Like One Who Watches For The Morning: Psalm 148

Reflection: The elements that we need to sustain life (air, water, food, shelter) can point us to something larger than our selves.  The need for basic necessities can make them feel, well, more than basic; they become symbols that help us understand our relationship to the earth and to the divine and to each other. We are connected. We are connected by the air we breath, the water we drink, and the earth on which we live.  In Psalm 148 all of creation is called to praise God, who is creator and life-giver. Elements and creatures praise God by holding their places, by being and doing what they are created to be. Nan Merrill captures in a more modern way what is meant by “raised up a horn for his people”. People are invited to be in relationship with God, to be co-creators and people of peace.  When I think of creation, and co-creation, I think of the breath of God shared by God, by people, and by all of creation, for the purpose of simply being; being together; being in loving relationship; being one.  Other writings that may add to future reflections on this psalm: Hildegard of Bingen understood elements (earth, air, fire, and water) making up the cosmos and all beings, especially humans. She combined her theology and science to describe how the cosmos was ordered by God. You can read more detail about her thoughts in the link under the picture of her vision of the universe. Her love of art, music, and healing/medicine come though in her work as well. God is creator of all that is good. “The Canticle of the Sun” is attributed to St. Francis. It is an Italian poem in which the elements and all of nature praises God with the words that gave this canticle its original title, “Laudato Si”which means “Praise be to You” in medieval Italian. (The full canticle can be found in my notes section below). The Presbyterian Hymnal includes O God of Earth and Space by Jane Parker Huber (1990) that praises the God through naming elements of creation. (The lyrics can be found in my notes section below). Thinking about psalm 148, I wrote this call to worship: Praise the Lord! All creation, all creatures, and all people, praise God. Praise the LORD!We are one with creation. Our care for all of creation is an expression of praise.Praise the LORD!We are Inclusive!  Our love for all people is an expression of praise.Praise the LORD!