December 1, 2021
God’s love sustains us through all
An excerpt from Psalm 90:13-17 (NRSV)
Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands – O prosper the work of our hands!
Reflection from Susie Dutcher:
Chesed is the Hebrew word used especially in the Psalms to describe God’s love for us. It is translated a number of different ways. Our prayer book uses mercy. Other translations include kindness, goodness, loving kindness, loyal love, gracious love, constant love, and steadfast love.
Although the translation of the Psalms in our prayer book is my favorite for its poetic beauty, the image of ‘steadfast love’ is the best description of the love I feel God has for all of us. It is the love that is always present for us to receive.Our task is to give that love to others.
For further study and prayer, the readings assigned for today are:
Psalm 90; Isaiah 1:24-31; Luke 11:29-32
Music:
“O Lord, How Manifold Are Your Works”
arr. Alfred Fedek, sung by the StGs quartet
“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live,
and sing praise to God while I have breath.
May God be pleased with my meditation:
I will always be glad in the Lord.”