Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 16, 2023

Date in the Ordine: Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Psalm 66:1-3a, 5 and 8, 16-17

R. (see 20a and 10b) Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire! Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds!" R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire! Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. Bless our God, you peoples; loudly sound his praise. R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire! Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. When I appealed to him in words, praise was on the tip of my tongue. R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The responsorial psalm for today (Psalm 66) is a hymnic psalm inviting the community to join in offering praise and thanksgiving to the LORD. The psalm calls others, the whole world perhaps, to “come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam” and to allow this to draw them to their knees in praise and humble thanksgiving.

The last part of the psalm is important for understanding the psalm and its message, so while it is not in the daily reading, I include it. The psalm ends thus:

Come and hear, all you who fear God,

while I recount what has been done for me.

I called to him with my mouth;

praise was upon my tongue.

Had I cherished evil in my heart,

the Lord would not have heard.

But God did hear

and listened to my voice in prayer.

Blessed be God, who did not reject my prayer

and refuse his mercy.

How does this pertain to us today?

Today we need hope as much if not more than previous generations. The psalm reminds us that the LORD hears our moaning and cries and sees our needs and is moved to listen to our prayer and show us needed mercy, compassion beyond what we may merit. One condition lies at the heart of the psalm, however, that we be people who recognize all the LORD has done for us, people of praise and thanksgiving, people who are in relationship with our LORD.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I praise the LORD only when I need something? Or am I person of praise and thanksgiving to the LORD daily/always, recognizing the LORD’s gifts to me always and everywhere? Do I tell others of the LORD’s loving kindness and perpetual power and presence?

Praying:

LORD, this day we come before You with praise upon our lips expressing what is in our hearts and on our minds. We draw near to You knowing that You hear our needs. Help us, LORD, grant us what we need this day as we seek to journey in faith, hope, and love to You. Amen.