8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. 14 For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14 NRSV)
“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” It’s the ancient litany used as the ashes of Lent are imposed on the forehead. My teacher reminded us that we remember because God remembers! God remembers that we are just human beings, flawed human beings at that. We are not Gods, we are not Jesus, and the last time I checked nobody gets out alive. God remembers that, says the psalmist, and that remembering is shown forth in the birth, life, teaching, healing, dying and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The writer Paul says God was working through Christ reconciling the world to God’s self, not holding their sins against them. (Gene’s translation) The word fear in the psalm means “respect, trust, to rely on” not to be afraid or to cringe before. It’s a bit like someone offering us a gift. We can take it or not. Lent is about preparing our hearts and spirits to once again accept the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ, as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. Read the 103 Psalm every day during Lent. Then sit quietly and think of it as a gift offered to you and to the world. Pastor Gene