Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Epiphany: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 119:49 to 72; Evening, Psalm 49;
Genesis 16:1 to 14; Hebrews 9:15 to 28; John 5:19 to 29:
“Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5: 21 – 24)
This lesson from our Lord Jesus says that God has “delegated” all next life invitations to our Lord Jesus. One way to receive such an invitation is to believe this and live accordingly.
As a priest I often officiate at funerals. The biggest message that people want to hear is the one about our being raised from the dead. Sometimes it’s hard to connect the life of the deceased to his or her life of faith. We preachers preach faith, that doesn’t mean we know the faith of others. Only God knows the faith of a person regardless of the faith path they live.
And God has left all decisions about eternal life to God Incarnate, our Lord Jesus. After closely studying the words from our John passage this morning I get the sense that believers already have eternal life. Believers may not live what some of us consider the so called perfect “Christian” life but still believe that Jesus is Lord. Having faith is not necessarily about being in church all the time. It is about one’s prayer life. Prayer is not necessarily about audible words. It is about where your heart is. It is sometimes about how much you cry. Crying is praying. God’s ears hears tears.
For those among us who have not accepted our Lord Jesus, such people come under judgment. I believe the language clearly says all people must pass again through our Lord Jesus (from Whom all creation came into being, John 1:3), to eternal life. Such non-believers come under judgment. The faithful believer does not. I don’t believe a loving God lays waste a life lived in love for fellow human beings, but instead, leaves that judgment up to our Lord Jesus, who is also our loving God; our God, who loves all people. Judgment does not necessarily mean condemnation. Some do not believe this all-inclusive love of God because of bad teaching and preaching. Some don’t believe because they have never heard about our Lord Jesus and His loving and inclusive Way. God in Christ Jesus will not let the lack of being informed separate us from eternal life. This includes infants who never had a chance, to the so-called atheists who are trying to figure things out for themselves. God is love. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Today we remember Thomas Aquinas, priest, Friar, and Theologian (January 28, 1274) and his information may be found at: Thomas Aquinas.
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 Human Family (BCP p. 815)
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 