{"id":90624,"date":"2019-01-30T19:08:26","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T03:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/?p=90624"},"modified":"2019-01-30T19:09:12","modified_gmt":"2019-01-31T03:09:12","slug":"sedimus-et-flevimus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/sedimus-et-flevimus\/","title":{"rendered":"Sedimus et Flevimus"},"content":{"rendered":"

F<\/span>eeling rather melancholy this evening, and one of the psalms from Vespers particularly struck home.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

S<\/span>uper flumina Babylonis ibi sedimus et flevimus :<\/em> * cum recordaremur Sion :
\nIn salicibus in medio ejus * suspendimus organa nostra.
\nQuia illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos duxerunt nos, * verba cantionum :
\nEt qui abduxerunt nos : * Hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion.
\nQuomodo cantabimus canticum Domini * in terra aliena?<\/p>\n

B<\/span>y the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept,<\/em> * when we thought of Sion.
\nThere upon the willow trees, * we hung up our harps.
\nFor there they asked joyous songs of us, * who had led us away as captives.
\nAnd they said who carried us away: * “Sing for us one of the songs of Sion!”
\nHow could we sing the song of the Lord, * in a strange land?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Even after all these years, the psalms continue to amaze me. Every human emotion may be found there, every possible way of communicating with the Lord: praise, thanksgiving, wonder – true. But also anger, despair, fear.<\/p>\n

They provide a way to speak with God, no matter what state you’re in. They remain a wonder to me.<\/p>\n