Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 6th Week of Epiphany: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1-32
Isaiah 65:17-25; 1st Timothy 5:17-22(23-25); Mark 12:28-34
“Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.” (Mark 12:32 – 34)
This man has just affirmed what Jesus gave them as the greatest of the Commandments; loving God and neighbors. When Jesus saw that this man had a holy revelation he informed the man that the kingdom of God was closer to him.
When we “get it” we are closer to understanding how we should behave and how we should relate with God and with one another. When this happens, everything we thought we knew about life changes. We begin to see that the kingdom of God is not “out there” but rather “right here, right now!” We are already citizens of the kingdom but too much of the time we don’t act like it.
When this revelation happens to us our priorities change. The superficial goes away and the loving acts stay and grow even more loving. The burnt offerings and so-called sacrifices of artificial devotion go away and are replaced by real devotion to the needs of our neighbors living with us in the kingdom. We get to that point when we realize that loving God “IS” loving our neighbor which means everybody on this planet. No one is outside the love of God and therefore no one is outside the love, real love, we ought to have for all people. When Jesus saw that the man had a real Epiphany, Jesus informed him, and will inform us, that we are now not far from the kingdom of God. Thank You Jesus.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube
Let us again keep the people of Ukraine in our daily prayers. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
O Almighty God, whose eternal kingdom reveals the true meaning of love, please spread your loving revelation over the people of Russia and Ukraine and over all in this country who feel despair in order that your kingdom might be felt in our hearts everywhere today. Thank You Most Loving Lord God. Amen.
onewhoponders 