Thursday, March 13th
Betty Ruth Fox
Esther (Apocrypha)
Matthew 7:7-12, 14: 1-6, 12-14
Psalm 138
Today’s scripture readings from Esther and Psalm 138 are ones of distress. Queen Esther, seized with deadly anxiety, fled to the Lord. She pled, “save us by your hand, and help me, who am alone and have no helper but you, O Lord.”
Psalm 138 continues: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.”
In the gospel reading, Jesus uses action words for those who seek Him. “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.”
I suspect you are like me in that just coming onto the grounds of the Chapel gives me comfort from any distress I may be carrying. It is fascinating to me that the architecture of our Chapels is designed so that the nave – the main worship space – is constructed like an upside-down boat. A nave roof is often vaulted with exposed wooden beams that resemble the keel of a ship. Nave comes from a Latin word navis which means ship.
Considering the construction of the nave, it is amazing that such a chaotic situation – an upside-down boat- brings me great comfort.
It confirms that we come to this place with our chaos and imperfections to be made whole. In fact, I think what Jesus meant when he said the Pharisees had no need for him since they were well is that to really experience God’s love and that of others requires that I come as a broken person asking, searching, and knocking . . . which I do every single time I walk through the Chapel doors.
The gospel reading ends with “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.” I think the song R-E-S-P-E-C-T by Aretha Franklin says it all.!
Dear God, please help me admit my brokenness and embrace your help and that of others. In doing so, help me to help others and respect every single person. Amen.
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