Friday 31 May

Approaching the ninth Sunday in ordinary time.

Where we are heading (readings for Sunday Jun 2):

1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43

Psalm 96:1-9

Galatians 1:1-12

Luke 7:1-10

Readings for today:

Psalm 96:1-9

1 Kings 8:14-21

2 Corinthians 11:1-6

Brief thoughts for today:

On the completion of the temple, Solomon addresses the people. He acknowledges that the task has fallen to him rather than to his father. In this regard he humbly acknowledges his place in God’s plan. In the end all he has done is to fulfill his duty with God’s purposes. Although Paul is sometimes accused of having too high an opinion of himself, at the end of the day he too would be the first to say that in taking the Good News of Jesus, the only Gospel, around the mediterranean world, he too will have simply acted as God’s servant. Such is our calling too.

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.

Thursday 30 May

Where we are heading to (readings for Sunday Jun 2):

1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43

Psalm 96:1-9

Galatians 1:1-12

Luke 7:1-10

Readings for today:

Psalm 96:1-9

1 Kings 6:23-38

2 Corinthians 5:11-17

Brief thoughts for today:

Our psalm this today is one of praise to God, a natural start to each day; no reason to stop at verse 9! The temple was to be focus of praise to God, even the building it was an act of praise. The ‘He’ in our reading is Solomon King of Israel and son of David. David wanted to build a temple but that was not God’s purpose. Although our text reads as though Solomon built the temple - I think its unlikely that he got his hand’s dirty in the task. The opportunity to praise God through the work of their hands passed to others, and we can imagine that they renewed by the task by God’s grace. In the calling to become temples of the Holy Spirit we desire to be ‘in Christ’ then we too will be renewed.

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.