Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 14: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 89:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 89:19 to 52;
2nd Samuel 13:23 to 39; Acts 20:17 to 38; Mark 9:42 to 50:
“Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.” (Acts 20: 28)
Paul gives a farewell speech to those that he does not expect to see again. I am not a big fan of Paul but I do recognize that from time to time, from letter to letter, a divine message slips through that God managed to get to us through Paul.
I believe that if a Church is open and receptive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit will lead that Church in godly ways. Just as we must examine all that Paul says, so too, we must be attentive to what parish and Church leaders say. Maybe all that they say and do is godly, maybe not. The people in the pews are not relieved of their God-given sense of reason. God’s messages are always messages of love and inclusion. It does not matter what label we put on a Christian Church, be it Baptist, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran or Episcopalian, or any denominational or nondenominational name we use.
Through the cup of Christ at Holy Communion the Christian Church, is joined to Christ as adopted children of God. For me, this is an adoption into servanthood to, and for, all people be they Christian or not; and also servants and stewards of this fragile earth our island home.
These calls to servanthood and to stewardship are the overseeing guidance that I sense from the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God. Perhaps not all are called to be servants and stewards. Following our Lord Jesus is not easy, at least, not at first. Servanthood requires one to deny one’s self as a way to discern what a neighbor needs. Stewardship of the planet requires us to monitor our own use of resources and the potential damage we might cause to the environment through waste, negligence or excess. As environmental “overseers” empowered by the Holy Spirit, we the Church, have the responsibility to care for our home. This earth is where our part of creation lives and moves and has its being. This earth, our neighbors, and our time here on earth, are all gifts from God who loves us dearly. The cup of Christ makes all Christians kindred regardless of language, nationality, how we look, or where we live on this planet. We are God’s servants even for those who are not Christians because God loves every human being.
Today we remember Clare of Assisi, Nun (August 11, 1253) and her information may be found at Clare of Assisi
. 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 All Sorts and Conditions of Men (BCP p. 814)
O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [especially those for whom our prayers are desired]; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
onewhoponders 