Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 20: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 88; Evening, Psalms 91 and 92;
2nd Kings 9:17 to 37; 1st Corinthians 7:1 to 9; Matthew 6:7 to 15:
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14 and 15)
In this chapter of Matthew our Lord Jesus has taught us to pray in the words of what we now call, “The Lord’s Prayer.” Jesus concludes with the reminder about forgiveness. It seems God applies to us the very same criterion we use to judge others.
Every human being makes mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes we make are because we didn’t know any better. Sometimes we make terrible mistakes because we are wrongheaded. Be it a mistake or immaturity, we must learn to see it in our selves, and then we must learn to see it in others. Some people offend us accidently. Sometimes people offend us on purpose.
We are flawed but not because of any oversight on God’s part except for maybe giving us intellect and reason. We are primarily flawed because we haven’t tempered our intellect and reason with love, also a gift from God. We should not use one without the other. Intellect and reason used in loving ways towards one another encourages us to forgive one another. God sees our loving compassion and so is compassionate with us as well.
Let us relax then and ponder about those who have hurt us in one way or another. Did they not know any better? Was the hurt caused on purpose? Were they just trying to help themselves at your expense? Was the hurt or sin something that they could possibly grow out of over time? I invite you to ask these same questions about the hurt or sin you have caused regarding someone else. Be especially focused on whether or not your hurtful or sinful behavior is something you can, and should, grow out of over time. Forgive with love, and be forgiven with God’s love.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
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
onewhoponders 