March 31/Fifth Friday of Lent Ropes of death encircled me; torrents of wickedness assailed me;Ropes of Sheol entangled me; snares of death confronted me.In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help.From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. ~ Ps 18.4-6 When my children were young,…
Song 32: 24/7
March 30/Fifth Thursday of Lent Seek the LORD and his strength; Search for his presence continually. ~ Ps 105.4 It’s the “continually” that causes difficulties, isn’t it? We might manage to engage occasionally, perhaps seeking the LORD and his strength on Sundays when we go to church, or even a few times a week when we scratch out a few…
Song 31: We Got Rhythm
March 29/Fifth Wednesday of Lent “Praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” ~ Daniel 3.53 Sometimes prayer flows easily through our hearts and souls to God’s ears; other times, our spirits are silenced by anxiety or doubt. In these moments of incapacity, we might consider reaching for the Bible, to let God pray through us and with us in the words…
Song 30: Are You There, God?
March 28/Fifth Tuesday of Lent O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress.Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily. ~ Ps 102.2-3 When the road gets rough, or life goes awry — or as the psalmist puts…
Song 29: Letting Go
March 27/Fifth Monday of Lent The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. // He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside still waters; // He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. // Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil: for you…
Song 28: Sit. Stay. Heed.
March 25/Fourth Saturday of LentFeast of the Annunciation Sacrifice and offering you do not delight in, but you have dug out my ears.To do your will, O God, I delight in; your teaching is within my belly [lit. transl]. ~ Ps 40.7, 9 Obedience — how it goes against the human grain. We no sooner construct a set of rules…
Song 27: Something Wicked This Way Comes
March 24/Fourth Friday of Lent The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. ~ Ps 34.17 I have to say that I just don’t see it. Unscrupulous bankers and crypto traders, dishonest politicians, negligent or abusive parents, mass shooters – I don’t always see God confronting such evildoers. Often, in fact, I see the opposite: …
Song 26: Taking a Knee
March 23/Fourth Thursday of Lent Our fathers made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image;They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. ~ Ps 106.19-20 I’ve always found the notion of “quality time” in human relationships a bit suspect. Sometimes, of course, it’s the best we can do. But an emotional…
Song 24: Toil and Trouble
March 21/Fourth Tuesday of Lent God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. ~ Ps 46.1-3 Sometimes the expressions and sentiments of the psalms…
Song 23: From Generation to Generation
March 20/Fourth Monday of LentSolemnity of St. Joseph The steadfast love of the LORD I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. ~ Ps 89.2 One of my favorite family stories, told by my father, concerns his grandfather. Wee-Daddy was a genteel agnostic who ferried his portly Aunt Georgie to church every Sunday, waiting in…