Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 5: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 71; Evening, Psalm 74;
Ecclesiastes 11:1-8; Galatians 5:16-24; Matthew 16:13-20
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16: 13 to 15)
All of the people who were asked who Jesus was, brought up people from their own historical past, either known, or were taught about. Not one of them left room for a New Person, one they had not seen or heard of, but was indeed prophesied about.
Today we have a taught (and teaching) Jesus who existed in the flesh in our past. But our Lord Jesus also lives with us today in the Holy Spirit. So, who do you say our Lord Jesus is? He is the living Holy Spirit that dwells in each of us and in our Church. We then, are the fruits of His Spirit. Paul tells us about the fruit of the Spirit in our New Testament lessen for today from Galatians. He says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5: 22 – 24)
Who do we say Jesus is? More importantly, how do we say who Jesus is? We say it by our behavior and kindness, by our compassion and caring. Through our deeds we say who our leader is because we model ourselves after him.
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
Let us pray:
Come Holy Spirit who walked among us as one of us to model for us what a loving life is supposed to look like. Lead us still, in ways that are pleasing in your sight, so that as we show the world true love for all people, we also say who you are by the way we conduct ourselves. Amen
onewhoponders 