’s holy Body and Blood, to strengthen you with the powerful words of Holy Absolution, to deliver into your ears the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ, the “have to’s” are joyous “get to’s.”
“Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain what You have promised, make us love what You have commanded; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” (Collect for Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity)
The Reverend Gregory Schultz, pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL, is the author for this portion of the Trinity season.