Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 3rd Week of Epiphany: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 55; Evening,Psalms 138 and 139:
Isaiah 51:1-8; Galatians 3:23-29; Mark 7:1-23:
“Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many.” (Isaiah 51:2)
I think we Christians forget or deny the fact that we are Judeo Christians. Jesus was a Palestinian Jew. His first followers were all Jews, all of whom understood Abraham as their ancestral father. And what was it about Abraham that made him so special? He listened to, and obeyed God. Abraham left what is now Iraq and went west following God’s leadership.
It was Abraham’s faith and obedience that God so loved and wanted to spread among all people. His was a faith so strong that he would follow God even in committing the death of his son. The Israelite people are from the tradition of Abraham whose children went down to Egypt and were later taken out by Moses. But the die of faith and belief was cast. So we pick up from Paul to the Galatians where he says, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29)
Today we remember Bridget of Kildare; Abbess (February 1, 523); and her information may be found at: Brigid of Kildare.
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, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, you once delivered by the power of your mighty arm your chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be a sign for us of the salvation of all nations by the water of Baptism: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 289)
Let us pray again: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 