Psalm Reflection: The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

“Lord, come to my aid!” - Psalm 40

Do you struggle to ask for help?

A survey from earlier this year found that 73% of people do not ask for help until they absolutely need it.

We might shy away from asking for help because we do not want to appear weak, ignorant, or vulnerable. Our culture values independence and autonomy, which costs us in anxiety, stress, and worry due to our inability to do everything on our own. And yet, we still try.

The truth is: we all need help.

If we cannot admit that, then the Christian life is going to be nearly impossible for us.

Remember, Jesus is not simply a nice teacher who loves us. Jesus is our savior. 

In order to fully enter into relationship with Him, we need to admit that we need saving.

The Devil’s temptation to Adam and Eve was exactly the opposite: you can do this on your own. You do not need to listen to God, just listen to yourself. You can save yourselves.

Not much has changed in the human heart since Adam and Eve. We still try and do too much without any support, and then we put on a mask pretending that everything is fine even when we feel like our life is falling apart. This is why the sin of pride is the root of all other sins, because we are essentially telling God that we do not need Him. Nothing good can come from that assumption.

This week’s Psalm is one of the simplest prayers we can incorporate into our everyday vocabulary.

Allow the words of this Psalm to become a daily exercise in humility before God, and an opportunity to ask Him for what you really need.

What if God answered every prayer in exactly the way you asked? 

Would you realize that maybe you are not asking Him for enough?

It is good and virtuous to pray for others, but those prayers need to flow from a relationship with God where we understand who we are before God: we are sinners in need of a Savior. We cannot get any closer to salvation by the good deeds or works that we accomplish, the novenas we pray or the devotions we practice. Jesus is our Savior, and only He can save us.

The sooner we realize that we cannot save ourselves, and no person or thing on this earth can fulfill us, the sooner we will be able to come before God properly: 

as children in need of their Father,

as sinners in need of their Savior, and

as vessels in need of the animation of the Spirit.

Look at all the things you do or attempt to do on your own. Now imagine what could be possible if the Creator of the universe had a turn, “for nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

While you are at it, give yourself a break and also ask for help with your job, your relationships, your homework, and whatever else you try to figure out all on your own. At the same time, open your eyes and ears to look and listen for those around you who need help. Be quick to ask for it and quick to offer it.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt