Email to Psalms Group preparing for Sunday, 3/14/21
Though not one of the traditional penitential psalms, Psalm 25 shares in their candor about sin and suffering and their gratitude for forgiveness and hope.
Dear Psalms Friends,
Today is 2 weeks from our second Pfizer vaccination, so Doug and I got haircuts today. Tomorrow afternoon we are honored to attend Bobby and Nilsa’s wedding. Then tomorrow evening, we get to hang out with our 8 year old Casen while his big brothers do Sadie Hawkins activities. Quite a coming out for us!
Our current “new life” reminds me of our so much more important and enduring “new life hidden with Christ in God.” The opening words of Psalm 25, our main focus psalm for this Sunday, are “I lift up my soul!” Both “soul” and “heart” in Hebrew describe “all of who I am…my inner being.” Think of this in Eucharist when the priest says, “Lift up your hearts,” and we respond, “We lift them to the Lord.” Sursam corda in Latin, “Hearts up!” We lift up “all of who we are” to the Lord, and we give him thanks and praise. That’s the attitude of the psalmist, maybe David, in Psalm 25. Facing the brokenness and difficulties of his life, the psalmist focuses on God, the teacher of the afflicted and the redeemer of the erring. Entrusting his life to God and God’s way of life, he prays for forgiveness, deliverance, and guidance.
Although it is not one of the traditional penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), Psalm 25 sharesin their candor about sin and suffering and their gratitude for forgiveness and hope. Sunday’s time together also will include another look at Psalm 6 (from last week’s lesson) and Psalm 32 from our lesson on 1/17/21. We’ll focus on the remaining penitential psalms, 38 and 51, on 3/21, on our way to Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter. (Our class will not meet on Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday.)
Your Psalm 25 lesson will be in tomorrow’s e-mail.
Grateful for sharing life in Christ with each of you,
Toni