Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
MONDAY, May 25 (The Venerable Bede) Memorial Day (U.S.)
Hebrews 6:1-12. For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened...and then have fallen away.
Judgment is today's theme in all three lessons. The Lord tells Ezekiel that he will cause his people to "waste away under their punishment." In the gospel, Jesus says "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Perhaps most disturbing of all, the epistle seems to deny the possibility of restoration and forgiveness to Christians who become backsliders.
This perplexes and frightens me. That judgment is real, that sin has consequences, I cannot deny. But is judgment eternal? If we turn our backs on God, does God then turn his back on us forever? Can our sins cancel the love of God? Or does God eternally hold open the door for his beloved to return to him? Could it even be that in the end all things will be restored to unity with their Creator? There are passages in the Bible to support various answers to these questions, and the great Christian spiritual masters have not been of one mind about them. I don't think we can know. This is a mystery, and we must leave it, as we leave all things, to the judgment and mercy of God.
PRAY for the Diocese of Oke-Osun (Province I, Nigeria)
Ps 89:1-18 * 89:19-52; Ezekiel 4:1-17; Luke 9:51-62
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
A Meditation for Pentecost
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