A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Proverbs 6:1-19

Sin can occur at any moment and in any circumstance. Therefore, give  your eyes no sleep and give  your eyelids no slumber. Always be ready to recognize and resist temptation. Like a gazelle from the hunter be ready to run. Like a bird from the hand of the fowler be ready to fly. Do not wait until temptation has come upon you before you prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically to overcome temptation for then it will be too late. Instead, look at the ant and be wise. Without having anyone watching over it’s shoulder, it prepares its food in summer, and gathers its sustenance in harvest. Do not be lazy and just lie around waiting for temptation. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber and an armed warrior. If you are not alert and ready, calamity will descend suddenly upon you; in a moment, damage beyond repair will befall you. There are things that the Lord hates and considers an abomination to him: arrogance, lying, murder, deceitful plans, vanity, false witness, and dysfunctional discord. Do not take part in such things.


1 John 5:1-12

If we believe that Jesus is the Christ, then we must see life through the eyes of Christ. If we love God the Father, then we must love God’s children. We love God’s children by obeying God’s commandments. God’s commandments are not burdensome. Rather, the commandments of God free us to overcome the failures of this world through faith in Jesus Christ. The truth of the Gospel liberates us from the lies of the world and guides our heart, mind and soul in the ways of Christ.


John 11:45-54

In this passage the chief priests and other religious leaders have called a meeting to discuss how they will handle Jesus. Have there been times when we questioned what God was doing in our life? In those time, did we want to get a handle on God or dictate to Jesus what he should or should not be doing. The religious leaders were afraid that if they let Jesus continue his ministry, then everyone would believe in him and their authority as religious leaders would be challenged. How secure or insecure are we when it comes to allowing people to be who they genuinely are and do what they truly want to do? The leaders felt they had no other choice but to find a way to put Jesus to death. Consequently, Jesus no longer walked about openly among the Jews. What extents do we go to in hopes of forcing life to go the way we want it to go? How open are we to change and correction? Does Jesus have full authority over our life or do we limit Jesus’ influence on our life?


To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+

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