Psalm Meditation 1354 ¶Trinity Sunday ¶June 2, 2026 ¶Psalm 88 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2088&version=NRSVUE ¶Recently, I was introduced to a concept called Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. It happens when someone takes any comment or action as a sign of rejection from the person who made the remark. The rejection may or may not be real, however that does not alter the reaction of the person with RSD. Since the person feels rejected, they are not likely to ask if they really have been rejected by the person, and if there is a reason. They simply walk away knowing that this particular relationship has ended. ¶The psalmist feels as if God has been the one doing the rejection, since things are not going as the psalmist had expected. In a display of courage, the psalmist goes to God for clarification on the relationship. ‘Are you out to get me, God, or have I misread your unwillingness to get me out of this set of circumstances that has me beaten down?’ The psalmist feels rejected and abandoned by God and by all the people one can usually depend on for help and support. In desperation, the psalmist turns to the one whose promised include never abandoning us. ¶Though the psalm ends on the same note of rejection and abandonment with which it began, it also begins and ends addressed to God. ‘Even if you have rejected me, I have no one to turn to and I depend on your promise not to leave us or forsake us.’ The psalm does seem to be one of the most depressing psalms in the whole book, however, it is addressed to God. The relationship the psalmist has with God is strong enough to turn to God in a time of deep need. ¶May 25, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1353 ¶Pentecost ¶May 24, 2026 ¶Psalm 66 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2066&version=NRSVUE ¶I know there are people who see me as stupid or deluded because I believe in God, and God’s willingness and ability to provide for us as a gift of loving generosity. I am, mostly, okay with that. I am also aware that there are folks who will not be happy until everyone believes and practices the way they do. Some of those folks are staunch believers in God, while others are just as firm in their different, even opposite beliefs. I am not okay with those who press their beliefs as the one and only true way to believe and practice. ¶The psalmist wants people to offer praise to God for all of the awesome things that God has done and is doing in the world for the psalmist’s people. It is likely that the psalmist is inviting ‘my kind of people’ to join in these acts of praise and worship. The people outside of ‘our’ circle are free to worship their own way. The outsiders have punished us just as we would do to them given the opportunity. Through it all, the psalmist calls all those who will to worship, to hear the ways God has been with one person, and will also be present with each person who seeks to follow the ways of God. ¶God has been among us in many ways throughout salvation history and those who see divine activity in the world have been giving thanks for many years and in many ways. We offer our worship, thanks, and praise from our own hearts in gratitude for God’s presence among us. As we live out our gratitude to the best of our ability, others will notice and perhaps ask what we have that is missing in them. At our best, we can walk with them as they find their way to God. ¶May 18, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1352 ¶Seventh Sunday of Easter ¶May 17, 2026 ¶Psalm 68 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2068&version=NRSVUE ¶The footnote for verse 11 jumped out at me today after seeing several posts of a related nature on the internet over the past few weeks. The text reads, “great is the company of those who bore the tidings:”. The footnote offers an alternate translation of, “company of the women” which piqued my interest. There are many instances of texts in which women and women’s voices have been muted or erased in Scripture. That ‘the company of the women’ has been changed to ‘those’ is intriguing. ¶In the next verse, the word women is included since it involves dividing spoil rather than bearing tidings of victory over enemy kings. For male translators, it seems to be fine for women to do tasks, even important tasks, as long as they don’t involve having information that men would not have without them. Fortunately, women are doing the scholarly work of finding the places in the Bible where women were originally prominent participants in salvation history and restoring them to their rightful place. ¶Some are scandalized that people are messing about with the sacred texts that we have become used to, without considering that those texts are more sacred when the participants of both/all genders are given their proper and original place in the story of the people of God. Uncomfortable as it may be for some of us, it is important to see that each of us has a place in the realm of God. ¶May 12, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1351 ¶Sixth Sunday of Easter/Mother’s Day ¶May 10, 2026 ¶Psalm 71 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2071&version=NRSVUE ¶I remember reading several years ago that as we age, we lose some of our ability to judge the motives of others. Our defenses are lowered as brain synapses fire less reliably and we become easier prey for those who would take advantage of us. If can be deeply demoralizing to discover that we have been duped in ways that we had always been able to avoid in our younger days. This means that we do well to listen to the advice of younger folks who have our best interests at heart. ¶The psalmist recognizes the possibility that some unscrupulous folks may attempt to take advantage of this situation and asks God to be one of those who will stand up to offer support and protection. Because God has been a source of hope, trust, and support, the psalmist asks that this relationship will continue through the rest of life. The psalmist supports the request by outlining many of the ways God has been supportive from birth to the present, even though there are those who use the psalmist’s present state as a cautionary tale. ¶The psalmist pledges to offer continual praise to God for all the ways God has been supportive and the hope for that support to the end of days. I believe that the presence and blessings of God come to each of us, and the hearts and lives those of us who offer our praises to God are open to receive and recognize the gifts and the giver of those good gifts. “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have rescued.” ¶May 4, 2026 ¶LCM