By Michael Sherer, director of ITS
Scripture: Psalm 146:5-10 (NRSV)
Over the recent Thanksgiving weekend, my family and I took in the most recent Mr. Rogers movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Through the eyes of Esquire writer Lloyd Vogel, the movie explores the life-transforming effect Fred Rogers had on those around him. Without apology, the movie shows Rogers to be a deeply spiritual person who prays regularly for others by name, requests intercession from children and genuinely cares for the people he encounters in a way that seems impossibly other-worldly to the hardened and cynical Vogel.
As I read today’s scripture passage, Psalm 146:5-10, I was struck that the God of Jacob is that transformational, faithful role model and trustworthy advocate. When our hope is in the Lord, we are happy. God’s values of advocacy for the oppressed, the hungry, the prisoner, the bowed down, the widows, orphans and strangers – those values become our values.
God’s Kingdom has always been a “here and not-yet” proposition. Every day we are confronted by evidence that God’s values are not even remotely the same as society’s values. In this season of waiting, let us acknowledge that bringing about the kingdom is a group project that we can participate in. We can live out God’s values; we can advocate for the poor and oppressed; like Mister Rogers, we can transform the lives of those around us.
Prayer: God, our help and our hope is in you. Your faithfulness to us is freeing. In this advent season, we pray that we would become ever more like you, and in the process be instruments of your love and healing in the world. Amen.
Scripture: Psalm 146:5-10 (NRSV)
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;
7who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
9The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!