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Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 14, 2025 - 10:00 a.m.

Riverview Retirement Community Chapel

The grumbling of the religious leaders in today’s gospel is actually our holy hope: This Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. That our God seeks and saves the lost is not only a holy hope, it is our only hope. As the writer of 1 Timothy reminds us, “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Thanks be to God.

Readings and Psalm

• Exodus 32:7-14
  Moses begs the Lord to turn from anger against the Hebrews

• Psalm 51:1-10
  Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love. (Ps. 51:1)

• 1 Timothy 1:12-17
  Christ Jesus came for sinners

• Luke 15:1-10
  Looking for the lost sheep, silver coin: Jesus eating with sinners

Music

Gathering Song: Savior like a Shepherd Lead Us
Hymn of the Day: There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
Sending Song: God’s Work, Our Hands

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Lost and Found

Today’s readings give witness that God has a heart for losers. God reconciles with the idol-worshiping people of Israel. The risen Lord calls the violent, blasphemous persecutor, Paul. The faithful shepherd rescues the wandering sheep and carries it home. The woman who lost one of her ten silver coins searches for it until she finds it. Similarly, God doesn’t abandon people even when people abandon God. The cross and resurrection testify to God’s faithfulness in that regard. God rescues strays one by one, making the first move to find the lost and create new hearts in them.

When (in the first reading) Moses holds God to promises already made in the covenant, the breathtaking picture emerges of a God so committed to relationship that God is influenced—changed—by what people need and ask. This faithfulness of God, shared with overflowing grace in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus, is patient, forgiving, energetic, and ready to celebrate. Take the bread and cup—Jesus hosts the worshiping assembly again this week to welcome sinners and eat with them! Suddenly, “sinner” is no longer the best name for us. Try “guest,” “graced,” “gifted,” “loved,” and “empowered.” Then it’s time to follow Jesus out of the gathered assembly and into the world as apprentice sleuths for missing persons, bent on finding the lost and the broken and giving them an invitation to come home.
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