Thursday April 8 Thursday
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Psalm 146
Joy in God’s victorious justice for the oppressed, the blind, the strangers and the orphans—that justice for all is built into God’s magnificent creation. Appropriate for the anniversary of the resurrection—God’s victory over all evil.
Psalm 147
God’s wondrous creation and God’s commitment to justice are intertwined. Other cultures are not aware of this. What a helpful insight in our day!
Ezekiel 37: 1-14
God will give life to the dispirited of Israel, languishing in exile. Their dead bones (their hopelessness) will be brought back to life, as was Jesus, and as are we.
John 15: 12-27
Jesus continues to explore the image of the vine. The community of disciples are the branches of Jesus’ love. His disciples (who are us) are not asked to observe that love from a distance, the way a servant might, but are asked to be full participants in that love. That’s how Jesus calls us siblings, not servants. Even though self-sacrificing love will be rejected by our society, the Holy Spirit (God’s self welling up in our lives), will be present to act with us and give us courage and strength to continue that love.
This week’s collect:
Lord of life and power,
through the mighty resurrection of your Son,
you have overcome the old order of sin and death
and have made all things new in him.
May we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
reign with him in glory,
who with you and the Holy Spirit is alive,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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