“The mystery of God hugs you in its
all-encompassing arms.” —Hildegard of Bingen, 1098-1179
Psalm 97
The Lord is king! Let the earth
rejoice;
Let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all
around him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him,
And consumes his adversaries on every side.
His lightnings light up the world;
The earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before
the Lord,
Before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his
righteousness;
And all the peoples behold his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to
shame,
Those who make their boast in worthless idols;
All gods bow down before him.
Zion hears and is glad,
And the towns of Judah rejoice,
Because of your judgments, O God.
For you, O Lord, are most high over
all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.
The Lord loves those who hate evil;
He guards the lives of his faithful;
He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Light dawns for the righteous,
And joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you
righteous,
And give thanks to his holy name! NRSV
“For a man regards some deeds as
well done and some as evil, and our Lord does not regard them so, for
everything which exists in nature is of God’s creation, so that everything
which is done has the property of being God’s doing. —Julian of Norwich, 1342-1416,
Early Christian Prayers, trans. Walter Mitchell
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