“Once upon a time there was a woman, and she was wicked as wicked could be, and she died. And not one good deed was left behind her. The devil took her and threw her into the lake of fire. And her guardian angel stood thinking: what good deed of hers can I remember to tell God? Then he remembered and said to God, ‘Once, she pulled up an onion and gave it to a beggar woman.’ And God answered, ‘Take now that same onion, hold it out to her in the lake, let her take hold of it and pull, and if you pull her out of the lake, she can go to paradise.’ The angel ran to the woman and held out the onion to her, saying, ‘Here, woman he said, take hold of it and I’ll pull.’ And he began pulling carefully, and had almost pulled her all the way out, when other sinners in the lake saw her being pulled out and all began holding on to her so as to be pulled out with her. But the woman was wicked as wicked could be, and she began to kick them with her feet. She yelled, ‘It’s me who’s getting pulled out, not you; it’s my onion, not yours.’ No sooner did she say it than the onion broke. And the woman fell back into the lake and is burning there to this day. And the angel wept and went away.” – (From The Brothers Karamazov).
We are all receivers of grace and mercy. Therefore, be merciful. Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.
This Week’s Reading:
- Monday – Revelation 3
- Tuesday – Revelation 4
- Wednesday – Revelation 5
- Thursday – Revelation 6
- Friday – Revelation 7
Please Pray for:
- The United Methodist Church
- Our families, homes, workplace, church, and community.
- Our nation and our leaders.
- Those suffering due to catastrophic natural disasters.
- Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications, and Phase 3: Completion of New Youth Building and rear parking.