Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 15: Year 2
Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, [127]
Judges 18:1-15; Acts 8:1-13; John 5:30-47
“Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves”
(Psalm 126: 6 and 7)
It seems that the way of life is that we must undergo some suffering before things get better. But we work and suffer in hope, hope that God will watch us and ensure that those who sow, shall also reap. Hope is about the harvest.
I practice music. It is monotonous work. But it is well worth it when I play “Praise to the Lord,” and it sounds right, and I celebrate in knowing that I played that.
I workout daily. Often when I wake I don’t really feel like working out. It becomes boring and I play mind games about whether or not working out is really necessary or what I want to do. But I put such thoughts away. On the reward side, I am losing weight and feeling better and now better able to do things with less effort.
I make regular visits to the golf driving range. I think my skill is truly lacking. But when I manage to actually play with some of my friends, they, (and I), are amazed at how well I played.
With more serious suffering, it seems sometimes we must undergo some degree of patient suffering in order to accomplish happiness. The same is true with raising children and wading through pandemics. Parents must allow children to make a few mistakes, not dangerous ones, but enough to let them know that they are vulnerable. Because of this pandemic parents are now asked to be more participatory in the education of their children. The education of children is among the greatest of rewards.
This pandemic virus is causing severe suffering in many segments of life. It is causing suffering in jobs and therefore finances; in education (and the education of our children impacts the jobs of parents); in hospitalization and most tragically, the death of loved ones. We are all hoping to get through this COVID 19 virus of 2020. And we will. We might have a new normal on the other side of this. But we will evolve. We plant the seed of hope. “Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves” (Psalm 126: 6 and 7). Hope is about the harvest. Plant carefully.
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to and through the saints of God and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 