From A To Z.
When we hear Scripture, we are always beyond the grace. This is point A. And we always have the peace - point Z - ahead of us. All of the epistles of Paul start with “grace and peace,” and they all end with “grace.” He gives you the starting point
and the end point at the outset, but then after teaching for the duration of his letter, he leaves you a reminder of where you are, saying essentially, “Now go put into practice what I have told you.”
In Scripture, the grace (point A) had nothing to do with you. It is a gift that God simply wanted to give you. Likewise point Z is not in your control. In fact you don’t get there, but rather it comes to you. And you don’t know when, so you have to be ready. Paul uses this mechanism in all of his letters, and in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus presents his “sermon on the plain” in similar terms. The teaching there is that one may be blessed or cursed on the road between A and Z; the blessing is in waiting for Z. Until it comes, we have the second grace of Scripture, written instruction to keep us from going astray.
Join me in a discussion of Luke 6:13-23.
Orthodox Audio Bible Commentary by Fr. Paul Tarazi.
“Passing Clouds” performed by Roger Limb.
“Koran” performed by Delirium.
Photo by Brett Jordan: https://www.pexels.com/photo/letters-on-black-background-6475822/