Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Holy Week: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 6 and 12; Evening, Psalm 94;
Lamentation 1:17 to 22; 2nd Corinthians 1:8 to 22; Mark 11:27 to 33:
“So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Mark 11:33)
When our Lord Jesus says, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things,’ it suggests that the chief priests and the scribes did in fact know that John’s Baptisms were from heaven. But they would rather play the “ignorant” card than admit that John was more holy than they were.
The truth is an amazing thing. The truth is not always pretty, but admitting it, is always noble. When our personal truth is not pretty or noble we want to conceal it. We forget that God knows the truth that is in us just as God knew about Cane killing Able. While the actions of our personal truths may not be noble, being accountable for them is very noble. Instead of concealing their thoughts about John the Baptist, the chief priests and scribes should have just told our Lord Jesus that they truly believed his Baptisms were from heaven. God did ask Cane where his brother Able was. God was giving him a chance to be truthful.
Let us pray:
Almighty God in Christ Jesus, we believe that you truly are the Way, the Truth and the Life, and as you are in us, the Truth is in us. Give us the strength to be honest in our thoughts and words no matter the costs. Help us we pray, to be truthful in our walk of faith, truthful in our determination to live into the integrity of your teachings and guidance all the days of our lives. 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
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