I’ve been on a quest since January. Ok, maybe it’s been longer — more like the past year and a half. Why a king, and how a kingdom?
Especially this lent, the word “LORD” has been jumping out at me in the daily mass readings. It’s a substitute for “Yahweh,” the name God revealed to Moses and the Israelite people on Sinai in forming a covenant relationship with them. The title LORD has a kingly connotation, because in entering into a covenant with Yahweh, the Israelites accepted him as their king.
The tenderness of the heart of the LORD, expressed through the liturgy this past week, has been blowing my mind:
Psalm 103: “The LORD is kind and merciful…he pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills…he will not always chide, not keep his wrath forever…as far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.”
Isaiah 7: “The LORD himself will give you a sign…Emmanuel…God with us!”
Deuteronomy 4: “What nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call him?”
Psalm 147: “Praise the LORD, Jerusalem…he has blessed your children within you. He has not done thus for any other nation.”
Jeremiah 7: “Thus says the LORD…listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you so that you may prosper.”
Hosea 14: “Thus says the LORD: return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God…I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely…”
What a different take to the concept of kingship!
Reveal your heart to me, O LORD!
