Psalm75│Isaiah 51.1-8│2Thessalonians 1│Matthew 17.14-21
Psaume 75 |Ésaïe 51.1-8 |2 Thessaloniciens 1| Matthieu 17.14-21
Salvation and hope
'Abraham, Sarah and the Angel' by Jan Provoost, c. 1462-1527.
This
year has seen multiple crises, some inherited from past years and some
completely new to us. The climate crisis and the pandemic being the most urgent
that come to mind, but there are forgotten wars and unstable governance in many
places too. So much to pray for. In Isaiah 51.1-8 we find a clear promise of
salvation though. We need to act righteously, and the Lord will comfort His
people and ‘look with compassion on all her ruins’ (NIV). We will find joy and
gladness again, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
This
year has been different and very hard for many. When I went into a church to
pray recently, I was quite surprised that the first thing I felt was gratitude.
I gave thanks for churches to pray in, faith communities who have made the
transition to online services and prayer, friends and family, local initiatives
to help each other, and for the Lord’s compassion and comfort when needed. And
then I gave thanks for being able to feel grateful. The final verses of today’s
reading are encouraging us not to listen to the reproach of others (in these
times, maybe people who spread negativity, who don’t believe that our way
of life means we’re harming creation, or who don’t wish to follow
difficult restrictions in order to protect others) but to trust in the Lord’s
righteousness which will last forever and in salvation through generations.
These are words of hope in difficult times. There have been difficult times
before in history, and they will come again, but through it all there is
salvation and hope.
Sara T
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