Week 10

Psalm Reflection #10 … Psalm 150 Alleluia!

In our reflections on the psalms, we have noted that the Psalter sets before us a variety of prayers. Some reveal a heart that comes before God at a time of distress and turmoil. Others reflect one who ponders how to live wisely, making choices that will bring full and abundant life. Some psalms find Israel as a people recalling the past and recounting the great deeds of the Lord, his great faithfulness and often the shabby response of his chosen ones. Many psalms disclose a trusting heart, expressing great confidence and peace in God's faithful and abiding love. It is even possible to find all these responses bundled up in one individual psalm! Organizing the Psalter is not a project that can be done with clear lines and categories. The randomness of the Psalter is a lesson in itself. Isn't life like this and do we not come before God sometimes also a mixed bag of these same responses! One of the important lessons the Psalter has to teach us is that God wishes us to 'come as we are' and in every circumstance of life: good or bad, in chaos or at peace.

Putting together the steps in our approach to the Psalms that we began with this summer:

1) Read Psalm 150 carefully: It is easy to identify this as a psalm of praise to God. Nothing is asked of God, no motivation for praise is offered. Joyous praise to God needs no explanation. It is simply understood! It arises spontaneously!

2) Note the style and beauty of the text: Vs 1 although not really parallelism, draws a comparison between the heavenly dwelling of God and the earthly temple. God is praised in both. You may recall how the temple design replicated the forms of creation. The harmony of the temple liturgy replicates the order of the universe. "Alleluia" (meaning "praise God" - a call to pure adoration of God) is repeated 13 times. There are 7 instruments that are mentioned.

3) What references do you find to the sacred past? The powerful deeds of God that are worthy of adoration and praise gather together remembrance of all God has done in Israel's past. This is what people gathered in communal worship do: they remember! Here the powerful deeds include creation, deliverance, the gift of the land, restoration. "Let all that breathes praise the Lord", all that has the breath of life! Does the psalmist imagine a new, restored creation, capable of offering God fitting praise? A new exodus is recalled with mention of timbrel and dance (recall Miriam). The sound of the trumpet (shofar), the breath of the priest, invites the community to worship, to observe Sabbath. Stringed instruments bring David to mind.

4) How is this the living word of God for today? Perhaps we could find some encouragement here for the importance of our communal worship. Imagine strumming, blowing and clashing all at the same time! We are stronger and better when we are more than one! Thus can God be fittingly praised! Peacefulness is possible if the whole work does not rest with one person!

It is time for me to set aside this summer project and return to class work and teaching. There is no reason for you to stop your prayer with the psalms. I think we took up 11 psalms. That leaves 139! I hope you will continue using the outline we have worked from, listening to the voice of God in these words and appreciating their beauty and power to bring hope and peace. Do not tire of the repetition of 1 psalm for a week. Here is where we will begin to hear God speaking new meaning into familiar words if we remain quiet and listen.

Carroll Stuhlmueller used to take delight in telling us that there are 2,527 verses in the Psalter. Every word and every letter is sacred. Praise and gratitude, humble dependence on God, these are lessons we learn from the Psalter. Such can transform us into grateful servants who always remember God's goodness. Such can make us people of joy.

I end this summer work acknowledging gratitude to my teacher and mentor, Father Carroll Stuhlmueller, who taught me how to appreciate the Psalms and the monks and abbot of Conception Abbey with and from whom I learn to pray them. May God be praised in all things!