Thursday after the Tenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 17, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 23:34-39 (NKJV)
23:34 “Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Devotion
In today’s reading Jesus shifts His attention from the leaders to the populace. Even though they have been led astray by false prophets, the people are no less culpable of judgment. God, in His mercy, had sent true prophets, which they chose to ignore or persecute. God’s righteous anger, however, only comes after His heartfelt efforts to bring the people to repentance. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” God courts His Bride, the Church, but does not force her to love Him in return. For the time being, He is simply heartbroken. But in the Judgment, His righteous wrath will be meted out on those who have rejected His love.
How do we ourselves measure up? Have we sometimes allowed ourselves to be wooed by the gods of distraction? Do we take for granted the faithful pastors that God has sent us? Do we “go through the motions” on Sunday morning, without realizing the great privilege God gives us to come into His presence? Let us appreciate anew the great gift of being God’s chosen, that our hearts may be renewed daily in love and service to Him.
Prayer: O God, Who declarest Thine Almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace, that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
