A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings
Traditionalist or nontraditionalist? High church or low church? Denominational affiliation or non denominational? What should we hold onto and what should we let go of? What are the essentials of our faith? The Bible teaches us that there are feasts/fasts which are to be observed throughout the generations and as a perpetual ordinance. The purpose behind it all should be to remind us of God’s holiness and faithfulness, while at the same time, making us aware of our own sinfulness and need for salvation. When we bow down and worship God, we must recall God’s work of salvation in the past and present so that we might gain confidence in journeying into the future that God has prepared for us.
Alleluia Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. The good news is that our faith is not in vain and that, in fact, we are being saved. Therefore, let us not only receive this good news but also stand firmly in God’s promise of salvation. May we share with those in this present time and those in future generations the unconditional and unfailing love of God. For we have witnessed this love and must bear witness that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. By the grace of God we are what we are, and God’s grace toward us has not been in vain. Regardless of our sins or struggles in the past, let us confess our sins and turn to God in faith. In confidence, let us hold our story sacred and use it as a platform for the glory of God to be revealed. We must work hard to celebrate God’s grace in our homes, cities, and the world we live in. It is our prayer that the world comes to believe in Jesus Christ because of what we proclaim through our thoughts, words and deeds.
Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome did not know that Christ had risen. They bought spices so that they might go and anoint the dead body of Jesus. As they approached the tomb early that morning, they began saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" They fully expected to find Jesus’ body in the tomb. When they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back they were confused and alarmed. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side who told them - "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. What struggles or sickness are we going through today that have made us assume the worst case scenario? In what ways have our fears blinded us to the reality of God’s faithfulness. What word of hope and healing has God already placed on our heart, mind and soul that we find hard to accept and embrace because of our own anxieties about life?
To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Thomas+
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