Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 1st Week of Epiphany: Year 1
AM Psalm 18:1 to 20; PM Psalm 18:21 to 50;
Isaiah 41:17 to 29; Ephesians 2:11 to 22; Mark 2:1 to 12:
“For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” (Ephesians 2:14)
At this writing our nation is going through a tumultuous time. All fifty State capitals are threatened with violence during the inauguration of soon to be President Joe Biden on January 20th. The divisiveness is more than just democrat against republican. It seems it is about race, and who is loyal to the outgoing President Donald Trump and who is not. We could sure use some Jesus right now.
It seems we have a dividing wall that separates us from our neighbor, our brothers and sisters. There is hostility between us. My prayer is that we calm down and listen to what our hearts are saying to us. Paul says that Jesus is our peace. He says that, “in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall.” Somehow, I still fill like the wall is there. Perhaps not everybody has heard about what Jesus has done, and is doing. We are one group now. There is no separation anymore. Whatever the issues are, we should be able to come to some kind of consensus, and perhaps, enlightenment.
In Christ Jesus we must realize we are all one in Christ. We should not want to win at the expense of others. Is there a way we can be satisfied with enough while at the same time, those who have a different opinion, may also be satisfied with enough? We all make up the body of Christ Jesus. And the body of our Lord Jesus does not have cancer or Covid. We will live!
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 