“CHRIST REJOICES TO SAVE YOU”
Saint Luke 15: 1-10
3rd Sunday After Trinity: 20 June Anno Domini 2021
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
Lucan scholar the Rev’d Dr. Arthur Just has correctly noted that Saint Luke’s 15th chapter is the heart of that Evangel—and perhaps the heart of all of our Lord’s teaching parables.
The Word of God is performative. The Word of The Lord does. It does what it asks, or rather, commands. When Christ, or John the Baptist, says “Repent and Believe” those word coming out of the Savior’s mouth—He Who IS THE Word—do what they say. The Law by The Holy Ghost causes repentance, contrition, sorrow over sin, to such a degree that the sinner is slain, killed, by The Word. The Good News is that Christ paid for those things which you need to repent of. The Good News is that Christ died for the penalties of those trespasses against God and your neighbor. The Good News is that when Jesus says “Believe” He is giving you faith, by His Grace, to receive Him; He Who is The Faith, the Content, The…everything. So, you don’t have to work at believing, rather you are given belief, faith, and now you do what a follower of Christ naturally does.
You are in that crowd at the beginning of our text: “then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him.”
You are in God’s house at this moment hearing His Word—The Word of His Son. Only the pagan Pharisees and Scribes, the lovers of rules and regulations and man-made ordinances, grumble and attack you. Don’t be like them. Drown your own “old Adam” and show mercy and forgiveness; i.e., be what you’ve already been made to be!
The Gospel: “This Man (This God/Man Christ) receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” If you are a sinner (you are); if you are a repenting (a sorry sinner who want to do better now that The Spirit has grabbed you by the shoulders and turned you around—away from that path that leads away from Jesus); then you come forward to eat with God Himself this morning. To This Gospel all one can say, chant, and sing at the top of your voice: “Hallelujah,” i.e., “praise The Lord.”
The three parables in chapter 15 are the two you heard a moment ago: the one lost sheep from the other 99, and, the one lost coin from the other 9 pieces of silver. The other parable that sadly does appear in this traditional and historic Gospel lection is the parable of the Loving Father. You know it better at the parable of the Prodigal son.
You were the lost sheep. You were the lost coin. The parables are not about you or what you did to stop being lost. Which, was nothing. But we won’t discuss God’s Word this morning about Justification by Grace alone through Faith alone as you were subjected to that theme, (along with fire and brimstone) last week. The full counsel of God’s Word does not require weekly castigating of Pelagianism and Synergistic sinners.
In the midst of this dying world, among the thorns and entangling brambles and stickers of temptation, heartbreak, loss, pain, and all despoiling, The Spirit turns your head to gaze upon The Word. Hear what Jesus is and does, for you. He searches [you] who were lost, until He finds it. He “layeth” it [you] on His shoulders… REJOICING. Jesus rejoices that He has you! He calleth together His friends—The “12,” The Blessed Virgin, Moses, Abraham, David, Elias, Samuel, Daniel, Paul, the Magdalene, St’s Gabriel and Michael, and indeed, angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven.” Those words are not just liturgical niceties but actual Scripture realities: “joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” Michael the Archangel, Raphael, and all the rest have supernal joy, JOY, when you were brought to faith by The Paraclete, but also heavenly joy when you repent and are absolved; when you remember your holy + Washing, and when you receive their Master, and yours, in The Holy Supper—The Blessed Mass.
The Woman, the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church did indeed have Ten pieces of silver. The Commandments given to her by God to Moses and all who are now true Israel. But you know, you believe, teach, and confess: “…Jesus redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His Holy, Precious Blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” [SC II.2]
This Christ does through the woman, the Church and the Holy Keys which have been entrusted to Saint Peter and the Apostolic band.
And now you join Her, Her friends and Her neighbors together at the Rail, saying “Rejoice.” There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over you—In Christ.
The Gospel of The Lord.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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