Ps 146 John 15: 12-27
I love the words of Psalm 146, following so closely on the heels of having celebrated Easter. To me, the season of Lent and Easter is all about the transformative power of love, in even the darkest of circumstances. It is probably telling that Advent and Lent are my two favorite liturgical seasons. I think it is because they are so honest and raw. During Advent, we acknowledge times when our lives feel cold, dark and alone. During Lent, we explore the things that separate us from the truest part of ourselves. We often make personal, specific sacrifices in order to remove obstacles to our relationship with the Divine. We come face to face with the evil of which humanity, of which each one of us, is capable. That journey can be a painful and difficult one. But, Easter reminds us to take heart! “(God) executes justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down” (v 7-8). After having just spent a season asking ourselves how we deny the humanity in others and ourselves, it is now time to explore how we can join God in promoting justice, mercy and love. Just as many make specific Lenten commitments involving self-sacrifice, I challenge each of us to make positive Eastertide commitments to find tangible ways to “lift up those who are bowed down.” To whom can you show love today?
Brandy Mullins
I love the words of Psalm 146, following so closely on the heels of having celebrated Easter. To me, the season of Lent and Easter is all about the transformative power of love, in even the darkest of circumstances. It is probably telling that Advent and Lent are my two favorite liturgical seasons. I think it is because they are so honest and raw. During Advent, we acknowledge times when our lives feel cold, dark and alone. During Lent, we explore the things that separate us from the truest part of ourselves. We often make personal, specific sacrifices in order to remove obstacles to our relationship with the Divine. We come face to face with the evil of which humanity, of which each one of us, is capable. That journey can be a painful and difficult one. But, Easter reminds us to take heart! “(God) executes justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down” (v 7-8). After having just spent a season asking ourselves how we deny the humanity in others and ourselves, it is now time to explore how we can join God in promoting justice, mercy and love. Just as many make specific Lenten commitments involving self-sacrifice, I challenge each of us to make positive Eastertide commitments to find tangible ways to “lift up those who are bowed down.” To whom can you show love today?
Brandy Mullins
RSS Feed
