Daily Office Reading for Thursday of Proper 26:Year1
Morning, Psalm 71; Evening, Psalm 74;
Ezra 7:1to 26; Revelation 14:1 to 13; Matthew 14:1 to 12:
“For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)
Our Ezra reading for today reports a long list of fathers that led to Ezra. I find this paternal lineage very impressive. His lineage is from Aaron the original chief priest. It is hard to find this kind of fatherhood today. And, it’s problematic. Irresponsible fatherhood can lead to neglected children.
For my own lineage, I am John, some of Tom, son of Dinky Guy. I don’t know much more than that. However, I do have a son who is also John. The point to be made is that faithful fatherhood for sons is so important. It is more important for a son to be the faithful offspring of a good father than being his biological offspring. I believe responsible fatherhood will curve the number of starving children all over the world.
Faithful fatherhood is also very important for the raising of girls also. I have daughters. Some biological, some not, all loved very much. In the end, it is only love that matters. Young women who had loving fathers look for loving men to partner with should they be heterosexual. But regardless of sexual orientation, sons and daughters are able to live into all that God wants them to be if they are raised by good fathers. They may not “set their hearts to study the law of the Lord, and do it,” as did Ezra, but there is a greater chance of them being good people and good citizens and good parents themselves.
All of us should be proud to identify ourselves as sons or daughters of whoever our parents were. If not, then we have all the more reason to begin a good and faithful lineage so that our sons and daughters will identify as being from us. Sometimes we just have to start something good.
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 