Advice, bible, Bible, Bible in a Year, Blog, catechesis, Catechism, Catechism in a Year, Catholic, Catholic Answers, Catholic Bible, Catholic Bible Study, Catholic blog, Catholic Catechism, Catholic Commentary, Catholic Exegesis, Catholic Faith Formation, Catholic Homily, Catholic Politics, Catholic Psalm Reflection, Catholic Readings, Catholic Scripture, Catholic Scripture Study, Catholic Sermon, Catholic Study, Catholic Sunday Homily, Christian, Christianity, Commentary, Cycle B, daily, Daily readings, discipleship, evangelization, formation, Homily, How to read the Bible, Inspirational, lectio divina, Mass, Matt Zemanek, Matthew Zemanek, ministry, Old Testament, Patreon, Ordinary Time, philosophy, Prayer, Psalm, psalm, Psalm reflection, Psalms, reading, readings, reflection, reflections, Relevant Radio, Religion, Responsorial Psalm, scripture, scriptures, Sunday, Sunday Catholic readings, theology, TV, Verse of the Day, weekly, Word on Fire, ZemanekMANNA - Food For ThoughtCatholicism, CatholicChurch, CatholicBlog, Catholiccreative, CatholicPodcast, CatholicBible, CatholicCommentary, CatholicTheology, CatholicPhilosophy, CatholicInterpretation, CatholicExegesis, HowToReadTheBible, NewTestament, OldTestament, VerseOfTheDay, Bible, Bibleinayear, Psalm, Psalms, scripture, thechosen, Catholic, Jesus, Christ, faith, God, Church, Pope, rosary, Vatican, Christian, Roman, mary, ministry, advice, inspirational, Prayer, pray, religion, bible, religious, atheist, atheism, agnostic, agnosticism, theology, saints, holy, lifeteen, prolife, pro, life, teen, focus, podcast, usccb, net, ministries, manna, food, for, thought, mannaf4t, f4t, vlog, blog, youth, young, adult, OC, Orange, County, California, CA, socal, southern, patreon, come, Spirit, Matt, Matthew, Zemanek, Saint, Timothy, Mass, TV, weekly, psalm, psalms, reflection, reflections, responsorial, daily, reading, readings, response, verse of the day, verseoftheday, bibleinayear, bible in a year, psalm 146, psalms 146, psalm146, psalms146, Psalms146, Psalm146, Cycle B, The Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary TimeComment

Psalm Reflection: The Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B

Advice, bible, Bible, Bible in a Year, Blog, catechesis, Catechism, Catechism in a Year, Catholic, Catholic Answers, Catholic Bible, Catholic Bible Study, Catholic blog, Catholic Catechism, Catholic Commentary, Catholic Exegesis, Catholic Faith Formation, Catholic Homily, Catholic Politics, Catholic Psalm Reflection, Catholic Readings, Catholic Scripture, Catholic Scripture Study, Catholic Sermon, Catholic Study, Catholic Sunday Homily, Christian, Christianity, Commentary, Cycle B, daily, Daily readings, discipleship, evangelization, formation, Homily, How to read the Bible, Inspirational, lectio divina, Mass, Matt Zemanek, Matthew Zemanek, ministry, Old Testament, Patreon, Ordinary Time, philosophy, Prayer, Psalm, psalm, Psalm reflection, Psalms, reading, readings, reflection, reflections, Relevant Radio, Religion, Responsorial Psalm, scripture, scriptures, Sunday, Sunday Catholic readings, theology, TV, Verse of the Day, weekly, Word on Fire, ZemanekMANNA - Food For ThoughtCatholicism, CatholicChurch, CatholicBlog, Catholiccreative, CatholicPodcast, CatholicBible, CatholicCommentary, CatholicTheology, CatholicPhilosophy, CatholicInterpretation, CatholicExegesis, HowToReadTheBible, NewTestament, OldTestament, VerseOfTheDay, Bible, Bibleinayear, Psalm, Psalms, scripture, thechosen, Catholic, Jesus, Christ, faith, God, Church, Pope, rosary, Vatican, Christian, Roman, mary, ministry, advice, inspirational, Prayer, pray, religion, bible, religious, atheist, atheism, agnostic, agnosticism, theology, saints, holy, lifeteen, prolife, pro, life, teen, focus, podcast, usccb, net, ministries, manna, food, for, thought, mannaf4t, f4t, vlog, blog, youth, young, adult, OC, Orange, County, California, CA, socal, southern, patreon, come, Spirit, Matt, Matthew, Zemanek, Saint, Timothy, Mass, TV, weekly, psalm, psalms, reflection, reflections, responsorial, daily, reading, readings, response, verse of the day, verseoftheday, bibleinayear, bible in a year, psalm 146, psalms 146, psalm146, psalms146, Psalms146, Psalm146, Cycle B, The Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary TimeComment
Psalm Reflection: The Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B

“Praise the Lord, my soul!” - Psalms 146

There is a popular praise and worship song called Praise by Elevation Worship. When they launched the song in 2023, the band shared on social media, “You won’t always feel like praising God. There will be seasons when it’s hard to see God at work, and you’ll feel more discouraged than grateful.” 

The lyrics are below, take a moment to read them.

Praise by Elevation Worship*

Let everything that has breath

Praise the Lord 

Praise the Lord

I’ll praise in the valley

Praise on the mountain

I’ll praise when I’m sure

Praise when I’m doubting

I’ll praise when outnumbered

Praise when surrounded

Cause praise is the waters

My enemies drown in

As long as I’m breathing

I’ve got a reason to 

Praise the Lord

Oh my soul

I’ll praise when I feel it

I’ll praise when I don’t

I’ll praise cause I know 

You’re still in control

My praise is a weapon 

It’s more than a sound

My praise is the shout 

That brings Jericho down

Praise the Lord

Oh my soul

I won’t be quiet

My God is alive 

How could I keep it inside

Praise the Lord 

oh my soul

I’ll praise cause You’re sovereign

Praise cause You reign

Praise cause You rose and defeated the grave

I’ll praise cause You’re faithful

Praise cause You’re true

Praise cause there’s nobody greater than You 

Praise the Lord

Oh my soul

Is this how we approach the Lord is the trials and joys of life?

It is easy to praise when things are comfortable.

It is easy to praise when everyone is healthy.

It is easy to praise when you can pay your bills.

It is easy to praise when you have community and feel loved.

It is hard to praise when life does not turn out the way we thought it would. When we are lost, broken, alone, ashamed, struggling, suffering, anxious, and worried, praise can often go out the window. But in every season, He is still God. 

What the Psalmist is reminding us of this week is the fact that when bad things happen in life, God is not absent. He is not on vacation. He does not cease to be God in the midst of suffering. No, He is still sovereign and working for our greatest possible good (Romans 8:28). He is still for us, and with Him nothing can come against us.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” - Romans 8:31

It is precisely in the difficult moments that we can take refuge in our Lord, Jesus, who understands suffering. He carried the weight of sin and suffering on His bruised and bloodied back so we could be free of it all. So, when we experience it, we can give it back to Him as an offering of praise saying, “God, thank you for allowing me to suffer, because in my suffering I am close to you.”

It is not easy, but trusting wholeheartedly never is. 

So, whatever is happening in your life this week, if it is the absolute best or worst week or your life so far or anything in between, praise the Lord. Praise Him in the midst of it to be reminded of who He is and who you are not. He is God, He can handle anything we give Him.

Entrust everything in your life to the capable hands of God, and praise.

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

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, September 8th, 2024, which is the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B: Psalms 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10.

*Listen to Praise by Elevation Worship

Written by Steven Furtick, Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake, Pat Barrett, Cody Carnes, Chris Brown

©2023 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing, Maverick City Publishing/For Humans Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing/Maverick City Publishing Worldwide, Housefires Sounds / Capitol CMG Genesis, Capitol CMG Paragon / Writers Roof Publishing

MANNA is a ministry creating blogs and podcasts to encourage and inspire others to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ and live out their Catholic faith.