The Holy Trinity
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
-- Psalm 8:1a
The structure of this psalm gives a clue to its meaning. It begins and ends with words of praise: "O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" In the context of that praise, at the center of the psalm, is a statement of praise of humanity: "Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor" (v. 5). The psalmist reflects in wonder at why so majestic a God should take time out and be so gracious to humans. The attributes normally reserved for God -- glory, honor, dominion -- have been granted to humans. The fact that such qualities, naturally belonging to God who created the whole universe (v. 3), have been gifted to people, not only suggested the generous love of God but also suggested how people should exercise these gifts. Their model for exercising honor, glory, and dominion is God who does not hesitate to give these qualities away. Later Christians will see this same quality given concrete expression in the "Son of Man came not to be served but to serve" (Mark 10:45). Dominion, honor, and glory for humans have often meant an exercise of control over and, all too frequently, exploitation of both the natural creation and other peoples.
The church has the opportunity to offer an alternate vision of such qualities as first seen in God. Now these qualities are capable of being expressed in the community of faith. As followers of Christ, the church can show the world a dominion that comes out of service, honor that does not avoid suffering on behalf of others, and a glory that finds expression in the appreciation and care for both the natural world and the stranger that is within their gate.
-- Psalm 8:1a
The structure of this psalm gives a clue to its meaning. It begins and ends with words of praise: "O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" In the context of that praise, at the center of the psalm, is a statement of praise of humanity: "Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor" (v. 5). The psalmist reflects in wonder at why so majestic a God should take time out and be so gracious to humans. The attributes normally reserved for God -- glory, honor, dominion -- have been granted to humans. The fact that such qualities, naturally belonging to God who created the whole universe (v. 3), have been gifted to people, not only suggested the generous love of God but also suggested how people should exercise these gifts. Their model for exercising honor, glory, and dominion is God who does not hesitate to give these qualities away. Later Christians will see this same quality given concrete expression in the "Son of Man came not to be served but to serve" (Mark 10:45). Dominion, honor, and glory for humans have often meant an exercise of control over and, all too frequently, exploitation of both the natural creation and other peoples.
The church has the opportunity to offer an alternate vision of such qualities as first seen in God. Now these qualities are capable of being expressed in the community of faith. As followers of Christ, the church can show the world a dominion that comes out of service, honor that does not avoid suffering on behalf of others, and a glory that finds expression in the appreciation and care for both the natural world and the stranger that is within their gate.
