Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Is. 55:1-9; Ps.63:1-8; 1 Cor. 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:2 "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No."

             Here in our time, we still are tempted to attribute the misery or tragedy befalling others - or ourselves! - to some sin, something they did to anger God. At times of disasters, the newspapers are full of quotes from people proclaiming the tragedy not only to be the work of God, but the retribution of an angry God. Jesus says,"No." Twice he says, "No." In the Isaiah text for this week, God proclaims, "as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways."

            One day Abba Mios was asked by a soldier whether God would forgive a             sinner. After instructing him at some length, the old man asked him: "Tell             me, my dear, if your cloak were torn, would you throw it away?" "Oh, no,"       the soldier said. "I would mend it and wear it again." And the old man         said to him: "Well, if you care so much for your cloak, do you think God    does not care as much for a creature?"

O God, fountain of life, you sustain our lives with your patient love. Fill us, made in your image, with the same grace and forgiveness you show so generously to all. Amen

• Place a clipping from today’s newspaper on your altar; pray about it.