Lent 2009 #4

Matthew 9:9-13 

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 

10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples.11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

THOUGHTS:

     As you were growing up, did anyone ever tell you that "you'll be judged by the company you keep"?  While I can't deny that people may judge you unjustly, Jesus clearly models sitting down to a meal with people that the "respectable" people (politicians, religious leaders, etc.) preferred to avoid.  More than that, Jesus calls sinners to serve as his disciples.  He befriends them and entrusts his ministry to them after his death and resurrection.  As I wrote yesterday, it isn't about being good enough.

     In Lutheran theology, we understand ourselves to be "simul jusus et peccator" -- simultaneously both saint and sinner.   In a letter to his friend Philip Melanchthon on August 1, 1521, Martin Luther wrote: "Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly...Pray boldly--you too are a mighty sinner."  In their concert last night, the band Lost and Found expressed how central these paradoxes are to their faith, that we are both good and bad, both captive and free, both sinner and saint, both lost and found -- all at the same time!

     In my relationship with God, I am a sinner because I have a self-centered failure to trust God -- a tendency to think I know best.  At the same time, I am a saint because God forgives my sins and remembers them no more -- and this is mysteriously accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

     As we journey together this Lent, how can you be more open to God's calling in your life?  How can you make yourself more ready and willing to follow where God leads you?

PRAYER:

God, we are amazed at your merciful graciousness in forgiving our sins.  Thank you!  Help us to center our lives in trusting YOU.  Help us to live more fully in your presence and to be open to your calling in our lives.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

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PS:  If you want to discuss theology -- how God intersects our lives and world -- in a safe, open environment, then join us at Brion's Grille on Tues 3/3 at 5:15pm .  Contact lutheran@gmu.edu for details/rides. 

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University.  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

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