Epistle reading. Colossians 1:12-18
Gospel Reading: Luke 18 (the rich young man)
Dark times. Our world needs light. Our world needs a savior.
From today’s Epistle (resonates more after this past week): Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness…
Isaiah 9 (2, 6&7): Prophecy of Christ:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined…
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
[read the epistle from our bishops]
Our Lord knows our sorrow – the greatest love that we feel and share among ourselves is a small taste of the grace that continuously pours from him. He is the source of our goodness, the reason we ourselves can feel the pain of others and reach out to comfort them. We do this because we are made in his image – he has made us so that we can do his work.
We know the pain of those who suffer because he knows the pain of those who suffer. The story of humanity from start to end is the healing of this pain and the correcting of the brokenness that causes it.
It was for this reason that God sent His son; so that we might be healed and that this world and all within it might be transformed into a place where wickedness cannot come. A place where there is no sickness, sighing, or sorrow. No cancer, no broken minds, and no slaughter of innocents. God abhors these things – we join him in his righteous anger and indignation. But more importantly, we join him in his mission to remake ourselves and this world in His image, the image of love and compassion.
This is the one thing needful. To give up everything and be transformed; Christ has made it possible.
The Young Man was not willing…
Saint Nicholas was…
Protector of children. May his prayers sustain us and all those hurt by tragedy.
