Most of the time, I buy my meat from the grocery store; it comes nicely pre-packaged, and it’s easy to disassociate it from the animal it once was. Occasionally, however, I’ll shop at a market or butcher and will see the carcass of that which I will be consuming hung up. It can be a bit jarring.
In our passage from today, we are reminded that no matter how much we may dress ourselves up and put on outward appearances to seem sanctified and altogether, God knows our inmost parts and can see past what we might want to show to the world.
Yet instead of being fearful, we know that Jesus, too, has had this experience, of being hung up for all to see in absolute nakedness and vulnerability. He knows what it is like to be judged in this way and promises to show mercy and grace to us when we are most in need.
Gracious God, from you no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit. Amen.*
Gracious God, from you no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit. Amen.* —