Daily Office Readings for Friday of Easter Week: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 136; Evening, Psalm 118;
Daniel 12:1 to 4 and 13; Acts 4:1 to 12 or 1 Corinthians 15:51 to 58; John 16:1 to 15:
“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever;” (Daniel 12: 2 and 3).
Here is some evidence perhaps, that there was some belief in an afterlife in the Hebrew Testament. It talks about those who “sleep” in the dust of the earth shall awake! Yes, I like hearing that. However, there is a caution also. Some will rise to everlasting life and some will rise to shame and everlasting contempt.
Paul alludes to this belief among the Pharisees as he defends himself in the Acts of the Apostles saying, “I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous;” (Acts 24:15). I believe every human soul will awake from the dead. I don’t believe every soul will be received into eternal life. Nor do I believe that a loving God will keep any of us in an eternal state of hell. Such an unrighteous one, I believe, would just cease to exist.
My beloved in the Lord, whether we sleep in the dust of the earth until the earth’s last day, or we are walking around when our Lord comes to us as we are still in this mortal life, we must be found living the best, most loving life we can live.
And now, the Book of Daniel leaves us with another sentence relevant for us today, the beginning of a Holy Sabbath; “But you, go your way, and rest; you shall rise for your reward at the end of the days’; (Daniel 12:13).
“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
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: (BCP p. 504)
O God, the King of saints, we praise and glorify your holy Name for all your servants who have finished their course in your faith and fear: for the blessed Virgin Mary; for the holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs; [for Pope Francis] and for all your other righteous servants, known to us and unknown; and we pray that, encouraged by their examples, aided by their prayers, and strengthened by their fellowship, we also may be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 