October 30, 2023

Today's Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2,15-18

Daily Lectionary:Deuteronomy 11:1-25, Matthew 12:1-21

“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy."  (Leviticus 19:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I’ve never had to go to court, so I guess I haven’t done injustice there.  Mostly because I’ve never gotten caught doing injustice outside of the court.  I should probably definitely try to speak better of my neighbor.  Or at least talk a little less trash.  There’s a commandment about that somewhere between 7 and 9.  Realistically, I could probably do that better. I don’t know how to carve the hate out of my heart though.  It plants itself in past wrongs.  It festers in old wounds.  It carves away that which should be given to love and corrupts it, even darkening my reason.  Ask me how I was right when it comes to those who have wronged me.  Even my brothers and sisters in Christ. 

The Law shows us our sin.  Because it doesn’t paint a picture of us.  The Law paints a picture of Jesus. He is the one who actually fulfilled it.  He is the one to imagine when we want to see what it looks like.  The LORD is holy.  But our text does not call us to try to be like God.  That led to some problems in the past between Genesis 2 and 4.  God speaks.  Something happens.  Think Genesis 1.  Let there be light.  And it was good.  You shall be holy.  And you are.  Jesus, who fulfills the Law in your stead dies on the cross to forgive your sin.  Your pastor pronounces absolution.  Your sins are taken away. You are holy, even as holy as Jesus. He makes you that way.  So when we read the Law and find all our shortcomings, we take them to Him who forgives us, and makes us new to love our neighbor free from having to measure.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O grant that nothing in my soul May dwell, but Thy pure love alone; Oh, may Thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure, and my crown! All coldness from my heart remove; My ev’ry act, word, thought be love (LSB 683:2)

- Pastor Harrison Goodman is content executive for Higher Things.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.