Proper 21
Preaching
Aids To The Psalms
Exploring The Message
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Alternate Image
People have been in the Singer's face all day. Because of her
involvement in certain social issues, the media representatives
have been rudely poking their cameras and microphones in her face
since early morning. Friends have been badgering her to join them
for lunch, dinner or coffee where they bend her ear to listen to
their points of view. Her brothers and
sisters and even her parents have been picking away at her time,
ideas and allegiances; they appear more interested in taking
advantage of their relationship with her than supporting her.
With all these people in her face vying for attention, it is very
hard for her to stay focused and clear sighted on the issues.
Finally, the Singer slams the door shut, locking out all those
who have been in her face from dawn to dusk. Now she finds time
to get in God's face.
Reflection
"In your face!" is one of the more annoying contemporary
phrases. It is also a truth; people are in our faces all day long
every day trying to influence us. Commercials tempt, seduce,
harangue and solicit us to buy their products. Special interest
groups try to win us to their point of view through argument,
threats and rhetoric. Politicians call us to support them. Worthy
causes fill our mailboxes with endless pleas for money. Even our
families and intimate friends often appear most interested in
what we can give them. People are in our faces constantly.
At those times it is helpful to seek God's face. God's face
may even be hidden in the faces of all those who appear to be in
our face in daily life. When we look for God's face, those
clamors for attention, the demands on our time and talent, the
pleas for help may be seen as opportunities rather than
frustrations. And we take heart in the land of the living.
be gracious to me and answer me!
"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Alternate Image
People have been in the Singer's face all day. Because of her
involvement in certain social issues, the media representatives
have been rudely poking their cameras and microphones in her face
since early morning. Friends have been badgering her to join them
for lunch, dinner or coffee where they bend her ear to listen to
their points of view. Her brothers and
sisters and even her parents have been picking away at her time,
ideas and allegiances; they appear more interested in taking
advantage of their relationship with her than supporting her.
With all these people in her face vying for attention, it is very
hard for her to stay focused and clear sighted on the issues.
Finally, the Singer slams the door shut, locking out all those
who have been in her face from dawn to dusk. Now she finds time
to get in God's face.
Reflection
"In your face!" is one of the more annoying contemporary
phrases. It is also a truth; people are in our faces all day long
every day trying to influence us. Commercials tempt, seduce,
harangue and solicit us to buy their products. Special interest
groups try to win us to their point of view through argument,
threats and rhetoric. Politicians call us to support them. Worthy
causes fill our mailboxes with endless pleas for money. Even our
families and intimate friends often appear most interested in
what we can give them. People are in our faces constantly.
At those times it is helpful to seek God's face. God's face
may even be hidden in the faces of all those who appear to be in
our face in daily life. When we look for God's face, those
clamors for attention, the demands on our time and talent, the
pleas for help may be seen as opportunities rather than
frustrations. And we take heart in the land of the living.
