Maybe it's just me...

I was struck a few weeks back by the difference in form and substance between the RCL readings and the structure of the liturgy at the service I attended. Here's the reading that struck me this way:

"Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

-- Heb 10: 19-25

Those that know me know that I don't particularly care for the weekly practice of confession of sin and absolution, not because I don't think that we all sin, but rather because to me it seems disrespectful of God's grace towards us. To me, it better reflects the gospel and the whole thrust of the good news -- and besides, it matches Hebrews this way! -- to have this call and response be one of confession of hope and call to service, rather than confession of sin and absolution. The former calls for action because of God's actions on our behalf; the latter has us moaning and actually being quite passive.

At least, that is how it seems to me.