e-vo for week of February 24

Dearest e-votees-


I hope and pray that you are doing well on this 8th day of Lent (32 days of Lent left; 37 calendar days until Easter Vigil). For this week’s e-vo we’ll look at an excerpt from the appointed psalm for this coming Sunday—Psalm 27.

Peace,

Karl

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4 One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live 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. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. 6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, Lord, do I seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

Psalm 27:4-9, NRSV

What would you ask of the Lord if you were given the opportunity? Would you ask for health and long life? Would you ask for blessing and prosperity? Would you ask for a loving and faithful partner in life? Would you ask for harm and devastation for your enemies? If you were given the opportunity to ask the Lord for one thing what would it be?

The psalmist makes a choice that wouldn’t have come to top of my list—to live in the house of the Lord. In making that choice the psalmist is able to behold the Lord’s beauty and inquire in the Lord’s temple. If you were assured that you can gaze on the Lord’s beauty and inquire to the Lord about your concerns would you opt to live in the house of the Lord?

The truth is that the temple of the Lord (at least the one made of stones) has been laid to waste. The house of the Lord is no longer present as it once was. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot seek to dwell in the house of the Lord.

People are fashioned in the image of God. As we spend time with people we can behold the beauty of the Lord—particularly if we have eyes of faith.

We are given great freedom to inquire of the Lord whatever we wish—particularly if we are enter into prayer to the Lord.

As we engage our neighbors and as we call upon the Lord we will not be cast off—we will not be forsaken. God has salvation prepared for us and for our neighbors. Thanks be to God.



God, help us love you and see your beauty in others. Help us seek after you and pray to you regularly. Help us know that wherever we are can be your house when we have the eyes of faith. Amen.