Pastor's Corner

In chapter 15 of Mark's Gospel and, similarly, in chapter 27 of Matthew's Gospel, we hear that shortly before Jesus died, he cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" (NABRE translation). Mark even writes the words as Jesus would have spoken them in his native language of Aramaic: "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani." Matthew provides a similar version of the Aramaic,except he uses the equivalent Hebrew word "Eli" instead of the Aramaic "Eloi."

At first glance, the Son of God seems to express a feeling of separation from the Father without much hope. However, those words are the beginning of Psalm 22-a lament-and, like other biblical psalms of lamentation, it expresses profound faith in God. So, these last words of the crucified Jesus in the gospels of Mark and Matthew are words of prayer-the beginning of a very hopeful prayer.

Psalm 22 begins by expressing despair, but it then recalls God's faithfulness in the past and appeals for God's closeness in the midst of present miseries. Finally, it prays for deliverance, promising faithfulness to God and praise of God for generations to come (even from those in the grave).

This psalm of lamentation, and others like it, serve as beacons of hope for those who are suffering. They can also be models for our own prayer in the midst of suffering.

In its first verse, Psalm 22 is introduced as a psalm of David, which would place its authorship about 1000 years before Christ. To conclude, I would like to let the psalm-prayer speak for itself (from the New American Bible, revised edition).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish? My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the glory of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted and you rescued them. To you they cried out and they escaped; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm, not a man, scorned by men, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me: "He relied on the LORD-let him deliver him; if he loves him, let him rescue him."

For you drew me forth from the womb, made me safe at my mother's breasts. Upon you I was thrust from the womb; since my mother bore me you are my God.

Do not stay far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me; fierce bulls of Bashan encircle me. They open their mouths against me, lions that rend and roar.

Like water my life drains away; all my bones are disjointed. My heart has become like wax, it melts away within me.

As dry as a potsherd is my throat; my tongue cleaves to my palate; you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and my feet I can count all my bones.

They stare at me and gloat; they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots.

But you, LORD, do not stay far off; my strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my soul from the word, my life from the grip of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth, my poor life from the horns of wild bulls.

Then I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the assembly I will praise you: "You who fear the LORD, give praise! All descendants of Jacob, give honor; show reverence, all descendants of Israel! For he has not spurned or disdained the misery of this poor wretch, Did not turn away from me, but heard me when I cried out. I will offer praise in the great assembly; my vows I will fulfill before those who fear him. The poor will eat their fill; those who seek the LORD will offer praise. May your hearts enjoy life forever!"

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD; All the families of nations will bow low before him. For kingship belongs to the LORD, the ruler over the nations.

All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God; All who have gone down into the dust will kneel in homage.

And I will live for the LORD; my descendants will serve you. The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought.

Fr. Steve Werner, Pastor

Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, Pomeroy

St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Dayton

St. Mark Catholic Parish, Waitsburg