Come in Sorrow and Contrition

Anointing Jesus' Feet
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Come in sorrow and contrition,

wounded, impotent, and blind.

Here the guilty: free remission.

Here the troubled
peace may find.

Health this fountain will restore,

he that drinks
shall thirst no more.

"Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain"

by James Montgomery, 1771-1854

This is an invitation to church. We admit that we often avoid church for lack of time or lack of energy, but perhaps sometimes we feel like we don't belong in that sacred place. We're not holy enough, not religious enough. We stand out. We feel like people are staring at us, like we're in rags when everyone else is clothed in white. Thankfully, church isn't about us or those other people in the pews. It's about Jesus, and He died for all of us the same because we all needed the same help. 

We are all sorrowful, contrite, wounded, impotent, and blind in one way or another. Some of us know that part of ourselves better than others. We are all also, when baptized into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, covered by Jesus' perfection, just like we take off our rags and don a perfectly white robe like all the other saints wear. We are, each of us, a lost sheep every now and again. Why not try wandering home today? Maybe some will stare and disapprove, but God promises that there will be at least One who will smile.

"Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

Luke 15:7