Ordinary Time: Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

1 Samuel 25:1-22

One of the best sermon's I've ever heard was preached about reaping what you so. The preacher said that many of us sow discord or hate or whatever, and then we pray for rain. For if it rains, we won't have to reap what we have sown. But, it will not rain forever. There will come a time when we reap what we so. In this text today, Nabal didn't sow anything good. He caused trouble towards David for no reason. He sowed disagreement, he sowed jealousy, he sowed general dislike. David was coming to reap what what he sowed.

But, grace interfered. Grace is sometimes not receiving what we deserve. Did Nabal deserve what was coming to him? Probably. But, his wife had the good sense to go and make a peace offering. It isn't always easy to do the right thing, but results of it will be better in the end. If we so grace, we will reap grace. If we sow forgiveness, we will reap forgiveness. If we so love, we will reap love. If we sow what is good, we will reap what is good.

New Testament Lesson

Acts 14:1-18

One of the mistakes that we can make sometimes is that we fall in love with the gift instead of the giver of the gift. Even great singer should be praised for that remarkable talent, but God should be praised all the more for He is the one that gave that gift. Every hard worker should be praised for their work ethic and strength, but God should be praised all the more for He is the one that gave the health to work.

Today, Paul and Barnabas heal someone, and the people want to praise them as gods. Paul says, no they are mere mortals, it is God Almighty that deserves the praise. He was quick to give credit where credit is due. Today, may we thank God for every good gift and talent that we have, that our church has; and let us remember that it is through Him that we have these good things.

Gospel Lesson

Mark 4:21-34

One thing I love about the parables is that Jesus often compares great things to something common. The kingdom of God is like mustard seed. Not many of us understand the kingdom of God. But, we all understand a mustard seed. In this, Jesus shows us that greatness is not just found in the great and mighty, but in the common, in the small, in the everyday. Everyday, we can find God. Everyday, we can see what He is doing. Everyday, we can find, see, and receive His grace.

Even in the common and the ordinary, like a mustard seed, we can find the grace of God.