Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 25: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 63:1 to 8, and Psalm 98; Evening, Psalm 103;
Haggai 1:1 to 2:9; Acts 18:24 to 19:7; Luke 10:25 to 37:
“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10: 36 and 37)
This is the conclusion of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Most of us Christians have heard this parable. It starts with the lawyer who is trying to get out of caring for people not like himself. “Who is my neighbor?” he asks. Jesus tells him of both a Levite and a priest who pass the injured man by, not wanting to chance touching someone who may be dead and defile themselves, and so be excluded from temple worship. But the Samaritan truly put compassion before Church, The message of the Church is to have compassion for all people. The Samaritan got it. And he did it. How about us? Hearing the parable is one thing. Going, and doing likewise, is another.
Part 2 of 2
New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 25: Year B
Hebrews 7:23 to 28 and Mark 10:46 to 52 (Reprinted from April 4, 2020)
“So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” (Mark 10:50)
This is the healing story of blind Bartimaeus son of Timaeus who asks for his sight again. What is often kind of glossed over is Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak. Think about it, if you are blind you become well aware of keeping up with things so that you can put your hands on it again. I have my sight and still, I lose things all the time, my keys, my phone, my glasses, many things.
Bartimaeus, knowing he has the opportunity to stand (or kneel) before our Lord Jesus, throws off his cloak. He lets go of his “security blanket” knowing that being before Jesus will make all things new and secure.
The same is true for us today. The only way we can put our whole trust in our Lord Jesus is to let go of false security. Our Lord Jesus asks us today, What is it that we want Him to do for us? What say yee?
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 