Peace and All Good
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Psalm II My paraphrase Lord God of My salvation - I shout day and night before you.
I looked for someone who would share my sadness and there was none - and for someone who would console me, and I found none. O God, the iniquitous have risen up against me - and the synagogue of powers sought my soul and they did not place you in their sight. I have been numbered among those who go down into the pit - I have become like someone without help, cut off among the dead. You are My Most Holy Father - My King and My God. Come to my aid - Lord God of My salvation |
Original English Psalm II Lord God of My salvation - at day I shout and at night before Thee.
And I endured, one who would be made sad at the same time and he was not - and one who would console Me, and I found him not. God, the iniquitous have risen up against Me - and the synagogue of powers sought My soul and they did not set Thee forth in their own sight. I have been reckoned with those who are descending into the lake - I have been made free as a man without assistance among the dead. Thou art My Most Holy Father - My King and My God. Stretch to My assistance - Lord God of My salvation.
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Commentary:
Notice the capital ‘M’s’, there can be no doubt that the voice is
Christ’s, he is the one who is crying to the Lord His God for aid.
If we had any doubt that it is the Saviour
who speaks to us in Francis cadences then the mention of the
“synagogue of powers” who “sought “his soul can leave us in no doubt,
whatsoever, that here in this Psalm Francis intends us to stand beside
our Lord and listen to his memories.
Our Lord seems so alone, surrounded by enemies and so Francis
remembers his childhood with him:
Like every one else, Jesus came into the world
from his mother’s womb; Francis, pondering on the humanity of his God,
recalls and recounts for us his own reflections on his birthday from
stories Pica told to him when he was a child.
From the day of his birth Our Lord has lived
with the comfort of resting in the palm of his Father’s hands. Whether
as a babe at Mary's breast or a boy at Joseph's lathe Jesus knew his
heavenly father loved him above all things, yet he has also expected
this time when he must suffer misery and reproach for men.
If at any time he needed someone to stand with
him it is now: awaiting the judgement of Annas, Jesus considers that
the dice are well cast and that now he is numbered among the dead.
His disciples fled and left him to fate… while
he stands here to await his death we might ask ourself “did I hear him
well, did I stand in the silence to share his sadness and console
him?”