Psalm Meditation 698
All Saints Sunday
November 3, 2013
Psalm 53
1 Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts; there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.
3 They have all fallen away, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one.
4 Have they no knowledge, those evildoers, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
5 There they shall be in great terror, in terror such as has not been. For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly; they will be put to shame, for God has rejected them.
6 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
(NRSV)
I know some very intelligent people who do not believe in God. They are convinced that if something cannot be proved by scientific method, it is not true. Ever since the Enlightenment folks have gone through the mental, philosophical, theological, scientific gymnastics to either prove or disprove the existence of God. The arguments have given us some interesting ‘proofs’ as to why and how God either does or does not exist. It was in response to the Enlightenment that folks came up with bibilical literalism; if the Bible is not 100% true and error free, then it is completely false. Sadly, this argument came from folks defending the existence of God.
I know this is not the kind of fool to whom the psalmist refers. The psalmist means the folks who act as if there is no God, no one to call them to account for their actions within the community. They act against both God and the community standards of behavior. For the psalmist there is no distinction between the standards of God and the standards of the community. The fools of the psalm are those who flaunt their bad behavior because they have the resources to ignore their upbringing in the community.
I do agree with the psalmist that those who do not believe in God are foolish. They refuse to see that there may actually be an entire broad sphere of existence that is beyond proof. They limit themselves to those things that can be proved and conjectured through scientific method and miss those things that are only available to those willing to take the leap of faith. The cool thing about faith is that it cannot be proved or independently tested in any way. People of faith offer the proof of their own lives and the difference their faith makes in how they face the events of a day.
October 28, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Psalm Meditation 697
Twenty third Sunday of Ordinary Time
October 27, 2013
Psalm 103
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul.
(NRSV)
The first two verses of this psalm were my wake up call from time to time when dad had the task of waking my younger brother and me. He would stand at the door and recite them with gentleness and enthusiasm. It is possible that he used other verses of psalms, hymns or poems on other mornings but this is the one I remember hearing. It was a reminder, or has become one, to start the day with a sense of holiness, thanksgiving and gratitude for all that God is and does among us.
There are folks who respond to a ‘good morning’ with a ‘what’s good about it?’ How might folks react if we ran through even a partial list of the psalmist’s reasons to bless God. ‘What’s good about this morning? God is good as we are offered forgiveness, redemption, vindication, justice, mercy, grace and steadfast love at the hand of God.’ That might be a little intense for someone who is off to a cynical start to the day, however it might be good to click those off in our own heads before we respond, ‘I wish you a good morning.’
As a morning person, I am inclined to bless God then. For those who function best at other times of the day it is good to spend a moment at the high point of the day remembering that God is with us, blesses us, loves us beyond our ability to comprehend, and enjoys our company in the moments we pause to reflect on the presence and blessings of God in our lives and the lives of those around us. Bless the LORD.
October 21, 2013
Twenty third Sunday of Ordinary Time
October 27, 2013
Psalm 103
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul.
(NRSV)
The first two verses of this psalm were my wake up call from time to time when dad had the task of waking my younger brother and me. He would stand at the door and recite them with gentleness and enthusiasm. It is possible that he used other verses of psalms, hymns or poems on other mornings but this is the one I remember hearing. It was a reminder, or has become one, to start the day with a sense of holiness, thanksgiving and gratitude for all that God is and does among us.
There are folks who respond to a ‘good morning’ with a ‘what’s good about it?’ How might folks react if we ran through even a partial list of the psalmist’s reasons to bless God. ‘What’s good about this morning? God is good as we are offered forgiveness, redemption, vindication, justice, mercy, grace and steadfast love at the hand of God.’ That might be a little intense for someone who is off to a cynical start to the day, however it might be good to click those off in our own heads before we respond, ‘I wish you a good morning.’
As a morning person, I am inclined to bless God then. For those who function best at other times of the day it is good to spend a moment at the high point of the day remembering that God is with us, blesses us, loves us beyond our ability to comprehend, and enjoys our company in the moments we pause to reflect on the presence and blessings of God in our lives and the lives of those around us. Bless the LORD.
October 21, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Psalm Meditation 696
Twenty second Sunday of Ordinary Time
October 20, 2013
Psalm 48
1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,
2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
3 Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.
4 Then the kings assembled, they came on together.
5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight;
6 trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor,
7 as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah
9 We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
10 Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers,
13 consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation
14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.
(NRSV)
Jerusalem was built in a wonderfully strategic place that made it difficult to attack and easy to defend. The psalmist could have celebrated the ingenuity of the folks who founded the city on such a great spot. The psalm could have praised the folks who formulated the military strategies that went with the excellent positioning of the city. The psalmist chose instead to give the praise to God.
It was the inspiration and direction of God that led folks to build the city in this place. It was the creative genius and power of God to make a place on which the city could be founded. It was the steadfast love of God that chose this people to live in this place over anyone else. It was God who had the first and final say in the choices that made Jerusalem an advantageous spot for a variety of activities.
In our emphasis on individuality we play up the skills of people and down play the contribution God has made to who we are and what we do. It is the gifts of God at work in the lives of individuals and groups that makes it possible for folks to do what they do. There is likely a happy median between taking all the credit for our skills and actions and giving the credit to God and keeping none for ourselves. God gives us gifts and we use them to the best of our willingness and ability. We do well to acknowledge our abilities and accomplishments even as we give thanks to God.
October 14, 2013
Twenty second Sunday of Ordinary Time
October 20, 2013
Psalm 48
1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,
2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
3 Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.
4 Then the kings assembled, they came on together.
5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight;
6 trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor,
7 as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah
9 We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
10 Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers,
13 consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation
14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.
(NRSV)
Jerusalem was built in a wonderfully strategic place that made it difficult to attack and easy to defend. The psalmist could have celebrated the ingenuity of the folks who founded the city on such a great spot. The psalm could have praised the folks who formulated the military strategies that went with the excellent positioning of the city. The psalmist chose instead to give the praise to God.
It was the inspiration and direction of God that led folks to build the city in this place. It was the creative genius and power of God to make a place on which the city could be founded. It was the steadfast love of God that chose this people to live in this place over anyone else. It was God who had the first and final say in the choices that made Jerusalem an advantageous spot for a variety of activities.
In our emphasis on individuality we play up the skills of people and down play the contribution God has made to who we are and what we do. It is the gifts of God at work in the lives of individuals and groups that makes it possible for folks to do what they do. There is likely a happy median between taking all the credit for our skills and actions and giving the credit to God and keeping none for ourselves. God gives us gifts and we use them to the best of our willingness and ability. We do well to acknowledge our abilities and accomplishments even as we give thanks to God.
October 14, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Psalm Meditation 695
Twenty first Sunday of Ordinary Time
October 13, 2013
Psalm 98
1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2 The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
(NRSV)
Sing a new song! It has such a great joyous ring to it, until we realize all that is involved in participating in that kind of newness. Someone has to write words and music that capture the joy of the moment. Folks have to learn both new words and new music at the same time. There is the frustration of all this newness at once. New may be good in some things, but having this kind of newness thrust on us can get unnerving. The excitement of the newness wears off fairly quickly when we are confronted with the full weight and meaning of that newness.
At the same time, when there is an event as momentous as a victory at the hand of God, something new seems appropriate and worth the struggle involved in bringing this new song of celebration to full life. At moments in the life of a community, something new is the only thing that will fit. We make that sacrifices needed to bring this new song of celebration to life as a project of the whole community as a way to praise, thank and honor God. It is worth all the effort and energy invested.
Somewhere between the frustration and the excitement that new things bring to us we find ourselves thinking of how frustrated and excited God must be as we make the choices that lead us sometimes closer to and sometimes farther from a relationship with God. In that moment the sacrifices we make to praise God seem pretty small. In that moment the praise we offer with all our hearts seems too little to match the magnitude and majesty of the works God does among us. And so we find ourselves refocused on the endeavor to sing a new song, a song of praise to God for this moment of marvelous joy.
October 7, 2013
Twenty first Sunday of Ordinary Time
October 13, 2013
Psalm 98
1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2 The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
(NRSV)
Sing a new song! It has such a great joyous ring to it, until we realize all that is involved in participating in that kind of newness. Someone has to write words and music that capture the joy of the moment. Folks have to learn both new words and new music at the same time. There is the frustration of all this newness at once. New may be good in some things, but having this kind of newness thrust on us can get unnerving. The excitement of the newness wears off fairly quickly when we are confronted with the full weight and meaning of that newness.
At the same time, when there is an event as momentous as a victory at the hand of God, something new seems appropriate and worth the struggle involved in bringing this new song of celebration to full life. At moments in the life of a community, something new is the only thing that will fit. We make that sacrifices needed to bring this new song of celebration to life as a project of the whole community as a way to praise, thank and honor God. It is worth all the effort and energy invested.
Somewhere between the frustration and the excitement that new things bring to us we find ourselves thinking of how frustrated and excited God must be as we make the choices that lead us sometimes closer to and sometimes farther from a relationship with God. In that moment the sacrifices we make to praise God seem pretty small. In that moment the praise we offer with all our hearts seems too little to match the magnitude and majesty of the works God does among us. And so we find ourselves refocused on the endeavor to sing a new song, a song of praise to God for this moment of marvelous joy.
October 7, 2013
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