Zechariah’s Prophecy

Instead of a Psalm, this week the lectionary suggests Zechariah’s Prophecy from Luke 1:67-80

Psalm : Luke 1:67-80

Reflection:

Zechariah’s Prophecy from is very similar to Mary’s song in Luke 1:46b-55. Why is one a prophecy and the other a song? My snarky answer is, “the patriarchy”. But seriously, the christian church has been supporting systems that suppress the voices of women (or at best make those voices seem less important) for as long as the institution has been around. The system is even crueler to women of color and other minorities. Which is awful, especially when the content of both of these prophecies are about liberation and redemption. There is so much work to be done in order to liberate the oppressed so that everyone can serve God without fear.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Breath Prayer:  

If you are new to breath prayer, I’ve recorded some examples:

Here are some simple breath prayers to accompany this psalm:

Meditate on peace

A simple prayer with one word on exhalation and one on inhalation: God fill me with your Holy spirit. I receive your peace and release my fear.

Or you can split a longer phrase between inhalation and exhalation or put a phrase on both.  Here is an example: God keeps the sacred promise. I can serve God without fear.

Do what is most comfortable to you.  Breath prayer is a practice not something we do perfectly.  Some days will be easier than others.

Ok, everyone, take a deep breath. Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out. Repeat as needed.

I began writing Psalm reflections during Lent of 2020 shortly after we decided to close the church building, work from home, and worship via zoom.  It is a practice I have continued since.  Many churches use the Revised Common Lectionary (RLC) that rotates scripture on a three-year cycle (A, B, and C).  Starting in Advent 2019, Third Church decided to worship with the texts from Year D, which is still not circulated as are years A, B, and C.  Year D was created with the goal of including scriptures that were left out or not used as frequently as others.  While we were using Psalms in year D, most other lectionary followers were using Year A.  In Advent of 2020 we rejoined those who use the lectionary in year B.  Advent of 2021 follows year C of lectionary pattern with Psalms in year C.    

I use the Vanderbilt Divinity Library’s resource for lectionary readings to make text selections.

Other Year C Psalm blog posts:

Advent – Transfiguration: 1^st Sunday in Advent Psalm 25, 2^nd Sunday in Advent instead of a Psalm the lectionary gives Luke 1:68-79, 3^rd Sunday in Advent instead of a Psalm the lectionary gives Isaiah 12:2-6, 4^th Sunday in Advent Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, 1^st Sunday after Christmas, Psalm 148, New Year’s Day Psalm 8, 2^nd Sunday after Christmas Psalm 147, Epiphany Psalm 72, 1^st Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 29, 2^nd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 35, 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 19, 4^th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 71, 5^th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 138, 6^th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 1, 7^th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 37, Transfiguration Sunday (Sunday before Lent) Psalm 99

Lent: Ash Wednesday Psalm 51, 1^st Sunday in Lent Psalm 91, 2^nd Sunday in Lent Psalm 27, 3^rdSunday in Lent Psalm 63, 4^th Sunday in Lent Psalm 32, 5^th Sunday in Lent Psalm 126, 6^th Sunday in Lent (Palm or Passion Sunday) Psalm 118 or 31

Holy Week: Monday Psalm 36, Tuesday Psalm 71, Wednesday Psalm 70, Maundy Thursday Psalm 116, Good Friday Psalm 22, Holy Saturday Psalm 31

Easter: Easter Psalm 118 or Psalm 114, 2^nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 118 or Psalm 150, 3^rdSunday of Easter Psalm 30, 4^th Sunday of Easter Psalm 23, 5^th Sunday of Easter Psalm 148, 6^thSunday of Easter Psalm 67, Ascension Psalm 47 or Psalm 93, 7^th Sunday of Easter Psalm 97, Day of Pentecost Psalm 104

Season After Pentecost (Ordinary Time): 1^st Sunday after Pentecost (Trinity Sunday) Psalm 8, 2^nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 or Psalm 22, 3^rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 77 or Psalm 16, 4^th Sunday after Pentecost  Psalm 30 or Psalm 66, 5^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 82 or Psalm 25, 6^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 52 or Psalm 15, 7^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 85 or Psalm 138, 8^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 107 or Psalm 49, 9^thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 50 or Psalm 33, 10^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 80 or Psalm 82, 11^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 71 or Psalm 103, 12^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 81 or Psalm 112, 13^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 139 or Psalm 1, 14^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 14 or Psalm 51, 15^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 91 or Psalm 113, 16^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 91 or Psalm 146, 17^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 137 or Psalm 37, 18^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 66 or Psalm 111, 19^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119 or Psalm 121, 20^thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 65 or Psalm 84, 21^st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119 or Psalm 32, 22^nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 145 or Psalm 98 or Psalm 17, 23^rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 98, 24^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 46.

Sources and notes:

WBC Allen, Leslie C. 1983. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 101-150. Vol. 21. Waco, TX: Word Books, Publisher.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. 1974. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible. 8th ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Press.

Brueggemann, Walter. 2007. Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Cascade.

Brueggemann Brueggemann, Walter. 2014. From Whom No Secrets Are Hid: Introducing the Psalms. Edited by Brent A. Strawn. 1st ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

Chittister Chittister, Joan. (2011). Songs of the heart: reflections on the psalms. John Garratt Publishing. 

WBC Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1-50–Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 19. Waco, TX: Word Books.

Creach Creach, Jerome Frederick Davis. 1998. Psalms: Interpretation Bible Studies. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

DAFLER, J. (2021). PSOBRIETY: A journey of recovery through the psalms. Louisville, KY: WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX.

W de Claisse-Walford, Nancy L. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 4-5. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 22. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2020. 

W Hopkins, Denise Dombkowski. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 2-3. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 21. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2016. 

NIB Keck, Leander E. 2015. The New Interpreters Bible Commentary. Vol. 3. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

Lewis, C. S. (2017). Reflections on the Psalms. Harper One, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. 

Mays Mays, James Luther. 1994. Psalms. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press.

McCann McCann, J. C. (1993). A theological introduction to the book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

McCann, J. C., & Howell, J. C. 2001. Preaching the Psalms. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

Merrill, N. C. (2020). Psalms for praying an invitation to wholeness (10th Anniversary Edition ed.). London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Miller Miller, Patrick D. 1986. Interpreting the Psalms. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press.

Schlimm Schlimm, Matthew Richard. 2018. 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know.Nashville, TN: Abington Press.

Spong Spong, M. (Ed.). (2020). The words of her mouth: Psalms for the struggle. Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press.

WBC Tate, Marvin E. 1990. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 51-100. Edited by David Allan. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker. Vol. 20. Waco, TX: Word.

OTL Weiser, Artur. 1998. Old Testament Library: Psalms. Translated by Herbert Hartwell. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Manchester University Press.