Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 26: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73to96:
Ecclesiasticus 43:23-33; Revelation 16:1to11; Luke 13:10to17
“When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.” (Luke 13:13)
The leader of the synagogue gets upset because Jesus heals on the Sabbath day. The leader himself probably could not heal the woman on any day of the week. And, he forgets that the Sabbath was made for us, not us for the Sabbath.
Jesus does more than just heal this woman; he causes her to praise God. I wonder how many people who regularly attended the synagogue came away with a renewed sense of being thankful to God and praising God. How many of us come away from our places of worship with a renewed sense of giving thanks to God and praising God?
Here is the truth; we shouldn’t wait for the Sabbath or our Day of worship to turn people to God. And, turning people to God doesn’t have to take place in a house of worship. We can turn people to God at work, at home, at school, at the bus stop or even in a tavern. The opportunity to show people the love of God comes everyday and everywhere.
Every day brings us an opportunity to do something good. We may not be able to heal infirmities but we can share with the sick the power and love of God. We can give them hope in their distress. Every day brings us an opportunity to teach people to praise God; anywhere, anytime. Let us do more to turn people to God.
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:
O God Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of all life, lead those of us who have experienced your healing, blessing and revelation, to at least tell our stories to those who say they don’t know you. Let us touch the hearts of non-believers in order that they may stand up straight and began praising God also. Amen.
onewhoponders 