Ordinary Time: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Nehemiah 13:4-22

When we make mistakes, when we fall down, we can always take comfort in scripture. Why? Because the people there are no better than we are, and honestly, sometimes I think they are worse. Today, we see that the Temple is rebuilt! God has restored His favor! Blessings back in the Land! The people have been restored!

And in no time, the people are back to breaking the law. They are back to doing the very things that got them in trouble in the first place. They are back to not keeping their word to God.

So, it's not just us that fall down and make mistakes. It's not just us that don't do what we said we would do. This is not to offer excuses. But it is to say that all humans throughout all time have suffered from the same problem - sin. And thankfully, our salvation doesn't come through anything we do, but through all that He did.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 12:1-12

The power of evil is defeated by the blood of the lamb and by the word of our testimony. Jesus Christ, through the cross and the empty tomb defeated the powers of sin, death, and the grave. For us as Christians, they have no power over us. They are defeated. Where o death, is your victory, where, o death, is your sting? Sin is defeated, death is defeated.

And today, as Christians, as the church universal, when we raise our voices, when we offer praise to God, when we testify about God's grace by our words, and with our lives, darkness is defeated. Today, this day, with your witness, you have the power to defeat darkness.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 13:53-58

Because of their lack of faith, He could not do the miracles that He desires. The only thing stopping God from breaking out in our midst today is us. The only thing stopping God is our faith, or our lack thereof. God will do His part. May we do ours. May we believe. May we have faith. May we hope. May we know that God is still at work today, and each day. May we have faith.