Lent
February 28, 2018
Scripture Reading: Psalm 19
Moreover by them [the law] is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer. –Psalm 19:11-14.
I, along I am sure with many others, love this closing part of the prayer in Psalm 19. As I read the earlier verses, I realized the entire prayer includes even more content to consider. The Psalmist asks God to clear us from hidden faults and help us avoid getting caught up with people who only have bad things to say. This is good advice for today.
I was particularly struck by the request that God clear me from hidden faults. Just as we often do not see our beauty, we also can overlook our faults. Being able to judge ourselves is almost impossible. That is why it is good to examine ourselves regularly in light of the characteristics God expects of us like loving one another.
How often do we see the insolent? I confess I rarely use the world insolent so I consulted Merriam-Webster to help me understand what insolent means. I found two definitions that seem applicable:
- haughty and contemptuous or brutal in behavior or language
- lacking usual or proper respect for rank or position: presumptuously disrespectful or familiar toward equals or superiors*
We live in complex times with polarized views of the same world. Meaningful discourse requires us to examine our hearts and minds and understand why we hold the views that we choose. How do our life experiences shape our perspective? How can we help others understand why we see the world and the solutions we do? How do we learn from others new ways of understanding that can inform our discourse? How can we avoid getting caught up in insolence while loving all others?
Prayer:
Help us accept each other
as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother,
each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us
and Bring us to believe:
we are ourselves accepted
and meant to love and live. ** Amen
*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/insolent
**First verse of Help Us Accept Each Other by Fred Kaan see at http://www.hopepublishing.com/html/main.isx?sitesec=40.2.1.0&hymnID=3521