Ordinary Time: Monday, July 2, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

1 Samuel 10:17-27

We're a little worried about Saul from the very beginning, aren't we? He starts off, and can't even be found. Not the best way to start off leading the people. But, the people had placed their trust in humans above God, and they were given Saul. Someone once said, people get the leaders they deserve, not the leaders they need. Israel needed someone that would lead them to God, that would point them to God, that would be the king they needed. Instead, they got Saul.

The king they needed was coming, though. David would get there soon. But, even in that, it is a little odd. Saul was tall and big, David short and squatty. Saul looked like a king. David didn't. Yet, who was the great king? And who did not trust in the Lord. So, we see that it is the Lord that makes the difference, and He is the one that we must trust. He is the true leader of the people.

New Testament Lesson

Acts 7:44-8:1a

I've preached some sermons before that were not well received, but I've never been stoned like Stephen was. It took courage for him to stand before this crowd and preach the words he preached. And surely he must have know how it would end. But, he did it anyway. Why?

Perhaps he believed that God could change the heart of even the most vocal critic. Perhaps he believed that God could save anyone. Perhaps he believed that he was simply called to do it. Whatever the reason he did. He did what he was called to do. Friends, that is is powerful lesson for us. We called in life not to do everything, but we are called in life to simply do that "thing," whatever it is, that God has called us to do. Stephen did it, and through doing it, many people were brought to the Lord. Today, may we do that "thing," whatever it is, that God has called us to.

Gospel Lesson

Luke 22:52-62

How many of us would love to great like Peter? How many of us would love to his courage, his strength, his leadership? How many of us would love to lead like him and follow Jesus like he did? Most of us would.

Yet, even Peter failed. Three times, he denied knowing Jesus. Three times. Yet, the Lord welcomed him back. Even the great ones fail. We all fail. CS Lewis once said something to the effect of that the sin in life is not in falling down, the sin is in not getting back up. We will each fall, we will each fail. At that moment, may we see that God's grace is there, waiting to pick us back up.