Psalms for Today ~ Joy as Protest

 

Read Psalms 100-102

 

Make a joyful noise because you are now two-thirds of the way through the Psalms.  Woo hoo!!  Make a joyful noise because the world needs to hear praise amid all the anger and praise can be protest in beautiful ways.  Make a joyful noise because God is God, God infuses us and inspires us in meaningful ways.  Make a joyful noise because people are still creating new songs and creation is still letting loose with blooming flowers (that I pray you noticed and heard yesterday).  Make a joyful noise because God is still claiming you and naming you, “Beloved.”  Make a joyful noise because right where you are is a sanctuary, a holy place.  There is no place where God is not; God’s center is everywhere, and God's circumference continues to expand and evolve.  As you sing, let the song be for all people and for all our planet to be seen as holy.  Let our song be one of justice, where all can show and share the glory God has imprinted upon each of us.  Let our song be one of integrity, interconnectedness, healing, and wholeness.  Let our song invite people to sing with us, rather than judge those who cannot hold a tune in a bucket or can’t be part of our choir club; let all voices sing.  Let our song leave space for hurt and heartbreak, let our song not try to sugar coat life, but hold space for those who feel like their bones ache and souls churn.  May we listen to the cries, especially of those who are being treated as less than fully human and those who are scapegoated as being the source of all our problems.  Let our songs remind us that we didn’t create this melody we sing ~ from praise to praying our pain has been woven into our DNA from the very beginning.  Throughout the last 100 Psalms, the Hebrew Poet has laid the groundwork for the work of our lives.  In the words you have read, our ancestors taught us the rhythm.  Remember your grandparents and Spiritual mentors gave you the hymnal that plays in our hearts.  This joyful noise expands, evolves, and embraces teaching and telling us how to live our life, especially in these days.  Open our ears, hearts, and whole lives to enter the song You are still composing, O Creator and Conductor of life.  Amen.