AOC Two

  A  ND  one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.  37  And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,  38  And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.  39  Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner .   (Luke 7:36-39)               In the above text, we have revealed a contrast of two different dispositions – the first of a poor sinner, and the second of a proud Pharisee. Which of th...

The propers for the  Eighteenth  Sunday after Trinity can be found on Page 220-222:   The Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity The Collect.     L ORD  we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord .   Amen .   The Epistle for today came from Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians beginning at the Third Verse of the First Chapter.  Writing to the church in Philippia, Paul sends his greetings letting them know he has been praying for them constantly.  He tells them that the good work God has begun in them will surely continue until Christ returns to them.  Paul tells them he prays that they will find more and more joy in following the will of God.  Continually reminding people of the joy of being born a new person,...

A  ND  without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.   (1 Timothy 3:16)               The greatest mystery of godliness is the Amazing Grace by which we are called, justified and saved. Who were we to gain such a glorious inheritance in the Lord Jesus Christ? We all alike are sinners and in no wise worthy of that inheritance in glory. Why did He love us so, and how can we love Him? Well, we could not even love Him had He not first shed His love abroad in our hearts: “  We love him, because he first loved us .” ( 1 John 4:19)  And when did He first love us? It was in the eternity past before the worlds were made:    A CCORDING  as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without bl...

A  ND  it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,  Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth .  3  Give us day by day our daily bread .  4  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil .         (Luke 11:1-4)               This is not a direct commentary on the Lord’s Prayer as we have covered that in other devotions, but rather upon certain points germane to our petitions we make to a Sovereign Lord.                In the above text, t...

N  OW   it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.  40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  41  And Jesus answered and said unto her,  Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things :  42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her .  (Luke 10:38-42)               Even the most dedicated of Christian people and, especially ministers, often get consumed in the mundane affairs of church life and omit the weightier matter of the purpose and Head of the Church – the Lord Jesus C...

A  ND   there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing  two or three firkins apiece.  7   Jesus saith unto them ,  Fill  the waterpots with water.  And they filled them up to the brim.  8   And he saith unto them,  Draw out now , and  bear  unto the governor of the feast.  And they bare it.   (John 2:6-8)   In order to emphasize the high regard in which the Lord holds the institution of Marriage, our Lord chose a Wedding celebration as the venue for His first miracle at Cana of Galilee. As with most Weddings in the East, wine is expected to flow in abundance – not grape juice, but fermented wine.  A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry .   (Eccl 10:19)   It was this drink whose supply expired at the Wedding Feast at which our Lord was guest. The people of the East are meticulous hosts in their feasting, and one thing mus...

T  HE   light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness .  35   Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness .                 (Luke 11:34-35)   T  HE   refore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand .          (Matthew 13:13 (KJV)               When I was a child, there was an ugly little statuette displayed on a table in my bedroom. It was a clay figure of three monkeys with the notation beneath – See no evil, Speak no evil, Hear no evil. So very simple, yet, so profoundly wise. The proverb is said to have originated in ancient China.    Later, my blessed...