Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 22 Year 1
AM Psalm 137:1-6(7-9), 144; PM Psalm 104 Jer. 35:1-19; 1 Cor. 12:27-13:3; Matt. 9:35-10:4
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.” (Matthew 9:35)
Jesus did many great acts in and around Israel. It was when he went south to Judea, and Jerusalem in particular, that we have what we did to him. Save the Sacrament of Holy Communion, which he did, his arrest and crucifixion are acts that we (humanity) did to him in Judea. And sadly we get fixated on that.
I think what we really should look deeper into is his teaching, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness that he did in the north, in Israel.
Jesus came to us from God Almighty, as God Almighty. He came to preach peace among all people, and for that he was killed. But now you and I have the opportunity to study carefully the acts he did and the words he shared about the kingdom. His three year ministry took place in an area half the size of New Jersey. He walked everywhere in Israel to do this work. What have we done to spread the word of the good news of the kingdom of heaven? You and I don’t have to worry about ending up on a cross. All we have to do is let people know that there is a loving God who wants us all to join the heavenly realm. This is truly good news but we keep it hidden. Jesus walked. We have cars and public transportation. What’s stopping us?
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John+
onewhoponders 