Psalm Reflection: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C)

“Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” - Psalm 138

I am not good at asking for help. I am not talking about the stereotypical, man-who-won’t-ask-for-directions kind of help. I am talking about when it comes to deep worries, needs or insecurities. In those moments, I avoid vulnerability because I was conditioned by the world around me to believe that was a sign of weakness. “Help,” is what I thought people only needed from a doctor when they were sick, or from a therapist when they had a problem they couldn’t figure out or handle on their own. As a culture we still have a hard time admitting weakness, because American society in particular promotes an idea of success and achievement that is over-idealized. We hear how so many people got to where they are by their own merits and achievements, and we never hear about the failures or the times they doubted, wanted to give up, or almost fell apart. We share our high points and our accolades on social media, and rarely share the struggles. 

But that is not the way of the Christian. A true disciple of Christ recognizes they are ALWAYS in need of Christ’s saving help. The name “Jesus” literally means “God saves!” We could not possibly have any clearer message than that! He saves because we are always in need of saving. Scripture remind us that the Lord is our help, because we are constantly in need of His help to begin with. 

Asking for help is a fundamental part of humility, and a Christian can not effectively follow Christ without humility. Otherwise, we are simply following ourselves, or an idea of who we want everyone else to believe we are. This week, reject the tendencies you might have for perfection or competition, and ask for help. Ask for what you really need from God, from your family, and in your relationships. Live out your humility not to get attention, but out of true recognition for how much you need God, and then maybe others will see and recognize that they need Him too. We are praying for you this week.

See you in the Eucharist.