Fourth Sunday after Trinity, July 10th, 2022
Being a Christian is not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination. Come to think of it, being a human being is not an easy thing either. Having to make decisions that affect your own life. Having to make decisions that affect others . . . . for example, if you are a parent or the owner of a company. Having to do things that you would prefer not to do but have to be done . . . cutting the grass comes to mind or paying bills. Having to juggle various roles all at the same time . . . going to work . . . taking care of your home . . . being a parent . . . being a child . . . . paying bills . . . doing chores . . . etc. The point being is that life is busy . . . at least it is for me . . . and life is full of difficulties and challenges . . . again, at least it is for me. But as I look around on social media and in the news and listening to people's conversations, it seems that people must have a whole lot of free time that they don't know what to do with. It used to be that if you held a different belief than me, I might not have agreed with you but it amounted to nothing more than that: a difference of opinion. Period. End of story. I might not like your choice or I might not like your belief but on the other hand you might not be too fond of my choices or beliefs either. But we just left it at that. And, more importantly, we left it alone. You had your belief. I had my belief. Period. Today, people get into all kinds of arguments and criticisms of one another if they do not agree and support the other person one hundred and twenty percent.
In St. Luke's Gospel, Our Lord said: " BE ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." (St. Luke 6:36) But then He goes on to say in the following verse: "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." (v.37) It is that last part that we should be most concerned with . . . ". . . forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." I have long said that we tend to be so focused on the wrong-doing in others lives, if for no other reason, it takes the focus off of our wrong doing. If I focus on someone else and where they are wrong in their life, it means that I have less time to focus on what is wrong in my own life. A few verses later, Our Lord states in Verse 41: "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Why am I so concerned about the speck that I see in my brother's eye when I am totally oblivious to the plank in my own eye?!? The bottom line is this: Don't be too quick to criticize someone else because your backyard probably needs a little sprucing up as well. You don't have to be in complete agreement with someone in order to be civil and loving to that person. Our Lord stated that we need to "love one another" He did not say that we need to "agree with one another." And finally, show a little mercy and compassion to those around you. Do not be so quick to condemn someone who does not agree with you. That person may not agree with you either on other subjects. The bottom line is that each one of us needs to be concerned if we agree with God. I should be LESS concerned about making MY own voice heard . . . and be MORE concerned about making GOD'S voice heard in my life and the way in which I treat others around me.
In St. Luke's Gospel, Our Lord said: " BE ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." (St. Luke 6:36) But then He goes on to say in the following verse: "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." (v.37) It is that last part that we should be most concerned with . . . ". . . forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." I have long said that we tend to be so focused on the wrong-doing in others lives, if for no other reason, it takes the focus off of our wrong doing. If I focus on someone else and where they are wrong in their life, it means that I have less time to focus on what is wrong in my own life. A few verses later, Our Lord states in Verse 41: "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Why am I so concerned about the speck that I see in my brother's eye when I am totally oblivious to the plank in my own eye?!? The bottom line is this: Don't be too quick to criticize someone else because your backyard probably needs a little sprucing up as well. You don't have to be in complete agreement with someone in order to be civil and loving to that person. Our Lord stated that we need to "love one another" He did not say that we need to "agree with one another." And finally, show a little mercy and compassion to those around you. Do not be so quick to condemn someone who does not agree with you. That person may not agree with you either on other subjects. The bottom line is that each one of us needs to be concerned if we agree with God. I should be LESS concerned about making MY own voice heard . . . and be MORE concerned about making GOD'S voice heard in my life and the way in which I treat others around me.
St. Margaret Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.
NOTE: Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.
Please Join us as we gather together as God's family to: hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life. Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.
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