SATURDAY, February 13 (Absalom Jones)

Romans 14:1-23. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

The unwritten sequential sentence to the above might well be, "And then, where will you be?"

Saint Paul was discussing differing customs among Christians. Some ate all kinds of food; some ate only vegetables. Some made one day of the week especially holy; others considered all days equally holy.

We can easily transfer the same thinking to various practices among Christians today: standing or kneeling or bowing the head; lots of candles or none; incense, sanctus bells, or the Quaker meeting. The 1928 Prayer Book or the 1979 Prayer Book; the Revised Standard Version of the Bible or any other version. You get the idea.

The test for Paul was whether in the observance of any of these customs, one thanked God. Thanking God is central; how one does it is relative. He who judges by the custom and not by the heart of the worshiper has received little benefit from his own custom.

Why is this so hard for us?

Thank God for the diversity that multiplies our witness throughout the world. (1982)

PRAY for the Diocese of Ballarat (Victoria, Australia)

Ps 87, 90 * 136; Genesis 29:1-20; John 8:47-59

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

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The life review

Feb 13, 2010 at 6:13 am

Written by Lorrie Robinson,

I was watching O'Riley last night. He interviewed a doctor who has written a book on the evidence of near death experiences. There is a web site that summarizes the work of this doctor and his wife. Pretty interesting. But what struck me personally was the common experience of the life review. You can't really explain that phenomena as a product of dying brain chemistry. As a believer, I thought of how many parts of my pretty average life I would be ashamed to look at again with the eyes of love. The many times I fell and fall short. The stupid, careless, thoughtless. Oh there are some things that I think would demonstrate love but I am not so sure there are enough of them. I hope to keep that life review more "top of the mind" as I go through the rest of my days. I really don't want to disappoint Him...

Response to the life review

Feb 13, 2010 at 7:53 am

Written by jeff campbell,

Lorrie...you and I occupy the same boat, as do we all I suspect. God knows your heart right now. IMHO we can "get right with God" now, today. The past cannot be changed, the future unknown yet certain that we will sin. In this moment you can reflect on the past and grow from it, and from this awareness come to a new relationship with God and yourself. God does not delight in watching us suffer in our minds. The torment of past transgressions is something best left behind. Know that you are not alone...know that you are loved by God and others in "this boat".

...

Feb 13, 2010 at 8:30 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

Passing judgement>>>Holier than thou>>>Inquisition>>>Purging>>>Witch trials>>>Ethnic Cleansing>>>Holocaust>>>Chaos>>>Damnation....Where's the Love? I pray now; Jesus, help me to love as you have shown me -- God with all my heart, my neighbor as myself. Help me to love myself.

These are things of men, not of God.

Feb 13, 2010 at 5:53 pm

Written by William West,

The lesson and meditation was entirely appropriate to me as I explore whether to remain with the Episcopal church or find a new church home. My initial stance to the turmoil within the Episcopal church has been that this is all things of men, not of God. I know the Holy Spirit will lead the church in God's direction, even as I pray to do God's will, not mine. This meditation appears to me as perhaps being sent by God. He is listening! I am observing, listening, and praying for guidance from our heavenly Father.

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