Psalm 116: Making a Return
Easter Thursday, April 24, 2025
In the NRSV translation, this psalm carries the title Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness, but what sort of illness might this be? Is our gratitude for a physical, psychological or spiritual restoration? Are we able to step forward into the healing grace of God?
I love the Lord, because he hears me;
he listens to my prayers.
He listens to me
every time I call to him.
Now that we have re-lived the story of Easter promise, do we continue to believe in our covenant with God when life challenges us? Are we able to remain steadfast in our beliefs when family or friends test us? How do we love our enemies when they plot and scheme against us?
And so I walk in the presence of the Lord
in the world of the living.
I kept on believing, even when I said,
“I am completely crushed,”
even when I was afraid and said,
“No one can be trusted.”
As we journey through this week of EASTER celebration, are we willing to put aside our wilfulness of ego to reclaim our vow of willingness as servants of the Spirit? Do we step forward as builders of the kingdom of God? Do we shrink from the call to leave our comfort zones?
I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did.
You have saved me from death.
I will give you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and offer my prayer to you.
Remembering the generous love of the Creator, living in the company of the risen Christ, and resting in the consoling mercy of the Spirit, we ask one another to give thanks to God.
In the assembly of all your people,
in the sanctuary of your Temple in Jerusalem,
I will give you what I have promised.
We ask our family, friends and foes to make a return for God’s unbounding courage, generous wisdom, and nourishing love.
Praise the Lord!
When we compare varying translations of these verses, we welcome the opportunity to make a return of God’s great love.
Images from: https://yoogozi.com/simple-secret-to-life-serving-others/ and https://how-to-find-god.com/god-quotes/praise/
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