nov 3 2006

Phil 1:1-11 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,with the bishops and deacons: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the Gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. For God is my witness,how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception,to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heartin the company and assembly of the just.Great are the works of the LORD,exquisite in all their delights.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Majesty and glory are his work,and his justice endures forever.He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has given food to those who fear him;he will forever be mindful of his covenant.He has made known to his people the power of his works,giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!

Lk 14:1-6 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.
There are those who are in the church who have self righteousness and choose to see the rules and the law and the hierarchy as the most important thing to uphold. Here the teaching of Jesus of the law of love turns over that old way and calls Christians to the unselfish acts that God presents to us to do on all days and in all places with a true belief in the goodness of God and the need to act as a believer. It is one thing to say that I believe and another to act with love as a true beliver. I pray to God today for strength, compassion, patience and mercy that I may show the love of God to all I encounter this day.