Living Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16 Pentecost 18A

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.

1 Listen my siblings, to the enlightenment that I bring to you. Open your senses, as I communicate using words, pictures, sign language and other forms that will speak to your souls in words and deeds. 2 Parables, inclusive langue, and the arts will be shared to help you understand in whatever language you use. For those of you who cannot see in ways that others do, vivid imagery make it known to all that you are affirmed, and all are included as sacred siblings of God. You will comprehend through words, vision, images, and the whispers of God’s Spirit. 3 These are things that we all know, as they have been handed down throughout the ages by the Saints we honor as our ancestors. 4 We will not hide these things from our global siblings. We will share and teach them to the generations that follow us. They too will experience and know the glorious deeds and the wonders of the Sovereign, for they are always rooted in love and a warm embrace of the People of God, even when our human frailty betrays us. 12 In the lives of our faithful and not so faithful ancestors, the Holy One has and will always work marvels in our lands, communities, streets, barrios, neighborhoods, farms, small towns, and gathering places as was done in Egypt and the fields of Zoan. 13 The Sacred divides the waters when we fear and affirms us as we move through the seas and storms of life. God makes the storms stand at attention and be still for you and me, God’s people. 14 In the daytime, it was clouds that led them in dimness and despair. And when the dimness tries to mess with our mental health and despair attempts to distract from the abundance of life promised to us, The Holy shines pure light to let us know, “You are not alone.” 15 Rocks are split open even as we struggle in the wilderness of life. God knows us. Water follows. And water, as source of life, is given freely to those in need. From the deep, those scary places that stop us and paralyze us, The Child of All Persons, makes the streams of life flow down the waters. 16 Be assured that the waters of life will always be abundant as long as we do not stay paralyzed and live in fear but rather rejoice when we acknowledge that God flows within and through us. Never forget, God flows with you.
Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16
God’s Goodness is Available to us even in the Dim Periods of our lives.
By Reverend Justo Gonzalez, II

Living-Psalms-78_Gonzalez-due-9_24_23-for-10_1_23-Eighteenth-Sunday-after-Pentecost_Revised Download

Living Psalm for Pentecost 18A – Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16 was written by Reverend Justo Gonzalez, II.

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. Maren Tirabassi, editor

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.