The psalm for today, in turn, reveals a promise made by God to David:  “My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.”  Faithfulness and mercy—two of the most important words in all of scripture, words which describe the very heart of God.  In faithfulness God pledges:  I will never let you down.  In mercy God pledges:  I will love you no matter what happens.

Thursday in the Fourth Week of Easter

Acts 13:13-25

Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25+27

John 13:16-20 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. (17) Ifyou know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (18) I am not speaking of you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' (19) I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. (20) Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me."

Meditation by Rev. Richard Gabuzda

Going to the Heart of Things

Paul’s address in the synagogue summarizes key points in the life of the Jewish people, all of them clearly identified as interventions of God in their lives.  But there is a particular resting on the figure of David, described by God as, “A man after my own heart.”  What an astonishing statement:  David somehow was “one with” the heart of God! 

The psalm for today, in turn, reveals a promise made by God to David:  “My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.”  Faithfulness and mercy—two of the most important words in all of scripture, words which describe the very heart of God.  In faithfulness God pledges:  I will never let you down.  In mercy God pledges:  I will love you no matter what happens.

The implication of Paul ’s speech is that Jesus becomes the faithfulness and mercy of God in the flesh.  The resurrection of Jesus shows God’s fidelity and mercy in the face of Jesus’ rejection, torture and death.   Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we receive the promise made to David:  I will never let you down; I will love you no matter what.  “Nothing,” God says through Jesus, “will separate you from me, not even death.” 

The heart of God, the heart of David, the heart of Jesus:  faithfulness and mercy. O Jesus, make our hearts one with yours that we may receive the gift of your faithfulness and mercy which conquers all things, which conquers death itself!