Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 8: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 118; Evening, Psalm 145;
1st Samuel 10:1 to 16; Romans 4:13 to 25; Matthew 21:23 to 32:
“For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist:” (Romans 4: 16 and 17)
This insight from Paul about God really says it all for me. God, through the faith of Abraham, makes us faithful and spiritual descendents of Abraham. He is Father Abraham. God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist; Wow! This is Who God Is. Death has no power over us. Death will have its time, sure; But God, who is beyond time, conquers death.
Part 2 of 2
New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 8: Year B
2nd Corinthians 8:7 to 15 and Mark 5:21 to 43:
“Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” “(Mark 5:30).
This is what is meant by “unexpected opportunities.” Our Lord Jesus is on his way to a dying child. While in route, a woman of strong faith does her self-talk and follows through with her plan for her healing. She touches the clothing of Jesus and the faith she holds – heals her.
We can have our minds focused on something – even something good, but God will sometimes put in our path a good act that needs to be done. When this happens, it is not the “interruption” that God is looking at, but us. God is looking at how we are going to respond to the help-request put before us. In moments like this God can tell when our love is genuine. A calculated plan that looks like a love effort may not be an accurate indicator of what you are made of. However, a sudden event that requires of you whatever is available at the moment will reveal what you are made of. Love must be genuine, not just something done to make us look loving. Jesus shows that His love is genuine through and through. We too can become this loving through prayer.
Let us live in order that we might love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 