God.

We just read that you are gracious and merciful.
We just read that you are slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

And that doesn’t fit, exactly, with what many of us think.

We are used to hearing about getting things right or you’ll be mad.
We are used to telling ourselves that we better be careful,
that we better do this or that.
We are used to expecting so much of ourselves and others that we feel that we are failing always. And they feel that way too, because of us.

Maybe we need to confess.
Not our failure, but our belief that it makes you mad.
Not our failure, but the things we tell ourselves about ourselves.
Not our failure, but the judgment we offer freely to others about theirs.

God, we confess.

Not because you are angry, but because you are gracious and merciful.
Not to make you love us, but because you are abounding in steadfast love.
Because you invite us to lean forward to hear you speak.
Because you invite us to eat without charging us.

Thank you that you love us.
Help us believe that you do.

Through Christ our Lord, who is that love.

Amen.  

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Reflecting Psalm 145:8-9 and Isaiah 55:1-5