Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
The Psalm appointed for the fourth Sunday of Advent, Psalm 24, is subtitled, “a Psalm for the first day of the week.” I find this particularly appropriate. What happens on the first day of the week? Everyone gets back to work. After the Sabbath rest, people begin their normal daily activities again.
What is the expectation in this Psalm? We expect the Lord to come. There’s been enough rest. Now the mighty Lord can come and bring his blessing and grace to our world. Now the Lord who is able to defend the gates by his might can come. Now, if the Lord will come, I won’t be tempted any more to work evil with my hand, to try to gain by treachery and tricks.
God’s coming is my great hope. And it is on the first day of the week that I am asking him to come. Why is that first day of the week important? It was the first day of the week when the women found the tomb of Jesus to be empty. It was on the first day of the week that Jesus was found to be the firstfruits of the resurrection. It was on the first day of the week that the Holy Spirit came upon the early Christians, empowering them as God’s witnesses.
Lord, whatever day it is, show yourself to be the Lord of the first day. Come in your power and with your grace.
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