Tuesday July 23 Pentecost 9
Click here for simplified daily office prayers
Psalm 45
A poem about King David, using the imagery of an ancient oriental king, describing his personal and public magnificence and the glory of his relationship with the queen. Note that his prime duty is to serve truth and justice.
We can read this poem as a description of our own fulfilled self and relationships which have been made possible for us in union with Christ’s resurrection.
Joshua 8.1-22 What’s Joshua about?
When the Israelites had first attacked the city of Ai to continue their capture of the land God promised them they had been ignominiously defeated because they had retained forbidden booty from Jericho. But God’s ancient covenant is not to be frustrated, that God’s people will become a great nation, and God gives them a second opportunity and a clever stratagem by which to capture the city. Indeed, God even promises that they can keep all the booty. The city is captured and destroyed so the people can continue to receive God’s gift, because God devised the clever ruse, and God gave permission to loot the city. God’s faithfulness continues despite the people’s previous infidelity.
Matthew 26.47-56 What’s Matthew about?
Jesus is betrayed with a kiss and refuses to condone the violence with which a disciple responds nor to use an immense force of angels to protect himself because then the scriptures could not be fulfilled. Matthew is interpreting that all this was shown beforehand in the ancient scriptures so Jesus’ execution isn’t an accident, and that Jesus is loyal to God’s will above all else.
This week’s collect:
Almighty God,
your Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence.
Give us pure hearts and constant wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.