Nov 20 2006
Rev 1:1-4; 2:1-5 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne. I heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this: “‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this: “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”’”
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows notthe counsel of the wickedNor walks in the way of sinners,nor sits in the company of the insolent,But delights in the law of the LORDand meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a treeplanted near running water,That yields its fruit in due season,and whose leaves never fade.Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;they are like chaff which the wind drives away.For the LORD watches over the way of the just,but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Lk 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him,“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him,telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more,“Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;and when he came near, Jesus asked him,“What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
The first reading today is an admonishment to keep the love of God and others close to my heart and in all of my thoughts and acts. To wander or stray from the love is to stray from the faith. The acts of love are an important living of the glory of God.
In the gospel story, the blind man who was along the road to Jericho had asked for healing and Jesus told him that his faith restored his sight. When the healed man gave glory to God the gathered people were touched and also gave glory to God. The healed man had shared the love of God with others in his celebration of being touched by God in healing. It is a lesson in perserving that at first the crowd had rebuked the blind man who was calling out to Jesus and told him to be silent but then the man called out to Jesus even louder.
Why would the people passing by tell the blind man asking for healing to be silent? Perhaps they did not understand the calling out of this man. Jesus asked the man what he wanted. I come this morning before Jesus in prayer and ask for healing of my blindness in how I see others and to renew in me this morning a loving and steadfast heart. I pray that I can bring the light and love of Christ to others in all of my acts this new day with all of the people I encounter. I pray that I will have an open heart to those who are calling out to Jesus for healing today and everyday.
I am praying this morning especially for a generous young man I know who today is donating his stem cells to help a cancer patient. He is healthy and has volunteered to help a person who he does not even know. This is the love of others that the world needs. I pray that he does well in the procedure and recovers to full strength and health rapidly after the donation. I pray that others see him as a sign of the glory of God and a light to others.
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows notthe counsel of the wickedNor walks in the way of sinners,nor sits in the company of the insolent,But delights in the law of the LORDand meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a treeplanted near running water,That yields its fruit in due season,and whose leaves never fade.Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;they are like chaff which the wind drives away.For the LORD watches over the way of the just,but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Lk 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him,“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him,telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more,“Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;and when he came near, Jesus asked him,“What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
The first reading today is an admonishment to keep the love of God and others close to my heart and in all of my thoughts and acts. To wander or stray from the love is to stray from the faith. The acts of love are an important living of the glory of God.
In the gospel story, the blind man who was along the road to Jericho had asked for healing and Jesus told him that his faith restored his sight. When the healed man gave glory to God the gathered people were touched and also gave glory to God. The healed man had shared the love of God with others in his celebration of being touched by God in healing. It is a lesson in perserving that at first the crowd had rebuked the blind man who was calling out to Jesus and told him to be silent but then the man called out to Jesus even louder.
Why would the people passing by tell the blind man asking for healing to be silent? Perhaps they did not understand the calling out of this man. Jesus asked the man what he wanted. I come this morning before Jesus in prayer and ask for healing of my blindness in how I see others and to renew in me this morning a loving and steadfast heart. I pray that I can bring the light and love of Christ to others in all of my acts this new day with all of the people I encounter. I pray that I will have an open heart to those who are calling out to Jesus for healing today and everyday.
I am praying this morning especially for a generous young man I know who today is donating his stem cells to help a cancer patient. He is healthy and has volunteered to help a person who he does not even know. This is the love of others that the world needs. I pray that he does well in the procedure and recovers to full strength and health rapidly after the donation. I pray that others see him as a sign of the glory of God and a light to others.
posted by Joan Morris at 5:45 AM
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