Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 29: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 121, 122, and 123; Evening, Psalm 124, 125, and 126;
Nahum 1:1 to 13; 1 Peter 1:13 to 25; Matthew 19:13 to 22:
“If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.” (1st Peter 1:17)
There are two meaningful words in the above words from Saint Peter; deeds and exile.
It seems there is a certain amount of judgment for us in the next life based on our deeds. I note the absence of what we believe religiously. The charitable deeds we do in life remind me of the feeding, clothing, and visiting of the sheep in Matthew 25 as they are separated from the goats. Regardless of what we believe or don’t believe, we need to be good for goodness sake.
I am also reminded that here on earth we are in exile. We have a Father in that heavenly realm who watches how we are living while we are here. We are not meant to live here for all eternity. We are citizens of heaven.
We have been taught by our Savior to love and worship God Almighty and no one else, or nothing else. Peter says of Jesus, “Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God:” (1st Peter 1:21). With our faith and hope set on God we learn to love one another and to do good deeds whenever, and wherever we can, while here in our exile.
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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