Blessed are those whose lives are faultless - Meditation for Wednesday of Advent I

Our Psalm for today—the first 24 verses of the 176 total that comprise this psalm tell us “Blessed are those whose lives are faultless…and blessed are those who follow his commands, who obey him with all their heart

Maybe if the two sons in the parable Jesus told in today’s Gospel remembered this psalm they might have responded differently. The psalmist tells us that we are blessed, happy (if you follow the Good News Bible) if you live according to the law and follow and obey God’s commands. So the two sons are not blessed or happy because they strayed from this. And we know that to be true. Whenever we are asked to do something and respond negatively we feel bad about it; even guilty. But what Jesus shows you that, unlike the rigidity of the law, you can have a second chance. Even if you say “no” to him you can rethink it and respond positively later. This exemplifies God’s amazing grace and loving forgiveness even when you have sinned. Maybe your sin is one of omission, “not doing those things you ought to have done” Sometimes you can get overwhelmed with the obligations and responsibilities that are heaped upon you each day. You say “yes” to something you cannot accomplish and “no” to something you should do but feel is beyond your scope.

I invite you to pause a few times today and pray to God about those things and see what God is telling you to do and telling you how to be. Just sit with these thoughts. You might then get the opportunity to be that older son who in the end did what the father asked him. You might see a way to be positive. Your “no” could become a “yes!”

God bless you.….

The readings for Wednesday of Advent I (2 Dec 2015) are:

Psalm:119:1-24
OT: Amos 3:12–4:5
NT: 2 Pet. 3:1-10
Gospel: Matt. 21:23-32

and can be found at www.satucket.com/lectionary/2Advent1.htm