Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 25: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47 and 48
Ecclesiasticus 24:1to12; Revelation 11:14to19; Luke 11:27to36
“While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” (Luke 11: 27 and 28)
This verse above sounds like content for praying the Rosary. “Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.” Also, in her words she advocates for the mother’s role in God’s salvation plan. However, as far as blessings go, Jesus points to those of us who hear, and more importantly, obey, the will of God.
Jesus was teaching and preaching to the crowds. And, “When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation,” (Luke 11: 29 and 30). Could Jesus be using this old Hebrew story as an analogy about his salvation purpose for our life today? Could our Lord Jesus be saying that just being able to quote a Bible chapter and verse is nothing if we don’t learn from it and live our lives according to its lesson? I think so.
Jesus will go on to tell them (and us) that, “The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because while they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here for us today!” (Luke 11: 32)
Jesus walked among us as an example of how to live a loving life in harmony with one another. As I have noticed our Lord Jesus in his travels, other than teaching and preaching, he was healing and feeding. God, in Christ Jesus, in his human form, was a nurturer. Nurturing is not just a role for mothers. It is not only pleasing to God for mothers and non-mothers to be considerate and compassionate, it is who God in Christ Jesus made us all to be, men and women, just like the example he himself set for us. In this way, we bless one another as we are blessed by God.
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 Guidance (BCP p. 832)
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
