Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 19: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68;
1st Kings 21:17 to 29; 1st Corinthians 1:20 to 31; Matthew 4:12 to 17:
“Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth:” (1st Corinthians 1:26).
Wow! Paul has nailed me. I am all three. I am not wise by human standards. I am certainly not powerful. And, as an African American, a descendent of American slaves, I am not of noble birth. I am the trifecta, or maybe the humble Trinitarian characteristic of those who are truly called.
I failed second and fourth grade by a teacher who I found out later did not like my mother. In the meantime I was left with a huge inferiority complex that I had to overcome. I considered myself a failure. Yet, here I am, doing the Lord’s work. Thank You Lord Jesus.
I truly do feel called to my ministry. So many things happened to me just prior to my retirement from the Marine Corps. I was less than two years on station in Yuma, Arizona when I was ordered to Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. And, even then, with less than two years left before reaching thirty years active duty and mandatory retirement, I was allowed to continue my service and retire. Yet, as I was back in my new home town of Havelock, I was able to again attend my home parish of St Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Havelock, North Carolina. The Rector at that time asked me to consider if God has a calling on my life. God did. And here I am. Again, Thank You Lord Jesus.
You too must not look at your intellect, or birth race or ethnicity, or anything of high, or low, “human” value. God doesn’t care about any of that. We can’t “figure out” God. If you have truly emptied yourself of all human standards of achievement, which may tend to give you an inferiority complex, then your empty cup or bowl is prepared to be filled by God. One more time, Thank You Lord Jesus.
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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