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, November 9
Matthew 15:1-20. What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.
In James Goldman's play The Lion in Winter, Prince John feigns astonishment to see his brother brandish a knife and exclaims, "He's got a knife!" To which his mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, remarks, "Of course he has a knife, he always has a knife, we all have knives! It's 1183 and we're all barbarians!"
We may fast-forward nearly a thousand years from that fictional scene and confront similar emotions. We may not be carrying knives, but our tongues are no less sharp. The mean-spirited comment, the biting criticism of another, cruel mockery of others out of their earshot--these suffice as weapons of choice. We do not seem to have progressed much over time.
Jesus knew well that, no matter our words to the contrary, our hearts always betray our true feelings. If charity is to proceed from us, it must be genuine.
The fictional Eleanor knew it, too. She says, "For the love of God, can't we love one another just a little? That's how peace begins. We have so much to love each other for. We have such possibilities, my children. We could change the world."
I often wonder if we have the heart to love one another enough to change the world.
PRAY for the Diocese of Vanuatu (Melanesia)
Ps 80 * 77, [79]; Nehemiah 9:1-15(16-25); Revelation 18:1-8
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I subscribe to Dia a Dia to improve my Spanish--just learned about the website, so occasionally started checking my translations. I'm VERY disappointed to see the Spanish version cut SO much, and much less rich. Today it was almost unrecognizable!
Please get someone else to do them.
Thanks and blessings,
Lynn