FRIDAY, November 5

Luke 13:31-55. How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

A television advertisement shows an incident happening on the street in slow motion and from three perspectives. The first shows a rough looking man with long, unkempt hair and a studded leather jacket running down the street and pushing a gentle looking businessman with a briefcase against a wall. The scene is then shown again from the victim’s point of view, with his fear of the oncoming man and shock at the assault. Finally, from the third perspective above, the viewer sees a stone come loose from a building and fall toward the sidewalk. The rough looking man is now revealed as risking his life to push the businessman out of harm’s way to safety.

Jesus pushes us out of harm’s way from spiritual death. We react sometimes with anger at the stern words we hear. We sometimes respond with dismay. But Jesus tells us that behind the stern words is someone who loves us and wishes to gather us under his wings for protection. What might we need to do to see the whole picture? (2004)

PRAY for The Episcopal Church of the Sudan and the Diocese of Juba

Ps 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 * 73; Ecclesiasticus 50:1, 11-24; Revelation 17:1-18

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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The Enemy

Nov 05, 2010 at 7:13 am

Written by Stephen,

Enemies abound. Terrorists, criminals, even fellow Americans or more perplexing, other "Christians". Fear creates enemies around every corner. I have my own. When I lean only on my own understanding, I see only one side of the picture like the story in the meditation. Jesus reminds us that we as Christ-ones have only one enemy, and fear is this entities strongest weapon. We will not be united as long as we allow fear's author to rule. Fear of change, fear of people quite different from us and fear of those who perpetuate fear. Too often we Christians are a people slow to catch on to the changes and increased knowledge that dispels prejudice and fear. We should be at the forefront of insight into human nature invoking the nature of God through Jesus Christ who has more insight into humankind than we can begin to imagine or understand. But if we let discernment enter into those places we gaurd by fear, we have a better chance that the Holy Spirit will give us a new understanding. We can also pray that God protect us from fear and ignorance.

...

Nov 05, 2010 at 8:20 am

Written by Paulletta,

Holy God, help me to see the world as you do..through love and wisdom

...

Nov 05, 2010 at 8:56 am

Written by Lois,

When I'm in crisis I wish I could remember all the times in my life that God has turned things to the good....whatever it is and I wish I could remember that God wants always to protect me. Of all people I should remember. I was close to physical and spiritual death when prompted by others to ask God for help. In the smallest way in desperation I did turn to Him and since that time I am living a life beyond my dreams, unparralled by anything I could have hoped for myself. Still the fear will hit me and amnesia sets in. For today I will try to visualize that it is the desire of Jesus to keep me safe as the hen with her brood of chicks.

...

Nov 05, 2010 at 9:13 am

Written by Mary Kier,

Thank you for this meditation. That was a great parable of the author of the meditation.
Often times we have to make decisions based purely on faith. If we where to look at the situation from one perspective. ( our own) we may not see the whole picture or God's will for us. Sometimes God pushes us in a direction out of our comfort zone. However when we are pushed by circumstances or by our instincts we see afterwords the reselts
and then we see and are greatful for the step taken.

. . . to be gathered

Nov 05, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Written by Gaye Anne,

Three things I pray, dear Lord:
To know you more clearly, to love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day!

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