| PENTECOST XIV August 25, 2024 “All I Really Need to Know . . .” It’s back to school time, and whether there’s a student in your family or circle of friends and acquaintances, there is a sense of change, something of a shift in the activity and energy level around us. Remembering those “first days” brings back vivid memories of my own, from the excitement of finally getting to start first grade to the intimidating experience of navigating a college campus. A good number of years ago, a timeless little book was published which quickly became a best-seller and is still relevant today. It’s titled “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” and the life rules for 5-year-olds continue to apply to people of all ages and stages in life. From the simple (play fair, don’t hit, put things back, clean up your mess, don’t take what isn’t yours, say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody); to the more complex: (Remember the little seed in the cup – the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why; but we are all like that) there’s enough food for considerable thought in these words for living. My favorite (although it’s so hard to choose) is: “When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.” We can take any one of these sayings, put them into sophisticated adult terms and apply them to our family life, our work, our government, even the world. But that’s how ideals and hopes and values work — they give us an understanding of how to live, how to treat one another, and how to make the world a better place for everyone. To find “all we really need to know” in order to live as God’s people in the world, we can turn to the Gospel of Matthew and read the account of Jesus being tested by the Pharisees. He was asked the question, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (22:36-40) Earlier in the Gospel, Jesus told his disciples not to be concerned with who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, but rather to be like children, humble and innocent. No matter how mature and knowledgeable we are, whatever formal education or life experience we may have, and whatever standing or status we may have achieved, there is no finer name to claim than “Child of God.” This is the only name by which we need to define ourselves, the free gift of God’s grace to every one of us. Throughout our lives, God’s Word reminds us of who we are and whose we are, and from Baptism to life’s end, every one of us is precious in our Father’s sight. And that is all we really need to know. Grateful for the endless gifts and blessings, Your friend in Christ, Mary Rogers Children of the Heavenly Father https://youtu.be/KDQsrMVsHjA?si=YnQyyKcUKkxqSBFY I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry https://youtu.be/PqOFmE6r2OI?si=xYBqp5ieP8sPK0wc We Are Called https://youtu.be/Dh1q2ohVy5g?si=Dcaw-hDY2C12iSwd |
Weekly Devotion Week of 8.25.24
2024-08-26