Living Psalm 85 – Pentecost 10 A

Living Psalms Book
Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.

Living Psalm 85: 8-13
Pentecost 10 A

Let me hear what God says
over the wailing of those
who have been left alone
in their grief. Let me hear what God says
in the silent streets and in
the crowded bars, over the echoing
desperation that keeps some in
and forces others into the world too soon.

Let me hear what God says
to the bewildered, to the protesting
to the exhausted who have put
the healing of the body or spirit or system
over their fear of what comes next.

Don’t let us return to foolish ways.
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Faithful love and truth have met.
Let me hear what God says.

Should we find comfort in the eternal struggle,
the fragility of humans doing it wrong,
as we have so often before?

Should we find rest in the words of our ancestors
who surely lived hard times, who grappled with doubt,
who turned away from God and plugged their ears?

Should we find comfort in the written word
when what is spoken is muffled through cloth,
spoken through glass, sifted through the sands
of a very different time?

Let me hear what God says.
Truth.
Faith.
Love.
Peace.

Let me hear what God says.

Living Psalm 85 for Pentecost 10 A, was written by Maria Mankin.

Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community.

Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.

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