This week's gospel lesson from Luke encourages us to be humble, not to presume that we are of high status. The lesson from Proverbs also cautions us not to assume status. In Sirach, we read about the Lord overthrowing unthroning the powerful and enthroning the humble in their place, how those who cling to pride are plucked up, laid waste to, and removed.
Psalm 112 is the lectionary response to the readings from Sirach or Proverbs. Rather than warn against presumption, it describes the blessings that accrue to the righteous.
Following the Lord's commandments will make you happy, your descendants rich. I read the first three verses and wondered if I had entered into Prosperity Gospel land. Wondering how this psalm was related to the pride v. humility message, I kept reading.
Verses 4 through 9 describe the lives and actions of the righteous: they are merciful and generous.
People secure in the Lord don't have to be afraid.
When righteous people favor distribution to the poor, the wicked get angry. But, those angry people--or as I would rather interpret it, the anger of those people--melts away.
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