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