PassionSundayAPsalm31
Exegesis: Psalm 31 is one of three psalms that appear prominently in the
story of Jesus’ passion.
In the minds of the Gospel writers, this psalm along with Psalms
22 and 69, seems to have expressed better than any other passages the nature of
Jesus’ suffering and his emotional turmoil while being rejected, betrayed, and
crucified.
Psalm
31 appears explicitly only one time in the gospel writings, in Luke 23:46 when
Jesus quotes verse 5a, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” The psalm
is a prayer by one who suffers unjustly and in that suffering, puts complete
trust in God.
Psalm 31 has both of these elements, and each is employed to full
effect. These two elements go hand in hand, as the cry for help arises out of a
place or state of deep need, and at the same time out of a sense or state of
deep trust.
The
complaint portion of this psalm elucidates a place in which there is “terror
all around!” (verse 13). The source of this terror is the physical distress of
the psalmist, and the feeling that “I am an object of scorn, dread, and the
plotting of my enemies.” The call for help emerges first from the psalmist’s
“distress,” “grief,” “sorrow,” and miserable sighing (verse 10). This deep
emotional distress manifests itself in physical suffering: “my eye wastes…my
soul and body also…my strength fails…my bones waste away.” And second, the call
for help is uttered over the voices of those who see the psalmist’s misery,
speak scornfully of the psalmist, and have begun to scheme against the psalmist.
Trust, which balances this cry for help is simple, yet profound.
“You are my God,” and “My times are in your hand….”
There was much suffering during the time that the psalms were
composed. These sufferings were the raw
material that inspired the writing of the psalms and their use in temple
worship. We continue to have much in
common with the people of old. We
suffer, too. Suffering is common to all,
both the young and the old, the wealthy and the poor. Nobody is immune to suffering, not even
Jesus. As written in the passion narrative for today, Jesus was mocked, spat
on, derided, taunted by many around him and crucified by the government
officials. Crucifixion itself was a very
cruel way to die. “Most experts
agree, though, that what ultimately kills a crucified person is suffocation.
Either the body loses so much oxygen that the person smothers, or the carbon
dioxide level in the body goes up so much that the body tissues turn acidic and
destroy their own cells.”[1] As to how
this or any other suffering is experienced not only depends on the particular
source of suffering, but each person’s perception. One thing is for sure, it is quite painful.
This congregation has experienced the death of several
members, members who have been pillars of the parish in their monetary giving
as well as their sharing of their talents.
They have been the metaphorical bricks and mortar that have laid a solid
foundation that has lasted for many years.
If it was not for them, we would not be here today. Perhaps when we come forward to give thanks
for our blessings, we should remember these people more often, not just on All
Saints’ Sunday as is the tradition.
In Jesus’ day, many people treated him cruelly and/or abandoned
him when he was going through the process on the way to the cross. We are told that there were few who actually
stayed with him and watched him die on the cross. Many people hate nursing
homes and hospitals and don’t even want to visit when death is not imminent,
less so when someone is on hospice or actively dying. This is an important
topic we should be discussing with our families and friends. It is something of importance that we should
be writing down, not just whether or not we want cremation or bodily burial and
what kind of worship service we want. This
is the time to have those conversations. Today, at this moment.
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