Psalm 31:9-16 (NRSV)
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Verse 9Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.
Verse 10For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
Verse 11I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
Verse 12I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
Verse 13For I hear the whispering of many- terror all around!- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
Verse 14But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God."
Verse 15My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Verse 16Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
Devotion
Even as Christ continues to call us with the promise that his sheep will hear and know his voice, the voices of this world compete to crowd out the steady rhythm of our heart beating in time with God's. We hear the whispers and shouts of many who entice us to follow other gods, like money, our appetites, pride, achievement. These voices clamor for us to give up on a God who would live in a weak human body and die for our sins. Judas heard these other voices as he decided before the Last Supper to betray Jesus. Holy Week challenges our views of what voice to listen to as we witness the suffering of God incarnate out of love for Creation. But, thankfully, we do not have to give in to the many whispers and shouts. We can say, "I trust in you, O Lord. ... You are my God. My times are in your hand; deliver me."
Prayer
Trinitarian God, let your face shine upon me; save me in your steadfast love. In Jesus' name. Amen.