The Imperfections of Reality
Reflecting on the Fourth Sunday of Easter: Two Days after Sunday (Year B)
Scripture
Psalter: Psalm 95
Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 11:1-9
Epistle: Revelation 7:13-17
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Prayer
Open our hearts to your power moving around us and between us and within us, until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy, in communities transformed by justice and compassion, and in the healing of all that is broken. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)
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Reflection
Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time now, even while Saul was king, it was you who commanded the army of Israel. The Lord your God said to you, ‘It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over my people Israel.’ ” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, now the city of David. David had said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. David resided in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. He built the city all around, from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him (1 Chronicles 11:1-9).
After the death of Saul, David is anointed king by the people of Israel. It signifies a new beginning after the turmoil and difficulty of the reign of Saul; and in a show of loyalty, they march with David to take the city of Jerusalem.
New beginnings and a fresh start are always exciting. They signal the hope of something that will make things different. But new beginnings do not last long once reality sets in, and we are unable to live in the ideal. The imperfections of reality are before us once again.
While David’s reign signals a bright spot for the people, such as the defeat of the Philistines once and for all from the land of Israel, David’s reign will also set up the division of God’s people into two kingdoms as a result of David’s rape of Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah.
We continue to celebrate new beginnings hoping for the ideal to be realized. We yearn for more, but have to settle for less. The good news is that God hopes along with us. God continues to offer new beginnings—a new covenant. It is God who initiates the fresh start and travels with us in the reality of everyday failings.
PRAYER: O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
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