Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 7: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 97 and 99; Evening, Psalm 94;
Numbers 16:20 to 35; Romans 4:1 to 12; Matthew 19:23 to 30:
“Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27)
Peter is someone in the Gospel that I really identify with even if not always proud of. I sometimes shoot from the hip without thinking. I am sometimes afraid and deny even knowing Christ. I have family and yet have decided to follow Jesus. However, I have moved beyond asking “what’s in it for me.” Peter explains to Jesus how he and others have followed him and now wants to know about the payoff.
I am in a place now where I want to do good for goodness sake. It’s like the Santa Clause song, “he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you are wake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.” Being good for goodness sake is a kindness that is not looking down the reward road. Being good for goodness sake is basking in the goodness as you perform it. It’s Wonderful.
Our Lord Jesus is very much aware of our human need for good outcomes. So he assures Peter, and us, that we will receive the good reward. He says, everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19: 29)
So let us not be so concerned about a future reward. Let’s just be kind and do what is good and right so that we can say (humbly but with a little bit of pride) I did that!
Let us continue to pray and do whatever good we can for Ukraine.
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 