The Daily Office for April 6, 2012
Scriptures
Psalm 95
Lamentations 3:1-33
1 Peter 1:10-20
John 13:36-38
Reading (Psalm 95)
Reflection
Most people learn at an early age that the world consists of “us” and “them”. When one of us is in trouble – whether it’s a friend, family member or neighbor – we’ll usually do our best to help that person. When one of them is in trouble – a homeless person who lives in the park, an immigrant family struggling to support themselves without a steady income or a starving tribe in a foreign land – we’re not as motivated to help. Why? Because we don’t take their plight personally. We feel very little connection to them or their situation. We have nothing to gain by easing their hardships. Or so we think.
In reality, if we take God’s words spoken at creation to heart, we will recognize that there we’re all created in God’s image. When we choose to ignore the struggles and difficulties of our neighbors, no matter who they are, we slight the ones who bear the imprint of God’s marvelous creation.
Collect for the Day
Almighty Father, look with mercy on this your family for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed and given up into the hands of sinners and to suffer death upon the cross; who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.