Psalm Reflection: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

“I love you, Lord, my strength.” - Psalm 18

What things do you love? Who do you love? What do you love doing? Do you love all of these things equally? “Love” is a difficult word because we use it in so many degrees on a daily basis that it’s meaning can become bland and tired. The fact that we use the same word to say, “I love chocolate,” and “God is love,” is confusing and blurs it’s true meaning. The Hebrew word used i. This Psalm actually translates to a word more like “compassion”: a willingness to sacrifice for and suffer with another. This sense of love is best exemplified in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. That was not bland, blurred or difficult to understand. That was a pure act of love for you and for me. To acknowledge that we are willing to do this for God is a statement of total dedication and recognition that God truly is our strength. Without Him, we would not exist. If He forgot about you for even a millisecond, you would cease to exist. That means at every given moment God is loving you into existence, and that type of dedication deserves our love and praise. This week, fast from using the word “love” for anyone and anything except for God. Try to find a synonym to more accurately describe how you feel about other people or things, and see how it changes your view of the word and the sacrificial action is calls us to. We are praying for you this week. 

See you in the Eucharist!