Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
I have had several individuals in my parishes who have served prison sentences. There is something about that experience which is hard to shake for some people. It seems to cling to them. Some of that is because society often labels a man released from prison. If you apply for a job, you may have to check a box on that application if you have been convicted of a felony. Some of this, however, is internal. We can be our own worst accusers.
I remember one fellow, a slight man, who had been convicted of a non-violent crime. He admitted that he had done the deed. When we talked about this, he said he wanted to hear again and again the words of the absolution I spoke at the beginning of the service. The world and his own internal voice spent much of the week reminding him of his past, the sin which weighed him down. But on Sunday, when he spoke the words of confession, those words were always met with the unconditional love of Christ. His sin did not weigh him down with Jesus. Jesus knew it all, loved him anyway, and forgave him. He needed to hear that again and again, he said.
This week we pray that God comes with all his might so that He can lift from our shoulders the sins which weigh us down. Tomorrow, Christmas Day, celebrates the fact that He came once to deal with my sins and again to rescue me (Heb. 9:28) He does so in grace and mercy. This child born in a manger is for sinners, people who have not gotten life right or good. In fact, they may have made a real mess of things. That is why Jesus came to that manger. The shepherds were not holy. The wise men had their struggles too. Mary and Joseph needed what only this baby could do. You need him too.
God has heard this prayer and continues to hear it. Jesus, the babe of Bethlehem, the man of Calvary, and the eternal Lord of all has lifted your sins, born them to a cross and nailed them to a tree. You are free of them.