Dcn Brigid Waszczak

Psalm 126

2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.
5 Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
    will return with songs of joy...

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Psalm 126 echoes this season of carols and hymns. Jaunty, jolly Christmas tunes, playing since before Thanksgiving, resound the laughter and joy that fill us when we sing along—even if we only join in the chorus. Those who ordinarily would not sing in public have an excuse to belt out their favorite melody and croon along to the ubiquitous peppy music piped into every store, sidewalk, and coffee shop.

In this season of song, I remember years of choirs and concerts, Christmas Eve Masses, and holiday family sing-a-longs—usually led by my mother (a professional musician) either directing or initiating our harmonizing. It brings both a smile to my face and an ache to my heart that her alto tones no longer lead us.

My favorite memory is of our choir’s a capella Magnificat, a rendition Mom found and replicated from a University of Redlands recording.

This Psalm’s song of joy was communal and used at Jewish Festivals, like the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), to remind the people of a time of great joy and to help them hold on to hope for its return. The population was experiencing distress, weeping with sorrow in captivity; life was not as great as it once was, and they were looking to God to do what they could not do for themselves: restoration, release, joyful return to freedom.

Perhaps this psalm can guide us, too, as we enter a new year, encouraging us to hold on to hope while living in the reality of division: wars, politics, border issues, homelessness, antisemitism… This is a Psalm for all of us who look for the restoration of cooperation and civility, release from hatred and harm, and joyful return of a loving community.

May it be so.

—Brigid