Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
The Psalms may often be considered too poetic, too repetitive, and perhaps lacking an obvious storyline that the Gospels or other books of the Bible present. Still, the Psalms can be a powerful means of prayer and reflection about one’s relationship with God and how we are to live as Christians. Today’s responsorial psalm is a selection of different verses from Psalm 9. This Psalm reminds us that the evil of this world is merely temporary; God is victorious over all of it. In the refrain, we tell God over and over again that we will rejoice in the Lord’s salvation, by which evil, sin, and death are conquered.
As Christians, we must have our sights on eternal life. No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, whether in the trenches battling a difficult situation and trying not to lose hope, or in a moment of consolation from the Lord with many blessings, our disposition should remain consistent. Our mouths should proclaim God’s praises and our hearts should rejoice in His ultimate victory. Let us not become distracted and disheartened by this fallen world; God has conquered and redeemed it.
So many times, Satan wants us to forget that God loves us so much and that He died for us and wants to be with us for all eternity. Instead, Satan wants us to lose hope and fall with him into eternal loneliness and suffering, forever separated from God and His great love for us. So, let us not fall into Satan’s snares. Let us confidently take to heart the words of the Psalm today and confidently proclaim God’s greatness and our salvation by His ultimate victory over evil in the world.
Reflection by Nathaniel, seminarian
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections