+ The Prophet Daniel makes a very clear statement regarding the state of affairs that exists between God and men: Great and awesome God, you keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments.
But those who have been wicked, done evil and sinned are far from your law, far from your commandments and far from your covenant, far from your love. Daniel then identifies a great many Israelites living in his time, and many before them, as those who have not obeyed God's servants the prophets and are shamefaced for having sinned against God. Justice, O Lord, is on your side, proclaims Daniel. But yours, O Lord our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Have mercy on us and forgive us!
And through the actions and merits of Jesus Christ God's people shall be forgiven by a new kind of compassion and mercy and justice – the kind that is not avenging but rather tender and merciful. But, God asks us to model that same kind of mercy, in order to receive it; the same kind of judgment, the same kind of generous forgiving and giving. For the measure we measure out will be measured back to us!
May we this day measure out Spirit and life to others, the same Spirit and life we receive in Word and Sacrament, to others we will meet today – so that the Kingdom of God might be more fully present than it was yesterday – and we may be pleasing sons of God, deserving of his providential care and protection!
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.
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