Daily Office Readings for January 7, Epiphany: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 103; Evening, Psalms 114 and 115:
Isaiah 52:3 to 6; Revelation 2:1 to 7; John 2:1 to 11:
“Now therefore, what am I doing here, says the Lord, seeing that my people are taken away without cause? Their rulers howl, says the Lord, and continually, all day long, my name is despised.” (Isaiah 52: 5)
Four years ago yesterday, was an awful day at our national capital. There was rioting and someone was killed. There was a perceived attempt to overthrow the presidential election. We pledge that we, these United States of America, are one nation “under God.” But there was nothing godly about how people behaved in the insurrection that took place on the Day of Epiphany in our Nation’s Capital. The moral light of our Lord was all but extinguished. But God wins, every time. We, these United States of America, have prevailed.
I am pleased to say that yesterday, four years later, we were much better. We can’t just give lip service to our belief in, and obedience to, God. We must live out our faith with real discipline and respect for national values. We must maintain integrity and with prayer and patience, do the hard work of working through consensus. This is who we are. This is DRIPP. It is Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Prayer and Patience. The DRIPP concept works for the individual as well as our country. This is what the prophet Isaiah pondered. It is what the saints who have gone before us have said. It is what we must heed. Let us DRIPP on.
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 our Country BCP p.820)
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 