The Psalm

The Hebrew Scripture reading is followed by the reading of a psalm, or occasionally by another “song” like the Magnificat or Song of Mary. The Psalter (collection of psalms) has been called Israel’s book of hymns. Many of the psalms are clearly written for use in worship, but, frankly, some of the things expressed in the psalms are horrendous. See especially the ending of Psalm 137: its first six verses poignant and beautiful in their plaintiveness, the final three verses vindictive and repulsive. But the Psalms are not necessarily endorsing every emotion and thought that they present, no more than Shakespeare endorses the murderousness and nihilism of Lord and Lady Macbeth. The psalms are sublime in many ways, but they also reflect the range and variety of human emotion. They are a mirror more than a model of faith and behavior. Our Scriptures do not shy away from the truth about the human condition – we are capable of truth, beauty and goodness; and we are capable of mean-spiritedness and hatred. All these turn up in the psalms. The psalm included in The Liturgy of the Word is meant to be voiced by the people, not a trained, select few – like a choir. Our worship is in part based on the notion of hearing and responding. The Hebrew Scripture reading is heard, and the people make a vocal response in saying or singing the psalm. This pattern is found throughout our worship. The people in the congregation are not an audience. All present – the people as much as the priest – are the actors, the dancers, the performers in a beautiful, joyful ritual dance. The audience is God