october 20 2006
Eph 1:11-14 Brothers and sisters: In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-136R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;praise from the upright is fitting.Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;with the ten.stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy.He loves justice and right;of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.From heaven the LORD looks down;he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Reading II
Lk 12:1-7 At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.“ There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
The message that I am hearing in this gospel reading is that just as God knows of every sparrow, God knows every hair on my head and values me. I am to beware of hypocrisy and secrecy. All that is said in secret will be made known. All that is in the dark will be made light.
My mother and father were great examples to me of honesty and openness. All problems and issues and challenges were talked about truthfully. There were no secrets held back. My mother told me everything about everyone in the family and the neighborhood. She would sometimes explain what she thought was going on with a person's behavior and what the background history was. She would tell me how she dealt with certain actions of others and why and would add...'I am telling you this so that you will understand more when you are making decisions about this type of thing when you are older.' I was at times surprised at how much she told me but realized that the extra truths that she had shared did make it more possible to understand what, how and why people were behaving in certain ways. I thought growing up that this was what all families do. I thought they all had meals together and all talked with each other and shared their stories and supported each other. I knew that there were some families in my neighborhood that were somehow different but did not realize how different they were until I was much older.
I pray for the courage and wisdom to use the truth to serve the Lord in all ways and to greet the Christ in all people that I meet in this day.
Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-136R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;praise from the upright is fitting.Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;with the ten.stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy.He loves justice and right;of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.From heaven the LORD looks down;he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Reading II
Lk 12:1-7 At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.“ There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
The message that I am hearing in this gospel reading is that just as God knows of every sparrow, God knows every hair on my head and values me. I am to beware of hypocrisy and secrecy. All that is said in secret will be made known. All that is in the dark will be made light.
My mother and father were great examples to me of honesty and openness. All problems and issues and challenges were talked about truthfully. There were no secrets held back. My mother told me everything about everyone in the family and the neighborhood. She would sometimes explain what she thought was going on with a person's behavior and what the background history was. She would tell me how she dealt with certain actions of others and why and would add...'I am telling you this so that you will understand more when you are making decisions about this type of thing when you are older.' I was at times surprised at how much she told me but realized that the extra truths that she had shared did make it more possible to understand what, how and why people were behaving in certain ways. I thought growing up that this was what all families do. I thought they all had meals together and all talked with each other and shared their stories and supported each other. I knew that there were some families in my neighborhood that were somehow different but did not realize how different they were until I was much older.
I pray for the courage and wisdom to use the truth to serve the Lord in all ways and to greet the Christ in all people that I meet in this day.
posted by Joan Morris at 6:14 AM
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