Let All Nations Praise

 

      LECTIO:                                                                                    Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you! 
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you! 

STUDIUM: LECTIO:

A Middle Eastern king revealed by his facial expression whether he liked what he saw and heard.  A shining face shows favor.  An angry face shows displeasure.  A puzzled face shows confusion.  Here the psalmist is praising the Lord's shining face. 

MEDITATIO: 

Since God sees all, I can just imagine He changes facial expressions fast.  Oh wait!  God is God.  He sees all and so understands the reasons for our actions, stupid as they may be. I hope I please God more than not.  I hope I see Him turning His shining face on me.  

ORATIO: 

Lord, I love You.  You are my everything.  I praise You and worship You forever.

CONTEMPLATIO: 

I lift up my voice to worship You.

RESOLUTIO:

 I must tell Jesus that I love Him, more often.

Worthy of Praise

 LECTIO:    Revelation 7: 11-12

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

"Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"

STUDIUM:

Who are the four living creatures? According to the New International Version Application Study Bible, the "four living creatures" represent the attributes of God. His attributes are symbolized in animal-like features.  Majesty and power are the animal-like appearance of the lion, faithfulness (the ox), intelligence (the man), and sovereignty (the eagle).
        According to Charles T. Chapman, Jr., The Message of the Book of Revelation, Liturgical Press, the "four living creatures" symbolize the four classes of living creatures, and also the all-seeing guardian protectors of all living creatures. 
       Lastly, in the Collegeville Bible Commentary on The Book of Revelation by Pheme Perkins, the "four living creatures" are first mentioned in Ezekiel 1: 4-20 and may have been taken from Babylonian signs of the zodiac.  The ox, Taurus, is earth, the lion, Leo, is fire, the man, Scorpio, is water, and the eagle flies in the sky or the air.  
       However, my parish church has the four evangelists surrounding every column in the nave and under their feet are the "four living creatures": the angel/man is Saint Matthew, the lion is Mark, the ox is for Saint Luke, and the eagle is Saint John.
       It seems clear that these "four living creatures" summarize all living things.  Thus, all the angels, elders and all living things are prostrating themselves to worship God.

MEDITATIO:

Beloved, how often have I stared at the columns in St. Mary's and thought of the "four living creatures" telling the Good News of Salvation. They told the stories of Jesus.  The idea that You created all things, care for all living things, especially people, is beyond comprehension.  You created us; You redeemed us from sin; and You sustain us with Your Spirit. No wonder all angels and all living things praise You. 
       I wish I had the charism of speaking in tongues so I could praise You like the angels.

ORATIO:

Glory to You, my Lord, and my God. May I praise You with every breath and thought.  Let every creature and living thing praise You.

CONTEMPLATIO:

I long to praise You, forever.

RESOLUTIO:

I will use my talents to write of My Lord and God.  Amen!

The More You Give, The More You Get

from M.K.  Pencil in the Hole

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Your glory.  (This ejaculatory prayer is known as the Angelic Praise of the Most Sacred Trinity.)

More and more I see and understand that the more we people praise the Lord, the more we are aware of God's abiding presence.  And that causes us to praise Him more!

Besides, I myself feel my negative, sarcastic, and cynical self melt away.  It's like all negative thoughts drop the closer I become to God.

And it feels great!

I praise You Jesus for the grace of knowing You and for the anointing of the Holy Spirit that You have given me.  I praise You for giving me the spirit eyes to see Your presence in my life.  I praise You for You.  Thank You Jesus for loving me.

Groceries Provided by Satan

Another Fr. Chris homily opener:  an elderly lady came out of her house onto her porch every day, twice a day, morning and evening, and praised the Lord.  "The Lord is good.  All the time.  Alleluia!"

This happened every day.  Even when an atheist moved in next door, the lady continued praising God.  "The Lord is good.  All the time.  Alleluia!"  The atheist complained saying he didn't want to hear it; he was an atheist.  The lady just continued.

One day the lady's social security check didn't come.  She ran out of food.  "Aha" thought the atheist, "Here's my chance to prove to her that there's no God."  So he ran out and bought her a generous supply of groceries.  The atheist put them on the elderly lady's porch and then he hid in the bushes.

The lady came out to praise God.  "The Lord is good.  All the time.  Look at all this food He has provided.  Thank you Lord.  Alleluia!"

The atheist jumped out of the bushes, "No I bought the food.  There is no God."

The lady didn't even blink.  She continued praising and thanking God.  "The Lord is good.  All the time.  He even makes Satan buy food for me.  Alleluia!"

Snail, Snail

Today was one of those beautiful July summer days.  Every breath of air was praise to God.  The trees are so luscious green and all the flower blossoms are huge.  Nature reminded me of the nursery rhyme, Snail, Snail.

SNAIL, SNAIL

Snail, Snail,
Put out your horns,
Be glad! Be glad!
Don't be forlorn.
The trees clap hands,
The hills, they sing!
Don't you hear
The bluebells ring?
Come and join them!
Ring-a-ling!
God cares for us!
Come! Sing! Sing! Sing!

All Glory Be To God

God desires to be glorified by our happiness.  Our happiness is a part of His divine glory.  This is what I believe and experienced this Mother's Day, yesterday.  Thanks be to God.