Redeem, Us Lord

This is today’s responsorial psalm, and it’s relevant to the on-going and seemingly never-ending reports of sexual abuse of minors by priests – much of that abuse having occurred many years ago.   It continues to haunt and wound our Church overshadowing its many good works and priests having to contend with suspicion and unfair labels.

If I was a priest, I might repeat this psalm as one way to speak to abusers [the you's] who sully the priesthood:
R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace, and you go not forth with our armies. You have let us be driven back by our foes; those who hated us plundered us at will.
R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.You made us the reproach of our neighbors, the mockery and the scorn of those around us. You made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.Why do you hide your face, forgetting our woe and our oppression?  For our souls are bowed down to the dust, our bodies are pressed to the earth.
R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

The word “redemption” means being set free from slavery – not about being saved from sin.   The biblical meaning is to be released from bondage – to be set free [refer to "Speakng Christian" by Marcus Borg]. Many priests are slaves to abusers meaning they carry the burdens placed on their shoulders by crimes committed against children and their families by men who have disgraced this honored profession/calling.  These good and caring priests should be redeemed.  LORD have mercy on them.  LORD set them free.   Release them.

Father Healey has asked me to lead discussion based on the recently published book by Bishop Robert Barron: “Letter To A Suffering Church – A Bishop Speaks On the Sexual Abuse Crisis.” At this time, this discussion is being planned for Lent.  Details will follow.

Redeem us Lord, because of your mercy.

Deacon David Pierce