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October 31, 2018

From Fear to Freedom

Beth Estock   |   Read Psalm 146:1-10

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Lectionary Week
October 29 – November 4, 2018
Scripture Overview

Ruth and Psalm 146 share a thematic connection. Ruth is a foreigner who decides to follow the God of the Israelites, and the psalmist praises God for being the trustworthy God who cares about the poor, the oppressed, and the foreigner. In Ruth, Boaz will demonstrate this kind of care for her. The New Testament readings focus on sacrifice. Hebrews teaches us that Christ was both the greatest high priest and the eternal sacrifice. A scribe in Mark receives praise from Jesus, for he understands that the sacrificial system was less weighty than the act of loving one’s neighbor. Ruth and this scribe are examples of those, named and anonymous, who have come before us in the faith. We celebrate them on All Saints Day.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Ruth 1:1-18. When have you left the familiar behind to set out into the unknown? Where did you experience God’s presence and help?
• Read Psalm 146. When you have found yourself in despair about the world, where have you witnessed God’s work that brings you hope?
• Read Hebrews 9:11-14. How willing are you to release your bag of sins and shortcomings to Jesus?
• Read Mark 12:28-34. In what ways do you understand yourself as a spiritual being having a human experience? What does that mean to you?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 146:1-10

1 Praise the LORD! Let my whole being praise the LORD! 2 I will praise the LORD with all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Don’t trust leaders; don’t trust any human beings there’s no saving help with them! 4 Their breath leaves them, then they go back to the ground. On that very same day, their plans die too. 5 The person whose help is the God of Jacob the person whose hope rests on the LORD their God is truly happy! 6 God: the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, God: who is faithful forever, 7 who gives justice to people who are oppressed, who gives bread to people who are starving! The LORD: who frees prisoners. 8 The LORD: who makes the blind see. The LORD: who straightens up those who are bent low. The LORD: who loves the righteous. 9 The LORD: who protects immigrants, who helps orphans and widows, but who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn! 10 The LORD will rule forever! Zion, your God will rule from one generation to the next! Praise the LORD!

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

Sometimes it is hard to sing praises. Whether I am checking my Facebook feed or listening to the latest news, my automatic response these days is more likely to be sadness, dread, or anger. How can we sing praises when changes in weather patterns are creating famine and floods around...

The next time you listen to or read the news, do so through the eyes of God. Practice being a compassionate witness to the suffering of the world. Inhale suffering; exhale peace.


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