Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Thursday after Ash Wednesday – February 27, 2020 – Luke 18:13

  

[1]

1 Savior, when in dust to Thee

Low we bow the adoring knee;

    When, repentant, to the skies

    Scarce we lift our weeping eyes;

O, by all Thy pains and woe

Suffered once for us below,

    Bending from Thy throne on high,

    Hear our penitential cry! [2]

Two men went up to the temple to pray. One is a smug Pharisee, the other a despised tax collector. One boasted in himself. The other pleaded for mercy.  “The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” 

Here is the heart of the Gospel. It is defined by mercy and grace. Grace is receiving what we don’t deserve while mercy is not receiving what we do deserve. Both are rooted at the cross. One of the most profound prayers the people of God can utter is found in the words of the Kyrie, “Lord, Have mercy, Christ, Have mercy, Lord, Have mercy.”

In Matthew 15:22: the Canaanite woman cries out to Jesus, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David." while in Matthew 17:15 a distraught father pleads, “Lord, have mercy on my son!" From this perspective, our focus should not be on how far we have become rather how great our need. The Lord has promised to come to our rescue. In faith we cry out to Him. Bringing to Him our burdens and our cares. 

Throughout the days of Lent may this simple yet profound prayer be on our lips and our hearts.      

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Your most gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help; that in all our works begun continued, and ended in You, we may glorify Your holy Name, and, finally, by Your mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. [3]

Lord Jesus, Holy One of God, You showed that the kingdom of God had come by Your healing the sick and casting out demons. Heal us in both body and soul by the medicine of immortality of Your body and blood that we may truly be Your disciples; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [4]

 1 Image:  The Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for personal and congregational use

2  Savior when in dust to Thee, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

3 Collect for Thursday after Ash Wednesday, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm

 4 Collect for Thursday after Ash Wednesday Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis