Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

OUR GENERATION
Luke 11:  29 – 32
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. (Luke 1129)

 In the given passage we read the need for this particular generation to want a sign to know that the Christ was coming.  The answer Christ gives shows us his Grace and how we should trust in him all ways, “…except the sign of Jonah.


The generation in this Bible passage was evil but now we must ask the question, is my generation in the year 2013 evil and what would Jesus say about it?  When we turn on our television for news or look on the Internet for stories the first items that come up deal with the negativity in our society.  It ranges from never-ending wars, brutal murders of people, including little children, stealing of money and other spectrums dealing with how our opinions or idea should match with a particular concept.  There is evil around us, this is evident but the Goodness of God has a great abundance, he sent Jonah and others and he is here with us today, verse 32”…something greater than Jonah is here.”  In verse 32 the men of Nineveh at first did not repent or realize their sin, when they heard Jonah; but they turned back from their old selves and finally realized that a sign was before them. Similarly people in this passage were seeking a sign. And Jesus said there is no other sign greater than Himself. What does it mean? There is no other sign greater than compassion and grace revealed in Christ. Is it not something amazing?

At times it can get discouraging to see how much hatred is in our world.  So many times it has made me angry, sad and to the point utterly disgusted in human beings. But recently I read how a retired Air Force General, who is now a priest in Oklahoma, has setup an organization within his church to reach out to those military personnel that are adapting themselves back into civilian life.  Several of these people are believers and they tell their experiences of being a soldier and the psychological, physical, and spiritual toll it took on them.  They describe the evil around them and how it continually growing. But one particular soldier’s witness caught hold of me. He Said; “Even though evil is present I know that Christ must & will be glorified in goodness at end”. And this hope encourages him to live a life of witness in midst of evil. Let us rely on the compassion & grace of God which we have received in Jesus Christ and keep on living in goodness today also.

Prayer: “Lord! Open my heart when I lack your understanding & strengthen me to  glorify your name through my thoughts, actions and interactions today by being good.” Amen.

Manoj Thomas, St. Thomas MTC, Chicago.





Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more