Rising with Our Lord This Easter Season at Work With the Help of This Psalm - 7
We continue with our special meditation on Psalm 118 (Protestants have it as Psalm 119).Our hope is that we can refresh all we do for the greater glory of God.
As we work our way through each section of this astounding psalm, we'll see how its words can help us in our work, to further hone our daily activities that they serve God even as we serve those to whom we owe an honest day's work.
It's the perfect way to pray and work (ora et labora) our way through this glorious Easter Season.
MEM
97 O how have I loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Through thy commandment, thou hast made me wiser than my enemies: for it is ever with me. 99 I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I have had understanding above ancients: because I have sought thy commandments. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy words. 102 I have not declined from thy judgments, because thou hast set me a law. 103 How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth. 104 By thy commandments I have had understanding: therefore have I hated every way of iniquity.
Do we literally meditate on God's law "all the day" during our work day? Of course, it's not practical or even possible to do so. We'd either not get our work done properly, or we'd drive ourselves crazy. But this is where the occasional aspiration ("All for Thee," "I love You Jesus," etc.) comes in. It's a habit we can develop over time. It brings God into our workplace. We know He's there with us. And with this habit He will be more consciously present to us.
So important is our pursuit of understanding God's law that it provides an understanding "above ancients." This simply tells us that it is our priority. The studies we pursue for the purpose of our work or profession remain important. But they cannot displace our pursuit of understanding God's law.
In time (or perhaps right now), God's Word will be "sweet." Our study and meditation on God's Law may be a chore at first, a struggle to keep up. But this will change. Those of us who must "keep up" in our professions with constant study know that the effort can be burdensome at times; but over time the knowledge gained, when it benefits our business, our clients, our customers, transform that burden into something good, yes, sweet.
And so it goes with our pursuit of understanding and following God's Law.
NUN
105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths. 106 I have sworn and am determined to keep the judgments of thy justice. 107 I have been humbled, O Lord, exceedingly: quicken thou me according to thy word. 108 The free offerings of my mouth make acceptable, O Lord: and teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hands: and I have not forgotten thy law. 110 Sinners have laid a snare for me: but I have not erred from thy precepts. 111 I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever: because they are a joy to my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to do thy justifications for ever, for the reward.
Whatever challenges we find in making our work a spiritual work for God, a love of His Commandments will provide a holy light. Even when those around us exhibit behavior that contradicts His Law cannot derail us. Indeed, in extreme cases, some may have it in for us if our behavior provides a solid example of how a Catholic man at work behaves. Simply not cursing and swearing can get on people's nerves - as much or more than it does to us who have to listen to it.
Making the effort to not only study, but to really deeply understand God's Law, and then to follow it in both letter and spirit, will provide all we need to continue to provide good example, even in the face of those who have "laid a snare" for us.
Happy Easter!
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