The Daily Devotional is going to take a "summer vacation". Please refer to the Forward Day by Day for today's meditation.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Daily Devotion
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 21: 20-28
20 "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; 22 for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; 24 they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Reflection
The Whole Earth’s A Waiting Room by Joseph T. Nolan
We wait – all day long,
For planes and buses,
For dates and appointments,
For five o’clock and Friday.
Some of us wait for a Second Coming.
For God in a whirlwind.
Paratrooper Christ.
All around us people are waiting:
A child, for attention;
A spouse, for conversation;
A parent, for a letter or call.
The prisoner waits for freedom;
And the exile, to come home.
The hungry, for food;
And the lonely, for a friend.
The whole earth’s a waiting room!
“The Savior will see you now”
Is what we expect to hear at the end.
Maybe we should raise our expectations.
The Savior might see us now
If we know how to find him.
Could it be that Jesus, too, is waiting
For us to know he is around?
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 21: 20-28
20 "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; 22 for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; 24 they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Reflection
The Whole Earth’s A Waiting Room by Joseph T. Nolan
We wait – all day long,
For planes and buses,
For dates and appointments,
For five o’clock and Friday.
Some of us wait for a Second Coming.
For God in a whirlwind.
Paratrooper Christ.
All around us people are waiting:
A child, for attention;
A spouse, for conversation;
A parent, for a letter or call.
The prisoner waits for freedom;
And the exile, to come home.
The hungry, for food;
And the lonely, for a friend.
The whole earth’s a waiting room!
“The Savior will see you now”
Is what we expect to hear at the end.
Maybe we should raise our expectations.
The Savior might see us now
If we know how to find him.
Could it be that Jesus, too, is waiting
For us to know he is around?
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
Friday, June 19, 2009
Daily Devotion
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 21:5-19
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." 7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" 8 And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, "I am he!' and, "The time is near!' Do not go after them. 9 "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. 12 "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Reflection
From “Reaching Out” by Henri J. M. Nouwen
Only by denying the world can you live in it, that only by surrounding yourself by an artificial, self-induced quietude can you live in a spiritual life. A real spiritual life does exactly the opposite: it makes us so alert and aware of the world around us, that all that is and happens becomes part of our contemplation and meditation and invites us to a free and fearless response.
By Thomas a Kempis
Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know;
To love what I ought to love,
To praise what delights thee most,
To value what is precious in thy sight,
To hate what is offensive to thee.
Do not suffer me to judge according to the sight of my own eyes,
Nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men;
But to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual,
And above all, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of thy will.
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 21:5-19
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." 7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" 8 And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, "I am he!' and, "The time is near!' Do not go after them. 9 "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. 12 "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Reflection
From “Reaching Out” by Henri J. M. Nouwen
Only by denying the world can you live in it, that only by surrounding yourself by an artificial, self-induced quietude can you live in a spiritual life. A real spiritual life does exactly the opposite: it makes us so alert and aware of the world around us, that all that is and happens becomes part of our contemplation and meditation and invites us to a free and fearless response.
By Thomas a Kempis
Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know;
To love what I ought to love,
To praise what delights thee most,
To value what is precious in thy sight,
To hate what is offensive to thee.
Do not suffer me to judge according to the sight of my own eyes,
Nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men;
But to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual,
And above all, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of thy will.
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Daily Devotion
Collect of the Day
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.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 20:41 - 21:4
41 Then he said to them, "How can they say that the Messiah is David's son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms, "The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, 43 until I make your enemies your footstool." ' 44 David thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?" 45 In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, 46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
1 He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."
Reflection
Luke Timothy Johnson writes that the “Kingdom of God is new with the newness of God’s own life; it is…hope of eternal life for all humans….this kingdom is symbolized by the widow, who though left all alone in human terms, is not only herself alive but capable of giving life by sharing ‘all her living’ with others.
Mother Teresa guides with “Let us not be satisfied with just giving money; money is not enough, for money one can get. The poor need our hands to serve them; they need our hearts to love them. The religion of Christ is love, the spreading of love.”
Jan M. Griswold writes:
Help me, Lord, to reach out to-
The lonely, who might respond with suspicion or laughter
Or even downright hatred at my efforts;
The dirty, who have insufficient means to be clean;
The lazy, who appear content to let others provide for them;
The discarded, forgotten, unloved-
All, Lord, make up this aching, hurting river of humanity
Around my world and in your world.
Help me, Lord, to reach out and love.
To give much, and expect little,
To bear complaining but not complain,
To guard my tongue, and not blame,
So that in all things I will become more like you.
Priscilla Hillis writes:
I used to run afraid of love’s strong power
Afraid of being overwhelmed, undone.
Until one day – one terrifying hour
I stopped and turned and faced the burning one.
Then slowly his great arms went tight around me.
I do not know how I could’ve been afraid
Of all he offered when he found me.
Overwhelmed – undone – remade.
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
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.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 20:41 - 21:4
41 Then he said to them, "How can they say that the Messiah is David's son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms, "The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, 43 until I make your enemies your footstool." ' 44 David thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?" 45 In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, 46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
1 He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."
Reflection
Luke Timothy Johnson writes that the “Kingdom of God is new with the newness of God’s own life; it is…hope of eternal life for all humans….this kingdom is symbolized by the widow, who though left all alone in human terms, is not only herself alive but capable of giving life by sharing ‘all her living’ with others.
Mother Teresa guides with “Let us not be satisfied with just giving money; money is not enough, for money one can get. The poor need our hands to serve them; they need our hearts to love them. The religion of Christ is love, the spreading of love.”
Jan M. Griswold writes:
Help me, Lord, to reach out to-
The lonely, who might respond with suspicion or laughter
Or even downright hatred at my efforts;
The dirty, who have insufficient means to be clean;
The lazy, who appear content to let others provide for them;
The discarded, forgotten, unloved-
All, Lord, make up this aching, hurting river of humanity
Around my world and in your world.
Help me, Lord, to reach out and love.
To give much, and expect little,
To bear complaining but not complain,
To guard my tongue, and not blame,
So that in all things I will become more like you.
Priscilla Hillis writes:
I used to run afraid of love’s strong power
Afraid of being overwhelmed, undone.
Until one day – one terrifying hour
I stopped and turned and faced the burning one.
Then slowly his great arms went tight around me.
I do not know how I could’ve been afraid
Of all he offered when he found me.
Overwhelmed – undone – remade.
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Daily Devotion
Collect of the Day
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 20:27-40
7 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man F168 shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her." 34 Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."
39 Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." 40 For they no longer dared to ask him another question.
Reflection
God Gives Us A Future by Elizabeth J. Smith
God gives us a future,
Daring us to go
Into dreams and dangers
On a path unknown.
We will face tomorrow
In the Spirit’s power,
We will let God change us,
For new life starts now.
We must leave behind us
Sins of yesterday,
For God’s new beginning
Is a better way.
Fear and doubt and habit
Must not hold us back:
God gives hope, and insight,
And the strength we lack.
Holy Spirit, teach us
How to read the signs,
How to meet the challenge
Of our troubled times.
Love us into action,
Stir us into prayer,
Till we choose God’s life, and
Find our future there.
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 20:27-40
7 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man F168 shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her." 34 Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."
39 Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." 40 For they no longer dared to ask him another question.
Reflection
God Gives Us A Future by Elizabeth J. Smith
God gives us a future,
Daring us to go
Into dreams and dangers
On a path unknown.
We will face tomorrow
In the Spirit’s power,
We will let God change us,
For new life starts now.
We must leave behind us
Sins of yesterday,
For God’s new beginning
Is a better way.
Fear and doubt and habit
Must not hold us back:
God gives hope, and insight,
And the strength we lack.
Holy Spirit, teach us
How to read the signs,
How to meet the challenge
Of our troubled times.
Love us into action,
Stir us into prayer,
Till we choose God’s life, and
Find our future there.
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Daily Devotion
Collect of the Day
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 20:19-26
19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
20 So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21 So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" 23 But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 "Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?" They said, "The emperor's." 25 He said to them, "Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.
Reflection
Crowds of people are responding favorably toward Jesus and can be seen as a cushion protecting Jesus from hostile opponents. The opponents are trying to lead Jesus into comments that could constitute not so much religious heresy but political treason and be grounds, even in front of the crowds, to seize him. There is more to see here than that Jesus was very insightful into the political implications of his answer and outwitted his opponents. Issues here are decisions, priorities, and loyalties.
Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of God. God owns all things and all things are to be given back to God. When loving God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, rulers can be gifts of God and giving to Caesar can be giving back to God. God gives life and raises the dead to life with equal ease. And, children of the resurrection, children of God, share God’s life with hope that is not limited to earthly emphasis on lineage and property. The kingdom of God is new with the hope of eternal life for all persons.
Thomas Merton in New Seeds of Contemplation explains that “Everything That Is, Is Holy….There is no evil in anything created by God, nor can anything of His become an obstacle to our union with Him. The obstacle is in our ‘self,’ that is to say in the tenacious need to maintain our separate, external, egotistic will….In His love we possess all things and enjoy fruition of them, finding Him in them all….Until we love God perfectly, everything in the world will be able to hurt us.”
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 20:19-26
19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
20 So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21 So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" 23 But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 "Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?" They said, "The emperor's." 25 He said to them, "Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.
Reflection
Crowds of people are responding favorably toward Jesus and can be seen as a cushion protecting Jesus from hostile opponents. The opponents are trying to lead Jesus into comments that could constitute not so much religious heresy but political treason and be grounds, even in front of the crowds, to seize him. There is more to see here than that Jesus was very insightful into the political implications of his answer and outwitted his opponents. Issues here are decisions, priorities, and loyalties.
Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of God. God owns all things and all things are to be given back to God. When loving God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, rulers can be gifts of God and giving to Caesar can be giving back to God. God gives life and raises the dead to life with equal ease. And, children of the resurrection, children of God, share God’s life with hope that is not limited to earthly emphasis on lineage and property. The kingdom of God is new with the hope of eternal life for all persons.
Thomas Merton in New Seeds of Contemplation explains that “Everything That Is, Is Holy….There is no evil in anything created by God, nor can anything of His become an obstacle to our union with Him. The obstacle is in our ‘self,’ that is to say in the tenacious need to maintain our separate, external, egotistic will….In His love we possess all things and enjoy fruition of them, finding Him in them all….Until we love God perfectly, everything in the world will be able to hurt us.”
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
Monday, June 15, 2009
Daily Devotion
Collect of the Day
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 20:9-19
9 He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12 And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, "This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" 17 But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
Reflection
From “Gathering the Fragments” by Edward J. Farrell
Reverence has something to do with holiness and wholeness. It is a word ordinarily ascribed to God alone. When we speak about reverence in regard to ourselves we speak of the holiness of our relationship with God. This wholeness, this holiness, is given to us not because we are without sin, but in spite of our sin. We have to believe that God loves us so much that even though we are sinners we are holy. And we are holy in a way that we give holiness to others. We have been loved so much that there is enough left over to give to others. Love enables us to see into the depths of other people’s lives. This inner stream of God’s love, like running water, always refreshes us so that we might offer a cup to others.
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 20:9-19
9 He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12 And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, "This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" 17 But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
Reflection
From “Gathering the Fragments” by Edward J. Farrell
Reverence has something to do with holiness and wholeness. It is a word ordinarily ascribed to God alone. When we speak about reverence in regard to ourselves we speak of the holiness of our relationship with God. This wholeness, this holiness, is given to us not because we are without sin, but in spite of our sin. We have to believe that God loves us so much that even though we are sinners we are holy. And we are holy in a way that we give holiness to others. We have been loved so much that there is enough left over to give to others. Love enables us to see into the depths of other people’s lives. This inner stream of God’s love, like running water, always refreshes us so that we might offer a cup to others.
Blessings,
Mthr. Mary Lou
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