A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Leviticus 19:1-18

This passage addresses ritual and moral happiness. It is a different form of the 10 commandments, and calls us to be holy because the Lord our God is holy. Holiness demands that we revere one another and set ourselves apart for the Lord. Reverence for one another means having a genuine concern for the poor, making provisions to meet their needs, and genuinely loving our neighbor. Only then will we find true happiness. Are we happy? Why or why not?

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Does our society today truly respect those who labor among us? Do we hold our workers in high esteem and love them because of who they are? Do we create and maintain a work environment that is peaceful? Not all workers are the same - some will work harder than others. We must meet the diverse needs of each worker. There might be a need for us to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, or help the weak but we must always be patient with each person. We must never repay evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. We are better together. The work environment must be a space in which we can all rejoice, pray together, and give thanks for one another. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. Therefore, let us hold fast to what is good; abstain from unfair and unjust practices. Then the God of peace will sanctify our time together, and our work environment will be kept sound and blameless. God who has called us to work together is faithful, and he will help us grow together. May we greet one another with love and abound in the grace of God always. What kind of work environment do you find yourself in - healthy or toxic? How might you improve your work environment to better reflect diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and unity? 

Matthew 6:19-24

Some people spend their entire life storing up for themselves treasures on earth.  Others store up for themselves treasures in heaven. Do we realize that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. If our heart is consumed with the things of this world, then our life will be driven by a desire to selfishly profit from the world around us. If we are focused on the things of heaven, then our purpose in life will be driven my something bigger than ourselves - our love for our neighbor, our city, and our world.  The eye is the lamp of the body. If our eye is healthy, our whole body will be full of light; but if our eye is unhealthy, our whole body will be full of darkness. Those who live just for themselves live in the darkness of evil - their vision about life is very poor. Those who live to bring hope and healing to the world live in the light of Christ - their vision about life is very rich. No one can serve two masters. Either we will live to serve ourselves or we will live to serve God’s children. We will either be consumed with ourselves and hate others or we will deny ourselves because we truly love our neighbor. Reflect on your purpose driven life? What is the purpose behind all that you do? Is it possible to love and respect ourself while at the same time denying ourself and living for something greater than ourself? Is our greatest treasure on earth or in heaven? Do you feel like you are living in darkness of evil or in the light of Jesus Christ?

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+



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