Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 29 Year 1
Morning, Psalm 140, 142; Evening, Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12)
Isaiah 24:14-23; 1st Peter 3:13-4:6; Matthew 20:17-28
“Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3: 15)
Peter says to figure out what your heart is set on and hope for the best. Hope for good to be done and that all people are given what they need to be the best that they can be.
I have said that as we age and mature our values shift or change. How about hope? Can, or should what we hope for shift or change? I think so. I think our hopes are directly linked to our values. All who are not living their best lives should hope for better times.
Some people have no hope. Often, they are down trodden and sadly want you to be the same. Resist this kind of negative influence. Be strong. Hope well. Give people hope. I am reminded of a lady who came to see me during a meeting years ago. I went to her to explain that now is not a good time but that after my meeting I would attend to her if she could just give me a few minutes.
The woman, needing financial assistance, was tired and apparently had a sense of urgency. To cut to the chase, she asked if this Church had ever “hoped” anyone before. I didn’t’ know what she meant at first. But then I realized that she was using an improper form of the past tense of the word “help” and wanted to know if our Church had ever helped anyone before. I told her yes but asked her to sit in the sanctuary until my meeting was over. When the meeting was over, she was gone. I wished I could have helped her. But she helped me. Using her language I believe we are called to give people hope. I know hope is not a verb but we should hope people. And good hope will do. Over time it will evolve along God’s will. But first people must have hope. We Christians are supposed to hope them.
We must understand that God has provided all creation with all that we need. Since we believe that God’s will, will be done, our hope is personal. We hope that we can witness God’s will being done during our earthly lifetime. So this then is our defense, that we give hope to others as they live into the path that God has set them on.
“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:
O Lord God almighty, Creator and lover of all souls, help us we pray to not only keep our hope for eternal life and good works here in this present life; but help us also to “hope” others who are in despair. Help us to hope for Your dream, yet unseen but very real, to come true through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
onewhoponders 