Living in the Spirit

June 24, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18

Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
   who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance;
they exult in your name all day long,
   and extol your righteousness.
For you are the glory of their strength;
   by your favor our horn is exalted.
For our shield belongs to the Lord,
   our king to the Holy One of Israel. –Psalm 89:15-18

I miss singing in the congregation. I do sing while watching our live stream service, but it is not the same. If all the viewers are singing, the Lord surely hears us as God’s people lifting our voices together. That must be music to God’s ears.

I fear God more often hears a cacophony of noise expressing rage and pain and anger being sounded from around the world during these trying times. I listened to the mother of Bubba Wallace, the racecar driver who found a noose in his garage recently. She indicated she spoke words of comfort and support to him after he called her to alert her to what had happened. She then went to take a shower and screamed and screamed her frustration and concern. I hear the police union leaders’ frustration at being accused of overprotecting “bad” cops and thus causing the problem the stems from racism. While society seems unwilling to address the systemic racism that makes mistreatment of people of color acceptable. Health care professionals are begging people to wear masks and physical distance to reduce the spread of COVID 19. Others say, “No one can tell us what to do,” even when our actions are killing our neighbors.

The time has come to listen to one another with the intent of understanding the other’s positions. To respond in the language of love, as we search together for common ground for the Common Good. If we seek the Spirit’s guidance, God will shine the Lord’s light on our countenances, and we will discover God has innately endowed us with the ability to do justice and live in righteousness if we make it our choice.

Prayer: Lord of Love and Mercy, hear our rage and pain and anger and channel its energy into solutions that are just and righteous. Amen.

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.