19 December 2009
Psalm 55; Zech. 8:9-17; Rev. 6:1-17; Matt. 25:31-46

The promise of blessing is announced. The link is clear between the trouble of the past and the hand of the Lord as well as the promise of plenty which is His will and His doing. The reality is that all that we have and all that we are is simply gift, it need not have been this way. It is important to realize He is both source and supply. The earth need not yield to our efforts to obtain daily sustenance, that the environment is designed to support life and cooperate with us to produce all that we need is a result of His desire and plan. The conditions He sets forth for this blessing of His people are simple: speak truth, render true (impartial) judgment, make peace, don’t devise evil against one another and don’t give false oaths. If we could do those few things we would be an extraordinary community, but so much more is possible by the power of the Spirit He has given us.

We are called to extend mercy and love to one another. The way that we live bears witness to whose we are. As He has loved the world, so are we called to love the world in practical ways, providing for one another as the need and opportunity arises. One of the collects for mission in Morning Prayer says, “Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace; so clothe us with your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. This Gospel lesson not only says that, it tells us how we can reach forth our hands in love.

The judgments of God are revealed. The beginning of the end is announced. John is now a prophet and is telling us what is to come, the wrath of God will be poured out. The scene is ominous and tells us that what is to come is fearsome. There in the midst of this is the vision of the martyrs crying out for divine retribution on those who shed their blood. John would certainly have seen and known Christians who paid with their lives for their testimony. We live in a day when brothers and sisters in Christ are shedding their blood regularly and yet in America we don’t see it and have little or no connection to the persecution of others. Today is a good time to begin praying for the persecuted church around the world, that is one way of reaching out to others in the Name of Jesus.

Give ear to my prayer, O God,
and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
Attend to me, and answer me;