Listen

Those whose way is blameless— who walk in the Lord’s Instruction—are truly happy! Those who guard God’s laws are truly happy! They seek God with all their hearts. They don’t even do anything wrong! They walk in God’s ways.

Psalm 119:1-3

Think

It is hard to imagine anyone could live without doing anything wrong. Those who set this as a goal must live lives of constant frustration. Jesus was the only one who pulled this off, and he was both human and God. Living a blameless life is unattainable, but we should still aspire to do what is even beyond our reach, because each time we try we can move on up a little higher.

There is a verb used here that shows us the way – walk, walk in God’s ways. Following God is a blessed journey because God’s ways lift up the lowly and welcome the stranger. God’s ways bring good news to the poor and pardon the prisoners. When we walk this way as followers of Jesus, who went out ahead of us, we will find true happiness through solidarity with those who suffer.

Kamal Hassan

Pray

God who guides us, teach me how to follow you into what makes us truly happy. Not a life of perfection, but one in which I faithfully seek your way to kinship with those in need, where we find radical inclusion, extravagant grace, and relentless hospitality. Amen.

Go

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night

John Lennon/Paul McCartney in “Blackbird” (1968)