Above: A Pencil Eraser
Image Source = ProSavage2600
Erasing Lines
JANUARY 6, 2024
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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 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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Proverbs 3:5-8
Isaiah 56:3-5
Acts 15:1-21
John 7:25-31
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The readings for this day, taken together, teach that God acts toward us according to who we are, not from where we hail. Proverbs 3:5-8 encourages us to trust only in God. Isaiah 56:3-5 tells us that faithful foreigners are equal to other faithful people in the eyes of God. We read of one controversy regarding welcoming Gentiles into the nascent Church in Acts 15. Last, but not least, we read of a lack of hospitality toward Jesus among members of his own ethnic group.
The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Gentiles. On such a day these readings fit well. These readings are also appropriate at any time one seeks to exclude those who are different in some way yet known to God favorably. These readings remind me of a cartoon I have seen. People are drawing lines with pencils, but Jesus is erasing lines.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
APRIL 30, 2017 COMMON ERA
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A
THE FEAST OF JAMES MONTGOMERY, HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF JOHN ROSS MACDUFF AND GEORGE MATHESON, SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS AND AUTHORS
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2017/04/30/erasing-lines/
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ADVENT, CHRISTMAS, AND EPIPHANY DEVOTIONS 
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