June 16, 2007 - Saturday in the Second Week after Trinity

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 16:1-24
Daily Lectionary: St. John 16:1-16

“A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are His work.”        (Proverbs 16:11)

The story (not true, of course!) goes like this: A man is standing at the pearly gates and St. Peter declares to him, “Tell me of thy works, for it takes 10 million points to enter!”

The man replied, “Well, I was really active in church. In fact, I was president of my youth group.”

St. Peter replied, “Wonderful. That is half a point.”

“Huh?!” was the surprised reply.  “Well, when I got older, I taught Sunday School and served as an elder!”

Again Peter replied, “That’s nice. Half a point.”

“What?!  Well, after Hurricane Katrina, I organized the congregation to send a relief team to New Orleans!”

“That’s very nice,” replied Peter, “That is another half point.”

“Wow,” replied the man. “At this rate the only way I’ll get into heaven is by the Grace of God!”

With a huge smile, Peter replied, “Welcome to heaven!”

How often have we tried to weigh our good works against our sins? How often have we weighed them against the works and sins of others? Are you trying to balance out the scale?

What does the text from Proverbs say? The scale is the Lord’s! And we know that the weight of our sins will tip the scale over against us. What will balance it out?

Again we turn to the text from Proverbs, “All the weights in the bag are His work.” Only the work of Jesus can balance out the scale. In fact, that bag is so full that the more we put on our “side,” the more He has to take out of His bag (St. John 1:16).

Baptism, Absolution, His Body & Blood.  What a heavy bag!

“Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure By the Cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide.”        (LSB #427, verse 4)

Trinity 2007 Reflections were written by the Rev. Michael Scudder, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflections Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.

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