Fourth Sunday in Lent • Year C

Historical Collect

Almighty God, grant that we, who for our evil deeds worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gregorian Sacramentary, 6th Century)

Thematic Collect

Reconciling God, in you is mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Whether we wander far from you or remain faithful, let us always rejoice in the never-ending and limitless outpouring of your compassion and forgiveness for repentant sinners; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Common Thread

God’s anger about our sin is real. But his anger will not last forever for those who call upon his name. He covers over, or atones, for the sins of those who acknowledge their sins, and trust in his salvation. This is partly what it means to be “in Christ”; our sins are covered by him. Indeed, they are buried in him, put to death. This is how God reconciles us or justifies us to himself. Christ’s death satisfies, propitiates, atones for the debt of our sin. In doing so, the past is now dead, and we are a new creation of God in Christ. He who knew no sin became the sin of unrighteous sinners, nailing the sin of a world to the cross, and making us the righteousness of God. This is the great love of the Father in action, sending his Son to save us at all cost.

First Reading • Isaiah 12:1-6

What wonderful words: “I am no longer angry with you.” We cherish those words from the people we love. How much more should we cherish them when they come from God? When our only source of salvation turns away his wrath, one may be unafraid and have a song in the heart. So give thanks and proclaim God’s name to all. For all need to know God’s love.

Psalm • Psalm 32:1-11

Forgiveness is not just a theological concept. For the one who has come to know that his sin is now concealed, it is a blessing. But the blessing of forgiveness comes at a price. One must open his mouth and acknowledge his sin. if you cover up your iniquity, your iniquity will not be covered. If you try to hide your sin from God, forgiveness will be withheld.

This lesson on Psalm 32:1–5 includes a reading from The Defense of the Augsburg Confession, "Concerning Justification," and has an additional Scripture graphic you may use. 

Second Reading • 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

To be in Christ, or Christian, is to be a new person, a new creation. The past, the old life is passed away and the new life in Christ comes into focus. This newness of life comes from Christ alone. Nothing one does makes for a new life. That life only comes from God not counting our sins against us. Life is always fresh and new when transgressions are not a worry.

This lesson on 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 includes a reading from The Defense of the Augsburg Confession, "Concerning Justification," and has an additional Scripture graphic you may use. 

Gospel • Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

A few parables are left out of our lesson—the lost sheep and the lost coin. The Lectionary jumps right to the lost son but the off-balance ratios persist. One sheep that is as important as 99? One silver coin that has as much value as nine? One worthless son as precious as a son who works hard and contributes to the family business? These are odd proportions. Clearly, they are God’s values, not ours. Yet we understand immediately that we are that sheep so important, that coin so valuable, and that son so precious.