The Daily Office for June 24, 2012
Scriptures
Psalm 66
Numbers 14:26-45
Acts 15:1-12
Luke 12:49-56
Reading (Luke 12:49-56)
Reflection
For several weeks you’ve been looking forward to a presentation you’ll be making to what could be your company’s biggest client. Because it’s such an important meeting you’ve invited key executive staff to join the gathering – which will be held in a private dining room at an expensive, four-star restaurant. You make it clear that this is a formal occasion and business casual attire isn’t appropriate. As everyone arrives, however, you discover, to your horror, that while the potential clients are dressed in expensive, dark suits, the executives from your company show up in t-shirts, jeans and flip flops. As you stumble for words, your boss remarks loudly that “it’s just a meeting” and who cares what somebody wears.
Yes, a special gathering, celebration or dinner meeting calls for appropriate clothing, doesn’t it? In Scripture we read that "Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban." On one level, righteousness means having a special standing with the Father because of Christ’s purity. God sees His Son’s sinless life in place of our sinful one. On another level, righteousness is the purity we exhibit, through the Holy Spirit, as we imitate Christ. We show we are Christians by how we act, by putting on holiness and justice. That’s what you wear for success in God’s Kingdom.
Collect for the Day
Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.