Monday, December 11, 2017

DENNIS
 Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. In the Psalms, David reveals his deep anguish before God about his sins. It is important to notice how the language of his psalms of repentance has filtered down into the liturgies we have inherited in the church. In Psalm 38, David describes that he feels weighed down by his sins, saying “your hand has come down upon me” (vs. 2). His health is suffering because of his sin. David says, “There is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.” Finally, he says the guilt he is experiencing has become “a burden too heavy to bear.” In our communion liturgy, we say with the psalm, “Almighty and most merciful Father, we have wandered and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.” David gives the basic language of the repentant life. He knew that only God can forgive, heal, and change our hearts and minds. Keeping this understanding in the forefront of our lives is one of the deepest marks or badges of the Christian life. Remember, without Christ, we are nothing more than filthy rags. God bless.