Living Psalm 147 – Christmas 2 – Year B

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 147: 12-20 Christmas 2 B
(the First Sunday of the New Year)

A New Year Psalm of What Is, Already, In Holy Vision

Worship the Divine, O beloveds!
Praise the God whose dream is real!
Even when we can’t see it
in our dim reflection of Holy vision,
the Beloved Community already exists in God’s creation.
Because God holds the vision and we are part of it.

God feeds the wilderness with wildfires the size
          of campfires, caring for their health and growth
          and renewal through nature’s cycles.
God takes hammer and level with Habitat
          building sustainable homes for
          all her children.
God blesses black and brown bodies
          from womb to beautifully-wrinkled age
their hearts beating steady and slow,
          not in fear with every step.
God nourishes the earth and all creatures
          with good food, plenty! more than plenty!
God buys back the gun with healing;
          takes the missile and bargains on wholeness.
God scatters partisanship with a breath
          and reveals a meadow of wildflowers
          distinct as any snowflake,
brilliant in their size and color and shape
(who would dare criticize even one petal?).
Then God speaks with a voice like we’ve never heard,
and we sit to listen,
          finally hearing a just-peace;
          finally knowing Shalom.
Praise the Divine!

Living Psalm 147 for Christmas 2 B was written by Sharon Benton.

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. Editor, Maren Tirabassi.

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.