Reading: Psalm 15
O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved. Reflection If there is a holy tent, then I’m not in it. If there is a holy hill, then I’m not on it. It seems I rather pitch my tent of mediocrity in the valley of predictable failure. The tent that the Psalmist refers to is the tabernacle, the holy tent that Israel carried through the wilderness. It was the place where God was said to dwell. The same is true of the holy hill. It is the site of the temple in Jerusalem, God’s house among the people. The tent and the hill are simply different ways of talking about God’s presence. And who can be in God’s presence? The blameless. Those who do what is right. Those who speak the truth. Those who do not slander. Those who do no evil to their friends. Those who are good to their word. Those who do not take advantage of the poor. When I read Psalm 15, I see my faults. I see my inability to live up the standards that God has set for me and for all humanity. My sinfulness bars me from God’s holy presence. Except it doesn’t. Because our God is a God of grace and mercy. Psalm 15 may remind me of my myriad faults, but it also reminds me of Jesus and the grace and mercy God has showered upon us through him. The words of Psalm 15 do not drive me away from God’s holy presence, rather, by God’s grace and mercy, they send me straight into God’s loving arms. --Jim Vitale Prayer We give you thanks, O God, that you shower us each day with your mercy and grace. Give us the strength to live according to your will and knowledge of your deep and abiding love when we fail. Amen.
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