Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 13: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 87 and 90; Evening, Psalm 136;
Judges 9:22 to 25 and 50 to 57; Acts 4:32 to 5:11; John 2:13 to 25:
“But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.” (John 2: 24 – 25)
This Gospel says that our Lord Jesus knows what is in everyone. This reminds me of Jesus’ remark about Nathanael when he saw Nathanael approaching him. “When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” (John 1: 47). Yes, we perhaps can fool one another, but we can’t fool Jesus. Jesus knows what is in you.
Sometimes, I think we try to even fool ourselves. If we tell ourselves the same lie often enough we will start to believe it. At some point in our lives we need to be honest with ourselves, even if not honest with others. Perhaps if we start with ourselves, in time, we will expand out to others as well. We have no choice with Jesus; He already knows what is in us.
I am no Nathanael. But I am a work in progress. I am in the crowd prepared to throw a stone at someone guilty when I hear my Lord Jesus say “let those who have not sinned cast the first stone.” And that makes the stone fall from my hand. (John 8:7). Once again he knew that each person who wanted to stone the woman carried their own sin. And the truth is, they each knew of their own sin also.
My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we all fall short. We are probably not Nathanael. But most of us are works in progress. We must persevere. More than just being aware of our sin, Jesus wants to cure us of our sins. We must ponder, persevere and pray, “Help Me Lord Jesus.”
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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:
Most Holy Lord Jesus, as you already know what is in each of us, help us to acknowledge it ourselves and then help us to strive to perfect our short-comings in order that we might be more like Nathanael in whom you found no faults. Amen.
onewhoponders 