Eastertide
May 16, 2018
Scripture Reading: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord! –Psalm 104:31-34, 35b
As I write this, molten lava spews forth from eruptions from Hawaii’s Big Island Volcano inundating the island. Property is being destroyed, and lives and livelihoods threatened. In our scripture today such a volcanic eruption is used to illustrate the all-powerful nature of God. Perhaps such a devastating illustration of God’s capabilities is included to get our attention. Do we take God for granted? Do we recognize God for all aspects of God’s being, not just the parts of God we pick and choose because they fit our comfort zone? Can we envision the power of God’s love streaming overall spreading God’s love with the force and power of a volcano? We are called to be the conduit of that love enriching lives rather than destroying them.
I heard on the news that a truck struck the unmarked car of a highway patrolman resulting in enough damage to the vehicle it was rendered inoperable. The truck drove on as if nothing had happened. Did the driver realize he or she had hit someone? Probably, although he or she never faced the consequences of his or her actions. How often do we rush through life causing small or even large incidents that tear at the heart of God’s love at times being oblivious to the results of our actions?
And that brings us to the need to maintain open lines of communion with God in all of God’s manifestations: Creator, Redeemer, Counselor/Advocate. Getting in synch with God through our meditations and practice of other spiritual disciplines enables that relationship which prepares us to love like the muscle memory of skilled athlete without any conscious efforts.
Prayer:
May my meditation be pleasing to [You,]
for I rejoice in [You.]
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord! Amen.