Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 4th Week in Lent: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 69: Evening, Psalm 73;
Exodus 1:6 to 22; 1st Corinthians 12:12 to 26; Mark 8:27 to 9:1:
“He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29)
Our Lord Jesus had already asked his close followers, “who do the people say that I am?” And rumors abound. There were all kinds of responses. Then he let the dust settle and he asked those who closely followed him “who do YOU say that I am?”
The same question applies to us today, we who profess to be followers of our Lord Jesus as Christians. We hear all the time who people, (including some professed Christians), say who they think Jesus is.
Some folk are so misinformed that they don’t keep the history of our Lord Jesus in New Testament when they speak of Him. Some will have him in and out of the Bible, anywhere from Adam and Eve in the garden, to being aboard the Mayflower as it came to the Americas. And some even say that he is a figment of our imagination. Fine for them, but who do YOU (reading this blog), say that our Lord Jesus is? And please, say who he is in your deeds rather than just your words, even as we struggle to love all people.
Say who He is in prayers and deeds as you do not return evil for evil. Say who He is as you bless those who curse you. For this is who our Lord Jesus is, and how we live out our lives is the only way we can truly say who He is; He is the Messiah! He is the source of eternal life. He is God revealed in human form for the benefit of eternal life for all human beings.
Let us pray:
O Lord Jesus, you are the source of all life through whom all creation came into being. And you set the example for those of us who believe in you to follow. Help us we pray, to say who you are by the way we conduct ourselves in daily life, that in following your example we may teach the world about your unconditional love and abiding peace. Amen.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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 