Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 6th Week of Easter: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 85 and 86: Evening, Psalms 91 and 92;
1st Samuel 2:1 to 10; Ephesians 2:1 to 10; Matthew 7:22 to 27:
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7: 24)
There are many people who can recite many good quotes and prayers but often fall short of living by them. What’s important here is not only to hear these words of Jesus and to memorize them, but to act on them, and to live by them as well. This is what our Lord Jesus meant by “hear these words of mine and act on them.”
Memorizing creeds, covenants, quotes and prayers and saying them everyday reshapes our personality. Hopefully, we will become who we preach to be. I have created two five-pointed stars for myself to live by. The five points of the first (which I created in the 80’s) is, “Praise God, Love All, Keep Word, Live Plain and Work Hard. I was still in the Marines when my faith moved me to frame these five points as directions for my life. Notice that Praise God and Love All are the first two, and are the two Commandments that our Lord Jesus gave us. The second star consists of five points that spell out the acronym DRIPP. This represents the Discipline (that I should maintain); Respect (for myself and others); Integrity (honesty in action); Prayer (always, especially Morning and Evening Prayer) and Patience (holy waiting and some quiet time alone for pondering.)
We must hear the words of our Lord Jesus and where necessary frame them in a way that makes sense for us without losing their meanings. And then we must act or behave in the manner that our treasured words lead us. Only when we build our lives with a solid foundation will we be “like a wise man who built his house on rock.” What words or phrases or covenants do you live by?
Today we remember Pachomius of Tabenissi, Monastic, 348, and his information may be found at: Pachomius of Tabenissi
“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 Holy Spirit of life and love, help us to use our own language as a way to anchor our behaviors and be the foundational rock of our faith in You and maintain respect and love for all people regardless of their language. Help us to remember words of love and praise for You and all people through our Redeemer. Amen.
onewhoponders 