March 18, 2021 FPCLA Lenten Word Meditation

lent background image
Today’s Lenten word comes from Psalm 126 The Message
 
1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
when GOD returned Zion’s exiles.
We laughed, we sang,
we couldn’t believe our good fortune.
We were the talk of the nations—
“GOD was wonderful to them!”
GOD was wonderful to us;
we are one happy people.
4-6 And now, GOD, do it again—
bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
will shout “Yes!” at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
 
Today’s meditation word is returned. It comes from the Hebrew word ‘shub’ meaning to turn back, return, or do it again.
 
Psalm 126 is one of the fifteen Psalms of Ascent. It is said that the Psalms of Ascents were sung by the worshipers as they made their journey to Jerusalem or as they ascend the steps of the Temple in preparation and anticipation of meeting God.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic changed and still changing the world. The world is in the process of returning or turning-back to normal but not the definition of normal that we used to know as people get vaccinated. The new normal can mean going back to school and/or work, and attending gatherings again while continuing to practice Covid-19 protocols such as 6ft distancing, wearing facemask, and handwashing.
 
The people of God in the Hebrew canon (and it is still true today) (re)turned to God and turned away from God many times. Returning to God and turning away from God become a cycle. I wonder when someone returns to God, does that someone still see God the same way as before? Or are there changes? Just like the aftermath of any pandemic, the normal is not the normal that people use to know.

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