I Will Praise You, God;
You Have Rescued Me
A prayer of gratitude, Psalm 30 recalls moments of salvation and is perhaps our best way to prepare for a struggle for justice. This psalm is prayed at the Easter Vigil, following the 4th reading from Isaiah. That makes this psalm not simply an expression of gratitude, but a proclamation of faith in the Resurrection and thus in the ultimate victory of God’s design for creation. Throughout life we encounter moments of joy and moments of deep suffering and grief. In its entirety, Psalm 30 is a hymn of praise whose author had been saved from a life-threatening illness. This Sunday’s verses reference the peaks and valleys of life, and the psalmist invites the entire assembly to give thanks and praise to the God who heals and is a life-giving presence even in the midst of difficulties. We pray the psalm in gratitude for God’s pledge to remain with us in the struggle to care for and heal our earth and her wounded people.
I give you high praise, for you, God,
raised me up above my gloating enemy.
You pulled me from the pit, brought me back from *Sheol.
Celebrate, all you saints,
praise this awesome God, whose anger passes quickly,
whose mercy lasts a lifetime –
as laughter fills a day after one brief night of tears.
Listen to me, O God, turn and help me now.
You changed my anguish into this joyful dance.
For ever I will thank you, O my God.
*Sheol – a metaphor for near-death.
[Verses from The Psalter © 1995, Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. The English translation of the Liturgical Psalter © 1994. ICEL, Inc. All rights reserved.]