Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 4th Week of Epiphany: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 69: ; Evening, Psalm 73;
Genesis 24:1 to 27; Hebrews 12:3 to 11; John 7:1 to 13:
“For no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” (John 7:4)
I think they misunderstand our Lord Jesus. And this reading says that his brothers did not believe him as yet. Jesus stayed on the fringes of towns. He was never looking for praise, but rather, he looked for what was the good work that needed to be done. He healed the sick, and taught morality. So he was doing things that made the communal life better. He didn’t want to be widely known but rather widely received. Too often we look at the good works of some gifted people of God from the paradigm of our own self serving ways. We ask “what’s in it for them?” We don’t ask, “What gifts has God given them that enhances our lives?”
Knowing that his friends were all about the popularity of people, he told them, “Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.’ After saying this, he remained in Galilee.” (John 7: 8 – 9) However, after a little while our Lord Jesus had a change of mind and went to Jerusalem and to the Festival of Booths, but he went in secret. (John 4:10)
Even today we never know when our Lord Jesus is near, but in secret. The good news is that when he is near, he is near to cause good to happen. And while it is good to give our Lord Jesus praise and honor, the additional rejoicing should be about how much better our situation is about to be. Thank you Lord Jesus and please stay near us, even if in secret, we need you to be close to us.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
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 