My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

This meditation is based on a passage for March 5, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Psalm 22

Reflection and Question: According to Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34, this heart-wrenching question came to Jesus’ lips as He hung on the cross. I trust Jesus went on in His heart, as best He could, with the rest of this wonderful song expressing the fullness of human suffering and the strength of human faith in God’s power to comfort and save. When the psalmist asserts, “the poor shall eat and be satisfied,” both meanings of “shall” are important: that it will happen in the future and that it is mandated by the goodness of God. When you cry out, forsaken by God, how does God answer you?

Prayer: Eternal, Loving God, it was You who took me from my mother’s womb. Since my mother bore me, You have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. O my help, come quickly to my aid. Amen.