Ordinary Time: Thursday, June 29, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Numbers 17:1-11

We see in this passage God choosing Aaron's tribe of Levi to be the priestly tribe. Could you image being born into that tribe and knowing that you would be a priest? That's so different from way things are for us today. Just because I'm a preacher does not mean that my children will become preachers.

God wants us to choose to serve Him, and God gives each of us individual callings. We are not all called to be a preacher. There are many other ways to be faithful to God. Why we all have different callings, we all actually have the same calling. Be faithful. What ever you are called to do by God, be faithful to it. Today, what is your calling? What has the Lord gifted you in? Is it singing? Is it working? Is it teaching? Whatever it is, do it unto the Lord; for He is the one that has gifted. He calls each of us. It is up to us, though, to respond.

New Testament Lesson

Romans 5:1-11

This passage is one of the most powerful in all the bible, in my opinion. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus died for us not when we were clean and perfect, but He died for us when we were at out lowest, when we were at our filthiest, when we were at our worst point. He died for us while we were sinners. We did not deserve to have Christ died for us. We were not good enough. We did not come from the right family. We did not earn it. All of us, each of us, while we were sinners, bound for judgement and hell, Christ died for us.

We cannot earn it. That's why it's called grace.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 20:17-28

We see the two contrasting views here. The disciples want to be in charge. They want to decide who gets to sit where; they want to decided who's in first place and who's in last.

We see Jesus say, it is not my decision to make, but the Father's. And we see Him tell them, if they want to be first, if they want to lead, they must serve. The way that we grow in Christ is through service. The way we lead in Christ is through service. The way that we obey Christ is through service.

In the world, we can pull strings and get to the top or get our way. In the Kingdom of God, there is no "on top." Down here in the world, we all want to be at the top of the food chain. In the Kingdom of God, we are shown the true way it is to serve others.

Today, we have a choice. We can play politics, we can lie, cheat, and steal, we can do all these things to try to be number one. But, that number one is earthly, and all earthly tings are passing.

Or we can serve, be faithful, and we know that our reward is in heaven, where all things are eternal.

Today, what route will you choose?