GOD PAUSE- Jan. 25 There Is a Balm in Gilead, ELW 614 The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. referenced There Is a Balm in Gilead and admitted, I get weary every now and then. He asserted that this African American spiritual, adapted from the prophet Jeremiahs words (Jeremiah 8:22), comforted his enslaved foreparents. King continued, Living every day under the threat of death, I feel discouraged sometimes. He delivered this sermon in August 1967, less than eight months before his assassination. King, Peter, Paul, Jeremiah, Jonah and countless people called to declare God to be a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Jonah 4:2) faced discouragement and death. Yet they trusted God and shared the good news. It seems unlikely many of us will face death answering Gods call. Consequently, whatever the specific vocations of our call, let us eagerly join Christians throughout Gods kingdom to proclaim Epiphanys message of the love of Jesus, the light for all people. God of love and light, you are the only life-giving balm that heals our souls. Often we get weary, discouraged and frightened when we rely on ourselves. Thank you for reviving us! Give us the abilities, knowledge, boldness and love to unite with Christians to share your light with all people. Amen. Mary Simonson Clark Redeemers Ministry Team & Adjunct Instructor, Social Work, Augsburg College Minneapolis, Minn. Master of Arts in Theology/Master of Social Work, 2007 Song with lyrics- https://youtube/watch?v=8fcMxI_6xsk
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 12:30:37 +0000
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