Pastor's Sermons
SERMON MARCH 14, 2010
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
PRINCE OF PEACE
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
“So we are ambassadors for Christ. Since God is making his appeal through us, we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Let us pray.
Who are you, lost or found? Guilt ridden or forgiven? Angry with God or reconciled with God?
Let’s watch a video presentation as we continue to reflect upon these questions.
(POWER POINT VIDEO PRESENTATION)
Anger, worthless, guilty, stupid, selfish, afraid, alone… This is who the son thought he was, but in the end that is not who he was. Indeed, in the end he was found, forgiven and always worth loving.
Likewise, the Father probably thought he was foolish, full of sorrow, desperate, afraid and alone. But in the end, that’s not who he was. He too was found in the return of his son and in the joy of reconciliation.
But of course, just like in most stories, it doesn’t just end happily ever after, because we also have the older son, “Who does he think he is,” and are we even told how everything ends? No, it’s left open ended, just like this song. Will things work out? Nobody knows, but we do know who we are when we know who God really is.
And how do we know who God is? We know in and through Christ, in and through his actions of sacrifices and mercy, through his undying love on the cross.
But sometimes in the midst of broken relationships, in the heat of anger and the pain of sorrow and loss, don’t we forget not who God is but who we are? Sometimes we get angry at God, asking why, and pleading for new beginnings. Yes, maybe we need to be reconciled to God, not only realize we are forgiven, but also forgive God. Not because God did anything wrong, but because He didn’t do what I wanted Him to do. But in the end, as we better understand and more fully realize who God is, through Christ, won’t we see and trust that yes, there is always hope, always a love that never dies.
Who are we? Ambassadors for Christ! Doesn’t God choose to use us to help others see and know who Christ is? But how can we do that if we don’t forgive? How can we do that if we ignore or run away from God? How can others experience grace unless we embrace grace for ourselves and truly believe with all our heart we are forgiven, set free and have found our hope as we dwell in Christ?
Who are we really? May we find our answer in the loving embrace of our heavenly father who claims us as His own.
Amen.
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