Psalm Meditation 641
Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 30, 2012
Psalm 142
1 With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.
3 When my spirit is faint, you know my way. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look on my right hand and see— there is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me.
5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."
6 Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low. Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me. (NRSV)
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could simply walk away from our troubles, come back later and find that everything is resolved to our liking? Sadly, it doesn’t happen that way. There are places, people and processes that allow us the opportunity to step back and see our lives from a different perspective, if only for a moment. This refuge does not take our problems away. It offers us a bit of shelter from the storms of life as they rage around us.
The psalmist looks around and sees no one who cares. This doesn’t mean that there is no one; it means there is a momentary inability to see the folks who do care. This doesn’t mean they aren’t there. I wish I were naïve enough to believe that everyone has a way to feel safe and sheltered in time of trial, however I know that is not the case. For those who are reading this, it is my hope that we are aware that God and the people of God are available as a source of refuge for us.
God is with us in all times and places. We may not feel that presence, we may not be comforted by that presence, however God is with us as a source of refuge and strength in times of trial and trouble. As we are able to feel that presence as a source of help and hope we are able to join the psalmist in giving thanks to God for all the ways we are touched by God and the people of God.
September 24, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Psalm Meditation 640
Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 23, 2012
Psalm 112
1 Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
7 They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD.
8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.
(NRSV)
Our family has been dealing with the tragic death of our four month old granddaughter this week so it may seem surprising that the verse that jumps out of this psalm is, “Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.” We have discovered the rich blessing of friends and family, and how the two categories blend together and overlap in so many ways. Folks have stood with us and held us up in surprising and humbling ways. The offers of help and support from all sides has been an overwhelming display of the wealth and riches we possess in family and friends.
For years I have known that the richest of blessings available to anyone is the wealth that comes to us as we build relationships with each other and with God. This past week I have experienced this richest of blessings in countless ways. “If there is anything I can do, let me know” has been said and experienced in so many ways and from such a wide variety of people. Prayers beyond count have been raised in support of our family by those we know and by those we will never know. Many wish they could actually do something, not being content to simply pray and perhaps not being aware of what a difficult and helpful task it is to lift up another to God in prayer. It seems so simple and is such a deep and profound help and support to us all. I am guessing it seems such a light burden because so many are joined in task of holding us up to God. The web of relationships formed as our families have drawn together is an astounding testament to the wealth and riches we hold in the relationships of which we are a part.
Thank you for the giving and receiving of the richness and wealth of the relationships of which you are a part in this part of our lives, as well as in the rest of the triumphs and tragedies of our lives and your own. One of the letters of condolence reminded us that out of the compassion and support we have received will also flow a depth of compassion toward others at some future time in our lives.
September 17, 2012
Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 23, 2012
Psalm 112
1 Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
7 They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD.
8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.
(NRSV)
Our family has been dealing with the tragic death of our four month old granddaughter this week so it may seem surprising that the verse that jumps out of this psalm is, “Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.” We have discovered the rich blessing of friends and family, and how the two categories blend together and overlap in so many ways. Folks have stood with us and held us up in surprising and humbling ways. The offers of help and support from all sides has been an overwhelming display of the wealth and riches we possess in family and friends.
For years I have known that the richest of blessings available to anyone is the wealth that comes to us as we build relationships with each other and with God. This past week I have experienced this richest of blessings in countless ways. “If there is anything I can do, let me know” has been said and experienced in so many ways and from such a wide variety of people. Prayers beyond count have been raised in support of our family by those we know and by those we will never know. Many wish they could actually do something, not being content to simply pray and perhaps not being aware of what a difficult and helpful task it is to lift up another to God in prayer. It seems so simple and is such a deep and profound help and support to us all. I am guessing it seems such a light burden because so many are joined in task of holding us up to God. The web of relationships formed as our families have drawn together is an astounding testament to the wealth and riches we hold in the relationships of which we are a part.
Thank you for the giving and receiving of the richness and wealth of the relationships of which you are a part in this part of our lives, as well as in the rest of the triumphs and tragedies of our lives and your own. One of the letters of condolence reminded us that out of the compassion and support we have received will also flow a depth of compassion toward others at some future time in our lives.
September 17, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Psalm Meditation 639
Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 16, 2012
Psalm 82
1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? (Selah)
3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I say, "You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince."
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you!
(NRSV)
When things go badly for someone else, we know that they did something to deserve it. The homeless, the unemployed, the chronic poor all did something to get themselves in this position. This thought process means we don’t really have to do anything for these people because they are already receiving justice, reaping the consequences of their actions and being visited by the sins of the previous generations who taught them all the bad habits.
When things go badly for us, we are not as quick to claim that we had something to do with our own predicament. When we are the ones effected, we know there must be something wrong with the system, because we did not do anything to deserve this type of treatment from the world. By the time we are in a position of weakness, that leaves us feeling helpless, hopeless and worthless, we are no longer in a position to change things in the system. We are left to languish in our situation, which is still no fault of our own.
The psalmist reminds us, that the best time to work toward justice for the poor and disenfranchised is while we have to power to act. Rather than allowing ourselves the luxury of blaming the weak and the orphan for their status, we do well to work toward a culture in which the weak and the orphan are treated with justice and fairness, even when it means we have to make a sacrifice or two in order to achieve that justice.
As children of God we do well to be the champions for those who have no power and influence in the ways of the world. God does have a heart for those who cannot defend themselves from the wiles and whims of those who use their power for personal gain. God does have a heart for those who work for justice and equity. God does have a heart for those who strive for relationships over stuff.
September 10, 2012
Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 16, 2012
Psalm 82
1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? (Selah)
3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I say, "You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince."
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you!
(NRSV)
When things go badly for someone else, we know that they did something to deserve it. The homeless, the unemployed, the chronic poor all did something to get themselves in this position. This thought process means we don’t really have to do anything for these people because they are already receiving justice, reaping the consequences of their actions and being visited by the sins of the previous generations who taught them all the bad habits.
When things go badly for us, we are not as quick to claim that we had something to do with our own predicament. When we are the ones effected, we know there must be something wrong with the system, because we did not do anything to deserve this type of treatment from the world. By the time we are in a position of weakness, that leaves us feeling helpless, hopeless and worthless, we are no longer in a position to change things in the system. We are left to languish in our situation, which is still no fault of our own.
The psalmist reminds us, that the best time to work toward justice for the poor and disenfranchised is while we have to power to act. Rather than allowing ourselves the luxury of blaming the weak and the orphan for their status, we do well to work toward a culture in which the weak and the orphan are treated with justice and fairness, even when it means we have to make a sacrifice or two in order to achieve that justice.
As children of God we do well to be the champions for those who have no power and influence in the ways of the world. God does have a heart for those who cannot defend themselves from the wiles and whims of those who use their power for personal gain. God does have a heart for those who work for justice and equity. God does have a heart for those who strive for relationships over stuff.
September 10, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Psalm Meditation 638
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 9, 2012
Psalm 52
1 Why do you boast, O mighty one, of mischief done against the godly? All day long
2 you are plotting destruction. Your tongue is like a sharp razor, you worker of treachery.
3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth. (Selah)
4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah)
6 The righteous will see, and fear, and will laugh at the evildoer, saying,
7 "See the one who would not take refuge in God, but trusted in abundant riches, and sought refuge in wealth!"
8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
9 I will thank you forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good.
(NRSV)
I have heard folks say, and have said it myself, “If you want to know what your priorities are, see where you spend most of your money.” Whether we like it or not, we tend to put our money toward what we think is important in our lives. Then I see verse 7 of this psalm, and realize that judging our priorities by the money we invest is placing money as a priority over God. When we can discover our priorities by how we spend our money, we have put wealth and riches in the center of our lives.
That doesn’t mean we get rid of our money and other wealth assets. It does mean we have to make a way in our lives to put God at the center of our lives. We have to find a way to determine priorities and worth that are not centered in abundant riches and wealth. For the folks of the psalmist’s day, the belief was that there was a set amount of wealth available, so the only way anyone could get rich was by taking wealth from others. While we have expanded our concept of the limits of wealth, there is a point at which we question whether a person is worth what they receive and how much help those riches could offer if given to other causes.
In all of this, it still comes down to money. How do we determine a person’s worth in the context of God and our relationship with God? It is a problem in a society that likes to know where we rate in relation to those around us. In the eyes of God we are each seen as having infinite worth. In the eyes of God there is no ranking system of faithfulness, righteousness or other categories of worth. In the eyes of God we are each unique and incomparable.
To be in the world we will likely always have a rating and ranking system in which we will be placed by ourselves and others. To be citizen’s of heaven we recognize that we are each of infinite worth and that God loves each of us as if we were the only one. In our relations with each other, as children of God we no longer use the rating systems of the world as we see each other through the eyes of God.
September 3, 2012
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 9, 2012
Psalm 52
1 Why do you boast, O mighty one, of mischief done against the godly? All day long
2 you are plotting destruction. Your tongue is like a sharp razor, you worker of treachery.
3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth. (Selah)
4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah)
6 The righteous will see, and fear, and will laugh at the evildoer, saying,
7 "See the one who would not take refuge in God, but trusted in abundant riches, and sought refuge in wealth!"
8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
9 I will thank you forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good.
(NRSV)
I have heard folks say, and have said it myself, “If you want to know what your priorities are, see where you spend most of your money.” Whether we like it or not, we tend to put our money toward what we think is important in our lives. Then I see verse 7 of this psalm, and realize that judging our priorities by the money we invest is placing money as a priority over God. When we can discover our priorities by how we spend our money, we have put wealth and riches in the center of our lives.
That doesn’t mean we get rid of our money and other wealth assets. It does mean we have to make a way in our lives to put God at the center of our lives. We have to find a way to determine priorities and worth that are not centered in abundant riches and wealth. For the folks of the psalmist’s day, the belief was that there was a set amount of wealth available, so the only way anyone could get rich was by taking wealth from others. While we have expanded our concept of the limits of wealth, there is a point at which we question whether a person is worth what they receive and how much help those riches could offer if given to other causes.
In all of this, it still comes down to money. How do we determine a person’s worth in the context of God and our relationship with God? It is a problem in a society that likes to know where we rate in relation to those around us. In the eyes of God we are each seen as having infinite worth. In the eyes of God there is no ranking system of faithfulness, righteousness or other categories of worth. In the eyes of God we are each unique and incomparable.
To be in the world we will likely always have a rating and ranking system in which we will be placed by ourselves and others. To be citizen’s of heaven we recognize that we are each of infinite worth and that God loves each of us as if we were the only one. In our relations with each other, as children of God we no longer use the rating systems of the world as we see each other through the eyes of God.
September 3, 2012
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