Eastertide

May 27, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 113

Who is like the Lord our God,
   who is seated on high,
who looks far down
   on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust,
   and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
   with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
   making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord! –Psalm 113:5-9

Who is like the Lord? We are each called to be like the Lord. Not to be the Lord our God but to follow the Lord’s example. God incarnate even went to the extreme of coming to the earth as Jesus to model for us the way of being that will guide us toward a full and meaningful life. When was the last time you helped lift a needy person from the ash heap? The news reported yesterday that during the COVID 19 pandemic, the number of children across the USA who are food insecure has risen to one in five. That is the norm in Oklahoma, has been since 2013 when it was one in four.

Barrenness was the curse of every woman when this Psalm was written as having children was their primary purpose in life. The stories of Sarah and Hannah illustrate that reality, even though both their husbands were very compassionate; other wives and society were not.

Of course, it is all about loving like God, which can only happen if we love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. God loves us whether we meet society’s criteria or not.  We are to love others as God loves them, not as the world defines them. God wants the very best for all God’s children, and all people are God’s children.  God created the earth that serves our needs well when we take good care of it. God’s design for life is righteous. Our task is to stay in sync with God’s plan.

Prayer: Creator and Systainer of All, forgive us when we align with the ways of the world. Help is to taste and see that the Lord is good*. Amen.

*See Psalm 34:8

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.