Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 16: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 146 and 147; Evening, Psalms 111, 112 and 113;
2nd Samuel 24:1 to 2 and10 to 25; Galatians 3:23 to 4:7; John 8:12 to 20:
“If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:19)
Our Lord Jesus is our closest view of the love of God. As a Christian, I must look at how our Lord Jesus related with people in order to catch a glimpse of the nature and character of God. Our Lord Jesus, as far as we can tell, never cheated anybody, or hurt or killed anybody. On the other hand, he seemed to love everybody. He was occasionally firm with some, but always taught a message of love.
Part 2 of 2
New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Proper 16: Year B
Ephesians 6:10-20 and John 6:56-69
“Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66 to 69)
The truth of the matter is, we don’t have choices. God, our God, is Lord of all and it is our hope and trust that God, our one God, is loving and merciful to all of us. This love and mercy component about God has been handed down since humanity has recorded our relationship with God. This record is both Biblically recorded, and handed down word of mouth for generations.
Our Trust is in the goodness of God as made manifest in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Peter says, who else can we appeal to or seek out for help if not our Lord Jesus? I think the real good news for us, and for all people, is that no matter what happens to us, God wins every time. Nothing can happen to us that God can’t undo. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us and save us from the time of trial.” Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray to God the Creator in this way for our help and safety. Our help is in the Maker of heaven and earth. The Incarnate One walked among us to guide us to God’s Self for our sakes. There is no one else we can count on for eternal life. Simon Peter is so right. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Let us live to love, serve and teach, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying through the saints and to us, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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