Today's Reading October 9

Good morning. Dark here, 0530. Perhaps this will be a good day. I woke up at around 0400 - our two cats were busy growling at each other in the way male cats do when they're about to fight. Since one was laying along side of me and the other was on my nightstand, any such encounter would necessarily affect me. Somehow the fight was averted - temporarily one suspects. Being a peacemaker around those who have no interest in it or understanding of it is a dubious honor.

This morning's reading is Isaiah, chapters 41 and 42.
Isaiah looks forward to the coming Christ. We can not imagine how that affected him - to be in the midst of turmoil, seeing the coming One, and also having a glimpse of sin and death and slaughter in the intervening time. Hope and joy, certainly, but sorrow as well.

Chapter 42

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Mt 12:18
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Mt 12:19
3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Mt 12:20
4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Luke 2:32
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

Isaiah is quoted throughout the Gospels and it's easy to see why. He knew, and they realized that he knew, the same Lord was at work throughout.


-=-=-==--
This evening's reading from the New Testament is Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapter 1.
It is difficult to carve out a section of this, since it all hangs together very nicely, and Paul wastes no time getting down to things. You see that in him. These days, a preacher often feels the need to ''warm up'' the congregation with a few stories, jokes, whatever, ideally with a point, but sometimes not. Paul never does that, he's totally and utterly focused on the message he's been given to transmit.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: