Daily Devotional

40 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer

#35 – Saturday February 11, 2023

Psalm

O guard my life, and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you. Psalm 25:20-21

Scripture

“So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother and sister, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24

Commentary

Thus there remains only one path for those who in following Jesus want to truly serve God in worship, and that is the path of reconciliation with their sisters and brothers. Anyone who comes to the word and sacrament with an unreconciled heart stands judged by doing so. Such a person is a murderer in God’s sight. That is why you must “first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” It is a difficult path Jesus imposes on his disciples. It includes much humiliation and dishonor for the disciples themselves. But it is the path to him, our crucified brother, and thus, it is a path full of grace. In Jesus, service to the least brother or sister and service to God became one. He went and was reconciled to his human kindred, and then he came and offered himself, the one true sacrifice, to his Father.

Questions to Ponder

Bonhoeffer states that: “It is a difficult path Jesus imposes on his disciples.” He also states that, “it is a path full of grace.” Where is the difficulty and where is the grace?
How did Jesus model the truth that, “service to the least brother or sister and service to God became one”?

Collect of the Day

Gracious God, thank you for reconciling me to yourself; now make me a reconciler.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

40-Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer,

Sue Taylor

Office Administrator

Trinity Anglican Church

24 Collier Street

P.O. Box 641

Barrie, ON L4M 4V1

705-728-2691