Today’s Readings: Psalm 45:10-17; Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30; Romans 7:15-25
Today’s Psalm is an interesting Psalm to sit with on the Sunday following the 4th of July. Why would I say that? I say that because I know that many of our churches across the country will use this Sunday to sing the praises of our country. And yet how does this morning’s Psalm begin? With these words: “Now listen, daughter, don’t miss a word: forget your country, put your home behind you” (Psalm 45:10 – The Message). I doubt that many pastors will use this text in worship. So what is the psalmist getting at behind those words? My sense is that the psalmist is calling his daughter to gain a sense of perspective that is larger than the one she is use to using. That’s why later the psalmist urges her not to “dote on father and grandfather” (the past) but to “set your mind now on sons” (the future) (Psalm 45:16 – The Message). I love the words from this morning’s psalm because they call on all of us to do the same thing – step back and look at things from a larger perspective. While we can certainly give thanks for the country in which we live, we should not forget to give thanks for other lands and other peoples whose presence enriches our lives and our world. While we can give thanks for our own families and friends who have supported and nurtured us, we should not forget to give thanks for all the other families and friends who have supported and nurtured others. In other words, we should begin to move beyond the narrow lens through which we view the world, and open ourselves to seeing glimpses of a larger perspective: God’s. On this final day of your holiday weekend, find some time to do just that. Til next time…
Today’s Psalm is an interesting Psalm to sit with on the Sunday following the 4th of July. Why would I say that? I say that because I know that many of our churches across the country will use this Sunday to sing the praises of our country. And yet how does this morning’s Psalm begin? With these words: “Now listen, daughter, don’t miss a word: forget your country, put your home behind you” (Psalm 45:10 – The Message). I doubt that many pastors will use this text in worship. So what is the psalmist getting at behind those words? My sense is that the psalmist is calling his daughter to gain a sense of perspective that is larger than the one she is use to using. That’s why later the psalmist urges her not to “dote on father and grandfather” (the past) but to “set your mind now on sons” (the future) (Psalm 45:16 – The Message). I love the words from this morning’s psalm because they call on all of us to do the same thing – step back and look at things from a larger perspective. While we can certainly give thanks for the country in which we live, we should not forget to give thanks for other lands and other peoples whose presence enriches our lives and our world. While we can give thanks for our own families and friends who have supported and nurtured us, we should not forget to give thanks for all the other families and friends who have supported and nurtured others. In other words, we should begin to move beyond the narrow lens through which we view the world, and open ourselves to seeing glimpses of a larger perspective: God’s. On this final day of your holiday weekend, find some time to do just that. Til next time…
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