It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Who's in Charge Here, a Reflection on Psalm 2:1-7

In early January, we celebrated Epiphany, the recognition that Christ is the manifestation of the Lord--and that this epiphany was recognized by those that would have been considered outsiders to the faith. This Sunday we are celebrating the Transfiguration, the experience on the mountain--what the disciples saw and heard, and remembering Moses' mountaintop meeting with the Lord.

Some people get it--although they may be confused or unsettled. Some people don't. The psalmist recognizes this lack of recognition, "Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?"

Many of those in power don't acknowledge their dependence on God, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying "Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us."

Not just kings and rulers either. Many of us choose to go our own way rather than try to follow the guidance of Christ.

What does God think about our thinking that we really know more about real life than God could possible know? The answer the psalmist gives is "He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision."

And if laughing at us wasn't humiliating enough, "Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify the in his fury, saying, 'I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.'"

Although it would be more comfortable immediately for us Christians to think that the Lord is angry with people who haven't converted to our religion, this passage should instead give us concern about how we are living out our own conversion. Do our lives demonstrate our dependence and allegiance to God?

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