Friday September 13 Pentecost 16
Click here for simplified daily office prayers
Psalm 51
I have committed evil acts and I long that God will wash me clean. If I am forgiven, I will tell everyone of God’s goodness. I would have given expensive sacrifices, but what you want, O God, is that I change my priorities. Then God will be pleased with us and our religious practices.
This psalm is often used on Fridays, the anniversary of the death of Christ through which forgiveness is possible. Our world would receive new life if we were as committed to changing direction in matters which are bringing death to the planet.
Job 29.1, 31.24-40 What’s Job about?
Job concludes his statement that he has acted justly all his life. He challenges God to meet him in court and bring an indictment so that Job could refute it and prove that he is innocent and that God has not treated him justly. Job rests his case before the court in heaven.
The lectionary skips over several more arguments by the friends, and we arrive tomorrow at the climax of the book in which God will now take the stand and respond.
John 11.30-44 What’s John about?
Jesus arrives at Lazarus’ tomb, and states that he is the resurrection. Now it is Mary who doubts that Jesus is the resurrection in the present—”If you had been here earlier, he would not have died.” Religious leaders also doubt him—since he had cured a man born blind, either he is unwilling or unable to keep someone from dying.
These continue to be sources of doubt about Jesus’ ability to give us resurrection even in our day. We also doubt whether God can or will act to prevent the death of our planet and our hopes. But in a moment we see Jesus’ power even over death as Lazarus is raised to life and walks out of the tomb. We begin to hope that he can do the same for our world.
This week’s collect:
Stir up, O Lord,
the wills of your faithful people,
that richly bearing the fruit of good works,
we may by you be richly rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Click here to share your thoughts on the web site.