Psalm Meditation 1283 ¶Second Sunday After Epiphany ¶January 19, 2025 ¶Psalm 11 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2011&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶Often there seem to be people taking potshots at people of faith. In some cases we deserve it, for instance when we stand in judgment against people with whom we disagree. We condemn them to hell, as if we had the final say in such matters. Since they do not believe the same things we believe, they must be wrong, and probably evil. When we act as if we are the final arbiters of truth and faith, we take on at least a few of the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. ¶Other times we are all painted with the same broad brush of anger. If one person of faith has treated someone poorly that person may decide that all people of faith are as bad as that one person. In those cases it is up to us to demonstrate by our own example that we are not the same as those who have treated them badly. We can’t simply say that we are not all like that, we have to put in the effort to demonstrate that many people of faith are humble, generous, patient, willing to rejoice over the accomplishments of others, etc. ¶The psalmist reminds us that when God is present, all the time, God is watching over us. And since God’s judgment is most harsh on those of us who claim to follow the way God teaches, we are just as likely to receive the coals of fire and sulfur, and the scorching wind, all meant to purify us and return us to the faithful and righteous folks we claim and intend to be. “For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.” ¶January 13, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1282 ¶Baptism of the Lord ¶January 12, 2024 ¶Psalm 16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2016&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶Some of the religions of the world have groups within them who have fallen prey to the siren song of empire. They no longer want to follow the tenets of the faith that move people toward tolerance, peace and unity. They would rather have power and control than live in the presence of people who follow another way of living in the world. It is more important to have the power to coerce others into their way of doing things than to convince others of the helpfulness of their faith by living it out in the world. ¶The psalmist knows that there are people who follow other faiths; whose choices seem to leave them without the refuge and hope of those who follow the way of YHWH. Yes, they are wrong as far as the psalmist is concerned, however it is in this life where the sorrows multiply with no mention of those carrying over to an after life. Their practices are discomforting to the psalmist, all without condemning the people or the practice. ¶The important thing is to be able to stand firm in our own faith, with humility, knowing that for us YHWH is the way we want to be. When we find and follow our path, “my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.” We become people who are content with having enough rather than desiring more and more of anything and everything. We are filled with joy as we live in peace. ¶January 6, 2025 (Epiphany) ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1281 ¶Second Sunday After Christmas ¶January 5, 2024 ¶Psalm 150 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+150&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶I grew up surrounded by music. My father had an appreciation for music even though he did not play an instrument. My mother played violin, piano, and sang. Each of my brothers, and me, played in a school band, and most of us played multiple instruments not usually included in school band. We also had years of singing in choirs and other singing groups. Making music, participating in the art and craft of music was, and continues to be, a part of life for us. My wife and children also have music training and experience. ¶The psalmist calls us to use our instruments to praise God. There is no mention of quality, as much as variety. If it makes a noise it can be used to praise God. It also seems that the emphasis is on the praise rather than on the skill of the musician. “Let everything that breathes paise the LORD!,” includes humans, and beyond, in offering our praise. Our various instruments as well as the chirps, howls, barks, purrs, squeals, and screams of other creatures are called into service for the praise of God. ¶It seems that when we put ourselves in an attitude of praise we more readily hear the praise from those around us. Sounds that are annoying, frightening, or otherwise unsettling can take on a different emotional tone when we are tuned to praise. It is still important to be aware of the creature making those sounds, just in case it is not in a praise mood at the time. When we look for reasons and ways to praise, we move closer to the way of God in our lives. ¶December 30, 2024 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1280 ¶First Sunday After Christmas ¶December 29, 2024 ¶Psalm 148 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+148&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶The older I get, the more of a monotheist I am becoming. Not that my God is the only one and all the rest are pretenders, rather that there is only one God who is richer, fuller, and deeper than we can comprehend. Each religious tradition has picked up on characteristics of that one God, given him/her/it a name/names that fit for that tradition. As we gather for worship, we offer our praise to the one God in the name and style that fits for us and our group. In whatever way we hold things sacred, we lift up our thanks and praise. ¶When the psalmist calls for each of the parts of Creation to lift up and honor Yahweh, it is an invitation to praise the one God in a way that is fulfilling for each creature lifted up. The sun, moon, and stars praise God by continuing the tasks for which they were each created; sea monsters, deeps, fire, hail, snow, frost, and winds offer praise in ways that work together with the one God for the sake of all of Creation. ¶If you agree with me, have a more traditional view of God, or go a totally different direction in your working definition of God, we can each offer thanks and praise for the way the world, the universe around us, works together for the benefit of such a variety of people, animals, things, and ephemera. Despite any attempts to thwart the process of Creation by any number of influences, we can see the resilient power of God in and through all Creation — and that gives us reason to offer our praise. ¶December 23, 2024 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1279 ¶Fourth Sunday of Advent ¶December 22, 2024 ¶Psalm 145 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+145&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶We like to think that the way we view God and religion is the right and proper way to do so. Our way is the best, and for some people, the only way to follow God. All the other ways are inferior at best, and wrong headed or even evil at the worst. All of ‘those’ people are sadly mistaken in their beliefs and practices, and it is a shame all of those otherwise good people have consigned themselves to Hell because they don’t believe the right things. We will miss them when we get to Heaven. ¶Then we read a psalm like this. “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.” While it is tempting to believe that these words only apply to our kind of people, it is just as possible to read it as a reminder that God is a lot more open and accepting than we are. There is not nearly as much judgment of ‘those’ people as we would like to see. Really, what if God actually loves each one of us, no matter what our beliefs and actions lead us to do and think? ¶The psalmist may or may not be calling us to give thanks to God for looking out for us — each and all of us. Whether that is what the psalmist intends or not, it is a good plan of action to see others through the eyes of God’s steadfast love, mercy, and compassion. It tends to take the wind out of the sails of people who prefer to fight and argue with those with whom they do not see eye to eye if we look at others through eyes of love and concern. God is the host at a much bigger table than most of us are willing to see. ¶December 19 , 2024 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1278 ¶Third Sunday of Advent ¶December 15, 2024 ¶Psalm 141 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+141&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶There are times in which we are tempted to believe that we are the only faithful folk left in the world. We may be of the opinion that no one is nearly as good as we are in the practice of faithfulness. We set ourselves apart as an example of what it means to be God’s favorite. We look at all the people around us knowing that they could not possibly live up to the high standards that guide our own life. It might be in our family, at work or school, and even in worship. We are the faithful remnant, biding our time until God comes. ¶The psalmist is willing to be disciplined and corrected by those whose lives are exemplary in every way. At the same time, there is plenty of judgment heaped on those who are not up to snuff in the psalmist’s eyes. We will gladly stand, looking down our noses at all who do things of which we disapprove, when it is their time to pay the price for all the evil they have done. If the psalmist is of the mind that the righteous will also face judgment, there is no indication of such here. ¶Whether the psalmist is as guilty of the intense pride of hubris as is possible, the important thing is to turn our eyes, hearts, and lives to God. In God we find refuge, a defender, and protector. God is not standing over us with a clipboard full of judgmental checkmarks against us. First and foremost, God loves us and wants what is best for us, especially for us to have a close and intimate relationship with God. Out of that relationship we can gather and grow other helpful and encouraging relationships with others. ¶December 11, 2024 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1276 ¶Second Sunday of Advent ¶December 8, 2024 ¶Psalm 136 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+136&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶This psalm appears to be a litany, in which the leader reads a statement and the congregation responds with the same phrase after each statement as a way to participate in the act of worship without having to read anything. The psalmist retells the salvation history of Israel and the people respond with a reminder that the steadfast love of God lasts forever. When things are going well, it is good to know that God loves us forever. When things are going poorly, it is good to remember that the steadfast love of God holds us through every crisis. ¶When things are going well, it is tempting to take love for granted whether it be the love of God or of a friend or family member. It is a given, an ‘of course you do,’ understanding with each other that love is present in this moment. We are glad to know, however, it can does not need to be deep or intimate, it simply has to be there as a common acknowledgment. Good times do not test the depth, the height, the breadth of love. ¶The psalmist does not list many of the good times of salvation history, because as important as they are, they do not test the bonds and bounds of love. That God gave us the whole of Creation as an act of love is the beginning of our history with God, the rest is a reminder that God has been with us through all the worst parts of our lives, loving us as steadfastly and completely as we could ever hope to be loved. “O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” ¶December 4, 2024 ¶LCM