Psalm 1: The Two Ways
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked, will perish.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked, will perish.
We are beginning a walk into a future which is bewildering humanity. Not just the virus but the waves of consequences which hit us like big breakers each time we turn on the news or read another post on Facebook or receive a notification from our networks.
The Psalms have always been the go-to book for Jews and Christians through the millennia. For they speak truth into times of great sorrow and turbulence. They give voice to our deepest concerns. And, as is so rich and profound through the wisdom of our biblical heritage, they give permission to voice our unuttered fears and worries to God - who listens, and sticks with us and shares in our difficulties utterly and without fear.
Tonight I consider the wisdom of the trees whose life is sustained by living water, the waters Jesus speaks about in John 4, the water that wells up from deep springs of love which will never run out. These trees are nourished by sticking to that source of life which is a way of life, a way of life which finds sustenance in daily rootedness, roots that discover hope in the rhythm of prayer and reflection. This rhythm of faithful prayer in light and dark, day and night, is the heartbeat of the Church. And although we cannot gather for these times to pray, we can be sure that God is present in every utterance, every tear, every cry and every honest voice right across this world tonight.
Christ our wisdom,
give us delight in your law,
that we may bear fruits of patience and peace
in the kingdom of the righteous;
for your mercy’s sake.
Our source of life is the tree on which Christ hung when he said yes to the way of self giving love. In these times of suffering, anxiety and fear there are many who are choosing to serve others and say yes to the way of love, kindness and compassion. Yesterday 2 people who live on our street independently asked us if we needed any shopping, and we’re not even ill. And today another near neighbour contacted us about setting up a help group to support the most vulnerable on our street. They are bearing beautiful fruit.
ReplyDeleteToday we mark St Joseph of Nazareth’s day. It makes me wonder what this carpenter might have made out of the wood of trees and what he taught Jesus to make. I think carpenters must have the gift of patience in their skilled and detailed work. Patience will be a much needed virtue in the weeks ahead when schools are closed and people are self isolating and families begin to get on top of one another.
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