LIBERATION LECTIONARY

Love is Liberation

"As we love, fear necessarily leaves." - bell hooks

This Advent Season we remember the story of God sending The Redeemer Jesus to dwell among us. The name that we speak of Jesus, Emmanuel, means “God is with us” and that often feels difficult to believe. In times when Black people are being deported from the United States, protests in Iran are resulting in executions, and the climate crisis is ever building, meditating on God’s love feels like a heavy lift. But we believe in a God who loves us so much that we are invited into their presence to feel their love as a place that we can call home, even when the whole world seems hostile to the freedom that we were born to bear. As we sense encouragement or defeat in personal relationships and professional endeavors, we must be grounded in love. This year, as every year, we need the blessing of a love that carries us, a love that protects us, a love that knows us. 

Love allows us to celebrate as well as to lament. Love invites us to bring everything we are feeling about this holiday season into a space that God builds - a space where we are met without surprise - because God already knows us. They know our sorrows, they can dry every tear. Do you fear that love will make you too vulnerable? Take that fear to God this week. Are you dreading the holidays with family, without anyone? Bring your worries and sadness to the Lord. You are not alone. To put it simply, Emmanuel: God is with you; because God loves you. 

Daily Readings from Psalm 22

Sunday Psalm 22. 1-5 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. But you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you didn’t deliver them. To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not disappointed.

Monday Psalm 22. 9-11 But you are the one who took me from the womb; you didn’t keep me safe upon my mother’s breast. Upon you was I cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.

Tuesday Psalm 22. 19-23 But you, O Lord, be not far off! O You my help, hurry to my assistance! Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion, my afflicted soul from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my family; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you sons of Jacob, glorify the Lord, and stand in awe, all you sons of Israel!

Wednesday Psalm 22. 24 For the Lord has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and God has not hid their face from him, but has heard, when he cried to the Lord.

Thursday Psalm 22. 25-26 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear you. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord shall praise them! May your hearts live for ever!

Friday Psalm 22.27-28 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before them. For dominion belongs to the Lord, and they rule over the nations.

Saturday Psalm 22.29-31 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust will bow before the Lord, even the one who cannot keep his soul alive. Posterity will serve God; It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. They will come and will declare God’s righteousness to a people who will be born, that the Lord has performed it.

Praying With bell hooks

Gloria Jean Watkins - better known as bell hooks - became an ancestor last year on December 15. This week, when we reflect on love, we pray in the words of this brilliant woman who carried a fierce faith.
“The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth… Love is as love does. Love is an act of will-namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.”
Creator God, thank you for loving first. Thank you for being the first to extend, first to bend, to create a family and then show us the way of love. In this season we are crying out for more peace and power. We are longing for connection with you and with each other. We need to extend, and to be drawn near. We long to follow the example of your choices, to do your will and stand for the things you love. Your love shows us the way to doing. God of love, let your intention become the motivation for our actions.
“True love does have the power to redeem but only if we are ready for redemption. Love saves us only if we want to be saved.”
Redeemer God, sent by love and for love’s purpose. Oh Lord, let us long to be healed, ready to be redeemed, excited to be embraced by your power, passion and protection. Teach us to know you know us, teach us to see and know each other. Thank you for bringing us salvation even when we do not feel ready, or willing, to believe and receive it.

Redeemed and restored, love returns us to the promise of everlasting life. When we love we can let our hearts speak.”

“Holy Spirit who speaks to our hearts. In you O God we can let our hearts speak. We pray that the hearts of the hungry and the misled, the hearts of the abused and the violent will know and be changed by your words of life and love today. Lead us oh God to ultimate restoration. Oh how badly our world needs it, Lord. And it comes only from you. 

We are seeking you in hope, praying for your peace, and clinging to your joy. In all of these, Lord, please bind us together in love.

"As we love, fear necessarily leaves." -- bell hooks

And perfect love will cast out all fear. - 1 John

Ashé and Amen.