Sunday, May 12, 2019

The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, May 13, 2019

The Angels with the Seven Last Plagues
Revelation 15:1-4

The Daily Lectionary
MONDAY, May 13, 2019
(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 100
All Lands Summoned to Praise God
A Psalm of thanksgiving.
1  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2    Worship the Lord with gladness;
     come into his presence with singing.

3  Know that the Lord is God.
     It is he that made us, and we are his;
     we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
     and his courts with praise.
     Give thanks to him, bless his name.

5  For the Lord is good;
     his steadfast love endures forever,
     and his faithfulness to all generations.

Ezekiel 37:15-28
The Two Sticks
37:15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 Mortal, take a stick and write on it, “For Judah, and the Israelites associated with it”; then take another stick and write on it, “For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with it”; 17 and join them together into one stick, so that they may become one in your hand. 18 And when your people say to you, “Will you not show us what you mean by these?” 19 say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am about to take the stick of Joseph (which is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with it; and I will put the stick of Judah upon it, and make them one stick, in order that they may be one in my hand. 20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from every quarter, and bring them to their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all. Never again shall they be two nations, and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They shall never again defile themselves with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all the apostasies into which they have fallen, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

24 My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe my statutes. 25 They shall live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your ancestors lived; they and their children and their children’s children shall live there forever; and my servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will bless them and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations shall know that I the Lord sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is among them forevermore.

Revelation 15:1-4
The Angels with the Seven Last Plagues
15:1 Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.

2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

   “Great and amazing are your deeds,
     Lord God the Almighty!
   Just and true are your ways,
     King of the nations!
4  Lord, who will not fear
     and glorify your name?
   For you alone are holy.
     All nations will come
     and worship before you,
   for your judgments have been revealed.”

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2019, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2018 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.

Verse of the Day MONDAY, May 13, 2019


Proverbs 31:30 (NIV) Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Read all of Proverbs 31

Listen to Proverbs 31

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Monday, May 13, 2019

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/un-dia-vez/2019/05/13

El Rey de nuestra vida

¿Qué Dios hay como tú, que perdone la maldad y pase por alto el delito del remanente de su pueblo? No siempre estarás airado, porque tu mayor placer es amar.
~ Miqueas 7:18 (NVI)

Muchos de los asuntos que nos alejan de nuestra relación linda con Dios es el amor a otras cosas. Quizá preguntes: «¿Por qué? ¿Qué hay de malo en amar otras cosas que no sean Dios? ¿O es que acaso no puedo amar a mi cónyuge?».

Todas esas preguntas tienen una misma respuesta y es aplicable para otras no mencionadas. Tú y yo podemos decir: «Bueno, mi amor está puesto en…».

Lo preocupante de llevar a extremos esos amores está en cuando le damos un trono y se convierten en el rey de nuestra vida: El dios dinero, el dios de tu esposo, el dios de tus hijos, del trabajo. Estos dioses nos roban el primer y único lugar en el que debe estar Dios.

Atiende esto, nada debe ser más importante en tu vida que Dios. Ni siquiera el amor a la obra, a la iglesia, ni a tu llamado. Nada debe ser más importante que Dios en tu vida.

He aprendido que, en ese sentido, Dios es un Dios celoso y no va permitir que tú y yo hagamos reyes a nada ni a nadie. Además, Él sí que es especialista en derrumbar esos reyes, esos altares y esos dioses.

Rinde en este día ese rey que has levantado, dile a Dios que te perdone y comienza por darle a Él su lugar.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Muchos de los asuntos que nos alejan de nuestra relación linda con Dios es el amor a otras cosas. Quizá preguntes: «¿Por qué? ¿Qué hay de malo en amar otras cosas que no sean Dios? ¿O es que acaso no puedo amar a mi cónyuge?».

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, May 13, 2019

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/standing-strong-through-the-storm/2019/05/13
BLESSINGS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents…
~ Malachi 4:6a (NIV)

ManFu’s parents are key leaders in a house church network—his father serves as a regional pastor in one of the largest cities in China, and his mother is a Bible teacher. They travel constantly, preaching and teaching at a different congregation almost every weekend. Their little pre-school daughter goes along, but it’s not a stable environment for ManFu, their teenage son, to keep up with his studies. So they enrolled him in a boarding school in his father’s home village, so he could spend weekends with his grandfather.

They pledged to telephone him every Saturday night, but for itinerant pastors in China, Saturday nights are busy, demanding times. ManFu’s parents would sometimes get so caught up with ministry that they missed their weekly call to their son—sometimes three in a row. And even then, they often cut off what he was telling them with a hurried barrage of questions which felt critical and unloving to their son. Although their questions were rooted in concern for his welfare, to ManFu each conversation felt like an interrogation, and he began to wish they would stop calling. His parents became frantic as to how they could effectively reach out to him.

Brother Samuel, an Open Doors trainer, suggested they begin by writing a letter to their son, pouring out their hopes and love and prayers for him. “Share about the struggles you have and how much you long for him to be by your side. Help him to see all that is in your heart. Kneel before the Lord and pray before you begin this letter. Don’t mention the past. Whenever your son thinks of you, he will take the letter out and read it and know his parents are praying for him.”

Accepting their mentor’s assignment, they went home to write to their first-born, hundreds of miles away. Unknown to the parents, their letter never arrived. But by the time they found out, they told Samuel, it didn’t matter anymore. Their phone conversations had been transformed week after week, as the parents focused on sharing their love and prayers for ManFu. Although the letter itself was lost, its contents had been written in their hearts—and ManFu felt their love.

When ManFu’s summer school vacation approached, Samuel advised the anxious parents to set aside special family times to do things together. “It doesn’t matter where you go – to the park or for walks – but you must take a family photograph,” he advised. “Then take one photograph and write on the back of it for your son to take back to school with him. Whenever he looks at it, he will be reminded of his parents and that you love him.”

When Samuel shared this testimony with pastors in other regions, many admitted that they also had strained relationships with their children. Confused how to resolve the guilt they were experiencing, they had simply given up—until they heard how God worked in ManFu’s family.

“It’s amazing to see parents being set free and healed from their feelings of guilt, to see them turn to God and experience His love,” Samuel said. “And this in turn blessed their children.”

RESPONSE: Today I will work on communications with family members to assure them of my love.

PRAYER: Pray for mentors like Samuel who strengthen pastors and their families in China’s unregistered church through balanced, holistic ministry.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

Women of the Bible - Monday, May 13, 2019

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/women-of-the-bible/2019/05/13

Abigail

Her name means: "My Father Is Joy"

Her character: Generous, quick-witted, and wise, she is one of the Bible's great peacemakers.
Her sorrow: To have been mismatched in marriage to her first husband.
Her joy: That God used her to save lives, eventually making her the wife of David.
Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 25:2-42

Her Story

Blockhead, numskull, nincompoop—the words strike us as both harsh and humorous. But any woman married to a man worthy of such labels would have little to laugh about.

Abigail must have felt suffocated, having been paired with just such a husband. Her father may have thought the wealthy Nabal was a catch, little realizing the man's domineering attitude might one day endanger his daughter's future. But fools and ruin often keep close company, as Abigail discovered.

For some time Abigail had been hearing of David: his encounter with Goliath, his ruddy good looks, his prowess in battle, his rift with King Saul. Recently, he had become her near neighbor in the Desert of Maon, west of the Dead Sea, where he had taken refuge from Saul. Since David had arrived with his six hundred men, marauders kept clear of her husband's livestock, and Nabal's flocks prospered as a result.

But when David sent ten of his men to ask Nabal for provisions, Nabal, who had grown richer by the day thanks to David, nearly spit in their faces. "Who is this David? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?" Rich though he was, Nabal had just foolishly insulted the region's most powerful man.

Aware of their danger, one of the servants ran quickly to Abigail, begging her to intervene. As Nabal's wife, she must have suffered his arrogance every day of her life. But this time his folly jeopardized the entire household. Wasting no time, and without a word to her husband, she loaded a caravan of donkeys with gifts for David and his men—freshly baked bread, skins of wine, red meat, and various delicacies—and took them to David's camp. As soon as she saw him, she fell to the ground at his feet, making one of the longest speeches by a woman recorded in the Bible:

"My lord," she pleaded, "let the blame be on me alone. May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent. Please forgive your servant's offense, for the Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the Lord's battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone pursues you, your life will be held securely by the Lord your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling."

Her well-chosen words, of course, reminded David of his success against Goliath, erasing his anger and enabling his gracious reply: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. If you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." In addition to saving lives, Abigail's wisdom had spared David from sinning, reminding him that vengeance belongs only to God.

After her encounter with David, Abigail went to Carmel, where Nabal had been shearing his sheep and celebrating his good fortune. Once again, she found him playing the fool. Oblivious to danger, he was drunkenly presiding over a festival banquet, like a great king. She waited until morning, when he was sober, to tell him what had happened. As soon as Nabal heard the news, his heart failed. Ten days later he was dead.

Arrogance, greed, and selfishness had conspired to rob Nabal of any good sense he might once have possessed. Thinking himself a great man when he was only a small one, he lost everything. Abigail was Nabal's opposite, a woman whose humility, faith, generosity, intelligence, and honesty made her wise. Rather than putting others at risk by an ungoverned tongue, her gracious words saved lives.

When David heard the news of Nabal's death, he sent word to Abigail, asking her to be his wife. This time it was Abigail's choice whether or not to marry. She accepted, becoming David's third wife and eventually mother to his second son, Kileab.

Unlike Michal, who had been a mere pawn on a chessboard, Abigail was a woman who rose above her circumstances to change the course of events. Though Scripture doesn't offer details regarding her daily life, it is logical to suppose she was a good wife to Nabal. Even her entreaty to David was the act of a good wife. Perhaps her marriage was the catalyst for her character, helping her to cultivate contrasting virtues to Nabal's vices. Regardless, through her quick-witted action, she spared her husband's life and goods. It was God, not Abigail or David, who paid Nabal back for his arrogance and greed.

Her Promise

Abigail was a courageous woman, who made the best out of a difficult situation. She knew the cultural principles at work here: Nabal—out of just plain good hospitality and out of gratitude for the protection David's men had provided—should have given David's men what they asked for. Yet when David sought vengeance, Abigail interceded, realizing that vengeance wasn't something that was up to David—or her—to give.

Years of living with Nabal did not seem to have made Abigail bitter, nor had the years caused her to look for ways to get back at him and seek revenge. The Lord honored Abigail for her consistency, her generosity, and her willingness to continue on the right path, no matter how difficult. In the same way, God continues to honor those who are faithful even when faithfulness brings difficulty and hardship and pain. He doesn't promise to always deliver, as he delivered Abigail, but he does promise to go with us.

This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Used with permission.

Girlfriends in God - Monday, May 13, 2019

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/girlfriends-in-god/2019/05/13

The Price Tag of Friendship

Today’s Truth

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Friend to Friend

The emotional demands on women are immense. One of the ways God replenishes us emotionally is through friendships. Many women are convinced that the risk of having close friends outweighs the rewards. I disagree.

There is no love without risk. Every friendship must contain the element of risk if it is to grow and mature, reaching its full potential. Ruth was willing to risk her very future for the sake of her friendship with Naomi.

John 15:13 says it well: “Greater love has no one than this; that one lay down his life for his friends.” When we choose to lay down our life, we automatically take a chance on being hurt, rejected, betrayed, or misunderstood.

Anyone who knows me also knows that living foliage is doomed to die a premature death if left in my care for any length of time. I have even been known to kill a plant without touching it. In fact, the only hope any plant of mine has to live past its purchase date is for me to ignore its existence with great diligence. I am certain you can understand why I am in awe of anyone who gardens and is actually capable of growing green things.

I once had a neighbor who was known for her green thumb. In fact, everyone in our small Mississippi town knew that the most beautiful roses were found in Joyce’s back yard. It was in that same yard where I learned an important lesson about friendship.

Every afternoon, after their naps, I took our two children outside to play in our fenced-in back yard. While Jered and Danna enjoyed the fresh air, neighborhood friends, and their swing set, I enjoyed visiting with Joyce. Most of our conversations took place over the vine-covered fence and her dazzling rose garden.

I loved to watch Joyce plant, prune, water, feed, talk and even sing to her “Rose Babies.” She always wore a long-sleeved shirt covered by a canvas apron and a pair of thick gloves to protect her arms and hands from thorns. It wasn’t enough. Joyce’s hands and arms were always scratched from her work in the rose garden. She didn’t seem to mind.

One afternoon, our conversation abruptly halted when she yanked her hand into the air and yelled, “Ouch!” Seriously? When I asked her why she insisted on growing roses instead of some safer and less prickly foliage, her answer was profound. “The beauty of the roses is worth the occasional wound they inflict,” she replied. Joyce had learned to handle the roses with respect and in such a way that her wounds were few. Friendships are much the same.

Yes, friends will hurt you. Friends will wound you. We would be wise to don thick emotional gloves when it comes to handling friendships. It is a fatal mistake to assign the responsibility for our happiness to friends. Depending on a friend to make us happy sets that friend up for failure in the relationship, and positions that friendship for inevitable destruction.

The words of 1 Peter 4:8 say it well, “Love covers a multitude of sins.” In this verse, “cover” literally means to “hide” or “overlook” the faults. Friendship knows the weaknesses are there, but chooses to love anyway. Every friendship has a price tag of some kind attached. We just need to get to the place where love covers the cost.

Let’s Pray

Father, I want to thank You for being the ultimate Friend. You have never let me down or turned away from me – even when I have turned away from You. Please help me be the kind of friend You want me to be so that Your love can flow through me in my relationships.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
  • What is the greatest hindrance to friendship in your life?
  • What has been the greatest reward of friendship in your life?
  • Are you willing to take the risk of cultivating intimate friendships and of being a true friend? Explain.
  • Make a list of your closest friends and then picture life without them. What would that picture look like?;
  • Make a specific plan this week to invest time in the life of a friend.
More from the Girlfriends

Is your life filled with joy? Do you understand what true joy is? Grab a copy of Mary’s new journal, Joy Journal. It will guide you in such a way that you will get into the habit of seeing God’s handprints in your daily life. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

https://girlfriendsingod.com/events/
The emotional demands on women are immense.

LHM Daily Devotions - Humbled and Exalted

https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/default.asp?date=20190513

"Humbled and Exalted"

May 13, 2019

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the Name of the LORD, for His Name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.

In His parable of the lost coin, the Lord Jesus tells us that "there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10b). In the Christmas story in Luke's Gospel, we hear the rejoicing of "a multitude of the heavenly host" when Christ Jesus was born (see Luke 2:13-14). The Lord of glory, whom highest heaven cannot contain (see 1 Kings 8:27), humbled Himself to be born of a virgin, to live and grow and learn as a Man. Jesus knew hunger and thirst, the joy of friendship, and the sorrow of loss. For the sake of our salvation, He allowed Himself to be subjected to a shameful death.

But then, on the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead, triumphant over sin, death, and Satan. All authority in heaven and on earth was given to the crucified and risen Lord. He ascended to reign at the Father's right hand. How the angels must have rejoiced on that day! The book of Revelation lets us listen in on heaven's angelic chorus: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:12b)

The praise for our glorified and exalted Lord never ends, in heaven and on earth. The psalmist calls on all creation to join in the praise. Not only the angels, but the sun, moon and stars, mountains and hills, livestock and birds, and even fire and storm are invited —commanded!—to join in praise for the Lord. This world's rulers, even though they may feel deserving of praise themselves, are summoned to glorify the Lord. Men and women, young and old join in; no one is exempt from the chorus. In public worship with brothers and sisters in Christ or in private devotion and prayer, we add our voices, stepping for a time into the river of praise that echoes throughout creation and endlessly ascends before the throne of God.

The Lord Jesus humbled Himself to save us and was raised to exalted glory. We too are told, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you" (1 Peter 5:6). On a day yet to come, exalted in His presence forever, we will join in the joy of the angels and forever praise the Lamb who was slain for us.

THE PRAYER: Mighty risen and ascended Lord, hear and accept our grateful praise. Lead us in the power of the Holy Spirit to humble ourselves beneath Your loving hand until we are exalted forever in Your presence. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
In His parable of the lost coin, the Lord Jesus tells us that "there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Devocional de la CPTLN del 13 de Mayo de 2019 - Humillado y exaltado


ALIMENTO DIARIO

Humillado y exaltado

13 de Mayo de 2019

Los reyes de la tierra y todos los pueblos, todos los jefes y gobernantes de la tierra, los jóvenes y las doncellas, los ancianos y los niños. ¡Alabado sea el nombre del Señor! ¡Sólo su nombre merece ser exaltado! ¡Su gloria domina los cielos y la tierra!
~ Salmo 148 (RVC)

En la parábola de la moneda perdida el Señor Jesús nos dice que hay gozo "delante de los ángeles de Dios por un pecador que se arrepiente" (Lucas 15:10b). En la historia de Navidad en el Evangelio de Lucas, escuchamos del gozo de "una multitud de las huestes celestiales cuando Cristo Jesús nació" (ver Lucas 2:13-14). El Señor de gloria, que los altos cielos no pueden contener (ver 1 Reyes 8:27), se humilló a sí mismo para nacer de una virgen, vivir, crecer y aprender como un hombre. Jesús conoció el hambre y la sed, el gozo de la amistad y la pena de la pérdida. Por nuestra salvación se sujetó a una muerte vergonzosa.

Pero tres días más tarde Jesús resucitó de los muertos triunfante sobre el pecado, la muerte, y Satanás. Toda la autoridad en el cielo y en la tierra le fue dada al Señor crucificado y resucitado, quien ascendió para reinar a la diestra del Padre. ¡Cómo se regocijaron los ángeles en ese día! El libro de Apocalipsis nos permite escuchar el coro angelical del cielo: "Digno es el Cordero inmolado de recibir el poder y las riquezas, la sabiduría y la fortaleza, la honra, la gloria y la alabanza" (Apocalipsis 5:12b).

La alabanza a nuestro Señor glorificado y exaltado nunca termina, ni en el cielo ni en la tierra. El salmista llama a toda la creación a unirse a la alabanza. No solo los ángeles, sino el sol, la luna y las estrellas, las montañas y las colinas, el ganado y las aves, e incluso el fuego y la tormenta están invitados, ¡comisionados! a unirse en alabanza al Señor. Los gobernantes de este mundo, aunque se sientan merecedores de alabanza, son convocados a glorificar al Señor. Hombres y mujeres, jóvenes y ancianos, todos se unen; nadie está exento de estar en el coro. En la adoración pública con hermanos y hermanas en Cristo o en devoción y oración privadas sumamos nuestras voces, entrando por un momento en el río de alabanza que resuena en toda la creación y asciende sin cesar ante el trono de Dios.

El Señor Jesús se humilló a sí mismo para salvarnos y fue elevado a la gloria exaltada. A nosotros también se nos dice: "Por lo tanto, muestren humildad bajo la poderosa mano de Dios, para que él los exalte a su debido tiempo" (1 Pedro 5:6). En un día futuro, exaltados en su presencia para siempre, nos uniremos al gozo de los ángeles y alabaremos para siempre al Cordero que fue inmolado por nosotros.

ORACIÓN: Poderoso, resucitado y ascendido Señor, escucha y acepta nuestra alabanza y gratitud. Guíanos en el poder del Espíritu Santo para humillarnos bajo tu mano amorosa hasta que seamos exaltados para siempre en tu presencia. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
En la parábola de la moneda perdida el Señor Jesús nos dice que hay gozo "delante de los ángeles de Dios por un pecador que se arrepiente."

Notre Pain Quotidien - Un quai de pierre


Un quai de pierre

La Bible en un an : 2 Rois 17 – 18 ; Jean 3.19-36

Je te l’ai fait voir de tes yeux ; mais tu n’y entreras point. V. 4

« Ah! le quai est tout entier une mélancolie de pierre ! » Voilà un ver tiré du poème du Portugais Fernando Pessoa intitulé « Ode Marítima ». Le quai de Pessoa représente les émotions que nous ressentons lorsque le navire se sépare du quai. Le bateau nous quitte, mais le quai reste, un monument constant aux espoirs, aux rêves, aux départs et aux désirs ardents. Nous souffrons de ce qui est perdu et tout juste inatteignable.

Le mot portugais rendu par « vague à l’âme » (saudade) désigne un désir lancinant, une douleur profonde et indéfinissable. Le poète décrit ainsi l’indescriptible.

On pourrait dire que le mont Nebo était « le quai de pierre » de Moïse. De là, il a pu contempler la Terre promise et entendre Dieu lui annoncer : « Je te l’ai fait voir de tes yeux ; mais tu n’y entreras point » (DE 34.4). Une parole pouvant nous sembler dure. Si c’est tout ce que nous y voyons, nous passons toutefois à côté de l’essentiel, c’est-à-dire l’immense réconfort que Dieu procure à Moïse : « C’est là le pays que j’ai juré de donner à Abraham, à Isaac et à Jacob, en disant : Je le donnerai à ta postérité » (V. 4). Peu après, Moïse est entré dans un pays bien meilleur que Canaan (V. 5).

Or, dans la vie, nous nous retrouvons souvent sur un quai, à voir partir nos êtres chers, dissiper nos espoirs et s’envoler nos rêves. Parmi tout cela, nous captons néanmoins les échos de l’Éden et du paradis. Nos désirs lancinants nous font tendre vers Dieu, le seul à pouvoir les combler.

L’idéal est d’atteindre la source de toute beauté. C. S. Lewis


© 2019 Ministères NPQ
« Ah! le quai est tout entier une mélancolie de pierre ! » Voilà un ver tiré du poème du Portugais Fernando Pessoa intitulé « Ode Marítima ».