Shields Up

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

How is the LORD kind as described in today’s psalm?  How is the LORD merciful, and why is the LORD trustworthy?  Perhaps a better question is how are we kind, merciful, and trustworthy?  A short answer is when we are just and do what is right – not simply what is convenient and self-serving.

Many of us are unkind, unforgiving, and untrustworthy.  For those of us who fit that description why should the LORD be our help and our shield?  Why should the LORD’s mercy be on us?   If we are not just and on the side of what’s right, our soul may have a long wait for the LORD.

Today’s Gospel reminds us to be transfigured to be God’s beloved sons and daughters with whom the LORD will be well pleased.  In today’s world with so much turmoil caused by dissent, disagreements and discord, we all need a shield to fend off and deflect gloom and despair caused by upsetting continuous 2020 jockeying for power and prestige by both political parties.

As Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise used to frequently say to those around him: "Red Alert!  Shields up!  Make it so."

Deacon David Pierce