Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 7th Week of Epiphany: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 131 and 132; Evening, Psalms 134 and 135:
Ruth 2:14-23; 2nd Corinthians 3:1-18; Matthew 5:27-37:
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2nd Corinthians 3:17)
Paul, who has encountered the Spirit of the Lord while traveling to Damascus, is well aware of the Spirit of the Lord. And we must also experience the freedom of the Spirit of the Lord.
Maybe we already have freedom. But it is the Spirit of the Lord that illumines our minds so that we realize it. Once we know that we have freedom, the freedom to make our own choices about whatever it is we want to do, we ponder the consequences to the point that we feel the price is too great, so we say we have no choice. But, we do.
Many Martyred Saints have chosen faith based righteousness over obedience to human governance to their own end, but it was a choice they were made aware of by the Holy Spirit of God in Christ Jesus. I am reminded here the words from our Book of Common Prayer, “For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.”(BCP p.382).
To the extent that we believe that there is life after this life, we will choose freedom in the service of the Lord.
Today we remember George Herbert, Priest and Poet (February 27, 1633); and his information may be found at: George Herbert
Let us pray: A Collect for Peace (BCP p.99)
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 