Home > Reading > The Daily Lectionary – August 26, 2016

john6-40

Job 2:1–13; Acts 9:1–9; John 6:27–40

Within months, Tom’s wife died of cancer and his son-in-law from a lightning strike. Suffering from debilitating lung disease himself, and laboring to speak, he demanded, “Why is all of this happening to me?”

Tom was a decent and kind man who was in worship each week and, even attached to a portable oxygen tank, looked to the needs of family and church. Yet, tragedy was no stranger to his life. Why? The Book of Common Prayer states: “In the midst of life we are in death.” Death is not usually personal. Lightning strikes where it will; it does not take aim. Life and therefore, death, happen to us all.

Still, it was important for Tom to find some meaning in all this death, so he asked, “Why?” Sitting with him day after day, I reminded him that death is always with us and asked: “What are you going to do with your life now, when death is all around you?”

Believing in the Son who came to bring life in a world filled with death is the only good response. It is the will of God that even when all seems hopeless, we look to the Son and believe. In this is eternal life.

Today’s devotion was written by Mark Ryman, Communications Coordinator for the NALC.

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