Day 7: Psalm 126

Returning to a place that you never thought you would see again begins to capture the emotion of Psalm 126. The original setting could very well have been the return from the Babylonian Exile. Most never thought that this would happen in their lifetime. Thus, when it was announced that they would return to their homelands, the joy and amazement just pour out! On their arrival though, there was much work to be done. The Land has not been worked and things are in shambles! The returned exiles, therefore, turn to the Lord to provide help as they work to bring back Israel to her former glory. This is the uniqueness of the verse about the river in the wilderness. While the riverbeds were dry, the psalmist asks for it to fill again with the melted winter snows. Then, the land would blossom to life again! Restore our fortunes O Lord! They go out to work sowing in tears, but with the Lord’s protection, they will reap with joy!

For the pilgrim, this psalm that was prayed on the seventh step leading up to the Temple mount, the exile from the Holy City was coming to an end! To anticipate the longed for destination of being in the Temple was a thrill! The Lord has done great things for us, indeed we are glad!

For us, we too are in exile from the Heavenly Jerusalem. We pray in Hail Holy Queen, or Salve Regina, “to thee do we cry out, pour banished children of Eve . . and after this our EXILE, show unto us the fruit of thy womb, Jesus!” That prayer captures our longing for the Heavenly Kingdom! That desire started at our Baptism as a result of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven! He has opened the gates for us to that Kingdom, we in turn have to cooperate with the assistance that He sends as we journey in our exile towards the Heavenly Kingdom!

Pray Psalm 126 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

What is the cause of the psalmist’s joy? Why does the psalmist pray for the favor of the Lord?

The Lord’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension defeated sin and death and their “bondage”. What are some of the captive to freedom moments in your life were you were like an exile in bondage and suddenly come into freedom?

How is our Baptism like a bondage to freedom experience?

What words or phrases stood out to you?  Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!