June 18, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's Prayer - 5th Petition

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 20:5-25; Proverbs 21:1-31; John 17:1-26

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. (The Fifth Petition, The Lord’s Prayer)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus taught us to pray boldly. We are coming to the Father with these words ‘‘forgive us our trespasses.’ We aren’t bartering. We aren’t conjoling. We aren’t suggesting that ‘we’ll get the tab next time.’ Nope. We are begging that our sins be forgiven. We are stating it plainly: I have sins. A lot of sins. Forgive me.

It is only from the mercy of God that we can continue to live and breathe and enjoy what He has given us. Without it, we would easily succumb to the weight of shame, despair, guilt, or even arrogance that our sins would demand. When we pray this Petition, we are rightly acknowledging that we have sinned and we need something outside of ourselves to get rid of our mess.

It is such a gift, then, to know that Jesus taught us to pray this way because He knows God will hear us and answer our prayer! Jesus is our rescuer! He is the payment for our sins. He is the only one who can tell the Father: yep, that person is covered. I paid for her sins. He is one of mine, so he is one of yours.

In Baptism, your Old Adam was drowned and died; a New Man was created. You, dear saint, belong to Christ and are therefore holy before God the Father. You get to come to Him in your darkest hour and trust in Jesus’ Death and Resurrection for you. You get to pray with confidence; in Jesus, your sins are forgiven, and your prayers are heard.

It is from that overflowing well - that unending grace and mercy - that we then turn to our neighbor and forgive them, too. We trust, we believe, and, in faith, we cling to the truth that our Father hears this prayer and does indeed forgive our sins. We then turn to those who have hurt us and share it with them, too. We know the power of sin, shame, and guilt - and we declare to those who are under it: there is forgiveness. Jesus paid for that sin. You are mercied. You are loved. You are forgiven - just like I am.

Pray this Petition with boldness and humility; cling to the promises that are yours in Jesus, remembering that it is through Him that you get to approach the Father and know that His Gifts are for you. And then? Share that Good News with those around you!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I, a sinner, come to Thee With a penitent confession. Savior, mercy show to me; Grant for all my sins remission. Let these words my soul relieve: Jesus sinners doth receive. (LSB 609:4)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.