Devotion for December 29 (LCMS Daily Lectionary)

Above:  Annunciation of the Angel to Zechariah, by Domenico Ghirlandaio

God’s Surprising Ways

DECEMBER 29, 2023

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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning:

Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,

that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

–The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236

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The Assigned Readings:

Isaiah 55:1-13

Psalm 96 (Morning)

Psalms 132 and 97 (Evening)

Luke 1:1-25

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For My plans are not your plans,

Nor are My ways your ways

–declares the LORD.

–Isaiah 55:8, TANAKH:  The Holy Scriptures

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Christmas is a season, a commemoration of how strangely (as we think of “normal” and “strange”) God has acted.  In this case, we have the case of Zechariah, Anna, and the future St. John the Baptist.  The priest was reluctant to believe the startling news; can we blame him?

Divine methodology confuses us frequently, does it not?  Today I have little else to say.  So I conclude with this comment:  Without dispensing with critical thinking, may we be and remain open to God’s surprising ways.  What God has in mind for us and others might be far more wondrous than we can imagine.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

FEBRUARY 20, 2012 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ABOLITIONIST

THE FEAST OF HENRY JUDAH MIKELL, EPISCOPAL BISHOP OF ATLANTA

THE FEAST OF THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS OF AFRICA

THE FEAST OF WILLIAM GRANT BROUGHTON, ANGLICAN BISHOP OF SYDNEY

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http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/gods-surprising-ways/

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