Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
If you’ve never heard the musical “Godspell” google “On the Willows.” It is based on this psalm even though the writers brought it into a New Testament context. The Old Testament setting is the lament of God’s people, defeated and exiled, taunted by their captives. They had seen their Temple, the most prominent building in their culture, destroyed by their enemies. Yes, this reminds me of 9/11. They were sad. They were mad. They sat down and wept. I remember people doing all of these and more on that day. This psalm ends in anger. Check it out for yourself. For some, trauma turns to anger. For others there is anger but it gets turned inward- the definition of depression. This is the real stuff of real life. The story of Jesus is one in which anger and trauma and death and pain are acknowledged and overcome by God. May it be so for those who 15 years later still grieve. This week think about your anger. What is its cause? What do you do with it? How might you meet God there.
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 