psalms
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 55
January 29, 2011
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Today’s psalm is lengthy, so I will comment on only a few verses. Striking are the similarities to our world condition today.
vs. 1-3, 9-11 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my supplication! Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me. Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it, ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place.
[Who among us could not pray this for our nation and the world today? Those supporting the schemes of Satan perpetually contradict themselves and truth. The riots in the Middle East today create great noise and violence. The pro-death factions the world over fill their countries with oppression and bring trouble and death on all. Christians everywhere are hunted and marked for slaughter. The frauds of our markets and in our government are creating terrible poverty. But You, O Lord can destroy their plans and show them up for what they are. Deliver us by the light of Your truth. Give us the strength to stand up to evil without flinching, and to speak the truth without fear.]
vs. 12-14 It is not an enemy who taunts me — then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me — then I could hide from him. But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to hold sweet converse together; within God’s house we walked in fellowship. [The words of Christ to Judas. Lawless enemies are understandable but the stab in the back from a friend is the deepest wound. If, when we are tempted to sin, we would think of ourselves as stabbing Jesus in the back, would we continue? We cannot comprehend the depth of His love or the pain He endured because of our sins. Lord, let me take this reproach to heart and refrain from sin.
We cannot understand what motivates people to the great evil we witness today, other than it being a result of our fallen nature and a militant campaign by Satan. We stand aghast at the blindness of the rich and powerful stirring unrest and violence to gain yet more riches and power. It has been that way throughout history.
Those we thought to be friends may oppose us, joining forces with the evildoers. There is no escape, much as we long for it, except in the arms of our Father who counts each hair of our heads. The final verse says what we must live, "But I will trust in Thee." Lord, give me fortitude to stand with You, completely confident in Your power. Let me never give up or give in to this world.]
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival
January 23, 2011
Welcome to this fun meme hosted by RAnn at This That and the Other Thing. Be sure to visit her to read other Catholic bloggers’ posts for this week. You never know what gems you will come across.
I wrote about a surprise awakening I had in Goal Setting Success Made Simple – A Wellness Skill.
At British Humor Hits Home I posted a funny video on Modernists. You just can’t beat the Brits for great humor.
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 54 is a short meditation on a meme I really like.
Want to subscribe to posts by email? Visit the third box in the sidebar.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 54
January 21, 2011
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Praying the Psalms is a meme I like to share with others. The Psalms are the prayers of Christ and the prayers of Everyman, containing glimpses of the depth of God’s love for us. No matter our situation, there’s a Psalm for us to pray.
Father Paschal Botz, O.S.B. gives us the background of this Psalm:
The place where David’s prayer was heard is called the Rock of Rescue, a name familiar to the Old Testament man of prayer. When the enemy was closing in on David, perhaps among strangers in the land of Ziph (see 2 Sam. 23: 15-29), there was no human hope. Being heard by God in that desperate moment must have left a deep impression on him. It greatly increased his trust in God.
David kept God before his eyes and did not forget to thank Him for delivery from the enemy. He passed on his faith and trust to the community of God’s chosen people and strengthened them in turn. David was not revengeful when he had Saul at his mercy, as the story proves. He could have destroyed Saul, but spared him as God’s anointed, thus leaving judgment to God to “put an end to them.”
Instead, he promises a votive sacrifice to the Lord for his rescue. All this is very Christlike, who let His enemies go free that He might redeem them and us. When they hated Him without cause (Jn. 15:25), He trusted the more in His heavenly Father. Because He was forgiving, we are redeemed. God will always requite the enemy who masterminds evil both against Christ and His members.
vs. 1-3 Save me, O God, by Thy name, and vindicate me by Thy might. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For insolent men have risen against me, ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before them.
[Today the culture of death is in hot pursuit of the helpless of all ages, womb to the aged. These insolent, godless men seek our lives so that they may enrich themselves and control those they choose to leave alive. Our pro-life prayers in the name of Jesus are all that stands between them and even greater carnage. We may not be spared in this life, but by clinging to Christ, we will be saved to eternal life.]
vs. 4-7 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will requite my enemies with evil; in Thy faithfulness put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to Thee; I will give thanks to Thy name, O Lord, for it is good. For Thou hast delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
[How many times have we felt vengeful towards those who have harmed us? Give me the grace to forgive my enemies and pray for their salvation. Lord, let me leave the evildoers to You. I will faithfully assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each week in thanksgiving, for the only troubles that are truly evil are the ones that would take me away from You.
Only through You will I stand with the triumphant saints on the last day, victorious over the demons of hell who sought my eternal life.]
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 53
January 15, 2011
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Welcome to Praying the Psalms, hosted by Jenny at Just a Minute. Join us to share your thoughts on this psalm or to comment on what others have written.
I’ve been absent from this meme for a few weeks due to the holidays and illness, but am glad to be back and in the saddle.
This Psalm, except for verse 6, is almost word for word the same as Psalm 14. Father Paschal Botz, O.S.B. writes:
Instead of cultivating ways of prayer, men devise new perversions, new follies. The folly the author means is exploiting the poor, “eating up my people.” The prophets of old held out God’s punishment for those who “ate the people” by multiplying evil deeds (e.g. Is. 5 and Jer. 5). When people lose wisdom, they increase their folly….
…[T]he folly of sin is its own punishment and causes fear where there is no reason to fear.
Seen from the gallery of heaven, earth must present a unique spectacle of fools who keep on sinning only to reap the results of their blindness and godlessness.
vs. 1-3 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt doing abominable iniquity, there is none that does good. God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any that are wise, that seek after God. They have all fallen away; they are all alike depraved; there is none that does good, no, not one. [We are all sinners, engaging in the folly of seeking after the things of this world instead of seeking after God; seeking after our own self-interest rather than seeking God's will for us.
Even after Baptism and Confirmation when we have God's life in us, when we have received the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost and His twelve fruits, we are plagued by concupiscence.
Life is difficult because we are often blind to our impure motivations. O Lord, let me see myself as You see me. Let me see others as You see them. Help me to get out of Your way and let You work the miracles in my soul that You so desire that I may be refined in the fire of Your love and reflect You perfectly to others.]
vs. 4-6 Have those who work evil no understanding, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? There they are in great terror, in terror such as has not been! For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly; they will be put to shame, for God has rejected them. O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of His people, Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad. [For thousands of years man remains the same - creating poverty and suffering for the many and thinking that it will never happen to him. But God will call everyone to account, and man will pay for his folly here and in the afterlife.
Our deliverance came from Zion; we, the new Israel, have been redeemed by Christ. Because He lived among us and continues to be present among us, we can be cleansed from our stupidity. Jesus has made our personal renewal possible, and, like ripples on a pond, the goodness we do by His power flows outward to infinity.
Lord, sometimes I forget that You are in charge and are waiting for my submission. I forget that You are the one with the power to change hearts, to stop our folly. I arrogantly think that I can change hearts with my words, but only Your word can do this.
Fearful are the consequences of our sins against each other and against You and Your creation. We are in over our heads as illnesses of our own doing rage, and poverty born of our desire for power over others and our all-consuming greed threatens the peace. Who among men can deliver us? No one. Rather than being fearful as those who depend on man, let me be joyful and confident in You.
I do not have to understand how You are working, Lord, I only need to keep my eyes on You. As long as I have You as the center of my existence, I am not poor, but rich, and a witness to Your everlasting care.]
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival
January 2, 2011
Welcome to Sunday Snippets hosted by RAnn at This That and the Other Thing where you will find posts by other Catholic bloggers.
At A Blessed Christmas I posted a Christmas card for all my readers with a short reflection.
In Happy New Year I mention a little about settling estate matters during the holidays.
Setting Yourself Up for Writing Success in 2011 is a short post about goal setting at my editing&proofing.com site.
Holy Name Sunday
Today in the 1962 calendar is the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. Back in the day, that is pre-Vatican II, every parish had a Holy Name Society for men only. Their purpose was to stop blasphemy (using the Lord’s name in vain) wherever they could, and to do penance and reparation for the preponderance of blasphemy in the world.
Some parishes still have Holy Name Societies, but not in my diocese. Concern about blasphemy seems to have faded although its use has become so prevalent even women commonly engage in it freely and unashamedly, which was not true when I was growing up. When was the last time your pastor spoke about using the name of God in vain from the pulpit?
Today’s Introit comes from Phil. 2:10-11 and Ps. 8:2. We have heard these Bible verses often, but today is a day to ponder them anew.
In the Name of Jesus let every knee bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and let every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. (Psalm) O Lord our Lord: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth!
This Sunday is a reminder to me of why I end my posts with the following:
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival
December 12, 2010
Here we are with another round of Sunday Snippets, hosted by RAnn at This That and the Other Thing. Visit her to read other Catholic/Christian bloggers’ posts for the week.
My favorite source for Advent meditation is the beautiful Rorate Caeli Desuper (Advent Prose), both from a music and prayer standpoint. I wish I had a superb recording of the Benedictines of Fontgombault to put behind a video I’d like to make of it, if only I knew how! 
I put several little inspirational things to meditate on quickly at Something to Chew on for Advent.
Advent with Mary and Joseph is an article in the December Una Voce Arkansas Ozarks Regional Newsletter.
At Hail, Mary I put my favorite painting of the Immaculate Conception, quotes from Mass and the Divine Office for the day, and tied it up with a comment on concupiscence. I like short quotes that run in the back of my mind all day on a feast.
Sabbath Moments are real blessings from God.
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 48 is my meditation from a Christmas perspective.
Our Lady of Guadalupe under the title: Morning Star, Norma Salazar Orozco, oil on canvas
Today just wouldn’t be right without a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a link to my article about her along with a quote from my December 11 post from last year. I can’t believe I’ve been blogging for over a year now!
The painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe in this post is by Norma Salazar Orozco, a gifted Mexican artist from a family of gifted artists. Visit her site and see how she has used Our Lady’s image from the tilma to illustrate Mary’s different titles. Among their many subjects, the Orozco family is obviously devoted to honoring the Blessed Mother in art. If you love art, you will love the work of this family and their story.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 48
December 11, 2010
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Today’s Psalm is perfect for Advent as we look forward to Christmas with anticipation. In minute you’ll see why. Father Paschal Botz, O.S.B. writes:
The holy hill called Zion, a low mountain in Jerusalem, is yet the highest in the world as God’s special dwelling place. The Psalm extols it and is the counterpiece of prayer to Psalm 47, which celebrates God’s Kingship.
Israel stood in proud awe and sacred joy at the sight of Zion and Jerusalem. We call it the Holy City even today.
The divine favors given it will continue to make it one of the wonders of the world. God built it and He fortified it. He chose it in preference to any place on earth.
vs. 9-12 As we had heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; God makes it firm forever. O God, we ponder Your kindness within your temple. As Your name, O God, so also your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Of justice your right hand is full; let Mount Sion be glad, let the cities of Juda rejoice, because of Your judgments. [Thanks to the coming of Christ among us, the New Jerusalem awaits us. From the rising to the setting of the sun we praise Him to the ends of the earth in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Christ, the Just One Who offers Himself to the Father in reparation for our sins, is the loving kindness of the Father personified. The Babe of Bethlehem sanctified us, the unworthy. Lord, let all the cities of the world praise Your holy name now and forever in the eternal city of our God.]
vs. 13-15 Go about Sion, make the round; count her towers. Consider her ramparts, examine her castles, that you may tell a future generation that such is God, our God forever and ever; He will guide us. [We go about Sion today in our parish churches, encountering God in the sacraments He gave us to maintain friendship with Him -the humble baptismal fonts the visible sign of the invisible springs of grace; the altars the visible sign of the invisible act of perfect sacrifice; the confessionals the visible sign of the invisible grace of mercy and forgiveness.
We have no choice once we believe. We must shout through the ages until time ceases the glory of His divine mercy and power manifested in human form in that stable one cold night in Bethlehem.
Faithful Christians now are the towers, ramparts, and castles of Mount Sion, the Mystical Body of Christ. We are and will be guided by Him - the Way, the Truth, and the Life - and because of His loving kindness, we will be given the grace to rise when we fall.
May all those He calls gather first at Bethlehem and see Him with humble eyes of faith, hope, and charity. Let us, no tourists of Old Jerusalem, we, but reborn citizens with the saints and members of God's household (Eph. 2:19) praise Him forever in glory as did the angels and shepherds on that first night of our salvation.]
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival
December 5, 2010
Welcome to Sunday Snippets. How about joining us at RAnn’s blog, This, That and the Other Thing, to read posts from other Catholic/Christian bloggers? Participating in the meme has been great for me this year because I’ve encountered many wonderful and talented people and I’m sure you will, too.
This week I wrote about one of my favorite saints on his feast day: St. Andrew, the Relationship Broker.
Another Catholic Blog I Like is an introduction to David’s Wheat for Paradise site.
Sabbath Moments and Praying the Psalms – Psalm 47 were two other posts.
This week was also a milestone for me because I went “live” with my new site, editing&proofing.com with a blog of tips for writers in addition to offering my services of editing and proofing. If you know a writer who needs an editor, send them over – please! No doubt I’ll have to do a little more tweaking on the appearance, but at least I’m not embarrassed to have others see it now.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
OK, now let’s really praise Him. Take a look at this striking video of time lapse photography by Tor Even Mathisen published here under the Creative Commons license. HT to APOD.
Flowing Auroras Over Norway
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 47
December 4, 2010
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Jenny at Just a Minute hosts today’s wonderful meme, so visit her to read other reflections on this psalm.
This psalm cries out joy from beginning to end. Father Paschal Botz, O.S.B. writes:
…We must consider this Psalm a festive processional hymn at the installation of God’s Ark in its place of primacy amid a great conclave of people (1Kg. 8:6). The throng responds with great shouts and trumpet blasts, for this is the triumph of their God over all that claims greatness.
But the Psalm is also forward-looking and universal, as it invites all peoples to bend their knee. This prophetic intent finds fulfillment only in Christ, and that determines the way we pray it. We celebrate His universal sovereignty over the chosen people of the God of Abraham. The King of the universe is also the King of history. All generations must acclaim Him. Our turn has come to fulfill the oracles of prophecy and to join the universal chorus of praise.
vs. 1-5 All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, for the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. He brings peoples under us; nations under our feet. He chooses for us our inheritance, the glory of Jacob, whom He loves. [Our God, the terrible, the awesome, the One to be reverenced above all - we sing of His mercy, His power, His loving kindness. How else to respond to our inclusion into the family of Christ, the glory of Jacob, our inheritance by Baptism? We did nothing to deserve this blessing, but because we are His creatures and are special to Him, He gathers us to Himself. I gaze at Him in open-mouthed wonder.]
vs. 6-7 God mounts His throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. [Not only man, but the angels are to sing praise. For us, starting with that first night in Bethlehem, the angels set the example, calling the lowliest of the low, the shepherds, to come and adore.
His first throne the manger, His second throne the cross, His final throne of glory at the right hand of the Father; we, the lowly, fall on our knees and prostrate ourselves before Him. Overcome, we rise, seize our neighbor, and sing and dance with joy. We have been redeemed and are in the company of all that is pure, all that is holy.
I recapture these moments of praise when I direct my heart to Him as I go about my ordinary activities and when I am in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament - when I visit the Church or assist at Mass.]
vs. 8-10 For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon His holy throne. The princes of the peoples are gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For God’s are the guardians of the earth; He is supreme. [God created all peoples of all times for Himself. At the end of time all who have surrendered to Him will gather together from every family and nation.
Our eyes of faith can see this clearly, but the rulers of this world do not see or acknowledge Him as supreme. Out of this blindness arises the afflictions of war, of poverty, of greed, of lust for power.
Lord, grant all world leaders the grace to see that they answer to You, that You are supreme, and that of themselves they can do no good. Lord, let it be that all world leaders bow down to You and sing Your praises.]
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival
November 28, 2010
Welcome to Sunday Snippets hosted by RAnn at This That and the Other Thing. Visit her to see other bloggers’ posts for the week.
This past week I asked Why Do You Write? Why not take me up on my challenge and pass it around to your fellow bloggers? Sometimes it’s a good idea to ask ourselves why we’re doing something as a way to refocus our energy.
At St. Clement of Rome I ask about your patrons and how they influence your life – another good focusing exercise and one you can share with others.
For Sabbath Moments I mention joining with the Holy Father for the First Sunday of Advent Vespers and a lovely sight Friday morning.
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 46 offers my reflections on this joyous claim of confidence in the Lord.
God bless all my readers and thanks for visiting!
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 46
November 27, 2010
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Welcome to Praying the Psalms. Jenny at Just a Minute hosts this wonderful meme every Saturday. Visit her for other commentary on this psalm.
Father Paschal Botz, O.S.B. gives us an idea of how this Psalm came to be written:
An exceptional triumph of unbounded trust, the literal encounter with God which inspired it must have been one of the most astounding of sacred history. Many regard the original event as that of 2 Kings 18-19, when the mighty Sennacherib attacked Jerusalem in King Hezekiah’s days. He trusted in the Lord like nobody before or after (18:5). He prayed with his people.
While the enemy stood outside and in mockery blasphemed God and His holy city, Isaiah the prophet came forward and spoke for the Lord. That night an angel of the Lord slew 185,000 Assyrians “at the break of dawn.”
vs. 2- 4 God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea; though its waters rage and foam and the mountains quake at its surging. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [Nature is formidable as we have seen in hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and volcanoes. But God is with us throughout these destructive moments. Whenever our home is threatened with natural disaster I pray for His protection. I ask Him to send His angels to guard us. These verses remind us that no matter how powerfully nature manifests itself, God is more powerful. Our Father delights in protecting His children, such is the greatness of His love. He desires that we remember this and call upon Him in the midst of all threats.]
vs. 5-8 There is a stream whose rivulets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn. Though nations are in turmoil, kingdoms totter, His voice resounds, the earth melts away, the Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [The stream flowing into the New Jerusalem is the water of Baptism whereby we become children of God and are given a share in His life. We make vows to the Lord and He keeps us safe from harm. Only when we leave His protective care and break our vows do we fall into sin. All manner of evil can surround us, but if we take refuge in God, He will guard us from the worst evil of all - falling into mortal sin and severing our ties with Him. All of the city of God is gladdened when a new soul is washed in the stream and the sinner repents.]
vs. 9-12 Come! Behold the deeds of the Lord, the astounding things He has wrought on earth: He has stopped wars to the end of the earth: the bow He breaks; He splinters the spears; He burns the shields with fire. Desist! and confess that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted upon the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [No matter how bad things appear to our earthly eyes, with our spiritual vision we know that God is more powerful than anything man can set against Him and us with Him.
Christ's name "Emmanuel" means "God with us." He promised to be with us until the end of time. Whatever we do, if we do it in His name, we show His power and love for mankind till the end of ages.
Jesus warned us, "And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt.: 10:28). This should be our greatest concern. Nothing else can come close to being a threat to us.
Quite often I am tempted to be drawn into the political issues of our country and the world, and experience fear that those who are clearly outside the Holy City blaspheming God will prevail. With this psalm I can refocus on God, renew acts of faith and trust in Him, and restore my spiritual sight. Our world needs more glorifying of God, more praising of His love and goodness, more embracing of life and the sacrifices necessary to live in a godly way. Lord, with your help I will do this without fear, for you are my stronghold.]
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival
November 14, 2010
Welcome to Sunday Snippets, a weekly meme hosted by RAnn at This That and the Other Thing, where we share our posts for the week. Be sure to see what other Catholic bloggers are contributing by visiting RAnn.
This week I posted a clip from Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and wrote a bit about him and the section, Pie Jesu Domine.
I added a prayer for deliverance From a Sudden and Unprovided Death to my site and mentioned my good neighbor’s passing this week.
Sabbath Moments says a little more about my neighbor – he was special in a way not seen very often these days.
For a striking resemblance to the recent martyrdom of the Chaldeans at Mass in Baghdad see the excerpt from Psalm 44 and my comments at Praying the Psalms – Psalm 44.
Here is Globular Star Cluster NGC 6934. When I first saw it, it seemed to me that these stars looked like a fireworks display seen from a perspective of standing directly underneath the explosion looking upward. These stars are about 10 billion years old.
Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival
November 7, 2010
Welcome to Sunday Snippets, a meme hosted by RAnn at This That and the Other Thing. Visit her to see other bloggers’ posts for the week.
This week I wrote about Father Gordon J. Macrae at Wrongly Accused and Imprisoned.
Here’s an Easy Chaplet for the Poor Souls.
And here are my reflections on Praying the Psalms – Psalm 43.
Here’s a striking image of spicules – jets of hot gas on the sun – from APOD:
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 41
October 23, 2010
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Welcome to Praying the Psalms. Jenny at Just a Minute hosts this meme, so visit her to read other’s comments on this Psalm.
In this Psalm we have a hint of the Sermon on the Mount, a peek at Job’s condition, a snippet of a traditional prayer for the Pope, a foreshadowing of Judas’s betrayal, and praise of God’s mercy in the sacrament of Penance.
vs. 1-4 Blessed is he who has regard for the lowly and the poor; in the days of misfortune the Lord will deliver him. The Lord will keep and preserve him; he will make him happy on the earth, and not give him over to the will of his enemies. The Lord will help him on his sickbed, he will take away all his ailment when he is ill. [There are many kinds of poverty. To have regard for the poor is more than giving time and money to erase poverty. As St. Teresa of Avila wrote, the greatest alms giving is to pray for those in mortal sin. If we have regard for all kinds of poverty, we will pray for the deliverance of everyone suffering and in need, whether physically, mentally or spiritually.
Lord, let me be a spot of joy in the days of all I meet. Let me embrace true poverty of spirit, knowing that Your goodness and mercy will triumph over the will of my Adversary. His will is my eternal destruction. Your will is my eternal sanctification. Bring all on this earth to know You, love You, and serve You now and in eternity.
Thank You, Lord, for the sacrament of Penance where You deliver me from the misfortune of my sins. You truly take away my ailments when I am ill.]
vs. 5-10 Once I said, “O Lord, have pity on me; heal me, though I have sinned against you. My enemies say the worst of me: ‘When will he die and his name perish?’ When one comes to see me, he speaks without sincerity; his heart stores up malice; when he leaves he gives voice to it outside. All my foes whisper together against me; against me they imagine the worst: ‘A malignant disease fill his frame’ and ‘Now that he lies ill, he will not rise again.’ Even my friend who had my trust and partook of my bread, has raised his heel against me.
[These verses recall the story of Job, who was a foreshadowing of the innocent Christ, suffering but sinless, and who was the subject of much malignant talk. Jesus became the scapegoat, carrying all our sins. He speaks to the Father in our name in vs. 5.
Jesus's enemies even today desire that His name perish. The Pharisees wanted You dead, Lord, and they believed You would not rise again. But they were wrong then and are wrong again today. Deliver us, Lord, from the malicious tongues that stir up whirlwinds of lies. Give us the grace to declare Your truth always, fearlessly.
Judas betrayed You, even though he was Your friend. For myself and for the whole world I ask, Lord, that You destroy all that is deceitful in us and bring all of us to Your eternal wedding feast on the last day.]
vs 11-14 But You, O Lord, have pity on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.” That You love me I know by this, that my enemy does not triumph over me, but because of my integrity You sustain me and let me stand before You forever. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from all eternity and forever. Amen. Amen.
[Lord, by Your power I will resist temptation. By Your power Satan will not triumph over me, just as he did not triumph over You. Raise me up on the last day. Let me praise You now and forever. Let me bring You to all I meet that they may come to know You and praise You forever, too. We are poor in our sins, but rich in Your mercy and love.]
Traditional Prayer for the Pope
V. Let us pray for Benedict, our Pope.
R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 43:3]
Our Father, Hail Mary.
O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 40
October 16, 2010
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Jenny at Just a Minute hosts Praying the Psalms. Visit her to see what others have written about Psalm 40.
This is another messianic psalm, much of which could be spoken directly by Jesus in regard to His sufferings on earth and how he clung to the will of the Father.
Father Paschal Botz, OSB, writes:
Prayer frequently does not proceed along logical lines, and this Psalm is an example of abrupt changes. It contains great wisdom for our conversion to God, chiefly that of inner obedience to Him…
Although God ordered sacrifices in the Old Law (Lev. 6-7), He rejected empty ritual when it was mechanical and divorced from right moral conduct (see Is. 1:11ff.; Jer. 7: 21-23 “obey My voice”; Dt. 6:24f.)…. The purpose of cult is love and obedience. The heart of all religion is loving God out of faith. Faith tells us what God wants and says. Love then gives free obedience…
We pray this psalm with Christ when we make the will of the Father our basic praise… Not to proclaim God’s wonders and trust would be sinful silence. Concealing the truth from the peoples of the earth is against God’s will. In this process of praise our full powers must come to expression, for the lesson of this Man’s suffering reveals the thoughts of God and becomes our salvation.
vs. 14-18 Deign, O Lord, to rescue me; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let all be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch away my life. [The demons of hell want my soul. Let their shame and confusion be not mine.]
Let them be turned back in disgrace who desire my ruin. Let them be dismayed in their shame who say to me, “Aha, aha!” [Lord, when you snatch me from the claws of the Evil One, let his accusations and triumph be destroyed forever. Let them not gloat over me. ]
But may all who seek you exult and be glad in you, and may those who love your salvation say ever, “The Lord be glorified.” Though I am afflicted and poor, yet the Lord thinks of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, hold not back! [Lord, I am afflicted with many weaknesses of soul and body, yet You mind me and watch over me. I am not a glorious creature, but I am a precious creature. Precious because Your Son died for me.
Your grace is never ending if I turn my face to You. Uphold me in my poverty of spirit. I am Your creature; abandon me not. Come swiftly to my aid that I may praise Your name, Jesus, for all eternity.]
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
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