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February 27, 2024For those of us who may have already discontinued whatever we have given up for Lent – our sacrifice(s) - today’s psalm has good news for us. God says, “You who offer praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to you who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.” (Italics mine.) Does it seem that praising God is enough to be called a sacrifice? Elsewhere in scripture, it says that God does not want sacrifices, but rather, a broken, contrite heart.
I think what God is getting at is an invitation to a deeper relationship. A relationship that does not come from not eating particular foods, or not participating in certain activities. God is asking us to look inside to recognize and acknowledge the negative ways of our human nature. A searching that renders a broken and contrite heart leading to glorifying God as divine mercy sinks into our beings. It is a bumpy journey and God does not leave us in our grief but heals us so that we can get on with carrying out God’s command to “…make justice our aim and learn to do what is right.” Lent is a time to begin this internal and external work, or to continue it in a more purposeful way.
As usual, when God initiates an invitation to change our ways, there is an offer of a reward. Today’s psalm tells us that if we change to follow God’s will we will be shown the salvation of God. This showing is not restricted to eternal life with God but includes the divine that exists in the present. We are shown blessed glimpses in our daily lives opening our hearts to rejoicing in God’s love of us.
[click here for the readings of the day]