Good morning beloved child of God.
“This bodily captivity of the people must be understood as pointing to their spiritual captivity” (St Hilary).
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!
Psalm 137
By the rivers of Babylon
there we sat and wept,
remembering Sion;
on the poplars that grew there
we hung up our harps.
For it was there that they asked us,
our captors, for songs,
our oppressors, for joy.
‘Sing to us,’ they said,
‘one of Sion’s songs.’
O how could we sing
the song of the Lord
on alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!
O let my tongue
cleave to my mouth
if I remember you not,
if I prize not Jerusalem
above all my joys!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
TODAY’S WORD: And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you. (Lk 11:39ff)
REFLECTION: Today’s reading confronts every form of hypocrisy. Persons who appear to be perfect, sanctimonious, and/or righteous from the outside. But harbour wickedness, greed, envy, hatred, slothfulness, and debauchery. They sound very kind, civil, and understanding before others but are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They appear to be godly but are the very cause of war, evil, or division. This set of people are everywhere: in the homes, in the offices, in the church, and anywhere they find abode or space. Some persons act pretentiously and call it politics, some pose as defending the course of a religion, and some, for their tribe, would move boundary stones, cause wars, and lie that their tribe is innocent or a superior race/colour. We know who we are! We must wash our innermost thoughts, desires, and plans. Then we can have a peaceful existence with others… which breeds a clean environment.
Shalom!
DAILY PRAYER: Lord Jesus, fill me with your love and increase my thirst for holiness. Cleanse my heart of every evil thought and desire and help me to act kindly and justly and to speak charitably with my neighbor.” Amen.
The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Think positive. It is well with you. God is in control. Have a blessed and fulfilling day.
ONE PERCENT BIBLE CHALLENGE: GENESIS 18.