Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 25: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138 and 139:1 to 17;
Nehemiah 4:1 to 23; Revelation 7:4 to17; Matthew 13:31 to 35:
“After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands:” (Revelation 7: 9).
In this scene in Revelation we have many people of all walks of human life. And while they are representative of almost all aspects of human life, there is one category not mentioned; religion.
All nations, tribes and voices of humanity are brought before God without mention of how they got to God. I think this is important, very important. And here is the good part, “They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes:” (Revelation 7: 16 and 17).
God knows all there is to know about us no matter our religion as expressed in Psalm 139 for today:
1. Lord, you have searched me out and known me;
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
2. You trace my journeys and my resting-places
and are acquainted with all my ways.
3. Indeed, there is not a word on my lips,
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
4. You press upon me behind and before
and lay your hand upon me.
5. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
6. Where can I go then from your Spirit?
where can I flee from your presence?
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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