Thoughts for the Day

Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
With open mouth I pant,
because I long for your commandments....

Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
My eyes shed streams of tears
because your law is not kept.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today many churches celebrate Bible Sunday, and our reading is from Psalm 119. The writer absolutely revels in God's word - which "gives light", and "imparts understanding". He wants to learn more about God's "precepts". He calls these 'Commandments', 'words', 'laws', 'ordinances', and 'decrees', and he is upset that the people do not keep God's rules.

So what about us - do we really long to hear the Word of God? Do we really know the Word of God? For instance there are (as far as I can tell), about 70 parables in Matthew, Mark and Luke's Gospels, some short sentences and some long stories. Jesus used parables to make a point, and we say they have 'heavenly meanings'. Many parables appear in more than one Gospel although John's Gospel has none. Some writers have their own parables told by Jesus. These are not found in the other gospels, so for instance, Luke has 10 of these.

For those who haven't much time, you might like to do some thinking today. How many parables can you think of by the time you go to bed (think "Stories Jesus told")? Alternatively you might like to look up and read the parables that only appear in Luke, see below!

Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught Your disciples
through the medium of story
about our relationship to the Father.
You taught us how treat others,
and how to be forgiven.
May we learn to apply these stories
to our life now and in the future;
may we revel in enjoying their messages;
and may we enjoy reminding ourselves
of those we have forgotten.
Amen.