Every life matters to God and should to us.

This past week we saw again the kinds of evil that proceed from the hearts of sinful human beings…in the senseless stabbing of a young Ukrainian woman and the shooting of a political activist. The wickedness of fallen humankind and the mercy of God are contrasted in our scripture lessons this week. God didn’t write off unfaithful Israel, but sent Hosea to call them to repentance. When a man caught in sin was penitent, Paul called on the Corinthians to receive him again. The Pharisees didn’t have time for sinners and the downtrodden, but Jesus ate with them and called them to repentance and faith.