Ordinary Time: Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

2 Samuel 14:21-33

We see in Absalom the ability to do what ever he has to do to get want he wants. Joab won't come and see you? Then set his field on fire. That got Joab there. But it was the way you should do things. In life, there are ways that we should treat each other. We should treat each other with respect, we should, as Jesus said, do unto others as we would have them do unto you.

Our culture has grown very coarse. There's lot of yelling and shouting, lots of loud word and raised voices. We've stopped treating each other with respect, we've stopped treating them as we'd like to be treated. No one would want their field set on fire. Did it work? Sure. Was it right? No. May we treat each other with the respect and the grace that we would want to be treated ourselves.

New Testament Lesson

Acts 21:15-26

Paul understood in life that are certain things you do for the benefit of others. Did he have to purify himself? No. Was is it something that he told others to do? No. But, in doing it, he was able to put the minds of some others to rest. He didn't do it for his benefit, he did it for their benefit. In life, we must not be a stumbling block to someone else. We don't just live for ourselves, we live for God. May we live in a way that glorifies God, and that helps each other.

Gospel Lesson

Mark 10:17-31

Jesus wants to be our first love. Over everything. Over our possessions. Over our status. Over our job. Over our hobbies. Over everything. He wants to be first. He must be first. The rich young man would not love Jesus more than His stuff. In our lives, what do we love more than Jesus? What takes first place in our lives? May we remember that Jesus wants to have that first place in our hearts.