Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readinggs for Sunday of Proper 19: year 2
Psalms 24, 29; 8, and 84; Job 38:1,18-41; Rev. 18:1to 8; and Matt. 5:21 to26
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?” (Job 38: 1 and 18 to 20)
This fable of the Hebrew story of Job has always fascinated me, especially chapter 38 and beyond. God patiently listens to Job’s lament in previous chapters. In chapter 38 however, God calls Job to task. In spite of all that he has suffered, Job has no idea of what it means to be God. Yes, bad things do happen to good people, but because God is so loving and merciful and compassionate God will make all things right in the hereafter. Maintain faith no matter what.
Part 2 of d2
New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 19: Year A
Romans 14:1 to 12 and Matthew 18:21 to 35
“But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18: 28 – 35)
This gets back to our Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.” We should plead with those we have offended for forgiveness, and whether we receive forgiveness or not, we must have compassion for those who come to us and plead for the same. We all admit that we are fallible. Therefore it should not surprise us when we err. We must remember that when we see the unrepentant, that except for the grace of God, there go I.
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 