MARCH 2- READINGS…18
Jesus gives two parables in today’s reading. The first is about a woman who was harmed and came to the judge for justice. She had decided that she would persist in asking the judge for justice until she received it. The judge decided that he would respond to the woman’s demands, lest she continue to come before him. Jesus teaches us to be persistent in our prayers…and to also know that our Heavenly Father will hear and answer the prayers of His children. In the second parable Jesus used the illustration of the Pharisee and the tax collector…both came to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee was filled with pride and self-righteousness, while the tax collector was convicted and broken. Jesus taught us the when we come to God in prayer it needs to be like the tax collector. Humility and brokenness are key when we approach the Lord, it is then that He will answer our prayers. Pride and self-righteousness guarantee that we will not get our prayers answered from God…for in these we are not really praying, but boasting to God about how “lucky” He is to have us.
Jesus blesses the children, and makes sure it is understood that He has a special place in His heart for the children. If this is true of Jesus, it should certainly be true of us. Children are not a burden…they are a blessing. The rich young ruler comes to Jesus to ask the eternal question of salvation. When Jesus told him what he would need to do, sadly the young man walked away…the price was too high. Jesus tells us all that if we are to be His disciples we must, deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him. Sadly, today this price is too high, and like the rich young ruler many will walk away. Jesus taught His disciples that though we seemingly give up much to follow Him, that what we receive from the Lord is many times greater than anything we give up. Jesus then tried to explain to His disciples the things that were about to take place in His death and Resurrection. They clearly were not ready to receive these truths from the Lord, and could not understand what Jesus was saying. Our reading closes with Jesus and His disciples heading to Jerusalem for what would be the last time. On the way Jesus encounters Bartimaeus. Jesus heals Bartimaeus of His blindness, after asking him what He wanted the Lord to do for him. In like manner the Lord is willing and able to heal all of their spiritual blindness…all that is needed is for us to ask.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READING…LUKE 19