Do you realize that as a believer in Jesus, you have a tremendous advantage in life? The Creator of the Universe is not only fighting your battles, but He is lining up the right people, the right breaks, and the right opportunities to move you forward. You may be facing a situation right now that looks like it's never going to turn around, but I believe that you're going to see some changes quicker than you think.

Thursday in the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 18:41-46

Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13

M atthew 5:20-26 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (21) "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' (22) But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. (23) So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, (24) leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (25) Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; (26) truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.

Meditation 

M ay I wonder out loud with you for a moment?

For some reason, I find this gospel passage quite curious today.

And I find it curious in a most peculiar way.

It has to do with how “we” interpret scripture.

There are so many approaches, aren’t there? How are we to know which to follow?

Broadly speaking, when Christians interpret scripture, we/they distinguish between different elements…

•There are sections that some interpret literally. For example, the world was created in seven days. A man named Moses fled Egypt with a band of followers. Jesus lived in first century Palestine . What seems to be at issue is which sections are to be taken literally, much less what a literal reading means.

•There are sections that others interpret allegorically. That is, interpreters apply an outside structure of meaning to scripture to yield a new way of looking at things. For example, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus represent all Christians on the journey of conversion. The Lucan passage serves merely as an illustration of the greater reality, the journey of conversion.

•There are sections that some interpret symbolically. In other words, interpreters recognize depths possibly not intended in the original piece. For example, in interpreting the healing of the man with a withered hand, a preacher would explore the depths of the meaning of a withered hand. Instead of standing for only one reality, the symbol would manifest many layers of meaning.

How are we to interpret this gospel passage? Literally? Allegorically? Symbolically?

How do we in fact interpret this? I have often heard folks mainly trying to ease back Jesus’ prohibitions. It’s as if we want to make space in order to contain its power.

It’s OK to get angry if…

It’s OK to be angry when…

Righteous anger is appropriate if…

Capital punishment is fine when…

Anger is pretty bad, but unchastity is worse since…

I wonder what the odds are that we in the Church, much less in U.S. society, will listen to the gospel today. Given the high degree of road rage that we express on the highway, in the pews, and in response to “those others” today, I’d put my money on anger.

It seems to me that this passage actually is as much about reconciliation than anger. Perhaps we in the Church might commit ourselves to reconciliation as an interim stage, to help us as we seek healing from whatever drives us.

Supplementary Reading

Quicker Than You Think

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise… - 2 Peter 3

Do you realize that as a believer in Jesus, you have a tremendous advantage in life? The Creator of the Universe is not only fighting your battles, but He is lining up the right people, the right breaks, and the right opportunities to move you forward. You may be facing a situation right now that looks like it's never going to turn around, but I believe that you're going to see some changes quicker than you think. You're going to come out of debt quicker than you think. You're going to accomplish your goals much quicker than you think. That relationship is going to be restored quicker than you think!

Remember, God is not slow in keeping His promise. I believe we are entering into a decade where we're going to see the hand of God move like never before. He is going to open up doors that no man can shut. He is going to turn impossible situations around and take you places that you never dreamed. It's time to get ready for more of God's favor because that breakthrough is going to happen quicker than you think!

Father in heaven, thank You for being faithful to Your Word. I trust that You will complete the work You've begun in me. Help me keep my heart and mind focused on You as I stand strong in faith to see Your promises come to pass in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.—Joel & Victoria Osteen

For archive of previous Daily Meditation postings, please visit http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

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GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.