This is the Day

SCRIPTURE
- Psalm 118:24
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

REFLECTION
- Cheryl

MUSIC
- This is the Day by Psalms By Chris

- This is the Day by Hymns for Easter (Emmaus Music)

NOTES
- 

PRAYER OF LETTING GO
To You do I belong, O God,
 into Your hands I surrender my life.
 Pour out Your Spirit upon me
 that I may love You perfectly,
 and serve You faithfully
 until my soul rests in You.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:16

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.

SPEAKER_03 0:42

Some of you may have jumped out of bed this morning to start the day, and others of us may have slowly crawled out of that bed. Either way, this day is a gift we've been given. Leaving us with just one question. How are you going to live in it? Our scripture today has an idea that you heard in our opening song. Welcome to prayer. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_05 1:26

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

Those who make their home in God, who wrap themselves in the blanket of God, can cling to a deeper peace.

SPEAKER_02 1:49

The faithful one provides warmth within, sanctuary from the fears that chill.

SPEAKER_00 1:58

God secures the faltering spirit, strengthening my resolves. The voice that says, You can do this. I am with you.

SPEAKER_02 2:12

Those who hold on to God have courage to face each challenge. The darkness of the night, the wounds of the day, the waves that overwhelm.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

God is faithful and near, as close as our very skin. I will call upon the Eternal One. My voice will be heard clear and loud. Answer me in my need this day.

SPEAKER_02 2:47

God is the sanctuary of my life, the one who hears my cry. My hope lives again.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_02 3:02

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

Let us rejoice and be glad. The word of the Lord. The president of the first high school I taught at was a Jesuit and had a few requests with regards to school liturgies. Most memorable was that regardless of whatever school event coincided with the liturgy, he wanted the readings of the day to be used instead of choosing readings that arguably would have fit the theme of the liturgy better. But he was adamant. As I spent time praying and reflecting on today's scripture verse, that phrase, the readings of the day always fit, kept coming back to me. I prayed with this verse as we settled into the everyday ordinary of our new summer routines. At times, summer can feel endlessly long with two young children. And the scripture challenged me to step back and savor the slowness of summer instead of wishing it away for the structure and consistency of the school year. I also prayed with this verse during my two very special mother-daughter trips to Disney. It was easy to experience joy seeing the magic in their eyes and their personalities emerge as they took the lead on how they wanted to spend our special time together. In this moment, our scripture challenged me to pause and remember the presence of God and to offer prayers of gratitude for the joy I was experiencing. And lastly, I remember praying with this verse as my younger daughter underwent and recovered from having her tonsils removed. It was hard seeing my daughter in pain and living in a fog of tiredness from waking up to administer pain medicine throughout the night. This time around, our scripture reminded me that joy is deeper than the moment. And that gave me the push I needed to bring my best, albeit tired self, to my family day in and day out. In the highs and in the lows, and in the regular ordinary of life, this verse spoke to me, offering me a different comfort and a different challenge, depending on the circumstances of my life. So I guess it's true. The reading of the day always fits. What does the scripture speak to your heart today? And if you think of it, come back to this verse in a few weeks. What might it say to you then.

SPEAKER_03 7:38

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Let us pray. Lord, this is the day that you have made, a gift placed gently into our hands. Help us not to rush through it or take it for granted, but to recognize your presence in it. Whatever this day may bring, may we receive it with gratitude, live it with joy, and rejoice in the simple gift of being loved by you. We ask through Christ our Lord. To you do I belong, O God. Into your hands I surrender my life. Pour out your spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul grasps in you. So I will leave you with a musical version of our scripture today, Psalm 118, reminding us to rejoice in the Lord this day, given to you, along with his blessing upon us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for joining us. May God go with you, and we'll see you tomorrow.