Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21

Proper 18 (23) - Year C


Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98 or Psalm 17:1-9

Elections often turn on the wrong questions. Sometimes those questions are simply missed and sometimes they are deliberately miscast if raised. The Psalms talk less about the election process and look to a desired end, regardless of who is elected.

A key criterion for leaders behavior and systems they support, according to the Psalmists, is intimately tied up with justice. We will see how leaders newly elected, leaders staying in their position, and leaders yet to be will actually live up to this high calling.

17:1 - Hear a just cause (will our leaders listen?)
17:2 - let your eyes see the right (will our leaders look?)
17:4 - avoid the ways of the violent (whether preemptive or "just"?)
17:8 - guard (the measure of a just society is how the poor are treated)
98:3 - remember steadfast love and faithfulness (do it, don't just talk it)
98:4 - break forth into joyous song (for all the above and the following)
98:9 - GOD is present to judge righteousness and equity (no other political entity is up to this standard)
145:7 - glory and wonder come from abundant goodness and righteousness
145:8-9 - steadfast love and compassion measure grace and mercy
145:14 - the falling are upheld, the bowed down are raised
145:15 - the hungry are fed
145:17 - justice and kindness are GOD's right and left hands
145:20 - love grows to the stars of the sky, wickedness shrivels from the land of the living
145:21 - justice leads to blessing, forever and ever.

We are making our bed and we will lie in it. What we sow, so shall we reap. The option of justice is present. The election has not resolved these issues. Let us continue to live with faith that justice will be served; not arrogance and revenge, no matter how well disguised.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/november2004.html

 


 

Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98 or Psalm 17:1-9

When all is said and done a judgment will be made on the basis of righteousness (right living choices amid a sinister world) and equity (a justified humility).

And we keep acting as though such a judgment will be made on the basis of our strength, our keeping particular traditions, our belief structure or particular language, etc.

Until we can get our head around what might reasonably be on the test and stop assuming that the test we want will be the test we will get, our expectations play contrarily against a coming standard. It is time to figure out what the basics of life are rather than play to our preferences.

- - -

knowing we are out of sync
with our long-term good
because the short-term goodies
are so tasty

we finally appeal
that we might be an apple
given to our test-giver teacher
and exempted from the pop quiz

rather than simply taking the test
we spend our time avoiding
a study of the subject at hand
living now and trusting ever

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html