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At the intersection of Sacred and Profane

2014/05/25

No good deed goes unpunished, really?

There is something so attractive about the “proverb” that titles this post. Just let it roll off your tongue for a moment, “no good deed goes unpunished.” Doesn’t it just feed into that sense of justice that we all have to such a wondrous degree when we are the target of injustice?

You all know what this is about, everyone has experienced having a favour thrown back in your face or you have tried to do something nice for someone and had your motives impugned . . . or worse. When this happens we just want to revel in it don’t we!

St. Peter has something to say about this. In his first letter we have this interesting verse, “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17 NRSV). Wait a second, there are times when we are “supposed” to suffer? There are times when the suffering inflicted upon us is actually part of God’s will? Furthermore, the suffering we endure for doing good is actually part of God’s will? Really?

Really. This week’s sermons are about this very question and the answer comes around to less of “no good deed goes unpunished” to “no good deed is forgotten.”

Knox Presbyterian Goodness is rewarded, isn’t it?

St. Mark’s Presbyterian Goodness is rewarded, isn’t it?

Depending on where you are when you read this, we have more or less skipped spring and leapt directly into high summer. I hope your day is a wonderful as this one is!

Blessings,

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Article by Barry / Easter, Preaching, Sunday, Year A / "good", goodness, preaching, remembered, suffer, suffering Leave a Comment

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