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Morning Devotion for the Season of Pentecost
October 23, 2024
Invitatory
Answer me, when I call , O God, defender of my cause; you set me free when I am hard pressed; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Psalm 119:145-152 Qoph Clamavi in toto corde meo
145 I call with my whole heart;
answer me, O Lord, that I may keep your statutes.
146 I call to you;
oh, that you would save me!
I will keep your decrees.
147 Early in the morning I cry out to you,
for in your word is my trust.
148 My eyes are open in the night watches,
that I may meditate upon your promise.
149 Hear my voice, O Lord, according to your loving-kindness;
according to your judgments, give me life.
150 They draw near who in malice persecute me;
they are very far from your law.
151 You, O Lord, are near at hand,
and all your commandments are true.
152 Long have I known from your decrees
that you have established them for ever.
Meditation-Rebecca Northington
I hear from RYG alumni and current kids from time to time, when they are in trouble, or experiencing regret, or looking for solace. I love directing them to the Book of Common Prayer because there really is a prayer for everything in there, but also because the prayer book includes the Psalms. From the beginning of the Psalter we are reminded that when we try to follow God we are happiest; and in front of God we are truly seen.
I wish I were one of those people who could reference the Psalms from memory or retrieve specific ones for special occasions. Maybe then when the kids called or texted I could give them a particular Psalm to recite. Hopefully in the searching for their Psalm, they will find that their own relationship with the Psalter can develop. It is rich with heartache, longing, commitment, anger, resentment, impatience, and hope. It captures who we are and beautifully communicates who we hope to be in front of God.
A couple of weeks ago when we held our Q and A with local school representatives we asked the faculty and heads for parting advice for parents today. Michael Palmisano’s advice can be applied to parents, to young people, as well as to those who have lived many decades but are still open to learning. He referenced a Greek word often used in the Gospels which has been translated as heart-but is really gut. Michael said that we know what to do regarding the big decisions in our lives if we check in with our compassion, our emotions, and our gut. Maybe it is here that the Spirit resides helping to guide us towards God. We need to tune out the distractions of today, and listen to that part of God in us, so that we can be our best selves-for ourselves, for our children, our parents, our friends, and in all of our relationships.
One of the most valuable aspects of RYG is the constant reminder that God is with you, God is with each one of us. This Psalm so beautifully conveys that same message. “I call with my whole heart….I call to you…Early in the morning I cry out to you. you, O Lord, are near at hand”. Even just saying those words I feel it in my gut, and in my heart; God is with me. When the kids reach out to me they are worried that they have disappointed God, and they are reflecting on how they have disappointed themselves. This reflection is the critical step in maintaining a relationship with God and with ourselves. When we stop acknowledging these little failures to ourselves, to one another and to God, we begin to close the door on God. We begin to fool ourselves into thinking we can go it alone. We begin to pretend we are other than who we are. We begin to lie.
It breaks my heart when the kids feel sad about themselves. But it gives me profound hope in them that they are still striving to please God, and thereby being honest with who they are- to themselves, and to God. If only everyone could be that vulnerable!
Prayer for Trust in God
O God, the source of all health: So fill my heart with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy I may make room for your power to possess me, and gracefully accept your healing: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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