March 18/Third Wednesday of Lent
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. ~ Ps 147.13
Most of us are not very good at setting boundaries. Some of us find it difficult to delineate work time versus family time, answering emails, reading documents, or taking calls at night, over the weekend, even on a family vacation. Others might struggle to preserve time for exercise or reading or seeing friends when faced with the responsibilities of raising children. Sometimes we fail to establish firm emotional boundaries and we feel taken advantage of by others. And with the Smartphone now functioning as an essential anatomical appendage, it is harder than it has ever been to make distinctions, to turn off the noise, to say “Enough.” We become vulnerable to all sorts of incursions from outside stimuli – is it any wonder we feel distracted and besieged? Enter the psalmist, who in singing a hymn of praise to the God of Zion, invites us to emulate his ancient wisdom and ask God to help us set boundaries these many centuries later in our hectic modern age. Among the many wondrous acts for which God is to be praised – blessing children, exercising the creative power of his word in the world, giving Israel a set of commandments by which to live an ethical life – he is lauded for protecting the inhabitants of Jerusalem by strengthening the bars of their gates. And if we allow him entry, he will help us do the same. We will find the wisdom to unplug the devices, to put aside the work, to connect authentically with others. And by creating a safe space behind those spiritual gates, we will also connect with ourselves and with God, through moments of silence and prayer.
Lord, Give me the wisdom and strength I need to establish appropriate and life-giving boundaries in my life. Amen.
To hear the Choir of King’s College chant Stanford’s setting of Psalm 147, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVaaiqt4uQs
For today’s readings, click here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031820.cfm
