Lent 1 – Midweek (Absolution)
February 25, 2026
Luke 7:36-50
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This Lenten season, we will use the midweek services to meditate upon Confession and Absolution.
We began this evening’s service, as we’ll do each midweek service throughout this season of Lent, with confession and absolution from the service of Compline.
Now the service of Compline dates back to the fourth century as a sort of bedtime prayer, and for this reason, Compline means completion, to pray at the completion of the day and one of the most important aspects of this service is the rite of Confession and Absolution, that there would be peace within the home and among one another before laying one’s head down to sleep, especially since no one truly knows if they would awake the next morning.
For this reason, a verse from the Psalms that comes to mind is that of Psalm 4,
Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. (Psalm 4:4)
The Apostle Paul builds upon the verse by writing to the Ephesians,
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
Reflect upon this: how often do you go to bed angry?
Surely, some of you are whispering to yourselves, never.
However, you can see from both verses I just read to you how anger and sin are intimately related. So let me ask you this: how many of you go to bed still caught up in sin?
Meaning, going to bed without forgiving each other for an argument, a hurtful word, taking someone else’s property, or an unfaithful act within a relationship?
Honestly, when it comes to understanding the two parts of Confession from the Small Catechism, “First that we confess our sins, and second that we receive absolution...” a great challenge for people is absolution — forgiving those who have sinned against you and caused you harm.
Now, of course, absolution—the forgiveness of sin—occurs after someone confesses their sins.
But when absolution is not granted or given, your husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, friend, or co-worker remains in chains and is imprisoned by the sin they have confessed to you.
Now, culture, your friends, AI (on the internet), poorly written self-help books, and sometimes your feelings, all tell you that it’s okay not to forgive, to withhold forgiveness from someone who has hurt you.
I understand that forgiveness can be tough, but it’s better for Christians not to seek help or understanding about spiritual matters from the world, but from the Scriptures. As Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount,
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)
The words of Jesus highlight a serious need for us to consider how we approach forgiveness and the act of forgiving one another, even when it’s difficult, when the sin of another has cut deep and left a lasting scar.
A common refrain in families is, “They hurt me for the last time.”
Or “Fool me once, but…”
Or “They’re never going to change.”
But do these words confess faith and confidence that the Holy Spirit can change people’s lives?
Do you lack faith in God to transform the heart of an erring brother or sister in Christ? Or do your words resemble those of the Pharisee in the second reading tonight from the Gospel of St. Luke?
The Pharisee in the second reading only saw a sinful woman, one who was unclean, probably a prostitute or adulterer, because her sins were great; he didn’t see how she could be forgiven.
And this offers another perspective for us to consider. Most often, we focus more on the severity of our neighbors’ sins than on our own sinful nature, or that it’s sinful of us to refuse to forgive someone who is contrite and sorry for their transgression.
And for this reason, these words of Jesus tonight should not only call you to account for the sins you have failed to forgive, but also be a comfort not only to those who have hurt and caused you harm, but also to you, a poor, miserable sinner yourself. Jesus said,
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
How wonderful it is that we can forgive one another just as our dear Savior forgives us. This entire season of Lent leads us to the cross of Calvary, where Jesus not only took the place of a murderer and insurrectionist but also bore your sin and endured the judgment for it by dying on the cross for you.
But even there, as Jesus hung between two criminals, the sins and faith of one were confessed, and what did Jesus say to him?
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Before Jesus gives up His spirit, is placed in the tomb, and sleeps the sleep of death, He forgives the one who confesses their sin – the criminal.
In doing so, Jesus shows us not only how to prepare for bed each night but also how to face death by exercising the Christian faith entrusted to each of us.
Sure, the one who has sinned against you might do it again, but just as the forgiveness of Christ does not cease for those who have faith, neither does the forgiveness of the Christian.
As St. Peter once asked Jesus,
“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)
My friends, those who have sinned against you most deeply have the most to gain in Christ Jesus and through your love for them. Let us make it a point this Lenten season to work on forgiving those who harm us, to release them from the bondage of sin, so we, too, can go to our beds each night, ready for the resurrection. +INJ+
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
