Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 4th Week in Lent: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 101 and 109:1 to 4 and 20 to 30; Evening, Psalm 119:121 to 144;
Jeremiah 18:1 to 11; Romans 8:1 to 11; John 6:27 to 40
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
Thank you Paul for these words to ponder. While I often find myself filtering out of Paul’s words, what is from God, and what is from Paul, it is sometimes hard to tell. With this bit of insight however, I feel this is definitely from God, through Paul, and to us. It may even explain God’s co-existence with the man we call Jesus. That is, God, personified in Christ Jesus, knows how to implant God’s Spirit into the human soul.
God’s presence dwelling in us reconciles us back to God and is key to us being raised into the next, and, eternal life. Along with God’s indwelling Spirit, we must also believe.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)
So God is within each one of us. This Spirit of God raised our Lord Jesus as the first fruits of eternal life. You are next. God is already in you. Do you believe? It takes both. God has done God’s part. If you believe in the love of our Lord Jesus and the love of God that Jesus showed us, how is it made manifest in your words and deeds? Live what you believe.
Today we remember James De Koven, Priest and Teacher, 1879: De Koven was born in Middletown, Connecticut, on September 19, 1831, ordained by Bishop Kemper in 1855, and appointed professor of ecclesiastical history at Nashotah House. In addition, he administered a preparatory school and assisted at the Church of St. John Chrysostom in Delafield, Wisconsin; (From Great Cloud of Witnesses for March 22).
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God 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 