Friday after Reminiscere Sunday
Scripture: St. Luke 17:1-10 (NKJV)
17:1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
Devotion
Yesterday the reading contained a rebuke for the prideful who dismiss God’s Law and justify themselves as though they had no sin. Today’s reading gives a contrast to that. Our Lord confirms that sin and offenses will come, but we are to faithfully avoid being the cause of such offense. He teaches us that we are to repent and forgive when sins do happen.
The power of faith that God creates in us is focused on humble repentance and gratefulness for His forgiveness in Christ. Prideful hearts want to gain other powers and greater glory from faith. Satan would have us think that uprooting trees, overturning mountains, or performing other signs and wonders is more important than the power of humble obedience to God’s commands and loving service to others. Jesus teaches us that we ought not seek prideful glory or be driven by our own “felt needs”. Christ served in order to teach us how to serve. He loved in order to teach us how to love. And His lessons were not so we could overturn trees or manipulate others to achieve power and glory. All glory and power belongs to Jesus Christ our Lord. But as our Head He reminds us that we are the servants, and that in spite of our causing offenses or being truly unprofitable He makes us part of His kingdom and forgives our sins.
Prayer: O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength, keep us both outwardly and inwardly that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
