WEEKEND FEAST LITURGY
PRACTICE HOSPITALITY
Prepare for worship tomorrow by seeking ways to be hospitable with those in your community today. If possible, invite someone to share a meal with you and intentionally engage Psalm 120 with them.
WORD
Read: Psalm 8
2nd Reading: Hebrews 2:5-10
“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” (v.4-5)
Psalm 8 contemplates the position of human beings in the cosmos. The psalm is bookended with the refrain of celebration to God, “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” In comparison humans are pretty small. When you stop to think about it – when you look at all of creation, the moon and stars in the vastness of space – it is pretty amazing that God has any concern for humans at all. But he does. In spite of our seeming insignificance, God “cares” for people (v.4). And more than that, God has given human beings a sacred responsibility. Drawing on the creation mandate from Genesis 1:26-27, David reminds us that humans have been given “dominion” (v.6) over the creation. Though we are part of the created world, human beings are made in the image of God, and are said to be “a little lower than the angels (v.5.)” To be a created being in the image of God is to have both humility and surprising dignity.
When the author of Hebrews considers this psalm through the lens of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, we get an entirely different perspective on it. Though human beings have essential dignity in the image of God, when Jesus took on human flesh it was a major step down to be “a little lower than the angels.” And his humility does not end there. He descended ever further, into suffering, death and the grave. And yet, in doing this Jesus perfectly fulfills our calling as humans. In his resurrection and ascension Jesus is given all power and authority (Mt 28:18-20.) The author of Hebrews admits that we don’t see everything in subjection to Jesus now. What we see is a world full of human beings misusing their power every chance they get. In our sin and rebellion we harm each other and the created world around us. But one day, the glory and honor that Jesus has now in heaven will be revealed throughout the earth. And the earth will be renewed.
During the weekend spend some time considering the following and discuss this with others:
- In what ways does the vastness of the created world reveal our inherent human smallness?
- How has God entrusted you with authority to impact the world around you?
- How have you been experiencing the brokenness of misused human authority?
- What would it look like for this brokenness to be restored?
GRACE FOR MEAL
Father of blessing, we recognize that we do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from your mouth. As we receive this food from the earth into our bodies, may your Word shape what comes out of our hearts though the tongue. We offer these gifts to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen.
PARTICIPATE in Psalm 120
When appropriate, share the way you contextualized Psalm 120 with those you have eaten with. Do you have a reflection, poem, song, picture, or something else to engage the Psalm with communally?