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Homily: Repentance, Renewal, and Unity in Christ

Scripture Readings:

2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a

Psalm 51:1-13

Ephesians 4:1-16

John 6:24-35

 

Introduction:

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Before I begin, I’d like to tell you a little about myself. I am a Licensed Lay Preacher in the Episcopal Church—Diocese of Central Florida. I was formerly ordained as a Pentecostal preacher. I preach at several other churches, including a church with membership in the Southern Baptist Association, where I am expected to preach for an hour or more. But let me assure you that I will absolutely NOT preach any longer today than 59 minutes.

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on themes of repentance, renewal, and unity in our journey with God. We will delve into the story of David’s repentance, the psalmist’s cry for mercy, Paul’s call to unity, and Jesus as the bread of life. These scriptures collectively teach us about the transformative power of God’s grace and our response to it.

 

We see Repentance and Forgiveness in the verses for today in 2 Samuel.

This passage presents a poignant moment in King David’s life. After his grave sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah, the prophet Nathan confronts David with his wrongdoing. David’s response is immediate: “I have sinned against the Lord.”

David’s confession and God’s forgiveness highlight the importance of genuine repentance. Despite the severity of his sins, David’s heartfelt contrition opens the way for God’s mercy and restoration. This story reminds us that no sin is too great for God’s forgiveness if we come before Him with a repentant heart.

 

Then, in the verses in Psalm 51, we see A Cry for Mercy. 

This Psalm is traditionally attributed to David after his sin with Bathsheba. And it is a profound expression of repentance and a plea for God’s mercy.

This Psalm starts, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions.”

In the Old Testament times, the atonement that had to be made for taking a life, as David had done to Uriah, was a life. It was to be David’s life. But God is merciful.

In this Psalm, we hear David’s cry for mercy, and God does, indeed, have mercy on David. He spares David’s life, but a life still must be given. In the verses immediately after today’s verses in 2 Samuel, one can see that God takes the baby’s life.

We do NOT have to worry about the OT laws affecting our sins today. God was, is, and will be so merciful that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to atone for our sins. All our sins were laid on Him, and He paid the price that we owe. He paid the debt He did not owe because we owe a debt we cannot pay.

David’s plea for a clean heart and a renewed spirit resonates with anyone who seeks God’s forgiveness. This Psalm teaches us that true repentance involves acknowledging our sins, seeking God’s cleansing, and desiring a transformation of our hearts.

 

In today’s Epistle, we see themes of unity and growth.

In Ephesians, Paul urges the believers to live a life worthy of their calling, emphasizing humility, gentleness, patience, and love. He calls for unity in the Spirit, recognizing that we are one body in Christ:

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

We live in a divisive and divided world. It is the blacks vs. whites; Democrats against Republicans; men vs. women vs. other genders, and everyone else against Christians.

Jesus said we are to love one another. How better to get along with others than to love the image of God in everyone? How can you convince others to come to Christ unless you show them the love of Christ?

Paul also speaks about the gifts given to the church for its edification so that we may grow in maturity and attain the fullness of Christ. This passage reminds us that our personal renewal should lead to communal unity and growth. Each of us has a role in building up the body of Christ, using our gifts to serve one another in love.

 

Jesus as the Bread of Life:

In John’s Gospel, Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” This statement follows Jesus’s miracle of feeding the five thousand, in which Jesus provided physical sustenance to the crowd.

Jesus calls the people to seek physical bread and the spiritual nourishment that comes from believing in Him. He invites us to a deeper relationship with Him, where our spiritual hunger and thirst are eternally satisfied.

 

Commonalities and Final Statement:

The common thread in these passages is the transformative power of God’s grace and our response to it. From David’s repentance to the psalmist’s cry for mercy, from Paul’s call to unity to Jesus offering Himself as the bread of life, we see a continuous narrative of God’s desire to renew, restore, and unify His people.

 

What God Expects From Us:

God calls us to Repentance: Like David, we must acknowledge our sins and seek God’s forgiveness with a contrite heart.

God calls us to Renewal: We should desire a clean heart and a renewed spirit, allowing God’s grace to transform us from within.

God calls us to Unity: We are to live in unity, using our gifts to build up the body of Christ in love and humility.

God calls us to Believe: We must seek the spiritual nourishment that Jesus offers, deepening our relationship with Him as the source of eternal life.

As we reflect on these scriptures, let us commit to living lives marked by repentance, renewal, unity, and steadfast faith in Jesus, the bread of life.

 

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your boundless grace and mercy. Help us to come before You with repentant hearts, seeking Your forgiveness and renewal. Unite us as one body in Christ, using our gifts to serve one another in love. May we always look to Jesus, the bread of life, for our spiritual nourishment and strength. This we pray in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.