A Message from our Pastor
A Parable: The Duck
There once was a young farm boy named Billy, who loved almost more than anything to go out with his bee- bee gun and shoot at various targets and objects around the yard. He loved to pretend he was defending his home, but one day, while he was defending his family, while he was sneaking around the barn, he quickly jumped around the corner of the barn and took a shot-but to his horror, he saw the bee-bee strike a duck in the yard and kill it instantly. Now this was no ordinary duck, it was practically a family pet that loved his father, it would even lovingly follow the father all around the farmyard.
The crushed and terrified boy picked up the limp body of the duck, and snuck into the barn, dug a hole and covered it up with hay. But he could barely cover his own remorse and fear.
That night at dinner, everyone kept discussing and asking questions about the duck. Billy couldn’t dare to look at his father’s face, but quietly stared at his plate.
The next day, the hired hand came up to Billy and said “Time for you to fill the wood box”. Billy answered, “I’m not going to fill the wood box, that’s your job”. “Billy, I saw what happened to the duck yesterday. I saw you shoot it, dig a hole in the barn and bury it and cover it with straw. What do you think your father would say if I told him what I saw?” Well the boy wasted no time in filling the wood box.
The next day, the hired hand came up to him and said, “Time for you to clean out the chicken pen”. Billy answered, “That’s your job.” “Billy, what do you think your father’s going to do to you after I tell him about the duck?” Well Billy immediately set about cleaning out the chicken pen.
Well this went on day after day for several days, and Billy was dragging around the place, with all of the extra work on top of his chores, but mainly from the guilt, for he still could not look at his father’s face. He just couldn’t take it anymore, and so finally, with tears in his eyes, he went to his father and confessed, “Daddy, I killed the duck, and buried him in the barn – I’m so sorry”- and he ran into his father’s arms. His father said, “Son, that’s okay, I forgive you – it will be alright.”
The next day, the hired hand came up to Billy and said, “Well, the wood box is getting low again, time for you to fill it.” “NO, that’s your job and I’m not going to do it!” “Billy, remember that duck and your father…” And Billy joyfully shouted back “I already told my father about the duck, and he told me that its okay, that everything is alright-so get away from me, I am not going to do it!” He had been freed from the burden and slavery of guilt and fear, freed by the forgiveness of His loving father. By confessing his sin, he was able to be restored to the relationship with his father that he enjoyed before, not having to hang his head in shame, or walk in fear that his accuser might tell his father bring down punishment.
My dear family in Christ, because of the cross and tomb of Jesus, our Father has already declared us forgiven, completely. In the waters of our baptism, God has washed away the stain of our sinful guilt and satan cannot accuse us anymore. It’s okay, it’s alright-all of our sin has been forgiven. There is nothing that you or I have done or could do that is beyond the shed blood of Jesus, it is already washed away. We don’t have to be afraid, we can go to a loving Father like that.
There is no need for us to try and cover up our deeds from our Father-He already knows what each of us has done, thought, or said. And, He has already forgiven it for Jesus’ sake. There’s no need to listen any longer to the accusing voice of satan in our ear telling us what we’ve done and what God’s going to do to us-no need to hang our head in shame, instead we can go to your loving Father and confess our sin without fear, for we know that He will forgive us. Indeed, looking back at our baptism, we know that He has already forgiven us. Now we can live, really live in that freedom and joy!
Blessings to you in these waning days of summer
and these first days of fall,
In Christ, our forgiving and loving Savior,
If you are looking for a church home, we encourage you to consider First Lutheran! We love to share the Good News of our Savior and the help that God’s Word gives to our everyday lives! Our congregation consists of people like you from every part of our nation. People seeking a sense of belonging and an opportunity for worship, growth and fellowship. May you find grace and blessing in the time we spend together. We would love to tell you more about our congregation.
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