Gospel Lesson for the Week
June 1, 2008
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Third Sunday after Pentecost
Read also
"Not everyone who
says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one
who does the will of my Father in heaven.
On that day many
will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out
demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will
declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'
"Everyone then who
hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built
his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and
beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on
rock.
And everyone who
hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish
man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its
fall!"
Now when Jesus had
finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for
he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
.
Storm Warning
.
Viewing the daily news,
I’ve come to see how
powerless I am
in the face of nature’s
whims:
Hurricane! Tornado!
Earthquake!
All these give witness
to the power of forces
outside myself,
things I cannot control.
And more disturbing still:
the knowledge that
I am no better equipped
to endure the soul-storms
that assault my spirit day
by day.
No ritual prattling
of “Lord, Lord, Lord,”
no self-justifying recital
of good deeds
will fortify or shield me.
Still there is hope.
Since I cannot bend the
winds
to my desire,
I must look within.
And find there,
the power to control
myself,
that is to say,
not in myself alone.
My sure foundation
is found in the words
of one who stilled the
storm,
the One whose word is
Truth.
Thus, anchored rock-solid
in his words, his Word,
in
Him, the Word,
I can weather each storm.
I can endure each
struggle.
I can withstand every
onslaught
whether within or without.
I can do all things
through Christ
who strengthens me.
No wonder they marveled at his words,
spoken with such authority.
--- rvc
The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a formal commentary. Rather, they are the personal reflections and original compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment. As you read them, let your own imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will. The Gospel Lessons reflected on this site may not be copied, reproduced or otherwise manipulated elsewhere on the internet without the expressed consent of the author. Please also note that while we're unable to quote Bible scripture on these pages, it is permissible to redirect our viewers to Bible passages using hyperlinks to web sites having that authority. The Verse Of The Day and BibleGateway Search engine are the property on BibleGateway.com and are used here with their specific permission.
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