Prayer:
Eternal Lord, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your Word and obey it, so that we become instruments of your redeeming love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Bible Reading:
Luke 13:1-9
Silence:
One to two minutes
Reflection:
In our “enlightened” moments, that is when we observe human suffering from the comfort of our easy chairs, we are confident that our God surely would not couple suffering and sinfulness – not our God of love. But when it is you would are suffering, the question of linkage is harder to control – for what am I being punished? This reveals a thread of truth that winds its way to the root of the human condition – unrelenting paranoia, figuring that someone is always looking over our shoulder (not complimentary). Usually this paranoia is exacerbated by suffering, mostly our own, and we, almost uncontrollably, suspect God of our condition, deservedly. The message of the Gospel is that although our paranoia is legitimate, the one looking over your shoulder is your Savior Jesus Christ.
Action – Repentance and Creation:
Check out your day yesterday. How many times did you realize that God was walking, driving, working, eating, sharing with you, even in your moments of self doubt, fear, and anxiety?