Today's Meditation
Read Psalm 145
1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
3Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
4One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
7They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you.
11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,
12to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
14The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
On this Memorial Day, we remember all those who have fought for the cause of freedom. On this day we honor their names and their lives. We give a solemn thanks for their sacrifice during each war that was fought on foreign and domestic soil. Not to diminish their sacrifice, but we MUST work toward peace in all that we do and must be our highest calling.
On national holidays that seem to glorify war, I always have a heartfelt, theological, ethical, moral, and patriotic inner controversy. On the one hand, I want to sing glory and praise for those who fought for our freedom and the sacrifices they made in order to do so. To give thanks for our nation that works so hard at trying to keep the whole world safe. But, I'm also reminded of the great cost, the less than honorable wars, the unjust wars that have occurred over time. I'm reminded with a pang of guilt of the times over the course of human events that any nation, any people fought with another people simply over greed and power.
Today's reading is a reminder that we should never take a single act of aggression or defense lightly. That every life comes at great cost. Today's reading reminds us that God is the ruler of all; not just our own family, friends, and loved ones. God is the ruler of all peoples, all nations and all of creation. "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and His compassion is over all that He has made."
My inner turmoil on days like this is reflected in the two songs I offer today. My patriotic heart in the first and my higher calling in the second.
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