Daily office Readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Epiphany: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68:1-20;
Isaiah 52:1to12; Galatians 4:12to20; Mark 8:1to10
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.” (Isaiah 52:7)
Aware that most mid-eastern cultures have disdain for the feet, and many still do today, to say the feet are beautiful, is a huge jump in gratitude for what the feet bring to the weary heart. And it’s not only the feet, but also even shoes as they come off the feet. There was a video where one such mid-eastern man threw his sandal at President Bush (43) during his presentation in their country. The alert President saw it coming and ducked. Though the sandal would not have caused great physical harm, it was the fact that it was removed from the foot that made it vile.
Therefore, when we read “how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger…”, we know the message is more than just important, it is life changing! Through my Christian lens, I recall the foot washing performed by Jesus in the Gospel of John chapter 13. In my mind, Jesus made their feet beautiful for the journey of announcing the Good News.
How beautiful are your feet today? Carry the Good News to someone today. Your work will be life-changing for that person. You should carry the Good News in word and deed, but most especially in deed. Do what is good and right so to do, always.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine.
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 