9/11/2021

Our scripture today is Psalm 116:1-10.

‘I love the Lord, because He hears My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord : “O Lord , I beseech You, save my life!” Gracious is the Lord , and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord In the land of the living. I believed when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”

It is appropriate on a day when we remember a great tragedy that this Psalm should be the Lectionary reading. We are indeed “greatly afflicted” (v. 10), but God is with us always. It is hard to walk through dark times, but even harder if we do not call upon the Lord for aid and comfort. We as humans have always had a problem with this, relying on our technology, our knowledge and our own strength.

We failed in the Garden because we chose our own way instead of God’s. In Proverbs 3:5-6 we hear “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” God loves and cares for us, but we must choose to walk in His ways.

Today as we think on the things that have happened and the issues we continue to face, may we return humbly to our God, asking His help and blessing. God stands ready to forgive us always. Only through repentance for our sins and acceptance of His promise can we be made whole.

Gracious God, we have failed to love and trust You as we should. Forgive us, we pray. Help us to be the people You created us to be. May we be refreshed by Your Holy Spirit and go to share Your love to all the world. Amen.