Today’s Lenten word comes from Psalm 43 NRSV
1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people;
from those who are deceitful and unjust
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.
Today’s meditation word(s) is vindicate me. In other translation, the word (or phrase) clear my name, declare me innocent, and judge me are used.
In the passage, the Psalmist pleads to God to clear the Psalmist’s name from the people oppressing the Psalmist. The Psalmist is asking God to send God’s light and truth for sustenance, strength, and support during this difficult time.
Let us mourn with the families and communities of the lives we have lost: Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Yaun, Hyun Jung Grant, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, and those whose names we still don’t know, this Wednesday due to hate crimes. Vindicate us: the black, brown, colored community, O God from our enemies who have been oppressing us. Send us your light and your truth in order to sustain us and to strengthen us. Send our oppressor your light and truth so that they may see our hurt and pain; so that they may see our anger; so that they may see our compassion to them. Amen.
