Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65;
Leviticus 16:1 to 19; 1st Thessalonians 4:13 to 18; Matthew 6:1 to 6 and 16 to 18:
“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1)
At some point in our lives we must admit that we are God’s own. We belong to God. God will do what God will do. We go to God for protection and wellbeing. We are seeing that we can’t always trust politicians (either side of the isle), or the military, or any human construct when it comes to unimaginable challenges that we face. It is only in God’s mercy that we can trust completely.
And when we come out on the other side of our troubles (here or in heaven), we must give thanks and praise to God in word and song. In this same Psalm we read, “My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” (Psalm 57:7 – 8) We must learn to put as much effort in giving thanks after God has helped us as we put in the asking for help in the beginning.
Let us pray:
Almighty and ever-loving God, You are the sanctuary of both our bodies and our souls, there is no other safe-guard for our lives. Increase in us O Lord the surety of your presence in our daily lives in order that we might lay all our concerns in your hands and then give you forever thanksgiving for your protection and refuge, now and in all eternity. Amen.
Today we remember Catherine of Siena: Reformer and spiritual teacher (1380). She played a significant role in getting the Roman Pope back in Rome in the 14 Century. Her story can be found at Catherine of Siena (satucket.com).
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 