Ash Wednesday
February 14, 2018
Scripture Reading: Psalm 25:1-10
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long. –Psalm 25:1-5
A sliver of hope remains in the heart of the one who wrote this prayer. The author longs for his or her trust to be validated. The understanding that God’s timing is not always in synch with ours is evident.
The one who prays also wants assurance that his or her ways are also the Lord’s ways. One tends to question his or her understanding of God’s ways as time passes and affliction continues unabated.
Times of waiting often lead to action. Times of waiting with God results in positive and productive action. Doing justice well requires the gift of patience that passes understanding undergirding impatience for correcting wrongs that are clearly out of synch with the ways of God.
Sojourner Truth born into slavery was sold several times in her youth having many bad experiences and a few not so bad. She became a Christian as an adult and dedicated her life to righting the wrong of slavery. Her patience resting in God gave her the courage to be impatient with human wrongs.
We are all called to do justice, to alter life courses toward the ways of the love of God. How do we answer?
Prayer:
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long. Amen.