Living in the Spirit
October 21, 2020
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
Turn, O Lord! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands—
O prosper the work of our hands! –Psalm 90:13-17
I am never quite sure what to make of the Psalmists, who write about God afflicting us. Is it recognition that the person talking has sinned and, in some way, thinks God is punishing them? Are they trying to justify that they have learned from their mistakes and are ready to return to their work on God’s behalf? Evil is always with us. Is the Psalmist asking to be made glad amid corruption? Is the prospering of the work of our hands the ultimate source of gladness?
My guess is like me, most of us are caught in a whirlwind of emotions and fears amid the COVID-19. Is this cough my usual reaction to my sinus problems? I always look forward to the first hard freeze of the year about this time. How do we keep up with friends and relatives when we cannot visit them? What is the best use of my time? It was incredibly hard to understand that staying home away from others is the best way to love them now.
Having more time to think has challenged me to consider the good and the flawed worldviews in our society today. COVID-19 is an equal opportunity virus. Yet, those who have jobs where they can work from home are less exposed. The availability of financial capital or quality health care results in better health outcomes. The people more likely to die lack accessible, affordable health care and often must work closely with the public. Others, who lost their jobs, are dealing with evictions and food lines. The inequities in our culture have been greatly enlarged by the virus.
During these challenging days, will we learn from our mistakes and create a better world for all God’s children? If so, what changes will we make? What changes can we make now?
Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, help us see our world through your eyes so that we can identify those things that need to be changed to fulfill your vision for this world. 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.