Where we are heading:
readings for Sunday 9th February (Fifth Sunday after Epiphany)
Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]
Psalm 112:1-9 [10]
1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]
Matthew 5:13-20
Readings for Fri., Feb. 7
Psalm 112:1-9 [10]
Isaiah 29:1-12
James 3:13-18
Readings for today - Sat., Feb. 8
Psalm 112:1-9 [10]
Isaiah 29:13-16
Mark 7:1-8
Thought for Today
Is our worship of God genuine? Is it from the heart, sincere? Or is it sometimes going through the motions - following human rules. Isaiah's analysis of the shallow nature of much of human worship of God is sincere and thorough. Jesus quotes only a few lines, but I think his original hearers would have understood much more (as an aside, the reason that there is a small difference between the words of the quote in Mark and in most english translations of Isaiah is that Mark in his editing uses the Septuagint).
The challenge for us is to spend less time looking at 'other christians' and criticising where they seem to be following too many 'human customs,' and instead examine ourselves. Whatever our Christian tradition, however we worship on Sundays and through the week - is that worship sincere? Can we confess our shortcomings before God honestly, and ask to be transformed?
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.
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