Corri was asked to write the reflection as Father Louie & Andy Whitmore were away.  As I read the four readings for today, I tried to make connections between them; I was semi-successful.
           To me, Psalm 123 and Judges 4: 1-7 remind me of God’s mercy. This Psalm seems to be a song of petition rather than one of praise.  God’s people are asking for His mercy after others insult them.  In Judges, Deborah passes on God’s mercy to the Israelites after they have, yet again, messed up. She calls on Barak to be the conduit of God’s wrath upon Sisera; the Israelites reclaim their land through God’s mercy.
           Linking Matthew 25 and 1 Thessalonians 5 took more thought and prayer. I feel they are about being ready, prepared and willing to care for what is entrusted to us by God.  Two of the three servants not only took care of what was trusted to them but they “improved it”, “cared for it”, and “enhanced it”. We are asked by God to care for our fellow humans and our Earth, not just hide them and let them be.   Thessalonians builds on the theme of being prepared and willing by emphasizing then need to be ready for Christ’s coming.  We need to be awake, full of faith, love and hope, not only for ourselves but for those we bring to Christ.

Corri