A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Isaiah 59:1-15a

This passage makes it clear that it is not because the Lord is unable to help us because our sinful ways have become barriers between us and God. We are to blame if God’s face appears to be hidden from us and His ears deaf to our cries for help. Our thoughts, words and deeds are stained with wickedness. It is our own fault that justice is turned back, righteousness stands at a distance, truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness is discarded as having no value.

  1. What help are you seeking from God?

  2. Does it feel like God is hiding from you or deaf to your cries for help?

  3. Give an example from your life where your thoughts, words or deeds were stained in wickedness.

  4. How might your sinful choices keep you from receiving God’s help?

  5. Why is it our fault that justice is turned back, righteousness stands at a distance, truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness is discarded as having no value? How have we contributed to such dysfunction in our world today?

2 Timothy 1:1-14

In this passage, the Apostle Paul declares that he is able to worship God with a clear conscience. Paul wants the community of faith to know that their tears and sincere faith have brought him much joy. Paul reminds the faithful that God did not give them a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. He declares that this spirit can be rekindled through the laying on of hands. Paul pleads with them to not be ashamed of the gospel but instead to join him in suffering for the gospel. He points out that they must rely on God who saved them and called them - not according to their works but according to God’s grace given to them in Christ Jesus. In the appearance of Christ Jesus, death has been abolished and immortal life has been given to us through the gospel. Paul compels the faithful to accept their call to be a herald of this good news no matter how much they may have to suffer for doing so. Pauls testifies, “I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.” Therefore, Paul argues, we must hold to the standard of sound teaching and guard the good treasure entrusted to us with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

  1. What distractions do you encounter when you attempt to worship God?

  2. Do you feel that you are able to worship God with a clear conscience? Why or why not?

  3. How have the tears of another person brought you joy?

  4. How have your tears brought someone else joy?

  5. Would you describe yourself as having a spirit of cowardice or a spirit of power?

  6. What is the ‘laying on of hands’?

  7. Have you ever experienced personally the ‘laying on of hands’? What was this experience like?

  8. What about the gospel might you be ashamed to share with someone else?

  9. How are you suffering for the sake of sharing the good news of Christ Jesus?

  10. Do you rely more on your works or on God’s grace? Explain.

  11. How can we say that death has been abolished when we see and hear of people dying each day?

  12. Paul suggests that we must hold to the standard of sound teaching? Who or what determines what sound teaching is? Why do you feel this way?

Mark 9:42-50

In this passage Jesus warns His followers that if any of them cause a child of God to stumble, then they would be punished severely. Jesus points out that our purpose in life is to be the salt of the earth and to be at peace with one another.

  1. How have you caused someone to stumble?

  2. How has another person caused you to stumble?

  3. What does it mean to you to be the ‘salt of the earth’?

  4. What can you do today to encourage peace in your local context?

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+



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