Proper 6/Pentecost 4/Ordinary Time 11
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
The lectionary editors' decisions as to the carving of biblical texts are not always well advised. The decision to edit out the middle section of Psalm 116 disrupts the flow of its poetry. The editors' decision is possibly related to the fact that Greek and Latin Bibles typically divide the psalm into two separate psalms: verses 1-9 (Psalm 114) and 10-19 (Psalm 115). Modern scholars are agreed, however, that this is a single, unified work. The psalm is not that long, and could certainly be read in its entirety in a worship service.