Ordinary Time: Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Job 29:1-20

Job looks back upon how things used to be for him. Before tragedy visited his door. Before he suffered all that he had suffered.  He remembered what it used to be like.  

Sometimes in our lives, one of the best things that God can give us is memories of grace past.  It is good for us to remember when God moved in our lives.  It is a good thing to remember when we experienced grace.  It is a good thing for us to remember when we experienced God in a powerful way. For, there will come a time in our lives when we feel dry. When we feel abandoned. When we feel like there is no hope and things will not change. 

It is then we need to remember when God moved through us.  Remember His grace. And remember, that as He moved through us once, He will do it again. And, we should never, ever, ever, lose hope.  Because God is still God, and He is still at work.  

New Testament Lesson

Acts 14:1-18

Paul and Barnabas got run out of a lot of town.   You'd think they may give up. You'd think they may say, this just isn't worth it.  You'd think they may feel like it was just time to call it quits. 

But, they never did. For, no matter how discouraged they may have been, they knew that peopled needed to hear about God's grace and mercy. And, if someone somewhere rejected it, they'd just move on down the road to the next spot.  As long as someone was hearing about God's grace, that is what mattered to them. 

Today, may we be like them in terms of sharing God's grace with all that we may meet.  We will never know who is ready and who is not ready. But, if we share with all, some will receive what they need to receive. So, through our lives, our words, our actions, who we are, may we share grace. 

Gospel Lesson

John 10:31-42

One of the truths in Jesus' life was that some folks just weren't ready to receive the Good News.  Their heart's were not ready to receive grace yet.  God's grace is everywhere, it is abundant. We just have the hearts that are ready and able to receive.  May we have receptive hearts today, hearts ready and willing to receive the grace that God wants to give to us today.