Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, November 20, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
What a visceral image. Very Lady Macbeth. Hands folded in prayer but when the camera pans back, we see blood dripping from between the fingers. I don’t think God ignores the prayers of even the worst offenders—if that were so, we’d all be in big trouble. But we have to know when there is metaphorical blood on our hands, when we have caused harm to others, and I can’t help but think it would diminish the quality of our prayers.
I love the practice of the “greeting of peace” in my congregation. It comes from the biblical idea that we need to make peace with our neighbors before bringing our gifts to the altar of God. We can’t make our sacrifices and hope to be forgiven if we have harmed our neighbors or are harboring a grudge against them. Of course, the way we practice it isn’t specifically as it was originally intended. I can’t think of a single time I’ve had to make an amends to someone before the offering was collected. But since I know the origin of the practice, every time we do it, it brings me into a state of compassion for everyone in my community and I can make my offering (which I do by blessing the plate, since I give electronically) with a clear heart.
I practice this beyond my church community, too. I have a daily practice of inventory-taking in which I am clear and deliberate about where I have been resentful, selfish, dishonest, or fearful during my day. Before I go to bed at night, I recognize where I have fallen short, and if necessary, I make an amends right away if possible, clearing the air. There are plenty of opportunities we have every day to be honest with ourselves and name the ways we have caused harm. Nipping them in the bud and making a sincere commitment to doing better helps to wipe the blood from our hands, that we might commune with our God knowing we have done our part, and trusting that God forgives us no matter what.
Do I have a daily practice of recognizing my errors and seeking to correct them? What might such a practice look like?
