Living Psalms Book
Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.

Living Psalm50: 1-6—Transfiguration Year B
Selah, Let us pause. Let the Light and Love Come through.

The Holy One, mighty and powerful beyond our beliefs and experiences is Still Speaking. Are we listening to the Whispers of God? God, Jesus, and Spirit, united as One, call us by name and gather all of God’s siblings. God still calls, from the sunlight rising over the mountain saying, “Good morning.” The sun travelling the through time and space gets drowsy and her eyes begin to close. A yawn acknowledges that the going down of the same is part of the God’s mystical way to engage all peoples of the world. Praise be to God’s Holy name. Out of Zion or  or wherever your heart calls casa (home) Universal Love is there alongside you.  Smile, enjoy the movement of your lips as it becomes the smile you need and want. 

Acknowledge that beauty is being perfected. Accept what is before your own eyes; you are beautiful and always have been. You haven’t noticed it or wanted to acknowledge it. Yet radiant love brightens your ability to soak it in and smile. In such beauty, God’s smiles too. Now pause your self-critical judgement and embrace the beauty the Sacred always sees within you. 

Light and Love shines through even as life or others try to tell you that you are worthy, unwelcome or have no beauty. Do not believe it. God’s love is brilliantly glowing within and through you. While others tell you to remain silent, God’s Love manifested among us shoots, “rejoice.” God’s radiance is ever present.  Even as the fires of life try to devour us and even as the violent storms of life try to brutalize us and shout, “Just Give Up, already,” God’s unwavering love continues to shout, “I am with you. You are never alone.” The winds and storms of life cannot defeat you. Our protector, The Sovereign One, calls upon the heavens and the earth and considers the lives and situations of God’s people. “Come together faithful ones, I honor the covenant that we have. Your love for me has led you to bring gifts, and sacrifices to the altar of mutual understanding and engagement. Let it be known, Love incarnated, The One above all others, Creator of all that has and will be, the Liberator is righteous. God, our God, is the judge. Truly, God knows you, everything will be judged through the eyes of love.  Selah, let us pause everything to reflect and consider all that Dios (God) has done and is doing in our midst. 

Living Psalm 50: 1-6,  for  Transfiguration Year B, was written by Rev. Justo González, II.

Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community.  

Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and  thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.

© Copyright 2021 Justo Gonzalez II. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.