Sermon for The Ninth Sunday after Trinity, 2024

Unlike the steward in this parable—or you, for that matter—our Lord, Christ Jesus, did not waste His Master’s goods; He was a Good Steward of all that was entrusted to Him. He was holy, perfect in every way, faithful in all things, and owed nothing to anyone. And, if you can imagine it, He has called you to Himself and asked you, “How much do you owe My Father?” That’s who His Master is: His Father. And you must say, “A hundred,” for you owe Him everything, so miserable have you been in your stewardship; you owe Him a hundred. Yet He does not say to you, “Well, alright, let’s write off part of that.” On the contrary, He writes it all off. Because He and His Master are one, and so, therefore, He has full authority to write the whole thing off and to say to you, O blessed, whose sins have been forgiven entirely, “Sit down and write your bill, and write zero; you owe nothing!” Beloved, learn to live as those who know that their entire bill has been canceled in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus: live as wise stewards, taking every opportunity this life presents you to forgive those who sin against you—to lighten the load of your fellow debtors, even if it be just a little—for you have been forgiven much, indeed, all your sins.

Readings:

• Old Testament: 2 Samuel 22:26-34

• Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

• Holy Gospel: Luke 16:1-13

Sermon: