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Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation
PSALM 10
(rewritten by Father Roger Gauthier, o.m.i. "Praying the Psalms with Christ")
Father, I do not understand you:
Why do you not intervene with your power
Against the evil that invades the whole earth?
People exploit the poor without shame;
They manipulate them at will
And even boast of their profits
As good deals well made...
They despise the Lord or mock Him;
They say, "He can do nothing against us,
He is powerless."
Their methods always seem to succeed;
God’s judgments do not frighten them;
They eliminate their rivals with a swipe of the hand;
They do not fear failure
And believe they are safe from all misfortune...
Their lies or violent words
Spread disaster and misery around them...
They are like lions hidden in the grass;
They lie in wait for defenseless people,
Lure them into their schemes,
And subject them to their power.
In the face of these sufferings and this arrogance,
I would like to cry out in despair:
"Lord, react! Do something!
Take care of your poor!
Use your power against the wrongdoers,
Judge them and destroy them."
Father, my thirst for vengeance disappoints me,
For you call me to love my enemies.
I know you are close to your poor,
That you take their fate into your hands...
But your interventions are not mine.
You place your freedom in the hearts of the humiliated,
You give them the strength to keep growing;
Above all, you support them with a Father’s love,
Always attentive to make them happy
Beyond all tyrannies.
At the beginning of this year, we see power, intimidation, and money prevailing in relationships between peoples.
Remember, Lord, the weak and the small; be their rock and their fortress; deliver them from the hostile hands that oppress them.
We pray that the proposals of the jubilee year for the liberation of captives and the forgiveness of debts may prevail.
May your Spirit inspire political leaders and give them the strength they need to promote, not power, but justice, peace, and the integrity of creation.
Amen.
