file: /pub/resources/text/taize/johannine: jh9409.txt
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Johannine Hours - September 1994 - Psalm 142 

Psalm 142 is the prayer of a poor person; it was the favorite
psalm of Saint Francis. It traces out a road that goes from lament
to praise, from solitude to communion. From the depths of their
distress, those who pray the psalm "pour forth" their lament,
accepting that the restraining-walls within break down. The soul
holds nothing back; it lets its pain and confusion flow out freely
before God. This distress is caused in part by the harshness of
others, by "persecutors." But still worse is the solitude, the
total absence of comprehension and of interest: "There is no one
interested in me, no one who cares for my life" (v.5). Those who
were close have disappeared. 

Then the lamentation becomes prayer, a humble request for
liberation from God. And prayer causes a taste for life to return.
Saying to God, "you are my portion in the land of the living"
(v.6) means refusing to despair, it means still searching for
happiness on this earth, in spite of the deepest disappointments.
In prayer, I have the assurance that I will sing again. Free, I
will give thanks. 

Praise brings us from solitude to communion. I thank God for a
gift, and I escape from my isolation. A gift received from God
overflows, spreads out. When I am filled, I become a seed of
communion, I become hospitable: "They shall gather around me,
because of your goodness to me" (v.8). Filled with the happiness
that comes from God, I will not refuse to share my joy with
anyone, even with those who previously ignored or despised me.

Q: What gift have I received from God that I can share with
others? With whom can I live in communion through a shared joy? 

===

The idea of "Johannine hours" was born in Taize as a simple
response to all those who were trying to assimilate the Bible's
message in the midst of their daily life. Because of work or
studies, it is often impossible to spend long hours in silence and
reflection, but everyone can take an hour from time to time to
enter a church, sit quietly at home or go out for a walk in the
park. There, in silence, we can meditate on a passage of Scripture
to listen to the voice of Christ.

During the time of silence, it is important to concentrate on what
we understand and not waste time worrying if, in some Biblical
expressions, we find it difficult to hear the voice of Christ. The
idea is to communicate to others what we have understood, not
burdening them with our own hesitations but rather telling them
what has brought us joy, what has led us to run the risk of
trusting more deeply. 

===

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=== For those with access to Internet services (*new addresses*) 

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