reflecting on the 17th sunday in ordinary time part 3

Where we have come from - readings for Sunday 28th July Genesis 18.20-32 Psalm 138 Colossians 2.6-15 (16-19) Luke 11.1-13

Readings for today

	Psalm 55.16-23
	Esther 7.7 - 8.17 Matthew 5.43-48

thought for today

IF  the book of Esther ended here it would be an easy read, Mordecai is justified, Haman is impaled on his own spike, the Jews are delivered from the pogrom, and Esther rises to a position of genuine influence.

But it doesn't end here - steel yourself friend and read to the end of the book. What place all this bloodshed and revenge? It is certainly not the way of Christ articulated in the sermon on the mount! I for one am still wrestling with what Word God is speaking to me through the book of Esther as a whole and particularly chapter 9. For now I want to stick with Jesus' exhortations.

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