Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Psalm 150, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Matthew 21:1-22 - Lectionary for 11/1/11 - All Saints' Day

Today is All Saints' Day.

Today's readings are Psalm 150, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, and Matthew 21:1-22.

Today, on All Saints' Day, we see Moses passing his anointing on to Joshua. It strikes me today that Joshua received his wisdom for rule by the laying on of Moses' hands. We see in the New Testament that Timothy received his gifts as hands were laid on him. Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles by breathing on them. People heal others in Jesus' name by laying hands on them. Elders anoint people with oil and pray so they are healed. And Jesus washes people from sin using water and the hands of his servants.

This Christian faith is a very concrete thing. It's tactile. We see, touch, and smell the ways that God imparts his gifts. So let us pass the faith along to future generations as it has been passed along in the bygone generations - hand to hand, face to face, dwelling with one another, dwelling in the Word and in the power of God.

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