Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper17:Year 2
Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36, and 39;
Job 12:1 and13; 3 to17 and 21 to 27; Acts 12:1 to 17; and John 8:33 to 47
“While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.” (Acts 12:5)
This Church was assembled in the home of Mary, mother of John Mark and James the latter who had been killed with a sword by order of Herod. What I really want to get to is the Church praying for a miracle and getting it! It was so surprising that the maid left Peter at the door knocking and, “When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.” (Acts 12: 13 and 14)
Interesting that Rhoda “recognized” his voice! Recognizing his voice is the same evidence that identified Peter when Jesus was arrested. “After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” (Matthew 26:73) Apparently Peter’s voice is very distinct, like a Morgan Freeman or a James Earl Jones.
But it was the voices of the Church that got him freed. They asked for a miracle and then couldn’t believe it when it happened. The same is true for us today. When we were in the midst of a pandemic the Church prayed for relief. And we are getting it.
Between Peter standing at the gate here, and having the spiritual keys to the church, many Christians assume that it will be St. Peter whom we will meet in the Resurrection standing at the pearly gates. Who knows? I just hope to get to the gates of heaven. In the mean time, we, the Church, need to be praying for whatever our collective needs are for today.
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: For a Person (or Persons) in Trouble or Bereavement (BCP p. 831)
O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of people: Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servants for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 