Living Psalm 1 – Epiphany 6C

The truly happy person
is forged from grief,
rises in righteous anger,
is not afraid to be a solitary voice
raised for what is right.

Instead of hiding from injustice
these persons race toward it, shielded
only by the love God extends to all.

They are like a tree replanted
every time its roots are torn asunder,
willing to share fruit from ice broken branches,
and let their leaves hover over those who have been scorched.
Whatever they do thrives with the grace
of God’s hardworking community of “happy” people.

This is not true for oppressors.
They will be blown away by the breath of a multitude
proclaiming God’s love for all people.

They may choose a path of hatred,
but just as God sees and strengthens
the hearts of the righteous, so too
will those transgressions be unwound,
and laid out before God.

The truly happy person
is not the judge of wickedness
but the destroyer of it,
a bringer of peace
and of revolution.

Living Psalm 1, for Epiphany 6 C, 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.