The goat shall bear

   all their iniquities on itself

to a remote area,

and he shall let the goat

                 go free

   in the wilderness.

                Leviticus 16. 22

(The scapegoat was not intended

to place blame for our sin

                on others

in order to get away with it,

but as a visual reminder

  of God's forgiveness

              and letting it go.

We confess our sin, repent,

and are marked

    by God's forgiveness,

not defined by our sin,

not taking the goat back home.)

O LORD,

Thank you that You came

to bear our sin

and bring us to You.

Please help us

    to live in Your forgiveness,

not dwell on what

           You have already forgiven.

We are not defined by our sin,

     but have been forgiven.

We are enslaved no more,

  but free to live in You.

You radically transform our hearts

      and redeem all things.

May we live like that

and let go of the goat.