Ordinary Time: Thursday, August 20, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

2 Samuel 19:1-23

David has a moment today that is completely bittersweet. The kingdom is saved. He is restored. His son is killed. He is no more. And while David wins the battle, he weeps over his son. And Joab tells him he need to rally the troops and encourage them. They laid down their lives for him, and needs to thank them, encourage them, speak to them.

What a hard thing to do, an impossible thing. Saving the kingdom by defeating your son. When we think of the life of David, the life of the one who was a man after God's own heart, let us not think that it is an easy life. It was very hard. Some pain was caused by David's actions.Some by forces beyond his control. In it all, he held close to God.

In the struggles of our life, may we do the same.

New Testament Lesson

Acts 24:1-23

Throughout Paul's imprisonment, he got to preach in front of many, many powerful people in the Roman empire. Leaders of all stripes. He got to tell them about the power of God, the Resurrection, the saving grace of Jesus Christ. God used this imprisonment as a way for Paul to testify to the goodness of God.

Today, not matter what happens in your life, you have choice. Will you use it for good, or will you use it for bad. Will you use the events of life to glorify God and build others up, or will you use them to tear others down and not glorify God. We have a choice today to make in our life. How will we respond to the things that happen to us today, and each day?

Gospel Lesson

Mark 12:28-34

We see the list today. What do you do as a Christian? What do you do to inherit eternal life? What is required? What's it about? We see today. Love of God, Love of Neighbor. That's it, that's the list. That's the checklist of our faith. That's what we are supposed to do. That's what we are made to do. That's who we are created to be. We are made to love to love God with all that we are, and love as neighbor as we love our self. That's it.

May we do this today. And as we do this, we will be about the work God has made us to be about.