Canon Rob's Reflections

Today brings the end of the Epiphany season and can be kept as Candlemas which actually falls tomorrow. Today is also the Feast of St Brigid, the 6th Century Abbess of Kildare and, with Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. In this image of Brigid in a stained glass window, you will see that she is holding a lighted lamp, very appropriate for today’s psalm and Candlemas. When Psalm 36 is sung, the congregation can join in the repeated refrain which, in the Common Worship version is “The Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright” and verse 9 picks up this theme: “For with you [the Lord] is the well of life and in your light shall we see light.” During these long, cold dark nights it is good to be reminded that Jesus is the Light of the world, and – before we leave this Epiphany behind – that the Wise Men were led by the bright star to find the child Jesus. 

Only verses 5 – 10 from today’s psalm are set to be used but, as always, do feel free to read it all. In doing so you will see clearly the contrast between our sinfulness and God’s love. The psalm begins, “Sin whispers to the wicked…” However, the verses we reflect upon are all about the goodness of God. “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens and your faithfulness to the clouds.” This is the authors way of saying that there is no end to God’s love. His justice is unshakeable, “like the strong mountains…” [verse 6] and His “loving mercy,” in verse 7, is precious. More than that, as in other psalms, we can find refuge “under the shadow of your [God’s] wings.” In a world of darkness, violence and fear, this is Good News indeed! Walter Brueggemann writes about finding refuge in God in his book “Praying the Psalms.” He draws a contrast between “the pit” and the “wings.” The pit, or underworld, is the place [or state of being] of total silence, total isolation, death. It is what the Israelites feared but also wished upon their enemies. [See e.g.,Psalms 94.13 and 140.10.] It was a place without God and was given other names too: Sheol, in Hebrew; Hades in Greek; Hell. However, as today’s psalm makes clear, those who live by faith and who keep God’s Law, will be safe from the pit as God will protect them under His wings. [See also Psalms 61.4 and 63.8.] As you reflect upon this, picture in your mind the beautiful image of a bird, perhaps a swan, who shelters her young under her wings.


The verses of today’s psalm contain other reassuring images too, images which reveal God’s abundance and generosity. “They [those who know God] shall be satisfied with the abundance of your house; they shall drink from the river of your delights.” [Verse 8.] In this verse the psalmist uses the image of water, the river. Water was, as it is now, vital for life. Without water we die. With God though we live, and live life to the full. “For with you [God] is the well of life.” [See John’s Gospel, Chapter 10.10 where Jesus speaks of himself as the one in whom we find fullness of life.] It is not only life that we receive from God though. As verse 9 again says, in God’s light “shall we see light” and that brings us back to this Epiphany season for it is the light that lightens the Gentiles. All life and light find their source in God as the beginning of Psalm 27 makes clear. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraid?” and one of the Bible Readings for the Feast of the Epiphany is from Isaiah 60.1-6 which speaks of the light which has come into the world and, in verse 3, says,“Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” This light and life are God’s gifts to everyone and the psalmist prays that they may last: “O continue your loving-kindness to those who know you and your righteousness to those who are true of heart.” [verse 10.] The Hebrew word for loving-kindness includes mercy and loyalty as well as love and God will never desert us because His love is without end. The more we offer ourselves to Him, as the Kings offered their gifts, the more we experience and know this endless love.