Psalm Meditation 1333 ¶Second Sunday After Christmas ¶January 4, 2026 ¶Psalm 55 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2055&version=NRSVUE ¶Grudges have a way of doing more damage to those holding them than to those who are the objects of those grudges. If the other did the damage intentionally, they are happy to see us burdened by our anger against them and will twist that knife at every opportunity. If the other did the damage with the best intentions, they may notice the barrier between us and them without knowing the source of it. Either way, we are the ones carrying the burden while they go on their merry way. ¶The psalmist determines that the best course of action is to call upon God to find and destroy those frenemies because of their evil actions. Anger is easy when their actions involve getting at us through a friend or loved one, or going for the friend or loved one with no regard for our relationship with them. The anger is real and justifiable. Calling on God to destroy a person or group is understandable in the heat of the moment. However, actually expecting God to carry out our desires goes against the ways of God. ¶God loves each one of us, because it is the nature of God to love, rather than because we have earned it or deserve it. While we may rail at God to wipe out everyone who has ever wronged us, it is more in line with the ways of God to have God lead us to forgive those who have wronged us and our friends and loved ones. That certainly does not mean that we will be best buds again any time soon, it means that we wish them the best going forward with the hope and prayer that their future does not include us. ¶December 29, 2025 ¶LCM