Reading: Psalm 103:1-8
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Reflection “With all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.” You’ve probably heard this phrase at every graduation ceremony you’ve ever attended. It has always made me chuckle just a little bit. I’ve often wondered what exactly the rights and privileges are. It turns out that when they give you your diploma, it doesn’t come with a little card that tells you the benefits that come with your degree. (For example, I had really hoped that my masters degree would come with free coffee on Wednesdays, but….no such luck. Bring a diploma to Dunkin any day of the week and all you get is a blank stare…but I digress….) When we get to verse two of Psalm 103, we’re reminded not to forget God’s benefits. Thankfully, the psalm writer tells us exactly what those benefits are, no diploma required. God forgives us. God crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. God is slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Those are benefits that all of us need. All of the time. It would be a little bit funny if when we baptized people, we baptized them “with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto,” but thankfully we don’t. Instead, we invoke the name of the Lord and we say out loud the ways that God has been faithful to generations before us. We remind the gathered community of God’s abiding love, so that we might “forget not God’s benefits.” Sometimes we need reminders throughout the day that God’s love is always with us, so let this be your reminder for today: God’s love is alive and on the move. God has crowned you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. (This will help ease the sting of not getting that free coffee. Or so I was told by a friend.) –Sarah Hershberger Prayer: Loving God, we are so thankful for all of your benefits; for your lovingkindness and tender mercies, your slowness to anger and your abundant mercy. Please help us to remember your goodness every day, so that you are our guiding light. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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