Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Text: (Psalm 103:1-5)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your [sin], who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, ji̱n puɔ̱nydä kɛɛliw, liak ciötdɛ min rɛl gɔɔydɛ rɔ. Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, kä /cu gɔɔydɛ päl ruëëc. Jɛn pälɛ ɣä dueerkä diaal, kä jakɛ liawkä kä gɔw, kä cɛ tëkdä luɛl kɔ̱k, kä cɛ ɣä kum kɛ nhökdɛ min thil pek kɛnɛ kɔ̱a̱c lɔaac. Kä jɛn cɛ ɣän ro̱ŋ kɛ ti gɔw, kɛ ɣöö bä kula ŋuɛ̈t mi bum ce̱tnikɛ cuɔɔr.
Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. A ruacdä kɛnɛ ca̱r luaacdä la ti gɔw waaŋdu, lö pämdä kä käändä ni Kuoth Nhial. Amen.
In Ephesians, St Paul says: Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Kä a thiäŋ ni yɛn kɛ Yiëë, ruacɛ kamnikun, kɛ diit puɔnyä kɛnɛ wɛ̈ɛ̈ni kɛ diit yieekä. Kieetdɛ kä liakɛ Kuäär kɛ lo̱ckun. Ni ciaŋ la̱rɛ Kuoth in la Gua̱a̱rä tɛ̈th lɔaac kɛ ti diaal kɛ ciöt Kua̱ran ni Yecu Kritho.
So today, we gather together to give thanks to God for safely bringing these two girls, Nyacudieer and Nyanom safely to this country. But also, we have come here today to receive the Holy Spirit.
Today we have heard the Word of God spoken to us. This is the same Word of God that created the world. And when we hear this word of God, we receive the Holy Spirit.
And without the word of God, there is no Holy Spirit.
And St Paul also says to us to be filled with the Spirit and speak to each other with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Kä a thiäŋ ni yɛn kɛ Yiëë, ruacɛ kamnikun, kɛ diit puɔnyä kɛnɛ wɛ̈ɛ̈ni kɛ diit yieekä.
So today I am preaching to you the word of God from the book of Psalms, Bok diit puɔnyä kɛnɛ pal. When we speak to each other from the psalms, St Paul says that we are filled with the Spirit, a thiäŋ ni yɛn kɛ Yiëë.
So in the psalm today, let’s listen to these words again.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your [sin], who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, ji̱n puɔ̱nydä kɛɛliw, liak ciötdɛ min rɛl gɔɔydɛ rɔ. Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, kä /cu gɔɔydɛ päl ruëëc. Jɛn pälɛ ɣä dueerkä diaal, kä jakɛ liawkä kä gɔw, kä cɛ tëkdä luɛl kɔ̱k, kä cɛ ɣä kum kɛ nhökdɛ min thil pek kɛnɛ kɔ̱a̱c lɔaac. Kä jɛn cɛ ɣän ro̱ŋ kɛ ti gɔw, kɛ ɣöö bä kula ŋuɛ̈t mi bum ce̱tnikɛ cuɔɔr.
Now these words were written by King David. [Dit Dee-bid]. When King David died, this is what he wrote about himself. The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, [Rieet Dee-bid gat Jɛthi ti thil tho̱l], the oracle of the man who was raised on high [rieet raam mi ca kap nhial], the anointed of the God of Jacob [ram mi ca kuany ɛ Kuoth Je-kɔb], the sweet psalmist of Israel [keet din I-thɛ-rɛl ti gɔw]: The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. [Ci yiëë Kuɔth Nhial ruac kɛ thokdä, te rieetkɛ lɛpdä.]
So these words from the psalms [Diit] are also the words of the Holy Spirit. St Peter says no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried long by the Holy Spirit.
[Thilɛ ruac go̱o̱kä mi ci met tuɔɔk kä raan, duundɛ ɣöö ɛ Yiëë in Gɔaa in Rɛl Rɔ ɛn min kämkɛ ruac Kuɔth.]
So when we read the psalms too, we are reading words which are from the Holy Spirit.
Also, we know that when we pray the psalms, that Jesus is also praying the psalms too. He is a child from the lineage of King David.
The whole new testament, what is called [Ruac Kuɔth in Thia̱k] begins with the words, This is book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of Daivd, the Son of Abraham. [Warɛgak gua̱ndɔɔŋni Yecu Kritho, gat Dee-bid, gat A-bɛ-ram.]
When Jesus was on the cross he prayed from the book of psalms: He said, “Into your hands I commend my spirit”. [Cä tëkdä la̱th tetniku] And he also said, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? [Kuothdä, Kuothdä, ɛŋu ci ɣä ba̱ny piny ɔ?] When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, we also read that he sang a psalm or a song. It says: When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount Olives. [Kä mëë cikɛ dit Kuɔth kɛt, cukɛ wä wi̱i̱ Pa̱a̱m Ɔ-lip.]
So when we read the book of Psalms, these words are the words of King David, they are the words of the Holy Spirit, and they are also the words of Jesus Christ himself. And even today, Jesus Christ is not far away, he is close by. He is standing right in the midst of us. Jesus says: I am with you always until the end of the age. [Ɣän a kɛɛl kɛ yɛ ni ciaŋ amäni guut ɣɔaa.] And also we read after Jesus was raised from the dead, he came and stood among his disciples and said “Peace be with you.” [Yecu ben cuɔ̱ŋ dääriɛn, kä cuɛ kɛ jiök i̱, "A mal tekɛ yɛ."]
And the same is happening today. Jesus comes and stands right in the middle of the church. He is not far away. He is close by. In Jeremiah it says: Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? [Ɛ ɣän Kuoth mi te thiekä, a /ci mua Kuoth mi te nänä?] Notice that Jesus says, “I will be with you”. He doesn’t say “the Holy Spirit” will be with you [Yiëë in Gɔaa in Rɛl rɔ a kɛɛl kɛ yɛ], but “I will be with you.” [Ɣän a kɛɛl kɛ yɛ]. But then Jesus comes in the middle of the church, and he breathes out his Holy Spirit. It says: When Jesus had said this he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” [Kä mëë cɛ mɛmɛ lar, cuɛ kɛ ŋök yiëë, kä cuɛ kɛ jiök i̱, "Ka̱nɛ Yiëë in Gɔaa in Rɛl Rɔ."]
Jesus comes and stands here and he breathes out his Holy Spirit. He breathes it out by speaking his Word to us. Psalm 33 says: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.” [Cu Kuoth Nhial pua̱a̱r cak kɛ ruacdɛ, cuɛ nyin puɔ̱ɔ̱rä diaal la̱t kɛ yiëëdɛ.] Word and Spirit [ruac, yiëë] they go together. No word, no Holy Spirit.
If we want to receive the Holy Spirit, it doesn’t come to us straight to our hearts, it doesn’t come straight to our minds. It comes to us through our ears. We hear the word of God [ruac Kuoth] and we receive the Holy Spirit [Yiëë in Gɔaa in Rɛl Rɔ]. That’s the way the Virgin Mary got pregnant – she got pregnant through her ears. The angel spoke to her and she became pregnant. The same for us: we hear the word of God, and we become pregnant with the baby Jesus, Jesus comes and lives in us, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. [Ka̱nɛ Yiëë in Gɔaa in Rɛl Rɔ]. When there’s no word of God, there’s no Jesus, and there’s no Holy Spirit. If we say we follow Jesus, but we don’t listen to the words of Jesus and believe them, then we’re not a Christian. We hear the word of God, Jesus speaks his word and we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
So let’s listen to this word of God, this Prayer of Jesus, from the psalms:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! [Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, ji̱n puɔ̱nydä kɛɛliw, liak ciötdɛ min rɛl gɔɔydɛ rɔ.] Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, [Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, kä /cu gɔɔydɛ päl ruëëc.] He forgives all your [sin] [Jɛn pälɛ ɣä dueerkä diaal], he heals all your diseases [kä jakɛ liawkä kä gɔw], who redeems your life from the pit [kä cɛ tëkdä luɛl kɔ̱k], who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy [kä cɛ ɣä kum kɛ nhökdɛ min thil pek kɛnɛ kɔ̱a̱c lɔaac], who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. [Kä jɛn cɛ ɣän ro̱ŋ kɛ ti gɔw, kɛ ɣöö bä kula ŋuɛ̈t mi bum ce̱tnikɛ cuɔɔr.]
There are two things that I would like to point out.
First, “bless the Lord.” [Liak Kuoth Nhial]. Give thanks to the Lord.
And second, “do not forget” [/cu gɔɔydɛ päl ruëëc].
Maybe there have been times in the last few months and years when we have forgotten how good God has been to us. Sometimes he has given us happiness, joy, and sometimes he has given us suffering and sadness.
But God has never left you. When you suffer, it is not a sign that Jesus has gone away and has left you alone, by yourself.
Remember, Jesus is our Lord and God. Thomas says to him, “My Lord and my God.” [Cu Tɔ-mäth ɛ loc i̱, "Kuäärä, kä Kuothdä."] And Jesus says to us, “Am I a God at hand, and not a God far away?” [Ɛ ɣän Kuoth mi te thiekä, a /ci mua Kuoth mi te nänä?]
Jesus says: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” [Ta̱yɛ kɛ jiath lɔaac täämɛ, duundɛ ɣöö bä yɛ nyɔk kɛ nën, kä bi lo̱ckun tɛɛth, kä thilɛ ram mi bi tɛ̈th lɔaacdun ka̱n kä yɛ.]
So when Jesus gives to us a time of happiness, he is giving a little window into the time when we will see Jesus face to face. This week two girls have travelled across the world to be with their family – there will also be a day when we will arrive safely to be in the arms of Jesus.
Now we see in a glass dimly, but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. [Kɛ ɣöö ɛn täämɛ, guɛcnɛ rɔ̱ rɛy neenä ɛ mi̱r mi̱r, kä duundɛ ɣöö banɛ Kuoth guic agɔaa. Täämɛ ŋäcdä tëëkɛ diw, kä bä ŋɔak ŋa̱c kɛn diaal, ce̱tkɛ mëë ca ɣä ŋa̱c ɛ Kuoth.]
St Paul also says: If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. Kä mi ŋa̱thdan rɛy Kritho ɛ kui̱ teekä mɛmɛ kärɔa, kä ba par ni kɔn ɛlɔ̱ŋ kä ji̱ ɣɔaa ɛmɛ diaal.
So Bless the Lord, and forget not all his benefits. [Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, kä /cu gɔɔydɛ päl ruëëc.] When we are sad, Jesus is with us. When we are happy, Jesus is with us, and gives us a little taste of what heaven will be like. Psalm 34: Taste and see that the Lord is good! [Ɣɔ̱n Kuoth Nhial bi gɔɔydɛ nɛn!]
Today we come to give thanks to the Lord, to bless the Lord. [Liak Kuoth Nhial]. And we come to prepare ourselves for that time when we will join our family in the company of heaven, with all the angels, and look back on our whole life and say: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! [Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, ji̱n puɔ̱nydä kɛɛliw, liak ciötdɛ min rɛl gɔɔydɛ rɔ.] Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, [Liak Kuoth Nhial lö tieeydä, kä /cu gɔɔydɛ päl ruëëc.] He forgives all your [sin] [Jɛn pälɛ ɣä dueerkä diaal], he heals all your diseases [kä jakɛ liawkä kä gɔw], who redeems your life from the pit [kä cɛ tëkdä luɛl kɔ̱k], who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy [kä cɛ ɣä kum kɛ nhökdɛ min thil pek kɛnɛ kɔ̱a̱c lɔaac], who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. [Kä jɛn cɛ ɣän ro̱ŋ kɛ ti gɔw, kɛ ɣöö bä kula ŋuɛ̈t mi bum ce̱tnikɛ cuɔɔr.]
And so as we sing, and give thanks to the Lord, the whole of heaven joins in with us, the angels, the archangels and all the company of heaven.
Psalm 103 says:
Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! [Liakɛ Kuoth Nhial yɛn ja̱a̱kɛ, kä puanyɛ jɛ yɛn nɛy tin bum tin la̱tkɛ la̱tdɛ, yɛn nɛy tin luɔ̱thkɛ ruacdɛ.]
Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will! [Liakɛ Kuoth Nhial yɛn ji̱ nhial diaal, yɛn nɛy diaal tin la̱tkɛ lätkɛ.]
Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. [Liakɛ Kuoth Nhial yɛn tin diaal tin cɛ cak, puanyɛ jɛ gua̱thni diaal tin ruecɛ thi̱n.]
Bless the Lord, O my soul! [Liak Kuoth Nhial, lö tieeydä.]
Amen.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Mal Kuɔth min leny ni ŋäc ŋɔaani nath, bɛ lo̱ckun amäni ca̱r wuɔ̱thnikun tit rɛy Kritho Yecu.] Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment