At times I wonder about the choice of lessons for a given Sunday.  All three Lutheran church bodies, ELCA, LCMS, and Wels (Wis. Synod) have the same lessons, but diverge when it comes to the psalms

ELCA chose Psalm 118:14-29.  Verse 14 reflects the celebration of God’s salvation found in Exodus 15:2. “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”  Therefore, in verse 15 the psalmist notes that, “Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous.”  There were no glad songs of salvation among the group of disciples fearfully hiding behind locked doors, until Jesus appeared and showed them his scars.  “Then the disciples were glad…”

Psalm 16, makes me think of Thomas.  On the second Sunday evening after the resurrection He is present when Jesus and finally sees his Lord, his God.  The psalm concludes, “You made known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 148 is a Psalm of Praise, calling all creation to praise God.  Actually I think this psalm would fit better with the Epistle for Easter 3, Rev. 5:8-14 in which John hears every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea,” praising Jesus, “The Lamb” with “blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.”

Whichever psalm may have been used on Sunday, we can say along with the four living creatures and the elders, “Amen.”

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.