A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Amos 5:6-15

Seek the Lord and live. Reject the Lord and die. Those who oppose justice and rebel against righteousness will be defeated. God will transform the deepest darkness into the greatest light. Evildoers hate the one who stands at the gate of freedom, and they detest the one who speaks the truth. Those who profit off of the poor and needy will suffer great loss. In their arrogance, the enemies of God build houses of hewn stone, but they shall not live in them; they plant beautiful vineyards, but they shall not drink their wine. God knows the multitude of their sins and will punish them for their wrongdoing. Therefore, hate evil and love good that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you. If you do everything in your power to establish liberty and justice for all, then the Lord will be gracious to you and deliver you in the time of trouble.


Hebrews 12:1-14

As people of God, let us lay aside our sinful ways and cast down our burdens so that we might run with perseverance the race that is set before us. As we run, we look to Jesus who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For our salvation, Jesus endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Because we know that Jesus endured hostility and did not back down, we do not grow weary or lose heart. In our struggle against sin we have not yet resisted to the point of shedding our blood. Therefore, let us not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or become frustrated when we are punished by God; for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts. God treats us as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If we do not embrace the discipline in which all children share, then how can we claim to be legitimate children of God? We had human parents that disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to submit to the authority and discipline of our Lord Jesus Christ? The purpose of our discipline is so that we might share in Christ’s holiness. Truly, discipline seems painful rather than pleasant in the moment, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore, let us not become overwhelmed by our wounds but rather be healed by God’s words. Pursue peace and holy living with everyone.


Luke 18:9-14

Do we compliment ourselves for being holy and condemn others for not being like us? Jesus shared a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector who went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Who do you think was justified before God - the Pharisee or the tax collector? Jesus stated that it was the tax collector who was justified because all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.


To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+

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