Today is the Tenth Day of Christmas
Daily Office Readings for Monday January 3rd: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 68; Evening, Psalm 72;
1st Kings 19:9 to 18; Ephesians 4:17 to 32; John 6:15 to 27:
“So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25)
Before saying the above, Paul reminds the Church that the sad and unloving patterns of the outside world, that is the Gentiles, is not the way they should live. Gentiles for us today would be represented by any antisocial person, culture or government that is hostile to neighbors.
Paul reminds the Church in Ephesus (and us today) that we have moved on from the old ways of looking at life, as he says “Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart:” (Ephesians 4:17 to 18).
We too should want to let go of old ways that do not build up relationships. We should start with the bridge of listening. Listening leads to learning; learning leads to loving; and loving eradicates ignorance and hardness of heart.
Let us always listen, learn, love and lead with the mind of Christ. Merry Christmas: Day 10
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, 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 