Jesus Christ says: “I am the vine, you are the branches … without me you can do nothing. Abide in me!”

+ Taste and see how friendly the Lord our God is +

Watchword for the 4^th Sunday after Pentecost [3^rd after Trinity] from Luke 19, 10:  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Old testament reading from the holy prophet Ezekiel 18:1-4.21-24.30-32:   The word of the LORD came to me:  ² “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “‘The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?  ³ “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.  ⁴ For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son– both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. …   ²¹ “But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.  ²² None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.  ²³ Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?  ²⁴ “But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die. …³⁰ “Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.  ³¹ Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?  ³² For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

The epistle reading from the holy apostle St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy 1:12-17  ¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.  ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.  ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  ¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners– of whom I am the worst.  ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.  ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The holy gospel according to the evangelist St. Luke 15:1-3.11-32 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.  ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  ³ Then Jesus told them this parable: … “There was a man who had two sons.  ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.  ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.  ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.  ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.  ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!  ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’  ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.  ²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.  ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.  ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’  ²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.  ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.  ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’  ³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'”

A collect for this 3^rd Sunday after Trinity: Almighty and merciful God, you are not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Grant that by your word we may again and again be convicted of our many sins, but also fervently grasp anew the comfort of your Spirit and of faith, in order that we may be justified in your Son and be saved through him, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Hymn for this Sunday:

1. O God, O Lord of heaven and earth, Thy living finger never wrote that life should be an aimless mote, A deathward drift from futile birth. Thy Word meant life triumphant hurled, In splendor through Thy broken world, Since light awoke and life began, Thou hast desired Thy life for man.
2. Our fatal will to equal Thee, Our rebel will wrought death and night. We seized and used in prideful spite Thy wondrous gift of liberty. We housed us in this house of doom, Where death had royal scope and room Until Thy servant, Prince of Peace, breached all its walls for our release.
3. Thou camest to our hall of death, O Christ, to breathe our poisoned air, to drink for us the dark despair That strangled our reluctant breath. How beautiful the feet that trod The road that leads us back to God! How beautiful the feet that ran To bring the great good news to man!
4.  O Spirit, who didst once restore Thy church that it might be again the bringer of good news to men, Breathe on Thy cloven Church once more, That in these gray and latter days There may be those whose life is praise, each life a high doxology To Father, Son and unto Thee. (Martin Franzmann)