week five of Ordinary time

by Jonathan Gabhart

Work | Refuge | Listening

Psalm 2.11

Serve the Lord with fear,

   with trembling kiss his feet,

or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;

   for his wrath is quickly kindled. 

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

Philippians 2.12-13

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

“Listen to carrion — put your ear

close, and hear the faint chattering

of the songs that are to come.”

from Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front by Wendell Berry

God works in us as we work. God rules over the earth and so we flee to him for refuge and rest. God speaks and we listen. The Psalmist seems to always be speaking of God as our refuge. And once you start to notice, and as that language works its way inside your spirit, the need for refuge becomes greater and greater. The struggles mount and we get hurt. Our hopes get dashed and get worn out. The Psalmist and Paul and Jesus and saints throughout the church have called us to a rhythm of work, refuge, and listening. When we need to call it quits for the day, when we need to set stuff down from the week, God promises to take us in. He promises to speak to us and send us out again to will and to work for his good pleasure. So as you stop and rest today, or tomorrow, or later in the week. Listen. God our refuge is speaking. - Jonathan Gabhart

Lyrics:

Happy are those who take refuge in you,

Jesus, your word is wise and its true;

Open our ears

We are listening to you,

Speak in our silence,

to hearts that are quiet;

Happy are those who take refuge in you

Visual art:

Sayde Anderson