The Sunday of the Reformation (GA)

Luke 24:44-49

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Church should proclaim indulgences, penance, social programs, game nights, 10 steps to a better life, and ways to raise money. The Church at the time of the reformation was rich, what is wrong with churches today that are in the red. Why don’t people follow the Ten Commandments anymore? Why don’t people do the right thing or know the difference between right and wrong?

Many people would say that the Law is not preached good enough to people. People no longer know the threat of Hell. People do not see the consequences of their actions. Some of us may never know true fear (not found in the a movie theater).

Jesus taught his disciples everything in the scriptures. He taught them it was necessary for him to die for their sins. It was necessary for Christ to rise from the dead as the first fruits of our resurrection. But more to the point, “that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all the nations.”

You need to repent of your sins. You have sinned against God and against your neighbor. You are forgiven of all your sins. God even sent his Holy Spirit to cloth you with power from on high. This is the message of the Church.