Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
      • Dear Friend in Christ
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to All Daily Grace

Divine mercy

9.20.2015
|
Daily Grace

There is a story about a longtime prisoner in the Tower of London. Royal pardon released the prisoner, and the warden unlocked the door. The prisoner did not budge. “The king has had mercy on you. You’re free,” the warden said. “Yes,” replied the prisoner, “but I know the world of this cell. I do not know what lies beyond it.”

This story sheds light on the Scripture where familiarity wins out again and again over the wild world of God’s mercy. A few weeks into the wilderness, for example, and the Israelites yearned for “the fleshpots of Egypt,” the land of their oppression. God’s mercy can sometimes seem hard to stomach.

Peter’s encounter with divine mercy stuns him. When Jesus urges him to throw out his nets again, Peter can barely pull them in, loaded as they are. He looks at Jesus with sudden recognition: “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8) Peter’s encounter with Jesus is too much for him, but Jesus reels him in. Now Peter will fish for people, spreading divine mercy still further.

Lord, forgive our sins as we forgive others. Amen.


Today is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost. This message was adapted from the “Mercy Made Real: Disciples as Forgiven Forgivers” Bible study written by Martha E. Stortz that first appeared in the January/February 2008 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine. If you are reading “Daily Grace” online, sign up to receive it by email daily.

Share

Sign up for Daily Grace

Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message. You can also download the newly updated app for your IOS and Android devices.

Women of the ELCA
29 Jan
Women of the ELCA
@WomenoftheELCA

Happy birthday, Katharina von Bora Luther! 🎉⭐️🎂 From "A Bold Life of Faith: Katharina von Bora Luther" by Linda Post Bushkofsky, A resource from Women of the ELCA, 2009. womenoftheelca.org/filebin/pd… #KatiesBirthday #2122KatiesFund #KatharinavonBoraLutherwasborntoday #Jan29 pic.twitter.com/fC9yD265al

Expand reply reply retweet retweet favorite favorite
Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.