Epiphany Daybook +6: Words to Build a Life On
Blessed Epiphany, friends!
I'm looking forward to sharing with you a weekly Epiphany Daybook devotional post for these eight weeks of witness. I apologize for missing last week. We were traveling and I was unexpectedly unable to get to the post.
You can read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Epiphany.
Look: Blessed are all those who feel their spiritual need (window 2 of 9), designed and painted by Siegfried Reinhardt and produced by Emil Frei, 1957. Seedy antique glass, 35 x 6 ft. Sanctuary of the Beatitudes, Second Baptist Church, Richmond Heights, Missouri. - Source
Listen*: Words to Build a Life On, Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
Read**: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37
Monday: Psalm 89; Genesis 30:1-24; 1 John 1:1-10; John 9:1-17
Tuesday: Psalm 97, 99, 100; Genesis 31:1-24; 1 John 2:1-11; John 9:18-41
Wednesday: Psalm 101, 109; Genesis 31:25-50; 1 John 2:12-17; John 10:1-18
Thursday: Psalm 105; Genesis 32:3-21; 1 John 2:18-29; John 10:19-30
Friday: Psalm 102; Genesis 32:22-33:17; 1 John 3:1-10; John 10:31-42
Saturday: Psalm 107, 108; Genesis 35:1-20; 1 John 3:11-18; John 11:1-16
Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Do: Forgive God, yourself, and others this week.
While all of us need daily reminders to let others off the hook for the ways they’ve hurt, belittled, dismissed and offended us (see: the Lord’s Prayer), a majority of us are also dealing with experiences of deep wounding from abuse, neglect, and rejection. As I've journeyed these past fourteen years or so with men and women seeking healing for their relationships, and as I've walked my own bumpy path learning to give and receive good love, I've discovered four major roadblocks to forgiveness. I offer them for you to consider, gently and patiently with yourself (and others):
1. We believe surrendering to forgiveness equals ignoring wrongdoing.
2. We've become so familiar with the energy anger and bitterness give us, we're afraid we'll no longer recognize ourselves if we release our wounders.
3. We convince ourselves that we aren't really hurt and, therefore, do not need to forgive.
4. We already prayed to forgive our offender once and that was enough/it didn't work.
When we feast on unforgiveness, we are never satisfied. There is no justice available to remove the anguish of our wounded selves. When we feast on the Bread of Life, we release ourselves (and our offenders) to His mercy and justice and find ourselves hungry no more.
We are full on the only sort of nutrient that lasts for eternity -- the body and blood of Christ. And we are glad.
I will pray for all of us this week to experience the gladness of forgiveness, friends.
You might also enjoy:
*Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Epiphany - Beatitudes . Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’
** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year A). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 2).