Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the First Sunday of Advent: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 119:1-24; Evening, Psalms 12, 13 and 14:
Amos 3:12-4:5; 2 Peter 3:1-10; Matthew 21:23-32
“For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:32)
Perhaps the biggest hindrance to human spiritual growth is our refusal to change our minds. Like the chief priests and the elders of the Temple, we too, even after we see some less thought of people learning and living into righteousness, we stubbornly hold on to what we falsely believed to be true. We hold on to false teachings because we see changing our minds as weakness. But I submit that it takes real strength to grab false teachings and push them aside.
We need to live a life of life-long-learning. And, when we learn something new, follow the new path in our behavior and actions.
Today our Church remembers St. Nicholas of Myra; Santa Claus. “Nicholas was a native of the western part of what is now Asiatic Turkey. He became Bishop of Myra in the fourth century, and there are many stories of his love for God and for his neighbor:” taken from St. Nicholas of Myra (satucket.com). As Christians who believe in eternal life, Santa Claus still lives! Thank You Lord Jesus. This means we can be honest with our children and adults when we say “I believe in Santa Claus.” Santa Lives!
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.
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 