Thankful Resolve

Monday, February 11, 2013 -- Week of Last Epiphany (Year One)
Frances Jane (Fanny) Van Alstyne Crosby, Hymnwriter, 1915

[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]

Today's Readings for the Daily Office
     (Book of Common Prayer, p. 950)
Psalms       25 (morning)     //       9, 15 (evening)
Deuteronomy 6:10-15
Hebrews 1:1-14
John 1:1-18

As we prepare for Ash Wednesday and our entrance into the days of Lenten reflection and discipline, the scriptures remind us of God's glory and generosity. 

Our opening passage from Deuteronomy is a compelling one.  Moses speaks from the wilderness, reminding the people -- once you are settled in your good land, remember who led your here and gave it to you.  To forget would bring disaster.  To become proud as though you have accomplished this through your own power would be folly.  "Do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord." 

And both Hebrews and the prologue to John's gospel sing lyrically of how God has created from the beginning with an intention to be fully revealed to us.  God pours out the divine light and life into all creation, and becomes flesh in Jesus in order to reveal God's glory and to give us our full share of divine glory as God's children.  "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."

Every once in a while it can be overwhelming to ponder what God has given us.  To look at nature and this miraculous earth, so marvelous and beautiful.  It is a wonder to breathe.  How amazing is water.  The miracle of life so incredibly sustained on this planet spinning through space.  We are the beneficiaries of all of this.

How fortunate we are to live in this time and in this place.  We inherit such a wealth of knowledge, stability, freedom, and power from those who have been before us.  So many of the foundations that our ancestors created which we now enjoy so easily were their labors of great sacrifice empowered by their own vision of divine presence and direction.

It seems that there can only be two responses -- deep thankfulness and renewed resolve:  A healthy thankfulness that acknowledges the abundance and goodness of what we have received, and a desire to do our part in our day to maintain and enhance that legacy for others. 

"From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."  "Do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord."

Lowell
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Audio podcast:  Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week.  Go to: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html

About Morning Reflections

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.

Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location

-- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church

is to explore and celebrate

God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life: 

We aspire to...

    worship weekly

    pray daily

    learn constantly

    serve joyfully 

    live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Fayetteville, Arkansas