Reflection (The readings are below, for your reference)
We are now forty days into the liturgical year and for seven of those days subsets of Psalm 72 have been appointed, including today. The entire psalm appears below and I am moved by several things in it. A world where true leaders are recognized as those who are just and charitable is rewarded by nature herself. Might is not rewarded, charitable love is. The psalmist envisions a paradise where the most vulnerable are seen (that’s the first big step … to be seen) and then defended, honored and saved. The rewards are great in this paradise: peace reigns, nature smiles, refreshing rains fall softly, the fields are fertile, and strangers from far off lands pay tribute. In response to such wonder, I feel called to look around me in the nooks and crannies where I am something of a leader. Where can I find excuses to be just and charitable? Come Holy Spirit and open my eyes!
Namaste. Amen.
What are your thoughts? Please add your comments.
Psalm 72
O God, with your judgment and with your justice,
endow the leaders.
endow the leaders.
They shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with righteousness.
and your afflicted ones with righteousness.
The mountains will bring peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
and the hills justice.
They shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor,
and crush the oppressor.
save the children of the poor,
and crush the oppressor.
May they endure as long as the sun
and like the moon through all generations.
and like the moon through all generations.
They shall be like rain coming down on the field,
like showers watering the earth.
like showers watering the earth.
Virtue shall flower in their days,
and world peace till the moon is no more.
and world peace till the moon is no more.
May they rule from sea to sea,
and from the river to the ends of the earth.
and from the river to the ends of the earth.
Their foes shall bow before them,
and their enemies will lick the dust.
and their enemies will lick the dust.
Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All other rulers shall pay homage to them;
all nations shall serve them.
all nations shall serve them.
For they shall rescue the poor when they cry out
and the afflicted when they have no one to help them.
and the afflicted when they have no one to help them.
They shall have compassion for the needy and the poor;
they shall save the lives of the poor.
they shall save the lives of the poor.
From oppression and violence they shall redeem them,
and precious shall their blood be.
and precious shall their blood be.
To them, long life and continuous prayers;
day by day shall they be blessed.
day by day shall they be blessed.
May grain be in abundance on the earth,
and on the tops of the mountains
the crops shall rustle like Lebanon.
The city dwellers shall flourish
like the grass of the fields.
and on the tops of the mountains
the crops shall rustle like Lebanon.
The city dwellers shall flourish
like the grass of the fields.
Blessed be their name forever;
their name shall remain as long as the sun.
In them shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim their happiness.
their name shall remain as long as the sun.
In them shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim their happiness.
This translation of Psalm 72 is from Psalms Anew, St. Mary’s Press, 1986.
The Readings
1 John 4:19-5:4
Psalm 721-2,14,15bc,17
Luke 4:14-22
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