Tuesday, March 12, Lent, day 24
The Psalm I’m reading today says this:
Bring justice to the peoples,
O Beloved,
and your mercy to all
generations!
May the people be known for
mercy,
rendering justice to the poor!
Let their spirits soar as the eagle,
let joy abide in every heart!
May we heed the cry of the poor –
the young and the old,
helping to free all those in need,
awakening the souls of oppressors!
Psalm 72 (Psalms for Praying, Nan C. Merrill)
This is what Jesus came to do and what He sends us to do.
As we read it again, let’s turn it into our prayer.
Bring justice to the peoples - name them, individuals, groups, nations -
O Beloved,
and your mercy to all generations! - name your people, young and old -
May the people - us, the children of God - be know for mercy,
rendering justice to the poor!
Let their spirits soar as the eagle,
let joy abide in every heart!
May we - us, the children of God - heed the cry of the poor —
the young and the old,
helping to free those in need, - pause and reflect on how God might inspire you to action today -
awakening the souls of the oppressors!
Amen.
It is one thing to pray for ourselves, our friends, and the benign other, but we take it to the Jesus level when we pray for the souls of oppressors to be awakened to this Love as well.
Jesus repeated his greeting, “Peace to you, just as the Father sent me, I send you.” John 20:21