Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

God’s Mercy Comes Every Day

Outline

I grew up in a world without miracles

Now there was no denying biblical miracles

There was an expected return of Jesus, perhaps soon, but that was a a false expectation, for various leaders were often try to make us “be shaken out of [our] minds suddenly, or to be alarmed [by teaching] to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand”

But generally we did not expect miracles, although we occasionally heard of some on the mission field

That, of course, was not the view of our texts, and I would experience that as my life went on

There are, of course, God’s ongoing miracles

“How could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?”

But that was not all, for there was divine guidance: “you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook sins for the sake of repentance” - mercy can mean preventing us from sin, directing us according to his will, consolations of various types, as well bringing us to repentance.

This is all part of what Paul says God is doing in us, i.e. that “our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith”

Our lives are miracles and are full of miracles if we ask God to make us aware of his presence.

And if we become aware, we can live in thanksgiving.

And then there is the miracle of conversion

Luke underlines the impossibility of Zacchaeus’ conversion by saying that he was a “chief tax collector and also a wealthy man” - he had said in the previous chapter that a rich man could not be saved.

Zacchaeus has no hope, but he at least wants to see Jesus.

No one would let a man like him have a place in front where he could see, so his short stature becomes a gift - he climbs a tree.

Jesus stops at that tree: “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”

Zacchaeus’ heart is change, it bursts with joy, he hastens down the tree, he does not know how to express his joy and his new loyalty to Jesus, but the words burst out of his mouth, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”

A rich man has been separated from his wealth, a taker has been made a giver.

Jesus sums up the miracle by saying, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

Sadly, many in the crowd did not get it - they did not see the miracle happening before their eyes: “When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.””

They had missed it, for where they saw a sinner, Jesus saw “a son of Abraham.”

Sisters, every day we can live in God’s miracle

We can wake every morning and, making the sign of the cross, say, “Praise be to you, Lord!

I exist.

I live.

I have another day to glorify you.”

Every evening we can thank God for how during the day he was “mak[ing] [us] worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith.”

It may have been a rebuke or some suffering, it may have been a success or some good word that sprang from our mouth with divine effect, it may have been a realization about how God had guided us.

And during each day we can keep our eyes open for God’s wonders, such as a rich tax collector coming to the joy of faith and generosity.

Sisters, God’s power and love is constantly surrounding us.

But we realize that we and others often miss it, for the eyes of our hearts are closed.

May God open our eyes and let us see with Jesus’ eyes so that we may grasp his actions in our lives and our world resulting in our living in thankfulness, praising his name.

Readings

FIRST READING

Wisdom of Solomon 11:22–12:2

22 Indeed, before you the whole universe is like a grain from a balance,

or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.

23 But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;

and you overlook sins for the sake of repentance.

24 For you love all things that are

and loathe nothing that you have made;

for you would not fashion what you hate.

25 How could a thing remain, unless you willed it;

or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?

26 But you spare all things, because they are yours,

O Ruler and Lover of souls,

12:1 for your imperishable spirit is in all things!

2 Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,

warn them, and remind them of the sins they are committing,

that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, Lord!

RESPONSE

Psalm 145:1

1 Praise.

Of David.

I will extol you, my God and king;

I will bless your name forever and ever.

PSALM

Psalm 145:1–2, 8–11, 13, 14

1 Praise.

Of David.

I will extol you, my God and king;

I will bless your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless you;

I will praise your name forever and ever.

8 The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all,

compassionate toward all your works.

10 All your works give you thanks, LORD

and your faithful bless you.

11 They speak of the glory of your reign

and tell of your mighty works,

13 Your reign is a reign for all ages,

your dominion for all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all his words,

and loving in all his works.

14 The LORD supports all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

SECOND READING

2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2

11 To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER 2

1 We ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, 2 not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

GOSPEL

Luke 19:1–10

1 He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. 2 Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, 3 was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 5 When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”

6 And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

7 When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.

10  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

Notes