Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 4: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 40 and 54; Evening, Psalm 51;
Ecclesiastes 5:1 to 7; Galatians 3:15 to 22; Matthew 14:22 to 36:
“But when he noticed the strong wind,he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14: 30)
In the midst of danger don’t take your eyes off the Savior. While we try to stay focused on our Lord always, we often drift away. But when we are lured away from God by some troubling force, we are especially vulnerable.
We have now gone to a sad place where we actually want to look at the news and social media only to cringe in fear. Like Peter we move our eyes off of our Lord Jesus, who invites us out to walk with him in love, and we stare into the destructive winds of hate and evil in the midst of our nation and the world. And we too cry out, “Lord, save us!” And he does. The ones who call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.
When we take our focus off of our Lord Jesus we set ourselves up for fear and misunderstanding. Jesus is all about love. We are all invited to step out of the boat floating in the sea of fear and hatred. And as long as we maintain our focus on our Lord Jesus, we walk with Him through troubled waters. But if we turn our attention to worldly fears and concerns, we sink into the sludge of sadness and despair. Therefore, in the midst of danger don’t take your eyes off the Savior.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel, 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
Let us pray:
Dear Lord Christ, who saves us daily, give us that determination to always focus on your presence with us and most especially in our trying times. Help us to avoid looking at the threatening winds that are trying to distract us, and please extend to us your saving hand when we need it. Amen.
onewhoponders 