Liturgy: “I, Scum of the Earth”
We are despicable creatures of the earth, but God extended his grace to us and allows us to not dwell on how low we are, but on what we can become and what we can do.
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
Isaiah 6:1-8
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11
Psalm 138
This week’s liturgy is contributed by Christopher Josselyn, assistant director of student success:
I find it hard to think of a time I pursued something I wasn’t all but certain I would get. I like to say it’s a fear of rejection so that my pride isn’t hurt, but I know it’s because I don’t believe I deserve it, that I’m not worthy. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, or education, I don’t believe I deserve it so I don’t move forward. I want to pursue higher education, get my degree in mathematics education so I can teach full-time, but I still haven’t applied anywhere. I don’t believe I deserve to get into a school, so I don’t try, all the while telling others how ridiculous this thinking is and encouraging them to go for things they don’t believe they can get.
The passages in this week’s liturgy emphasize how we are despicable creatures of the earth, but God extended his grace to us and allows us to not dwell on how low we are, but on what we can become and what we can do. This doesn’t mean to not learn from mistakes, nor that we should forget or neglect how we are unworthy, but that God gives us worth despite this.
When Isaiah had a vision of the LORD, his first response was that he is “of unclean lips” in the “midst of people of unclean lips,” yet the LORD extended his grace and atoned for his sins. Isaiah’s response was to then follow the LORD’s calling, but in order to have received God’s forgiveness, he first had to forgive himself. He had to come from a place of humility, he knew he didn’t deserve forgiveness, but he accepted he was forgiven and became a servant for the LORD.
We don’t deserve what we have; I don’t deserve my job, my wife, my friends, my anything. I need to learn to be thankful for what I don’t deserve and learn that it should not stop me from pursuing my goals. If we don’t pursue to be the best we can, pursue our goals, then we’ll never be good servants of the Lord, but first, forgive and learn to love ourselves.