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Hope Springs Forth
Throughout the year, we have continued to celebrate the 90th anniversary of The Upper Room daily Read More
Shonda Nicole Gladden | Read Luke 18:1-8
Parables always present us with interesting opportunities to find spiritual sustenance in historical and sometimes archaic renderings of stories. Sometimes there seems to be little logical resolution to the story. At other times, the message is only made plain with Jesus’ explanation. And even then, the cultural distance between the...
Holy God, you know my rising and my falling. You are a God of vengeance and justice as well as a God of mercy and grace. Help me discern how to reflect your character in everything I do this day. Amen.
We start this week by reading several of the scripture passages associated with the Canadian day of Thanksgiving. Then we turn to the lectionary readings for the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. At last Jeremiah is able to bring a message of restoration and hope. God promises a new covenant with the people, and they will internalize the law in their hearts so that they will keep it. The psalmist rejoices in such a reality—meditating on God’s law allows faithful walking in God’s paths. The reading from Second Timothy confirms the ongoing power of God’s law in scripture, which is given by God for our good. Luke hits on a different theme through the parable of a persistent widow, reminding us to be similarly tenacious with our prayers to God.
• Read Jeremiah 31:27-34. How have you broken your covenant with God? How has God responded?
• Read Psalm 119:97-104. The Jewish laws of the Hebrew scriptures are part of our Christian heritage. How can you delight in the law?
• Read 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5. How can you learn or teach from scriptures you do not normally read?
• Read Luke 18:1-8. Through the familiar call to pray always, the author reminds us that we are called to pray for what God wants. What is at stake when you pray for justice and mercy?
Respond by posting a prayer.
