Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent: Year 1
Morning Psalm 119:49 to 72; Evening Psalm 49;
Deuteronomy 9:13 to 21; Hebrews 3:12 to 19; John 2:23 to 3:15
“So I took hold of the two tablets and flung them from my two hands, smashing them before your eyes.” (Deuteronomy 9:17)
Moses has again interceded for the wayward Israelites. God planned to destroy them and then began again with Moses as their ancient Patriarch instead of Abraham. But Moses declined and asked God to let him go to the people to bring them back to God. However upon finding them creating an idol, a false god, Moses broke the stone tablets, symbolizing the Israelites braking covenant with God. Moses remained steadfast in his resolve to bring the Israelites back to God, not just to the promised land, but also their hearts to the ways of God. I think God really liked Moses advocating for the Israelites.
God knows what is in the heart of every person, just as our Lord Jesus does. This is brought out in our Gospel reading for today. “But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone;” (John 2: 24 and 25). Remember, Jesus already knew what was in Nathanael when Philip brought him to Jesus. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Jesus also already knew what was in the heart of Judas, his betrayer. We can fool each other, but we can’t fool God in Christ Jesus, ever.
We get lost and we break covenant and we seek after the things we make with our own hand so much so that they somehow become idols, the focus of too much of our attention. We must remember that God, through Christ Jesus, knows whereof we are made and what’s on our hearts and minds. We should always pray for our Lord God to cleanse the thoughts of our hearts in order that we might become a more faithfully focused people.
Today we remember Gregory the Great, Bishop and Doctor (March 12, 604) and his information may be found at: Gregory the Great.
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: A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP p. 832)
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
onewhoponders 