Are We Curious?

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, July 20th, 2025:
​Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Psalm 15

R. O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Whoever walks blamelessly, and does what is right, and speaks the truth from their heart; whoever does not slander with their tongue.

R. O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Whoever does no evil to a friend, nor takes up a reproach against a neighbour; in whose eyes the wicked one is despised, but who honours those who fear the Lord.

R. O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Whoever stands by their oath even to their hurt; who does not lend money at interest, and does not take a bribe against the innocent. One who does these things shall never be moved.

​R. O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I’m in the throes of toddler momhood these days.

I’ve got a two-and-a-half year old boy who is wildly curious about every aspect of human existence and the world. From the moment he wakes up in the morning until he falls asleep in the evening, he’s in questioning mode. 

While I’ve seen many other children go through this bubbly stage of a million and one questions a day, it’s unique experiencing it as a mom. Although it absolutely makes my head spin multiple times a day, this curiosity is so tender and so beautiful. At the end of the day, it’s such an honour to foster and nurture this spirit within him. He’s so innocent, and he so genuinely wants to learn every single “how” about life and living it. 

There’s no limit to the topics on which he questions me, for example:

“Mom, why does an excavator make that sound?”

“Mom, when will I be four?”

“Mom, why can’t I have cake for dinner?”

Every aspect of life, every nook and cranny of the world and how it works totally fascinates him.

After reading and re-reading the refrain of this psalm, I began to imagine myself walking around on the heels of Christ with a stance of curiosity and fascination like that of my toddler, and I realised something. Although I’ve been a Catholic for decades, and have read this psalm before, and have been going to Mass since I was born, I can so easily lose my curiosity in front of Christ. Maybe this is, in part, why He says, “You must become like little children.” 

“Christ, who may abide in your tent?” What a good question to ask, daily. (And, if I were truly like my toddler, I’d follow it up quickly with, “Can I come with you?”) As the psalm points out, there are some hard rules about being His follower and dwelling in His tent. To live each of those rules day in and day out is a lot.Truly, the life of one who abides in His tent looks very different from the life of one who dwells in their own tent. (And I know I must remain curious about what that life looks like. Otherwise, I run the risk of forgetting to even ask the question.)

One who abides in His tent is:
blameless;
does not slander with their tongue;
does not take up reproach against their neighbour; and
stands by their oath even to their hurt.

These are hard things, unnatural things in some ways, and definitely counter-cultural. So, how can I find the strength to even attempt to live like this? By being curious about abiding in His tent.

A continued stance of curiosity and fascination about this mysterious and all-loving God is the thing that makes me interested in even attempting this selfless way of life. 

Thank you, God, for curiosity! May we remain wide-eyed and fascinated by life inside Your tent!



Catherine Burnham​

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