Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Daily Office Reflection: Perspective

Fiona & Lincoln, August 2013
Amos 8:1-14; Revelation 1:17-2:7; Matthew 23:1-12, Psalms 38 * 56, 57, 58

We are projected to not get above zero here in Minnesota, with wind chills well into the negative teens. The frigid weather can make many feel penned in, and longing for warmer climes.

I have often wondered if Jesus felt constrained by his human nature: his divine self trying to burst out of his pores with frustration at the hypocrisy he found at every turn. In today's reading from Matthew, Jesus is speaking to the crowds about following the law and rules set down by God, and not mimicking what the leaders are doing. A kind-of-third-person Do as I say, not as I do example. He is telling that crowd, and really us, to not get ahead of ourselves...to not let our ego rule us...but instead to be focused on serving others, no matter how exalted we may think we are in life. 

This reading from Matthew, in the middle of the second week of Advent, is reminding us that God took on our human nature, and set the example for how we are to act in life. A good and proper Advent-reflection-topic to take on today.
jfd+

Copyright 2013, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights to images and words Reserved.

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