Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 22: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 120, 121, 122 and 123; Evening, Psalms 124, 125, 126 and127;
2nd Kings 22:1 to 13; 1st Corinthians 11:2 and17-22; Matthew 9:1 to 8:
“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left: (2nd Kings 22:1 and 2).
Josiah had every reason and privilege to become a spoiled rotten brat, taking over the kingdom as a child, and yet he didn’t.
I especially like that when he was in the eighteenth year of his reign he let the Lord lead him into transparency with the people. He was open and forthright with the treasure of the kingdom. He trusted the blue collar of his day. He let them be in charge of what they were doing. He told them what to do without telling them how to do it. Concerning the money for the repair of the House of the Lord he said, “let it be given into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the house of the Lord;” he said, “let them give it to the workers who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house, that is, to the carpenters, to the builders, to the masons; and let them use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the house. But no account shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly:” (2nd Kings 22:5 to 7). This was total honesty and trust in the workers.
Josiah walked straight up the middle. He did not turn aside to the right or to the left. I have visited hospitals to check on parishioners where different colored lines were drawn on the ceiling, or on the floor. This was valuable. After my initial contact with the receptionist, he or she would tell me which color to follow in order to reach the ward and patient I was visiting. Perhaps God left such a line for Josiah to follow, and he drifted neither to the right, or to the left, but stayed on course.
His obedience to God led him to the Book of the Law. Josiah, after hearing the words read to him, stopped everything in order to get back on track, or, should I say, the right color path God laid out for him to follow. How about you? Every now and then, we need to stop, look up, look down, and look all around. I call this my looks of 180, (straight up and straight down); and my view of 360, (turning in a circle observing where I’ve been and what is to my right and left). From this action I proceed on, making sure that I am following the path God has laid out for me. I am John, son of Evelyn, I hope to do what is right in the sight of the Lord. What is your name? What is, or was, your mother’s name? Do you hope to do what is right in the sight of the Lord?
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 