September 23, 2021

A comedian (can’t remember who) talks about our morning selves vs our afternoon selves. Our morning selves begin the day with a kale smoothie and resolve to have a kale salad for lunch and one piece of baked chicken for dinner, along with some brown rice. Our afternoon selves have long since given up on our morning selves and are eating a cheeseburger at 3pm. 

Resolutions have a way of quickly dissolving under the pressure of desire. The good thing about out bound will is that it binds us to Jesus Christ and his mercy. As the old hymn says, “I need Thee every hour / Most gracious Lord / No tender voice like Thine / Can peace afford.”

When that hymn was first published in 1873, this scripture was included beneath its title: “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Proper 19 – BCP