Galatians 4: 19, 20: “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you - but I wish I could be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.”  Even back in the 1st century, way before missent texts and misunderstood emoticons, St. Paul knew that sometimes the written word lacked the power of face to face communication.  That’s why reading books or following websites is not enough, a believer needs regular actual communion with actual fellow believers, not virtual communication with virtual believers.  Sometimes, as David says, we must seek God’s face (Psalm 27: 8), not His blog.

Isaiah 51: 21, 22:  Therefore please hear this, you afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine: “Thus says your Lord, the Lord, even your God Who contends for His people, ‘Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling; the chalice of My anger, you will never drink it again.’”  How many times have you ever hear God say “Please”?  Think about it!  It seems He really, really wants us to hear His promise: “No more anger.”  This might confront those who love to seek the anger of God on every page of the Bible, but this is the Lord Himself Who is saying “please.”  Know that the chalice of anger is gone for good!

Isaiah 51: 6, 7:  “… My salvation shall be forever, and My righteousness will not wane.  Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, a people in whose heart is My law; do not fear the reproach of man, neither be dismayed at their revilings.” For reasons known only to God, every day this week the Office Memos have reflected on believers under persecution, usually unjustified persecution.  Perhaps once in a while we all go through situations like this (at least St. Paul thought so, as Acts 14: 22 and 2 Timothy 3: 12 would profess), and we should therefore prepare for them occasionally.  Whatever the reason, let us take heart that the Lord knows those who are His, hears their cries, and brings to them eternal salvation!

Isaiah 50: 6, 7:  “I gave My back to those who strike me, and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.  For the Lord God helps Me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”  Today it is Isaiah who points us to Jesus in His Passion, and His attitude during His intense suffering.  His face set like flint, His confidence was still in God.  When we are in times of persecution let us in a similar way take heart, and know we, too, will not be put to shame!

Psalm 59: 3, 4: “For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; fierce men launch an attack against me, not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord, for no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me.”  David certainly knew about being attacked without cause; King Saul and others could make his life miserable.  But like Christ, David kept his attention on the Lord, not on revenge or self-justification.  If you are going through situations like these we have seen so far this week in the Daily Office, remember how David closes this psalm: “But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyously sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold” (v. 16).

Psalm 119: 51, 69: “The arrogant utterly deride me, yet I do not turn aside from Your law.  The arrogant have forged a lie against me; with all my heart I will observe Your precepts.”  Yet again we see today an occasion where a believer is misunderstood, perhaps attacked without cause.  Yet his attention is not on those attacking him, but on the Lord.  As St. Francis said, “Divine Master, grant that I might seek not so much to be understood, but to understand.”  Jesus did not spend a lot of time defending Himself (Isaiah 53: 7; 1 Peter 2: 21-23), and St. Peter says this should serve as an example for us.

Mark 6: 2, 3: “What is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? … And they took offense at Him.”  What was there to take offense at?  He preached with wisdom and He healed folks.  That’s hardly offensive behavior!  Could it be that old nemesis, jealousy?  “Why James’ and Simon’s brother?  I’m as good as they, did better in school, even.”  “Why Mary’s Son?  We all know what she was guilty of in the days of her youth!”  There’s a reason Solomon called jealousy “as cruel as the grave.” (Song of Solomon 8: 6) It can prevent us from receiving the blessings that are intended for us.

Galatians 1: 15,16:  “But when He Who had set me apart, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles …”  Who would have thought, watching Saul attempt to destroy the Church, that he had been set apart from his mother’s womb, and called to share Christ to the world?  Who knows how many imprecatory prayers were prayed against him?  It just goes to show, God’s ways and thoughts are far above ours.  Even when we think things must be going against His plan … probably not!

Mark 5: 6:  “And seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him.”  All you guys out there who love to watch movies and read books about how strong demon spirits are and how they can challenge God Himself, take note.  Here these bunch of spirits who could even influence flesh to break chains, destroy shackles, and overcome any number of men, bowed down before Jesus.  They knew when they had met their match.  Then they asked permission to go where they thought they wanted to go.  Jesus, ever smarter than demonic powers, gave it - and they were sent down to their destruction.  The point is, at no time did it ever cross their silly little demon brains to try to challenge Jesus.  And it’s no different today (James 2: 19).

Isaiah 45: 24b:  “Men will come to Him, and all who were angry at Him shall be put to shame.”  There are plenty of times when people (even God’s children, even you and I) get angry with Him.  “Why did she die?  Why did I lose so much?  Why did my plans fail?  But it’s not like it bothers God, or causes Him to change His mind.  All it leads to is shame to the one who is angry.  Not a good tack to follow!  We must understand that all God allows, He does so for a good reason.  We may not understand it on this side of the veil, but we won’t be on this side of the veil forever.

Isaiah 45: 6b, 7: “I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these.”  Sometimes we feel we have to apologize for God, and say, “All that evil you see out there?  God didn’t do it.  There is no darkness in him!”  Well, that’s true according to 1 John 1: 5, but that doesn’t mean He didn’t create it.  Why, for what purpose?  I have no idea other than speculations, which we are commanded to avoid (2 Corinthians 10: 5).  But as a pretty smart guy named Job once said, “”Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?”

Psalm 119: 24: “Establish Your Word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You.”  One of the marks of a proper society is reverence toward things like eldership, life, even death (the reverence of which is rooted in respect for life).  The common mocking and belittling of dead bodies in many movies and other media forms is but one patent example.  It is not that we should fear death, but we should give reverence to those who are dead.  But the more God’s Word is established in our hearts, the more we will have reverence toward God and all that is His, including the dead (Romans 14: 9).

Ephesians 4: 17, 18: “Walk no longer just as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.”  We should not be like the Gentiles (unbelievers) who are darkened, ignorant, and hard.  This leads to them practice sensuality, impurity, and greediness (v. 19).  How do you avoid these things, as we are commanded?  Get understanding (Proverbs 2: 2), knowledge (2 Peter 3: 18), and tenderheartedness (Ephesians 4: 32).  Then we will avoid the sensuality, impurity, and greediness.  Attacking these things without addressing their root is primarily futile.

Mark 3: 13, 14:  “And he went up to the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.  And he appointed twelve…”  So what, Jesus only wanted twelve? At this point the old spirit of rejection comes slinking in …”Jesus didn’t want me … no one wants me … I’ll just crawl in a hole and die …”  No, Jesus only wanted twelve at that time, for that role.  Later he chose seventy others (Luke 10: 1), and later (Acts 14: 4, Galatians 1: 19) there were other apostles chosen (although the original twelve always retained a rank unto themselves).  But rest assured, Jesus wants you, loves you, and has a role for you; a role that is yours alone.  “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from Heaven.” (John 1: 27)

Ephesians 3: 19:  “And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”  Wow, the fullness of God!  How do we get that?  And filled up with it, no less, just like at the gas pumps!  Is it in power, or knowledge, or authority, or wealth?  No, it’s in love.  If you want to be full of God, be filled with love.  All of those other things begin and end there, and are impotent without it.  (1 Corinthians 13: 1-3) When God pours His love abundantly in our hearts through the Holy Spirit(Romans 5: 5), He is giving us of His fullness (John 1: 16).

Ephesians 3: 4, 5:  “And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.”  Bold words, dangerous words from the mouth of St. Paul: insight into mysteries which previous generations did not have.  These words have led many well-meaning people down paths of error and the shipwreck of their own faith, and that of many others.  The key is, St. Paul did not stand alone in His proclamations.  He stood with many other “holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.”  Standing in that company, we are safe.  But beware the theologian who stands alone!  If your revelation is of the Spirit, God will lead you to companions with the same insight.  (1 Kings 19: 18)

Mark 2: 9: “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Arise, take up your pallet and walk’?”  Which is easier to do, arithmetic or trigonometry?  If you are able to do trig, everyone will assume you can add and subtract.  When Jesus healed the paralytic, it became obvious to everyone that He had authority to forgive sins.  When God’s people heal the sick by His Spirit, it will likewise bring among the masses conviction of sin and revival.  Are we ready for that?  It’s coming!

Psalm 119: 24: “You testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.”  There are so many counselors out there these days, each with websites, TV programs, books, blogs, you name it.  Some of them are even old enough to vote!  Unfortunately, far from all are able to make this claim.  But when it comes to wise counsel, it’s hard to beat the Word of God.  It’s all part of recognizing that “the Lord is my strength and song”, as was mentioned yesterday.  His testimonies are unfailing!

Isaiah 40: 28, 29: “The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.  He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.”  Invariably, this is the time when people are the most fatigued.  The holidays are over, the adrenalin rush is gone, and we’re left drained.  But God does not have this problem.  Not only does He have no energy lull, He has plenty left to share with us.  As Isaiah had said previously (12: 2), along with Moses and David, “The Lord is my strength and song.” (Exodus 15: 2; Psalm 118: 14) While others are dragging, increase in power and renew your strength!

Isaiah 40: 13:  “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has informed Him?”  Isn’t it odd that we try to tell the Holy Spirit how to get His job done?  Sometimes we have lots of plans, our own plans, then tell the Spirit in prayer just how He can fulfill them.  But I remember the prophecy from Bishop Elmer Belmonte on December 18 at the 11: 00 AM service here in the Cathedral of the King:  “It is not your Church.  You do not need to make it in your own image.  Christ is making it in His image.”  Truly He needs no direction from us, just obedience to the directions we (and our leaders) receive from Him in prayer.  That’s how things get done.

Psalm 115: 17-18:  “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who do down into silence; but as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever.”  Perhaps it’s not so much that they are dead, so they don’t praise the Lord.  Maybe they don’t praise the Lord, so they’re dead.  Lack if praise is an indication of deadness.  Constant silence during worship time is not a good sign.  But for the living, those made alive by His presence and His love, eternity is marked by their worship and praise.  No wonder the psalm ends with something that is both a proclamation and an exhortation: the ancient Hebrew exclamation of praise: Hallelujah!  (Praise the Lord)

Matthew 12: 18, 21: “And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. … And in His Name the Gentiles will hope.” If you can’t read Matthew 2 on the Feast of Epiphany (the story of the wise men, Gentiles, coming to Christ), this is the next best thing.  Epiphany is noted as a day and a season in which Christ and His works are manifested, or made known, especially among the Gentiles.  And here Matthew, in quoting the prophet Isaiah, brings the point home very effectively.  And in case you’re wondering why we aren’t reading about the Wise Men in the Office today, it’s because that reading is read during the day’s Eucharistic celebration, and it is done this way to avoid duplication. (But if you want to read it anyway, you can, no condemnation.)

Psalm 29: 6, 8:  “God makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox … the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.”  Lebanon and Sirion are mountains in modern-day Lebanan and Syria, some miles inland from the ancient towns of Tyre, Sidon, and Zerapath.  Kadesh is a town in the same area.  In other words, at the time of this Psalm’s writing by David, in Christ’s time, and even today, it was outside Israelite territory.  But that doesn’t matter to God, He still shakes them.  In other words, they’re in His hand, He owns them.  Now you know why this is the Psalm on the Eve of the Epiphany, the Feast marking the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles!   

John 14: 12-14: “He who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.  And whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it.”  Here we have a portion of Jesus’ words to His disciples during the Last Supper, but He sounds kinda like he’s asking for their Christmas list, doesn’t He?  “Ask whatever you want, I will give it!”  But that is not what He said.  He said He will do it, not give it.  He’s talking works, not presents; works that glorify the Father.  And He promises to do them through us.  Again, only possible through the Christmas miracle!

Genesis 28: 12: “And he had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to Heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”  When Jesus told Nathaniel, “You shall see Heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1: 51), everyone knew He was referring to this Scripture.  Jesus is Jacob’s ladder, uniting Heaven and earth, humanity and divinity, as the Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn.  Yet another benefit of the Christmas miracle!

Hebrews 12: 6:  “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for one who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Christmas brings to us some of the best news ever: You can please God!  Didn’t the angels say on that first Christmas night, “And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased”?  And here the author of Hebrews tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith; so it must be possible to please God with faith!  How can we fallible, unrighteous, irreverent humans please God? It is no less than a miracle, a real Christmas miracle, but the fathers confirmed it against some strong heresies: God is pleased with man!