Psalm 12 gives us a harsh view of humanity. As we remember this
weekend those who lost their lives in or because of the horrors of war, we
acknowledge and lament the sinfulness of humankind that leads us to war,
conflict, and destruction.
But Psalm 12 reminds us that God does not abandon us to our failings. The
fifth verse of Psalm 12 is this:
“Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise
up,” says the Lord; “I will place them in the safety for which they long.”
We are reminded that God does not sit idle. And so the Psalms help us find
the language to pray out of our anger and tears and exasperation and
confession: please God, rise up.
This is a prayer adapted from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers:
God of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.
Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your children.
Keep in your mercy those
who have died
and bring them safely
into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 12
1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have
disappeared from humankind.
2 They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they
speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our own—
who is our master?”
5 “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now
rise up,” says the Lord; “I will place them in the safety for which they long.”
6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure, silver refined in a
furnace on the ground, purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord, will protect us; you will guard us from this generation
forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among
humankind.