Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 10: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 148, 149 and 150; Evening, Psalms 114 and 115;
1st Samuel 17:50 to 18:4; Romans 10:4 to 17; Matthew 23:29 to 39:
“And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15)
These words from Paul to the Church in Rome are almost a direct quote from Isaiah 52:7. We have our God-given faith that we trust in and share by walking to others. We use our feet to bipedal our way into the hearing distance of others. We are not giving them faith. God has done that already. No, we are awakening their faith. We do this by telling others about our own stories about how Christ has walked with us. Paul continues, “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ:” (Romans 10:17).
Part 2 of 2
New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 10: Year B
Ephesians 1:3-14 and Mark 6:14-29
“The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb:” (Mark 6: 26 to 29).
The king really liked listening to John. He was impressed if not inspired by his words. This king would not listen to the beginning of love that was developing for John.
So what influenced his decision to have John killed? Was it too much booze combined with an immoral lust for his stepdaughter? Then, did he put himself in a bind by publically promising something foolish, (giving her up to half of his kingdom)? She could have taken half his kingdom and waged war with him. So did he keep his word so as to maintain some kind of respect in front of his guest? Was keeping his word a political move? Was his oath well thought out before he hit the “send” button of his lips? I’m just pondering here folks. This was a sad birthday for Herod. Maybe keeping oaths for the sake of keeping oaths does not really make good sense. What do you think? What do you ponder?
Let us live to 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 