As we come to confess our sins
this week on this last Sunday of Advent, we realise that it has been a terrible
week in the news this week: people are dead after a day-long siege in Sydney’s
central business district. And just recently in the last few days, we hear
about another tragedy in the city of Cairns. Our nation has been ravaged by two
tragedies in one week.
But as we come to confess our
sins and to receive the absolution, it’s not the time for us to complain about
other people’s sins. We might look at these things and think lament about the
terrible things that are happening in our country. But what about us? The
difference between us and these murderers this week is not that we are better
that them, but purely God’s grace. If we’re honest, we know that if we had
grown up in different circumstances, we might have committed the same crimes
too. It’s only God’s grace that has prevented us, and has withheld more people
from committing these crimes.
But these events should also lead
us to realise that there is such a need for more people to hear God’s word.
Here we are in church today, and everything we say and sing and do is going to
be dripping with God’s word—and do we realise it? Do we take it for granted? Do
we know just what a miracle it is that Jesus himself is coming to meet us and
to speak his forgiveness to us today? Do we find ourselves bored with God’s
word and with coming to church?
We know that there are many
terrorists who think that are doing the will of God. They don’t know God’s word
revealed in the Scripture. Do we know the difference between our ideas, our
opinions, our sin and God’s word? Do we think the Holy Spirit is only here when
we think that we can feel him, rather than when God speaks? Do we think the
Holy Spirit comes from us, rather than from the lips of Jesus into us?
What we are going to hear in a
minute—the forgiveness of sins from Jesus himself—is the medicine that God
gives to heal every single problem in the world. Jesus and his word, his
gospel, the good news of great joy is for all people. Let’s never forget the
significance and the power of what we come to do every time we confess our sins
and receive forgiveness. Let’s pray…
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