Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-23

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

Reflection

Let’s just say my least favorite thing at the playground was the see-saw. Why? Because you had to trust the person on the other end. A see-saw is great fun when mutually and cooperatively enjoyed by both. But get on a see-saw with someone you could not trust and two bad things could happen. The person at the other end could land down and not push off back up again leaving you stranded way up high with your feet dangling in mid-air: “Hey, let me back down!”. Or worse, the person at the other end could jump off when at the bottom and send you crashing down abruptly. The see-saw was just too risky for me. One could say I had trust issues.

Fortunately, living life in faith and hope has taught me to trust. At least in the big picture. I am still wary of playground see-saws. But in the ups and downs of life, I trust in God because in God I can set my hope and faith. Glory be to God.

–Ruth Gates

Prayer

Help us to remember, Lord, our faith and hope are set on you and in you we can trust. Thank you for your living and enduring word. Glory be to you.

Amen.