Daily Retreat 02/23/07
2007 Feb 23 Fri: Friday after Ash Wednesday/ Polycarp, bp, mt.
Is 58: 1-9a/ Ps 50(51): 3-4. 5-6ab. 18-19/ Mt 9: 14-15
From today’s readings: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.... A humble and contrite heart, O God, You will not spurn.... The days will come when the Bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
A Humble, Contrite Heart
Just two days ago, we started the penitential season of Lent, praying the same psalm selected today, which begins, “Have mercy on me, O God...” and is either psalm 50 or psalm 51 (the numbering of the psalms varies slightly because of two ancient traditions in counting the 9th/10th psalm).
Since there are 150 psalms, it might seem like the Church is lacking originality and variety in repeating the same psalm so soon. But it’s no lack of creativity that led to the re-run of this psalm - rather, it’s the undeniable suitability of this psalm for the whole Lenten season that explains why it comes up, at one time or another, in the lectionary at least once every week of Lent except for the second and the last week of the season.
It is, in effect, the psalm par excellence of Lent, so copy it down, and pray it everyday, and learn it by heart - a humble, contrite heart!
Is 58: 1-9a/ Ps 50(51): 3-4. 5-6ab. 18-19/ Mt 9: 14-15
From today’s readings: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.... A humble and contrite heart, O God, You will not spurn.... The days will come when the Bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
A Humble, Contrite Heart
Just two days ago, we started the penitential season of Lent, praying the same psalm selected today, which begins, “Have mercy on me, O God...” and is either psalm 50 or psalm 51 (the numbering of the psalms varies slightly because of two ancient traditions in counting the 9th/10th psalm).
Since there are 150 psalms, it might seem like the Church is lacking originality and variety in repeating the same psalm so soon. But it’s no lack of creativity that led to the re-run of this psalm - rather, it’s the undeniable suitability of this psalm for the whole Lenten season that explains why it comes up, at one time or another, in the lectionary at least once every week of Lent except for the second and the last week of the season.
It is, in effect, the psalm par excellence of Lent, so copy it down, and pray it everyday, and learn it by heart - a humble, contrite heart!
posted by FrPitstick | 2/22/2007
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