A very good day 12 and Tuesday to each of you! Thanks for reading along on our 21 day journey through scripture. I pray these readings have been a blessing and a challenge to you.

Proverbs 22:1–2, 8-9, 22-23 (NRSV)

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

and favor is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common:

the LORD is the maker of them all.

8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of anger will fail.

9 Those who are generous are blessed,

for they share their bread with the poor.

22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate;

23 for the LORD pleads their cause

and despoils of life those who despoil them.

Reflection

Temporary differences. That is what we live with in this life. Rich. Poor. These two differences are highlighted in Proverbs 22. But when we get to heaven these differences cease to exist. The great equalizer will be the gates of heaven. So, here is the deal. As the kingdom of heaven is established on earth the people of God are called to make this life look more and more like the next. By bridging the divide of rich and poor we do just that. Notice above, that bridging this gap (sharing our bread) brings blessing. We may argue that the abundance of the bread is the blessing but the proverb states it differently. We are blessed when we bridge the gap.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for my daily bread. May those on the margins in this life never be forgotten by me as they certainly are always held close by you. Grow my heart to be generous so others may know your hope in this life and in the age to come.

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