Psalm 27 (NRSV) and Psalm 147:1-6 (NRSV)
Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
he casts the wicked to the ground.
Devotion
To be completely honest, I just do not like the word hospitality. For me, the word conjures images of a lavish party with a host or hostess politely welcoming their invited guests into their spotless and perfect home. Everything and everyone must be perfect. It is a world of curated images, judgment, haves and have nots, and hiding away the messiness of life to be polite. For us, hospitality is often passive.
But the readings from Psalms shows that God’s hospitality is active towards His creation. God provides for those who are without food and care. He gathers and names—and in the naming, accepts. This reminds me of the historic example of people claiming sanctuary within cathedrals. Those claiming such sanctuary were often accused of crimes by their community and the act of touching the altar for a few days’ protection could save the person from condemnation. The claimants were outsiders and criminals who were not invited or part of the community. But in claiming sanctuary they were protected, and the condemnation of the world was temporarily stayed. Sanctuary would force the Church to provide God’s welcome to those we would not necessarily invite to the garden party.
So, who in the church is claiming sanctuary?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have welcomed me into your sanctuary. Guide me in providing that same welcome to the outcasts and those I do not care to welcome in.
Meggie Lineberger
Video: “God Help the Outcasts”