Scripture: Matthew 1:22
All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet…
Thought for the Day: There were many who were claiming that a spectacular end of human existence would happen yesterday, and this claim had its basis in the alleged prophetic claims of an ancient civilization. Of course, this reading of this purported prophetic claim was all wrong, and the Mayan people were not suggesting an end to human existence. Yet our current culture appears to be obsessed with the notion of ‘the end’. This obsession has many people taking the same silly approach and applying it to the Bible in an attempt to determine ‘the end’. This silly, and I would even suggest sadly ignorant, approach disregards the beauty and complexity of scripture. It tries to make predictions about 2013 by reading an ancient poem or song or metaphor as if it were to be read literally. Even the passages that look to the coming of the Messiah, the Saving One, are not suggesting a date but an idea. And even in Matthew’s Gospel, this reference to fulfillment of what prophets had said was written some 50-60 years after Jesus. It was people looking back across history and noting how God is faithful to God’s promises, the promises of love and redemption.
Prayer: God, you have been pretty clear about my task here on earth. In Jesus, I see a calling upon my life to love and serve others through humility and grace. Keep me on track amidst a world that would rather obsess with those things that would have us ignore your simple calling. Amen.
