Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Proper 14 (19) - Year A
On this day of remembrance of the nuclear plague set loose on the world the overall tone of this psalm is difficult. How do we divide out one part of the whole as a needle of providence in a haystack of difficulty?
Given the tone of America attempting to preempt terror through terror there is a feel that we could paraphrase the whole psalm through the lens of American capitalism and militarism. For instance, the beginning and ending -
"Alleluia!
"Give thanks to America, call on its name,
proclaim its deeds to the peoples!
Sing to it, make music for it,
recount all its wonders!
Glory in its holy name,
let the hearts that see America rejoice!
"Seek America and its strength...."
"America gave them the territories of nations,
it reaped the fruit of other people's labors,
on condition that they kept its statutes,
and remained obedient to its laws."
How might the background of providence be glimpsed when the foreground of self-interest is so distracting?
[Note: You might be interested in reflecting on "God Weeps" - #2048 from The Faith We Sing - Comment - Image - as another way to approach this day and this psalm.]
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2002/august2002.html
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b or Psalm 85:8-13
Sing for what can now be seen as providence. Once it could only be seen as disaster, but now, through the lens of steadfast love meeting faithfulness and righteousness cavorting with peace, we can glimpse a blessing in the midst of true disaster.
This doesn't mitigate the troubles and or redeem the losses. This simply gives us a perspective from which to stand and take another step.
What would this world be like if we had memorials to providence rather than to victors? to mystery of everyday living rather than to mechanical beasts?
Consider what song you are singing. If it is too optimistic, get real. If it is too pessimistic, remember providence.
Either way, lets continue to be a righteousness that goes ahead of G*D, making a path for G*D's presence. That's pretty good enough work.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/august2005.html
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b or Psalm 85:8-13
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 or 1 Kings 19:9-18
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33
A promise: I will send you to those who hate you, who cannot speak peaceably to you.
So Joseph responds to his call as a prophet, "Here am I" and goes to his "brothers." So Elijah hears as a prophet hears, in great silence, and returns to those seeking his life. So the disciples enter the chaos of the deep, of wind and wave. So the faithful strive not for heavenly stairs or power to change the past, only a word and heart for this day's need.
This promise is repeated continually. Some hear and are renewed. Some almost hear and fear. Some do not yet hear, but are called, nonetheless.
Sometimes we hear and jump into the waves. Sometimes we forget in the presence of pressing need and regret our jump. Nonetheless, a repeated call is available to hear when we can clear our mind.
- - -
sent ahead
we know our own
times of famine
made worse by tired feet
starved of peaceable speech
as well as of daily bread
our insides and outsides
stumble on
sent ahead
without a clue
we take
what we know
and join it
with what others know
silently singing
steadfast love to action
sent ahead
into unfamiliar chaos
we battle wind and save
until we can step aside
from our fears
until our words
turn to healing
for the nations
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
Being sent for and released is one of those experiences that is beyond our usual way of measuring time. We are always more ready for release from whatever pit we have found ourselves in (or gotten ourselves in) than we are for the timing of release to be even a nano-second longer than our recognition of our desire for such.
I suppose a Hooray belated is still a Hooray.
Hooray for G*D finally coming through!
Hooray for Joseph, at long last, having come through!
Have you been the cause of your own downfall – asking to be Peter-principled (what a hoot that concept is in light of Peter of disciple fame)? Have you asked to do that which is beyond you, but you won't know it until you've stepped in it?
Have you had your downfall caused by others, regardless of their calculated motivation or simple unconscious ineptitude? Have you received blessings without seeing how they affect others and learning too late about charges of elitism (an old charge)?
Have you found no cause for your downfall, like Job of old? Have you been able to claim innocence in the midst of great testing and turned an accusing eye toward G*D?
It is time to pull out your time-destroyer mechanism so a reset or recalibration of life perspective can go on. It is time to look beyond our usual time limits and simply do the next right thing – get back in the boat, get ahead.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html
O give thanks . . .
This message came this morning from "The Universe".
Some people think, (your-name-here), that some things are "meant to be."
Meant by whom?
Not me,
The Universe (www.tut.com)
It is comforting to think that everything is going to turn out well. Jesus doesn't stay in meditative prayer but comes walking on the water in stormy weather and we take a step or two further than we ever thought we might.
It is encouraging that enslavement will turn around and we will be in charge (talking about your tax and saver - see Joseph in power).
However, neither of these sort of next steps stop with the desired outcome. There is more ministry and death to face. There is not just the enslavement of one, but of a whole extended tribe.
Choosing where to cut the storyline tells much about who we are.
Does John the Baptizer's death end with Jesus finally alone or you walking a step on frothy waves? Does Joseph's enslavement end with his coming to power or the enslavement of his family? Does Paul correctly set this choice aside by saying it is not about either result (go to heaven - go to hell) but doing what is needful in the moment, regardless of the consequence?
So, what is meant and by whom? Where is thanks directed and from whence is more asked?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/08/psalm-1051-6-16-22-45b.html
Looking back we are able to discern a variety of paths that were open to us. In particular we can track how what looked like a disaster had a wee crack through which escape was possible.
Having that same clarity in the present is much more difficult. The options can’t really be weighed against one another. Every chart we make to list pluses and minuses is colored by our desires and is thus very untrustworthy. It is not much better when it comes to the future. We can catch a glimpse of how we might be different, but applying it in the present with any certainty is highly problematic.
All in all, we can revision history but not clearly vision the present. This is to say that application of history can’t be counted on. Whether we know our past or not, the weight of life is to repeat what we have done.
Our work is the difficult work of learning enough to teach, teaching it, and learning from our teaching how to better teach.
Blessings to you in sorting through your possibilities, picking a path, and proceeding long enough to make one more course adjustment.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/08/psalm-1051-616-22-45b.html