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Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Look to him, and be radiant, so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor soul cried and was heard by the LORD and was saved from every trouble. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all. 20 He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned  Have you ever had someone tell you about a food they like, but you’re just not sure it sounds good? Many people react this way when I tell them about my favorite pizza: banana with curry. They make faces and laugh, saying how gross it sounds. But I urge them, don’t knock it until you try it. I’ll make it for you, and then you can taste and see that it’s good.
The Psalmist picks up on a similar idea—though obviously with much more weight. The Psalmist seems to be saying, "Hey, I know you may have heard things about God that you’re unsure of, or you may find it hard to trust in your suffering. But I urge you, don’t walk away. Taste and see that the Lord is good." The poor soul finds relief, the weak find protection in the Lord their refuge, and God will redeem all their lives from evil. The promise made to Israel was based on this same idea. God told Moses that God had come down to “rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). How would Israel know that God was good and kept God’s promises? By tasting the milk and honey and seeing the fertility of the land, a spacious place where the needs of all who lived there were met. God’s goodness is seen in a healthy creation. When speaking of the future of His kingdom, Jesus shares the image of a great banquet where the outcast and poor are welcomed to share in a feast with the King. In Revelation, we are told that we will join in the wedding supper of the Lamb (19:9). The future promises of God are also based on tasting and seeing. These celebrations affirm Jesus’ victory over sin and death, a feast of great abundance, indicating that creation is spacious and productive. We now live in anticipation of this great feast. Like the Psalmist, we have not yet entered our full rest. There is still evil in the world that we need protection from. In many places, there is a shortage of food, and people are dying from starvation and dehydration. Creation often seems unhealthy and unproductive. At times, we may wonder, how can I taste and see that the Lord is good amidst so much trouble? The psalmist recognizes this tension, showing that the Lord both rescues now—physically and/or spiritually—and that sometimes, we must wait until the heavenly banquet. What is certain is that all who call upon the name of the Lord will eventually taste and see; it’s not a question of if, but when. In our waiting, we are still invited to taste and see the goodness of God in the meal of the Last Supper. We are reminded that Jesus loves us so much that He died for us. We taste this love in the bread and wine; we see it in the breaking and the shedding. We leave the table empowered by His forgiveness and inner healing to pray boldly and act courageously. We plant gardens, advocate for farmers and forests, dig wells, provide water and shelter, donate clothes, buy second-hand—the list goes on in the ways we can partner with God to maintain a healthy creation. There are countless opportunities to help others taste and see the promises of God’s goodness here and now. Like the Psalmist, I urge you to trust in God’s goodness and to share how you have experienced it– encouraging hope in others. Caroline Hiler is a Seminary Intern at Creation Justice Ministries
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Join Us in Prayer God of the rain, God of the wind, God of the storm We stand humbled by the power of the world you have made You have created this world in balance yet so often our efforts disrupt that balance. Even so we know that in the midst of the strongest storm, you stand with us with us in love. Help us now to stand with our brothers and sisters, as they grieve, clean, repair, and rebuild. Give us the compassion to mourn with those who mourn. Give us the wisdom to rebuild in ways that work with your Creation instead of against it. Give us the courage to question our part in scarring your world. May we be voices of calm in a volatile world. May we be the presence of peace in a perilous world. May we have hearts of compassion in a turbulent world. May we be the helpers in a scary world. We pray in the name of the One who walked on the waves and spoke the storm into silence. Amen.  In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, it is difficult to manage all of the emotions that may be swirling around inside of us. The initial shock at the scope of the damage gives way to grief over the loss of life. We feel overwhelmed thinking about the clean up and the rebuilding. We mourn with those who have to relocate and those who have lost homes and businesses. We question whether our government is doing enough and we dig deep within ourselves to think about what it is we can do to help make things even a little bit better. For those of us concerned with God’s Creation though, we may begin to notice a darker turn in our feelings. First, there is fear. We know that these storms are becoming more frequent and more severe. We wonder when and where the next big storm might hit and pray that we will be able to weather that storm. But if we’re honest with ourselves, there is also anger. How, after all of this, can people still be in denial about humanity’s role in a changing climate? How can people not see what it is we’ve done to our ecosystem and that of countless other species with which we share the planet? When are we going to finally take responsibility for our hand in creating our own disasters? There is, of course, a place for anger in the life of faith. And our fears about the next storms are valid. It’s very human to want to move from the space of shock and grief to the space of anger and frustration. Yet the road to justice for humans and all of Creation is one that cannot be traveled without compassion. Our need to blame someone must take a back seat to the needs for comfort, care, and consolation. The fact that these storms will likely become more frequent and more severe means that we must be more ready to respond to the immediate circumstance of those who stand in harm’s way. Our ministries of mercy must be more nimble and ready to act. Our generosity must increase. We must make the space in our hearts and possibly even in our homes that is required to shelter those in the storms’ wake. After past national disasters, many of us have found consolation in the words of Fred Rogers: " I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' " I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' A world that has more dangers is a world that will need more helpers. The works of justice and mercy must walk hand in hand. Even as we seek to change the systems in a way that might someday make these kinds of events less frequent, we must now ready ourselves to mobilize our best efforts of loving service towards those, human and more than human, who have been battered by the winds and wavers. For those affected by Hurricane Helene & Milton, and for those who wish to provide aide to the affected, additional resources are noted below. For Those Affected:
Assist Those In Need
Episcopal Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Presbyterian Church (USA) United Church of Christ United Methodist Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America American Baptist Home Missions Nazarene Compassionate Ministries American Baptists Churches USA Church of Brethren International Orthodox Christian Charity Psalm 22:1-15 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” 9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. 10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. 15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 6 Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it. 7 There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. 10 There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth. 11 You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. 12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. 13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil. 14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. 15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.  The recent hurricanes have left us all in shock. We watch in horror as devastation unfolds, with our news feeds and social media overwhelmed by images of destruction. We are burdened by comments coming from all sides: “Why didn’t we know the storm would be this bad? Should we help those who didn’t evacuate? How will the community ever recover? Where can I go? Are these storms only going to get worse with climate change? What can we do to help? How can we help provide accurate information?”
God, in God’s grace, has given us these Scriptures through the lectionary for this Sunday. It speaks to us, especially to those in the midst of the storm’s aftermath, those awaiting the next one, and those working tirelessly in relief efforts. They cry out with the Psalmist: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?”. The Psalmist's lament captures the heart of all who cry out for rescue in times of despair. They feel abandoned, as if God has turned away from their suffering. Yet, even in this anguish, the Psalmist holds onto the hope that God is the great Deliverer, the One who rescued their ancestors and remains faithful even when God’s presence feels distant. Even when others mock their faith, the Psalmist clings to trust because of how God has been faithful in the past. In Amos, we hear a sobering lament and a call to repentance. The prophet speaks of those who despise the truth and oppress the poor. They impose burdensome taxes on essential needs, all while living in luxury and comfort, planting vineyards and building mansions. This injustice kindles God's anger like a sweeping fire. It’s all too easy for us to ignore the effects of climate change and environmental disaster while we remain in our comfortable homes and irrigated lawns, while maintaining our lives of convenience. We can become blind to the suffering of those who bear the brunt of the climate crisis. Let us open our eyes to these powerful storms, and the shout they give to call us back to our senses. There is a crisis and we need to do something now. Let us mourn the death of our fellow image bearers. Let us rejoice for how humankind is helping one another. Let us wait for a day, as Amos did, when justice will roll down like water, truth will be in the land, and there will be no more fear or death. And let us pray like the Psalmist. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Caroline Hiler is a Seminary Intern at Creation Justice Ministries A Prayer for People Facing Great Uncertainty God of the present moment, God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to all as we wait in uncertainty. Bring hope and peace with whatever lies ahead. Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided. For your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you. — Adapted from a New Zealand Prayer Book, page 765 A Prayer for First Responders Almighty God, you lend your strength to all those who are there for us in times of crisis, fear and hurt. You give courage to the first responders who continue to do this important work they are called to do, looking beyond the risk for the sake of those who need your help and protection. We give you thanks for the many ways they give of themselves, their skills, knowledge and help in troubling times. Protect them, o Lord. Extend your shielding hand over them and comfort their hearts when they are tired and heartbroken. God, we also lift up prayers of thanksgiving and comfort for the families of first responders and all who support them. Give them hope and courage. Surround them with your loving presence and give them peace when their loved ones run toward uncertainty. All this we pray in your name. -- Sarah Swindall, Augsburg University Prayers from: https://www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/worship-resources/let-us-pray/hurricane-season-prayers/#:~:text=Creator%20God%2C%20we%20ask%20you,help%20in%20the%20coming%20days. Genesis 2:18-24 18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." 19 So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of the air and to every animal of the field, but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken." 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. Mark 10:5-9 5 But Jesus said to them… 6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Hebrews 1:1-4 1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.  The unknown preacher of Hebrews begins their sermon quite boldly– God, through the Son, created all things within time, and the Son sustains them by his powerful word. By creating through the Son, God imprints part of the divine being onto everything that exists. While creation and Jesus are not “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,” they remain deeply interconnected. Creation reflects God’s beauty, creativity, care, nourishment, and the sustaining of life—each an imprint of the divine.
Through the Son, who is the exact imprint of God, we glimpse what is to come and what has always been. In the created world, we experience the divine, a vision of the eternal through the temporal, a foretaste of the future by experiencing the One who has always been. Everything was made through the Son and is sustained by his word. The life that creation holds is intertwined with the Son’s ongoing sustenance. “Therefore, what God has joined together, no one should separate.” This intimacy reveals a divine bond between God and creation, akin to a marriage covenant. In a similar way, God shares an intimate, covenantal bond with God's people. The prophets often describe Israel as an unfaithful bride when they turn to idols, forsaking the intimacy of true worship. Jesus, too, speaks of the Church as his bride, emphasizing the depth of this divine relationship. The exciting part of this intimacy is that it can deepen and grow over time. Through our faithfulness and participation, this relationship becomes richer, more meaningful, as we are drawn closer into the life-giving bond with God. Creation bears the imprint of the Son, and the Son is the exact imprint of God. Humanity is made in God’s image, and is set apart from the rest of creation in a unique way, which is why Adam found no suitable helper among the animals. Yet, this distinction must never be used as a justification for domination or exploitation. Instead, we are called to imitate the Son, who gave himself for the life of the world. Our call to action is both small and great. Whether by walking in a park, tending a garden, or simply observing the life around us, these moments allow us to connect with God’s beauty and creativity, fostering a life of unceasing prayer as we notice God’s imprint in creation. We are called to reflect the self-giving love of Christ, bringing life through kindness, deeper relationships, and advocating for the vulnerable. In all these ways, our lives should reflect the divine imprint within creation and the image of God in us, allowing us to join in God’s ongoing work of sustaining and renewing the world into deeper intimacy. We can do this as co-laborers with Christ for the life of the world– with God as our Helper. Caroline Hiler is a Seminary Intern at Creation Justice Ministries |
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