Author: Holly Reimer
Psalm 126
Reflection: v. 5, ‘Let those who plant with tears reap the harvest with joyful shouts’
This is a beautiful psalm that offers expressions of trust in who God is and expressions of praise from the people. This has been a tough year for all of us. There have been a lot of changes and grief. We might even find ourselves wondering if we are experiencing God’s wrath. Our world has been turned upside-down with the pandemic, which has also highlighted many of our biases and injustices. We look back on these last eleven months with sadness and uncertainty, remembering what (and who) we’ve lost. In much the same way, the psalmist is looking back on the divine wrath that has ended for Zion—and is looking towards divine restoration. Even for us at Mercy, we look back at the members we’ve had to say goodbye to and our beloved space that was alive with color, laughter, and memories. There is no doubt we are sad, yet we are planting a new harvest with God. We are honoring the memories of the past year with the hope of what will grow from faithfulness. Let’s be clear, neither I nor the psalmist is saying that we have to suffer to find joy. Rather, our suffering will be transformed into an abundant harvest where we can play music, pray, laugh and commune with one another on a grassy lawn where nearly a hundred people gather. We are suffering, and we will suffer. But suffering will not last forever. The harvest is coming. We will be able to celebrate abundance and life.
Prayer Lord, you’ve seen our sorrows and held our tears. May they be transformed into something that brings life and abundance for ALL. Amen.