God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. 2COR 5:19
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. 2COR 5:19
AMOS 7:10-17
My Soul's Beloved,
Amos prophesied destruction to God's people if they did not repent and change their lives and he was hated and rejected. The truth is often a bitter pill. When we refuse to examine our lives in the light of revealed truth and prefer to embrace our sins, or when we lack the courage to stop sinning, we can be certain that we will never experience the joy of the Spirit. Grace cannot enter a hard and stony heart given over to the deliberate rejection of God's commandments.
Sinners exile themselves from You. The more we sin the more we distance ourselves from You. O Lord my God sometimes I think that I will die before You hear and answer my prayers for the salvation of those nearest and dearest to my heart. It is so hard O Lord to have faith in the night and there is no glimmer of light to rekindle hope.
Have mercy O Lord, have mercy I beg You lest they perish. Do not discard the work of Your hands.
PSALM 18(19):8-11
The law of the Lord is perfect,
The law of the Lord is perfect,
it revives the soul.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,
it gives wisdom to the simple.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,
it gives wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
they gladden the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
it gives light to the eyes.
The command of the Lord is clear,
it gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is holy,
abiding for ever.
The decrees of the Lord are truth
and all of them just.
The decrees of the Lord are truth
and all of them just.
They are more to be desired than gold,
than the purest of gold
and sweeter are they than honey,
than honey from the comb.
and sweeter are they than honey,
than honey from the comb.
The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just.
MATTHEW 9:1-8
My Soul's Beloved,
My Soul's Beloved,
Today's Gospel reminds us that You will honor and respond to the faith of those who pray for sinners and bring them before You certain that You will, by the power of Your word, heal and restore those who are afflicted in heart, mind, soul, body, and spirit.
You crossed the water by boat and came to Your own town. The people brought you a paralytic stretched out on a bed. His friends had every confidence that if they only brought their friend to You, You would heal him. They loved their friend and desired that he receive this gift of healing and restoration and You did not disappoint them.
Seeing what was really wrong with the paralytic You addressed the greater infirmity saying to him,
‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’
There will always be those who are so caught up in their own idea of who they believe God is that they miss the glorious and awe-inspiring miracle unfolding before their eyes. They are close-minded bigots and this is why they are unable to perceive that God is in their midst.
And at this some scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’
Nothing escapes You and You are not afraid to call out the hypocrisy of the scribes:
‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’
Putting words to action, You said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home.
My Lord, if we have but a mustard seed of faith, You assure us that we can move mountains. Lord, increase my faith.
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