God Desires Life

A Curious Pilgrim Reflection on Psalm 105, Ezekiel 18:1-4, 19-32, Hebrews 7:18-28, and Luke 10:25-37

One of the blessings of praying the Daily Office is discovering how seemingly unrelated passages of Scripture often weave together into a single message. Today’s readings come from different centuries, different writers, and different circumstances, yet they all point toward the same truth:

God is faithful, God desires life, and God calls us to become instruments of mercy in the world.

Psalm 105 begins by recalling the history of God’s people. The Psalmist reminds us that God remembers the covenant and remains faithful to the promises made long ago. Human beings often forget. We become distracted. We lose hope. We wander down roads we never intended to travel. Yet throughout the story of Israel, God remains steadfast.

The message is clear: God’s faithfulness does not depend upon our perfection.

That same theme appears in Ezekiel 18. The prophet challenges the belief that people are trapped by the sins of previous generations. Instead, each person is invited to choose a different path. The chapter reaches its climax when God declares:

“I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.”

Those words reveal the very heart of God.

For many years, religion has often portrayed God as angry, waiting to punish, condemn, or reject. Yet Ezekiel paints a different picture. God desires life. God desires restoration. God desires reconciliation.

This reminds me of the familiar words of Jesus in John’s Gospel:

“For God so loved the world…”

Not part of the world.

Not only the righteous.

Not only those who agree with us.

The world.

God’s love is wider than our categories and larger than our prejudices.

The writer of Hebrews continues this theme by presenting Jesus as the eternal High Priest. Unlike the priests of old, whose ministries were temporary, Jesus remains forever. The writer assures us that Christ is able to save completely those who draw near to God.

Notice the emphasis. The writer does not tell us to fear approaching God. Instead, we are invited to come near because God’s desire is not exclusion but welcome.

God is always moving toward us before we ever think about moving toward God.

Then we arrive at one of the most beloved stories in Scripture—the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

A lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus responds with a story that completely overturns expectations.

The Samaritan, a person despised by many in Jesus’ audience, becomes the hero. While others pass by the wounded man, the Samaritan stops. He sees suffering and responds with compassion. He crosses religious, ethnic, and social boundaries to show mercy.

At the end of the story, Jesus does not define who qualifies as a neighbor.

Instead, he asks which person acted like a neighbor.

The question shifts from, “Who deserves my love?” to “Will I choose to love?”

That question remains just as relevant today.

We live in a world divided by politics, religion, race, economics, nationality, and ideology. We often spend enormous amounts of energy deciding who belongs and who does not.

Yet Jesus consistently moves in the opposite direction.

The God revealed in Scripture is always expanding the circle.

The God of Psalm 105 remains faithful.

The God of Ezekiel desires life.

The God revealed in Christ welcomes us through grace.

The God of the Good Samaritan calls us to show mercy beyond our boundaries.

Perhaps that is the message these readings offer for our day.

Remember God’s faithfulness.

Choose life.

Trust the saving work of Christ.

Practice mercy.

The journey of faith is not primarily about being right. It is about participating in the faithful, life-giving, boundary-crossing love of God.

As pilgrims, we are invited not only to receive mercy but to become living expressions of that mercy for others.

In the end, perhaps the simplest summary of today’s readings comes from the final words of Jesus:

“Go and do likewise.”

May we do just that.

Prayer

Faithful and loving God, thank you for your mercy that never fails and your love that never gives up on us. Help us remember your faithfulness when we are afraid, choose life when we are discouraged, trust your grace when we feel unworthy, and show compassion to those around us. Open our eyes to see our neighbors not as strangers but as fellow travelers on the journey of life. May we become instruments of your peace, mercy, and healing in a world that desperately needs them. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.