Saturday, October 3, 2020  

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Psalm 99

The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
The Lord is great in Zion;
   he is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity;
   you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called on his name.
They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees,
   and the statutes that he gave them.
O Lord our God, you answered them;
   you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain;
   for the Lord our God is holy. (NRSV)

Reflection
Life seems like it’s turned upside down these days, doesn’t it? We are many months into a worldwide pandemic, and we have had to completely change our schedules and routines to adjust to this new normal. We long to visit friends and family in the way we used to. We want to be able to shop, eat at restaurants and go to the theater and museums like we used to. And Christmas—my family is already lamenting the fact that this year we will not be able to carry on many of the traditions that we have grown to enjoy. I’m sure you all miss our Sunday mornings, all gathered together in worship, singing praises to our God. Our lives are so different now, and despite the fact that we’ve been living in this new normal for months, I am still grieving the loss of what life used to be like.

This psalm reminds us that regardless of how upside down our lives may feel, God is holy and mighty and just. If we call out to God, God will answer us. God is with us during this time—with us during the feelings of isolation, during the frustrations of online work and school. I see that God is with us every week during our Zoom Children’s Chapel and when we all gather for worship online. God is with us as the Chicago Lights Social Service Center and Fourth Church Meals Ministry serve our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. Where do you see God’s hand at work each day?

Prayer
Holy God, I am grateful that you are with me during this challenging time. Help me to see you at work in my life and in the lives of others. Amen.

Written by Briana Belding-Peck, Family Ministry Coordinator

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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