Exodus 5:1-6:1
Psalms 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126
1 Corinthians 14:20-40
Mark 9:42-50
Included among today’s readings are six of the 15 Psalms known as the Songs of Ascents. As I read in preparation for this meditation my first impression was that overall, these psalms seem rather cheerful for Lent; more like hymns of rejoicing than penitential reflections. The name “Song of Ascents” has an upbeat, almost buoyant, feeling to it.
But upon re-reading, I found the architects of our lectionary were perfectly right to include these in our Lenten readings. It seems very possible that these Psalms were uppermost in Jesus’ mind when He was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness.”* The Songs of Ascents were (are) associated in Jerusalem with the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, which commemorates Israel’s period of wandering in the wilderness. Certainly it seems likely that Jesus would have found comfort and strength, as he prepared “to be tempted by the devil,”* in the message of protection dominant throughout these psalms. “I lift up my eyes to the hills, From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2 RSV).
Each psalm also sings of peace, joy after suffering and God made manifest to his people, messages recurrent throughout Lent, Holy Week and Easter. As we know from the Beatitudes, the labors for God in this life bring a blessed “harvest” of Easter joy. The Psalms for today end with 126:5-6 “May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Throughout Lent and the painful events commemorated in Holy Week, we also remember what is to come. These six Songs of Ascents remind us that God will lead us through the wilderness (whatever that wilderness may be) to Easter, when we will come rejoicing.
*Matthew 4:1, RSV
Karen Montgomery