Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 25
Morning, Psalm 50; Evening, Psalm 103;
Nehemiah 1:1 to 11; Revelation 5:11 to 6:11; Matthew 13:18 to 23:
“When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven:” (Nehemiah 1:4)
Nehemiah broke down in tears upon hearing about the trouble and shame of those left behind and the destruction of the wall and gates of Jerusalem. All of it was human-on-human violence. He couldn’t bear it.
Weeping is prayer. From Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21), to Mary Magdalene at the tomb of our Lord Jesus (The Gospel of John chapter 20), and many points in between, like the one we have for today, God’s ears hears tears.
When it comes to crying, it does not matter about one’s faith or even if one has a faith at all. God has hardwired us to connect with God whenever we cry. Therefore, even if one claims to be an atheist, but whose heart has moved him or her to crying, God is notified and acts in only the way God sees fit.
I have heard it said that real men don’t cry. That’s Balderdash. If real men have real souls, (and they do), then something emotionally painful will cause their tears to flow. And the super sensitive ears of God will definitely hear those water droplets flow down his cheeks, regardless of surrounding noise, and respond in ways that only God can.
There is too much sadness all around today. We have natural disasters, disease fears and deaths, military threats, and we still have human-on-human violence and many other sad situations that cause all of us to come to tears as it did to Nehemiah. But God will never abandon us. “Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30). This is because God’s ears hears tears.
Today we remember John Wyclif, Translator and Controversialist, (October 30, 1384) and his information may be found at: John Wyclif
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. 831)
O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men: Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servants for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 