They went out from us

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

1 John 2:18-21 Psalm 96:1-2, 11-13 John 1:1-18

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.

Who we are is in part determined by who we associate ourselves with. In today's Christian church there are many denominations. Typically these are formed because people at one point went out from the there church. Of course since there are already many churches who is to say which is the right one?
Well, if we are all Christians then I think we have to get a hold of what that means and then associate ourselves with people that are considered Christians. That may be tougher than we think. Jesus associated himself with tax collectors and prostitutes. He never condoned such behavior, but he recognized a sincere helplessness and humility in the people as they came to him. Those who think they are fine, who can "see" are truly blind. They want others to associate with them rather than they associate with others. Being a person of faith takes a certain humility and willingness to be vulnerable in order to be obedient to Christ. Jesus says those who obey his commands are his friends, not those who claim to have all the right answers.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to seek to make my alliances based on truth, love and mercy rather than the human criteria of having the "right" answers and being with the "in" crowd.

Amen

She did not depart from the temple

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

1 John 2:12-17 Psalm 96:7-10 Luke 2:36-40

Luke 2:37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

Anna, like Simeon got to be part of this fantastic story of the Lord made flesh. But she wasn't picked from the mass of people that lived in this world and had this world's values. She was devoted to God and her life reflected this devotion. Same with Simeon. And for that matter, if you believe the Gospel of James, so was Marry. A virgin was more than just a girl that did not have intercourse. A virgin was a woman that was devoted to the Lord and was celibate as part of that devotion. It is kind of like being a nun. Anna had devoted herself to the Lord and she was allowed to share in this glorious story. A story that can be told in heaven for eternity.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to become more devoted to you so that I too am present when there is a need for someone to share in the sharing of your grace.

Amen

glory to thy people Israel

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

1 John 2:3-11 Psalm 96:1-6 Luke 2:22-35

Luke 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."

I think there is a tendency to forget that Christianity started with Israel. It began with the Jews. That is significant in how we should understand our faith.
We tend to forget that Jesus and his apostles preached that if we are truly in Christ then our works should show that. If we do not keep the commands of God then we are liars if we consider ourselves Christian. This is what John tells us today. It is a violation of the commandment itself. To take the name of the Lord in vain is to call oneself a Christian and then not act accordingly. This is a very Jewish principle.
We have lost a great deal of the sense of tradition and of value of family and authority. These too are Jewish principles. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. He is the glory of Israel and a revelation to the gentiles, not the other way around as we often presume.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always seek to keep your commands and thereby to know you better. Hlpe me to not forget the tradition and history of the faith so that I can keep a proper understanding and perspective.

Amen

grace and power

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 17 Matthew 10:17-22

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Stephen did great works, but is was in the grace and power of Christ. There are many that try to convince us that they are doing great works for God, but they have no signs indicating that they have the grace and power of God. We can easily confuse worldly success with grace and power. If someone can raise great amounts of money or attract many followers it is easy for us to think that they are doing the work of God. But those things are not necessarily signs of God's grace and power because many earthly false leaders can do that as well.
The signs of God's grace we what we need to look for in leaders, but even more than that we need to look for them in our own lives and not try to manufacture them ourselves.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to see with wisdom your grace an power and not to confuse them with my own prideful attempts.

Amen

he will purify

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14 Luke 1:57-66

Malachi 3:3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD.

There seems to be two popular notions about how are relationship with God is to be. One says that we must be good to get the blessings of God. The other says that God accepts us as we are. I think neither of these is completely correct. God wants to change us. We enter into relationship with him as sinners, but he doesn't accept us like that. He wants to change us and as we cooperate with him we come to realize the blessings that he has already given us, and is giving us, and will give us. The key is change. We have to be willing to change if we are going to have a relationship with God.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to be willing to change, to leave the comfort of my sins and to enter into a relationship based on truth and love.

Amen

has done great things for me

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

1 Samuel 1:24-28 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8 Luke 1:46-56

Luke 1:49  for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

I think that if I had to sum up Mary's song, this verse would do it.  Christmas is more than just about a miracle birth, or a precursor to the resurrection.  It is a demonstration of God's mercy.  The humble circumstances demonstrate that God can and does great things, and Holy is his name.  Mary exemplifies the gratitude that we should have for what God has done for us.  This is a prayer of thanks.  At Christmas we give thanks to God for his mercy and grace.  The miracle birth is the evidence of that grace.  So we celebrate the miracle birth.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to be truly thankful for what you have done for me.  Help me to realize that you can do great things even in the most humble of circumstances.  Help me to keep faith regardless of how hopeless things may look to human eyes.

Amen

he had seen a vision

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17 Luke 1:5-25

Luke 1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb.

I love verses like this. We have a tendency to make everything commonplace today. We call almost anything a miracle and we explain away and don't consider the supernatural. But here we see that the people perceived that he saw a vision and there was a real lasting effect. This was not some silent voice in our thoughts. It was real. The angel was real and the effect was real.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always remember the incredible stories and the miracles that are signs not only of you will, but of your presence. Help me to not get wrapped up in the limits of my mind and of this world but to look to you and to know that with you all tings are possible.

Amen

being a just man and unwilling

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Jeremiah 23:5-8 Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Joseph was a bit conflicted here. On the one hand he was a just man. That means that he observes the law. The marriage was violated as far as he knew and had to be put away. But, the scriptures say that he was unwilling to put her to shame, so he resolved to do it quietly. Is this really the best solution? Well, it shows mercy and that is one of God's most highly desired characteristics in us. But the solution seemed to be resolved when the rest of the story was told to him. Once he got the word from the angel he was no longer conflicted anymore. He simply did as the angel of the Lord told him to do. What happened to being a just man? Well, a word from God supersedes our own sense of justice.
We should be like Joseph and where we are conflicted over our desire to be just and our compassion, we need to follow the word of God. This may apply to many of our social issues of today that divide even Christians who struggle with the law and mercy. We can fall back on the word of God.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to follow your words rather than my own sense of justice. When I am troubled about the proper solution help me to see what you would have me do. Help me to know the rest of the story.

Amen

dominion from sea to sea

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Genesis 49:2, 8-10 Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 17 Matthew 1:1-17

Psalm 72:8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!

In today's politically correct culture we shy away from talking about our Lord having dominion from sea to sea, or anywhere for that matter. The Lord's dominion is one of the heart. He rules in our hearts and minds. When we try to make it a political or physical rule then we are making ourselves the rulers. But Christ rules in our hearts and minds. That means that we have devotion to him and to his words, not because we are forced to but because we want to. But if we want to we can't be afraid to express that to others either.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to not be afraid to express my love for you and mi desire to live a life faithful and pleasing to you. Grant me the grace to live with you as my Lord, having dominion in my life.

Amen

but afterward he repented

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23 Matthew 21:28-32

Matthew 21:29 And he answered, `I will not'; but afterward he repented and went.

We all want to hear people say "Yes I will". But even more we really want them to do what is right in the end. Giving lip service is a popular tactic to win the favour of others. Well, it doesn't work with God. He can see what is in our hearts. Yes, we may not always be ready to face the truth and do what is right, but the question is do we have the desire to do what is right? Will we repent? I think that reflection on our true motives and desires is a worthy exercise. It may lead us to true repentance. The elephant in the living room here is the fact that we need to repent. That we are stained because of original sin. We must admit that we are sinful before we can repent.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to want what is true and righteous. Help me to realize my own sinful nature and to desire true repentance. Then strengthen me to actually do it.

Amen

From heaven or from men?

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 Psalm 25:4-9 Matthew 21:23-27

Matthew 21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe him?'

At Christmas time things like the virgin birth and other issues resurface as we wrestle with the miraculous. Sacraments are part of that miraculous discussion as well. Signs are things that the Lord does to authenticate his words to us. These often take the form of miracles, things that are beyond what we would call normal.
Baptism is one of those signs. Here it clearly has to do with the identity of Christ and his authority.
The chief priests and the elders were questioning Jesus' authority. In so doing they could not admit that the baptism was from God.
Do we have trouble admitting that these things we call sacraments are from God? Are we then questioning Jesus' authority?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to truly believe in the miraculous. To truly believe that you are God and that you have come for me, and nothing can take me from you.

Amen

Jonah became a sign

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 40:25-31 Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10 Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:30 For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation.

The word "sign" is an interesting word that I think sometimes we may miss the full implications of. When we see that Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of the fish we rightly see a sign of the resurrection. But Jonah also preached that if the people did not repent they would be destroyed. This too is a sign. A sign is something that has authority. It is the root of the word signature. You could say a sign from God is something that has his signature on it. The message in concert with the miracle is the sign, or the authoritative work of God. God often uses miracles to give authority to his message. Jesus says that miracles would follow those who have true authority.
In this Advent season we look towards a miracle that comes with a message. We know Jesus is from God because he was born of a virgin. But Jesus preaches repentance and teaches love and mercy. The message goes with the miracle. You could say that God wraps his message with miracle wrapping paper.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to see the miracle has your authoritative sign but not to forget the message that is wrapped by the miracle.

Amen

all flesh shall see it together

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13 Matthew 18:12-14

Isaiah 40:5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

I have always found this passage interesting.  How can all flesh "see" it (Christ's glory) together?

Well, first of all, since all "flesh" will "see" this would appear to be a physical revelation rather than metaphorical. So, how can we all see his glory together?  Well, the only thing that I can think of is the Eucharist. His body and blood embodied in the bread and the wine.  We all see his glory and since this is present in all times and places wherever Christians gather, we all see it together.  Later in the passage Isaiah tells us that he will feed his flock.  How does he feed us?  With bread and wine.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to see your glory embodied in the bread and the wine.  Make these elements become for me you body and blood so that I might share in your glory through you sacrificial act.

Amen

Who told you that you were naked

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel:

Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Psalm 98:1-4 Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Luke 1:26-38

Genesis 3:11  He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

We are now in a "bad economy".  But I wonder how and when we got here.  People were saying the economy was bad long before it really was.  The problem is it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.  We are limited by our own lack of faith and our own selfish desires.  We react to bad news without any personal experience or reason to suspect that anything is wrong.  This is partly our of fear that we will lose what we have and partly out of a lack of faith.

The angel told Mary that with God all things will be possible.  Do we believe it?  Or do we believe the words of unbelievers and people who have agendas that benefit on our suffering.  It is a good thing for someone running for president to have a bad economy.  It increases the likelihood that the people will react and vote for "change". But maybe they were just being duped.  Maybe they were being taken advantage of by serpents that play on their greed and fear.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always trust you and to seek your righteousness and to believe that with you all things are possible. Help me to not live in fear with a greedy heart.

Amen

According to your faith

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 29:17-24 Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 Matthew 9:27-31

Matthew 9:29  Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."

We often shape our faith to a given set of expectations derived from this worlds experience.  I think the the movie The Matrix where they could do amazing things if they only trusted they could in spite of all the experience to the contrary that they have.  We have to believe in miracles to believe in Jesus.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to believe in miracles.  Help me to look beyond my own limitations.

Amen

confidence in princes

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 26:1-6 Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27 Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Psalm 118:9  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes

We too often look to our leaders to save us, to improve the quality of life and to bring salvation to the nation.

The recent election of Obama revealed peoples feelings that he is going to save them.  The truth is only Jesus can save us and only when we do the will of the Father.  That means that we must change our lives, not our leaders.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always seek to do your will.  Help me to not put my faith in man or in leaders.

Amen

I am unwilling to send them away hungry

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 25:6-10 Psalm 23:1-6 Matthew 15:29-37

Matthew 15:32  Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."

Jesus gives us food to eat to nourish us.  It is called Eucharist, or Holy Communion.  The multiplying of the bread to feed the thousands is symbolic of how Christ's sacrifice and the bread that is his body is sufficient for all people, that is that it doesn't run out.

Jesus gives us this meal because he has compassion on us, he will not leave us as orphans, but we eat with him and the saints when we share this meal.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to see you in the breaking of the bread and to be comforted that you will provide for our needs.

Amen

to whom the Son chooses

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Luke 10:21-24

Luke 10:22  All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

There is a temptation for us in this information driven culture to try to explain everything.  We even try to explain who Jesus is and who God is and if others don't get it the same way we think it should then they are not as "holy" as we are.

According to Jesus nobody know who he or the father are, except those to whom he chooses to reveal it to.  Now implied in this is also the idea that the amount of knowledge that is revealed is also at Jesus' discretion. Point being we have nothing to boast in except Christ himself, not in our own knowledge or holiness.  We can only pray that Jesus will reveal to us what we need.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to seek to know you through your revelation and on your terms.  Help me not to have a boastful spirit and get caught up in pride and the desire for advantage.

Amen

but only say the word

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122:1-9 Matthew 8:5-11

Matthew 8: 8  But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.

We always want to cover our bets.  We don't often really trust people or circumstances to work out for us unless we have some level of oversight.  But here the centurion's oversight would be of no value.  How could he possibly help Jesus to cure his servant?  He had to trust Jesus completely, it was his only hope.

We must come to a place where we realize that Jesus is our only hope and that we can't save ourselves. Our oversight will not help.  We must simply allow Jesus to do what he will do and we must trust him fully.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always trust you and not doubt.  Help me to be willing and ready to respond when you call and be willing and ready to get out of the way when you alone can do the work.

Amen

but my words

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Revelation 20:1-4, 11 -- 21:2 Psalm 84:3-6, 8 Luke 21:29-33

Luke 21:33  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Times can be troubling.  We fear change; change of culture, change of government, health, even life and death. When Jesus says that Heaven and earth will pass away, I believe that he is saying there will be new rulers and new cultures, but the truths of the Kingdom of God are timeless and do not depend on the rulers of this world.  We can rest in his Word because it transcends this world.  It is eternally true.  His kingdom is not of this world and there for lives on regardless of this worlds folly.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to rest in your Words.  Help me to not get too wrapped up in hope in earthly rulers, nor get do dismayed by them.

Amen

ypu will be hated

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Revelation 15:1-4 Psalm 98:1-3, 7-9 Luke 21:12-19

Luke 21:17  you will be hated by all for my name's sake.

It has often been mentioned that the USA is looked down upon by the rest of the world.  Well, maybe that is a good thing.  Maybe it is a good thing when people look down on us because of our Christian faith.  Maybe it is a good thing when they look down on us because we oppose abortion and euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research.

Jesus said that when they hate you for my name sake, then you are blessed.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to stay true to your teaching, mercy and grace rather than seek the approval of non- believers. Help me in the face of persecution.

Amen

he will judge the peoples with equity

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Revelation 14:14-19 Psalm 96:10-13 Luke 21:5-11

Psalm 96:10  Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."

Politicians will promise fairness and equity, but they do not have the power or the righteousness to deliver it.  If they deny God and his righteousness, if they extract the Gospel from their lives and policy making, then they have no hope of bringing fairness and equity.  Only God can do that, because the world is his and everything in it.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to seek fairness and equity only through your grace and mercy.  Help me not to get caught up in the empty promises of others who deny you.

Amen

No one could learn that song

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Revelation 14:1-5 Psalm 24:1-6 Luke 21:1-4

Revelation 14:3  and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.

It is disturbing to me just how much the churches today are trying to be like the culture in order to get new people to come to their church.  The music is even becoming more and more like the music of the culture, even to the point where you can't tell if it is Christian music or not.

The Bible says that when we are redeemed we will sing a new song, that the others can't learn.  They don't get it.  They can't because they don't understand God's grace, so their music is just like all the others.

As Christians we are called to lead the people out of this world, not fall back into it ourselves.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always seek to sing songs of praise to you and not to sing songs that will titillate the unwashed.  Help me to be true the you and to the faith.

Amen

a den of robbers

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Revelation 10:8-11 Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 Luke 19:45-48

Luke 19:46  saying to them, "It is written, `My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers."

Today we have to constantly battle the temptation for worship to become a form of entertainment.  Not just the worship service itself, but all the merchandising that goes on today.  When did it become OK to charge for the Gospel?  Sure we can say that we are only covering our costs, but the life styles of some of the people might indicate otherwise.  What if we truly gave the Gospel to people.  I think that it is great to have good music in worship and to have well written books and papers to enlighten and encourage us, but when we have to pay for it we are on the edge.  It is one thing for a choir to be voluntary and give their best, but if they charge for their performance then I have to wonder.  Now certainly there are those that give the money to charity, but then take a collection rather than charge admission.  As for the books and other stuff, I realize there are expense in these things, but maybe we can give the money for it to happen.  Maybe the books don't have to be top sellers in the nation.  Maybe they can encourage a smaller group and others can encourage other smaller groups.  This temptation to be big and influential is what concerns me.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to seek to be an encourager to others but not to take pay for my services, whatever they may be.  Help us as your church to seek to be honest and sincere in what we do and not to do it for profit.

Amen

now they are hid from your eyes

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Revelation 5:1-10 Psalm 149:1-6, 9 Luke 19:41-44

Luke 19:42  saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.

What are the things that make peace?  Not military strength, not economic freedom, but It is righteousness.  These other things may give the appearance of peace, but they haven't proven true yet.  True everlasting peace only comes when we are at peace with God through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  But we continue to seek this peace through other means.

Has that led us to be blinded?  Is there hope that we can one day see the truth again?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to seek always your righteousness.  Help me to not put my trust in earthly means but in spiritual means.

Amen

every one who has will more be given

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Revelation 4:1-11 Psalm 150:1-6 Luke 19:11-28

Luke 19:26  `I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

This is a troubling and difficult verse.  It kind of contradicts our Christian instincts.  But, maybe our instincts our misguided.  We tend to think that we must give to those who have nothing and take from those who have plenty, but here Jesus seems to be saying the opposite.  It almost sounds worldly to take form those who have little and give to those who have plenty.

I think it is not a matter so much of what we have, but what we are doing with what we have that is the issue.  Jesus also says to whom much is given much is required.  We must keep in mind that what we have is God's and not ours. The distribution isn't so much the issue, but the thanks and respect that we have for the blessings from God is.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always give you thanks and praise for all my blessings and treat them with the highest regard.  Help me to grow your kingdom through love and charity rooted in thanksgiving.

Amen

renounce all

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Acts 28:11-16, 30-31 Psalm 98:1-6 Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:33  So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

We have a tendency to think that we can take on the challenges of life with what we have, our money, our knowledge, our friends...  The truth is we can't count on these to be enough to take on the major issues, life and death.  God alone is the author and sustainer of life, and through Christ alone we have our salvation.

So, we must renounce all that we have.  That means that we need to realize that it is not enough for us and we must seek God above all other things.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to look to you for my life.  Help me to not fall into the trap of depending on what I think that I have.

Amen

he will separate them

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Sirach 26:1-3, 15-18, 24 (Vulgate) or 1 Timothy 5:3-10 Psalm 31:4-5, 8-9, 20, 24-25 Matthew 25:31-40

Matthew 25:32  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

We there is a brand of Christianity that intends to give mercy and grace to everybody, especially those who are not faithful or repentant. The Bible seems to imply that God will separate the good from the bad and will bless the good. How then do we understand mercy and grace?

The key I believe is repentance.  If we repent and seek Christ as our savior, then he will respond with mercy and grace.  It isn't just doing good, but it is doing good in Christ.

We then too must discern between those who will pretend to do good but deny Christ as their savior and those who will seek Christ and repent from their sins.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to seek both to do good and to seek your righteousness in all things.  Help me to always realize that you are my Lord.

Amen

And this is love

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

2 John 4-9 Psalm 119:1-2, 10-11, 17-18 Luke 17:26-37

2 John 1:6  And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love.

If we say we love someone we must be willing to act in a certain way that is pleasing and/or beneficial to them.  We have to be willing to listen and think about someone else ahead of ourselves. 

But this in and of itself is not enough. We have to follow His commandments.  God alone know perfect righteousness and true love will be in obedient to him.  We can only love his people if we obey God.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to have a heart to obey you and to love others through that obedience.

Amen