Above: Jerusalem, Between 1934 and 1939
Image Source = Library of Congress
(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/mpc2004003058/PP/)
Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-matpc-04128
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The Collect:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins,
and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation,
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 18
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The Assigned Readings:
Daniel 9:15-19
Psalm 122
James 4:1-10
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Some Related Posts:
James 4:
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/week-of-7-epiphany-tuesday-year-2/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/week-of-proper-13-wednesday-year-1/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/week-of-proper-2-tuesday-year-2/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/proper-20-year-b/
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O pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls
and tranquility within your palaces.”
–Psalm 122:6-7, The Book of Common Prayer (2004)
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The Persians had liberated the Jews from the Chaldeans. So now the Jews lived within the bounds of the Persian Empire. The prayer attributed to Daniel reflects a major theological strand in the Hebrew Bible: rampant long-term sin had led to the division of the united monarchy and the demise of both successor kingdoms. Thus, in Daniel 9, Jerusalem was in ruins.
The two main readings for today insist upon the necessity of humility before God specifically, and, more broadly speaking, of having proper priorities. Humility is having a realistic self-image–one neither too high nor too low. It entails knowing that one is, in the context of God, lesser yet not pond scum. We humans bear the Image of God, who made us slightly lower than the angels. Yet we are like the transient grass.
The greatest possessions are intangible. We might have more of them than we know. So there is no need for us to covet, commit violence, and to engage in fraud and/or conflicts to acquire that which is of lesser value. Our “stuff,” for lack of a better word, cannot fill the God-shaped hole, but it can bring about a plethora of woes if we approach it (our “stuff”) with improper priorities.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JUNE 5, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF ROBERT FRANCIS KENNEDY, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SENATOR
THE FEAST OF SAINT BONIFACE OF MAINZ, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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