“What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position
and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow.”
- Martin Luther
(All moments are sacred. Let this thought move you to love throughout the day.)
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LV 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34B-37; PS 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11AB
MT 13:54-58
Jesus came to his native place and taught
the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
"Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter's son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?"
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house."
And he did not work many mighty
deeds there
because of their lack of faith.
Reflection on the
Scriptures |
How easily familiarity breeds contempt. Jesus could do no mighty works in his
hometown because the people who were familiar with him were closed-minded and despised his claim to speak and act in the name of God. If people come together to hate and refuse to understand others different than themselves, then they will see no other point of view than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others. How do you view those who are familiar to you? With kindness and respect or with a critical and judgmental spirit?
The Lord Jesus offers us freedom from sin, prejudice, contempt, and fear. His love and grace sets us free to love others with the same grace and mercy which he has shown to us. Only Jesus can truly set us free from the worst tyranny possible - slavery to sin and the fear of death. His victory on the cross brings us pardon and healing, and the grace to live holy lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you know the joy and
freedom which Christ's love brings to our hearts?
"Lord Jesus, your love conquers every fear and breaks the power of hatred and prejudice. Flood my heart with your mercy and compassion, that I may treat my neighbor with the same favor and kindness which you have shown to me."
- from
dailyscripture.net
Revelations of Divine
Love - by Julian of Norwich
Fourteenth Revelation, Chapter 41
I am the Ground of thy
beseeching.
AFTER this our Lord shewed concerning Prayer. In which Shewing I see two conditions in our Lord’s signifying: one is rightfulness, another is sure trust.
But yet oftentimes our trust is not full: for we are not sure that God heareth us, as we think because of our unworthiness, and because
we feel right nought, (for we are as barren and dry oftentimes after our prayers as we were afore); and this, in our feeling our folly, is cause of our weakness. For thus have I felt in myself.
And all this brought our Lord suddenly to my mind, and shewed these words, and said: I am Ground of thy beseeching: first it is my will that thou have it; and after, I make thee to will it; and after, I
make thee to beseech it and thou beseechest it. How should it then be that thou shouldst not have thy beseeching?
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