Daily office Readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Epiphany: Year 1
AM Psalms 61 and 62; PM Psalm 68:1to20;
Isaiah 52:1to12; Galatians 4:12to20; Mark 8:1to10
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.” (Isaiah 52:7)
Aware that most mid-eastern cultures have a disdain for the feet, and many still do today, to say the feet are beautiful, is a huge jump in gratitude for what the message the feet bring to the weary heart. And it’s not only the feet themselves that disgust, but also even shoes as they come off the feet. There was a video where one such mid-eastern man in our time threw one of his sandals at President Bush (43) during his presentation. The alert President saw it coming and ducked. Though the sandal would not have caused physical harm, it was the fact that it was removed from the foot that made it vile.
Therefore, when we read “how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger…”, we know the message is more than just important, it is life changing! Through my Christian lens, I recall the foot washing performed by Jesus in the Gospel of John chapter 13. In my mind, Jesus made their feet beautiful for the journey of announcing the Good News. How beautiful are your feet today? Carry the Good News to someone today, your work and message will be life-changing for that person.
Today is the Day we remember the Annunciation of our Lord Jesus at the Temple.
The birth of our Lord Jesus was, and is, also life changing and picks up from the Temple in Jerusalem at his Annunciation, the Purification for the price of two doves. They were poor.
From the Gospel of Luke we read: “When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:39 and 40)
Mary and Joseph had made their trip to the Temple in Jerusalem for the Presentation of their child as was the requirement of the Law of Moses, the fulfillment of the Law. There they met Simeon and Anna, the full representation of the Law (Simeon), and the prophets (Anna). And, then they went back to Galilee for God was now doing something new and changing humanity forever!
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
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