Thursday, February 25, 2021
Grace of forgiveness
An excerpt from Romans 3:23-24 (NRSV)
For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Reflection from Julia Nelson:
What is a sin? Breaking the ten commandments? Breaking the 613 commandments (Mitzvoh)? I admit I eat grapes often (Commandment 220/613 [Numbers 6:3]). Does this mean that some sins (murder) are greater than others (eating grapes)?
I recall a sermon on sin from a pastor who described driving through rural South Dakota at 70 mph (an acceptable 5mi over the speed limit). After a windy, hilly section, he came across a sign permitting resumption of normal speed limit. It turns out he was driving 70 in a 40-mph zone and what he thought was a minor transgression was quite significant. Yet both situations were transgressions. This led to an epiphany: human perspectives are skewed.When it comes to sin, magnitude is irrelevant.
Recently, Mother Meredith and I discussed this concept of sin. She pointed me to the Catechism in the BCP. Simplified, sin is anything that turns us away from God. From this vantage point, I see that the magnitude of sin truly is irrelevant. Grace, therefore, is everything.
For further study and prayer, the readings assigned for today are:
Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18; Romans 3:21-31
Music:
“Mozart Clarinet Concerto, movt 2”
While this concerto has no text, the gentle and delicate melody invokes a similarly profound peace to the feeling we have as benefactors of God’s grace and love.