A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Esther 7:1-10

In this passage the king and Haman partake in a feast with Queen Esther. The king informs Esther whatever she requests of him it will be granted. Queen Esther’s one request was for the preservation of the lives of her people. When King Ahasuerus discovered the evil plot of Haman, he was crushed in spirit and became very angry. Expecting that the king would punish him, Haman became terrified and begged Queen Esther for his life. The very trap which Haman prepared for the Jews would now be Haman’s own undoing.

  • How much courage do you think it took for Queen Esther to make her request known to the king?

  • If we were granted one wish, then what would that wish be?

  • How focused are we on defending the lives of victims of injustice and oppression?

  • When we offer an apology, is it because we truly have a repentant heart or is it because our evil intentions were exposed and we are afraid of facing the consequences of our actions?

  • In Proverbs 26:27 we read: “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.” What might this verse suggest in light of Haman’s fate?

Acts 19:11-20

How amazing is that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched Paul’s skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them? These were extraordinary miracles. Interestingly, when the seven sons of a Jewish high priest attempted to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus to cast out the evil spirit in another man, the evil spirit replied: "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Not only did the evil spirit question these seven sons but we are told that the “evil spirit leaped on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.” When the community realized what happened, many confessed their sins and came clean with their evil intentions. Those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly.

  • What ordinary things have we received from God that hold the potential for extraordinary miracles?

  • How have we allowed the problems of others to become our own problems? In what ways might this be healthy? In what ways might this be harmful?

  • Why might invoking the name of Jesus work on some occasions but not on others?

  • What sins do we need to confess; what lies must we come clean with; and what public acts of repentance are we called to take part in to right the wrongs we have done?

Luke 4:14-30

Filled with the power of the Spirit, Jesus taught the word of God and revealed the mysteries of God. When the eyes of all were fixed on him, he couragely declared himself to be the fulfillment of God’s plan for the world. The scripture tells us that all spoke well of him and were amazed at what came from his mouth. The community knew that this was son of Joseph the carpenter. Yet, here Jesus was suggesting that he was the son of God - the long awaited Messiah. Jesus understood that the public would have a difficult time reconciling Jesus human story with Jesus divine declaration. Jesus address this issue by acknowledging: "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown.” Upon hearing this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the edge of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. Surprisingly, the Bible records that Jesus simply passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

  • What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

  • To whom have we taught God’s word and revealed the mysteries of God?

  • What does God desire to do through us, and how have we communicated this to those around us?

  • In what ways do judge others by their past history, and prevent them from embracing the new role that God has called them to take on?

  • How is our human story different from our divine declaration?

  • Do we feel accepted or rejected in our own community? Explain.

  • How have we overcome the attempts of others to destroy us?

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+



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