Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

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Read

Psalm 80 (NRSV)

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!

Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

O LORD God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it;
it took deep root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches;
it sent out its branches to the sea,
and its shoots to the River.
Why then have you broken down its walls,
so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
The boar from the forest ravages it,
and all that move in the field feed on it.

Turn again, O God of hosts;
look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
the stock that your right hand planted.
They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

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Reflect

The psalmist is lamenting, mourning, reaching out to God for renewal. It seems that God’s people, in the writer’s case the Chosen and in our case the Church, have fallen down on the job. I am sure we don’t like to think that we have failed God in any way, at least not as a community of faith. Alone, sure we fall short constantly, but as a community, together we stand strong, don’t we?

This psalm is meant not for one person, but for a whole community; we would do well to listen, look, and learn. As a community of faith, as God’s people, are we doing what we are called to do? Some of our actions may lead God to wonder. When we shun those who look, smell, act, or love differently than what we have determined to be the norm, we have failed. We have pushed aside some of God’s precious children and we have done it in the name of the very same God!

The people of Israel had done the same and felt that God was no longer listening, no longer present, so they prayed, “Restore us, O God.” It is time that we take a hard look at our ministry to and in the world. It is time to look deep within and allow our decisions to be those of God, not of selfish, human motives. Granted, that can be hard to do, but were we ever told it would be easy?

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Pray

Almighty God, we have failed you in so many ways. We have loved others as you call us to do, but we have also shunned those who are different. Forgive us for our actions and strengthen us to be faithful followers who listen for your voice rather than the voices of the world. Amen.

Go with God.