Whether or not Jeremiah is predicting the birth of Jesus and his establishment of the Kingdom of God he is admonishing the nation's leaders to take concern for God's people and work to do good for them. We are assured that God cares for his faithful flock and will gather them to himself. As Christians we understand that God's Kingdom is not an earthly one but an eternal spiritual nation.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Today's lessons continue the eschatological theme making it clear once more that God is with us and though the earth be shattered we will always find a firm foundation in the God of our Refuge.
In Colossians we are reminded that God is the creator of all things. Christ is the head of the church and in the priesthood of all believers we can always find stability.
Luk 23:43 Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me."
Last Sunday Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple and warned that his Disciples would be persecuted for their association with him. Today the Gospel confronts the crucifixion, the destruction of Christ's Earthly Temple. But we know that it was followed in three days by the Resurrection. If we like the criminal crucified beside him acknowledge Jesus as Lord we too will be with Him this day in Paradise. I suppose there could be no more dramatic means of demonstrating that Christ's Kingdom is not of this world than to celebrate his death on Christ the King Sunday.
Php 4:7 The Peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Unfortunately in considering Jeremiah I am confronted with a prime example of failed leadership in the person Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto. The man seems incapable of understanding that a good leader leads by example. His 375 pounds testifies to his self-indulgent lifestyle. He has been repeatedly appeared in public intoxicated. He admits to smoking various illicit drugs as well as marajuana. He abuses the privileges of his office and flouts the law having been seen speeding, texting, and talking on a cellphone while driving. The man is a disgrace to the office he holds.
Our Psalm speaks to a desert people something Texans can take to heart. God meets us in the hurly burly of daily life. His 'voice' may not thunder as one may have seen portrayed in the presentation of the Commandments on Mt Sinai but if we wait for perfect quiet to hear it we will have missed the point as well. Our walk with God provides us with an inner peace that cannot be moved no matter what life throws at us.
Our Epistle Lesson emphasizes the point that we are members of the Kingdom of God Today, this is not pie in the sky by and bye. This is our Father's world and in Christ he has already declared himself the victor over the powers of evil that would destroy us. Safe in that knowledge we are empowered to do God's work now. We do not wait for the heaven to come but live amid the Peace of God today.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Today's lessons continue the eschatological theme making it clear once more that God is with us and though the earth be shattered we will always find a firm foundation in the God of our Refuge.
In Colossians we are reminded that God is the creator of all things. Christ is the head of the church and in the priesthood of all believers we can always find stability.
Luk 23:43 Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me."
Last Sunday Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple and warned that his Disciples would be persecuted for their association with him. Today the Gospel confronts the crucifixion, the destruction of Christ's Earthly Temple. But we know that it was followed in three days by the Resurrection. If we like the criminal crucified beside him acknowledge Jesus as Lord we too will be with Him this day in Paradise. I suppose there could be no more dramatic means of demonstrating that Christ's Kingdom is not of this world than to celebrate his death on Christ the King Sunday.
Php 4:7 The Peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Unfortunately in considering Jeremiah I am confronted with a prime example of failed leadership in the person Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto. The man seems incapable of understanding that a good leader leads by example. His 375 pounds testifies to his self-indulgent lifestyle. He has been repeatedly appeared in public intoxicated. He admits to smoking various illicit drugs as well as marajuana. He abuses the privileges of his office and flouts the law having been seen speeding, texting, and talking on a cellphone while driving. The man is a disgrace to the office he holds.
Our Psalm speaks to a desert people something Texans can take to heart. God meets us in the hurly burly of daily life. His 'voice' may not thunder as one may have seen portrayed in the presentation of the Commandments on Mt Sinai but if we wait for perfect quiet to hear it we will have missed the point as well. Our walk with God provides us with an inner peace that cannot be moved no matter what life throws at us.
Our Epistle Lesson emphasizes the point that we are members of the Kingdom of God Today, this is not pie in the sky by and bye. This is our Father's world and in Christ he has already declared himself the victor over the powers of evil that would destroy us. Safe in that knowledge we are empowered to do God's work now. We do not wait for the heaven to come but live amid the Peace of God today.
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