Daily Office Readings for January 8: Epiphany Year 2
Morning, Psalm 117 and 118; Evening, Psalm 112 and 113;
Exodus 17:1 to 7; Colossians 1:15 to 23; John 7:37 to 52:
“They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’ (John 7: 52)
The “they,” in this exchange are the Pharisees. They are jumping on Nicodemus for asking, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” The Pharisees did not know the whole story of our Lord Jesus. He in fact, was born in Bethlehem. But I say even beyond his birthplace, they should have taken into consideration his compassion and His deeds of power. Sometimes they, and we, often have our minds so fixed on what we want to think God is doing that we don’t leave room for what God is really doing.
I visited Galilee in February of 2018. I loved Galilee more than Jerusalem and Judea. Galilee is where our Lord Jesus began his ministry. Galilee is where our Lord Jesus called his disciples to follow him. Capernaum is the first place Jesus went of his own free will and accord. He was born in Bethlehem, taken to Egypt as a baby, and then taken to Nazareth where he was raised to adulthood. But of his own choice he went to Capernaum where he met fishermen.
The Pharisees want to accuse even the temple police of being deceived. They refused to see the truth. Nicodemus will be seen again at the end of this Gospel account bringing ointment for the dead body of Jesus. Nicodemus was a closet disciple of Jesus. Many of us today are as well. I pray that we come out of the closet of denial and stand boldly in the faith, the faith that proclaims Christ as Lord and God’s salvation plan for us all.
Today we remember Harriet Bedell, Deaconess and Missionary (January 8, 1969) and her information may be found at: Harriet Bedell
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 Heavenly Creator, help us to not be so certain in our minds about anything that we sadly close our minds to ultimate Truth. Teach us, we pray, to be open to the love and compassion presented before us by those who demonstrate it, and to proclaim it openly with boldness and love. Amen.
onewhoponders 