Midweek Devotion 7 January 2026

Reading

Ephesians 3:7-13

Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 

Devotion

This week's painting I saw a couple of weeks ago in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  It is attributed to the workshop of Netherlandish artist Hieronymus Bosch, executed around 1499.  It portrays, in somewhat fantastical fashion, the Adoration of the Magi.

As I gazed at the painting, I was struck by all the tiny details.  There is a crown on the ground, the Magi are of different ethnicities, there are odd birds perched about, the star seems almost an afterthought, though it shines in the daylight, the background appears to be a great medieval city....  There is a lot going on in this painting.  What do you see?

Most of all, however, I like the unhurried pace of the painting.  There is no sense of urgency.  I like that a lot.  I remember a conversation with a spiritual director once that centered on time.  She said to me "You are too busy to live an emotionally healthy and spiritually vibrant life."  That hit me hard.  I read a book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer, and began implementing it.  It meant being deliberate about what I choose to spend my time on.  I love being busy but needed to focus on being busy with the right things!  Perhaps this new year allows you, dear reader to undertake a fearless inventory of what you say 'yes' to and what you say 'no' to?  It might mean canceling a few digital subscriptions, apologetically bowing out of a few obligations, watching less TV, going to bed earlier (to get up and pray) and just making space in the day to pause, to breathe, to abide.  Try it for six weeks and send me a note!

Prayer, a paraphrase of Psalm 105 (1-5)

“O give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the people.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Speak of all His wonderful acts and devoutly praise them.

Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those who seek and require the Lord [as their most essential need] rejoice.

Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might];

Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.

Remember [with awe and gratitude] the wonderful things which He has done”

Amen. (from Living Unhurried: An Invitation Into Contemplative Prayer : Celia A. Miller)