Morning, Psalm 71; Evening, Psalm 74;
Genesis 42:29 to 38; 1st Corinthians 6:12 to 20; Mark 4:21 to 34:
“Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts” (Psalm 74:18).
The Psalmist speaks about a persecution taking place in Israel. A similar persecution is taking place today in Ukraine. All of Psalm 74 can be recited and meant by the people of Ukraine. They are not without help or hope, yet they struggle against the wild beast of the Russian military.
I feel like most of the rest of the west are going to feel ashamed for not getting involved in support of Ukraine. World War III or bust, nuclear devastation or come what may, just standing by and watching homes and hospitals being bombed is not going to pass from our memory quickly. While the rest of the west is fearing what might happen if we get involved, Ukraine is feeling it now, with no choice of not getting involved. There comes a point that the wild beast should feel the sting of the whip. It trains the beast.
Today is Saint Patrick’s day
Readings for St. Patrick
Psalm 96; 1st Thessalonians 2:1 to 8; Matthew 28:16 to 20:
“When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:17)
“Patrick was born into a Christian family somewhere on the northwest coast of Britain in about 390. His grandfather had been a Christian priest and his father, Calpornius, a deacon. Calpornius was an important official in the late Roman imperial government of Britain. It was not unusual in this post-Constantinian period for such state officials to be in holy orders. When Patrick was about sixteen, he was captured by a band of Irish slave-raiders. He was carried off to Ireland and forced to serve as a shepherd. When he was about twenty-one, he escaped and returned to Britain, where he was educated as a Christian. He tells us that he took holy orders as both presbyter and bishop, although no particular see is known as his at this time. A vision then called him to return to Ireland. This he did about the year 431.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for March 17)
Like our Lord Jesus who when the eleven met him after His Resurrection, “some doubted.” So too some in Ireland may have doubted that this returned person, now a bishop, was actually the escaped shepherd youth named Patrick. Some doubted Patrick’s education for Holy Orders. But I am reminded that God does not call the qualified, but rather, God qualifies the called. If you live and learn and love, long enough, you too will be made over. You will be better.
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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