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What Are You Looking At?

You are still sitting on the steps. You hear the dryer buzz, but you can’t make yourself get up to go fold the laundry. You have gone over and over the problem. God has been silent. “It really isn’t my fault,” you tell the Lord. “If she would just see what she is doing.” Tears well up in your eyes.

It is easy to give in to the temptation to blame others or indulge in self-pity. “O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt,” writes the psalmist. “I’ll say,” you comfort yourself. The humiliating scorn of others is a bitter experience.

At any given moment the spiritual journey presents us with a kaleidoscope of options for action and attitude. Which options come from God or lead to God? Which lure us away from obedience and the way of love?

In the Bible the wise person stops worrying about what to do, stops placing blame or trying to figure things out. The wise person simply looks to God. Wisdom has a lot to do with where we look, what we give our attention to. The psalmist is backed in a corner, an object of scorn and derision. Is his focus on the persecutor? No. “To you I lift up my eyes,” he proclaims. My attention, my focus, is on God—not on my enemy or my wounds. I trust in God’s mercy. I fix my gaze on God while I await the mercy that I am absolutely certain will come my way.

Merciful God, help me lift my eyes from my predicament and frustrations to fix my attention wholly on you. You will not fail to bring me comfort and help. I will trust in you alone with all my heart and not rely solely on my own insight. Amen.

Rece las Escrituras usando Leccionario en Audio
Leer Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew 25:14-30

¹⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five valuable coins, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey. ¹⁶ “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more. ¹⁷ In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more. ¹⁸ But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. ¹⁹ “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’ ²¹ “His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ ²² “The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained two more.’ ²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ ²⁴ “Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven’t sown. You gather crops where you haven’t spread seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what’s yours.’ ²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven’t sown and that I gather crops where I haven’t spread seed? ²⁷ In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest. ²⁸ Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins. ²⁹ Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them. ³⁰ Now take the worthless servant and throw him outside into the darkness.’ “People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.

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Leccionario Semanal

November 9–15, 2020

Resumen de la Escritura

Like us, the Israelites struggle to be consistently faithful to God. God therefore allows a foreign king to rule them until the people come to their senses and cry out for help. The prophet Deborah gives instructions for the battle that will begin the deliverance of the people. The readings from Psalms and Zechariah demonstrate that this pattern of unfaithfulness and restoration has occurred frequently in the history of God’s people. In Thessalonians, Paul echoes what Jesus says in last week’s Gospel reading: We must always be prepared for the return of Christ because we do not know when it will occur. God gives us resources to use for the kingdom, and in Matthew Jesus indicates that God will ask for an account of how well we have used them.

Preguntas para la reflexión

Read Judges 4:1-7. Who has been a judge—someone who helps you discern—in your life? How can you help others discern the way?
Read Psalm 123. How do you focus on God through conflict and struggle?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. When have you encouraged someone in a time of darkness? When have you been the one in need of encouragement?
Read Matthew 25:14-30. What would change if you considered your dreams and desires as from God? What first step can you take to enact your desires?

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Psalm 123:1-4

Matthew 25:14-30

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