Color: Purple\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 12:1–6\rPsalm: Psalm 32; antiphon: v. 11\rEpistle: 2 Corinthians 5:16–21\rGospel: Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32\rIntroit: Psalm 51:2–6; antiphon: v. 1\rGradual: Hebrews 12:2\rVerse: Luke 15:22a, 24a\r\rJesus Christ Has Reconciled Us to the Father\r \rGod the Father has opened His heart to us in love. While we were “still a long way off,” He saw us and “felt compassion” (Luke 15:20). Therefore, He gave His only begotten Son for us, making “him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). By the ministry of reconciliation, He runs to us, embraces us in mercy and clothes us with His glory as beloved sons in Christ Jesus. And so we give thanks unto the Lord our God, who has taken away our sins and turned His anger from us (Is. 12:1). Because He has become our salvation, our strength and our song, we “will trust, and will not be afraid” (Is. 12:2).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship