Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 10: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 30 and 32; evening, Psalms 42 and 43;
1st Samuel 22:1 to 23; Acts 13:26 to 43; Mark 3:19b to 35:
“The king said to the guard who stood around him, ‘Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David; they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me.’ But the servants of the king would not raise their hand to attack the priests of the Lord” (1st Samuel 22:17).
I was an active duty U. S. Marine for thirty years. I must admit that while I was often told to do something that I did not want to do, I was never ordered to do something immoral or against my faith as I understood my faith. I now also belong to a fraternity which makes it very clear that before I swear to an obligation, that obligation will not conflict with my duty to God, my country, my neighbor or myself. I can live with this understanding.
I have the utmost respect for the guards who refused to obey Saul and kill Ahimelech, priest of the Lord. At some point in each life we must listen to our conscience. Our conscience resides in our souls. This is where God speaks to us. Any government or ruler who requires of us to go against our conscience, our soul, our God, must not be obeyed. Who knows? There may be others around you who are on the fence about what to do, but witnessing your steadfastness about what is right to do, helps them to do the right thing also. When confused about what is right to do, try to err on the side of love, compassion and mercy.
Today we remember Mary Magdalene; Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Gospel accounts as being among the women of Galilee who followed Jesus and His disciples, and who was present at His Crucifixion and Burial, and who went to the tomb on Easter Sunday to anoint His body. She was the first to see the Risen Lord, and to announce (preach) His Resurrection to the apostles. Accordingly, she is referred to in early Christian writings as “the apostle to the apostles.”
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, our schools, and those who suffer from the severe heat around the world.
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 
There is now a Saul that tells the Christian soldiers to put to death the spirit of our God within us. That spirit that is the true death shown to us by Adam and Eve when that promised death of His presence within them occurred. Always the same battle, always the same outcome. We want to be just like God. “Did God say?” Indeed, he does say.
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