Astronaut Mark Watney finds himself stranded on Mars, cut off from the authority that was supposed to be watching over him. This is a feeling mirrored in the lectionary readings from Job and the Psalms. The novel/film “The Martian” provides an illustration to explore the experience of feeling abandoned by God.
If the answer to Jesus’ question, “Who do the people say that I am?” leaves us concerned, it is time to apply that question to the areas of ministry upon which we are relying.
The only thing guaranteed to shut off conversation in the future is the decision not to have conversation.
Responsive reading images/text for Psalm 130.
If we truly believe that all lives matter, we can confidently say without qualification that black lives matter.
The images of Pluto sent back by the New Horizons mission offer a great visual pairing with Psalm 19.