Lenten Reflection - March 20th

Written by: Diane Bechtold

Reading: Psalm 22:23-31
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you[a] I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!

As we use this Lenten season to reflect, the psalmist points to the needy in their suffering, and lets us know that the rich and the suffering will be side-by-side in receiving God’s gifts.
Those who remain steadfast and those who return to God will be subject to the fulfillment of God’s promises. Just as God doesn’t ignore the suffering of God’s creation – let’s not ignore those we can help. Let’s use God’s model of helping, even those we see as undeserving, to honor our Lord.

Blessed Lord: Help us to see all of your people as worthy of our love and help us to share that love in significant ways. Amen.