Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 16: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 18; 1 to 20: Evening, Psalm 18; 21 to 50;
Job 8:1-10, 20-22; Acts 10:17-33; and John 7:14-36:
“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Look, three men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.” (Acts 10: 19 and 20)
This, for me is among the most amazing characteristics about how God works; God is on both sides of what God asked us to do. God is with the Gentile centurion as well as with Peter.
Our Resurrected Lord Jesus was with Saul (Paul) as he was blinded on the road to Damascus and also with Ananias who was sent to him, (Acts 10: 9 to 12). In fear and trembling Ananias obeyed the Lord. He had heard of Saul’s hateful deeds but he trusted in the Lord and went anyway.
In the Hebrew Testament (Old Testament), Elijah was sent to a widow with a son for food. Now as we read about this narrative we learn that perhaps the widow didn’t know that God sent Elijah. She offered her reasons for not wanting to help him. But Elijah prevailed, and what he promised about not running short of food, held true (1Kings 17: 8 to 16). So while she might not have known cognitively, her soul knew well that the Lord wanted her to listen to, and obey, Elijah.
I raise these additional Biblical stories so that you and I can see how God works with us. My beloved of the Lord, we are sent to people who need us. And people we need, are sent to us. Sometimes we are afraid like Ananias. Sometimes we might not be outwardly aware of what is going on like the widow with Elijah. But like Peter, we must ponder and pray about what God is doing. We need to always ask “where is God in this situation?”
Ukraine just celebrated the anniversary of their Independence. I pray they celebrate their renewed Independence and peace very soon, with God’s help on both sides, those sent to them, and they welcoming those who are sent. And I pray both sides see God in this situation.
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 