El Aposento Alto

Get Help

Perhaps Christ gave us the church because it is too hard to follow him alone. Sometimes pride prevents us from reaching out to others for help. We may be ashamed of our vulnerability. We may tell ourselves no one else can understand or help. Yet the community of faith supports and nourishes individual wisdom. “Encourage one another and build up each other,” writes Paul. The dark is seductive, offering many temptations that encourage us to rely on ourselves, to nurse grudges, to feel sorry for ourselves, to find fault, and to rationalize behavior and thoughts that lead us away from the light of Christ.

Reach out to the wise spiritual leaders in your life. Make a phone call. Send an email. Ask for prayer. Hang out with people who live in the light.

Sometimes when our faith is in a growth crisis, we have to allow the faith of others to carry us for a while. We may go to church, pray, and read the Bible, but we feel like we’re just going through the motions. We may feel that we are losing our faith, but we hang on because others have faith in God and faith in us to persevere.

The church in all its variety, scattered throughout time and space, is there in part to help us persevere. We need not walk this journey alone.

God of light, I cannot find you in my darkness. I sink into despair instead of standing in faith. I am afraid to hope and too wounded to love. Send your angels and saints to strengthen and build me up. Encourage me with the witness of others who believe when I cannot believe. I claim refuge in your church, the living body of Christ. Amen.

Rece las Escrituras usando Leccionario en Audio
Leer Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew 25:14-30

¹⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five valuable coins, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey. ¹⁶ “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more. ¹⁷ In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more. ¹⁸ But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. ¹⁹ “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’ ²¹ “His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ ²² “The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained two more.’ ²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ ²⁴ “Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven’t sown. You gather crops where you haven’t spread seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what’s yours.’ ²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven’t sown and that I gather crops where I haven’t spread seed? ²⁷ In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest. ²⁸ Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins. ²⁹ Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them. ³⁰ Now take the worthless servant and throw him outside into the darkness.’ “People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.

0 Comentarios

Iniciar sesión to leave a comment

Leccionario Semanal

November 9–15, 2020

Resumen de la Escritura

Like us, the Israelites struggle to be consistently faithful to God. God therefore allows a foreign king to rule them until the people come to their senses and cry out for help. The prophet Deborah gives instructions for the battle that will begin the deliverance of the people. The readings from Psalms and Zechariah demonstrate that this pattern of unfaithfulness and restoration has occurred frequently in the history of God’s people. In Thessalonians, Paul echoes what Jesus says in last week’s Gospel reading: We must always be prepared for the return of Christ because we do not know when it will occur. God gives us resources to use for the kingdom, and in Matthew Jesus indicates that God will ask for an account of how well we have used them.

Preguntas para la reflexión

Read Judges 4:1-7. Who has been a judge—someone who helps you discern—in your life? How can you help others discern the way?
Read Psalm 123. How do you focus on God through conflict and struggle?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. When have you encouraged someone in a time of darkness? When have you been the one in need of encouragement?
Read Matthew 25:14-30. What would change if you considered your dreams and desires as from God? What first step can you take to enact your desires?

Responda publicando una oración.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Matthew 25:14-30

Encuentre recursos relacionados

Abrir sesión en El Aposento Alto