Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 1st Week of Epiphany: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 18:1 to 20; Evening, Psalm 18:21 to 50;
Isaiah 41:17 to 29; Ephesians 2:11 to 22; Mark 2:1 to 12:
“For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” (Ephesians 2:14)
It seems we have a dividing wall that separates us from our neighbors, our brothers and sisters. There is hostility within, and between us. My prayer is that we calm down and listen to what our hearts are saying to us. Paul says that Jesus is our peace. He says that, “in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall.” Somehow, I still fill like the wall is there. Perhaps not everybody has heard about what Jesus has done, and is doing. We are one group now. There is no separation anymore. Whatever the issues are, we should be able to come to some kind of consensus, and perhaps, enlightenment in this time of Epiphany.
In Christ Jesus we Christians must realize we are all one in Christ. We should not want to win at the expense of others. Is there a way we can be satisfied with enough while at the same time, those who have a different opinion, may also be satisfied with enough? We all make up the body of Christ Jesus. And the body of our Lord Jesus does not succumb to cancer or Covid. We will live on, eternally!
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 