19:6 The whole creation began to take on a new shape in its very nature. It once again submitted to your commands so that your children might be kept unharmed. 7 A cloud appeared, casting its shadow over their camp. Dry land appeared where before there had been only water. It presented them an open path through the Red Sea,[Wisdom 19:7 Or traditionally Reed Sea in the Hebrew Bible] a grassy plain where before there had been only violent surf. 8 Those who were protected by your hand passed through as a single nation, seeing amazing wonders. 9 They were like horses ranging about and like lambs skipping along. They praised you, Lord, for you were rescuing them.
Have you ever seen a soccer player after making a goal or a football player after a touchdown? Their end zone dances can be legendary! Or what about a child who has just received his first bicycle or any other present for that matter? She jumps up and down, clapping and laughing with contagious enthusiasm!
Sometimes you just have to get a little excited. You can’t help but show deep gratitude or enthusiasm. Take the Israelites in today’s reading as a good example. They had just passed through the Red Sea as on dry ground. Their adversaries, the Egyptian army, had been vanquished; they were literally washed away. Think of the relief the Israelites felt, their joy at having been set free from slavery and oppression. They had seen “stupendous wonders” (Wisdom 19:8). They just had to celebrate and praise God!
We may not have passed through the sea on dry ground personally, but God has worked wonders in our lives. Think of every time you go to Confession and are forgiven and strengthened to start anew; patterns of sin are broken, and you are set free! What about every time you receive the Eucharist? Jesus himself, his Body and Blood, soul and divinity, are physically present in you! And we have all seen healings, whether physical or spiritual: broken relationships mended, sicknesses cured, and resentments lifted. God has worked and is working wonders in your life! Your enemies are being vanquished, and God is making a path for you where there seems to be no way into freedom.
So thank God with enthusiasm today! Look for ways he is blessing you, and seize each opportunity to actively thank him. Develop an attitude of gratitude, an awareness of God’s closeness and action in your life, so that you can see all the wonders he has worked for you. As you pray, try to find three things that you can thank and praise God for. Then go ahead, and offer him some exuberant praise!
“Thank you, Father, for each way you have rescued me! Thank you for each sin forgiven, each time I’ve received the Eucharist, and each relationship mended. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Amen!
Psalm 105:
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
They ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs, praising you, O Lord! their deliverer. (Wisdom 19:9)Have you ever seen a soccer player after making a goal or a football player after a touchdown? Their end zone dances can be legendary! Or what about a child who has just received his first bicycle or any other present for that matter? She jumps up and down, clapping and laughing with contagious enthusiasm!
Sometimes you just have to get a little excited. You can’t help but show deep gratitude or enthusiasm. Take the Israelites in today’s reading as a good example. They had just passed through the Red Sea as on dry ground. Their adversaries, the Egyptian army, had been vanquished; they were literally washed away. Think of the relief the Israelites felt, their joy at having been set free from slavery and oppression. They had seen “stupendous wonders” (Wisdom 19:8). They just had to celebrate and praise God!
We may not have passed through the sea on dry ground personally, but God has worked wonders in our lives. Think of every time you go to Confession and are forgiven and strengthened to start anew; patterns of sin are broken, and you are set free! What about every time you receive the Eucharist? Jesus himself, his Body and Blood, soul and divinity, are physically present in you! And we have all seen healings, whether physical or spiritual: broken relationships mended, sicknesses cured, and resentments lifted. God has worked and is working wonders in your life! Your enemies are being vanquished, and God is making a path for you where there seems to be no way into freedom.
So thank God with enthusiasm today! Look for ways he is blessing you, and seize each opportunity to actively thank him. Develop an attitude of gratitude, an awareness of God’s closeness and action in your life, so that you can see all the wonders he has worked for you. As you pray, try to find three things that you can thank and praise God for. Then go ahead, and offer him some exuberant praise!
“Thank you, Father, for each way you have rescued me! Thank you for each sin forgiven, each time I’ve received the Eucharist, and each relationship mended. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Amen!
Psalm 105:
2 Sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord;
dwell on all his wondrous works!
3 Give praise to God’s holy name!
Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the Lord!
36 God struck down all the oldest sons throughout their land;
struck down their very pride and joy.
37 Then God brought Israel out, filled with silver and gold;
not one of its tribes stumbled
42 Because God remembered his holy promise
to Abraham his servant,
43 God brought his people out with rejoicing,
his chosen ones with songs of joy.
Luke 18: Justice for the faithful
1 Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me.” 6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? 8 I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One[Luke 18:8 Or Son of Man] comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”
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