Liturgy: “Faithfulness”
What comes to mind when I first think of this word is God’s response to the people of Israel in the Old Testament—how He continually forgives and renews His promises to His people even though they continually fail at holding up their end of the covenant and turn to other gods.
What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.
This Week’s Lectionary Readings
Ruth 3:1-5
Psalm 127
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44
This week’s liturgy is contributed by Nick Swedick, director of student life:
A recurring theme throughout this week’s readings is faithfulness. What comes to mind when I first think of this word is God’s response to the people of Israel in the Old Testament—how He continually forgives and renews His promises to His people even though they continually fail at holding up their end of the covenant and turn to other gods. I think of Christ giving his life for me by dying on the cross for my sins. The passage in Hebrews says, “But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Our God is faithful.
It’s easy for me to understand God’s faithfulness to his people. What is so challenging for me is another aspect of faithfulness highlighted in this week’s readings: That we are to be faithful to God. Like the Israelites, I struggle to be faithful. What can I give to the Creator of the heavens and the earth? The psalmist from our readings describes God as, “the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the Lord, who remains faithful forever.” I am often overwhelmed trying to think of what I can give to God, the One who made everything and gave everything for me. Often, my response is to spend time in prayer thanking and praising Him, but then I quickly am sucked back into the routines and tasks of life.
The reading from the Gospel provides a template for how I can live a life that is more defined by faithfulness to God. The poor widow gives all the money she has to the temple treasury and Jesus notices, telling his disciples, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” My response to Christ giving all he has for me is to give my all to him—even from the places in me that feel impoverished. Faithfulness is not simply to give God praise in songs and prayers of thanksgiving (although we should practice those habits). I am reminded by the poor widow that the faithfulness God desires should come from a place of need and humility. God gave all for me and I want to give all I have for Him.