The Responsorial Psalm (#137) for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Cycle B readings), is one of my very favorites: “Let my tongue be silenced if ever I forget you.” It is all about the lament of the Israelites living captured, as aliens, in a foreign land. It is a petition and promise to God that they (ie: we) will never forget Him - no matter what - in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. To promise to be punished with silence as a result of not fulfilling one’s commitments is a dire result indeed for failing. It is a deep and dark promise of something intrinsically vital in all our lives - a voice in the midst of any and all circumstances.
This is a Psalm of strong and timely sentiment as we hear daily news of the captured, the forsaken, the tormented, and the marginalized. The emotional and sacrificial plea of this psalm—to be silenced—is a strong image for me personally, as a singer and musician. My life is sound and singing. I think about what it would mean to be silenced - especially now as we see more and more people are speaking up about systemic injustice, racism, oppression and predation. I think about what it would mean to me to not be able to share the truth in word or song...this gives me profound pause. What would life be like if we couldn’t sing about our faith, hope and love?
But God, in His mercy, saves a dispersed and discouraged people then as now; God saved us all by sending us the light of Christ.
St. Paul tells us today that “everything exposed by the light becomes visible.” He is telling us, reminding us, to choose always to live in the light of Christ, “for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” We will see more clearly by His light, and we will speak and sing what we believe in truth. Raise your voices!
We did not earn salvation; it was a pure gift of love. “Let my tongue be silenced if ever I forget you God,” - or your grace - by which we have all been saved. Speak up!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
This is a Psalm of strong and timely sentiment as we hear daily news of the captured, the forsaken, the tormented, and the marginalized. The emotional and sacrificial plea of this psalm—to be silenced—is a strong image for me personally, as a singer and musician. My life is sound and singing. I think about what it would mean to be silenced - especially now as we see more and more people are speaking up about systemic injustice, racism, oppression and predation. I think about what it would mean to me to not be able to share the truth in word or song...this gives me profound pause. What would life be like if we couldn’t sing about our faith, hope and love?
But God, in His mercy, saves a dispersed and discouraged people then as now; God saved us all by sending us the light of Christ.
St. Paul tells us today that “everything exposed by the light becomes visible.” He is telling us, reminding us, to choose always to live in the light of Christ, “for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” We will see more clearly by His light, and we will speak and sing what we believe in truth. Raise your voices!
We did not earn salvation; it was a pure gift of love. “Let my tongue be silenced if ever I forget you God,” - or your grace - by which we have all been saved. Speak up!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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