Detail of a bronze statue erected c.1588 and placed on the top of the Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, in the Piazza Colonna. Fr Lawrence Lew, OP flickr CCL
Meditation
Thursday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22 dealt with falsehood—head on. The Old Testament lesson instructed people to not tell falsehoods, whether against an enemy, a frienemy, a neighbor, or anyone. They were not to be swayed by bribes, prejudices or preferences.
“Don’t tell falsehoods.” Period.
The New Testament lesson carried the falsehood theme, with false rules that church leaders place on other believers. Church leaders were not to make up rules that were based on falsehoods—about what to eat or not to eat; or that people shouldn’t drink; or other rules that arise out of ideas of leaders. Some of the early church leaders claimed to have visions of angels and worshipped them instead of God.
But church leaders were not the only ones addressed. Every individual was told that they were responsible for not following false rules. If some church leader said something was a rule, the individual was responsible for testing that it was from God and not made up rules of human concoction.
Over the years I visited churches where made-up rules were in play. For some, it was sinful to go to a bowling alley. While that would be ridiculous to others. For some, it was dancing, despite the fact the Scriptures spoke of David dancing down the street in celebration and he pleased God. For others, it was drinking that was sinful—some said caffeinated drinks were sinful, others wine, still others limited it to hard alcohol. All the different churches might have had reasons, and they may have been good ones, but the rules did not make one a Christian or a better Christian. Only God judged those issues.
The Psalmist declared that the heavens—space—sky declared God’s handiwork. Study the work of the heavens and they would discover who God was. It revealed things about God. I know every scientific discovery in space has amazed me all the more and increased my understanding of the infinite greatness of God. The Psalmist went further, to point out that the heavens speak in every language. Everyone could see for themselves what God had done…and the laws of God were perfect. From Quantum mechanics to Astro-physics, the world out-there spoke every day of what God had done and his omnipotent magnitude.
We, too, can see the hand of God in what we see every day. The miracle of earth, and the sun, with its composition of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, carbon, neon, nitrogen, magnesium, iron and silicon that has burned for 4.5 billion years, our solar system, how earth circles the sun and doesn’t fly off into space, how very few meteors and asteroids strike earth because of all the planets deflecting them and our atmosphere causing many to burn up before they strike. All the details of the intricacies of the solar system, the universe, perhaps the multiverse were created and set in motion by God. God manages them all with precision.
So when we observe them, we can see God’s handiwork. Just as a painting reflects the painter, a sculpture reflects the sculptor, a poem reflects the poet, we can learn about God through his creation.
Everyone must be responsible to examine church doctrines, especially those that limit God or box God’s image into something that makes people feel ‘comfortable.’ The fact is that the omnipotence of God can be rather frightening, like the thundering voice of God as he spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai frightened the Children of Israel.
God expects us to be responsible for what we believe. The laws of God were rather simple—love God and neighbors, be fair and don’t make up false statements about others. In our cultures, we add to the laws. Some churches make some issues paramount that God does not, but the lessons in today’s lectionary were clear that we were not to make up stuff and force it on people. There is freedom in Christ and when we follow Christ we discover how freeing it is. We don’t have to accept judgment from others about unnecessary rules, when we know we are following Christ.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 27, Proper 22.
Ordinary 27, Proper 22
The Heavens Are Telling – Kings College Cambridge; Sir David Willcocks
The “Hand of God” dubbed by NASA Scientists
This object is called a pulsar wind nebula. It’s powered by the leftover, dense core of a star that blew up in a supernova explosion. NASA. CCL
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 27, Proper 22
Lo, God is Here, Let Us Adore – Christian Hymnal
Homelessness is Not God’s Design
Homeless sleeping on the sidewalk Bluxome Street San Francisco, CA Photo by Franco Folini, flickr CCL
Ordinary 27, Proper 22
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2019;Exodus%2023:1-9;Colossians%202:16-23&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV
(multiple versions)
Thursday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
King James Version (KJV)
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Freedom to worship; elycefeliz flickr CCL
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Judgment/ Justice – True scales; Dan4th Nicholas flickr CCL
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, forgive us for make false rules, false guidelines and limiting your greatness in hypocritical stances. Help us to shine like the heavens and declare your glory. Bring us into harmony with the music of the sun, moon and stars. Bless our lives with your grace and love that we might be good stewards with what you have entrusted to us. In Jesus name, Amen
Ordinary 27, Proper 22 Music
Let the Words of My Mouth – Fernando Ortego
Ordinary 27, Proper 22 Humor
It’s the Church I Don’t Like…
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
May the Words of My Mouth – Shane and Shane
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in Ordinary 27, Proper 22.
Conclusion
Thursday, Ordinary 27, Proper 22 was adamant about not being false, in testimony, in scales, in dealings with people, in judges/courts of law, in everything in our lives. Our churches tend to make rules that are not essential tenants of the faith and when they omit the love that was one of God’s cardinal rules, they have stepped out of the presence of God.
A joke my mother told was about a homeless man, who had been turned away from the church because he was not dressed properly and he smelled bad. He had been sitting dejectedly on the steps when a man stopped and touched his shoulder, asking what was wrong.
“They won’t let me in there.” The homeless man moaned.
“Don’t worry, they don’t let me in there, either, and I am Jesus Christ.”
We must be vigilant about how we present ourselves on behalf of God, the omniscient, omnipotent, all-wise, all-loving Creator. No falsehoods.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.
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