2023-07-09 A Meditation on Reverence

“1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Ps 103:1–5 ESV)

Due reverence, gifted over unto holy eternity are all forms and figures in our lives that inform about Jesus. Where we have suffered, we commit the memory to Christ. Where we have loved or been loved, we commit the memory unto Christ. Due reverence means a locket on the satchel: these things unto me are Holy.

The soldier has an ongoing game within, the subconscious arranging and rearranging, some personal search for peace, for sanguine collected calm, for understanding. The soldier’s battle garbs refer to the fact, nothing is guaranteed in life, save that one wandering Jew has waxed eloquent about a Hereafter. This wanderer has Himself believed, to a point as sophisticated as any of us might hope: certainty, except. Certainty, except doubts when actually dying on the Cross (Mt 27:46). Certainty, except reminders “29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mk 9:29). Certainty, except “where is the one for whom my soul longeth?” (Song 3:3). Certainty, except “Have mercy on those who doubt” (Jd 22).

Therefore the expansive mind and soul of our better off neighbor who notwithstanding better digs is loving on us: this is a Jesus experience. It gives time and space to heal, even when we were gladsome to go to the battle joined. We already were soldiers. We already were muscling along, spiritual heft giving us tangible, focused perspective. Yet inside there were languishing moments, and these were gifted over unto Christ. For real. Knowing the analogies, so healthsome, as to what difficulty obtains while trying to extract a splinter, heal a broken limb, mend a cancer. Therefore we pray that our good intentions not be susceptible to the enemy’s brazen request that we self-destruct. For we have Another, a God who—though all circumstance seems to put us at odds with Him—does dare to love what is unlovable and decrepit. We are loved and built up. We are forgiven and congratulated. We are given mission and sense of self-worth.