Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Ordinary Time: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Old Testament Lesson


I was taken by the fact in reading this passage that God Almighty desires to covenant with humanity. Think about it.  He could come to us and say, this is what you are going to do, or else.  But, what He does is that He says, if you do this, I will do that.  And in this covenant with Noah, He doesn't even go that far.  He simply tells them He will not flood the earth again.  No conditions required. 

It is humbling to think that God Almighty would chose to do this.  He, after all, is God.  Yet, He desires that covenant with us.  He desires that relationship with us.  He desires to actually know us on a personal level.  And likewise, we receive the grace of getting to know Him on a personal level. 

Today, the God of all ages desires to know you.  May we each take advantage of that wonderful gift. 

New Testament Lesson


I was taken in this passage about the obedience of Jesus to God's will.  He was the son of God, but yet He chose to submit to God's will. So often in our lives, I think our greatest injuries are those when we fight against what God is trying to do. There is a great passage in Acts where God says to Paul, why do you kick against the goads.  Why do you do the things that will bring you pain instead of following my will for you.

We've all been there. We've all through our plan was better than His. And we normally wind up bloody and bruised.  Today, instead of kicking against God's will, let us, as our savior did, follow God's will and God's plan.  And in doing that, we will actually find life.  

Gospel Lesson


This may be one of my favorite passages in scripture.  Not just because of John 3:16, but because of the words after.  Jesus came to bring life and salvation to the world.  He gave this offer, but people loved their darkness more than they loved the light.  And in choosing darkness, that is their judgment. 

Their judgment is that they get what they wanted.  God is not in heaven wanting us to mess up or fall down.  He is not in heaven just waiting to get us.  He is not waiting to throw a lighting bolt at us.  Too many of us have that view of God.  He doesn't want us to fall, He wants us to live!

He wants what is best for us.  He wants us to choose light and love and peace and life.  He doesn't desire for any of us to be apart from Him or each other.  He longs for those that are far away to come home.  He wants us to know Him and know what it means to know life. For this reason, Christ came. 

Today, may we choose life and light, and may we live in that life and light. 

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