Reading Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love. (Psalm 31:9-16) Reflection Wow, this Psalmist was really in distress. Their enemies/neighbors most have been awful. They must have been really struggling with some heavy problems. They turned to the God who they could trust. They knew that God’s steadfast love could save them. These past two years we have also been struggling and going through some really, tough times. Here are just a few of the big ones - pandemic, racial issues, gender identity and equality disagreements, political problems, and wars. Add to that the various family and friends struggles that are heavy on our hearts. I hope you have gone to God with your sorrows and pains. I know I have because that is what brings me some peace, and I have hope in better things to come. Trust in our God’s love which is steadfast and saves us. --Charlene Rineer Prayer Gracious loving God we come to you like many believers before us. We lay all our struggles and problems at your feet. Help us face our enemies with courage. Help us find peace and comfort. We pray in your Son’s most holy name. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Lent, we focus on baptismal identity and the consequent amendment of life.
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