Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
Proper 17 (22) - Year B
How would it be to have this be a psalm read at the next baptism in your congregation?
A comment from the Christian Community Bible : "All of this can be applied to the church and also to each and everyone of us. On our baptismal day we were united with Christ and we entered into intimacy with God."
Can you imagine the possibilities if we mutualized :) this and basked in the presence of verse 2 - You are most beautiful; grace is poured upon your lips; God has blessed you forever.
Order the Christian Community Bible - you can also follow the links and find out more about this translation with study helps mostly from a liberation theology point of view.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/august2003.html
Psalm 45: 1-2, 6-9 or Psalm 15
Song of Songs 2:8-13 or Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
When we speak, ideas are to flower. Our tongue is the overflow of a goodly heart, spreading blessings wherever it is.
Our participation in a word of truth will reveal the image of all creation in our living as the first fruit of such a word that ends in the affirmation, "It is good!"
Meekness will be both the prepared soil and the resulting harvest of this creative word, implanted soul-word. So we are called to be not a hearer that forgets, but a speaker that acts their word. As such we move into an unbounded religion that takes seriously and joyously a word to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and keep steadfastly on with this task, no matter what.
- - -
so many fine words
have come my way
no changes of life
but plenty of compliments
to keep on with this pattern
is to keep change from happening
obviously I have gone awry
focused on words and not hearts
and so my hypocrisy shines
as I glory in fine words
while mourning a lack of effect
is but vanity vanity
let us hear again
insides are to be joined with outsides
until fine words diminish
and heart deeds flourish
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
Somehow a psalm to a king is not up to the standard of a call from a lover.
The movement described here is from our love of righteousness and hate of wickedness to then receiving the anointing or authority of G*D to put such into action.
Consider the difference it would make if that were reversed – that you have already been given the anointing (through creation) and authority (through fruit-eating) needed to be a discerning leader among those you are with. This leadership will clarify and assist making the moral decisions needed in our setting – between good and evil.
At best the lectionary deciders have given us a built-in screen to help us find the real energy of life – lovely lover rather than kingly power.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html
So what keeps us tied to outdated rules based upon a once-upon-a-time experience, enshrined rather than learned from? One reality is the way power co-opts religious imagery to equate itself with G*D and is unchallenged in its arrogance.
A shift from an official version reveals how we need to take a look at much of the scriptures through the lens of a political convention. Attend to the subtle things like color choices, whether a speech is directed to the immediate audience or a media-extended one, and repetition of phrases (to mention only three). Noting such details help immunize us against easy manipulation (none of us are exempt, but we can make the manipulator’s work more difficult).
I thought you might appreciate Jim Taylor’s paraphrase of this pericope. Here is his intro, re-write, and notice about how you can receive more like it.
PSALM PARAPHRASES
The NRSV calls Psalm 45 an “Ode for a Royal Wedding.” Indeed, the whole thing, verses 1-17, does read as a tribute to a royal person entering a new phase of life. However, the excerpt scheduled by the lectionary for Sunday September 1 feels more like sucking up to a corporate CEO.
1 Thank you for taking time to see me.
I’m so grateful.
2 I know you have much more important things to deal with;
you move in circles that are far beyond me.
6 This is a marvelous office you have here.
The view over the city is spectacular.
It makes all other corporate towers look insignificant.
7 You make the rules we must follow;
You brook no exceptions;
You don’t bend them for anybody.
We know where we stand.
8 Your business suits must be hand-tailored,
they fit you so well.
Is your after-shave custom-made for you too?
9 And your secretary is stunning!
Oh yes, and competent too.
She must be a joy to work with.
I’d love to be more like you.
For other paraphrases, you can order Everyday Psalms through Wood Lake Publications, info@woodlake.com or 1-800-663-2775.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/08/psalm-451-2-6-9.html