Abstract
Psalm 137 presents a paradigmatic expression of exile and lament, and the power of shared hope to return to the ancestral land. Memories trigger strong feelings and a firm resolve not to “forget” the ancestral home. This paper argues from a constructive perspective that in Psalm 137, the memory of ancestral land is not merely nostalgic or a source of grief, but it functions as a theological act that preserves communal identity and sustains hope for restoration and healing. Even today, we feel strongly about land, especially ancestral lands, because they are closely connected to our identity, cherished memories, grief, and hopes. Methodologically, we will employ historical-critical exegesis and theological reflection enriched by cultural memory theory. In treating Psalm 137, which David Stowe calls the “Memory-Project,” most scholars have emphasized the side of trauma and vengeance; this study highlights a merger of positive theological and psychological approaches to trauma, grief, memory, and ancestral land as resources of hope and healing, especially for migrants who are mostly affected by intergenerational trauma arising from migration circumstances.
Recommended Citation
William, Shimbo Pastory
(2026)
"Grief, Memory, and Hope: Significance of Ancestral Land in Psalm 137, “By the Rivers of Babylon,” in Healing Intergenerational Migration Trauma,"
Loyola Papers: Vol. 7:
No.
2, Article 7.
Available at:
https://archium.ateneo.edu/loyola/vol7/iss2/7