Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me not sit in the seat of scoffers, but delight in the law of the Lord…

 
Psalm 1 & Luke 6:36-38

 
There are many more people, it seems, who sit in the seat of scoffers than delight in the law of the Lord, and humanity is all the poorer because of it.  Every time I complain, gossip, scheme, criticize and slander or  worry issues and accusations to the bone, I too have turned my back on the Mercy seat of God, and have chosen instead to sit in the congregation of scoffers – a human ‘murder’ of crows – chirping* away at others. Think of the Israelites ‘chirping’ Moses and Aaron on their circuitous and a-maze-ing 400 Kilometer journey through the desert that took forty years. Or think of Job’s Friends who flocked to Job when he was at his lowest and told him that his troubles were his own doing and that all was hopeless. Or consider the crowd scoffing at Christ Jesus and condemning him to death on Good Friday. But there is a remedy for all of this chirping and heckling. The Law of the Lord which is Mercy was the delight of Moses of Job and of Jesus and guided them through the places that ‘looked like death, but really led to life’ (cf. Ronald Rohlheiser). When I find myself (again) sitting in the chair of a scoffer, I do have a choice. I can follow the current of scoffing hopelessness, and continue to turn away from God, or I can repent of my foolishness, get up off the chair of contention and begin again to delight in the law of the Lord, in the company of holy people of all ages. Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me not sit in the seat of scoffers, but delight in the law of the Lord.
 
What right have you to recite my statues, or take my covenant on your lips?  For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. .. Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honour me; to those who go the right way, I will show the salvation of God.  (Psalm 50: 16,23)
“He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.” St. Alphonsus Liguori
 
chirping* - Canadian slang. As in opposing mean-spirited hockey players slandering, swearing at, and checking each other
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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