From the bulletin for October 10–11, 2026
Blessed Are the Curious: A Psalm with More to Say
The question: On the Cross, Jesus prayed, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Which Psalm was He quoting, and why should we read the entire Psalm rather than stopping at its heartbreaking opening?
The answer: Psalm 22. Just one Psalm before “The Lord is my shepherd”! Its opening expresses profound anguish, and its descriptions of mockery and divided garments echo the accounts of Jesus’ Passion.
But keep reading. The Psalm moves from suffering and pleading to praise, thanksgiving, and hope. It declares that God has heard the afflicted person’s cry, then looks ahead to all nations turning to the Lord and future generations hearing what He has done.
Jesus’ suffering was real. Yet the Psalm He prayed does not end in abandonment. Read in the light of His Resurrection, its movement toward praise carries a powerful promise: suffering does not have the final word.
The lesson? Don’t put down the Psalm after its opening line. This is one story whose ending you really do need to read.