Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 11: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 63:1 to 8 and 98; Evening, Psalm 103;
1st Samuel 23:7 to 18; Romans 11:33 to 12:2; Matthew 25:14 to 30:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect:” (Romans 12:2).
Being transformed by the renewing of my mind is why I ponder. It seems the more I learn, the more I find the need to learn more. I am so far from who I was raised to be. I am not blaming parents or schools or even friends. If anything, I actually give myself a little credit for seeking answers to life changing questions. In this way I continually renew my mind.
Part 2 of 2
New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 11: Year B
Ephesians 2:11 to 22 and Mark 6:30 to 34 and 53 to 56;
“The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught:” (Mark 6:31).
Reading these words and yet, not seeing totally what it says, happens to me often. The apostles return, and in this Gospel, they boast about all they had done and taught. They were traveling teachers. I think teaching is more important than feeding, or even healing. If a person is properly taught, they may never starve. If people are properly taught they may be able to avoid sickness, like Covid, or sexually transmitted diseases, or any other life threatening disease. Teaching is so important.
Aside from healing, this is what Jesus did, he taught people the meaning of life and he taught them about their relationship to God. In this Gospel it says, “As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things:” (Mark 6: 34).
Again, our Lord Jesus is teaching. That is what we are called to do as well. We are not called to teach people “what” to think, but rather, “how” to think. Sadly, some of us just wait for others to tell us what to think. In the same way, we are not called to teach people “who” to love, but rather, how to love all people. Thank You Lord Jesus for teaching us the Way.
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 