Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us
   and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
   your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
   let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
   for you judge the peoples with equity
   and guide the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
   let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;
   God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
   let all the ends of the earth revere him. (NRSV)

Reflection

What would the world look like, this world sung about here? Where all people can praise God together?

No war.
No hunger.
No exploitation of one nation by another, of one people by another. Of one person by another.
Our earth no longer at risk.
Everyone able to live into their fullest self.

What a vision to hold up, what a dream to aspire to!

But this psalm isn’t only a vision of how things may be. “The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God has blessed us.” We are rich in blessings, and when we recognize them and commit to sharing them then we indeed see God’s saving power at work in the world, here and now.

Prayer
When the gap between how things are now and what I pray for seems insurmountable, may I open my eyes to the blessings of the world and move forward anyway, in gratitude and awe. Amen.

Written by Anne Ellis, Program Manager for Congregational Life

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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