A Helicopter View

A Reflection on the Psalm for January 13th, 2019:
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

PSALM 104

R. O bless the Lord, my soul.

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
you are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth;

R. O bless the Lord, my soul.

You have constructed your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you travel on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
and flaming fire your ministers.

R. O bless the Lord, my soul.

How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them all--
the earth is full of your creatures;
the sea also, great and wide,
in which are schools without number
of living things both small and great.

R. O bless the Lord, my soul.

They look to you to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

R. O bless the Lord, my soul.

If you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

​R. O bless the Lord, my soul.

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O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
you are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth;

The psalmist, filled with the wonder of the writings in Genesis, compiles his/her thoughts and meditations on Creation. They spill over into this amazing Psalm of Praise to our Creator. In today's liturgy, we only use lines 1-4 and lines 24-30 (but it is worth reading the whole Psalm).

There was a wonderful exhibit at the Canadian Pavilion during Expo'67 in which one could virtually experience going up in a helicopter; flying from one end of Canada to the other. I have never forgotten the experience, and it often comes to mind when praying Psalm 104. It was as if I could hold God's Hand as He made "the clouds His chariot", and "walked on the wings of the wind”. (Psalm 104:3)

One had the sensation of flying over mountains, valleys, glaciers, rivers, and oceans; over creatures of the air, and land, and sea. My eyes were opened to the wonder and beauty of God's creation. I also became aware that He gives us this gift, and asks us to be Stewards of all Creation. I think of the change in the topography of the landscapes since 1967, and some of the changes are not for the better.

"My eyes were opened to the wonder and beauty of God's creation.
​[H]e gives us this gift, and asks us to be Stewards of all Creation."

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Having just read and studied Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Laudato Si, I realize how important it is to pray this ancient Psalm often, that we might be more aware of our role as stewards of this Earth. Pope Francis says, "We should see this world as a “sacrament”... a way of sharing life with God and our neighbours". May the words of the Psalm never become an 'old poem', speaking of a sustainable and beautiful world of a bygone time.

If you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust.

Rather, may the words of the Psalm be a reminder to us of our responsibility to be Stewards of Creation. Jesus saw fit to pray this Psalm. May we join Him in praise of the Creator — Father, Son, and Spirit.

When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

Lynda Tyler

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