Tag: genesis

Pondering for Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:97 to 120; Evening,  Psalms 81 and 82;
Genesis 27:1 to 29; Romans 12:1 to 8; John 8:12 to 20:

“Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you.  Go to the flock, and get me two choice kids, so that I may prepare from them savory food for your father, such as he likes; and you shall take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies. (Genesis 27:8 to 10) 

These are Rebecca’s words to her son Jacob after overhearing Isaac talking with Esau. I think most of us today would judge Rebecca as untruthful and deceptive.  However, God is pleased to have Jacob rather than Esau as the keeper of the Promise and to become Father Israel from whom the twelve tribes will come.  We can never guess what God will approve of.

I will say this about my observation of the scriptural writers about God, God preferred Able over Cain, that is the younger over the elder brother.  And God will prefer Joseph over his older brothers born of Jacob. God will also choose the youngest son of Jesse, David, over his older brothers. Does God favor those who have bad examples to proceed them as a lesson in right behavior? That is to say, “don’t do as my elder did.”  I don’t know.  All I know is that God often favors the only child, or the last child. This is not good news for me as I am the older son of my mother.  However, I must admit that Joseph was not the last son of his mother, Benjamin was.  None the less, God will select who God will select. God will judge us, we will not be our own final judge.

Our call is to live the best, most caring life we can regardless of which child we are, knowing that we will one day stand in God’s judgment.  The only consolation we have is in knowing that God is loving and merciful. Love and mercy are not to be taken for granted, but rather, it is to be humbly received, even now in this life, and then shared by us on those we are with everyday. I pray that we too may be as Rebecca, that is, that the outward looking, untruthful and deceptive acts that we do, may be what God wants. But this only happens if we are listening to the Holy Spirit of God.

Today we remember The Consecration of Barbara Clementine Harris, February 11, 1989) and her information may be found at:  Consecration of Barbara C. Harris. And we remember Fanny Crosby (Frances Jane Van Alstyne Crosby, 1915): and her information may be found at: Fanny Crosby.

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: A Collect for Guidance (BCP p. 100)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36 and 39;

Genesis 9:1 to 17; Hebrews 5:7 to14; John 3:16 to 21:

“As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.”  (Genesis 9: 9 – 10)

I have learned that some of the other faith traditions also have a flood story. That this Bible story is historically accurate is not so much my concern.  But the lesson here is that we (humans) are the caretakers of the earth and all of its diverse creatures, and this is what I believe God wants us to know.

This message of caretaker is one that shows up frequently in the Bible as well as in my blog. While we are not God, we have a lot of power in terms of regulating our habitats and protecting the various species of life, both plant and animal. 

Our spirituality should go beyond how we relate to each other.  It must be seen by God how we relate to this beautiful planet.  This goes beyond the negligent damage we cause with pollution and reckless harvesting of resources.  We need to clean up our act, but more than that, we need to monitor present and future habitats and the eco-systems around the planet to ensure that all life is in balance in order to promote a safe and healthy planet for all life.

Here is the truth that goes beyond the flood story: God is establishing a covenant with us and our descendants after us, and with every living creature that is with us, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with us.  God wants humanity, in particular, to be more responsible in caring for this planet. We can’t live without this gift of earth, but it can live without us. Perhaps someday we might develop a missile that will thwart an earth-bound meteor saving this planet. This may be part of our divine purpose. But until then we must look at our everyday practices and do what we can to protect the creation we have now, this fragile earth, our island home.

Today we remember Fabian, Bishop and Martyr (January 20, 250) and his information about him may be found at; Fabian

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: (BCP p. 290)

O God, you have created all things by the power of your
Word, and you renew the earth by your Spirit: Give now the
water of life to those who thirst for you, that they may bring
forth abundant fruit in your glorious kingdom; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.