Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Caring and Accepting the Elderly - Senior Citizens Day
Genesis 32:22-32
Tibi Mathew
St. Peter’s MTC, NJ
26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 
In the book of Genesis, we read about Jacob. From the stories we read about him, we get a sense of his character.  He was a trickster and a deceiver, from grabbing the heel of his brother while they were being born, to the steps he took in order to receive his brother's blessing. He hasn’t had the best track record. Knowing what he has done against his brother, we can only imagine the tension Jacob felt the night before he saw Esau. But God stepped in. We see in this story that Jacob made an intentional action to wrestle with God. Jacob’s wrestling was physical as well as spiritual and he was blessed. Imagine being known as the man who wrestled with God and succeeded!
    When I think of the people in my life who have physically and spiritually endured, I think of my grandparents. I have received the most invaluable thing from my grandparents – a spiritual inheritance. They worked physically demanding jobs so that future generations could have a better life and they wrestled before God in prayer for their children and their grandchildren. I firmly believe my blessings and my faith is a fruit of their fasting and prayers.
    Outside of our family we are given a church community filled with elders who pray for us. How do we respond to  this? Are we honoring them?
    Another lesson we can take from this Bible passage is that we should never stop wrestling.  As we grow older and our lives are filled with more activities and people, there is a temptation to become casual about our faith. But let us not grow weary. The blessings and the fruit that is produced from wrestling with God is so much greater than anything this world can offer.

PRAYER

God, we thank You for the generations before us who have given us a spiritual inheritance. Open our eyes and hearts to care for them. And give us the strength to never stop growing in our faith. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8. 

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 wh...
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 tel...
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