Saturday in Week 4 of Pentecost
“The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
The Lord as my Light says that all I would have otherwise, without Him, is darkness. The Lord as my Salvation says all I would be is damned, if not for Jesus. The Lord as the Strength of my life says that all of the bullies can very well stay away – sin, death, the power of the devil. Whom shall I fear, when the Lord is all that I need?
Where, O Christian, is the Lord? In a manger, with the angels singing of the Peace of God come down to earth? Yes, He is Light which the darkness cannot overcome. On a cross, suffering and dying for our sins? Yes, He is the Salvation that has come into this world. On Easter? Yes, by His Strong arm He rescued us and conquered death.
But listen to the Psalmist as he teaches you that there’s a place where Christ is all of that for you and me; where His Light becomes OUR Light, and His Salvation becomes OUR Salvation, and His Strength becomes OUR Strength, even in the face of our enemies.
“One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.”
In the House of the Lord, God calls us by the Gospel, en-Lightens us with His Gifts.
In the Lord’s Temple, the Lord’s Body and Blood deliver Christ’s Salvation and absolve us of our sins.
Where the eternal liturgy combines the praises of the saints on earth with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven – there the Strength of the Lord is ours.
It is one thing for the Lord to be such things as Light and Salvation and Strength. It is another for Him to be all that for you and me. So the Psalmist has one desire – to be in the Lord’s House forever!
That is where you are, too, dear Christian. Your Baptism made sure of it. And that is why the words you’ll hear tomorrow will go like this: “I forgive you all your sins . . .” And, “Take, eat . . . take, drink . . .”
Daily readings
Numbers 3:1-13 Galatians 6:11-18 Matthew 17:1-13 Trip updateWell, we are back in Missoula this morning. Yesterday we came back from Little Big Horn. When we got to the hotel Lora locked her keys in her car so I called AAA and a locksmith got them out for her, that killed an hour we had intended to spend in the pool and hot tub, but eventually we got in and had a nice soak. Earlier in the day we went and saw the new movie, Pirates of the Carribean, Dead Man's Chest, with Jonny Depp. It was pretty good, though I'm not sure I would bother watching a third one if they make it. Later this morning, after we have breakfast, we will start out for Coeur D'Alene Idaho where we will meet up with Mike's mom for lunch and a short visit. Then we will be heading to Oregon City to stay the night with Mike's brother Dan.