Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 6: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;
1st Samuel 1:1 to 20; Acts 1:1 to 14; Luke 20:9 to 19:
“Then Eli answered, ‘Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him; (1st Samuel 1:17).
This opening of 1st Samuel is important as it opens for us the beginnings of the prophet Samuel. But there is a lesson here about parental responsibility. Hannah is distressed because she has not given birth to a child. While her husband’s other wife has given birth to a few children. So she prays for the ability to become pregnant. Eli, the priest also had sons but his sons did not follow the pattern of the parent, they were rude and gluttonous and disrespectful. Eli did not hold them accountable. Such negligence will come back to bite him later.
While Hannah is devoted to God in her inmost self, the priest, Eli, doesn’t know her well enough to see that she is a pious woman. He assumes the worst, and he is wrong. To his credit however, when he sees his mistake, he works with God to grant her petition.
Our Church today is wrong if, and when, it takes part in judging people. We forget that we, the Church, are not called to judge, we are called to love, and to love unconditionally. God will judge.
Today we remember Joseph Butler, Bishop and Theologian (1752) and George Berkeley, Bishop and Theologian (1753) and their information may be found at: Joseph Butler, and George Berkeley, respectively.
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: (For the Unity of the Church, BCP p. 818)
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 