The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those
who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
Psalm 146:8-NRSVUE
Readers of this passage may focus on praising God for the great deeds
God does, especially if we are righteous and trust in God. I don’t disagree,
but is there a deeper takeaway?
I find it easy to read this passage and be conflicted. Conflicted between
belief in God and the reality I see around me. Sadly, rather than be conflicted,
I may unconsciously dismiss the passage as idealistic church-speak.
God does wonderful things! Food for the hungry, justice for the oppressed,
setting prisoners free, healing the blind, lifting broken spirits, advocating
for the orphan and widow.
Scripture frequently supports that God desires these ideals. Many have
their hope in God bringing release to their plight. But do we limit our
thinking that God does this apart from any help from the Kingdom of God
as a whole?
Ensuing chapters suggest that the whole of Creation, stars of the universe
down to microscopic living creatures, with humans at the center, fight
for God’s justice, waging shalom throughout all of Creation, toward the
fruition of God’s Kingdom.
Armies of God’s humans work today, helping those struggling with life
after disaster. It can be painfully difficult to find the sight of God directly
at work bringing release from the prisons of inadequate housing, food,
healthcare, and lost hope. But indirectly, God IS visibly at work through
the lives of everyday humans, working to help those who painfully
struggle with their reality in the whole of all Creation.
God’s creation, synergistically working together for good, brings ultimate
HOPE of the Kingdom of God on Earth into the present, persuading us to
majestically say with the last verse of Psalms, “Let everything that has
breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
As if to shout, “HALLELUJAH, ANYWAY!” No matter the reality we
currently perceive.
Thank you Spirit, that today we can see with greater clarity the works
of God directly toward the Kingdom of God, through God incarnate in
the Christ child. May we plainly see streets of despair and pain, but be
transformed to the mind of Christ. Inspired by the Holy Spirit within,
may we lovingly follow Christ, and joyfully continue the journey of our
individual callings. Evoking shouts of HOPE and uncontained JOY,
working with Jesus, toward the coming KINGDOM OF GOD inaugurated
by Christ, “HALLELUJAH, ANYWAY !!” Amen.
Rev. Allen Keller is an Ordained UM Deacon in Full Connection, currently
called to the role of Disaster Recovery Case Manager.
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