DAY 33: March 26, 2021 Friday
of Lent 5- Matthew 7: 24-27
Everyone
then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who
built his house on the rock. And the
rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but
it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine
and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the
sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat
against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. – Matthew
7:224-27 [1]
Built on the rock the Church doth stand. Even when steeples are falling. The word, which we use for “church,” is a translation of the Greek word, ‘ecclesia’ (Εκκλησία) meaning “a called out one.” It never refers to a building. Or a meeting place. But always to a people. The ones “called out” of this world by God. Called into Christ’s service.
The message of Easter is a third person confession of faith. “Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!” It’s also a first person testimony. “I have seen the Lord” And this is the message those “called out” are to proclaim. It is all you need to hear.
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed
me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD ,
and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto
them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD , that he might be
glorified.” - Isaiah 61:1-3
O Lord, you relieve our necessity
out of the abundance of your great riches: Grant that we may accept with joy
the salvation you bestow, and manifest it to all the world by the quality of
our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives, and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen[2]
[1] Baptism
copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things
[2]Collect
for Friday of Lent 5, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm
[3] Collect
for Friday of Lent, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church
Vol. 1 © 1994 American Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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