My Two Pence: Sunday January 18, 2015 A.D. Lectionary
ግጻዌ
For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise. Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one. Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. (Galatians 3:18-23)
When we put our utmost trust in God, we are acting righteously. Fasting, praying, giving alms, attending eucharistic and non-eucharistic liturgy services, visiting the sick, standing with the orphans, standing with the widows, lighting candles, burning incense and taking our shoes off are due to our God. But, we are not made righteous by these acts. We do them, because His love has put us into captivity, and these responses are what we come up with.
“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. (Luke 7:41-45)
The more I read the holy scriptures, the more I fast and pray, is the more I realize my weaknesses. I am a fatigued sinner with no shot at completing the marathon, the work of His kingdom, on my own merits. If I make it, it is solely due to His everlasting mercy and grace. We should all pray for God to reveal the vastness of our debts to Him on a daily basis. No, every breath we take we should beg Him for this knowledge. If we forget how merciful He is, we will end up as this Pharisee... ingrates.
Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on us sinners.
እግዚኦ ፡ መሐረነ ፡ ክርስቶስ ።
Furthermore, we must love each other.