Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 21, 2020
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we pray with Psalm 69 which Brueggemann describes as
“a script for unburdening negation in God’s presence. It is a script for rehabilitation to the community of praise and thanks.”
Walter Bruggemann: From Whom No Secrets Are Hid
This Sunday’s reading are not happy ones. Jeremiah is plagued by his persecutors. Romans describes the reign of sin and death before Christ’s act of redemption. And, in our Gospel, Jesus tells his followers not to be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul!
Guess what! Despite the Gospel’s advice, I am afraid of that kind of stuff — persecution, sin, evil, murder…. and all the other terrible consequences in the larger reading of all of Psalm 69.
And guess what else. The psalmist is not only afraid. He is angry… and I mean infuriated, outraged and massively ticked off.
No one wants to listen to him about his grievances either so who gets an earful? Yes, you got it — God.
In verses 22-28, the writer spews a line of curses for his enemies. And they’re masterpieces — very satisfying ideations if you ever find yourself in similar straits.
But that’s the whole beauty of this psalm. All the negativity remains in the prayer’s imagination. It is not acted out. Once vehemently expressed to God, the catharsis slowly evolves to healing. This happens because the complaining psalmist all of a sudden realizes to Whom he is complaining — the Merciful One, the Patient One, the Forgiving One who has given all these generosities repeatedly to him.
I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness;
in your great mercy turn toward me.
Seeing God’s Face turn toward him in prayer, the psalmist regains balance. The final verse of the psalm rests on the hope and confidence God has promised in the covenantal relationship.
For God will rescue Zion,
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
They will dwell there and possess it
the descendants of God’s servants will inherit it;
those who love God’s name will dwell in it.
Anger visits all of us, sometimes in response to persecution, misunderstanding or disrespect. We feel it for personal grievances and for meanness in the world toward the helpless. Praying with Psalm 69 may help us, too, find our balance, as did the psalmist, so that the anger leads to wholeness rather than destruction.
Poetry: Time’s Lesson – Emily Dickinson
Mine enemy is growing old, — I have at last revenge. The palate of the hate departs; If any would avenge, — Let him be quick, the viand flits, It is a faded meat. Anger as soon as fed is dead; 'T is starving makes it fat.
Music: Liberty and Justice for All – Brandon Williams
Lavish Mercy 