Lent
March 31, 2021
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 36:5-11
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your judgments are like the great deep;
you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your salvation to the upright of heart!
Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,
or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
I had just watched the rescue of a dog from a floating piece of ice on the morning news when I sat down to consider the above scripture for today. I smiled when I read you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. We serve an awesome God who loves all creation including a dog running from a coyote, that got stuck on ice. God calls all of us to love all his creation, stirring the heart of one man to risk his own life to save that dog.
As our society is struggling with how to deal with a horribly dangerous and determined virus, we also are experiencing a pandemic of being out of touch with reality. We are learning the hard way that the idols of the world, such as pride, greed, lust, and envy ultimately have no power in a world created by God who is Love. Yet, we cannot recognize and accept that reality and invest our lives in saving others’ lives. Over 500,000 people in the USA have died from COVID, many needlessly because we will not wear masks, socially distance, and get vaccinations. We have lost the art of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Holy Week is the best time of the year to reengage with God as we observe the sacrifice of God’s Son on a cross to save us from those very idols we cannot seem to let go. The love of God can and will sever those ties if we let it.
Prayer: Creator God, forgive us for turning to the idols of the world in our fear and reaction to things that threaten us. Surround us with your love enabling us to love you more dearly and to love one another. 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.