Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (NRSV)
“Open to me the gates of righteousness…”
“This is the Lord’s doing…”
“This is the day that the Lord has made…”
These three phrases within Psalm 118 suggest to me that the Lord is in control. God is the gatekeeper inviting us to simply enter through the gates and give thanks, to accept the Lord’s grace and receive righteousness.
Fr. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest, defines life as two halves in his book Falling Upward. In the “the first half of life,” we tend to be preoccupied with order, control, safety, pleasure and certitude. We manage and define ourselves out of fear. Rohr goes on to note that life is about much more than building boundaries, protecting identities, creating tribes and teaching impulse control. It is in what he calls “the second half of life” that we find “the inner experience of God.” The need to differentiate ourselves, our faith or our place in society as superior is past. We no longer feel the need to have such strong opinions about everything. We find more contentment in what we share in common than in how we influence and change others.
For all the benefit of Apple’s technology, cutting edge influence and impact of change on the world, I am reminded of the story of its co-founder Steve Job’s final words. His sister Mona Simpson, shared in her eulogy after his death last fall: “Before embarking, he’d looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life’s partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them. Steve’s final words were: OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.” I can’t help but wonder if this man of great positive innovation, imagination and influence suddenly experienced something much greater.
As we live today, may we live in the acceptance of God’s invitation and God’s grace. May we find “the inner experience of God,” putting aside fear and our need to control. And as we look to the future, may we also anticipate great things to come as we enter God’s gates of righteousness. Both today, and that day “tomorrow,” are days that the Lord will have made.
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!”
Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (NRSV)
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
2Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
26Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.
29O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.