A Word from Psalm 51

Today is Monday of Holy Week, which traditionally is the day that Jesus cleared the merchants out of the temple in Jerusalem. And when we think about what he did, it’s easy, I think, to applaud his holy indignation. After all, those merchants had turned what was meant to be a house of prayer into a den of thieves (see Mark 11:15-17). And so, Jesus was “cleaning out the clutter,” so to speak, that for too long had prevented all people from encountering the Living God.

Then again, one of the challenges of that story is that it tempts us to focus on all the “clutter” of the people back then, while conveniently ignoring the “clutter” that needs to be cleaned out of our own  lives right now. And that’s why today’s word comes from Psalm 51, which I’d like to share from The Message.

                God, make a fresh start in me,

                     shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.

                Don’t throw me out with the trash,

                     or fail to breathe holiness into me.

                Bring me back from gray exile,

                      and put a fresh wind in my sails!

                Give me a job teaching rebels your ways

                     so the lost can find their way home.

                Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,

                    and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.

                Unbutton my lips, dear God;

                     and I’ll let loose with your praise. (Ps. 51:9-15, The Message)

Today, as we begin the journey to Calvary, may God make a fresh start in you, and in me, and in of us! So that we’ll be ready to “let loose with praise” when we celebrate resurrection life. Amen.