“Look, O LORD, at the anguish I suffer!
My stomach churns,
And my heart recoils within me:
How bitter I am!
Outside the sword bereaves—
indoors, there is death.
My life is deprived of peace,
I have forgotten what happiness is.”
(Lamentations 1:20, 3:17 Revised New American Bible)
Sexual violence. World history has been filled with sexual violence. The Bible is filled with stories of men, women, and children sexually violated. Rape, incest, the murder of men and women from the GLBTQ community fills the news. Incidents of sexual violence has escalated seemingly since November of 2016 domestically and abroad. It matters not whether it the violence is institutionalized by political motive, as it is in Russia, or religiously motivated, as it may be in some world religions. Sexual violence is always an affront against God and humanity, who have been made in the image and the likeness of God. This Psalm Offering is a prayer for all victims of sexual violence. May God heal the brokenness they have suffered at the hands of others.
(c) 2017 by Deacon Bob Wagner OFS. All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE MUSIC: Of the Psalm Offerings in Opus 7, this is one of the shortest at just a little over 2 minutes in length. It is composed in a style that is largely from the Impressionistic period, with a use of parallel V7 chords and the use of a whole tone scale. It is in 3 part, ABA form. The unique feature of this music is that is is written in 7/4 time (seven beats a measure, a quarter note gets one beat).
