Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 16: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 5 and 6; Evening, Psalms 10 and 11;
Job 6:1-4,8-15,21; Acts 9:32-43; John 6:60-71:
“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68 and 69)
You are so correct Simon Peter; there is no one to whom we can go. Our Lord Jesus does indeed have the words of eternal life. To me, eternal life means continuing to exist, hopefully in happiness. I also like Peter’s identifying Jesus as “the Holy One of God.” Simon Peter has come a long way since his days as a fisherman on Lake Galilee.
When Peter went to Lydda he saw Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bed ridden for eight years. “Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!’ And immediately he got up. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9: 34 and 35)
Peter became famous as a healer. From Lydda two men came from Joppa seeking his healing for a disciple named Tabitha which in the Greek is Dorcus. There was much mourning around her as she had just died. “Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.” (Acts 9: 40 and 41)
Like Peter, all of us are new beings in Christ Jesus. We may not become healers but our communities are in need of so many different gifts. We may be called away from our normal occupations to a vocation of counseling, or feeding, or educating, or errands, or even just being with those who are lonely. And like Simon Peter, you will be discovered and requested for holy help. When this happens do not forget Peter’s words, “Jesus Christ heals you.” Our Lord Jesus is truly the Holy One of God.
How might we help end the Russia – Ukraine conflict? Only with our Lord Jesus working through us can we provide the Holy help needed to end this horror. Peter got it right. “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” So let us call on our Lord Jesus for Ukraine and all our concerns.
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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