Ordinary Time: Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

1 Samuel 11:1-15

There's a great phrase in this text today, "the dread of the Lord." The word says this came over the people, and it caused them to go and do that which they had to do. The dread of the Lord. We dread eating broccoli, or we dread a test. But, the Lord?

I guess that's just another way of saying the fear of the Lord. The holy respect that we should each have for God, simply because He is God, and we are not. As strong as we are, He is stronger. As wise as we are, He is wiser. As powerful as we are, He is more powerful. He is simply God. That should cause us reverence, respect, and maybe, on occasion, a little dread.

New Testament Lesson

Acts 8:1-13

This is the first time we read about this fellow named Saul. He was a pretty tough guy. He was an enforcer. He was going around, stopping the church, putting its leaders in prison, and doing whatever he could to stop the spreading of the Gospel.

Saul. You may also know him by his other name, Paul. If God can save someone even as far from Him as Saul, who can't He save? There is nothing, no one that God cannot redeem. Even Saul, even you and me.

Gospel Lesson

Luke 22:63-71

I was having a conversation with some folks yesterday about Easter and Holy Week. And, we were all agreeing, to understand fully the joy and wonder of Easter, we have to first go through the passion and pain of the cross. While we are not really that close to Easter, we in really are. Every Sunday we gather to celebrate the Resurrection. Every day when we hit our knees and plead forgiveness or grace. Each of moment of our life where we receive God's grace. In these moments, we are close to Easter.

And in those moments, let us remember what our Lord endure so that we could know that grace.