Brothers and sisters, God gave His one and only son, Jesus. to die for you, that you would be forgiven of your sin, and so you could be a member of His heavenly kingdom. God is so extravagant in His gifts! In Jesus He has demonstrated His patience and mercy toward us sinners. I encourage you to attend church Sunday to receive His gifts of forgiveness, and to set aside time to thank Him.
Let me begin by reminding you of some upcoming events. The community is invited to participate in each of these events.
Midweek Lenten services will continue this coming Wednesday, beginning at 6:30 pm.
Singers from several Lutheran congregations in the region join their voices together as the Houston Lutheran Chorale. They will be performing a Lenten Cantata next Sunday April 6 at 4pm at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 14423 West Road, southeast of the intersection of highways 290 and 6. You are encouraged to attend.
Singers from Brookshire area churches will be performing an Easter Cantata at the Brookshire Methodist Church on the afternoon of Palm Sunday, April 13. You are encouraged to attend.
Plan now to attend Holy Week services beginning with Palm Sunday on April 13, a noon service on Good Friday April 18, and the Easter celebration on April 20.
On Saturday May 3 we are scheduled to hold our annual German Sausage Dinner and auction.
Sunday March 30th is the fourth Sunday in Lent. During the service we will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Setting Four beginning on page 203 of the LSB hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are#915 Today Your Mercy Calls Us; #422 On My Heart Imprint Your Image; #612 As Rebels, Lord, Who Foolishly Have Wandered; #636 Soul, Adorn Yourself With Gladness; and #605 Father Welcomes.
Scripture readings assigned to the day are Psalm 32:1-11; Isaiah 12:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; and Luke 15:1-3, 11-32.
The introduction to Psalm 32 identifies it as a maskil of David. It is not clear what a maskil is. The psalm is often classified as one of the ‘penitential palms’. The suffering from sin’s guilt is contrasted with the relief and blessings of being forgiven by God. Those who stubbornly attempt to deny or hide their sin will be weighed down by guilt and sorrow. Actual physical ailments can result from unconfessed guilt. The psalmist encourages everyone to confess their sins to God and to rely upon His mercy. God will be the shelter of the repentant, and He will guide the faithful in the way they should go. They will rejoice in His favor. Martin Luther’s study of the psalm led to his understanding of justification—each person is a sinner without righteousness and cannot merit God’s forgiveness. God in His mercy and for the sake of the suffering and death of Jesus forgives us and declares us righteous before Him. Confess your sin to Jesus and rely on Him to save you from God’s punishment.
In the 11th chapter of Isaiah’s prophecy, God foretells a “shoot from the stump of Jesse” who will bring righteousness and peace to the world. The tribes of Israel will come under God’s judgment and be taken off to Assyria. But this “shoot” will restore a remnant. The poetry of Isaiah 12 expresses the joy God’s saved remnant will enjoy. Later revelation shows that this prophecy is ultimately referring to Jesus.
In his second letter to the congregation in Corinth (southern Greece), St. Paul describes the suffering we face in this sin-broken world. Because we oppose God’s will we have physical suffering, and our relationships with others also suffer. Paul reminds us that Jesus suffered and died in order to reconcile us to God the Father. In response, we should live as reconciled people, and to be reconciled also to one another. As followers of Jesus we become His ambassadors, telling others about Him and extending the invitation of the gospel that they would follow Him as well. Jesus saved you from sin. And that is great news. But He saved you for something as well—to be His witnesses.
In the Gospel lesson, Jesus tells a parable about two rebellious sons and their gracious merciful father. Often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son because the youngest son is so lavish and wasteful, it might be better understood as the Parable of the Prodigal Father, a dad who lavishly and extravagantly shows patience and mercy to his two stubborn sons. In that way the parable points to God’s concern for all sinners–those who openly sin, and those who imagine themselves without sin. God does not desire any one to die, not even the wicked, but rather that they would return to Him and enjoy the benefits He has prepared for them. Turn to God. He is preparing for you. And let each Christian rejoice when another sinner joins us in Christ’s Church!
COLLECT: Gracious God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing and joyful obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about schedules or Sunday’s lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster
