To Live Is Christ

A Reflection on the Psalm for July 21st, 2019:
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 15

R:  Oh Lord, who may abide in Your tent?

Whoever walks blamelessly, and does what is right, and speaks the truth from their heart; whoever does not slander with their tongue. 

R:  Oh Lord, who may abide in Your tent?

Whoever does no evil to a friend, nor takes up a reproach against a neighbour; in whose eyes the wicked one is despised, but who honours those who fear the Lord. 

R:  Oh Lord, who may abide in Your tent?

Whoever stands by their oath even to their hurt; who does not lend money at · interest, and does not take a bribe against the innocent. One who does these things shall never be moved.

R:  Oh Lord, who may abide in Your tent?

---

This week, I was profoundly moved by a film called “The Long Goodbye: The Kara Tippetts Story”. It is an exquisitely painful story of a young wife and mother with cancer, who is dying, and inviting others into her story in the most vulnerable way. It is a true story where love is palpable, and where bodily and emotional suffering are in a real way necessary to beauty in the spiritual life. Pushing, pulling, drawing in and letting go, moving on the wings of the Holy Spirit...It’s a place where nothing is taken for granted, where gratitude is the source of peace and joy, and where love, therefore, flows freely in spite of, indeed, sometimes because of imperfection and pain. This is the space to which I find God leading me, the space into which I struggle to follow Him, the space where I pray for the strength to be able to go more often and with greater intention, because I know that it produces greater richness in my life and in the lives of those around me. 

Psalm 15 is an invitation into this space; an instruction on how to live with the Lord, how to live here, now, in our earthly reality with the understanding that it doesn’t end here. How to live in His tent, in the space where love and richness itself abides. In her story, Kara Tippetts speaks the truth that “The love that I give will live beyond me.” Love is all that lives beyond us. 

"The self steps aside, and allows the other the place of honour. It’s not just about what rules to follow... it’s about the difficult job of welcoming suffering by knowing there is a greater good, a greater purpose, a glory that belongs not to us but to God."

Tweet

“Whoever stands by their oath even to their hurt” -- where the self steps aside, and allows the other the place of honour. It’s not just about what rules to follow so that one knows how to be a good person; it’s about the difficult job of welcoming suffering by knowing there is a greater good, a greater purpose, a glory that belongs not to us but to God. It is the agony and the incredible beauty of union with God -- a union of ecstasy beyond our understanding that does not come without a cost. I despise the sin to which my weakness brings me, but in my awareness of it I know that it simply draws me closer to God in my desire to be with Him in that sacred space, and highlights my dependence on Him for help. Which brings me once again to a place of gratitude, a place of appreciation for everything, even the hard things.

So here I sit, inspired by the life of Kara and her love for Jesus, and motivated to find ways in my life where I can welcome others into my ‘tent’ by showing love that will live beyond me, learning to embrace suffering, and suffering along with others.  

Philippians 1:20-26 
It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

​ The Long Goodbye: The Kara Tippetts Story 


Lindsay Elford

---