Psalms in the Bible and in our lives

We monks, young and old, hear, study and meditate on the Word of God, celebrating this Word in our liturgies, and sharing it in our ministries. Sacred Scripture grounds our life style, our values and manner of relating to others.

The last day of this month of September for us Catholics is Bible Day. For Protestants, their Bible Day is later in the year – during the month of December. Unfortunately, we are divided on this also.

The Word of God is our community prayer, especially the Psalms. As did the people of ancient Israel, we too, recite, sing and meditate the Psalms, various times during the day, and in the evening, at the Liturgy of the Hours.

This wisdom literature arose from a profound and expansive experience of God by a people in their life journey, with all the ups and downs, with their celebrations and processions, their lamentations and joys. The Psalms continue to express in our lives likewise as our prayers in communion with all people today.

“God, made haste to help me…”, “The Lord is my shepherd…”, “Until when will you hide your face from me, Lord…”, “What joy when they said to me, let us go up to the House of the Lord…”, and “Your Word, Lord, is a light in my path”.

The Psalms call to mind places, occasions, sentiments, persons, natural phenomena – bringing everything into prayer to express praise, repentances, gratitude and hope. The confidence of the Psalmists is contagious for us.  We also remember God’s promises to us: to journey with us. God reveals self as the Almighty, the Rock, the Fortress, our Liberator, and many other names and titles that psalmists utilize in reference to our Lord and God. “He is faithful to the Covenant, because eternal is His love”. Jesus echoes this same promise in His last words on this earth, at the moment of His Ascension: “And remember, I will be with you until the ends of the earth” (Mt 28:20).

Our prayer can never fully repeat the experience of ancient Israel. God does, however, continue to reveal Himself in our lives. The daily demands of life and mission places us in syntony with the suffering and hopes of all those suffer, with youth, with families, educators and politicians to create new psalms with the same faith and confidence in the God-who-is-with-us.

May God bless you.

Monday, Sept 27: Yesterday was a light rain, the first in about 125 days! What a dry spell. The danger of fire is real. Many national parks, pastures, fields and even backyard were burned. This light rain yesterday afternoon was providential. Some years ago I heard that rains can be expected between three to five days after a full moon, for which reason, I don’t know. Based on that saying and reading the barometer in the morning after breakfast that indicated a significance increase of moisture in the air – going from 12% to 40% and the air pressure falling, I began to assure persons that it will rain today or tomorrow. And lo and behold, it rained. So I became a welcomed prophet! The setting was a Marriage Encounter in Mineiros. I arrived in Mineiros Friday afternoon and the Encounter began that evening. There were 28 couples making the Encounter and another 70 helping with different activities for the three days. The kitchen crews of about eight couples had finished their duties, and were awaiting the conclusion of the Encounter before returning to their homes. One man said it would be nice to have some ice cream at his moment. Who can donate a dollar? In a jiffy $10 was collected and someone sent to purchase the goods. And as we appreciated the ice cream – I and the eight couple, and in the meantime a two other priests arrived on the scene – the gentle rain began! I spent today here in Mineiros, and plan to take the bus back to Goiania where I live – about a seven hour ride.