Lent 5
Worship
Aids To The Psalms
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled
with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nation,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoice.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
Alternate Image
The Singer has been ill but now, miraculously, she feels entirely well. She can't believe it. She flexes her joints - no pain in any of them. Her muscles feel supple and strong. Her breath, halitosis-free, comes easily. She can see clearly without glasses. Her hearing is acute and rich. She feels young again and totally healthy. With her voice strong and sure she laughs and then sings joyful praise to God for this miracle. Then, she wakes up. Joints stiff, muscles weak, her morning breath a bit shallow. She searches for her glasses and turns her television up loudly. Again she laughs. She has her aches and pains to share with her neighbors, material for her prayers to God. She also recognizes that her dream was a vision. A vision that tells her God intends health for her and will give it to her. She sings quiet thanks to her God and begins her day.
Reflection
There are those who are prone to saying, "If you have your health, you have everything." I suspect they settle for lesser health than what God intends for us to have. I presume they are only speaking about physical health. Physical health is important, and the wholeness God intends for us includes physical health. However, God wants more for us. Those who have suffered and dealt with mental illness know that it can be more devastating than physical ill health and is more prevalent. God wants mental health for us as well and still more. God wants us to be spiritually well. All of these are intimately connected. If we are mentally depressed our bodies also feel sluggish. If our tooth hurts, it is hard to feel happy. If our spirit is ailing our mind and body don't function up to par. It is and always has been God's plan to bring us total health. Through Christ's afflictions on our behalf, we will receive total wellbeing. We are in the process of being made new and well.
we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled
with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nation,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoice.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
Alternate Image
The Singer has been ill but now, miraculously, she feels entirely well. She can't believe it. She flexes her joints - no pain in any of them. Her muscles feel supple and strong. Her breath, halitosis-free, comes easily. She can see clearly without glasses. Her hearing is acute and rich. She feels young again and totally healthy. With her voice strong and sure she laughs and then sings joyful praise to God for this miracle. Then, she wakes up. Joints stiff, muscles weak, her morning breath a bit shallow. She searches for her glasses and turns her television up loudly. Again she laughs. She has her aches and pains to share with her neighbors, material for her prayers to God. She also recognizes that her dream was a vision. A vision that tells her God intends health for her and will give it to her. She sings quiet thanks to her God and begins her day.
Reflection
There are those who are prone to saying, "If you have your health, you have everything." I suspect they settle for lesser health than what God intends for us to have. I presume they are only speaking about physical health. Physical health is important, and the wholeness God intends for us includes physical health. However, God wants more for us. Those who have suffered and dealt with mental illness know that it can be more devastating than physical ill health and is more prevalent. God wants mental health for us as well and still more. God wants us to be spiritually well. All of these are intimately connected. If we are mentally depressed our bodies also feel sluggish. If our tooth hurts, it is hard to feel happy. If our spirit is ailing our mind and body don't function up to par. It is and always has been God's plan to bring us total health. Through Christ's afflictions on our behalf, we will receive total wellbeing. We are in the process of being made new and well.
