Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying.
- Romans 12:9-12, from Vespers for 27 January 2009
Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life, make music to my God as long as I exist.
Do not trust in princes to save you, they are only sons of men.
One day their breath will leave them, they will return to the ground; on that day perish all their plans.
Happy the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth and all that is in them,
who keeps faith for ever, who gives justice to the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord frees prisoners, he gives light to the blind, he raises the fallen.
The Lord loves the upright, cares for strangers, sustains orphans and widows; but the wicked he sends astray.
The Lord will reign for all ages, your God, O Sion, from generation to generation.
-Psalm 145 (146), recited during Morning Prayer for 12 November 2008
Once again, we are brought back to the central focus on our lives.... Considering the past months and years, how often have we placed so much hope in a person, that it draws us away from the true Hope, our Lord, Jesus Christ?
Why do people place their hope and trust in a mere man, or men, or company, or movement, to solve all of their problems? (And yes, I was using man/men for ALL people... I guess I am not very PC huh?)
When will we all return to the One that truly loves us, truly cares for us? The One who gives out true justice, and provides sustenance to ALL people?
Dear brothers and sisters, we are reminded today by this psalm to return to the one lasting hope: our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Let us turn our hearts back to God, and rest our hope in Him, and not some mere mortal man or fleeting idea or limited organization, who will all fall.
If we would only learn to do this, we would not so often be let down by other people I think. I have seen so many place so much hope in a person or idea, that when that person or idea or thing fails them, they lose all sense of hope, and tread terribly close to despair.
No my friends, it is time that we stopped placing our hopes and dreams in the people and things here on earth and place them where they really belong: in God alone. No matter how much we may love someone, or believe in someone, when it comes down to it, our trust and hope must be in Him, and in Him only.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam...
Blessings and peace,
Dean
PS: And people claim that the Word of God is not relevant in today's world. It is in fact relevant this day, and all days, till the end of time!!!
